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

Pengcheng Bay, the top-floor chairman's office of Century Group.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the azure sea and sky, along with the rows of skyscrapers, outline the vibrant life of this young city.

Lu Yang had just finished a video conference when his encrypted satellite phone rang.

The name jumping on the screen made him smile slightly.

"Hey, Brother Mou." Lu Yang answered the phone, his voice as composed as ever.

Immediately coming from the other end of the phone was Mu Qizhong's signature loud voice, filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Hahaha! Brother Lu! Great news! Congratulations! Huge good news!"

"Oh? What's there to be happy about?" Lu Yang asked knowingly, picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, and slowly poured himself a cup of Pu'er tea.

"The Hurun Rich List! That rich list created by foreigners!" Mu Qizhong announced impatiently, "That Mr. Ren from the Chinese community has nodded; he agrees to be ranked third!"

Lu Yang took a sip of tea, the scalding hot tea with a sweet aftertaste. His eyes flickered slightly, and his tone conveyed just the right amount of "surprise" and "happiness": "Really? President Ren agreed? This is really... It seems that President Ren still gives me, a junior, some face?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "thin face," with a hint of self-deprecating humor.

"It's more than just a matter of face!" Mu Qizhong exclaimed over the phone, as if slapping his thigh. "Brother Lu, you're fourth! Right behind Old Master Ren! Third is Ren Zhengfei, with 6 billion; fourth is you, with 5.9 billion! You're just one small goal short of that President Ren!"

He spoke in an exaggerated tone, as if he had orchestrated the ranking himself. "Look, I told you! With Old Master Ren, this true god, standing in front of us, he's third and you're fourth. We're both private entrepreneurs who came from Shenzhen, both prominent figures! So the public's attention is definitely mostly on Old Master Ren! Doesn't the pressure on you, little brother, instantly lessen a lot? Isn't this 'it's good to take shelter under a big tree' tactic brilliant? Hahaha!"

Mu Qizhong's laughter came through the receiver, full of pride, as if he were the biggest contributor to this ranking.

Lu Yang put down his teacup, his smile deepening, tinged with genuine gratitude: "I see. Then I really must thank President Ren for his understanding, and also thank you, Brother Mou, for your help in mediating."

He changed the subject, a hint of curiosity in his voice, "By the way, Brother Mu, where did you rank this time?"

He knew Mu Qizhong's personality, of course; even if he didn't ask, Mu Qizhong himself would eventually be unable to hold back his question.

Sure enough, Mu Qizhong's voice immediately rose a few decibels on the microphone, carrying a kind of "humble" boast: "Me? I only ranked ninth this time! My total assets are a mere 1.9 billion! It's nothing to mention!"

The tone made it sound as if 1.9 billion yuan was just the price of a cabbage on the street.

Lu Yang almost burst out laughing. He quickly cleared his throat and flattered him with utmost "sincerity," saying, "Brother Mu, it's only natural that you're in the top ten! If it weren't for you, then this ranking would be failing to recognize a true hero!"

His statement was half true and half false. Mu Qizhong's legendary business career and controversial nature are indeed enough to support his inclusion on the list, but as for the claim of him being a "true hero"...

"Hahaha! I love hearing you say that, brother!" Mu Qizhong was clearly very pleased with the compliment. "Let me tell you, this ranking is still conservative! I have several earth-shattering projects in the works, not yet fully implemented! Once these projects are in place, hmph! Next year! Just next year! Don't even mention the top ten, I, Old Mu, will break into the top three and show you! Do you believe me?"

In stark contrast to Lu Yang and Ren Zhengfei's low-key and pragmatic approach, Mu Qizhong has a natural affinity for lists that can "quantify and publicize" his wealth and status.

In his view, this is not only an honor, but also an "official recognition" of his abilities and achievements by society!
Keep a low profile? That's something only incompetent people do! True heroes should be famous worldwide!
A mischievous smile flashed in Lu Yang's eyes, but his tone became increasingly "sincere" and "expectant": "Absolutely! I have always admired Brother Mu's methods and boldness! I fully believe that as long as your good project is implemented, Brother Mu, you will definitely soar to the top of the Hurun Rich List next year, and it wouldn't be surprising if you ranked ahead of me!"

He even happily calculated in his mind: if this lovely old man Mou can really turn his net worth into more than six billion next year, then he will definitely give up this hot potato of a "fourth" position without hesitation! As for his own assets? In the business world, ups and downs are normal. If you make money this year, you might accidentally "lose" a little next year, and your ranking will naturally drop a few places. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
In a flash, Lu Yang had already made up his next plan.

He subtly changed the subject again, seemingly casually mentioning, "By the way, Brother Mu, I've heard some rumors lately, I wonder if they're true or false?"

"What's the rumor? Tell me quickly, brother!" Mu Qizhong immediately perked up.

"I heard that Sohu is already preparing for its final Series C funding round," Lu Yang said in a low voice, with a hint of mystery in his tone, as if he were sharing inside information. "And what's more, I've heard that's not all. Apparently, after this round of funding, they're already making intensive preparations for a NASDAQ listing in North America! If they go public, wow..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident.

Huge wealth growth opportunities!
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a burst of surprise and delight from Mu Qizhong: "Really?! Holy crap! Such a big thing, and that brat Zhang Chaoyang didn't even let me know?! Brother, is your information reliable?!"

"Of course it's true." Lu Yang's tone was certain, but he didn't reveal his source. Instead, he cleverly threw the question back at him, "What? Brother Mu, as one of Sohu's major shareholders, didn't you hear about it?"

He was well aware that Sohu's IPO plan was still being developed within the core team at this stage and had not been widely communicated to all shareholders, especially before Wall Street capital got involved, so secrecy was even more necessary.

"I...I..." Mu Qizhong was speechless when asked the question. A surge of anger, feeling "disrespected" and "missed the opportunity," welled up inside him. "That little brat Zhang Chaoyang! He's gone too far! He didn't even consult with me, Old Mu, about such an important matter?! I'm still here raising funds for him, preparing to make a huge bet in this financing round! Fine! You wait, brother, I'll go find him and get to the bottom of this!"

"Brother Mou, don't worry..." Before Lu Yang could finish his "comforting" words, the phone went dead.

Mu Qizhong hung up in a panic.

Lu Yang put down the phone, and the mischievous smile on his face finally bloomed without reservation.

He walked to the window and looked down at the bustling scene of Pengcheng Bay.

The "dust has settled" on the rich list rankings, which relieved him. It is foreseeable that Ren Zhengfei, his "elder brother," is ranked ahead of him, which can indeed relieve a considerable amount of the scrutiny and potential pressure focused on him.

The act of "lighting" this fire for Mu Qizhong was merely a convenient way to let this energetic guy stir up some waves in the internet world.

Meanwhile, in the conference room at Sohu headquarters in Beijing.

A crucial meeting regarding Series C funding and the future path to an IPO is underway.

Jingle Bell!
The shrill ringtone of a cell phone suddenly interrupted Zhang Chaoyang's speech.

He frowned, intending to close the window, but when he saw the three large characters "Mu Qizhong" displayed on the screen, his heart skipped a beat.

This "Mr. Mou" was one of his important early investors, but he was also notoriously difficult and... "enthusiastic".

"Excuse me, I need to take this important call." Zhang Chaoyang gestured to the executives and shareholder representatives present and quickly walked out of the conference room.

"Hello, Mr. Mou?" "Xiao Zhang!" As soon as the call connected, Mou Qizhong's booming voice came through, filled with barely suppressed questioning and a hint of offended anger, "I heard that after this Series C funding round, you're immediately going to list the company on some NASDAQ in the US?! Is that true?! Damn it, you kept such a huge thing from me?!"

Zhang Chaoyang felt a chill run down his spine and broke out in a cold sweat!
The IPO plan is something that their founding team and a few core executives have discussed repeatedly and kept strictly confidential; it hasn't even been on the board's formal agenda yet.

Where did Mu Qizhong find out?!
If this news is leaked in advance, it could disrupt their plans to bring in key strategic investors!

"Old Mou... President Mou." Zhang Chaoyang suppressed the turmoil in his heart and tried to make his voice sound calm. "Where...where did you hear this from?" He tried to confirm the source of the information.

"Never mind where I heard it from!" Mu Qizhong's voice grew louder, filled with an unquestionable sense of authority. "Just tell me the truth! Is this true or not?!"

Faced with Mu Qizhong's interrogation, Zhang Chaoyang knew that denying it was pointless and would only further enrage this powerful figure with deep connections.

He could only grit his teeth and admit, "Yes... there is such a plan under discussion..."

He quickly added, "But it's still in the very early stages, many details haven't been finalized, so it's not yet..."

"Alright! As long as it's there!" Mu Qizhong rudely interrupted his explanation, his tone instantly changing from anger to an unyielding "generosity." "Since it's true, then I, Old Mu, will take all of your company's Series C funding! Name your price! As long as the premium isn't too outrageous and the shares don't exceed 50%, I can buy it all for you!"

He seemed to already see the bright future of Sohu's stock price soaring after its IPO, and his own wealth skyrocketing.

“This… Mr. Mou, I’m afraid this won’t work…” Zhang Chaoyang’s heart sank to the bottom; his worst fears had come true.

"What?!" Mu Qizhong's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, filled with disbelief and furious rejection. "What the hell did you say?! Say it again?! You won't even make money? Do you think my money is hot to the touch?!"

"Mr. Mou! Mr. Mou! Listen to me! Please don't misunderstand!" Zhang Chaoyang was sweating profusely as he explained rapidly, "It's not that your money is too hot to handle, it's... it's about planning to list on NASDAQ. There are many complexities involved! It's not as simple as listing domestically! It requires... it requires top investment banks on Wall Street to operate, to endorse and underwrite! So, for this round of financing, bringing in a powerful international capital firm that can pull strings on Wall Street as the lead investor is almost a necessity! This is to ensure a smooth and successful listing! We can't put all our eggs in one basket, nor can we rely solely on our own connections to force our way in! That would be too risky!"

Zhang Chaoyang racked his brains, trying to explain the complexities and unspoken rules to Mu Qizhong in the simplest terms.

Mu Qizhong fell silent on the other end of the phone, with only his heavy breathing coming through.

Although he acted wildly and unrestrainedly, he was by no means a fool.

Although Zhang Chaoyang's words left him feeling like a jumbled mess (Wall Street, underwriters, lead investors—what a vague grasp of the key point: they needed the help of large foreign capital to successfully list on that shitty platform. Did his own money, as a "local tycoon," not seem "international" enough? This realization extremely displeased him, yet he was powerless to refute it.

"...I'll trust you this once!" Mu Qizhong's voice lowered, filled with resentment and warning. "But you better not try anything funny! You should know that with my status and influence in the country, taking down your little internet company is just a matter of a word for me! You better be smart and focus on running your website properly, don't get any crooked ideas!"

This blatant threat sent chills down Zhang Chaoyang's spine. He quickly swore an oath: "Yes, yes, yes! Don't worry, Mr. Mu! You are one of the most important shareholders in our company. I, Zhang Chaoyang, swear to God that I will be absolutely honest and truthful! I will definitely report the progress of the entire listing plan to you in a timely manner!"

"Hmph! That's more like it!" Mu Qizhong snorted heavily. "I'm hanging up!"

Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Zhang Chaoyang leaned against the cold wall, letting out a long breath, feeling as if he had fought a fierce battle.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his heart filled with suspicion and uncertainty: Who on earth leaked the listing plan to Mu Qizhong? If this news spread, the trouble would be immense! He composed himself, straightened his expression, and then pushed open the conference room door again.

The people inside all looked at him with inquisitive eyes.

Meanwhile, Mu Qizhong, far away in Shenzhen, angrily threw his expensive phone onto the leather sofa, feeling increasingly aggrieved.

The money's all ready, and the project sounds promising, but I can't even fully commit to it?! What kind of situation is this?! So frustrating! Absolutely so frustrating!
He paced restlessly around the luxurious study a few times, but finally couldn't resist picking up his phone again and dialing the number that always gave him "solutions".

"Hey, bro..." Mu Qizhong's voice carried an unprecedented "humility" mixed with a hint of grievance, "I just talked to that brat Zhang Chaoyang on the phone, and things are exactly as you guessed! He says he wants to go public in the US and insists on finding some lousy Wall Street capital firm to lead the investment, and he's unwilling to accept all of my money! What kind of nonsense is this? Isn't this looking down on me, Old Mu?"

On the other end of the phone, Lu Yang was leisurely flipping through a confidential report on the introduction of overseas semiconductor talent.

Hearing Mu Qizhong's complaints, he smiled silently, having already anticipated this outcome.

"Brother Mou, calm down first." Lu Yang's voice was gentle and calm, with a soothing power. "What President Zhang said is not entirely wrong. Going public in the US does require the endorsement and operation of top international investment banks. That's the rule of the game there. Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. We need to follow their rules to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Mu Qizhong muttered dejectedly, "Then... then all my money was wasted? It's like watching the duck that was about to be eaten fly away?"

“How could that be?” Lu Yang coaxed. “President Zhang needs Wall Street capital to lead the investment to ensure a smooth listing process. But ‘leading’ doesn’t mean ‘all-inclusive’! He still needs funds from other investors, right? Besides, Sohu isn’t just Zhang Chaoyang’s company; it has so many shareholders, big and small…”

Lu Yang's voice carried a subtle hint of guidance: "Brother Mou, if you really think so highly of Sohu's future and its prospects after listing, we can... take a roundabout approach."

"A detour? How do you mean by a detour?" Mu Qizhong immediately perked up his ears.

“It’s very simple.” Lu Yang put down the report in his hand, his eyes sharp. “You don’t need to be obsessed with getting into this financing round and become the lead investor. You can go to those old shareholders who are ‘not involved in the specific operations of the listing’, have a good chat with them privately, and build relationships. See if any of them think the listing’s future is uncertain and want to cash out early? Or if anyone urgently needs funds? As long as the price is right, quietly…buy their shares! That way, when Sohu really goes public successfully, your shareholding ratio will increase, right? The returns will be the same, and you’ll save yourself the trouble of dealing with those people on Wall Street.”

As Mu Qizhong listened, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter: "Wow! Brilliant! Brother! Your idea is absolutely brilliant! How come I didn't think of that! Yes, yes, yes! Buy from those minority shareholders! Without anyone noticing! You're so smart, brother! Okay, okay! I'll listen to you! I'll go arrange for people to contact those old shareholders of Sohu privately! Let's see if I can sweep up all their shares!"

Mu Qizhong shook off his previous gloom, his voice once again filled with fighting spirit and excitement, as if he had discovered a new gold mine.

Hearing the busy tone of Mu Qizhong abruptly hanging up the phone on the other end, Lu Yang smiled and shook his head.

This Mr. Mou is truly full of energy.

He put down his phone and turned his gaze back to a report on semiconductor talent in his hand.

The controversy surrounding the upcoming release of the rich list has been temporarily deflected by Mr. Ren, and now Mu Qizhong has become another figure charging into the fray in Sohu's financing game, stirring up trouble.

And he, Lu Yang, is the true chess player hidden behind the scenes.

His gaze had already quietly shifted to this far larger and more arduous battlefield, one that required the combined strength of the entire nation to overcome. (End of Chapter)