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After resigning from Jin Chen, the first thing Suning did was go home.

Su Jianguo and Li Xiuqin were already waiting in the living room.

Knowing that his older brother Su Ning was coming back, Su Ming made an excuse to sneak out and play beforehand.

Since Suning returned to the family, the relationship between the two brothers has been very tense.

It's unclear where Su Ming's deep resentment towards Su Ning comes from, but Su Ming will never appear wherever Su Ning is.

"Dad, Mom," Su Ning called out to Su Jianguo and Li Xiuqin.

"You're back." Su Jianguo nodded, greeting him as if he were a guest. "Sit down."

Li Xiuqin quickly went to pour tea. "Su Ning, are you hungry? Mom made your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs."

"Mom, don't rush, let's talk about the important matter first."

The three sat on the sofa, the atmosphere somewhat serious.

Su Jianguo spoke first: "You really resigned?"

"I resigned, and all the formalities are completed."

Li Xiuqin became anxious: "You child, why are you so impulsive! Jin Chen is such a good company, how can you just quit like that?"

“Mom, I’m not comfortable staying at Jin Chen.” Su Ning told the truth. “After Uncle Li came, the situation became more complicated. There’s no point in staying any longer. Everyone treats me like a rich second-generation with a powerful background.”

Su Jianguo was silent for a moment, then asked, "So what are your plans next? Go back to the company?"

"I want to start my own business," Su Ning said.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuqin became even more anxious. "Start a business? Su Ning, do you know how difficult it is to start a business? I've seen too many people start businesses, and nine out of ten fail. Our family isn't short of money. Why don't you go back to work at the group, learn business from your father, and live a stable life? Isn't that better?"

“Mom, I’m not a child anymore.” Su Ning said earnestly, “I know starting a business is difficult, but I want to give it a try. And what I want to do is not small-scale operations, but a legitimate investment fund.”

Su Jianguo looked at him: "Which direction?"

"Medical and high technology," Suning stated clearly. "Medical AI, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and new energy are the future trends. I want to create a fund focused on these areas."

Su Jianguo didn't object immediately, but asked, "Where's the funding? Running a fund requires a large amount of capital."

"The first phase of the plan is 2 billion yuan," Suning said. "I can cover part of it myself, and the rest can be covered by my limited partners."

"Two billion?" Li Xiuqin gasped. "Su Ning, where did you get so much money?"

“I have my own way.” Su Ning didn’t go into details. “Dad, Mom, I want to make a bet with you.”

"What bet?"

“I won’t use any of my family’s money; I’ll raise the 2 billion myself,” Su Ning said. “If I can raise it and achieve results within a year, investing in at least two promising projects, then you can support me to continue. If I can’t, I’ll honestly go back to the group and start learning from scratch.”

Su Jianguo and Li Xiuqin exchanged a glance.

This bet is a compromise.

"How much can you raise yourself?" Su Jianguo asked.

"At least a billion," Suning said with certainty.

"What about the remaining billion?"

“We need to find limited partners (LPs) or bring in other investors,” Su Ning said. “I already have some ideas.”

Su Jianguo pondered for a long time; he had come to understand his son quite well during this period.

Since you dare to say that, you must be confident.

However, it still feels unbelievable that Suning would ask for 1 billion yuan so casually, after all, it's not just 10 yuan.

The thought that Su Ning grew up in a rural area of ​​Jiangxi and didn't even go to university made me feel strange.

"Suning, can you tell us where you got so much money?"

"Dad, keep this a secret for me! I really don't want to tell you."

"Alright." Su Jianguo looked at Su Ning carefully for a long time before finally relenting. "Since you want to try, then let you try. But there's one condition: you have to serve as the vice president of Jianguo Group and come to the company at least two days a week to familiarize yourself with the group's business. That way, even if your startup fails, you can quickly get back to work."

This was to leave a way out for his son, and also to allow himself to stay informed of the situation at any time.

“Okay,” Su Ning agreed.

“Furthermore,” Su Jianguo added, “since you insist on doing this, your family can’t offer no support at all. I’ll give you one billion yuan as seed money. But this money isn’t free; it’s an investment from the group in your fund. There needs to be a formal agreement with return requirements and performance-based clauses.”

One billion! That's more than Suning had anticipated.

Suning never thought that Su Jianguo and Li Xiuqin would show any sign of support, after all, the Su family was really powerful.

"Thank you, Dad," Su Ning said sincerely.

Seeing that her husband had relented, Li Xiuqin couldn't object anymore. "Then you have to be careful and don't overwork yourself. Your health is the most important thing."

"I got it, Mom."

……

Thus, Suning officially joined Jianguo Group as the group's vice president.

On his first day at work, Su Jianguo personally showed him around and introduced him to the situation.

The headquarters of the Jianguo Group is very large, with many business segments, from the International Trade Department to the Supply Chain Finance Department, from logistics and warehousing to consumer goods retail.

“Our group’s biggest problem right now is the pressure to transform.” Su Jianguo said in his office, pointing to the business structure diagram on the wall. “Traditional import and export trade is becoming increasingly profitable. We must move towards higher value-added areas, either by integrating upstream and controlling mines and factories, or by extending downstream to build brands and do retail, or by crossing boundaries and investing in new technologies and new industries.”

"If your medical and high-tech fund can achieve results, it will greatly help the group's transformation. So this billion yuan is not only for your startup, but also to pave the way for the group."

“I understand,” Su Ning nodded.

Over the next few days, Su Ning accompanied her father to various meetings and met with heads of different departments.

He soon discovered that although the group was large, it also had many internal problems...

There is insufficient coordination between departments, the decision-making process is too long, and there is a lack of motivation for innovation.

However, Su Jianguo didn't need him to give instructions; he just wanted him to familiarize himself with the situation.

In Su Jianguo's words, "While the old emperor is still alive, the crown prince should learn first."

Suning does not consider itself the "crown prince" of any Jian Guo Group.

In his opinion, the most suitable person to inherit the family business should be his older sister, Su Qing...

Her drone company is thriving, and her understanding of industry is far deeper than mine.

Moreover, graduating from a prestigious international university is something I, a high school student, can't compare to.

In addition, Su Qing's attitude towards Su Ning's return was calmer than Su Ming's.

Although he doesn't really welcome his younger brother "stealing his position," he at least puts on a good show and occasionally gives Suning some advice.

Therefore, Suning is very clear about its own positioning, which is why it thought of starting its own business, just to strengthen its own capabilities.

……

After receiving the 1 billion yuan from his father, Su Ning immediately took action.

First, he registered a company called Ningyuan Capital, which means "peace leads to far-reaching goals" and also subtly reflects his own name.

The office is located in a newly built office building in Pudong, where half a floor is rented. The decoration style is simple and modern.

Then, Suning did something no one expected.

Late at night, he was alone in his still-unfinished office.

"Afu," he said softly.

A faint virtual image appeared in the air, resembling a man in his forties, wearing glasses and with a gentle expression.

"Master, we meet again." Afu, with his new face, showed no sign of anything amiss.

No one can tell that it is not human; the spatial world is Suning's greatest strength.

“Yeah! It’s time to start ‘cheating’ again.” Su Ning smiled.

“The spatial world is part of your ability, and I don’t think that counts as cheating,” Afu said.

"Alright." Su Ning stopped dwelling on it. "Transfer one billion yuan from the spatial world to Ningyuan Capital's account."

"Understood. Fund transfer in progress... Transfer complete. One billion has been received. The source of funds complies with the laws and regulations of this world. It has been processed through multiple layers of offshore company structure and cannot be traced."

On Ningyuan Capital's account, the number jumped up, adding one billion.

“Furthermore,” Su Ning continued, “we will invest in Ningyuan Capital under the name ‘Funing Technology,’ acquiring a 30% stake. Jianguo Group will hold 30%, I will personally hold 25%, and the remaining 15% will be reserved as equity incentives for the core team in the future.” “Understood. The complete business registration information for ‘Funing Technology’ has been generated: registered in the Cayman Islands, the actual controller is Fu Yu, whose background is that of an overseas AI expert, who is low-key and mysterious, and does not appear in public.”

“Very good.” Su Ning nodded. “Afu, from now on, you are one of the founding partners of Ningyuan Capital. Your identity is an AI expert who returned from overseas, and you will only participate in decision-making online and will not appear in public.”

"Understood. Virtual identity information has been generated: Afu, 45 years old, PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University, former chief scientist of an AI company in Silicon Valley... All information has been entered into the business registration system, tax system, and banking system."

“Next, we need to build a team,” Su Ning said. “We’ll start with the investment team, then risk control, legal, and finance. Based on my requirements, please select a group of suitable candidates, compile a list, and send it to me.”

“It’s in progress.” Afu paused. “Also, as per your previous request, the standards and requirements for the AI ​​robot’s production have been finalized. Shall we begin production now?”

“Let’s begin,” Su Ning said. “Let’s start with two… one for investment analysis and one for risk control. They need to be so lifelike, the kind that can pass a video interview.”

"Understood. It is estimated that production and testing will take 72 hours to complete."

"it is good."

Outside the window, Shanghai's night view is as dazzling as a galaxy.

Suning stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the city lights.

My father gave me 1 billion yuan, and Space World invested another 1 billion yuan.

Ningyuan Capital now has 2 billion yuan in start-up capital, enough to start a business.

The next step is to build a team, find projects, and get the fund up and running.

As for those people in Group Four... I wonder what they will choose.

Should I stay at Jinchen, or start a business with him?
Su Ning took out her phone and sent Lan Qianyi a WeChat message: "The office has been found, and the funding has been secured. What do you think?"

After a while, Lan Qianyi replied, "I've talked to General Manager Wu, and he said he needs more time. But I've already submitted my resignation letter, and I'll definitely go with you."

Su Ning smiled: "Okay. Then get ready, you'll be my assistant from now on."

"Hmph! I thought you were going to make me a senior executive."

“The president’s assistant is also a senior executive!” Su Ning said.

Putting down his phone, Suning looked at the night view outside the window, feeling a long-lost entrepreneurial passion.

From today onwards, he is no longer Su Ning, the analyst at Jin Chen, nor Su Ning, the young master of Jianguo Group.

……

Three days later, the two AI robots were completed.

Suning saw them in his office; they were almost indistinguishable from humans.

The only difference is that they don't eat or drink, they consume energy bars, and they don't need Suning to pay their salaries.

The first robot, codenamed "Chen Xi," is a man in his thirties of medium build, dressed in a well-fitting suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He appears calm and capable and is primarily responsible for investment analysis and project screening.

The second robot, codenamed "Zhang Yuan," is a woman around forty years old with short hair, a business suit, and a serious expression. She is primarily responsible for risk control and compliance review.

“Master, the debugging is complete.” Afu’s voice rang out in the air. “Chen Xi and Zhang Yuan have been loaded into the complete virtual resume and professional database, and are competent for their respective positions. They have passed all the simulated interviews and tests, and their performance is no different from that of real humans.”

Su Ning walked up to Chen Xi and said, "Let me introduce myself."

"Hello, Ms. Su, I am Chen Xi." Chen Xi's voice was gentle and magnetic. "I have a PhD in Economics from Stanford University. I was formerly a senior analyst in the TMT group at Goldman Sachs Asia, and later served as the investment director of a leading US dollar fund. I specialize in project analysis and valuation modeling in the medical and high-tech fields."

"Hello, Ms. Su, I'm Zhang Yuan." Zhang Yuan's voice was crisp and clear. "I have a PhD from Harvard Law School, hold bar licenses in both China and the United States, and was formerly a partner at an international law firm, specializing in legal compliance for private equity and venture capital. I am skilled in transaction structuring, risk control, and compliance management."

The two exchanged words fluently and naturally, their eyes, expressions, and body language indistinguishable from those of real people.

More importantly, their professional database is filled with a vast amount of industry knowledge, legal provisions, and case experience, making it more comprehensive than any human expert.

"Very good." Su Ning nodded in satisfaction. "From today onwards, you are all official employees of Ningyuan Capital. Chen Xi will serve as the Investment Director, and Zhang Yuan will serve as the Risk Control Director. The office system, email, and address book have all been set up for you."

"Understood, Mr. Su," they both replied simultaneously.

With Chen Xi and Zhang Yuan in charge, Ningyuan Capital's organizational structure was built at a rapid pace.

Chen Xi is responsible for developing investment strategies and processes.

He produced a detailed investment guide in just one day...

This includes industry focus, stage preference, investment amount per project, due diligence standards, investment decision process, and so on.

"President Su, based on my analysis, there are three most suitable niche markets to enter right now," Chen Xi reported at the meeting. "First, medical imaging AI, with relatively mature technology and clear market demand; second, industrial robots, which benefit from the upgrading of the manufacturing industry; and third, energy storage technology, which complements the development of new energy sources."

He pulled up several charts: "This is my first list of potential projects, fifteen in total, distributed across three tracks. I have done a preliminary analysis of each project, marking the key risks and highlights."

Suning looked at the list and found it to be of very high quality.

He had never even heard of some of the projects, but Chen Xi's analysis was spot on.

"What's next?" he asked.

“I will contact these projects and arrange initial interviews,” Chen Xi said. “At the same time, we will start recruiting. We need to build an investment team of at least five people to be responsible for project discovery, due diligence and post-investment management.”

What are the hiring criteria?

“I have a detailed talent profile.” Chen Xi pulled up a document. “They need to have an industry background or investment experience, a deep understanding of a specific field, strong learning ability, and the ability to adapt to the fast pace of a startup. As for salary and benefits, I have taken into account market levels and developed a competitive plan.”

On the other hand, Zhang Yuan was responsible for building the risk control and legal system.

She first drafted a complete set of internal regulations, including the rules of procedure for the investment decision committee, risk control management methods, compliance review process, confidentiality agreements, and so on. It was a thick stack of documents, professional and rigorous.

Then he outlined the external cooperation network: "Mr. Su, I have contacted three law firms, two accounting firms, and one due diligence company as our long-term partners. They are all top institutions in the industry and have served many well-known funds."

"What about the cost?" Su Ning asked.

“We negotiated a package price that is 20% lower than the market price,” Zhang Yuan said. “In addition, I also registered Ningyuan Capital’s official email address, website, and WeChat official account, and drafted the first version of the introductory materials.”

What's most impressive is that Chen Xi and Zhang Yuan can work 24 hours a day.

They don't need to rest or eat, and their processing efficiency is extremely high.

Moreover, the two work together seamlessly. When Chen Xi takes a liking to a project, Zhang Yuan will immediately offer advice from a legal and risk perspective; when Zhang Yuan establishes a system, Chen Xi will provide optimization suggestions from a practical business perspective.

A week later, the basic structure of Ningyuan Capital was completed.

Investment Department: Headed by Chen Xi, currently without subordinates, but recruitment has already begun.

Risk Control and Legal Department: Headed by Zhang Yuan, also currently hiring.

Finance Department: Suning has temporarily transferred an experienced accountant surnamed Yu from Jianguo Group to be in charge of the accounts.

The Human Resources and Administration Department hired a recent graduate named Xiao Wang to handle daily tasks.

The office renovation is almost complete.

The interior design features a minimalist and modern style, an open-plan office area, several private offices, a meeting room, a tea room, and all the necessary equipment.

On Friday afternoon, Suning held its first all-staff meeting in the office...

There were actually only five people: himself, Chen Xi, Zhang Yuan, accountant Lao Yu, and Xiao Wang.

"Everyone, Ningyuan Capital is officially launching today," said Su Ning. "We have 2 billion yuan in funding, a clear strategic direction, and a professional team. Now, it's time to test our execution capabilities."

Chen Xi continued, "President Su, the preliminary interviews for the first batch of projects have been arranged, starting next Monday. At the same time, ten interviews have been scheduled for the investment team, and we expect three people to be on-the-job within two weeks."

Zhang Yuan said, "All legal document templates are ready, including cooperation agreements, investment agreements, shareholder agreements, etc., and can be used at any time. The risk control process has also been tested to ensure that each project goes through three rounds of review."

Accountant Lao Yu reported on the financial situation: "The two billion has all been received and is distributed across three bank accounts. We have implemented reasonable cash management, and the annualized return is approximately 2.5%."

Suning nodded: "Very good. Everyone should do their job well. Although we are small in number, we need to be efficient. In a startup, speed and execution are the most important factors."

After the meeting, Suning kept Chen Xi and Zhang Yuan alone.

“There’s one more thing,” he said. “Someone from Jin Chen Capital might be coming to take up a position. Lan Qianyi is confirmed to be coming, but Wu Kezhi and Lin Yuming are still hesitating. If they come, we need to make proper arrangements.”

“Understood,” Chen Xi said. “I will arrange their work according to their strengths. Lan Qianyi can be your assistant and also be in charge of consumer technology. Lin Yuming can start as an investment manager. If Wu Kezhi comes, he can serve as the chairman of the investment committee.”

"Okay! Let's do it."

After the two left, Su Ning stood by the office window, looking at the traffic below.

That's how Ningyuan Capital started.

They have AI robots as executives, two billion yuan in funding, and a clear investment direction.

Now, let's see what results they can achieve.

The first battle is to launch the first good project.

...(End of chapter)