The Maybach stopped in front of the imposing skyscraper that is the headquarters of the Dream Fund.
Chen Pingsheng parked at the door and asked the security guard to find him a parking space.
After Mu Qingqing and Mu Lanqing got out of the car, the three of them went into the reception hall on the first floor of the Dream Fund together.
A woman in uniform came forward and asked if I had an appointment.
Mu Qingqing took out her work badge and said, "I have an appointment with your newly resigned President Li."
"Oh...you must be Reporter Mu. President Li is waiting for you at the coffee shop on the eighth floor. Just take the elevator up here."
The receptionist at the front desk led Mu Qingqing to the staff elevator. There were eighteen elevators in the entire building.
There is only a slight congestion during rush hour for employees, but it is usually very fast and convenient.
When she reached the eighth floor, there was a special person to receive her at the elevator entrance. Although the Dream-Fulfilling Fund was large, the etiquette was still very good.
President Li’s full name is Li Xiaoman. She and Chu Qiuyan are from the same university and are friends in the same class.
I have been making Bobo Milk Tea with her since college, and I don’t know how many years it has been.
Li Xiaoman is also in her forties. Her generation is all around the same age now, with not much difference.
She now possesses the aura of a superior, far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Mu Qingqing was able to interview her thanks to Mulan Qing's connections. For Tengying Group, which is currently at the center of controversy, this is by no means a simple interview.
Li Xiaoman sat by the window, looking relaxed and not nervous. Today's conversation, including the interview, was all her own volition, and it was also an opportunity for outsiders to better understand Tengying Group.
After Mu Qingqing sat down opposite her, Mu Lanqing was there to help her, and a video recorder was recording all their communications at any time.
All employees in the surrounding area were cleared out, and absolute silence was maintained in the vicinity.
Mu Qingqing held up the prepared interview transcript and asked, "Mr. Li, I'm honored to have you accept this interview. Regarding the issue that the outside world is most concerned about, I have one question I'd like to ask you. What are your thoughts on the group's third-generation succession? Do you harbor resentment towards leaving early?"
Li Xiaoman shook her head gracefully. "How could I harbor resentment? You know, this third-generation succession was handled personally by Chairman Chen. He hasn't issued any orders to the group in thirteen years. We only obey his orders."
Mu Qingqing excitedly took notes immediately. She had prepared for this interview for half a month, so she naturally knew what the outside world was most concerned about.
"Since there's no resentment, there's no such thing as abandoning the donkey after it's done its work. From what Mr. Li said, it seems he respects your former chairman. Could you tell me about your story with him?"
"Former Chairman is the name given to him by outsiders. We all call him Uncle Chen."
Li Xiaoman looked out the window, as if she had traveled through time and returned to the most passionate years of her youth.
"We used to sell homemade milk tea in a tiny shop outside the university town. We thought that was pretty good, until one day Uncle Chen came over on his bicycle and told us that we could do something big.
"We thought we were a scammer, but later we found out he was actually the chairman of Tengying Entertainment and the person who was praised the most online.
"Under his leadership, we were able to sell milk tea all over the country in less than a year, something we would never have dared to imagine before we met Uncle Chen."
Mu Qingqing became even more excited. She felt that President Li was not arrogant at all. He even talked to her about the past like an elder.
And this is what the outside world wants to know now, the story about that person.
"Mr. Li, what is your biggest gain in this process?"
"Of course I'm learning from Uncle Chen. Do you think a few girls like us who haven't even graduated from college can really build a listed company with a market value of tens of billions in just one year?
"How is that possible? Uncle Chen just protected us from the wind and rain and gave us enough time to grow.
"Whenever Bobo Milk Tea encountered a major problem, Uncle Chen would always appear as if from heaven and solve the problem in a snap. Don't even ask if I alone harbor any resentment. I believe that everyone who left this time will not harbor too much resentment, as most of our growth experiences were similar.
"It's not because of our own abilities that we have achieved financial freedom today. It's just that we met the best Uncle Chen during the best time of our lives. He gave us everything and taught us the true principles of being a good person and running a business.
"Most of those he brought up are now in senior positions within the group. Uncle Chen suddenly left the group 13 years ago and semi-retired, then fully retired three years later. It wasn't until today that he made a new choice for the group. Each of us grew up under his wing, and now, we're simply obeying his orders and giving up our positions to more suitable newcomers."
Mu Qingqing was moved by what she heard. This was what it meant when one word commanded everyone to act.
These people who hold high positions were able to retreat without reservation. How could one not admire their righteousness?
Mu Qingqing said, "But Mr. Li, you are only 45 years old this year. You are in the prime of your career. Shouldn't you work for the group for another ten or eight years?"
"Yeah, I retired before I was even fifty. This should really be very annoying in the eyes of outsiders."
Li Xiaoman smiled and said, "But do you know how old Uncle Chen was when he retired from the limelight?"
"Not even fifty?"
"A more accurate number would be in his early forties. Uncle Chen said that he was too divine during his peak period. If he hadn't retired, it would have been difficult for those who came after him to truly rise. Once people become even slightly dependent, they will always look to others for solutions to many problems, or they will always think that as long as Uncle Chen is around, the sky won't fall.
"Until that day, he announced his long-planned semi-retirement. He would no longer handle any group affairs for us, handing all group power over to us. This, in exchange for our three years of rapid growth, allowed us to experience no major crises, and we were finally able to build our own business. Only after three years did we finally understand Uncle Chen's painstaking efforts and his unpredictable vision and perspective.
"And now, ten years have passed since that day. During these ten years, we have all been doing our own jobs, and we have even become numb to handling official business."
"Mr. Li, do you still support the former chairman's proposal for a three-generation succession?"
"Of course I support it!"
Li Xiaoman said, "It's easy to lose your original passion after staying in one position for too long. We just haven't realized it yet. Uncle Chen is simply standing up to remind us to give opportunities and hope to more passionate young people, so that they can reawaken the vitality and passion of our business empire."
"Mr. Li, do you describe your company as a business empire?"
"Of course, if Uncle Chen hadn't always kept a low profile, do you think there's anyone more worthy of being called the God of Business?"
Li Xiaoman said in a startling tone: "Outsiders don't know our business empire, but you financial journalists, including your colleagues in the business community, all call us the uncrowned kings of business.
"Uncle Chen has developed to this point. The outside world has no news of him at all, and the world is almost completely forgotten. Only those of us who experienced his entrepreneurial era know how many poor students he once protected and what he did for that era.
"Now, it's just his plan to take the group a step further. How can there be so much groundless speculation online? Some say that Uncle Chen is paving the way for his only son to take over. This is just nonsense. Uncle Chen is not someone they can speculate about.
"And I'm not afraid to tell you that Uncle Chen's only son is currently working as a market researcher under our Dream Fulfillment Fund. He'll have to make his own way forward, step by step. Those of us who've retired haven't completely left the group; we've simply changed positions and can continue to make our own contributions to the group."
Mu Qingqing knew that after talking to this point, President Li in front of her would not say any more.
There were very few questions left for her.
She asked the final question that everyone wanted to know.
"Then may I ask Mr. Li, what are your next plans after retirement?"
"All the president-level retirees will join Tengying Group's Global Economic Research Institute. I will be working there as a small business development consultant, responsible for supervising and helping Tengying Group's new companies avoid future missteps."
"Is someone like you only capable of being a small development consultant?"
"What else?"
Li Xiaoman smiled and said, "Uncle Chen is the dean of the Economic Research Institute and the head of the advisory group. The people there are all top experts and scholars in the world, or retired CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. I am very satisfied to be a consultant there. The comprehensive strength of our group is just a small part of what outsiders see.
"Uncle Chen said something that we all agree on: the only one who can defeat us now is ourselves."
Mu Qingqing was deeply shocked. Tengying Group was very powerful, and everyone knew it.
Not to mention its AI mobile phones, chips, robots, new energy vehicles, batteries, AI intelligence and other leading global technology giants.
Even traditional domestic enterprises are spread across every corner of the city.
It can be said that no one can completely avoid the influence of Tengying Group.
But after all these years, its reputation remains as good as ever.
It has industries in so many countries around the world, and there are many things that are completely unknown in China.
You should know that between 2018 and 2023 alone, Chen Pingsheng alone invested over 500 billion yuan overseas.
Adding what has been accumulated over the years, it has already far exceeded one trillion.
These are all Minsheng Basic Health investments that do not include the company's market value and assets.
Although the profit from this type of investment is not high, it brings in a steady stream of cash income every year.
Their group's cash reserves and cash flow are sufficient to allow them to deal with any risks very calmly.
In addition, the group has no debt, and although everyone appears to be operating separately, they are actually all tied together.
With such powerful strength, is there anything wrong with calling it a business empire?
There is no problem of course, but it will not be publicized.
At least Chen Pingsheng would not allow it.
No matter what Mu Qingqing interviewed, if she wanted to publish it, it would eventually have to be reviewed by the headquarters.
Only after they are confirmed can the manuscript be presented to the public.
So, the so-called big news that ordinary people see are basically filtered.
It's just a little bit of the truth that these people want everyone to see.
Thanks to Li Xiaoman's full cooperation, Mu Qingqing was very satisfied with the results of the interview.
After she returned, Chen Pingsheng was still communicating with Chu Qiuyan upstairs.
This time it's not just Chu Qiuyan, there are also many newly appointed presidents in her group, including those who have not yet been appointed.
Chu Qiuyan asked him, "Uncle Chen, after leaving their jobs, most CEOs go to economic research institutes to become ordinary industry analysts, with only a few becoming consultants or team leaders. Shouldn't you reconsider your decision to not prohibit them from starting new businesses?"
In Chu Qiuyan's opinion, these CEOs who left are very familiar with Tengying Group. They have worked there for at least ten or even twenty years and have too many internal resources. Once they are allowed to start their own business, it will still have a certain impact on Tengying Group itself.
Chen Pingsheng said, "There's no need to worry, and there's no need to discuss this. Most of those who left are under fifty. They've simply been in one position for too long, which is why they've lost their passion. Once they're allowed to start a business again, it will be completely different. The fresh feeling will spur them on to take another step forward. As for the competitive prohibition you proposed...
“If one day these industries of our group are defeated by our own executives, I will only think that it is because of arrogance and conceit among us. Otherwise, how could we be defeated?
"If they can really do it, I will only feel happy and will not have any opinions or even any obstacles.
"The best way to deal a blow to our competitors is never to use our existing resources to block or suppress them, but to continuously improve our group. Without this, the once dragon-slaying young dragon will eventually become a dragon that hinders industrial development and prevents the rise of new enterprises.
"You must have confidence in yourselves and in our future. We have never been afraid of anyone along the way, let alone now that we have grown into towering trees."
Chu Qiuyan sighed softly, "Uncle Chen, you really should consider working for another ten years. Compared to you, our vision is still limited. Decades later, we're still far behind you. When the company was small, we had no fears, but now that it's grown, we worry about this and that. Little do we know that the best progress comes from continuous self-improvement."
"Yes, Uncle Chen, you really should think about it again."
"With you here, we can definitely take a few more steps."
"Stop flattering me. Since I chose to leave thirteen years ago, I will not return to the group today."
Chen Pingsheng said, "The reason we sent this internal letter is because the group has indeed reached the point where a generational change is necessary. I've given Zhang Wanyi two years. After two years, she must train a new successor and also make her subordinates completely new. Qiuyan, you also have two years. The road ahead is actually very long. You should also set your sights on the future and not let the power in front of you blind your mind.
"In two years, both you and Zhang Wanyi will become vice presidents at the Institute of Economics. Besides your positions there, I will not restrict any of your other business activities. Even if Zhang Wanyi chooses to recruit a group of people to start a media company again, or you start a dream-fulfilling fund, I won't object.
"What I can give you is never limitations, but a broader sky."
Anyone who can work as an economic researcher, no matter how small the position is, will start with an annual salary of one million.
This is nothing, the most important thing is a plan to protect three generations.
All direct relatives within three generations can receive a monthly living allowance of 100,000 yuan from the institute.
Ordinary companies certainly do not have this ability, but Chen Pingsheng can do it easily.
Because he put out 100 billion to support the three-generation protection plan.
This is very attractive, at least it can ensure that future generations will have no worries.
If you have too much money and still want to develop, the most important thing is talent.
These people are all very capable. If you go there and want to start a business, you will still come to him for money and investment.
The chicken and the egg come first, and it goes on like a cycle.
(End of this chapter)
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