Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

Yes!

This is a rare opportunity, but it's a rare opportunity for you guys.

The Li family! Has capital also decided to enter the market?

Yin Mingzhu remained silent, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the cold phone case.

The scenario described by Lao Liu is terrifying: Century Group has an unfathomable pool of funds, and its two subsidiaries, "Little Prodigy" and "Little Genius," are currently unrivaled in their respective categories in China, with no competitors able to rival them. With the support of these companies, they are capable of crushing any regional appliance chain store.

Joining Lao Liu's alliance, uniting everyone as one, and forming the so-called "Supermarket Alliance" seems to be the only way to fight against this behemoth.

With Lianxiang's brand appeal, Lao Liu's distribution network, and the coveted capital of the Li family in Gangcheng, this combination, at least on paper, certainly has the qualifications to compete with that guy.

A strong urge almost made her burst out of her throat and agree.

The humiliation and resentment of being repeatedly suppressed by Lu Yang, the near collapse of his career, and the anger towards that man's cold-blooded ruthlessness surged like magma at this moment, and the opportunity for revenge seemed to be just around the corner!
However, just as her emotions were about to overwhelm her, her gaze swept over the document on the table that read "Mingzhu Electrical Appliance City Development Plan".

She stayed up all night revising it herself; every word was imbued with the painstaking effort she put into creating it from scratch.

Last year, I left CCTV and stayed in Beijing to start my own business, establishing a so-called advertising company. It seems glamorous, but in reality, I am controlled by others everywhere, like a puppet on a string.

For Mingzhu Mall, from site selection and decoration to difficult negotiations with various domestic manufacturers, large and small, and then to watching the flow of people in and the sales volume rise... the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment of creating and controlling everything is irreplaceable by any empty name.

"Supermarket Alliance?" Yin Mingzhu sneered inwardly, instantly seeing through its true nature.

Once they join, the dominant position will inevitably fall into other hands.

Old Liu needs her Pearl Department Store in Hunan Province as a bridgehead, while the Li family needs a springboard and control to quickly enter the mainland retail market.

How much of the shares does Yin Mingzhu, one of the nominal "founders" of this alliance, actually own?
How much say do they have?
Ultimately, they will likely be marginalized, or like in an advertising company, swept along by capital, or even kicked out and made to benefit others.

Old Liu's "alliance" is nothing more than another form of annexation.

“…President Liu.” Yin Mingzhu finally spoke, her voice carrying a perfectly measured hoarseness and weariness, as if she were troubled by immense pressure.

“I understand everything you’ve said. The Century Group’s aggressive approach is indeed causing us great anxiety. Your and the Li family’s proposal is a timely and helpful suggestion, and it’s very tempting…”

She paused deliberately, letting Lao Liu on the other end of the phone sense her "wavering" and "gratitude".

"But," she changed the subject, her tone becoming unusually cautious.

"This is a matter of great importance!"

"This is not just about Mingzhu Mall; it's about a complete reshuffling of the industry landscape."

"The attitudes of General Manager Huang of Gome, General Manager Chen of Yongle, General Manager Zhang of Dazhong... are crucial."

"For an alliance to be formed, it must be based on the concerted efforts of everyone, not just wishful thinking on the part of our two companies."

"Otherwise, how can a disorganized group fight against Lu Yang's solid defense?"

"President Liu, you and the Li family are powerful and naturally have nothing to fear. However, my Pearl Mall is still relatively new. If we rashly choose sides and do not receive the strong support of the other major players, I'm afraid..."

She didn't finish her sentence, leaving the unspoken message clear to everyone.

Yes, she was telling Lao Liu across the street that she was worried about becoming the first target and being crushed by the Century Group, so it was impossible for her to so easily agree to join the so-called "Supermarket Alliance" and accept investment from the Li family, a large capital family in Hong Kong.

These words were perfectly worded, expressing both "importance" and "agreement" with Lao Liu's proposal, while cleverly shifting the decision-making pressure onto other regional giants who had not yet expressed their opinions.

The core message is clear: equity investment is negotiable, but it must be a collective discussion. I welcome investment, but don't expect too much control. Also, you need to talk to other people first. Don't just bully me, a weak woman. It's not too late for me, a weak woman, to seriously consider joining after everyone else has agreed.

Old Liu was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the phone, seemingly surprised that Yin Mingzhu hadn't been immediately blinded by passion.

Didn't you say you didn't get along with your sister?
Didn't she say she hated her "former fiancé" who is now her brother-in-law?

How can you remain so calm?

But he quickly realized what he meant and said with understanding, "President Yin has considered everything very well!"

"Don't worry, I'll personally negotiate with the Li family. The terms will be very favorable, ensuring the interests of all parties!"

"I will contact Gome and Yongle as soon as possible. We are all in the same boat. We share the same fate. I believe they can see the situation clearly!"

He was eager to forge an alliance and clearly accepted Yin Mingzhu's claim that "a united front is needed," at least on the surface.

"Okay, then I'll wait for President Liu's good news." Yin Mingzhu replied smoothly, her tone filled with anticipation, and then hung up the phone.

As soon as she put down her phone, the weariness on her face vanished instantly, and her eyes sharpened like an eagle's.

She immediately pressed the intercom: "Yu Li, pay close attention to any statements or moves made by Gome, Yongle, Dazhong, and Dongze today, especially their attitude towards Century Plaza and us... no, towards the entire 'external capital' intervention. Report back to me immediately if you have any news!"

Thousands of miles away in Shenzhen, Lu Yang stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, overlooking the city's CBD lights below the Century Tower.

He held a cup of tea in his hand, his expression calm to the point of indifference.

Spread out on the table are the travel itinerary for accompanying a mother during childbirth in Singapore and the authorization documents to be signed.

After lengthy negotiations, the high-precision lithography machine from the windmill country of Western Europe is finally about to arrive at Singapore International Port via ocean container. The next step is intensive installation and adaptation.

Building an eight-inch wafer fab is not a simple task, but fortunately the most difficult time has passed, and from now on it will just be a matter of slow and steady progress.

Besides attending the ceremony for the lithography machine's arrival at the park, Lu Yang also needed to meet someone he had chosen. This person was recommended to him by Wei Shu, the female president of Century Group, after she had met with experts from various fields during negotiations with all parties. This person was one of the heads of the soon-to-be-built eight-inch wafer fab.

Assistant Lu Nini knocked and entered, reporting in a low voice: "Chairman, here's a summary of feedback from various regions. Huang, the general manager of Gome in Chengdu, has issued a strong statement, announcing price reductions and removing our products from shelves, including Xiaoshentong VCD players, Xiaotiancai computers, and Xiaotiancai learning machines. This does not include products from Duan's BBK company for now. Chen, the general manager of Yongle in Shanghai, is strategically scaling back and shifting towards lower-tier markets. Zhang, the general manager of Dazhong in Yanjing, is calling for calm and seeking alliance cooperation… Additionally, there are unconfirmed reports that Liu, the general manager of Lianxiang, seems to be urgently contacting people from the Li family in Hong Kong, possibly related to an 'alliance'."

Lu Yang's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes deep, as if everything was within his expectations.

He took a small sip of tea: "The Li family? Old Liu certainly knows how to find help."

"Understood. Continue to monitor the situation and tell the heads of each 'Century Square' to proceed steadily and surely according to the original plan. During my absence, let them play this domestic game well."

He put down his teacup and glanced at the Singapore itinerary on the table. The turmoil back home seemed far less daunting than the impending arrival of his new baby. Taking advantage of the opportunity to attend the wafer fab's lithography machine installation ceremony in Singapore and to find the person in charge after the fab's official opening and production, he could finally spend some quality time with his eagerly awaiting daughter. She had given up her familiar environment back home for him, staying there alone to have his baby; he couldn't let her down—that would be too cruel.

. . .

The dazzling lights of Victoria Harbour seem to still linger on my retina, and the clouds outside the private jet window appear to be edged with gold.

Three hours later, Lao Liu sat in the back seat of a luxury car heading towards Gome's headquarters, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the leather armrest, his excitement almost overflowing.

Just yesterday, in that top-tier clubhouse overlooking the entire city in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Island, he and Li Ka-shing's eldest son—the eldest son of the Li family—held hands tightly and smiled broadly as they faced the flashing camera lights.

Become!

Lianxiang Technology Joins Hands with Cheung Kong Holdings to Build a Super Electrical Appliance Retail Alliance!

The Li family invests heavily, and Lianxiang ambitiously targets the mainland's trillion-yuan market!

The bolded headlines in the newspaper were still buzzing in his mind.

With Cheung Kong's capital commitment, the Li family's prestigious brand, and Lianxiang's brand and channel connections, the concept of this "super chain store alliance" had already transformed in his mind into an invincible fleet that was about to sweep the market.

The steady and powerful assurance from the eldest son of the Li family still echoed in my ears: "Don't worry, Mr. Liu, my father is extremely optimistic about the prospects of the mainland electrical appliance retail market. Funding is not a problem. Cheung Kong will fully support the alliance's integration and expansion."

Our first stop must be Gome!

Old Liu had sharp eyes.

Huang, the general manager of Gome in Chengdu, made a strong statement and took the lead in publicly removing Century Group's products from the shelves. He clearly stood on the opposite side of that kid. This is simply a god-given ally!
Taking over Gome is equivalent to instantly possessing a super fortress covering the entire country and a powerful offensive weapon. With the help of the vast and mature offline sales network that Gome has cultivated over the past decade, the framework of the alliance can be established immediately.

Moreover, Gome was the first to stand up against Century Square, and this "courage" and "shared hatred" was, in Lao Liu's view, the best entry point to persuade them to join the alliance.

He could almost imagine the surprise and approval in Lao Huang's eyes when he appeared before Lao Huang with the backing of the Li family's capital.

The car smoothly came to a stop in front of the impressive Gome headquarters building.

Old Liu took a deep breath, straightened his specially made Armani suit, and with a confident yet reserved smile on his face, he strode confidently toward the door, accompanied by his assistant and a senior investment manager sent by the Li family.

He could almost see the scene of shaking hands and making friends in the conference room, celebrating the grand occasion together.

However, reality poured cold water on him.

The receptionist wore a professional smile, but her tone carried an unspeakable distance: "Mr. Liu, I'm very sorry, Mr. Huang's schedule is full today, and he really can't find the time to see you."

Old Liu's smile froze for a moment, then he regained his composure: "It's alright, we can wait, or you could please inform them again that Manager Li from Hong Kong Cheung Kong Holdings is also here and has something very important to discuss with President Huang."

He deliberately emphasized "CK Asset Holdings" and "very important".

The receptionist's smile remained unchanged, and she didn't even glance at the investment manager beside her, who represented the Li family with an extraordinary air. She simply repeated in a formulaic manner, "I'm really sorry, Mr. Huang's schedule today is fixed and cannot be changed at the last minute. Please understand, Ms. Liu."

Once, twice, three times... No matter how the assistant negotiated, no matter what identity the manager Li revealed, the reply was always the same: General Manager Huang is not available.

Old Liu's composure finally crumbled.

He stood in the spacious, bright, yet icy lobby of Gome's headquarters, surrounded by Gome employees rushing around, their occasional glances seeming to carry a silent mockery.

He felt like a meticulously dressed clown receiving no applause. His expensive suit now seemed particularly jarring, clinging to his body and making him feel suffocated.

Just as he was suppressing his anger and preparing to have his assistant make another forceful demand, a man in a suit, who looked like a middle manager, strode over with a hint of arrogance on his face.

"Mr. Liu, I've heard so much about you." The man nodded slightly, his tone flat and emotionless. "Mr. Huang asked me to pass on a message to you."

Old Liu perked up, thinking that things had taken a turn for the better.

The middle-aged man cleared his throat; his voice, though not loud, pierced the slightly noisy lobby with each word like a knife:

"General Manager Huang said, 'Lianxiang, a company that sells computers, is not qualified to lead those of us who started out in the white goods industry.'"

"Mr. Huang also said, 'Even if we were to cooperate, Gome would not choose to cooperate with compradors.'"

"comprador"!
These two words were like two resounding slaps to Old Liu's face!

He felt a surge of heat rush to his head, his vision went black, and his cheeks instantly burned.

The Li family investment manager behind him also looked extremely grim.

After the man finished speaking, he didn't even wait for Lao Liu to react. He simply nodded in a formulaic manner and said, "The message has been delivered. Please make yourself at home, Mr. Liu."

After saying that, he turned and left without any hesitation.

"Outrageous! Ungrateful! Arrogant!" Old Liu trembled with rage, pointing at the man's back, his voice sharp and distorted with extreme anger and humiliation.

His meticulously planned alliance strategy, and the Li family capital backing that he was so proud of, were so contemptuously dismissed as "unqualified" and "compradors" by Gome and this guy surnamed Huang!
Just as Lao Liu was so angry in the Gome lobby that he was about to explode with rage, local financial news was playing on a large color TV hanging on the side of the lobby.

A clear female news anchor's voice, like a cold needle, precisely pierced his chaotic eardrums:

"...According to the latest news from this station, Gome Electrical Appliances announced today that it has successfully completed a new round of strategic financing."

Domestic home appliance giant Changhong Group and white goods giant Haier Group have jointly made a strategic investment in Gome. The three parties will carry out in-depth cooperation in areas such as supply chain integration, channel expansion and the construction of a new retail ecosystem.

The chairman of Changhong Group stated that this investment aims to create a powerful alliance and jointly build a solid fortress for domestic home appliance retail... This financing will greatly enhance Gome's financial strength and its influence in the industry chain. It is understood that Gome has formulated plans to accelerate its expansion into first-tier and new first-tier city markets such as Guangzhou and Chengdu…

The scene shifts to Huang, who is beaming with pride as he shakes hands and signs a contract with the CEOs of Changhong and Haier. He is all smiles and full of self-satisfaction.

With a "thud," the phone that Old Liu was holding tightly slipped from his hand and fell onto the carpet with a dull thud.

He stood frozen in place.

His face changed from red to green, then from green to white.

"How is this possible? Why? Why didn't I receive any advance notice?" (End of Chapter)