"Chairman Jin is very cooperative. At the latest, the new version of Alipay will be launched in Korea within a week." In the past, when Ant Group wanted to take Alipay overseas, without Tianxing’s financial deterrence, they were often subservient wherever they went, which was typical for domestic companies going international. Thus, in Neon, they could only choose to cooperate with PayPal, and in Korea, they could only choose to partner with the Kakao Group. However, Kakao was very sensible, or perhaps they saw the consequences of refusing Lu Liang, so they pledged allegiance very quickly, surrendering the entire online payment market to Hyundai, awaiting Lu Liang’s word, which would have Hyundai offering it willingly. "Does it still need a week?" Hearing Lu Liang murmur to himself, Zheng Xuanyi quickly said, "Mr. Lu, it can be done in five days, I will hurry them to complete the handover immediately." "For the sake of caution, let’s make it a week." Lu Liang smiled and said, "I’ll have someone come over this afternoon. You can get acquainted first; they will handle this aspect of the business going forward." He called over Sun Zheyuan: "Xiao Sun, contact Fang Yuan and have him make a trip to Han City. I will wait for him here." Fang Yuan, 45 years old, male, former president of Ant Group’s business unit. Ever since the Ant Group’s IPO was halted, the chairman changed, online lending was reduced, and the promotion of the Ant Credit Score was suppressed, his presence became dispensable. Thus, with one phone call from Old Ma, he assembled a team within Ant Group, headed straight to Tokyo, and joined Tianxing Finance, expanding territories for Lu Liang. Their joining Tianxing is a true win-win-win. Even if they stayed with Ant Group, their equity wouldn’t have been realized. Lu Liang needed them, and Old Ma felt guilty towards them. Zheng Xuanyi suggested, "Mr. Lu, how about we go to a restaurant, dine while waiting?" "Let’s go." Lu Liang nodded, going with the flow. The strait between Neon and Korea is just a narrow divide between two developed countries, with extremely frequent flights, almost comparable to the domestic Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail. Three and a half hours later, Fang Yuan arrives smoothly in Han City, picked up by Fang Shiyu from the airport to the hotel where Lu Liang was staying. Lu Liang watched with a smile at the tall but slightly lean Fang Yuan: "Old Fang, sorry for calling you over on short notice." They had met briefly in Tokyo yesterday, as Fang Yuan was busy, so they only had a quick exchange. Although Fang Yuan was in his forties, his hair was graying, looking more like a man in his seventies or eighties. It’s said he was born this way, often told at school about his premature aging, but now being older, he appeared less aged. "I am just a brick, Mr. Lu, place me wherever needed." Fang Yuan smiled, humble but spirited, suddenly sighed, "It’s better to be busy than to have nothing to do." "Then you’ve come to the right place at Tianxing, we lack everything else except for projects and funds." Lu Liang laughed heartily, turning to introduce Zheng Xuanyi: "Chairman Zheng Xuanyi of Hyundai Group, currently overseeing Kakao’s online payment business under Hyundai’s name." "You two will be responsible for the handover henceforth, don’t neglect Korea while promoting in the Neon market." "Hello, Mr. Zheng. Could you please provide a market research report from the Kakao Group?" Fang Yuan’s eyes sparkled with excitement, first PayPal Group, then Kakao Group; Lu Liang had efficiently conquered the two toughest bones in the East Asian market. He couldn’t help but think that perhaps the Ant Group’s failed IPO, and leading his core team to leave, was a good thing after all. Although Old Ma had a certain level of international influence, it only commanded respect, not fear. And so-called respect hinges on shared interests, making someone the respectable Jack Ma. When interests diverge, that’s when a showdown occurs. But Lu Liang was different; he was assertive and aggressive, always challenging others and often winning. Working with a strong-willed and decisive boss was quite reassuring. For example, in Neon’s and Korea’s online payment markets, they only need to receive business without concern. "Of course, it’s convenient." Zheng Xuanyi nodded with a smile, then continued, "But Mr. Fang, you’ve had a long journey. How about resting for a night first?" Fang Yuan shook his head and said, "Mr. Zheng, let’s hurry. I need to return to Tokyo later. That market is just opening up, and some operations are not yet familiar." "Mr. Lu, what do you say?" Zheng Xuanyi looked at Lu Liang, with a knowing smile between men. Tonight there are local specialties, freshly prepared. Lu Liang chuckled, "Let’s go with Mr. Fang’s preference." He once heard that the old TV dramas were interesting because most investors were coal bosses. They had no requirements other than hiring beautiful actresses, knowing that meddling from outsiders in a mine could cause production accidents. In contrast, today’s investors are mostly people in the internet business, with numerous ideas like granularity and product empowerment, eager to involve themselves, resulting in subpar productions. Though not entirely reliable, there is a certain truth to it. Lu Liang only needed to know whether the company was developing according to plan, not intervening in areas he didn’t understand. "Please wait, Mr. Fang, I’ll be right back." Zheng Xuanyi felt a bit disappointed but could only exit to contact his assistant and retrieve Kakao Group’s internal data. After he left, Fang Yuan pondered, suddenly saying to Lu Liang, "Mr. Lu, perhaps we should slow down a bit." Simultaneously developing in Neon and Korea, even with Lu Liang’s resources, manpower was becoming an issue. Lu Liang thought for a while and said, "We will stop to digest results in the future, but now isn’t the time yet." He laughed and said, "If we lack manpower, go to the Ant Group. You should know your old colleague’s current situation, right?" Recently, Zhang Yong became famous. Since inheriting from Old Ma, it was his first public appearance, but for the wrong reasons. In a public speech, he stated that over the next decade, at least 1,000 Ali Group employees with over ten years of experience will be sent to society annually. It sounds like providing talent with over ten years of work experience to society, but in reality, it’s layoffs. Because the Ant Group’s halted IPO affected the Ali Group, several projects were cut, leaving many idle employees. Veteran employees, although experienced, have long tenures, more bonuses, higher salaries, becoming the targets of sacrifice. Now, people online are beginning to miss Old Ma’s tenure, because compared to being middle-aged and jobless, the 996 work ethos seemed like a blessing. Lu Liang added, "Don’t recruit the old-timers. Focus on those with economic pressures, sandwiched between supporting parents and children." These people were golden opportunities to him. While they may not be physically resilient, lowering expectations for overseas labor, they’re all Chinese, making communication smoother. Fang Yuan nodded earnestly and said, "Mr. Lu, you are a good person." With the deteriorating job market back home, although work experience matters, being cost-effective is even more crucial. With their salaries, they could hire a batch of robust young people. After all, it’s not Africa but Japan and Korea. Such expat work, many young people might eagerly accept, despite lower pay, as a chance to learn the language and gather experience. Lu Liang’s preference for older domestic workers showed his understanding of the struggles faced in middle-age crises, offering them a second chance. "Old Fang, it’s my first time getting a ’good person’ card, and from a man, no less." Lu Liang chuckled wryly, then sighed, "Liu Bang watched dog fights at 48, conquered the world at 55, yet back home over 35, you become a ’redundant talent,’ what kind of damn logic is that?" There was indeed a tiny bit of sympathy, but just a little. The key was needing people who could start working right away. Fang Yuan didn’t know a crisis was looming, limiting the time left for Lu Liang, mistaking it for his goodwill gesture. It was a beautiful misunderstanding, one Lu Liang didn’t want to shatter. Before long, Zheng Xuanyi returned with his assistant and the Kakao research report and relevant personnel. "Korean youngsters are open to mobile payments but dislike Alipay as it’s an East Country software, showing resistance to it." "Icons can change in Neon, they can in Korea as well, and with trillion won in subsidies, they won’t turn down money, right?" Fang Yuan bore a lively smile, engaging with Kakao Group’s Jin Zhiming, discussing how to both attract young users and gradually make them dependent. As a result, he had a thought that even though Ant Group’s IPO failed and his core team left, it might have been a blessing. While Old Ma had international influence, it only managed to attract respect, not fear. Whereas respect depends on shared interests, without which, conflicts would arise. However, Lu Liang was different with his dominant and aggressive style, winning often in competitive situations. Following a solid and assertive boss was truly more reassuring. With the online payment markets in Neon and Korea, all they needed to do was handle the business. "Of course, it’s convenient." Zheng Xuanyi smiled, then said, "But Mr. Fang, you seem tired from your journey, why not rest for the night?" Fang Yuan shook his head and said, "Mr. Zheng, let’s do it as soon as possible. I need to head back to Tokyo later; the market there is just beginning to open, and some business operations are still not very familiar." "Mr. Lu, what do you think?" Zheng Xuanyi turned to Lu Liang, with a knowing smile that men understand. There’s local specialties tonight, freshly made. Lu Liang chuckled, "Let’s take Mr. Fang’s ideas as the basis." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝘯𝘦𝘵 He recalled a saying: back in the day, TV shows were exciting because most investors were coal bosses. Apart from looking for beautiful actresses, they had no other demands because they knew interference from the uninitiated in mining often led to production accidents. In contrast, today’s investors are mostly involved in the internet, full of ideas like granularity and product empowerment, eager to jump in, resulting in poor creations. While this might not be entirely accurate, there’s some truth to it. Just like Lu Liang only needed to know if the company was developing according to plan and would generally refrain from interfering in the process. "Please wait a moment, Mr. Fang, I’ll be right back." Zheng Xuanyi felt disappointed but could only step out to contact his assistant and retrieve internal data from the Kakao Group. After he left, Fang Yuan contemplated and suddenly told Lu Liang: "Mr. Lu, perhaps we should slow down a bit." The simultaneous development of the Neon and Korean markets, even with Lu Liang’s financial resources, was starting to stretch the manpower. Lu Liang thought for a moment before saying, "We will pause to digest the achievements later, but that time hasn’t come yet." He smiled and said, "If manpower is lacking, look to the Ant Group. You should be aware of the situation of your old colleagues, right?" Recently, Zhang Yong has become a hot topic. Since taking over from Old Ma, it was the first time he appeared in public, though not for favorable reasons. During a speech, he mentioned that over the next decade, Ali Group would release at least 1,000 employees with over ten years of experience to the broader society each year. It sounded like a commitment to social responsibility, as Ali Group itself was affected since the Ant Group’s IPO was halted, leading to the shutdown of several projects and leaving many employees idle. Even though Old Ma had a degree of international influence, that influence only commanded respect, not instilled fear. True respect is grounded in shared interests; otherwise, comparisons abound. In contrast, Lu Liang is forceful and decisive, often confronting others and winning. Following a tough and assertive leader is indeed reassuring. For instance, in the online payments markets of Neon and Korea, they only need to handle the received business. "Of course, it’s convenient." Zheng Xuanyi nodded with a smile, then added, "But Mr. Fang must be exhausted from his journey, how about resting for the night first?" Fang Yuan shook his head and said, "Mr. Zheng, let’s proceed quickly. I need to head back to Tokyo later, that market is just opening, and some operations aren’t yet fully smooth." "Mr. Lu, what do you think?" Zheng Xuanyi looked at Lu Liang, with a knowing smile exchanged between men. There’s fresh local specialties tonight. Lu Liang chuckled: "Let’s prioritize Mr. Fang’s idea." He once heard that the brilliance of past TV shows stemmed from investors being mostly coal bosses. Aside from hiring beautiful actresses, they had no demands, as they understood that external interference in a mine was prone to causing production accidents. In contrast, today’s investors predominantly come from the internet sector, full of ideas like granularity and product empowerment, eager to play a role themselves, resulting in poor productions. Although one should not fully believe this, there is some truth to it. Lu Liang only needs to know if the company is progressing according to plan; he doesn’t truly understand the process and generally doesn’t interfere.