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

Although I was very dissatisfied, and even very angry inside.

However, the outcome was already decided.

There was no way for the eldest son of the Li family to continue pestering and arguing here.

He is a smart man. He would never do something meaningless. Doing so would only damage his reputation as the eldest son of the Li family, and even bring shame to the entire Li family in Hong Kong.

So he was very calm and decisive at this moment, got up, snorted coldly, turned his face away and left, making sure to show his disdain and the demeanor of a rich young master.

He wanted to avoid being seen in his disheveled state by the media reporters who were waiting outside after he went out.

But can one escape for a time, or for a lifetime?

Obviously not!
Not to mention whether, after he, the eldest son of the Li family, returns home, he will have a younger brother nicknamed "Little Superman" who will mock him, the heir to the family head.

However, Lu Yang's Century Home Appliances acquired Dazhong Electronics in Beijing and Mingzhu Electronics in Hunan Province through a massive takeover, and then fully acquired Sanlian Home Appliances, which held a monopoly in the home appliance chain retail market in Shandong Province. After the news spread...

The first to react were not mainland media, but a Hong Kong and Taiwan media outlet called Ta Kung Pao.

On that day, the front page of the Ta Kung Pao featured a powerful article personally written by the editor-in-chief: "Century Alliance Adds New Fuel, Li Family Loses Core Territory, Mainland Home Appliance Retail Landscape Changes!" It was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a boiling oil pan, instantly igniting the nerves of the entire Chinese business community and even Asian financial media.

Besides, the second media outlet to report on this matter was actually from an island nation in the East. Can you believe it?
Moreover, it used a very exaggerated title.

A certain media outlet in an island nation, known for giving powerful figures nicknames, bestowed upon Lu Yang the awesome nickname "Electronic Demon King."

The cause was not just this incident, but the financial crisis that had disappeared from Hong Kong was far from over. It had quietly landed in a certain island nation, led by Wall Street financial giants such as Soros, who were now leading international speculative capital to conquer the island nation. Meanwhile, Lu Yang's Century Investment Bank was quietly following behind, reaping the benefits.

Reports indicate that many Chinese investors in Hong Kong who had previously maintained a bullish stance on the local market have joined the ranks of those shorting the Japanese yen against the US dollar in the island nation's stock market and even the foreign exchange market. Among these investors, Century Capital, under Lu Yang, stands out.

However, there's nothing that can be done about it. Once your capital reaches a certain level, no matter how careful you are or how well you hide it, you can only hide the sun as a small flame at most; it's impossible to keep it completely hidden.

In this respect, Chen Fan, who was in charge of operating this short-selling mission, has done a very good job. According to Chen Fan's report to Lu Yang, the funds used this time have exceeded 50 billion US dollars, but only less than 10 billion US dollars have been exposed. Otherwise, it would have caused a huge uproar in the entire international capital market.

And so, Lu Yang, the "Electronic Demon King"!
This nickname, first coined by Japanese financial media and carrying a tone of awe and fear, along with the looming presence of his "Century Capital" in the battle against the yen exchange rate and its devastating series of acquisitions in the mainland retail market, resounded throughout East Asia overnight.

Newspapers, television, and online forums are filled with sensational and eye-catching headlines about the life-or-death struggle between this young tycoon and the long-established Li family for control of the mainland electronics retail market:

"Lu Yang's decisive strike! Mingzhu Sanlian is now completely trapped, and the Li family and Su Lin are like turtles in a jar!"

"One step behind leads to another! Li family's eldest son, Lu Sheng, has missed his target again; the 'electronic demon king's' scheme is as ghostly as a ghost!"

"With the formation of the Century-Guomei alliance, the foundation of the Li family's mainland retail empire is shaken!"

"The myth of Hong Kong's capitalism has been shattered? Li Ka-shing faces the strongest challenger from the mainland!"

……

The uproar was like a tsunami, spreading from Hong Kong Island to Taiwan Island, sweeping across Southeast Asia, and even crossing oceans, becoming a topic of conversation at breakfast meetings in the financial circles of New York and London.

This commercial war, dubbed by the media as the "conquest of the mainland's electrical appliance retail hegemon," has had an impact far beyond the home appliance retail sector itself, becoming an excellent example for observing the changing landscape of the mainland market and the shifting power of capital.

In the eye of the storm, in the study of the Li family mansion on Deep Water Bay Road in Hong Kong, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the deathly silence before a tempest. Li Ka-shing sat upright behind a large rosewood desk, the edges of the detailed report in his hand, detailing how Lu Yang had swiftly acquired Sanlian Electric Appliances in Shandong Province, almost warped from his grip.

His face betrayed no emotion, but his slightly downturned lips and furrowed brows betrayed the heaviness and frustration in the heart of this veteran businessman who had weathered decades of ups and downs in the business world.

“Father, Lu Yang, that scoundrel… this mainland boy, he’s gone too far!” Li Zeju stood to the side, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse, filled with barely suppressed humiliation and anger.

His trip to Jinan was a tiring journey that ultimately yielded nothing. The experience of being nearly choked to death by the founder of Sanlian's words, "President Lu is generous, he pays in cash! If you don't make money, you're a bastard!" haunted him like a nightmare.

"Su Lin is now an isolated city, surrounded on all sides by Century, Guomei, the former Dazhong, and Mingzhu. We are attacked from all sides..."

"Enough!" Li Ka-shing's deep voice interrupted his eldest son's accusations, carrying an unquestionable authority.

He slowly put down the report, his gaze sharp as he swept over his two sons in front of him.

Li Zeju's face was full of resentment and unwillingness, while Li Zekai stood a little further away, a faint sneer on his lips, his eyes flickering, as if he were plotting something.

The undercurrent of fratricide silently surged in the stagnant air.

“Anger and complaints won’t save Su Lin, nor will they save the Li family’s arrangements in the mainland!” Li Ka-shing spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice not loud, but each word struck a chord in people’s hearts. “Zeju, your trip to Jinan failed. Although Lu Yang was quick to act, it also exposed that your decision-making on the spot was not ruthless or quick enough! Zekai!”

His gaze suddenly sharpened like a knife, piercing his second son. "Your absurd deeds have given others ammunition against you and destroyed your own foundation. Now that a formidable enemy is at hand, if you cannot work together with one heart, I think you should leave the house and move out as soon as possible. I am not dead yet and can still help your elder brother for a few more years. Otherwise, if you continue like this, I fear that the decades-old foundation of my Li family will be destroyed in your hands!"

Li Zekai's mocking smile froze instantly. Under his father's sharp gaze, he lowered his head and dared not utter another word.

He is not yet mature enough to stand on his own. Several business setbacks have made him realize that he is nothing without the Li family, and he may not be able to build a second Li family as easily as he had imagined.

Li Zeju also took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger.

"Su Lin is our last and most solid fortress in the mainland home appliance retail industry. We must not afford to lose it unless absolutely necessary!" Li Ka-shing stood up, walked to the huge map of China hanging in the sky, and pointed heavily at the East China region.

"Century Group has acquired Mingzhu (Hunan Province) and Sanlian (Shandong Province), and has also joined forces with Guomei (nationwide). Even if Yongle (East China) remains uninvolved, it has already formed a '品'-shaped strategic encirclement of Jiangsu (with Jiangsu Province as the core). Its momentum is strong and its edge is at its peak. A head-on confrontation is not the way of a wise man."

He turned around, a shrewd glint in his eyes: "The most urgent tasks are to 'strengthen the foundation' and 'unexpectedly'!"

"Strengthen the foundation: Immediately inject substantial funds into Su Lin, seeking to have our Li Changshi Group lead the next round of financing to stabilize morale, enhance store competitiveness, logistics efficiency, and supply chain resilience. Simultaneously, shrink our operations in non-core regions, concentrating our resources to ensure Su Lin's market share in our East China stronghold does not decline significantly! This is our bottom line in negotiations and counterattacks!" "Unexpected." Li Ka-shing's gaze shifted to the broader area on the map. "Lu Yang's alliance seems monolithic, but such rapid expansion inevitably carries integration risks, and the distribution of profits is not monolithic either. Wang Yuguang of Guomei is a ruthless wolf; how could he be content to remain subservient for long? We must find gaps! South China, Northwest China, Northeast China… in these regions where the Century Alliance's reach is relatively weak or inaccessible, we must find new acquisition targets or powerful allies to open a second front, a diversionary tactic! Furthermore…"

He paused, a deep calculation flashing in his eyes: "Keep a close eye on Lu Yang's cash flow! He's making a killing in the retail market and gambling heavily on the yen in the financial market. Fighting on two fronts, even the most powerful capital can't withstand endless drain. As long as we can hold him off until his funds come under pressure and internal changes occur within the alliance, that will be our opportunity! Zeju, you are fully responsible for these two matters. Mobilize all resources of the group across the mainland, at any cost!"

"Yes, Father!" Li Zeju's spirits lifted, feeling the pressure of a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and a glimmer of hope for revenge.

He glanced at his younger brother, whose face was even more unpleasant beside him, and a sense of satisfaction swept through him.

Almost simultaneously, on the top floor of the Shenzhen Century Center.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights shone brilliantly. Lu Yang stood by the window, listening to the latest report from Chen Fan on the front lines in Tokyo on his phone.
"...Boss, the island nation's government's market rescue efforts have exceeded expectations, with the central bank directly intervening in the market, significantly increasing pressure on short sellers. Soros seems to be hesitant as well, with some hedge funds starting to take profits and close out their positions. Should we also..." Chen Fan's voice came through the radio waves, tinged with seriousness.

Lu Yang stared at his calm reflection in the glass and remained silent for a few seconds.

The dazzling lights outside the window reflected in his deep eyes.

"Chen Fan." Lu Yang's voice was calm and firm, without a trace of emotion. He said in a low voice, "In the game of the Japanese yen, it's okay to take profits when you're ahead, but there's no need to panic and retreat."

Tell our traders to learn from Soros. Those at the forefront weren't panicking, so why are we, the followers, panicking?
Maintain pressure, but manage risk exposure.

Take as many bites as you can; if you can't get any, at least make those guys who always bow down remember this lesson.

The focus is still on the domestic market.

He paused, his tone carrying an undeniable decisiveness, "The Li family is now down to just Su Lin. The next step is to close down. Notify Wei Shu to prepare the information on Yongle Electric Appliances. I will personally go and meet with them."

Since he no longer had memories of his past life to rely on, Lu Yang couldn't predict the outcome of Soros and other Wall Street capital shorting the Nikkei. But it didn't matter; if he could make money, he would; if not, so be it. He could at least disgust these bowing little dwarfs. What if those Wall Street tycoons won again?

He was not about to miss the chance to kick a man when he was down.

After hanging up Chen Fan's call, Lu Yang's gaze lingered for a moment on the map on his desk marked "Su Lin Electric Appliances".

Outside the window, the neon lights of Shenzhen flowed like a galaxy, reflecting his serene profile.

The air was thick with the scent of an impending storm, but his face remained impassive.

Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl of the Bund, has now become a key piece on the chessboard—Yongle Electric Appliances is entrenched right next to the heart of Suzhou. It's time to knock on the gates and push this siege to its climax.

Lu Yang turned around, his movements as swift as a drawn sword.

"Prepare the car, we're going to the airport," he instructed his secretary briefly, his voice conveying an unquestionable decisiveness.

A few minutes later, the black Maybach drove out of the Century Center and merged into the traffic of Shenzhen's late-night streets.

Inside the car, Lu Yang closed his eyes to rest, but his mind was racing.

Yongle Electric Appliances, whose origins can be traced back to 1988, was a collective enterprise founded by employees of the No. 18 Radio Factory and other units under the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Agricultural Machinery Industry. Rooted in Shanghai and radiating throughout East China, it has increased its assets several hundred times in less than ten years, becoming a home appliance retail giant in Shanghai and its surrounding areas.

Outside the airplane window, the sea of ​​clouds churned and rolled.

Lu Yang unfolded his tablet, and on the screen was a diagram of the cooperation structure between Century Group and Guomei Appliances—cross-shareholding and resource sharing.

This is his trump card for this trip.

He recalled the humiliation of Li Zeju, the eldest son of the Li family, who failed to catch up in Shandong Province. The root cause of this humiliation was Lu Yang's speed, ruthlessness, and accuracy.

This time, he will use the same ruthless methods to make Yongle the final straw that breaks the back of the Li family's mainland conquest.

Early in the morning, before the thin mist had dissipated in Shanghai, Lu Yang had already stepped into the headquarters of Yongle Electrical Appliances.

In the conference room, Zhou Minyi, the person in charge of Yongle Electric Appliances, was already waiting. This middle-aged man with a square face had sharp eyes. Behind him stood several representatives of state-owned assets, and the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.

"Mr. Zhou, it's an honor to meet you." Lu Yang shook hands and exchanged pleasantries before getting straight to the point, "I'm not here to discuss acquisitions, but to discuss a win-win situation."

He gestured to his assistant to unfold the documents, which clearly outlined the cross-shareholding plan between Century Electric and Yongle: Yongle Electric would contribute 35% of its shares in exchange for approximately 13% of Century Electric's shares of equal value; the two parties would share profits and have interconnected channels, just like the model between Century and Guomei.

Zhou Minyi frowned slightly: "President Lu, Century's recent moves have been too aggressive, and the Li family..." He hesitated before continuing.

The Li family of Hong Kong is a household name, and even though they are a mainland company, they dare not underestimate them.

Lu Yang raised his hand to interrupt, his voice as steady as a mountain: "President Zhou, let me be frank, I'm getting into retail not to make money."

His gaze swept over the state-owned assets representative. "To put it bluntly, it's to prevent anyone from monopolizing the market and strangling my Century Group's electronic products. Hmph! The Li family from Hong Kong wants to monopolize the home appliance retail channels on the mainland? Then I'll beat them, beat them at all costs."

He paused, tapping his fingertips on the table. "Cross-shareholding, you're in me, I'm in you. Yongle has state-owned assets backing, Century has capital and products, and with the addition of Guomei, the Li family will have no choice but to go back to their Hong Kong. The mainland home appliance market is none of their business. To put it bluntly, as long as my Century Group exists, the domestic appliance retail market will not tolerate such a powerful entity. What I, Lu Yang, want is a stable channel sales market. You exchange shares for equity, and Yongle's market value can double. Century Electric will guarantee it for you, sharing the risks. We can all make money together, why not?"

Zhou Minyi exchanged glances with the representatives of state-owned assets.

Lu Yang's logic is impeccable: the threat from the Li family is real, but Lu Yang's "not seeking profit" makes him seem credible.

The founder of Sanlian's straightforward deal, "President Lu is a straightforward person; he signs and then transfers the money!" has already spread throughout the industry.

Zhou Minyi finally nodded, his tense shoulders relaxing. He extended his hand to Lu Yang and said, "President Lu, the rumors about you being 'very straightforward' are indeed true. Yongle... is willing to cooperate." (End of Chapter)