After Divorce, I Can Hear the Future-Chapter 985: Financial Harbor Plan

"Mr. Lu, media outlets like Sina, Sohu, and NetEase are waiting outside to interview you."

After their conversation, as Lu Liang was about to leave, Sun Zheyuan gently reminded him that a group of journalists was blocking the venue’s main entrance.

As expected, they were likely to ask Lu Liang why suddenly launch the extended-range model—is it still environmentally friendly?

"A bunch of annoying folks."

Lu Liang frowned, turned to look at Wang Xiaofeng, who understood immediately: "Mr. Lu, I’ll go out first then."

The launch of the extended-range model naturally stems from market acceptance, but this can’t be stated outright and requires some artistic crafting.

For instance, some consumers have been asking when they would release the extended-range model, and after 180 days of high-level discussions with fifteen meetings, they decided to launch it... They just didn’t expect finding a suitable extended-range unit to be so challenging, yet they ultimately overcame each difficulty...

Switching concepts has always been his forte, turning the market’s skepticism into their promotion to the market.

Lu Liang turned to Hu Weiwei and said, "The upcoming policies may become more relaxed, but the protections in our park remain the same."

He had reviewed the basic process of the new car launch; before the official start, the live broadcast room had a five-minute window reserved for city promotion, announcing to the world that they had recovered.

Although it seems to have ended, as far as he knew, it would soon return with force, thus to ensure production tasks, they couldn’t relax at all.

Hu Weiwei looked solemn: "I’ll be mindful."

After giving the instructions, Lu Liang also left the venue by car, but unlike the usual Maybach, this time his ride was the Phecda.

"Compared to the Maybach, it feels decent, doesn’t it?"

Lu Liang sat in the back, activated the zero-gravity mode, and felt as though enveloped by a massage chair.

Sun Zheyuan touched the seam of the door handle, paused momentarily, and said: "Production line crafting lacks the finesse of handmade, adding a touch of cheapness."

He quickly added: "However, some of that cheapness can be compensated through the intelligent cockpit."

Previously, Lu Liang’s ride was the Maybach VS680 AWD Platinum, priced at 23 million, equipped with seven luxury seats, offering choices of redwood and black jade steering wheel, star velvet carpet among various interior options and personalized customization services.

Although Phecda was their company’s product, he found it difficult to honestly say that a car priced at 600,000 offers a better experience than one at 23 million.

"Truthful indeed, but this is a matter of market acceptance."

Lu Liang stood up, glanced out the window at taxis weaving through the traffic, and chuckled: "If a million-dollar car bore a green plate, could you accept it?"

Sun Zheyuan instinctively sought to observe Lu Liang’s expression, but Lu Liang said coldly: "Don’t overthink, just answer."

"I can’t accept it." Sun Zheyuan shook his head; not even at four or five hundred thousand would he opt for new energy.

Because driving a BMW X3 back home, the car logo speaks for how well he’s doing outside these years.

But if he bought a Yao Guang, he’d still need to explain what the four-pointed star logo represents.

Lu Liang suddenly laughed, then reclined on the large sofa: "Prejudice is like a mountain; we are Yu Gong, winning by mere bragging won’t cut it; we can only move it slowly piece by piece."

"But come to think of it, what’s Old Wang’s aesthetic vision anyway?"

Thinking of this, Lu Liang was upset because the green plate proposal came from BYD, making Old Wang hard to escape blame.

Exasperated, he said: "In a few days, let’s ship the car to Xiangjiang, swap to white plates with black text, should look a bit better."

Sun Zheyuan stifled his laughter and nodded in response: "Okay, Mr. Lu."

In the days that followed, Lu Liang traveled from Wuhan to Su City, attending several supplier conferences, and returned to Xiangjiang in early June.

During this time, Phecda saw a 24-hour reservation count of 2,412 units, with 1,880 being extended-range models.

Based on user group profiling, extended-range models are primarily corporate purchases, while individuals lean more towards pure electric.

Though the reservation count was just over two thousand, for an MPV business car, it was undeniably a success.

That night, Lu Liang returned to Marine West Garden.

Wang Chuting suddenly said playfully: "Honey, I want to find some time to go back."

She remained concerned about her studio’s development, as it was her own enterprise.

Although video conferences can solve most issues, some matters need in-person handling, such as financing.

Early in the year, the sweeping epidemic caused a booming market in community group buying and live sales.

Her Chu Jun Media had control over three ten-million-follower accounts and over a dozen million-follower accounts, possessing everything needed to start an A-round financing.

Because of the rapid market scale growth, it attracted substantial capital inflow, with each MCN organization wanting to be the first to list.

Wang Chuting couldn’t reconcile herself to starting early yet only catching the latecomers; she wished to vie for the top spot.

Lu Liang frowned, but seeing Wang Chuting’s sincere gaze, he couldn’t help but sigh; she was never just a caged bird.

"How long do you plan to stay back?"

Hearing Lu Liang’s inquiry, Wang Chuting beamed and wrapped her arms around his neck, saying, "Probably three or four months."

"And him? Is he going back with you too?" Lu Liang looked towards the play area in the living room. The little one was crawling quickly, having already mastered the use of his limbs, while the mother-in-law followed nervously.

"Oh dear husband~ could you really bear to see such a small child leave his mother’s side?" Wang Chuting lowered her head, choking up, pretending to be delicate and fragile.

Lu Liang glared at her with slight annoyance and helplessly said, "If there’s a second wave and the situation isn’t right, come back early."

"No problem." Wang Chuting squinted her eyes happily and gave Lu Liang a big smooch, "I knew you’re the best to me."

The next morning, Lu Liang drove to the airport to bid farewell to Wang Chuting and the child, along with the mother-in-law, as the three returned to the mainland.

He then returned to Central, visited the Financial Management Office at the second phase of the Financial Center Building to meet with Chen Jiebin.

"Financial Harbor Plan?"

Chen Jiebin was stunned upon learning that Korean and Japanese capitals were going to flood into the Hong Kong stock market. He couldn’t help but complain, "Why didn’t you say this earlier?"

"Saying it now isn’t too late. Sun Zhengyi won’t arrive until tomorrow, and it’s still uncertain whether Japanese capital will come."

Lu Liang had a smile on his lips, rotating in his chair, admiring the view of Victoria Harbor outside the window.

The tallest building in Hong Kong is the Global Trade Building, followed by the second phase of the Financial Center.

Chen Jiebin’s office is on the 88th floor, right at the top of the second phase of the Financial Center.

From there, you can see views that Lu Liang can’t.

He once considered buying the Global Trade Building, the tallest structure in Hong Kong, as money wasn’t an issue, but there was no suitable location to construct a building.

However, Old Li from New Hongji would rather give him a few floors than sell it, and Lu Liang had no interest in just a few floors, so he had to temporarily give up.

"Bringing in Japanese capital is just a word from you, isn’t it?"

Chen Jiebin complimented with a smile, but then he added, "However, this project needs careful planning. A slight mistake, and Xiangjiang could face its second financial crisis."

In the past, although Japanese and Korean capitals invested in Hong Kong stocks, their focus was always on US stocks. Now the priorities are about to reverse, which may invoke the anger of European and American financial groups.

After all, the prosperity of US stocks for the past decade was thanks to the influx of capital from various countries, which pushed the three major indices higher and gave birth to multiple companies with market values reaching trillions of US Dollars.

If Japanese and Korean capital choose to enter the Hong Kong stock market, it would inevitably affect the future rebound of US stocks.

After some contemplation, Chen Jiebin asked, "How do you want us to cooperate with you?"

Unlike the past century, they can’t easily intervene to maintain the peace and stability of the Hong Kong stock market; they can only rely on Tianxing Finance.

Retracting his gaze from the scenery, Lu Liang methodically stated, "First, diversify financial attributes, completely lift controls, and let the market grow wildly and quickly."

"Second, diversify selections; whether it be stocks, futures, precious metals, or cryptocurrencies, open them all up to align with international standards."

"Third, accelerate the return of Chinese concept stocks listed in the US, and promote quality mainland enterprises for dual listings in Hong Kong and Shanghai."

The Hong Kong stock market has only over a thousand listed companies, with a market value of about 37 trillion Hong Kong Dollars, which is less than 5 trillion US Dollars.

It must expand rapidly because the larger the pool, the more capital it can accommodate.

Otherwise, even if others are interested in investing, there will be no suitable enterprises for them to invest in, and some suitable enterprises, like Tencent, Alibaba, and JD, are now overpriced.

The three strict conditions proposed by Lu Liang are essentially to solve the problem of capital retention.

Chen Jiebin said, "To meet the first condition, we’ll have to start a new board, similar to a NASDAQ third market. As long as companies that are one or two years old meet the requirements, they can apply to list, correct?"

"Just as expected from Mr. Chen, you understand it right away and even draw inferences from it,"

Lu Liang gave a thumbs up, expressing admiration.

It’s like the New Third Board of A-shares, but with the mainland having concerns, companies listed on the New Third Board can only be called quoted, not listed, which greatly limits liquidity.

Chen Jiebin said solemnly, "You’re into asset appreciation, so you should know what happens if this door opens and appreciation stalls in the future, right?"

"With a bang, the market will be in tatters."

Lu Liang certainly understands the consequence of the aftermath of a hype, yet he still sternly stated, "Opportunities always come with risks. There is no such thing as a sure-win, risk-free venture. If the Hong Kong stock market wishes to evolve and break through its historical ceiling, then it has to be done."

Chen Jiebin said solemnly, "I have to think over the first two conditions. I can agree to the third one first."

Lu Liang persuaded, "Old Chen, don’t be too stubborn. Xiangjiang is a natural testing ground because, even if an explosion happens, it’s still controllable within a certain range."

He approached Chen Jiebin first because he valued his opinions, as this plan would undoubtedly be agreed upon by the mainland.

For the mainland, it only needs to strengthen the Hong Kong Stock Connect audit to isolate the mainland market from as much risk as possible.