After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future
Chapter 433 - 430: The Older, the More Confused

Lu Liang didn't accept the invitation to the lakeside,

Old Ma was very disappointed, but couldn't really say anything.

After all, only having a junior college degree was indeed a significant shortcoming; he couldn't help asking, "Mr. Lu, don't you want to improve yourself?"

"Go where? Mingzhou?" Lu Liang smirked.

Old Ma was taken aback, then suddenly smiled, "There are also many business-oriented study programs within the country."

The news of an affluent businessman from East Country being arrested in America might have disappeared completely from the internet, but that didn't mean it never happened.

The doctoral program initiated by Huaqing University, Dongzi never participated again after returning to China.

He must have been dissatisfied with the program, unable to even ensure the safety of the students involved, what good was it.

Lu Liang just smiled and did not continue the topic.

Huaqing University was simply a scapegoat; after all, Dongzi had his reputation to consider, being framed was more palatable compared to being the victim of an "immortal jump" out of lust.

The two chatted until past five o' clock, Old Ma glanced at the time, "Mr. Lu, it's about time."

"Then let's go." Lu Liang nodded, and in the car followed Old Ma to the mouth of the Pujiang River.

The National Day holiday had arrived, and the city was no place for people.

Just as Zheng Xiaoxuan said, there were people everywhere, cars everywhere, enough to make one's scalp tingle and strike fear at the sight.

Baoshan had a private home-style restaurant where Lu Liang ate several times and found the flavor very good, so he arranged to meet Old Liu there.

It wasn't long after their arrival that Old Liu hurriedly arrived, seventy-three years old, having announced his retirement several times.

But just like Soros, he retired but never truly did, popping up from time to time to make his presence felt.

"Mr. Lu, this must be our first meeting, right?"

Old Liu showed a smile, suddenly sentimental, "I've heard in recent years a remarkable younger generation has emerged in Modu, truly outstanding among their peers."

Lu Liang smiled modestly, "Mr. Liu, you flatter me, I grew up listening to your stories, and today I've finally fulfilled my wish to meet you in person."

"Let's take our seats, gentlemen. What shall we eat?" Old Ma said with a smile, well aware of his role at this dinner gathering.

Purely there to keep the atmosphere going, let them talk, he would do his part. As long as the two didn't start arguing, his mission would be considered accomplished.

"I have no dietary restrictions, what about you, Mr. Liu?"

Though he was the invited guest, Lu Liang took full charge as the host since this was Modu, not Beijing.

Old Liu said with a smile, "Something light will do; I drank too much when I was younger, and now I don't really touch anything too heavy or rich."

Old Ma said with a grin, "I'm much the same, with certain days of the month set aside for fasting."

"You two talk like that, making it seem as though I'm laden with deep sin."

Lu Liang teased laughingly; he was a genuine carnivore, one could say no meat, no happiness.

Although his digestive capacity couldn't compare to that of his younger days, now he needed a well-balanced diet of staple foods, vegetables, and soups, or else he would feel terrible the next day – yet he still loved to eat.

Old Ma smiled wryly, "Mr. Lu, I didn't mean anything by it, I'm from the post-60s, Mr. Liu from the post-40s, how old are you?"

"Mr. Lu is from the post-80s, born in '85," Old Liu sighed, "Each of us is 20 years apart, precisely representing three generations."

"Younger than Xiaoqing by seven years, time is indeed cruel. Over the years, I've seen many a great man's rise and fall."

Lu Liang squinted, chuckled lightly, "Those who rise to the top are the great men; those who sink are merely the ones eliminated."

"Mr. Lu, isn't that a bit one-sided?" Old Liu glared fiercely, emanating an intimidating presence without anger.

"Oh? Does Mr. Liu have any advice?" Lu Liang replied with a smile unchanged, sipping his tea nonchalantly.

He rose through the ranks without any assistance besides that from Meng Changkun.

He hadn't benefited from Old Liu's favor, and wasn't about to let anyone play the elder card; it wouldn't work on him.

To put it nicely, he was an industry senior. To put it crudely, nothing more than a relic of a bygone era.

The Liu Family's three outstanding members were like a microcosm of the evolution from ancient clans.

The first generation held the second lawyer license in the country, a pioneer and improver of intellectual property rights.

He was the creator of the national property laws, but it was also because of him that they gradually improved, creating loopholes for himself.

The most famous cases were Wyeth AHP, gold profiteering, and Disney. Through legal avenues, exerting pressure on the relevant departments, he suppressed domestic companies, clearing trademark infringement issues for these brands and claimed to instill confidence in foreigners regarding the implementation of patent law.

The second generation came during the time of state-owned enterprise restructuring, leveraging his father's influence to obtain huge loans, swallowing the Chinese Academy of Sciences' shares whole, transforming from a caretaker to the owner.

The third generation was born at the time of the Internet boom. With the combined efforts of the first and second generations, they swiftly turned DiDi into a behemoth valued at 50 billion US Dollars.

Three heroes of one family, partaking in all the era's spoils since the founding of the nation, but the direction of the times does not remain unchanged.

When DiDi submitted their IPO for review, Old Liu certainly couldn't have not helped; he surely did, but it was of no avail.

So in a sense, Lu Liang also considered himself to be destined, naturally unafraid of confronting the Liu family.

"I wouldn't dare take credit for offering advice, it's merely sharing some experience from someone who's been through it, hoping Mr. Lu will think things through thoroughly."

Old Liu didn't wish to continue posturing and practically told Lu Liang outright to meddle less in DiDi's affairs.

Lu Liang replied with a chuckle, "I'll take Mr. Liu's admonition to heart."

Old Liu narrowed his eyes, sighing, "The times have ultimately changed."

Having immersed himself in business for decades, how could he not discern genuine concern from mere lip service?

Perhaps he had been inactive for too long, as even the younger generation no longer took his words seriously.

Lu Liang hinted, "Times are always changing; if people don't change, they'll end up as those who sink."

Sharp-tongued replies serve little purpose," replied Old Liu, his demeanor growing colder, clearly hearing the insinuation in Lu Liang's words.

Lu Liang let out a rueful chuckle, shaking his head.

They say the older one gets, the wiser one becomes, but he felt that Old Liu was becoming less clear-headed with age.

It was clear that Old Liu was acting arrogant due to his age, yet now he was turning it around as if Lu Liang were at fault.

Old Ma sensed trouble and ceased to be a spectator, "Mr. Lu, this private kitchen has amazing flavors. How did you discover this place?"

"A friend brought me here before; I've eaten here a few times and found it quite nice."

The conversation was leading nowhere, and Lu Liang didn't wish to stay longer. He drank a cup of tea as a substitute for wine to both men and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Liu and Mr. Ma, but I have an appointment later, so I must leave first."

Old Liu snorted coldly, and Old Ma hesitated, the words on the tip of his tongue swallowed back, "Mr. Lu, let me walk you out."

Clearly, this conversation has gone beyond mere breakdown; calling it disastrous would be no exaggeration.

Lu Liang lacked respect for elders, and Old Liu relied on his age; their encounter was like Mars colliding with Earth.

"No need, Mr. Ma, please stay."

Lu Liang couldn't be bothered to glance at Old Liu again, who at his age, was still sulky. He certainly wouldn't indulge him.

Lu Liang left, decisively.

Old Ma sighed regretfully, wishing he hadn't gotten involved in this mess—caught between a rock and a hard place, neither in favor nor in the right.

"Now the youth of today..." Old Liu sneered.

With a bitter smile and no Lu Liang in the picture, Old Ma could only agree, "Mr. Lu has been too fortunate; success at a young age can lead to arrogance."

"It's time he took a spill."

"..."

Old Ma was at a loss for words and found it hard to speak.

Wanting Lu Liang to take a fall was easier said than done. If it were that easy, he would have fallen long ago—why would it wait until now?

But he didn't try to dissuade either, owing the Liu family many favors. If through this event he could repay some, it wouldn't be bad.

After all, he considered his relationship with Lu Liang to be quite good.

After exiting the private kitchen, Lu Liang, too, was brimming with frustration. He calmed down a bit and called Cheng Wei.

In a grave voice, he said, "I just met Old Liu through an introduction by Ali's Mr. Ma."

Cheng Wei was momentarily stunned, suddenly having an ominous premonition; surely Lu Liang hadn't backed down—that would spell doom for him.

Having openly challenged Liu Qing at the board meeting, he had left himself no way back. If he couldn't completely strip Liu Qing of her power, he would become utterly redundant in the future.

"No worries, I rejected them. Just wanted to let you know, the plan remains unchanged."

Since meeting with Old Liu, Lu Liang had silently raised this plan to his highest priority.

Not for a bun unsteamed, but for a point of pride.

But since the greatest beneficiary was Cheng Wei, he still needed to inform him that all this was for him.

Like some elders, who, although the home wasn't too poor to feed the family, would make an egg dish for everyone except for themselves.

Essentially, it was to instill a sense of indebtedness in others.

Similarly, although Lu Liang was infuriated by Old Liu, his motivation to get involved with DiDi was now immense.

But he also wanted Cheng Wei to know how much he had contributed and what he had given up, to foster a strong sense of indebtedness.