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

Liu Zhi slumped into the large leather chair, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. His outburst of rage seemed to have drained him of all his strength, leaving only lingering fear and a profound sense of powerlessness.

To bring in Lu Yang to counter the Li family?

This is practically driving a tiger to devour a wolf—no, it's inviting a wolf into the house!

Although the Li family father and son are powerful and covet control of the listed company and the influence of the VCD joint venture, their influence cannot reach into the inner workings of Lianxiang Holdings Group.

The Li family's roots are in Hong Kong. The Li family's influence needs to be exerted through the boards of directors of listed companies and joint ventures. Liu Zhi believes that with the controlling position of the parent company and years of operation, he can still maneuver around and check them.

However, this move by the young man surnamed Lu is a drastic measure, aiming to directly encroach on the heartland of Liu Zhi's power base!

"No... absolutely not..." Liu Zhi murmured to himself, his eyes filled with resolute resistance.

Should Lu Yang be allowed to acquire a stake in Lianxiang Holdings?
What's the difference between that and handing over part of your house key to a treacherous robber?
Liu Zhi's absolute authority within Lianxiang will be fundamentally challenged!

What will the Chinese Academy of Sciences think of him?

What will the veterans and core members who rely on the interests of the "employee stock ownership association" and unite around him think?
Once morale is low, the team becomes extremely difficult to lead.

The more Liu Zhi thought about it, the more alarmed and furious he became.

This guy surnamed Lu isn't negotiating at all.

This was clearly a deliberate attempt to take advantage of his predicament, where he was cornered by the Li family and beset by internal and external troubles. They offered him a condition that was almost impossible for him to accept, yet it hit the nail on the head and threw him into a state of panic!

"You bastard Lu Yang... what a brilliant scheme!" Liu Zhi gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with cold light. "You're trying to force me, Old Liu, to my death!"

He suddenly stood up and paced anxiously back and forth in the office.

As the city lights outside the window began to twinkle, they reflected on his ever-changing face.

Reject Lu Yang?

That means completely shutting down the door that "might" lead to confrontation with the Li family.

Although there may be a more dangerous trap behind this door.

He needs to face the immense pressure from Li Ka-shing and his son on both the listed company and Lianxiang Digital alone. If discontent arises within the Chinese Academy of Sciences and echoes the sentiments of the Li family, the consequences could be dire.

accept?

That's absolutely unacceptable!
This is like drinking poison to quench thirst; it's like destroying your own Great Wall!

Just as Liu Zhi was torn between his inner turmoil and his ruthless suggestion to "strike at the heart of the enemy," Lu Yang's suggestion left him unsettled and in a dilemma, another red telephone on the table rang urgently.

The ringing sounded particularly jarring in the quiet office, carrying an ominous premonition.

Liu Zhi's heart skipped a beat.

This phone number connects directly to the leading officials at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his turbulent thoughts, composed his expression, and picked up the receiver with slightly trembling hands.

The voice on the other end of the phone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority:

"Comrade Liu Zhi, regarding the Hong Kong-based Cheung Kong Holdings' takeover bid, the recent sharp fluctuations in Lianxiang's stock price, and... some discussions about the group's future equity structure, the institute needs you to report and explain in detail as soon as possible."

Liu Zhi's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

How did the news spread so fast?!

The Chinese Academy of Sciences is indeed already paying attention.

Before Lu Yang could even land his punch, the storm brought by the Li family was still raging, and the questioning from his superior had already arrived.

The eye of the storm has shifted from the electronic screens of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to this office that controls the lifeline of the Lianxiang Empire.

The busy tone coming from the receiver was like a cold hammer, striking Liu Zhi's tense nerves again and again.

He slowly put down the red hotline phone, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the excessive force, and the cold sweat in his palms almost soaked the expensive leather armrests.

"Old Liu, there's something else. I've heard that a private capital group called Century Group in Pengcheng, Southern China, is interested in investing in your Lianxiang Holdings Group. There are also rumors that you two have already made initial contact, but the specifics are still unknown, and we haven't seen you report on it. However, there are people within the Chinese Academy of Sciences discussing this matter. Old Liu, we've been friends for many years. You were one of the founders of Lianxiang and are now a pioneer in Lianxiang's reforms. What do you think?"

The seemingly ordinary question posed by the former leader of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was like a poisoned dagger, precisely piercing his most sensitive and fearful nerve center.

He never expected that his secret contact with Lu Yang, which was full of probing and scheming, and even humiliation, would be exposed to the top leadership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences so quickly!

The speed was breathtaking, and the precision of the message delivery path was chilling.

"Lu Yang! It must be that little bastard surnamed Lu! That treacherous and cunning thing!" Liu Zhi slammed his fist on the heavy mahogany desk, making a dull thud, and even the teacup on the desk jumped.

Anger instantly clouded his judgment. He was almost certain that it was that young man surnamed Lu who deliberately leaked the news, revealing the earth-shattering proposal of "investing in Lianxiang Holdings Group" to the Chinese Academy of Sciences!

The sinister intentions behind this are self-evident—they want to use the Chinese Academy of Sciences to force him to submit, or at least leave a negative impression on the leaders of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that Liu Zhi had "private contact and unclear intentions," thus creating a rift between him and his superiors.

His insincere words to his former boss on the phone—"Reform is necessary, but it shouldn't be too fast..."—now felt like swallowing a fly. To prevent Lu Yang, this "barbarian," from seizing control of Lianxiang's lifeline, the "Holding Group," he had actually suppressed his deep-seated desire to accelerate reform and consolidate power, uttering words that bordered on conservative and regressive!

This is simply a betrayal of the ideals he has strived for throughout his life!
What chilled him even more was that, although his former leader outwardly acknowledged his "concerns," he explicitly instructed: Talks must be held! And they must be held according to the "Li family model of Hong Kong," making Century Group a shareholder of the listed company Lianxiang Group. If this matter succeeds, that would be the best outcome; if not, the parent company, Lianxiang Holdings Group, could act as the financing entity, and introducing external capital would not be out of the question.

What does this mean?
This shows that the top leadership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is open and even somewhat positive about introducing capital, even from "dangerous elements" like Lu Yang!

The old leader's words, "For Lianxiang to grow and solidify its leading position in the domestic PC business... it cannot do without the support of domestic and foreign capital. You, Lao Liu, were the most supportive back then," were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in his heart.

He originally intended to use the power of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to resist Lu Yang's reach towards the holding group, but the attitude of the Chinese Academy of Sciences instead became an aid in pushing Lu Yang to enter the company's board of directors!
A tremendous sense of frustration and a deeper sense of crisis overwhelmed Liu Zhi like an icy tide.

He slumped back into the large chair, as if his spine had been removed.

As the city lights outside the window began to illuminate the city, their dazzling glow fell upon his tired and somber face, reflecting an unprecedented sense of gravity and anxiety.

With Li Ka-shing and his son Li Ze-kai working together, the father and son have gained considerable influence in the listed company, enough to stir up trouble and challenge his authority.

Now, the Chinese Academy of Sciences is inclined to let Lu Yang in as well... These three beasts, each one of them, covet the power in his hands and the giant ship that he has poured his life's blood into, Lianxiang.

"Driving a tiger into swallowing a wolf? Inviting wolves into the house? I'm practically sitting on a powder keg right now, surrounded by jackals and tigers with lit fuses!" Liu Zhi closed his eyes in pain, rubbing his throbbing temples with his fingers.

Lu Yang's "leak" and "exorbitant demands" completely threw him off balance and pushed him into an even more perilous situation.

He not only faces the relentless pressure from the Li family in the capital market, but also has to contend with pressure from his superior, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and be wary of Lu Yang, a seemingly "invited" but actually more ambitious "troublemaker." What to do?
Why refuse to let Lu Yang join the listed company?

The Chinese Academy of Sciences clearly expressed its support for contact; a firm refusal would be tantamount to going against the leadership's will and destroying its own position.

Do you agree to let Lu Yang in?

That would be tantamount to planting another powerful time bomb in his own board of directors, creating a chaotic three-way power struggle with the Li family, and further diluting his control.

What's even more terrifying is that what that kid really wants is a holding company!
Now that he's settling for a second-best option by joining a listed company, who can guarantee that this isn't just a stepping stone for him?

Once this Mr. Lu gains a foothold in the listed company, he could form a subtle check or...collusion with the Li family?
Does Liu Zhi still have a chance to turn things around?
Liu Zhi's breathing became heavy and disordered, and the air in the office seemed to freeze, leaving only the sound of his heavy heartbeat.

The immense pressure was like an invisible millstone, grinding against his nerves.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the huge "Equity Structure Chart of Lenovo Holdings and its Subsidiaries" on the office wall, his eyes finally locking onto the area representing the 35% equity of the "Employee Stock Ownership Association".

Without a doubt, this is the core cornerstone of his personal power.

“The enemy of my enemy…” A struggle flashed in Liu Zhi’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a desperate ruthlessness.

He needed a force, a force strong enough to counterbalance or even suppress the Li family father and son in a short period of time, to give him a chance to catch his breath and regain his footing. Even if this force itself harbored malicious intentions, at least it could buy him precious time and space.

"Tuk-tuk-tuk."

There was a gentle knock on the office door, and the secretary's slightly nervous voice came through: "President Liu, the President's Office of Pengcheng Century Group has just sent a formal letter. Mr. Lu Yang has accepted the invitation and will arrive in Beijing the day after tomorrow afternoon. He hopes to meet with you to have in-depth discussions on 'matters of mutual concern'."

Liu Zhi's body tensed instantly, and his pupils contracted slightly.

What was supposed to come finally came!

And they came so quickly and so forcefully!
Lu Yang, the "troublemaker" he least wanted to face but had to, had already embarked on his journey north.

That's enough. There's no use thinking about it now. The person took the initiative to contact us. Regardless of whether they had malicious intentions, we'll only know the outcome after both parties meet and sit down to talk.

Shenzhen, top-floor office of Century Group headquarters.

Standing before the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, Lu Yang looked down at the vibrant city below, the afterglow of the setting sun casting a long shadow of him.

"So, not only was Old Liu not scared off, but he also offered you, 'President Lu,' a way to 'discuss things in detail' in Beijing through the Chinese Academy of Sciences?" Wei Shu sat on the sofa, his slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his tone tinged with amusement.

"Hmm." Lu Yang turned around, a meaningful smile curving his lips, his eyes gleaming with the light of a hunter seeing his prey step into a trap.

"It seems that the pressure from Li Ka-shing and his son is greater than we expected. So great that he's even willing to consider taking the 'knife' I'm extending towards the holding group, even if it's just a pretense."

"So you're really planning to go? Just to disgust the Li family father and son?" Wei Shu asked, raising an eyebrow.

She knew that her boss's intentions went far beyond that.

Lu Yang shook his head slightly, walked back to his desk and sat down, his fingers unconsciously tracing an invisible chessboard on the table.

"Disgusting them was just a side effect. The Li family invested in Lianxiang because they valued its platform as a leading PC manufacturer in mainland China and its potential in the VCD project."

“And I…” He paused, his gaze sharpening, “What I’m eyeing is another card in Lao Liu’s hand, a card that he himself may not even realize is worth much.”

Wei Shu immediately understood, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Dazhong Electronics! The bridgehead to the northern market!"

She quickly sketched out a strategic vision in her mind: "By taking over Dazhong and combining it with our Century Electrical Plaza's layout in the south and east, we can immediately form a strategic semi-encirclement of competitors like Gome and Mingzhu. When Lianxiang invested in Dazhong, it was more of a financial investment and a channel experiment. They didn't really put their heart into managing it. This business was a liability in their hands, but in our hands, it is a key link in opening up the national electrical appliance retail network!"

"Yes."

Lu Yang nodded approvingly. "The equity of Lianxiang Holdings Group? To touch it now would be like playing with fire, the timing is not right, and the cost would be too high. But the lucrative Dazhong Electronics is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the situation... oh no, I mean, to have a 'strategic partnership'."

Old Liu is in a terrible predicament. The Li family, father and son, are eyeing him covetously, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' attitude is ambiguous. He needs outside help to stabilize his situation.

And we can become his 'external aid'.”

"So, it's a feint, a covert maneuver?" Wei Shu had completely grasped Lu Yang's entire plan.

“Yes.” Lu Yang leaned forward slightly, his gaze intense. “I will go to Beijing, openly. I will raise the banner of ‘investing in Lianxiang Group to jointly resist the Li family,’ making a big show of it and giving the Li family a good dressing down. I will let them know that I, Lu Yang, am determined to wade into this mess, and that the board of directors of Lianxiang is no longer something they can easily control. At the negotiating table, I will appear to be ‘considering the big picture,’ and I will make some concessions on ‘face’ such as the shareholding ratio and board seats. I will even promise to help Lao Liu check and balance the Li family.”

“And I’m in the shadows,” Wei Shu replied.

A knowing smile appeared on her lips.

"Contact Lao Liu privately, or one of his trusted key figures."

Our core condition is this: Lianxiang Holdings must transfer all of its shares in Dazhong Electronics to Century Group cleanly, completely, and without any additional conditions at market price!
Furthermore, Lianxiang and all its subsidiaries have permanently withdrawn from the electrical appliance chain retail sector, handing over the downstream terminal channels entirely to Century Group for integration and operation.

In exchange, we will provide him with maximum support at the listed company level to counter the Li family.

"exactly."

Lu Yang leaned back in his chair with satisfaction. "What Lao Liu fears most right now is losing control of Lianxiang. The Li family is an overt threat, while the attitude of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is a potential variable."

After saying that, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers: "We'll help him temporarily withstand the pressure from the Li family so that he can concentrate on stabilizing the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the internal situation. This 'deal' is extremely attractive to him."

As for Dazhong Electronics?

In his eyes, Dazhong Electronics was far less important than the equity of the holding group and the control of the listed company.

He'd probably do the math: trading a mere "scrap" that he didn't really value for the support of a powerful ally on the core battlefield.

Wei Shu stood up, her eyes resolute: "Understood, boss."

"I will immediately begin arranging contact with our undercover agents in Beijing. I will personally draft the personnel and plan to ensure that we find out Dazhong's bottom line and get the terms to Lao Liu's ear before your formal negotiations begin."

“Okay.” Lu Yang also stood up, walked to the window, and looked again in the direction of the northern capital, his eyes deep.

"This play, both on and off stage, must be performed well. Does the Li family want to reap the benefits? Does Old Liu want to use one tiger to devour another? Ha... Let's see who the real hunter is."

The order was given to prepare a chartered plane to fly to Beijing tomorrow.

"I, Lu Yang, am determined to attend this 'Feast at Hongmen'!"

Night gradually fell over Shenzhen, but the lights on the top floor of the Century Group building remained bright. A covert battle of capital and power surrounding the Beijing Lianxiang was quietly unfolding a more intense and complex chapter as Lu Yang headed north. (End of Chapter)