Chapter 467: Mr. Ma's Excitement

Chapter 467: Mr. Ma's Excitement

In the 1980s and 1990s, it was a tumultuous era, and also a time when fraudsters were rampant.

When it comes to scams, the fraud techniques of the 1980s and 1990s were truly not even worthy of comparison with the myriad of scams that emerged in later times. Yet, these simple scams managed to deceive people of that era to the point of death and resurrection.

Street chess scams and street lotteries, these low-level scams, still continue to deceive people in the present day.

Of course, these street scams were merely small-scale operations. The most outrageous scam of the 1980s and 1990s was the "water-to-oil" scam, which was a complete farce.

If it were just ordinary people with limited knowledge falling for it, that would be one thing. The real issue was that numerous social elites, university professors, and even scientists believed it.

Many leaders also fell for it, truly making it a case of absurdity reaching its peak.

Just a fraudster who didn't even finish elementary school, his "water-to-oil" technology allowed him to deceive people for over a decade before being exposed. He even rose to the rank of deputy minister, living a life of adoration and receiving state funding. This guy was indeed a talent.

To be honest, if those leaders had read Jin Yong's "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and known about the pretender Qiu Qianzhang, they wouldn't have let him run loose for so long.

Another notorious fraudster who impersonated the People's Liberation Army and deceived people was equally impressive. He managed to recruit soldiers and even had the real armed forces help with their training. Local leaders were also invited to lend their support, making the operation truly impressive.

The most miraculous thing was that these fraudsters, often low-educated ordinary people, managed to manipulate numerous high-educated elites.

In short, during this era, not only individuals but even local governments were frequently deceived.

Not long ago, due to his excellent English, Mr. Ma was hired by the Hangzhou government to travel to the United States to recover highway investment funds from an investment company.

When Mr. Ma finally arrived in the United States, he discovered that the company was a fraud. The company even tried to persuade him to join in the scam and defraud China. At the time, Mr. Ma still had his principles and naturally refused. In response, they placed him under house arrest.

Out of necessity, Mr. Ma had to pretend to agree to their demands to escape and return home.

It was during this trip to the United States that Mr. Ma first encountered the internet at the VBN company in Seattle, opening the door to a new world.

On the night of his return, Mr. Ma eagerly invited 24 of his friends to discuss the internet, truly believing in its potential.

At that moment, Mr. Ma, in his early thirties, spoke passionately, trying to convince his 24 friends to join him in the internet venture.

Unfortunately, despite his efforts, only one friend thought it was worth a try, while the rest did not believe in this so-called internet.

After his friends left, Mr. Ma couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened.

Seeing her husband's disappointment, Mrs. Ma, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, "Husband, I believe in you. If you say the internet is worth doing, then we will do it."

Mr. Ma couldn't help but hold her hand, feeling that the most fortunate thing in his life was marrying this woman. She was not only beautiful (whether she was a campus beauty or not was unknown, but she was more than enough for Mr. Ma) but also an invaluable supportive wife.

Mr. Ma said emotionally, "Wife, thank you. No one else believes in me, but you do."

Mrs. Ma smiled, "Husband, I know you are not content with a mundane life. Whatever you want to do, I will support you wholeheartedly."

Mr. Ma, moved, hugged his wife and said firmly after a moment, "We will definitely succeed."

...

Deng Shirong stayed in Hangzhou for three days before "accidentally" encountering Mr. Ma.

Mr. Ma's appearance was so distinctive that once you saw a photo of him, you wouldn't forget it. Given that the future Mr. Ma had a huge following online, Deng Shirong easily recognized him.

It was noon, and Mr. Ma was walking into a bun shop, presumably to buy buns for lunch.

Although the future Mr. Ma was not interested in money, the Mr. Ma of the present was not in a position to say that. Preparing for his second venture, he was frugal, even with his meals.

When Deng Shirong reached the bun shop, Mr. Ma had already bought two buns.

Just as Mr. Ma was about to eat, Deng Shirong greeted him, "Mr. Ma, hello!"

Mr. Ma looked at the unfamiliar man and politely asked, "Hello, may I ask who you are?"

Deng Shirong smiled, "I am surnamed Deng, and people call me Uncle Jiu."

Mr. Ma was puzzled, "Uncle Jiu? Do we know each other?"

Deng Shirong, not one for playing games, took out a business card and handed it to Mr. Ma, saying, "Mr. Ma, this is my business card."

Mr. Ma took the card with both hands and, upon seeing the title, was greatly surprised, "Uncle Jiu, you are the chairman of the Deng Group?"

Deng Shirong smiled, "Yes, if Mr. Ma has the time, would you like to have a meal and chat?"

Mr. Ma was excited. The Deng Group was the No. 1 private enterprise in the country, with a huge reputation nationwide. Its products were well-known across the country. A person of such high status wanted to chat with him?

Although Mr. Ma had many doubts, he couldn't afford to think too much at that moment. He quickly replied, "I have time, of course I do. How about I treat you to a meal, and we can chat while eating?"

As he spoke, Mr. Ma's mind raced. Where should he take this important person for a meal? It couldn't be too cheap, but it also couldn't be too expensive, as he was currently short on money.

Deng Shirong, knowing that Mr. Ma didn't have much money at this time, waved his hand, "I am an elder, how can I let you treat me? How about this, I heard the Hangzhou cuisine at Shan Wai Shan is quite good. I also want to try it. What do you think?"

The food at Shan Wai Shan wasn't cheap, but if this important person wanted to talk to him, he wouldn't mind the cost of a meal.

With this thought in mind, Mr. Ma smiled and said, "Sure, I'll follow your lead. Let's go to Shan Wai Shan!"

Mr. Ma acted decisively, handing the two steaming buns he had just bought to a beggar on the street. Then, he led the mysterious Uncle Jiu straight to Shan Wai Shan.

Shan Wai Shan Restaurant was founded in the 29th year of the Guangxu era, and it has a history of nearly a century.

The name of the restaurant comes from the famous line by the Southern Song Dynasty poet Lin Sheng: "Beyond the green hills and the towers, when will the songs and dances by the West Lake cease?"

When Deng Shirong and Mr. Ma arrived at Shan Wai Shan Restaurant, they found that the environment was indeed beautiful, surrounded by greenery, backed by mountains, facing a scenic garden, and with the Yuquan Pool on the left, truly enjoying the beauty of nature.

Under the guidance of a waiter, they entered an elegantly decorated private room. When it came to ordering, Deng Shirong and Mr. Ma modestly yielded to each other, eventually choosing several of the restaurant's most famous dishes, including the signature "Eight Treasures Fish Head King."

The "Eight Treasures Fish Head King" is also known as the "Premium Fish Head King."

This dish uses high-quality fish heads, which are tender and smooth after cooking, with a thick and creamy white broth. It is served in a blue-and-white porcelain bowl, accompanied by bright red river shrimp, emerald green bok choy, maroon ham, dark brown sea cucumber and mushrooms, white bamboo fungus, and fish balls, making it a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

After the waiter left the room, Mr. Ma asked curiously, "Uncle Jiu, did you come here specifically to see me?"

As he asked, Mr. Ma felt a bit uneasy. He was just a minor figure, and a big shot like Uncle Jiu had come all the way to invite him to dinner. Could it be that Uncle Jiu saw potential in him and wanted to offer him a job at the Deng Group?

Although he was confident in himself, he knew he hadn't achieved anything remarkable yet, and it wasn't enough to warrant a visit from such a prominent figure.

So, what was Uncle Jiu's purpose in coming to see him?

Deng Shirong smiled slightly and said, "In a way, yes. I've heard some things about you and thought you were a smart young man with good judgment, bold and daring, and quite active. I believe you will achieve something significant in the future, so I decided to come and meet you out of curiosity."

Mr. Ma was stunned. This was the chairman of the Deng Group, a towering figure in the domestic business world, giving such high praise to an unknown person like him. It was simply unbelievable.

"Uncle Jiu, you are too kind. I don't deserve such praise."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "As the saying goes, 'Thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west bank.' Mr. Ma, you are young, and this is the best era for business in our country's history. As long as you can seize the opportunities of this era, your future achievements will be great. I have high hopes for you."

Mr. Ma was moved to tears and said, "Thank you, Uncle Jiu. Your words have illuminated my path forward. I will work hard to seize the opportunities of this era and prove that you haven't misjudged me."

Deng Shirong took a sip of tea and said, "I believe you will succeed. Over the next three years, work hard on your own. If you need investment for your business after three years, come to me, and I will help you realize your dreams.

However, if you want my investment, there is one condition: your business must be funded solely by Chinese investors, with no foreign capital allowed.

If you can agree to this condition, I will invest as much as you need, and I promise not to interfere with your management. I will give you the greatest autonomy.

And I don't lack for connections."

The purpose of this meeting was to set a three-year agreement with Mr. Ma. Investing now was premature, as Mr. Ma had not yet conceived the idea of Taobao. Although Deng Shirong could guide and accelerate his progress, it wasn't necessary. Business is like cultivating martial arts in novels; to become a master, one must undergo sufficient practical training.

Why could Chu Liuxiang always turn the tables despite being weaker?

This was because he had been through over three hundred battles in his life. His rich combat experience allowed him to create or seize fleeting opportunities to turn defeat into victory.

Another typical example is Qiao Feng. Qiao Feng also honed his skills through combat. Even those whose martial arts were on par with his would not survive a real fight against him.

In contrast, Zhang Wuji, despite having top-tier martial arts, lacked practical combat skills.

Although Mr. Ma had already experienced the difficulties of entrepreneurship when he founded his translation agency, Deng Shirong felt that his trials were not enough. Most importantly, he had not experienced the repeated rejections of investors who thought he was a fraud, which would have taught him how difficult it is to secure funding.

The condition Deng Shirong proposed was also very important. In the previous life, the largest shareholder of Alibaba was Japan's SoftBank, and Yahoo also held a significant stake. Together, these foreign investors held 60% of Alibaba's shares.

With just this fact, Alibaba was not even worthy of carrying Huawei's shoes.

Of course, this couldn't be entirely blamed on Mr. Ma. When he started his business, no one in China was willing to invest, so he had to turn to foreign investors.

However, it wouldn't be accurate to say Mr. Ma had no responsibility at all.

Anyway, when Deng Shirong saw foreign investors cash out tens of billions from Alibaba in the previous life, he felt immense pain.

In this life, he was determined to prevent such a situation. Alibaba must be purely Chinese-funded. If Mr. Ma was unwilling, Deng Shirong didn't mind stepping in personally. With his capital, connections, and understanding of Alibaba's development, he would make Mr. Ma step aside.

Mr. Ma didn't understand why this business tycoon wanted a three-year agreement or why his business couldn't have foreign investors, but he didn't feel it was appropriate to ask. He could only express his gratitude: "Thank you for your trust, Uncle Jiu. With your promise, I am more confident that I will succeed."

Soon, the waiter began to serve the dishes.

The food was excellent. With nearly a century of history, these dishes had earned their status as the restaurant's specialties.

Deng Shirong and Mr. Ma chatted while they ate. Having lived for over a hundred years across two lifetimes and with the knowledge from his previous life, Deng Shirong could talk about anything under the sun.

Mr. Ma was no ordinary person either. His eloquence was well-known, and he could hold his own in any conversation.

As they chatted, the conversation naturally turned to martial arts novels.

It is well known that Mr. Ma is an absolute enthusiast of martial arts novels.

Under his influence, Alibaba implemented a nickname system where every new employee's first task upon joining was to choose a nickname from various martial arts novels.

These nicknames were registered with the human resources department and displayed in the company's ERP system.

Colleagues primarily called each other by their nicknames, and after a while, many people didn't even know their colleagues' real names.

The leadership team at Alibaba was no exception, each having their own martial arts title.

For example, Mr. Ma's own nickname was Feng Qingyang.

The most amusing part was that Alibaba's meeting rooms were named after locations from martial arts novels, such as "Bright Peak," "Heaven-Reaching Cliff," "Peach Blossom Island," "Luohan Hall," and "Gathering Heroes Manor," all taken from Jin Yong's novels.

The most iconic were the restrooms, named "Listening Rain Pavilion" and "Waterfall Viewing Pavilion," truly fitting and imaginative names.

Moreover, Alibaba employees referred to picking up packages from downstairs as going to the "Courier Agency," a clever and playful touch.

Deng Shirong, in his previous life, was also a novel enthusiast, reading everything from martial arts novels to later web novels. The number of novels he read was unparalleled in this era. Although many ancient martial arts novels were forgotten, there was one exception: Jin Yong's novels.

Jin Yong's martial arts novels were incredibly popular. Deng Shirong had not only read the original works but also watched the adapted TV series. In the later web novels, there were countless Jin Yong fan fictions, and he had read all the good ones.

Therefore, Deng Shirong was extremely familiar with Jin Yong's martial arts novels.

Coincidentally, Mr. Ma's favorite novels were also Jin Yong's.

Thus, as they chatted, they felt an instant connection.

Anyone who enjoys reading novels has likely had a similar experience: when you find someone who shares your love for a particular novel, the resonance and joy in the conversation are truly unparalleled.

Enjoying a delicious meal that he rarely had the chance to taste, and chatting about his favorite martial arts novels with one of the top business leaders in the country, Mr. Ma was thoroughly exhilarated.

They spent a full four hours at the meal.

When they finally left Shan Wai Shan Restaurant, Mr. Ma said with a face full of gratitude, "Uncle Jiu, thanks to you, I not only enjoyed a rare and delicious meal, but also had a very engaging conversation. I haven't been this happy in a long time."

Deng Shirong smiled, "We seem to have hit it off. Remember the promise I gave you. If you need funding for your business in three years, don't hesitate to come to me."

Mr. Ma nodded solemnly, "Thank you, Uncle Jiu. If I need it, I will definitely find you."

Deng Shirong said, "Alright, let's part ways for now. We'll have another drink and chat when the opportunity arises."

Mr. Ma replied, "Sure, Uncle Jiu. We'll have another drink and chat next time."

After watching Deng Shirong leave, Mr. Ma returned home with a myriad of thoughts.

"Hubby, where have you been? I haven't seen you all afternoon," Mrs. Ma asked casually as she saw him come in.

Mr. Ma, with an excited expression, said, "Wife, I had a meal with someone. Guess who I met? It will surely surprise you."

Mrs. Ma laughed, "How can I guess? You seem so excited, who did you meet?"

Mr. Ma didn't answer immediately but asked, "Wife, you must have heard of the Deng Group, right?"

Mrs. Ma smiled, "Of course, it's the largest private enterprise in the country. Who did you meet from the Deng Group?"

Mr. Ma, with a beaming face, said, "I met the chairman of the Deng Group!"

Mrs. Ma was surprised, "Who did you have a meal with to meet the chairman of the Deng Group? Do you have a friend with such powerful connections?"

Mr. Ma, with a smug look, said, "Wife, it wasn't that I met the chairman of the Deng Group through a friend. The chairman of the Deng Group invited me to have a meal alone today, and we talked for a full four hours!"

Mrs. Ma was stunned. She wasn't an ignorant woman and knew very well the status of the chairman of the Deng Group. How could her husband, who had no exceptional qualities, be invited to a meal and a long conversation by such a prominent business leader?

"Hubby, do you have a past with the chairman of the Deng Group?"

Mr. Ma smiled, "No past, this was our first meeting today."

Mrs. Ma, puzzled, asked, "Then why would such a prominent business leader invite you to a meal and talk for hours? It sounds like a fairy tale!"

Mr. Ma blinked and asked, "Wife, if I told you that this prominent business leader saw potential in me and that's why he invited me to a meal and a long chat, would you believe me?"

Mrs. Ma looked at her husband intently and asked, "Hubby, do you think I should believe you?"

Mr. Ma laughed awkwardly and then sighed, "At first, I didn't believe it either, but the facts were right in front of me. I couldn't help but believe it. During the meal, this leader even made me a promise. He said that if I want to start a business in three years, I can find him for investment, no matter how much money I need, he will invest."

Mrs. Ma's eyes widened in shock, "Hubby, are you kidding me?"

Mr. Ma said seriously, "I'm not kidding. He really said that to me."

After the shock, Mrs. Ma asked with some confusion, "If this prominent business leader sees potential in you, why wait three years to invest?"

Mr. Ma shook his head, "I'm not sure either. But he must have his reasons."

Mrs. Ma was puzzled but didn't dwell on it further. Instead, she asked, "Hubby, are we still going to pursue the internet business?"

Mr. Ma said firmly, "Of course, we are. The leader said he will invest in three years, so before that, we should focus on our internet business. We'll put in the few thousand yuan we have and borrow some more from my sister. We have to get the company started."

Mrs. Ma nodded, "Alright, I'll follow your lead."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end