The literary era since 1979

In the early morning, a slight breeze blew through the curtains.

The manuscripts of The Three-Body Problem were piled on the table. Fang Yan was flipping through the newspaper leisurely, with a smile on his face: "It's started."

"what?"

Keiko Matsuzaka came out of the kitchen carrying a fruit plate.

"nothing."

Fangyan put down the newspaper, walked to the balcony and admired the scenery of Tokyo Bay.

SoftBank is currently facing various difficulties such as strong competition, betrayal by subordinates, and huge debts. If Masayoshi Son cannot obtain loans or investments as soon as possible, SoftBank will be close to failure. Perhaps when Masayoshi Son is at his wits' end, he will remember that he exists.

Then he touched his chin, wondering if he had investigated Cisco personally or sent someone to investigate?

At this moment, a hand with flawless white skin appeared in front of him, with slender fingers holding a toothpick poking a piece of watermelon.

As she fed him, Keiko Matsuzaka said jokingly, "Thank you for your hard work. This is a reward for convincing Shochiku and Kadokawa Pictures to co-produce Love Letter." Then she looked at him inquiringly, "But Xiaojuan and I are very curious, how did you convince the president, as well as the presidents of Toei, Toho, and Daiei, to agree to let Kadokawa Pictures replace Nikkatsu and form the 'New Five Companies' in the Japanese film industry?"

"Want to know?"

Fangyan eats watermelon.

Keiko Matsuzaka nodded, and saw him open his mouth with a playful look in his eyes. She immediately understood what he meant and picked up another piece of watermelon.

“It looks difficult, but it’s not easy to do.”

Fangyan smiled. The signing event of "Love Letter" was not only hosted by Kadokawa Shoten, but also by Tokuma Shoten, the current financial sponsor of Daiei Kaisha. As long as Tokugawa Shoten could be convinced first, Daiei would naturally accept Kadokawa Pictures, and the next step of convincing Toho and Toei would be a natural outcome.

Keiko Matsuzaka was puzzled: "But how did you convince Tokugawa Shoten?"

Fang Yan said mysteriously, "Fame."

"reputation?"

Keiko Matsuzaka blinked her confused eyes.

Fangyan explained that Tokugawa Shoten, like Kadokawa Shoten, has a wide range of business. It has not only Daiei, which focuses on movies, but also subsidiaries such as Studio Ghibli, which focuses on animation, and Tokuma Japan Cultural Communication, which focuses on music and video software. Therefore, they are very concerned about the reputation and brand of the group. It was precisely because Nikkatsu chose to switch to making Cyan movies when it was in a business crisis that its own reputation was greatly damaged.

Toei, Toho, Shochiku and Daiei are actually all more or less ashamed to be associated with Nikkatsu, but no one has broken this window paper.

“No wonder Kadokawa Pictures replaced Nikkatsu instead of Daiei.”

Matsuzaka Keiko suddenly realized, and asked with sparkling eyes: "How come you are so smart?"

"Did you just realize it now?"

Fangyan raised his eyebrows and said, "If I don't put this clever energy into creation but into business, guess what will happen!"

"You're not doing badly now, otherwise, I wouldn't give you the money to manage, right?"

When Keiko Matsuzaka thought about how she had followed his advice and purchased properties in Tokyo and other places in advance, she realized that just over a year had passed and the published land prices had risen significantly. The housing prices in the Tokyo area alone had risen by 23.8%, and a one-bedroom apartment with two living rooms alone would cost about 2758 million.

Fangyan sat on the sofa, put his arm around her waist, and they talked and laughed affectionately.

"We will leave for China in August and transfer in Hong Kong."

Keiko Matsuzaka said, "Xiaojuan-chan and the others asked me to ask you, do you want to go with us, or go ahead by yourself?"

"Well, it all depends on him. Let's see when he comes to find me."

Fangyan picked up Masayoshi Son’s business card from the table.

…………

At the same time, the entire SoftBank was facing a formidable enemy, with the tiger of Nishi Kazuhiko in front and the ungrateful wolf of Kogure Kazuhiro behind, and was being attacked from both sides.

The company was in shambles, but that wasn't the only bad news.

Masayoshi Son tried every means to borrow money from banks, but they were not interested in this computer software company. Unless SoftBank also set up a "Financial Technology Department" like Hanwa Kogyo, financial institutions across Japan would be more willing to lend money to companies that were willing to speculate in foreign exchange, real estate and land.

Others who were willing to invest 10 billion to 15 billion yen all made exorbitant demands, some even demanding 51% of the shares, allowing them to become current managers with a small stake. The conditions were so harsh that they were even more unscrupulous than those of the Yakuza loan sharks.

"Boss, what should we do now?"

Furuya Yosuke looked worried.

After much thought, Son finally opened the drawer and took out the business card with only his dialect name and contact information:

"Guoya-kun, how is your investigation going on with the American company Cisco that I asked you to investigate?"

“There are some signs of progress.”

Furuya Yosuke said, "This is a company registered in San Jose, California. This year, it officially launched its first multi-protocol router, 'AGS'. Its customers are currently mainly American universities, such as Utah State University and the University of Iowa... However, it was recently involved in a lawsuit. Stanford University believes that Cisco's product is a work-related invention and the school owns the intellectual property rights. Negotiations are still ongoing."

Then he asked in confusion: "Boss, why are you paying attention to this small company? Its annual sales revenue is less than 50 US dollars?"

"A small company embroiled in lawsuits?"

Masayoshi Son carefully recalled what Fangyan had said and suddenly woke up.

The National Science Foundation of the United States has established its own computer communication network, "NSFnet", which is a wide area network used to connect various universities and several supercomputer centers in the United States. However, since the networks of various universities and companies use different network protocols and equipment, the demand for this type of multi-protocol router will continue to grow, and in the future it will extend to government, enterprises, homes and other scenarios.

Obviously, Cisco has undoubtedly stepped on the technological trend of global interconnection, and Fangyan has also dug up a gold mine!
Is he just lucky?
Or is it that he has good vision?

At this moment, he could no longer care about so many things. He made up his mind and called the number on the business card.

"Moximoxi, is this Mr. Fangyan?"

…………

After hanging up the phone, Fang Yan smiled and clapped his hands, then turned his gaze to Matsuzaka Keiko:

"Get ready, someone will be here soon."

"Is this the 'Sun Jun' you've been waiting for?"

Keiko Matsuzaka was surprised. "Come here?"

"If I don't show off my financial strength and let him see it with his own eyes, he will think that I can't afford to invest in SoftBank!"

Fangyan took off his coat and took out formal clothes from the closet.

"Should I avoid it?"

Keiko Matsuzaka pursed her lips.

"Why should we avoid it? Is there anything shameful about us?"

Fangyan disagrees. There is an unwritten rule in Japan that lovers are rarely reported or disclosed, and extramarital affairs are even tolerated.

Matsuzaka Keiko felt warm in her heart, "It's better to be careful, there are so many eyes watching you." Fangyan waved his hand, "No need, and if the investment is successful this time, you will also be one of SoftBank's shareholders."

Keiko Matsuzaka was very surprised: "Eh, me?"

Fang Yan was not planning to invest in SoftBank entirely in the name of his own foundation, but to avoid unnecessary trouble, he asked her to hold some shares on his behalf.

Matsuzaka Keiko smiled and said, "Okay then, I'll go get dressed and make tea for you."

Fangyan put on his clothes and waited quietly. After a while, the doorbell rang "Ding Dong Ding Dong".

Although Masayoshi Son, who was outside the house, was mentally prepared, when he saw that it was Keiko Matsuzaka who opened the door, his head started buzzing.

At first I thought I had remembered the wrong address. However, when I heard a familiar voice in the dialect, "Come in," from inside the house, I realized I had come to the right place.

Matsuzaka Keiko said with a smile: "You are Mr. Sun, right? Mr. Fang has been waiting for you in the living room."

Masayoshi Son was shocked and envious. He was indeed a great writer and was so elegant and romantic. No one would have thought that Keiko Matsuzaka, who was hailed as "the most beautiful woman in the Showa era" and "the national goddess", would have such a relationship with Fangyan. He immediately respected and feared him and looked up to him.

Looking at such a magnificent mansion again, I became more and more convinced of Fangyan's financial resources. How could the difference in their character be so huge?
He is obviously so much younger than me, yet he is handsome, talented, rich, and popular with women!
When he met Fangyan for the second time, Masayoshi Son felt a little ashamed. He couldn't help but bend down slightly and took the initiative to greet him.

"Sun Jun, we meet again."

Fang Yan introduced them to each other, "I guess I don't need to introduce this guy, right?"

"Who in Japan doesn't know the name 'Keiko Matsuzaka'?"

Son immediately greeted the hostess according to the rules, and then heard Keiko Matsuzaka laughing and saying:
"I'll go prepare some snacks and fruits for you. You guys can chat slowly."

"excuse me."

"sit."

The two sat down face to face.

As soon as Masayoshi Son knelt down, he bent down and said, "Mr. Fangyan, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for inviting me here!" His tone was extremely sincere. After all, showing him the relationship between himself and Keiko Matsuzaka was undoubtedly a high degree of trust.

"do not mind."

While Fangyan was returning the favor, he couldn't help but sigh that he was indeed a smart man, "Mr. Sun, you didn't come to me this time to talk about computers, did you?"

"Mr. Fangyan is right!"

Son implicitly said he was coming to seek his help as SoftBank was currently facing some minor troubles.

"I saw it in the newspapers, but most of the headlines were words like 'crisis', 'danger', 'difficulties', etc."

Fangyan saw through it but didn't say anything: "These people who study journalism! I think the media is exaggerating again, making groundless accusations! It's completely fake news!"

Hearing this and seeing Masayoshi Son's embarrassed expression, Matsuzaka Keiko suppressed her smile and brought snacks and tea to the table.

“There is indeed a lot of fake news about SoftBank!”

Masayoshi Son cleared his throat and said, "I wonder how much you know about me and SoftBank, which I created?"

Fangyan looked at his nose with his eyes, and then looked at his heart with his nose, and said, "I understand a little, but not much."

Son Masayoshi narrated his entrepreneurial history seriously: "In fact, the reports about me are not completely false, they are just incomplete."

"After graduating from the United States, I returned to Japan with the money I earned. I gave up the career foundation I had built there because I made a promise to my parents: I would definitely return to Japan in the future and start a big business."

Seeing that he was going to tell a story, Fangyan and Matsuzaka Keiko listened quietly.

"After I came back, I spent a long time compiling 1000 business plans. After investigating and thinking about almost all industries, I chose personal computers, which had the most promising future and where I was most likely to succeed. It turned out that I was right. After I founded SoftBank Japan in 56, sales reached 20 billion yen the following year, and nearly 50 billion yen the following year."

"But perhaps it was fate's test for me, and I subsequently fell seriously ill. The doctor told me that I could live for a maximum of five more years."

Son was a little emotional when he talked about this. "At that time, my daughter had just been born and my career had just laid a solid foundation. I had no choice but to entrust the company to a friend and I was admitted to the hospital."

"In despair, I had to focus on the development of the company and put my hope on treatment. During those days, I read more than 3000 books. I really didn't know what to do. But when I reread "Sakamoto Ryoma", I saw that Ryoma accomplished a real feat in the last five years of his life. I was unwilling to just disappear quietly like this!"

Son's baby face was determined and his eyes were bright: "In the end, we took a risk and tried a new treatment method. There is about a 70% chance of cure, but if it fails, it will accelerate death. Before this, no one in Japan dared to try this treatment."

"Luckily, I recovered."

"It's a blessing."

This short story shocked Keiko Matsuzaka about his experience.

Just when he was about to achieve great things and become a young upstart, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. This was indeed an unimaginable pressure and despair.

"However, after returning to the front line, I was faced with internal and external troubles. After spending a lot of energy to regain the position of president, I encountered an even greater crisis. My competitors, with the support of a powerful force behind them, poached the core members who held the core business secrets of our company. Some of my subordinates who had sworn allegiance to me also betrayed me at this time and chose to start their own business."

"Of course, it is undeniable that I am partly responsible for their departure. It was my recklessness and strategic mistakes that led to huge losses and debts for SoftBank, causing them to lose their previous trust in me. But this is not a reason for them to betray me and SoftBank!"

"Their newly established company is trying to steal our trade secrets, replace our market share, and thus shake the foundation of SoftBank!"

When Matsuzaka Keiko heard this, she couldn't help but be moved. She looked at Fangyan deeply again, but saw that he was completely indifferent.

Son also noticed this and found that his pity-mongering seemed to have no effect in front of him, so he tried again:
"Over the past few days, the company has been reorganized. We have worked together and have the awareness and determination to resist the attack of our competitors head-on! However, the opponent is very strong. I will not lose in specific business management and development strategies! However, the most important problem is that SoftBank is now carrying a debt of 10 billion yen, while the opponent has the financial and resource support from large groups and conglomerates."

“So there needs to be money injected into SoftBank, right?”

Fangyan blew on the steaming tea.

"That's right! As long as I can turn things around, I have absolute confidence that I can defeat them!"

Son said: "At present, they will use their huge financial support to erode our supplier resources at a higher purchase price than us, and erode our sales channel resources at a lower sales price than us. In this way, our profits are bound to be greatly reduced, and the pressure to repay debts will be even greater."

Fang Yan said: "Besides, because of the current situation of debt and the departure of key members of the team, it is more difficult to obtain financial support from outside?"

"That's true." Son sighed. "After staying in the hospital for a few years, it's like reintegrating into this world. I thought I could get these funds based on my past proven strength, but this time the opponent is really powerful."

"With Mr. Sun's ability and SoftBank's strength, it's not like they really can't find funding, right?"

Fang Yan said casually, "Besides, the Bank of Japan has lowered interest rates and loosened monetary policy, so it will be easier to borrow money."

Son Masayoshi covered up with embarrassment, saying, "Small amounts of funds cannot help solve the fundamental problem. Large amounts of funds require too much, and the most difficult thing to face is still the pressure brought by the 10 billion yen debt. If it is in the form of a loan, given our current financial situation, the interest rate conditions provided by the other party will increase our debt repayment pressure. If it is an investment, it will take too long to actually pay off the debt and start distributing profits. We can only exchange it in proportion, which is almost equivalent to selling the company..."

Fang Yan asked: "Then Mr. Sun came to me, what kind of proposal do you have?"

Masayoshi Son looked him in the face: "I remember Fang Yanjun said that although you don't understand technology, you respect it the most, so you will spare no effort to invest in emerging technology industries, such as the 'Cisco' you mentioned before. And I have also listened to your insights on computers, the Internet, etc., and I think you will focus on long-term interests and recognize my people, so I want to see if Fang Yanjun has the willingness and ability to help us SoftBank?"

Before coming here, he was worried about Fangyan's lack of financial resources, but now he can confirm one thing:
Fangyan might have the ability to help him!

But Fangyan, the financial sponsor, is not as easily bewitched as Matsuzaka Keiko.

We are all thousand-year-old foxes, why are you playing Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio with me?
He first showed his extraordinaryness by making a strong statement, then told the tear-jerking story of his entrepreneurial process, and now he is acting as if we are all young and will create the future together. This set of rhetoric is exactly the same as Jack Ma's. No wonder he and Jack Ma later felt a sense of sympathy for each other.

He took a sip of tea and said calmly, "So, how much money does Sun Jun need?" (End of this chapter)