Since we are both reborn, of course I would choose the rich woman!

Chapter 386 Kawachi (6k please order)

In business, completely withdrawing from a company does not mean losing control of that company.

Through equity structure, company owners can ensure their control over the company's development direction by using layers of separation. In this regard, Alibaba's CEO is a particularly outstanding example in China.

Alibaba Group has a very complex equity structure, which ensures that external forces cannot easily interfere in the company's specific operations, while also isolating the company's actual owners from risks.

Going forward, leading domestic internet technology companies will learn from Alibaba's approach to safeguard their own interests.

As for the risk avoidance tactic of setting up company headquarters overseas, its effectiveness has actually diminished due to the amendments to domestic laws.

Therefore, Lü Yao's complete withdrawal from Huasheng Life seems to make no mistake, since Lü Yao's "Guangmei Investment" still controls Huasheng Life.

What's truly puzzling is why Lü Yao would do something like this?

Remotely controlling a company's operations through its equity structure is usually done to mitigate risk when the company is facing a takeover or is engaged in high-risk investment activities. However, Huasheng Life is doing very well now, and there are no signs of crisis.

Even Rong Nianqing, Gan Xiaoxi, and the local business community in Shangnan did not make any moves. Amidst this peaceful atmosphere, Lü Yao withdrew from the "direct management team".

The fact that everything was running smoothly seemed particularly strange in such a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere.

Therefore, people in the investment community, the business world, and many who are closely watching the developments in Shangnan have begun to speculate.

Did Lü Yao discover the risks within Huasheng Life in advance and want to avoid them beforehand?
This isn't right.

The relationship between Lü Yao and Rong Nianqing was already common knowledge. They were a complete community of interests. If Lü Yao discovered the crisis within Huasheng Life, there was no reason for him to hide it from Rong Nianqing and the others and withdraw on his own.

As various speculations circulated in different circles, the theory that "Lü Yao has fallen out of favor" gradually became popular.

Keen observers noticed that the interaction between Lü Yao and Wang Shu at Lü Yao's daughter Xiao Ping'an's one-month celebration was somewhat strange. In their circle, it's all too common for couples to have the de facto relationship but not the official one.

Or rather, this is the normal practice in this circle.

Therefore, although the relationship between Lü Yao and Wang Shu is abnormal in the eyes of mainstream secular values, no one in their circle thinks there is anything wrong with it.

Besides, neither Wang Shu nor Lü Yao were married, so there was no moral impropriety in the two of them having a child together.

Logically speaking, their interaction shouldn't have been so cold at the full moon celebration that day, because no one in this circle cares about such behavior, so there was no need to avoid suspicion.

So, after eliminating all the impossibilities—

The possibility that "Lü Yao has fallen out of favor" has become very high.

Combined with Wang Shurong's promotion to Senior Executive Vice President of Huasheng Life Supermarket Group, Lü Yao's complete withdrawal becomes even more intriguing.

Besides this speculation, many people are also wondering if this is yet another conspiracy or trick by Lü Yao.
Or is it that the senior management of Huasheng Life felt that Wang Shu and Lü Yao had too much power in the "direct management" at the same time, so they asked them to separate?
Different speculations lead to different actions. Some people become bolder and start spying on the movements of South China, while others become more cautious and temporarily rein in their activities.

……

At this point, Lü Yao was no longer paying much attention to the dynamics of the domestic business community.

Because a much larger storm is already beginning to emerge.

Across from the University of Tokyo, after handing over power, the new leader was consolidating his new team while also focusing on sorting out the current internal problems of the Land of Light. Among all the internal problems of the Land of Light, the trade deficit from the University of Tokyo became the top priority on the new leader's mind.

This new leader of the Land of Light is, after all, a businessman by trade and is very interested in trade. At the same time, as one of the world's top billionaires, he has already enjoyed all the pleasures that can be enjoyed on earth.

Therefore, after becoming the new leader, he was full of ambition and high spirits. He wanted to leave a strong mark on the history books of the Land of Light.

This bold stroke of ink requires some offerings to complete.

Therefore, during this new leader's future term, no matter how unexpected his actions may be to the world, his actions are not driven by much personal motive, which forms a stark contrast to his actions after his triumphant return eight years later.

It was precisely this pure, intense, and simple emotion that drove this person to create the most exaggerated and unpredictable trade dispute in the modern history of human civilization.

Now, there are only four months and a few days left before the world is completely shocked.

Therefore, Lü Yao needs to finish his work as soon as possible within this timeframe.

After completely withdrawing from Huasheng Life, Lü Yao, who had already arranged his own company affairs, also left Rong Nianqing and Jian Xiaojie with a multi-layered encrypted USB drive, telling them that someone would come to them at the appropriate time and give them the password.

Lu Yao's mysterious actions left Rong Nianqing and Jian Xiaojie completely baffled.

But Lü Yao did not explain.

After doing all this, Lü Yao began packing his bags, called Lin Yongzhen and Cheng Xinyu, and prepared to set off.

April 4, 2017, April Fool's Day.

On April Fool's Day, a day when the whole internet was playing pranks or using it as an opportunity to confess one's feelings, Lü Yao put all his packed luggage in the car and then went to Wang Shu, Xiao Ping'an, and Jian Xiaojie.

Looking at the three people he had spent so much time with, Lü Yao smiled and said, "I'm going out for a stroll. Don't miss me too much."

Hearing this, Jian Xiaojie couldn't help but roll her eyes: "Who would be like you? I won't have a gigolo to stay with me forever, but I'll always have a gigolo to stay with me!"

Wang Shu was unhappy when he heard this.

She turned her head and glared at Jian Xiaojie, her serious gaze seeming to say, "How can you talk like that? Those words are too awful!"

Jian Xiaojie didn't admit her mistake. Instead, she turned her face away and muttered, "Wow, all you do is glare at me. He went out having fun with other women, and you don't even care."

Wang Shu was speechless.

Thankfully, Xiao Ping An hasn't fully booted up yet; only the underlying code is running, maintaining the basic characteristics of life. Otherwise, seeing this scene would definitely make me overthink things.

Lu Yao laughed and said, "It's my fault! You two shouldn't fight because of me. Consider this my gap year. I plan to use this time to properly read the book of the world."

Jian Xiaojie turned her face back: "Okay."

She then advised, "You need to be careful when you're out there. In Shangnan, no one will dare to mess with you, and many people will give you face outside. But you need to understand one thing: even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Even if you have security that Nianqing and I have arranged for you, you can't be too arrogant."

"Especially in some smaller places, your reputation and influence may not be that great, so try to avoid conflicts with people."

Lü Yao took Jian Xiaojie's words to heart and nodded very seriously, saying, "Don't worry, I will."

Whether in the past, present, or future, in some small places, there is a group of very powerful locals. In the future internet, this group is called "Outer Fifth-Line Brahmins". This group always carries command blocks in their hands and likes to grow ginseng for fun at the drop of a hat.

Actually, the older members of this group are easy to deal with, but the real problem is that the younger, hot-headed members might suddenly start cosplaying as Bald Qiang (a character from a popular Chinese cartoon).

Having said everything she needed to say, Jian Xiaojie finally put away her sharp edges, took the initiative to come to Lü Yao, hugged him, rested her chin on his shoulder, and said, "Be careful in everything."

Wang Shu also came over carrying Xiao Ping'an: "We'll wait for you to come back."

This "us" includes not only Wang Shu and Xiao Ping'an, but also Jian Xiaojie.

Feeling the warmth of being surrounded by people, Lü Yao felt extremely reluctant to leave, but he ultimately had to go out and explore.

After patting Wang Shu and Jian Xiaojie on the back, Lü Yao hardened his heart and said, "That's it, I'm off."

Lu Yao turned and got into the car, quickly disappearing into the villa's courtyard.

Wang Shu and Jian Xiaojie watched as Lü Yao drove away from the villa's courtyard, and the spacious villa suddenly became much quieter.

A few dozen seconds later, Jian Xiaojie said in surprise, "Why does the house feel so quiet? That guy is awful! He left on his own, but why did he take Yongzhen with him? Damn it!"

She enjoys playing mahjong with Lin Yongzhen.

Jian Xiaojie inexplicably began to feel irritable; she was starting to feel out of place in her current environment.

So he picked up his phone and started calling people in the group chat: "Sisters, anyone want to come over to my house to play Xiao Ping An?"

Wang Shu was also in the group and was immediately puzzled when he saw the message: "Wait, you're using Xiao Ping An as a bait?"

Jian Xiaojie said confidently, "If having children isn't something to be played with, then it's meaningless."

Wang Shu retorted, not to be outdone: "If you want to play around, have one yourself!"

Jian Xiaojie didn't mince words, unleashing her full attack power: "Isn't Lü Yao in such a hurry to leave that I didn't even have time to react?"

Wang Shu, who was also in the villa, couldn't help but roll her eyes.

The chatter in the group chat quickly caught the attention of Rong Nianqing and Gan Xiaoxi. Rong Nianqing asked in the group, "Has Lü Yao set off?"

Jian Xiaojie: "Yes."

Rong Nianqing said worriedly in the group: "It's very strange. Lü Yao has been acting very strangely lately. What is he hiding? I can't figure him out. A few days ago, he contacted me and even asked me to send more people to Jiangcheng. What is he planning?"

Jian Xiaojie scratched her head: "How would I know? We have a factory in Jiangcheng, right? It's really difficult to do things there. It would be easier to get things done if you put some people there."

Rong Nianqing: "What about the encrypted USB drive?"

Jian Xiaojie scratched her head even harder: "I'm wondering too, are you guys coming over or not? I'm so bored at home!"

Rong Nianqing: "[Smirking] We're all busy." Gan Xiaoxi: "Yes, yes, so busy!"

Jian Xiaojie: "..."

……

On the other side, Lü Yao picked up Lin Yongzhen and Cheng Xinyu by car, then drove all the way to Shangnan Airport, where he left the car for when he returned.

After boarding the plane and taking their seats in first class, Lin Yongzhen, who was sitting next to him, finally asked, "President Lü, you've been behaving strangely lately."

Lu Yao smiled and said, "If I were so easy for you to see through, would I still be President Lu?"

After saying that, Lü Yao adjusted his seat, preparing to doze off.

Lu Yao and his group's destination this time was Chengdu. The person Lu Yao wanted to recruit was none other than Li Ziqi, the blogger who would later become a phenomenon on the internet.

His reason for wanting to bring Li Ziqi under his wing was not to redeem Li Ziqi's future, nor was it because he coveted Li Ziqi's beauty. With so many female confidantes around him, Lü Yao's drive to pursue beautiful women had become very weak.

Because Lü Yao is indeed surrounded by "top-tier" beauties.

Take Lin Yongzhen, for example.

Even without makeup, Lin Yongzhen has thick eyebrows and red lips, exuding charm. Her skin is so supple that even if you look closely, you'll marvel at how good it is.

Being with a woman of Lin Yongzhen's caliber really makes you marvel at the existence of "natural beauty."

At the level of "top beauty," looks become secondary; what truly distinguishes top beauties is their temperament.

With women of Lin Yongzhen's caliber always pleasing to the eye, Lü Yao has long since lost interest in ordinary, unremarkable women. While Li Ziqi presents a decent image on camera, her actual appearance is merely that of an average beauty, far from comparable to top beauties like Lin Yongzhen.

Most of the employees at Lv Yaoshangnan MCN company are just as good-looking as Li Ziqi.

Li Ziqi's true brilliance lies in her temperament, as well as her talent and perseverance in the field of short videos.

In an era where short videos on social media are still relatively niche, Li Ziqi's ability to produce so much high-quality video content is enough to prove that she is a genius in this field.

Although Lin Yongzhen is incredibly beautiful, she would be completely clueless if asked to make short videos herself.

This is the difference in everyone's inherent qualities.

Some people are lucky enough to find something they are good at through the trials and tribulations of society, something that brings them joy no matter how hard or tiring it is.

Some are very unfortunate; they may never find something they can wholeheartedly dedicate their entire lives to.

The main reason why Lü Yao wanted to bring Li Ziqi under his wing was that he hoped Li Ziqi could become the image ambassador for "Yong".

first time.

Lu Yao pinned his hopes on Hu Xiaoyu, hoping to make Hu Xiaoyu a representative of traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage through his own packaging and operation. In particular, Lu Yao and Rong Nianqingzhen have established a first-class private university in Zhejiang and Hangzhou.

Unfortunately, Lü Yao kept his promise.

However, Hu Xiaoyu now resides overseas.

During this period, Lü Yao gave advice and secret letters to his own companies, Rong Nianqing's companies, and even Jian Xiaojie's overseas deployments. However, the only thing that he and Hu Xiaoyu did not do was to help Rong Nianqing's high-end Chinese-style brand "Yong". In the midst of its rapid development, Yong gradually faded into obscurity.

Today, "Yong" still has offline stores in major first-tier cities in China.

However, it must be admitted that the popularity of "Yong" is only so-so. The "Yong" brand has become more of an entry ticket, a "letter of recommendation" used by the top rich circle to visit Rong Nianqing and the Zhejiang cultural circle.

With the support of the circle, "Yong" has a considerable annual revenue, but this is not the kind of revenue that Lu Yao or Hu Xiaoyu want.

The recognition of traditional Chinese intangible cultural heritage should not only come from the empowerment of the community, but also from the recognition of countless ordinary people and from the recognition of it around the world.

After Hu Xiaoyu left for overseas, if Lü Yao wanted to create the "Yong" brand to achieve this effect, he needed an "ambassador" who could break through cultural boundaries.

Looking to the future.

Only Li Ziqi possesses such magic.

Once this matter is completed, Lü Yao will be able to calmly embrace the future he has created for himself.

If it succeeds, then all the unpleasant things of the past will no longer matter.

Even if this matter fails, Lü Yao's name is enough to be recorded in history and leave a significant mark on the history of Dongda University.

one way or another
Neither loses.

After leaving the airport and picking up the modified SUV that had been arranged in advance and delivered from Chengdu, Lü Yao drove while pondering many things.

Thinking of the perilous future he had chosen for himself, Lü Yao couldn't help but grin.

Have no idea……

His rise to power was too dishonorable. If he wanted to stand openly beside those people, he had to be willing to risk everything and gamble with himself.

After driving to the hotel they had booked in Chengdu, Lü Yao, Lin Yongzhen, and Cheng Xinyu checked in and went upstairs.

Lu Yao didn't bring much, but Lin Yongzhen and Cheng Xinyu brought quite a lot. Fortunately, the hotel service was excellent; the staff took their luggage and escorted them to the executive suite.

Chengdu is located in a basin, and the winter climate is rather cold and damp, so it is far less comfortable outside than inside the hotel suite. Lu Yao pushed his suitcase into the suite, then lay down on the sofa. After letting out a long sigh, Lu Yao said, "I've never been to Chengdu before. Is there anything you'd like to eat or do? We can stay here for a few days before continuing our journey."

Cheng Xinyu smiled obediently and meekly, "Anything is fine with me, I'll do whatever the boss says~"

Lin Yongzhen sat down opposite Lü Yao, stretched, and said, "We're in the legendary Land of Abundance, so we have to try the hot pot and Sichuan cuisine here. As for the sights..."

Lin Yongzhen tilted her head and thought for a moment while sitting on the sofa: "Anywhere outside of Chengdu is fun."

Chengdu is a necessary stop on the way to western Sichuan and the Tianji Plateau. Many self-driving tourists on the 318 highway will meet here, prepare their supplies, and then enter the plateau.

Traveling westward from Chengdu, every place offers breathtaking and soul-cleansing scenery.

But Chengdu itself...

Relatively boring.

Listening to Lin Yongzhen's recollections, Lü Yao couldn't help but think of Chunxi Road, which later became very popular online.

In fact, Lü Yao had visited Chengdu before, but as Lin Yongzhen said, Chengdu itself wasn't very interesting, and Chunxi Road wasn't as popular for street photography as it is now. In reality, once you go there, you'll find that the strange costumes on that street are quite ordinary.

Since he couldn't find anything fun to do there, Lü Yao even searched online and found that netizens and locals in Chengdu all agreed that there wasn't much to do locally. As for the work environment, local netizens said: "Chengdu is a place where even if the four members of the Tang Monk's group came, they would have to make sales calls for a week to get a pass."

In fact, Lü Yao didn't really like Sichuan cuisine; the heavy oil and spiciness of Sichuan food didn't suit his personal taste.

Whether it was due to personal reasons or the local chili peppers, Lü Yao felt that the chili peppers in Chengdu were far less fragrant than those in Guizhou. The flavor, which was neither spicy nor fresh, was simply not to his liking.

Lin Yongzhen said, "Sichuan cuisine is not just about heavy oil and spice. In Sichuan, a region known for its heavy oil and spice, the truly superior dishes are actually known for their freshness. That's why the older generation in Sichuan used to say that non-spicy Sichuan dishes are generally unaffordable for ordinary people."

"For example, dishes like Peony Fish Slices, Hibiscus Chicken Slices, and Snowflake Chicken Noodles."

Lü Yao added, "I also know about boiled cabbage in clear broth!"

Lin Yongzhen laughed and said, "Yes, this is the dish 'Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth,' created by Huang Jinglin, a former imperial chef in the palace, who, in order to break the world's prejudice against Sichuan cuisine as 'only spicy and numbing, and vulgar and unsophisticated,' racked his brains and, in a pioneering spirit, created it."

"This dish was considered a masterpiece at the time, combining extreme complexity and simplicity to achieve a state of perfection. It was the dish that emerged and swept away the century-old stagnation of Sichuan cuisine. Later, Sichuan cuisine added another flavor, which has been passed down to this day. However, as this dish has been served at state banquets, more and more people in recent years have come to regard it as Huaiyang cuisine."

There's no way around it; non-spicy Sichuan cuisine shares too many similarities with Huaiyang cuisine in terms of its heritage. Both have exquisite knife skills, equally fresh and delicate flavors, and equally beautiful presentations.

Even traditional Sichuan cuisine was influenced by Huaiyang cuisine.

As for things like chili hot pot, they didn't become popular until the late period of the previous dynasty. The earliest way of eating with heavy oil, heavy spiciness, and heavy numbing was also started by the boatmen and woodcutters along the river.

Then, as chili peppers became more and more popular, and with the strong flavor stimulation brought by spiciness and sesame oil, numbing and spicy gradually became the representative of Sichuan cuisine... which is somewhat of a case of the latecomer surpassing the former.

Therefore, it's quite normal for a Sichuan dish like boiled cabbage in clear broth, which isn't spicy, to be mistaken for Huaiyang cuisine.

Hearing Lin Yongzhen recount the characteristics and origins of Chengdu's cuisine as if she knew them by heart, Cheng Xinyu's eyes sparkled: "Wow, Sister Yongzhen, you're so amazing! How do you know all this?"

Lin Yongzhen laughed and said, "I used to come here often for business dinners, and I naturally learned about it after hearing it so many times at the dinner table. It's nothing special."

Lü Yao exclaimed, "You've already read many pages of the book of the world!"

Lin Yongzhen smiled and said, "That's why everyone enjoys chatting with you, Mr. Lü!"

Lü Yao laughed and made the decision: "Then let's go eat non-spicy Sichuan food! Sister Yongzhen, where do you recommend?"

Lin Yongzhen smiled and said, "Since we're already here, we definitely have to go to 'Lanzhifang.' It's a restaurant opened by Mr. Lan, a famous Sichuan cuisine chef. Let me see if I can cut in line."

(End of this chapter)