Chapter 407: Make Spending Simple

Over a thousand business elites in the guest seating area, along with top officials in the front rows, watched with keen interest as the people on stage bickered with each other.

They occasionally burst into laughter, finding it entertaining.

From Lei Bus vs. Dong Dajie, then Lao Wang Zong vs. Jack Ma, now it's Principal vs. Jack Ma.

Jack Ma is a gifted talker—he always leaves you stunned and bewildered, and he can insult you indirectly while pretending to praise you; Lao Wang Zong has never gotten the better of him.

Liu Tianxian, seated far up in the guest area, watched as her husband on stage was harassed by Jack Ma; she focused intently, worried he'd be at a disadvantage.

Everyone knows how formidable Jack Ma is—his tongue is a lotus in bloom.

"This guy speaks with silk-wrapped needles, never letting go once he has the upper hand—I've seen my husband humiliated by him too, just because Dong Dajie is his partner and they're targeting us," Zhang Tong leaned forward to complain to Liu Tianxian, since they were now on the same side.

On the surface, she looked like the perfect virtuous wife.

They were separated by two seats; Liu Tianxian had to lean in closely to hear, and after listening, she said softly: "We're doing fine, not seeking conflict—yet suddenly calling my husband up here is frustrating."

"It's just because they've been bickering before, so they want to watch the show—needs some entertainment value," Zhang Tong said.

She found this girl's gentle tone likable.

These two spouses whispered quietly in the guest seating, yet kept their eyes fixed on the ongoing debate on stage.

Jack Ma had been speaking from ancient times to the present, when Fang Hong said: "Elders often say old men grow crafty, old horses grow sly—truly accurate. General Manager Ma is muddying the waters, teaching others based on his own limited understanding. He used to be a teacher, so this flaw is normal."

"Hahaha!" The hall erupted in laughter.

This was a direct attack on Jack Ma—first scold him thoroughly before saying anything else.

Lei Bus smiled; Dong Dajie's face darkened.

"If this is your perspective, your way of handling things, then I see no point in continuing this conversation," Jack Ma's expression grew displeased.

His implication was that Fang Hong's vision was too narrow, his level too low—anyone can insult others, but he offered nothing substantive, positioning himself as morally superior.

Lao Wang Zong chuckled beside him and said: "Young brother, don't start by criticizing—offer real substance to refute him, or no one will believe you."

Meaning: if you just hurl insults without offering anything concrete, people will think you only know how to yell, lack real talent or original thought, and are a fool.

"Then let me say this: if information transparency could predict crises or opponents, then according to General Manager Ma's logic, WeChat is also transparent—why didn't Alibaba crush WeChat? Android is open-source and transparent too—why didn't anyone copy it and crush it?"

Fang Hong first refuted the idea that data and information are omnipotent, then added: "Excessive faith in data and information is inherently cold—it means you only see numbers and never ask whether people truly behave as the data suggests."

Numbers are cold; they lack human emotion and warmth. This society is a vast ecological system—not everything can be explained by data and information.

For example, if my salary averages out with yours, does that mean I'm truly at the same level? No—I'm still poor, you're still rich.

Perhaps Alibaba has achieved some glory because it truly made life convenient and gave people a sense of trust and warmth—but in the years ahead, I believe it will reach a peak, then fall, because Alibaba will gradually lose its warmth and stop looking down at people.

This meant Alibaba was becoming cold—a company that only sees data and never looks down to understand people's true needs, thus losing its warmth.

This was similar to Jack Ma's earlier claim that Xiaomi might be comfortable these two years but would face hardship in two more.

It offered real substance: you talk about data, so I talk about humanity, about people's true emotions—which data cannot capture.

It also implied Alibaba was not an ecological company.

"Principal's perspective is novel, has some merit—past Alibaba solved people's trust issues, had warmth; future Alibaba will lose its warmth."

"Then let me say this: future Alibaba will become even warmer. Alibaba's goal is to make life simpler—not just making eating, clothing, and daily needs easier, but making life itself simpler. That's what Alibaba will do in the future."

"Not like Chang'e Technology, which obsesses over content—constantly wondering who likes what, who enjoys what. I ask: what's the point? People watch it and forget it immediately, clueless about what they're even doing."

Jack Ma spoke with disdain, delivering it all in one breath without pause, his rebuttal smooth and seamless.

It triggered laughter from the audience below.

He meant Alibaba was far superior to Chang'e—while Chang'e studied what people liked to watch, Alibaba solved real human problems.

He consistently positioned himself above others.

Fang Hong was struggling to counter him—you say he lacks ecology, yet Alibaba truly solves everyday problems people face—that is ecology.

For example, Alipay makes borrowing easier, paying bills easier—this is why Alibaba rose.

Of course, there are side effects: it has led to excessive consumption, and future overwork culture is partly tied to Alipay.

Because it released too much money, causing those without self-control to spend their future income in advance, forcing people later to repay debts and cut spending. But all that lies in the future—can't elaborate now.

"I didn't hear anything particularly insightful from General Manager Ma—only one phrase: making money simple."

Fang Hong stressed the last few words, then shifted tone: "General Manager Ma always thinks he's doing something, as if no one else is. Doesn't addressing people's spiritual needs have value? Do you want people to be nothing but laborers who earn and consume—unable to enjoy life? What's the difference between them and machines?"

"So after all this, General Manager Ma still lacks warmth."

He added again: "Our society today faces countless problems needing solutions. I agree with General Lei's view: focus on just one or two things, no matter how big or small—do them well, and if they help society, they matter."

His earlier words were dangerous—they pushed Jack Ma to the opposite side of the public, implying that "people" should be reduced to nothing but tools that work and consume.

Alibaba became the middleman—this was capitalism—and Fang Hong kept emphasizing Jack Ma as the cold-hearted capitalist.

His later words distanced himself—he praised Lei Bus: any effort that benefits society, big or small, has meaning.

If Jack Ma failed to respond well, it would be a stain!

Everyone in the hall turned to look at him, waiting for his reply—this accusation was heavy.

Jack Ma now felt pressure—he might believe this, but he couldn't admit it.

His mind was clear now: "Making money simpler is exactly what I'm doing, and I'm glad to do it. As a platform, a completely unfamiliar one, we let users store their money with us, and we safeguard it—that's the trust users place in us, and I deeply appreciate it."

"But how they spend it? That's their own decision—we have no authority to interfere. We only ensure users know we guarantee the safety of their assets."

This self-defense lacked aggression—it sounded like he was retreating. If this debate continued, Principal might find a flaw and pin another label on him—he couldn't bear that.

Alibaba was still in its growth phase, not yet the behemoth it would become.

Alibaba would become a behemoth after its IPO next year on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the world's largest IPO, soaring to $860 billion—a true peak.

Later, no two companies would reach $500 billion in market value.

That was when Jack Ma truly inflated—giving speeches everywhere, boasting, spouting all kinds of statements.

Now he was still restrained, not so swollen with pride.

"But I warn you: whether as a person or a company, you must remain humble. Don't think a little success makes you great—you're still young, so I won't blame you. Your life is long, full of ups and downs—not a smooth sail." Jack Ma still couldn't let go—he had to jab back.

Meaning: Fang Hong didn't understand humility—he was already smug over minor achievements, and hardship was coming his way.

"I've always felt that I'm still alive today, and living well, not because I'm so great, but because my competitors made me look good."

When Fang Hong spoke, the entire hall erupted in loud applause and laughter.

This retort was perfect—it implied that all his competing peers were idiots, not that the Principal was so smart, but that they were too stupid and useless, insulting all his rivals at once.

Below the stage, Lao Wang Zong's face darkened—he was the idiot being targeted, and the Principal had bullied him the hardest.

Liu Tianxian clapped vigorously, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Onstage, Lei Bus laughed like a child, as if the anger he'd absorbed moments ago had finally been released; Dong Dajie wore her usual black expression—her face was always black.

Lao Wang Zong patted Fang Hong's shoulder approvingly beside him, offering encouragement—finally, someone could put Jack Ma in his place.

He had been left speechless by Jack Ma several times.

In truth, their previous conflicts were limited to the film industry; they had no other clashes—Fang Hong didn't touch real estate, so he didn't affect Jack Ma's core business.

Fang Hong had once feared Lao Wang Zong, back when he was weak, without cinema chains, and easily choked by Lao Wang Zong's maneuvers.

But as his business grew larger, and the internet and Tu Piaopiao rose, dependence on traditional cinema chains would shrink greatly.

If your cinema refuses to screen a hit film, that's your loss—your store's utilities and labor costs are still expenses. Cinemas are capital-intensive; Tu Piaopiao, riding its popularity, can make up for it through other cinema channels or online streaming rights.

There's an impact, but not enough to cripple you.

Alibaba's current business has little direct conflict with Fang Hong—its main focus remains e-commerce. When it truly enters the entertainment industry, Tu Piaopiao and Chang'e will both be expanding.

At that point, whether Alibaba tries to hassle him or not, Tencent will also come after him, because everyone's core interests will already be touched.

The larger Tu Piaopiao and Chang'e grow, the fiercer the competition becomes.

"Your humility always carries a hint of arrogance," Jack Ma said, ending the conversation—there was no point continuing; talking to someone like this only dragged his own level down for no reason.

And it unnecessarily elevated the other person to his own level—totally not worth it.

(End of Chapter)