America: My Time

Chapter 1568 The Troubles Resurface
Chapter 1558 Another Storm Begins

After much discussion, nothing came of it. No one was willing to sacrifice their own interests, including President Richard Lamb. He didn't want to ruin his public image, because if that happened, the consequences would be severe. He didn't believe these guys would lend him a hand at a crucial moment. It was already a good thing that these bastards weren't kicking him when he was down!
Why did things escalate to this point? To put it bluntly, it all comes down to selfishness. Some people wanted to take away some of Enron and WorldCom's assets without paying much, which naturally led to a series of unforeseen changes. This is the greed of human nature. Morgan and Rockefeller could control themselves, but they couldn't control their subordinates, not to mention that other financial groups were also involved. Not everyone can be rational in the face of profit; greed is the most common reaction.

Of course, John also deserves some credit for this. If these guys weren't greedy, how would he have so many valid reasons to take action, and how would he be able to intimidate the enemy? Sometimes, some killing is necessary, otherwise people will always think you're easy to bully, especially in situations like this, so you have to be prepared!
Both South Korea and Japan have their problems, and in the US, those old guard are restless. With the election looming, John has to be cautious. A wise man avoids dangerous situations; at such a sensitive time, he can't stay in the US. It's safer overseas, given the chaos there. The struggle for interests is ruthless, and so is the struggle for power. Even though Xiao Bu Shi has gained everyone's approval, it doesn't mean he can rest easy. Anything can happen during an election; caution is the best policy!

The reason why old men like Rockefeller and Morgan were so worried about John's moves in finance was because the restrictions on banks had been broken. John could use his assets in the United States to expand his banking business. Finance was the foundation of their financial groups, and they did not want to see John become powerful, but they were powerless to stop him!

Negotiations would be pointless, and John wouldn't pay them any attention. The more these guys jumped around, the better it would be for him, giving him more excuses. Yes, John wanted to portray himself as a victim through all this, to show the American people that they were being forced to flee to Asia by these old fogies, afraid to stay in the US for long. That reason was powerful enough, wasn't it?

Of course, John wouldn't resort to this trump card unless absolutely necessary, as it would hurt both himself and others. If it really came to that, the resistance John would face would be even greater. He would be on the opposite side of the American financial groups, and those old guys would all be hostile to him and treat him as an enemy.

While things were turbulent in the US, John was also uneasy in Hong Kong. He had just dealt with the situation in South Korea and appeased Lee Boo-jin. Before he could even think of a way to target those guys in Japan, things started to move in Hong Kong. After recovering a little, those Hong Kong bigwigs began to worry about their own interests and feared that John would launch a takeover bid against them.

Looking at the invitation in his hand, John sighed. He could ignore or disregard any invitation from others, but not this one. It was an invitation from Old Master Huo, and John had to give him face.

John was well aware of the thoughts of these Hong Kong tycoons: some wanted to buy back their shares at the current stock price. These people were only interested in profit, and their reasons were utterly flimsy. Rumors of this had been circulating for some time; Standard Chartered Bank had received numerous such requests, all of which had been rejected. Now, these same guys had set their sights on him.

A decade or so ago, John would have given these Hong Kong tycoons some face, but now, he no longer needs to. After all, the difference in their status and position is too great. John is a US financial magnate, while most of these Hong Kong tycoons are only influential in Hong Kong; globally, they are far behind.

Although Hong Kong has now returned to China, no one thinks John's position in Hong Kong will be affected. Compared to their investment in the mainland, they are far less aggressive than John, and even in terms of influence, they are far less influential.

“Looks like we’ll have to spend some more time in Hong Kong. This time, I’ll take you to meet some of the bigwigs in Hong Kong and see how they react.” John waved to Lee Boo-jin as he spoke. Although it was a bit inappropriate to do this, since Cherie Chung was his representative in Hong Kong, the situation was different this time. John was also warning those bigwigs in Hong Kong.

Driven by greed, those who are truly greedy will do anything. Just like during the Asian financial crisis, how many media outlets targeted Standard Chartered Bank? This time is no exception. There are always some self-righteous individuals who think they are very clever and take others for fools. Others believe that Hong Kong has changed, and their era has arrived. Hong Kong is only so big, and the market is only so small, so naturally some people have set their sights on John. After all, John swallowed up a large portion of the British conglomerate's assets, so it's understandable that they have such thoughts!
"This isn't a good idea. After all, this is Hong Kong. It's not appropriate for me to attend!" Lee Boo-jin hesitated for a moment. Coming from a wealthy family, she naturally understood the impact John's actions would have on Cherie Chung. Moreover, her presence at such a gathering at this time would give those Koreans more reasons to target her!
"It's alright, you can all come with me to meet these big shots. Don't feel pressured, they won't mind. Hong Kong isn't as conservative as you think, you don't need to feel any pressure. They want to see me, not you, and not Chu Hong!"

John paused slightly before continuing, “You know a thing or two about Hong Kong, having spent considerable time here. South Korea will likely follow a similar path, with its real estate market experiencing explosive growth. You can participate to some extent, but it’s best not to go too deep. Look at the development of Hong Kong’s real estate market, and then look at South Korea – it too will eventually decline. I don’t even need to know; I know which direction South Korea will take next. Shipbuilding, electronics, chips, automobiles – these are their most promising plans. Unfortunately, South Korea lacks resources and relies entirely on imports. Once they are held hostage, or their market share weakens, their economy will face difficulties. Most importantly, South Korea’s population is also a problem. If the conglomerates control everything, the South Korean people will suffer soon! Remember, we only need to control our own market share; don’t fight for the rest. Let them fight it out! Hong Kong is similar; the market is only so big, and once it’s saturated, internal strife begins!”

In an instant, Lee Boo-jin understood the meaning behind John's words and why she had appeared. Someone was scheming to take John's assets in Hong Kong, and her appearance was meant to intimidate them. After all, this was Hong Kong, not the United States or South Korea, and she couldn't resort to domineering methods.

As for whether there were other people behind these people, John didn't care or want to pay attention. Even if there were, they were just the same old guys. Moreover, Hong Kong was no longer John's focus. Most importantly, even if they wanted to target him, they didn't have enough reason, let alone be able to shake his plans!

Soon, news spread that Old Master Huo had personally invited John. The reason was simple: someone wanted to continue putting pressure on John. Unfortunately, they overestimated their own strength, truly believing that John's energy was tied up in the US and he was unable to target them, and that he was also bogged down in South Korea. Anyone with a little knowledge was aware of the dramatic changes that had occurred in South Korea. "What's wrong? Are you feeling disappointed? Why didn't you get a chance to play?" Seeing Yang Gongru's unhappy expression, Mi Xue smiled calmly and said. She hadn't expected to encounter such a situation during her visit to Hong Kong, but she understood Yang Gongru's mindset perfectly!
"Yes, I don't understand why I didn't get such an opportunity!" A lavish banquet is an unimaginable temptation for a woman like Yang Gongru, and it's an opportunity that all the beauties in Hong Kong's entertainment industry want.

"It's very simple. You haven't seen things clearly at all. You only see the empty fame brought by the spotlight in the entertainment industry, but you haven't seen the true nature of the wealthy. Don't get lost in that spotlight. Understand yourself, know what you want, and then make a decision. The wealthy are not as simple as you think, not to mention that he is a US conglomerate tycoon! As a media and entertainment mogul, you should know that beautiful women are the least of your worries!"

Upon hearing these words, Yang Gongru was taken aback. She realized that she had indeed become a bit arrogant lately, emboldened by the flattery of her "good friends." She wasn't unaware of the internal strife that had plagued her, but she hadn't given it much thought. Now, Mi Xue's words had jolted her awake, making her realize how ridiculous she had been.

Is fame in the entertainment industry important? In the eyes of a big shot like John, it's nothing. After all, beauty has its limits, and fame is easily shattered. Now she has to face the choice: whether to pursue her dream of becoming a star or to leave the entertainment industry in time and follow the example of her predecessors.

If she had witnessed the darkness of the entertainment industry and experienced the harsh realities of society, she might have chosen to retire from it. However, Yang Gongru has not yet experienced any of that, so asking her to give up the allure of the spotlight is a decision she cannot make immediately.

Seeing Yang Gongru's hesitation, Mi Xue sighed inwardly and said softly, "Think it over carefully yourself. I'm just reminding you as someone who's been through this. How you choose is your own business; no one else can help you!"

After saying this, Mi Xue left, leaving Yang Gongru to think it over on her own. If she couldn't figure it out, then there was nothing to look forward to, and she would eventually just disappear from John's side. After all, once she lost her mind and fell into the false temptations of the entertainment industry, she would inevitably get into trouble.

John is no longer the boy he once was. He is now a true conglomerate tycoon, a conglomerate tycoon who can influence US strategy. He values ​​his reputation highly. Everything is fine before anything goes wrong, but once something goes wrong, it's no small matter and there will be a price to pay. And only those who have been through it know how big that price is!

Look at those beauties in Japan, look at the impact of their repeated mishaps. If it weren't for John still scheming against those guys in Japan, they would probably be out of the game long ago, with no chance of starting over. You can see this from Xiao Qiang's situation, but these are things that can't be said out loud, otherwise they would be affected as well. In fact, this is almost a taboo topic among these sisters.

If someone can't see through everything even with guidance, the chances of failure are too high. So as long as she can't figure it out, Misha won't have any expectations of her. After all, John has had quite a few beautiful women around him over the years, so this can only be considered as her preparation.

A mother's love is strong. For the sake of her child's future, Mi Xue stepped forward to remind Yang Gongru. Many people who couldn't see through all this have already left, just like Wang Zuxian and Xiao Qiang, who were once very favored. It's hard to say whether they regret it now. Only those who have experienced the harsh realities of society will recognize themselves. Beauty will eventually fade away!
Mi Xue knew better than Yang Gongru how extravagant Hong Kong tycoons were and how dark the entertainment industry was. If it weren't for John's protection, a woman like her would have been taken advantage of long ago. That's the cruelty of reality. But Yang Gongru hadn't truly seen through the darkness and madness of this industry yet.

Now, with John's asset restructuring and his stepping back from the spotlight, Mi Xue feels the pressure. She is not fighting for herself, but for her children. After all, after this adjustment, Hong Kong's assets will be integrated into a conglomerate. Looking at the changes in South Korea and Japan, Mi Xue also wants to prepare for her children's future.

It's safe to say she's overthinking it. John has long been prepared for his children's upbringing, considering things much more thoroughly and deeply than she has. If they weren't capable, John wouldn't have let them take over his businesses. John can't afford to neglect his successors, and they don't have much freedom either. After all, John is an outlier; he's recognized in the US because he has enough power. But do his successors have that same ability? Arranged marriage is another hurdle they need to face. If they can't accept it, they probably won't have many opportunities. That's the harsh reality.

(End of this chapter)