The Birth of Shanghai's First Conglomerate

The transfer of power within a group is of paramount importance for any super-giant.

Such news, even the slightest disturbance to the entire Tengying Group, can cause widespread shockwaves across the industry.

Because no one knew that 13 years after the founder Chen Pingsheng left the group, his influence would still be so enormous.

Based solely on an internal employee letter, media queen Zhang Wanyi, coffee queen Yang Qian, and other senior executives of the group all voluntarily relinquished their power.

They should be given to more suitable successors to the group.

Tengying Group, which has been in business for nearly 30 years, recently launched a succession plan for the second and third generations of senior executives.

It's hard to imagine that without Chen Pingsheng's intervention, who could have persuaded them to so righteously and voluntarily step down from their current comfort zone of power?

Once Tencent Group successfully completes this senior management replacement, the three generations will be in power.

The next decade will undoubtedly be its golden period of development.

It's already difficult for a company to survive for five years, let alone maintain its peak performance for ten years.

The difficulty of maintaining absolute health and stable development for the next thirty years is beyond the imagination of outsiders.

The more this power transition period occurs, the more turbulent the situation becomes for the group.

The reason is simple: once this handover is completed smoothly, then unless an outrageous successor emerges in the next decade.

Otherwise, the development of Tengying Group would still be unstoppable.

This is something many people don't want to see, so seizing this opportunity is a godsend.

The stock market is volatile, with stock prices fluctuating like a roller coaster.

Financial news and entertainment media outlets have almost all focused on the succession of the third generation at Tencent Holdings Limited.

Even Mu Lanqing was the same. She went to work at the company obediently and even wanted to invite Chen Pingsheng to lunch, but unfortunately she couldn't find a good excuse.

Mulanqing paced back and forth in her office for a while before finally mustering the courage to go out.

"Old Chen..."

Chen Pingsheng only allowed her to address him that way within the company, so she couldn't say anything, but she always felt a little awkward when he called her that.

"Mr. Mu, what's up now?"

"I'd like to invite you to lunch, but I don't know if you have time."

"Time can always be found if you squeeze it in."

Chen Pingsheng asked her, "You don't just want to invite me to dinner alone, do you? Just tell me what's on your mind."

“I have a junior from elementary school who is very beautiful. She is now a news reporter for a financial channel. She has told me countless times that her biggest dream in life is to interview the founder of Tencent Group.”

"Interview me?"

Chen Pingsheng shook his head. "You know I have no interest in these interviews. If this is the case, then I can only disappoint you."

"It's not entirely about that, but she also comes over for lunch, so I just told you about it."

Mulanqing said, "Besides, I didn't tell her your identity either."

"Okay, I should at least go if your boss is treating me."

Chen Pingsheng has already finished writing a short play script, which is based on her second daughter and tells the story of a little genius.

His script wasn't great, but it was realistic, and it's already been given to another editor for polishing.

We can start filming in two more days, and it will be finished in about two weeks.

Two hours passed quickly, and before we knew it, it was lunchtime.

Mulanqing had booked a high-end Hong Kong-style restaurant nearby in advance. When they arrived, the junior schoolmate had already arrived as well.

Although she's called a junior, she's actually Mulanqing's cousin, and she is indeed very beautiful.

She's the kind of person who's very pleasing to the eye at first glance. She's 1.65 meters tall, with long, straight hair and wearing a light blue floral off-shoulder dress.

Most importantly, her eyes are particularly bright and expressive, and she has a small dimple when she smiles.

Chen Pingsheng found that the older he got, the more he enjoyed looking at these youthful and beautiful girls.

Men, they really will always love eighteen.

"Cousins, why are you so late? I've already ordered the food."

Mu Qingqing handed the menu to Mu Lanqing, who was also carrying a video camera that could be used for interviews and filming at any time.

"Unlike you, so impatient! You ordered the food before we even arrived. Are you really in such a rush?"

"You don't know, because the entire Tengying Group is undergoing a generational handover, all the reporters on the financial channel are very busy right now. Any little thing about Tengying Group can cause countless changes. I'm only able to be in charge of this task because of you. This afternoon I'm going to interview the Dream Fund."

she does not know?

She's too afraid to tell you.

Mulan Qing knew very well what the cause of this change was, but she just couldn't tell her silly cousin.

It's all because the person sitting next to her thinks that many of the group's senior executives, who were among the earliest members of the group and were veterans, have been sitting in the positions of president and chairman for too long.

So long ago, they were unwilling to relinquish control of the group, and even wanted their own children to take over, continuing their parents' glory in the next generation of the group.

It was against this backdrop that the person next to her directly targeted Zhang Wanyi, making her the first to cut off his right-hand woman and remove most of the core power of the group.

She knew all too well about this, and was the only witness. If she dared to tell anyone, her company would probably go bankrupt in no time.

Mulanqing asked, "Qingqing, who did you arrange to interview with the Dream Foundation?"

"A former senior female CEO."

Mu Qingqing said, "This president has worked for Chu Qiuyan for over twenty years. She started her business with her at Bobo Milk Tea. Right now, the entire senior management of Tengying Group is extremely tense. Nobody knows who the next veteran will be eliminated. I went there this time to ask her what she thinks about this sudden departure."

Mu Lanqing asked curiously, "How were you able to interview her? Under these circumstances, why would Tengying Group allow you to conduct an interview?"

"It's because there's too much external interference and information."

Mu Qingqing replied, "Many people are posting online saying that Tengying Group is using this as a pretext to get rid of a large number of long-time employees. Some even say that this is the founder of the group making preparations for his son to take over smoothly."

"Does that mean this interview assignment was approved by the senior management of Tencent Pictures?"

"That's for sure."

Mu Qingqing curled her lips: "Don't you think about how huge a business empire Tengying Group is? Without the consent of its senior management, which vice president would dare to come forward and reveal information privately after leaving the company? Even if she dared to, we small reporters wouldn't dare to write about it, and even if we did, we wouldn't be able to publish it."

Mulanqing nodded, "That's true. I thought you contacted them privately for interviews without their approval, which is absolutely unacceptable."

"Cousin, of course I understand."

Mu Qingqing said, "I just think that the information on the Internet is completely untrue. Chen An'an, the daughter of the founder of Tengying Group, is already the richest woman in China."

"She is also the chairperson of multiple groups under the Tencent Group. After all these years, her abilities are beyond doubt. She can be called the strongest second-generation successor in China. As for the founder's second daughter, Chen Xinyi, her investment fund in Hong Kong has always been the world's largest private investment fund."

"She completely ignores what's happening at Tengying Group. Just half a month ago, she completed a massive overseas asset acquisition and restructuring plan worth 1600 billion. Judging from her talent and behavior, she won't inherit and manage her family business in the future; at most, she'll just take a side job. As for the founder's only son, I couldn't even get his name, let alone interview him. News about him has always been a business secret and has never been reported."

"Cousin, do you know his name?"

It's no secret that the founder, Chen Pingsheng, had two daughters and a son.

Both women have made public appearances in the business world and own their own vast business empires.

But there was no trace of that person's son.

Even these financial journalists don't know what the richest second-generation in China does every day.

Mu Lanqing laughed awkwardly, "Even if I knew, do you think I would tell you? Would I dare to tell you?"

Mulanqing stepped on her cousin's foot under the table, but the two sisters still had a good relationship.

Don't get her into trouble by asking her for inside information under these circumstances.

Should she do it?

"Brother Chen, I don't have anything planned for this afternoon, would you like to have a drink?"

Chen Pingsheng, a man who had almost been completely ignored, was finally remembered again.

"Forget it, I have to drive this afternoon, so I can't drink."

"Alright... since you don't want to drink, could you tell me your thoughts on this reform? It would be good for me to broaden my horizons!"

"What's the use of telling you now? Even the best experience can only be learned by yourself if you have that experience. It's meaningless to tell you before you have that experience."

This wasn't intentional on his part; it was simply the truth.

Mu Qingqing felt a little strange. Didn't her cousin say that she was having dinner with a team leader from the company?

Why are you asking him for advice?
“I’m also going to the Dream Foundation this afternoon, how about we go together?” Chen Pingsheng said to Mu Qingqing.

“Sure, I don’t have a car, so I’ll hitch a ride with you this afternoon.”

"With your family's financial situation, you can't just buy a car casually. If it really comes down to it, your cousin can give you one."

Mentioning Mu Qingqing's painful memories, she put down her chopsticks and gritted her teeth, saying, "I took the driving test nine times in two years. I was about to pass on the last try, but some old man who appeared out of nowhere pulled my car door and asked for a ride. I was so angry I felt like I was going to explode."

Well... it's easy to see that she does have a problem with taking the driving test, after all, it can make someone with a small heart so upset.

This shows how significant the emotional fluctuations were.
"Your experience is quite unique. It's okay, you can take the test again in two years, you're still young anyway."

For some people, getting a driver's license is like that; there's a naturally high barrier to entry.

Chen Pingsheng went to the Dream Foundation in the afternoon to see Chu Qiuyan and also to inquire about her son, Chen Lu.

Many outsiders believe that he fired so many senior executives of the group to pave the way for his son.

Actually, no. If he doesn't take action against the old ministers soon, these people will probably plant their own offspring everywhere.

They even provided them with exceptional favors when they were promoted.

The group has been established for almost thirty years, and many of their descendants are now of working age or have been working for several years.

Only those who have been parents can truly understand the love of parents.

They would truly put the company's interests aside for the sake of their children.

Even Zhang Wanyi makes this mistake, let alone others.

The consequences are self-evident when the older generation of these groups takes over the reins.

Anyone can figure that out.

Mu Qingqing didn't know what he was doing there, and only assumed that he was just another person who wanted to curry favor with her because she was pretty.

Anyway, she has a lot of people like that around her. The rich ones are more direct; they'll ask you a number and ask how much it would cost for you to follow them.

Those who are short of money like to do things differently and put in more effort.

As for the older ones, they prefer to be taken care of by an uncle or older man, and then use their personal charm to win them over.

Because of her exceptional beauty, Mu Qingqing had seen all sorts of tricks.

No wonder.

When Chen Pingsheng went to get the car, Mu Lanqing reminded her, "Qingqing, please be polite to this person."

"I'm being quite polite!"

"Who can't see through your fake politeness?"

"Cousin, are you alright? You're not trying to set me up on a blind date with someone this old, are you?" Mu Qingqing stared at her cousin with a surprised expression.

"You're thinking shit."

Mulan Qing rolled her eyes at her, "With the few ounces of flesh on your chest, it's already a great blessing that your cousin lets you eat at the same table with him. Don't act like he's after your beauty."

"Cousin, that's going too far. You know me perfectly well. I've never lacked suitors from rich kids. It's just that I've been ignoring them."

Mu Qingqing's words are not wrong.

Mulanqing tapped her forehead, "Don't compare him to those rich kids who are pursuing you, it's just an insult to his status."

"Cousin, are you alright? Isn't he just a team leader at your company?"

"With your brain, no wonder you don't have breasts."

Mulanqing couldn't enlighten her, and she didn't want to reveal the truth to her directly.

Otherwise, if she were to drag Chen Pingsheng into an interview, she might never have the chance to have dinner with him again.

Some people are simply people whose social class has no access to them.

While others are enjoying life here, if she goes around showing off, she'll only earn their disgust the next day.

It's been over a month, and this is the first time Mu Lanqing has invited someone Chen Pingsheng doesn't know to have dinner with him.

She even gave an introduction before the meal, which shows that she was very cautious.

Mu Qingqing's family is also quite well-off.

At least she doesn't need to depend on anyone, and she won't lack any money.

Mulanqing has already given the hints; saying anything more would be pointless.

When Chen Pingsheng came out to pick them up, the top-of-the-line Maybach still looked very impressive.

It's very damaging to the average woman, but for a girl who's never short of rich second-generation suitors, it's nothing special.

There is no possibility that someone would rush over just because of a luxury car.

(End of this chapter)