Chapter 192: Since Ancient Times, Schemes Win Hearts

Open the history books, and you will see many figures considered wise and martial who, at a certain point in time, suddenly do things that later generations and outsiders find incomprehensible, as if they had suddenly lost their minds.

The reasons for this may be varied, but if one examines their situation at the time, one will find they were all facing internal strife and external threats, with their own positions in jeopardy. In order to preserve their power and status, they would commit acts that perhaps even they themselves could not have imagined doing in the past!

Why Yamashina Makoto was able to become the second-generation president of Wan Dai Company was not because his abilities were outstanding, but because he was the biological son of Wan Dai founder Yamashina Naoharu.

Now, with the trouble Yamashina Makoto was facing, his identity as Yamashina Naoharu's biological son was no longer effective. Yamashina Naoharu's health was very poor this year; once word got out that Yamashina Makoto had been driven out of Wan Dai and the Yamashina family had lost controlling interest in the company, Yamashina Naoharu, given his condition, would likely be angered to the point of passing away.

By then, Yamashina Makoto would have lost his position as president of Wan Dai, lost the company's controlling interest, and his father would have passed away. For Yamashina Makoto, he dared not even imagine such a scene; he would rather die than see it happen!

Putting down the phone, Yamashina Makoto looked at Ikezawa Nae and the veteran official of the Yamashina family before him, his face showing a mix of relief and unwillingness.

That phone call just now was from someone at the Ning Trading Company in Hong Kong. Previously, Yamashina Makoto had not had a deep impression of Ning Wenke, regarding her merely as a trade agent in Hong Kong.

But just now, Ning Wenke had expressed to Yamashina Makoto the support of Dongling High-Tech, a "minor shareholder" of Wan Dai, and indicated a "willingness" to provide more support. If needed, Yamashina Makoto could go to Hong Kong to discuss it!

How could Yamashina Makoto not understand what this meant? Dongling High-Tech, which he had once looked down upon and thought had only luckily developed the digital pet machine, now actually wanted to meddle in Wan Dai's affairs!

Snatching away the digital pet machine industry was viewed by Yamashina Makoto as his proudest achievement, one that had him praised to the skies by the Japanese media. Yet, this very project, which had brought him endless flowers and applause last year, had dragged him into hell this year.

Now, that company he had despised, the one he hadn't even considered a rival and hadn't taken seriously, was actually jumping out to point fingers at Wan Dai. One can imagine how Yamashina Makoto felt.

But after the unwillingness faded, the appearance of Dongling High-Tech was like a straw for a drowning man, giving Yamashina Makoto, who was about to be submerged, a glimmer of hope. No wonder he was so conflicted!

Whether to accept Ning Wenke's invitation hovered in Yamashina Makoto's mind for a long time. Yamashina Makoto was certainly proud, but the situation was now stronger than the man; the knife was at his throat, and his father, Yamashina Naoharu, was powerless to help him. Who else could Yamashina Makoto count on?

After pacing his office several times, Yamashina Makoto, with red eyes, finally made up his mind. Looking at the two people before him, he said, "I am going to Hong Kong. You must keep things stable here in Japan. No matter what method you use, before I return to Tokyo, do not let them hold a board meeting, and absolutely do not allow the election of a new president!"

"Wan Dai Company belongs to the Yamashina family, forever. No one can snatch Wan Dai from the hands of the Yamashina family!"

Before leaving the office, Yamashina Makoto said through gritted teeth.

While Wan Dai was mired in media turmoil, its stock price plummeted, various rumors began to emerge, and talk of Yamashina Makoto stepping down, Wan Dai suffering massive losses, bankruptcy, and delisting was constant, Yamashina Makoto quietly boarded a plane and arrived in Hong Kong.

After talking with Ning Wenke in Hong Kong for an hour and a half, they flew together to the mainland.

"I hope this trip to Hanxi won't be disappointing. I must be crazy, at a time like this, to leave Wan Dai's affairs behind and fly over to the mainland!" On the plane, Yamashina Makoto couldn't help but say to Ning Wenke.

Ning Wenke, looking at Yamashina Makoto, who had clearly lost his composure, put down the newspaper in her hand. "Aside from Dongling High-Tech, President Yamashina, do you have a better choice?!"

"Dongling High-Tech never lets its allies down. Didn't President Yamashina experience that last time?!"

Faced with Ning Wenke's words, Yamashina Makoto was momentarily speechless. He couldn't very well say that Dongling High-Tech had set him up; last year, it wasn't Dongling High-Tech begging him to acquire the digital pet machine business, but Wan Dai, which had desperately used every means to acquire it.

Even if he had stumbled this time, it had nothing to do with Dongling High-Tech. It wasn't Li Dongling who made Wan Dai produce machines worth hundreds of millions of dollars; it was Wan Dai that had been too greedy, forgetting the risks, forgetting the fear, and ending up nearly destroying itself.

"I hope so!"

Yamashina Makoto couldn't bring himself to admit that Wan Dai's current crisis was his own fault, so he could only grunt and close his eyes to feign sleep.

Looking at Yamashina Makoto, Ning Wenke couldn't help but compare him to Li Dongling. She shook her head; in Yamashina Makoto, the gap between a second-generation successor and a founding father was reflected vividly.

Honestly, Yamashina Makoto's performance wasn't bad among his peers. Although the game console jointly produced with Apple was a crushing defeat, one had to look at who the opponent was. Never mind Wan Dai; when Microsoft first entered the game console industry, wasn't it also beaten black and blue by Nintendo and Sony, losing over ten billion dollars before it could gain a foothold in the industry?

As for stumbling on the digital pet machine this time, never mind Yamashina Makoto, if it were anyone else, they wouldn't have imagined that something in short supply two months ago would be ignored overnight. It was truly bizarre.

However, looking at Yamashina Makoto, who was full of exhaustion, eyes closed and brows furrowed, yet clearly unable to sleep, Ning Wenke felt it only served to highlight that man's decisiveness. Selling the digital pet machine at its peak—that kind of decisiveness to cut off one's own wrist to survive was not something everyone could learn.

Yamashina Makoto was not as good as that man, but he had been able to manage Wan Dai for so many years; his ability was already quite good. Those second-generation heirs of the Hong Kong tycoons were not even as good as Yamashina Makoto, let alone capable of catching Ning Wenke's eye!

"President Yamashina, long time no see!"

Li Dongling received Ning Wenke and Yamashina Makoto, who had rushed over from the provincial capital airport, at the Yuhe Leisure Resort.

A meeting with Yamashina Makoto should not be done with great fanfare, to avoid rumors spreading and causing unexpected situations. Acquiring Wan Dai's equity had to be done quietly, like entering a village without firing a shot...

Although the resort hotel at the Yuhe Leisure Resort had not yet been completed, several detached villas for rest had already been built. One could stay overnight at the Yuhe Leisure Resort, but there were only a few villas now, enough to accommodate only a few people.

After shaking hands with Yamashina Makoto, Li Dongling looked at Ning Wenke and nodded slightly to her.

"Mr. Li..."

At this moment, Yamashina Makoto wanted to speak, but Li Dongling smiled and said, "President Yamashina and Ms. Ning have come from afar. Meals have been prepared here. Rest well today; there is no rush to talk about anything until tomorrow!"

Yamashina Makoto was anxious and wanted to talk to Li Dongling about Wan Dai as soon as possible, but he also knew that a deal where one is too eager is like offering one's head. Even though he was burning with anxiety, he had to suppress his feelings and force a smile to agree.

For this meal, the Lu cuisine chef newly recruited by the Yuhe Leisure Resort had put in great effort, showing off all his skills. It was definitely much better than Japanese delicacies like ramen with rice, deep-fried batter, or half-cooked raw eggs.

Li Dongling and Ning Wenke ate with great enjoyment and even had a few small drinks, but Yamashina Makoto ate as if chewing wax. After a few hurried bites, he excused himself due to exhaustion.

Watching Yamashina Makoto's departing figure, Ning Wenke and Li Dongling looked at each other, and the two couldn't help but smile.

Li Dongling wasn't deliberately stringing Yamashina Makoto along. Dongling High-Tech taking over Wan Dai was no small matter, nor could it be decided in a few words. There was no rush for these few hours; Wan Dai wouldn't truly collapse in just a few hours.

On the other hand, it was indeed necessary to let Yamashina Makoto understand the current situation and change his mindset, otherwise, the conversation would be impossible to continue.

After Yamashina Makoto left, with this "outsider" gone, the atmosphere between Li Dongling and Ning Wenke became even more relaxed. They drank another bowl of soup before walking toward the Yuhe Leisure Resort.

Ning Wenke looked at the Yuhe Leisure Resort, which was gradually being covered by various trees, bouquets, and vegetation. Compared to the barren reservoir before, it was now quite pleasant. Coupled with the existence of the reservoir, Ning Wenke felt the air here was much better than in downtown Hong Kong.

"I heard the old man has woken up?"

Walking together on the bluestone-paved road, Li Dongling said to Ning Wenke, "It's a pity I couldn't visit the old man in person. Please give my regards to him. If there is a chance, I will definitely visit him in person!"

Hearing Li Dongling mention Ning Wantian, Ning Wenke glanced at him. "My father also wants to see you!"

"Currently, the Wanjia Appliance Stores in Hong Kong and Singapore are under construction. It is expected that they will be preliminarily operational next year. Next, we will build..."

The business of Wanjia Appliance Stores in the Asian region, except for the mainland market, was managed and operated by the Ning family. Naturally, Ning Wenke needed to mention the status of Wanjia Appliance Stores to Li Dongling.

"After these two appliance stores are built, do not start construction on any new Wanjia Appliance Stores for the time being!"

Ning Wenke was prepared to continue, but hearing Li Dongling call a halt to the continued expansion of Wanjia Appliance Stores in Asia, she couldn't help but be stunned.

Then Ning Wenke reacted, her expression changing sharply. If it weren't for this incident with Wan Dai and the digital pet machine, she wouldn't have thought much, but with this precedent, Ning Wenke couldn't help but think more about Li Dongling's sudden intention to stop the expansion of Wanjia Appliance Stores in Asia.

"Mr. Li, have you heard any rumors?" Ning Wenke asked Li Dongling.

Li Dongling looked at Ning Wenke's face, which carried a hint of heroism. Ning Wenke's temperament was somewhat similar to Tristin Stewart's, but with a bit more of the unique softness of the East.

After thinking for a moment, Li Dongling said, "Appliance malls are heavy asset investments. Wanjia Appliance Store is a new brand; it is not advisable to invest too much in stores, stretching the capital chain too thin. If any changes occur, it is very likely that the capital chain will break, leading to difficulties, or even a desperate situation!"

Ning Wenke's brows were tightly locked. What Li Dongling said was not profound; it belonged to the most basic, most cliché things in business school. But there were not many companies that could truly abide by it, because human greed knows no bounds!

Seeing the possibility of making a large sum of money, who would be willing to stop suddenly? Now the Asian economy is flourishing. As the representatives of Asia, the Four Little Dragons regions have had an annual economic growth of over 10% for years. It is simply like cooking with fire, flourishing with flowers. Stocks and real estate are rising steadily, and the integration of Asia looks prosperous.

Companies in Korea, Siam, and even the mainland are shouting about rushing out of Asia and heading to the world, borrowing heavily from banks, Wall Street, and European financial groups to expand and acquire overseas companies. In order to get more loans, they don't hesitate to borrow short-term high-interest debt. This way of playing is borrowing new debt to pay old debt; there is no need to repay the principal, just pay the interest.

If they knew that a thunderclap was coming, surely no company like Daewoo or Samsung would dare to play like this. But for the past ten years, nothing had happened, which made them relax their vigilance, defaulting to this way of playing, believing that the future would continue like this.

"Next, stop opening new stores for the Asian Wanjia Appliance Stores. In addition, borrow long-term loans from banks, preferably loans of five years or more. Borrow as much as you can!" Li Dongling instructed Ning Wenke.

Once next year passes, after Soros comes to Asia and stirs up that storm, besides turning Asia upside down and leaving a mess, he will also leave behind a pile of cheap goods. At that time, as long as there is cash in hand, Wanjia Appliance Stores can acquire other large malls and stores at cabbage prices for Wanjia Appliance Stores to use. This is much better than Wanjia Appliance Stores building stores painstakingly and then owing a pile of debt!

Various thoughts flashed through Ning Wenke's mind. She had originally planned to let the Ning Trading Company expand significantly in the next two years, but now hearing Li Dongling's words, she needed to weigh it. At the very least, she had to have enough cash in hand. Ning Wenke now had absolutely no doubts about Li Dongling's vision and decisiveness.

"Are you really prepared to let Dongling High-Tech acquire Wan Dai?!"

With the starry sky hanging overhead, the lights of the entire Yuhe Leisure Resort began to light up one after another. Walking to a chair near the fishing ground, after Ning Wenke and Li Dongling sat down, she asked directly.

Seeing Li Dongling nod, Ning Wenke said directly, "Now there is an opportunity to intervene in Wan Dai, but wanting to save Wan Dai is not that easy, unless there is a second project like the digital pet machine!"

Li Dongling heard the worry in Ning Wenke's words and laughed. "I believe Wan Dai has hope of surviving. Wanting a second digital pet machine project is probably not that easy, but... other projects, maybe there will be!"

Li Dongling hoped to take over Wan Dai to make it Dongling High-Tech's cash cow and money bag, letting it earn foreign exchange for Dongling High-Tech every year, not hoping to have to pay to support it every year. That would be unseemly!

If he really took over Wan Dai, Li Dongling naturally had plans for it. To make Wan Dai turn around, it indeed needed a project that could quickly absorb capital and make huge profits. The digital pet machine project was no longer useful, but with the copyrights and IPs in Wan Dai's hands, what if they launched a blind box like Pop Mart?!

Relying on blind boxes, regardless of whether it was harvesting leeks, after it went public, its market value exceeded 154.8 billion RMB at its peak, which converted to over 25.8 billion USD, comparable to a host of old-fashioned trend product giants.

As long as the pit is dug deep enough, with Wan Dai's IP copyrights and product development and promotion capabilities, plus the Pop Mart blind box model, he didn't believe they couldn't harvest the leeks of Japan!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 193 =====