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

Time flies like an arrow, and the May Day holiday is just around the corner.

Lu Yang is ready to fulfill his promise.

First stop, Ocean Island!
At this time, through his arrangements, Wei Shu had taken over the company's daily operations, and A Long's men quietly went to France to carry out a "protective surveillance" mission. At least for the next few days, he wanted to temporarily shield himself from those disturbances and devote himself fully to the roles of husband and father.

"Let's go pick up Mingyue and the children first."

Lu Yang opened his eyes and gave instructions to the driver, his voice carrying the relief of someone who had just been relieved of a heavy burden.

The car drove toward the villa where Yin Mingyue and her children lived.

Eight-year-old Lu Xin'er was already excitedly waiting at the door, wearing her favorite floral dress, like a little bird that couldn't wait to fly away.

Upon seeing her father's car, she immediately jumped up and waved.

Three-year-old Lu Fan was being led by the hand by his mother, Yin Mingyue. He was still a little confused, but seeing his older sister's excited expression, he grinned and mumbled, "Dad...Dad...play...play!"

Yin Mingyue wore a gentle smile, dressed in comfortable and appropriate casual clothes, and had bright eyes.

She directed the nanny beside her to quickly put five travel bags (two large and three small) into the trunk.

"Everything is ready, just waiting for you." She looked at Lu Yang, her eyes filled with a gentle light that blended understanding and expectation.

She knew how busy and exhausted he had been lately.

This holiday was incredibly precious to their little family.

"Let's go!" Lu Yang smiled as he carried his daughter Xin'er into the car, then ruffled his son Lu Fan's soft hair, and put his arm around Mingyue's shoulder, indicating that he understood her thoughtfulness and kindness, and that he would make sure to visit her often on family trips like this in the future.

It didn't take long.

The family of four was already squeezed into the back seat of a large RV. Lu Xin'er chattered about the fun things that happened at school, and Lu Fan babbled along. The small RV was instantly filled with warmth and energy.

Looking at his wife and two children beside him, Lu Yang felt a heavy sense of responsibility that he, as a man, had to shoulder, which transformed into the most solid feeling of happiness.

Yes, he wanted to make the most of this stolen leisure time.

So, the process of changing planes three hours later was no longer mentioned.

The plane had already passed through the clouds and landed at the somewhat outdated international airport on Aqualand Island.

Stepping out of the cabin, a wave of heat with a salty, fishy smell hit me, a stark contrast to the atmosphere of inland cities.

However, what greeted us was not the bustling hustle and bustle of a tropical resort paradise as we had imagined.

Outside the terminal, the huge billboard that reads "Welcome to Hailan International Tourism Island" has faded somewhat, and the edges are even curled up.

The parking lot was unusually empty, with only a few scattered taxis and dilapidated minibuses.

In the distance, the most striking feature is not the swaying coconut palms, but rows of steel and concrete skeletons piercing the gray sky: unfinished buildings.

They resemble enormous gray monsters, with gaping, empty windows, silently recounting the past madness and present desolation.

Large advertisements for the property development still hang on the construction site, with slogans like "Seaview Luxury Homes, Enjoy a Life of Pride" and "Invest in Hot Land, Reach the Pinnacle of Wealth" still brightly displayed. However, they are starkly contrasted by the glaringly red banners next to them that proclaim "Bargain Prices! Clearance Sale!" and "Down Payment of 30,000, Move In Now," creating a sense of absurd desolation.

"Dad, why are all those buildings so dark? Does nobody live there?" Lu Xin'er asked curiously, pointing to the cluster of unfinished buildings in the distance.

Lu Yang followed his daughter's finger and looked into it, his gaze deep.

He knew the story of the island.

A few years ago, this place was described as the "Hawaii of the East," and capital flocked in like sharks smelling blood, causing land and housing prices to skyrocket.

However, a bubble is still a bubble.

Overly ambitious planning, lack of supporting infrastructure, lagging supervision, and the failure to meet policy expectations led to a collapse of the funding chain, like dominoes falling.

Property prices plummeted, leaving countless investors penniless and capital fleeing in panic, leaving behind this "ghost town" that rapidly decayed under the heat and salty winds.

Now, it is a typical example of the Great Depression following the bursting of the real estate bubble.

But what Lu Yang knew even better was that in the latest blueprint from the top leadership, this scarred island had been given a new mission: an international free trade island.

However, the pain before this rebirth seems particularly glaring and prolonged.

"Yes, they're sick and resting," Lu Yang explained simply, not wanting the harsh realities of life to dampen the children's spirits too early.

He held his daughter and son's little hands tightly, "Come on, let's go to the hotel to drop off our luggage first, and then I'll take you to walk on the softest sand and see the bluest sea!"

This time, Lu Yang did not prepare to move into his own seaside villa again.

Instead, they plan to try a more mainstream family travel option.

The hotel they stayed at was the "Coconut Breeze and Ocean Charm Resort," one of the few remaining hotels on the island that was still struggling to stay afloat.

The once bustling place is gone; the lobby is empty, the crystal chandelier is only half lit, and the smiles of the receptionists are tinged with barely concealed strain and exhaustion.

There were very few guests checking in.

The room's ocean view remained unbeatable, with the azure sea stretching out outside the window, creating a stark contrast with the unfinished buildings nearby, as if heaven and hell were separated by only a street.

After a short rest, the family of four headed straight to the most famous Silver Sand Bay near the hotel.

The May sun was warm but not scorching, and the sea breeze carried a moist coolness.

The fine, white sand was indeed as soft as rumored; stepping barefoot on it, a warm sensation spread from the soles of my feet.

Lu Fan saw the real sea and beach for the first time and screamed with excitement. He broke free from his mother's hand and ran unsteadily on the beach, leaving a series of crooked footprints on the sand, which were then gently smoothed out by the surging waves.

Despite her small size, Lu Xin'er had been here many times before. She was like a happy little dolphin, splashing around in the shallows with a swimming ring, her silvery laughter rising and falling with the waves. Yin Mingyue sat under a beach umbrella, watching the children play carefree, a peaceful and content smile on her face.

Lu Yang temporarily put aside all his thoughts and helped his son build sandcastles. He was splashed with water by his daughter and laughed heartily.

At this moment, there is no business ups and downs, no backstabbing, only the purest kinship and the gifts of nature.

Just as Lu Yang crouched down to help Lu Fan reinforce his crooked "castle" that could be washed away by the waves at any moment, a figure entered his peripheral vision.

It was a man around fifty years old, standing alone on the beach not far from them, facing the sea.

He was wearing a slightly faded polo shirt and khaki pants, and was thin. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and his hair was neatly combed, but it couldn't hide the deep weariness between his brows and an almost stubborn melancholy.

His gaze wasn't focused on the beautiful sea view, but rather fixed on a high-rise sea-view apartment building in a prime location that was also unfinished. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, as if trying to pierce through the cold concrete skeleton to see the prosperous scene it should have had, or as if he were conducting a silent judgment.

His demeanor was out of place among the leisurely tourists around him; he was more like a lonely fighter searching for embers in the ruins.

Lu Yang's business intuition was instantly triggered.

This person is not simple.

He gestured for Mingyue to look after the child, then stood up and casually strolled over, stopping a short distance to the side of the man, also looking at the unfinished building.

"Such a good location, such a good sea view, what a pity." Lu Yang said in a flat tone, like a casual remark among tourists.

Upon hearing the voice, the man slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses sweeping over Lu Yang with a scrutinizing look.

A few seconds later, a bitter smile appeared on his lips, and his voice was hoarse and low: "What a pity? This is a wound of the times, a scar left by greed. My name is Wu Ying." He handed over a simply designed business card with the title "Founder/Technical Director of UTStarcom" printed on it.

Wu Ying? Lu Yang's heart stirred slightly.

He remembered this name; later generations in the industry called him the "Father of Little Smart Phone"!
The company he founded, UTStarcom, relied on PHS (Personal Handyphone System) technology, which was introduced and improved from the island nation of Japan, and once stirred up a PHS storm in the domestic communications market.

They made a fortune that lasted for ten years.

But at that time, this technology probably hadn't become popular in mainland China yet, right?
I never expected to meet the future "father of Little Smart" on this desolate beach.

There was no excitement on his face.

Lu Yang suppressed a secret delight, took the business card, and simply replied, "Lu Yang."

He believed that the other party must have heard of his name, and that the fact that the other party happened to be here at such a coincidence meant that they were deliberately waiting for him, Lu Yang. He would just have to see how the other party would explain themselves.

What's the rush?
No rush at all.

And so, the two stood side by side, silently gazing at the unfinished buildings.

The sea breeze carried Wu Ying's voice, filled with deep resentment and insight:

"Hailan Island is a mirror that reveals true nature."

"It exposed the disorderly revelry of capital, the short-sightedness of planning, and the devastation left after the bubble burst."

Wu Ying pointed to the unfinished buildings with his chin and slowly explained, "But do you know what? There's definitely real gold buried under these ruins. The country has clearly defined its status as a special economic zone, and favorable policies will be implemented sooner or later. Communications, logistics, data, tourism... this place will still be a huge growth area in the future. But right now, everyone is scared out of their wits by these 'zombie buildings,' unable to see, or afraid to see, the opportunities beneath that dilapidated exterior."

"Did Mr. Wu's words have a hidden meaning?"

Lu Yang didn't believe his nonsense. If the other party really liked this unfinished building, they wouldn't need to wait for him here. They could just buy it without spending too much money.

It's a good opportunity to snag a bargain.

Upon hearing this, Wu Ying chuckled self-deprecatingly, a smile tinged with complex emotions: "My UTStarcom is like these unfinished buildings, standing on the edge of a cliff. PHS (Personal Handyphone System)... this is clearly a new plan with great potential for widespread adoption, but the market doesn't see it, the policies don't support it, and if this drags on any longer, my cash flow will soon be exhausted. I came here hoping to find a glimmer of hope for transformation or financing in this 'new continent'..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening again as he looked at Lu Yang, his tone suddenly sincere: "President Lu, your Century Group is a benchmark for private enterprises in China, with formidable strength. I know you've also achieved success in Japan. Instead of letting that hot money drift overseas or repeating the old path of real estate speculation in China, why not invest in something truly future-oriented? Invest in my UTStarcom, and together we can ignite the first spark of communication technology on this wasteland?"

Wu Ying's intention was clear: to attract investment and save the company.

It would be best to use Lu Yang's help to get the technology of the PHS phone implemented in the Hailan Island Special Economic Zone through some non-commercial means.

Lu Yang's mind raced in a flash.

The value of the ruins of Hailan Island, the broad prospects of the Free Trade Island, the accumulated communication technology mentioned by Wu Ying... these fragments of information quickly reassembled and collided in his mind!
A bolder, more far-reaching plan, even one that seemed to involve "hijacking," instantly took shape!

He suddenly recalled the brief but astonishing boom that PHS (Personal Handyphone System) technology had experienced in mainland China in his past life. The number of users was extremely large, seemingly reaching and exceeding 9000 million in the early 2000s. This number was astonishing. However, some key patents for this crucial technology seemed to have been held by Japanese companies for a long time, earning huge patent licensing fees in just a few years!

Wu Ying continued to elaborate on UTStarcom's technological potential and the opportunities presented by Hailan Island, but Lu Yang interrupted him, his gaze sharp and focused on the core issue:

“Mr. Wu, investing in UTStarcom… is a direction.” Lu Yang’s voice was steady and powerful, carrying an undeniable determination, “but my interest in it may go further than you imagine.”

Wu Ying was slightly taken aback and looked at him with some confusion.

Lu Yang stared into his eyes and said, word by word, "I have no objection to investing in UTStarcom. But what interests me more is the long-term, exclusive licensing agreement in mainland China for the complete set of core patents for 'Xiaolingtong' based on PHS technology that your company possesses."

He paused deliberately, emphasizing his words, "Thirty years, or at least fifteen years. What I want is absolute control over this technology in the mainland market. You are responsible for helping me buy it from the Japanese who supported you in developing this patent in the mainland."

Wu Ying was completely stunned. His pupils behind his glasses widened instantly, filled with shock and disbelief.

He originally only wanted to find a sugar daddy to keep him afloat, but he never expected that this young business tycoon would try to undermine him from the start.

What alarmed him even more was the uncompromising forcefulness in Lu Yang's words and... the certainty that seemed to foresee the future?

The sea breeze seemed to freeze at that moment.

In the distance, Lu Xin'er's laughter and Lu Fan's babbling could be faintly heard.

Lu Yang met Wu Ying's shocked gaze with eyes as deep as the sea. He knew that this impulsive island trip would likely completely change his future asset allocation and the ultimate destination of the huge "windfall" he had acquired in Japan.

The thought of cutting off the Japanese devils' source of income reignited the dormant business acumen within him. (End of Chapter)