Chapter 46

**Question:** How to make a cute, naive, and sweet girl content with being your possession.

**Answer:** Under the premise of ensuring a sufficient material foundation, let her face reality, but do not let her resist it.

It may seem that the first point is easy and the second point is difficult, but in fact, the first point is the most difficult, while the second point is relatively easier.

Everyone has different levels of education, different experiences, and different information, which leads to different perceptions of reality.

To see the whole leopard from a single spot is something only the wise can do. To truly and comprehensively understand reality, one must repeatedly shatter and then reconstruct their worldview, which can be more elegantly described as learning until the day you die.

However, the hardest thing is to admit a mistake. Even two people with different backgrounds and positions can argue until they are red in the face when discussing face-to-face. In the age of the internet, where no one knows who you are and no one can touch you, even if everyone proves you wrong, you still insist on your own way, using your face to slap others' hands.

So when reality does not match one's understanding, and one lacks the ability to uncover the underlying logic, and cannot change the other party to align with one's own understanding, the best one can do is to shout that it's impossible, and that reality is too fantastical and illogical.

The worst case is to act like an ostrich, burying one's head in the sand, or to hide in a self-constructed spiritual haven, like those "artists" who commit suicide.

Just facing reality is so painful, let alone resisting it. Of course, you can create a virtual reality in your mind and then resist it, but the outcome is usually not good.

Therefore, even though Mom clearly detests the Japanese societal norms, she still treats women as commodities. This is not a transformation from victim to perpetrator, nor is it being assimilated by the system. It is simply that there has never been a savior, nor does it rely on gods or emperors.

Of course, she is Japanese, so it's inevitable that she would go to extremes.

Let's put this aside for now. Li Xu has put a lot of effort into Diana, after all, he has known her since she was 10 years old, and even Charles had to retreat. What is there to worry about?

As long as he is careful not to be outmaneuvered, there should be no problem. That little cutie can be quite stubborn at times.

Besides, although Diana is the least bad choice, she is by no means the only choice. In the worst case, he can follow in his father's footsteps and find a girl from the same social class and then each do their own thing.

After seeing off the future wife candidate, Li Xu began to familiarize himself with his investment holding company. Even though he still has to go to school, and his father will arrange a mature team for him, he still needs to have a clear understanding of everything.

There is nothing particularly important going on recently. Yamauchi Hiroshi has called a few times, very enthusiastically. The Game & Watch was launched at the end of April and has been selling well. Although there is still potential to be tapped, they have already started preparing for the new handheld with the cross-shaped directional pad, planning to use the game he promised as the main attraction.

Li Xu is not in a hurry; he just wants them to get the prototype out first. How complex can Tetris be? Oh, in this timeline, it might be called "American Blocks"… but it's better to just call it "Blocks."

Anyway, the Atari side is already in turmoil over third-party development, which Li Xu has been observing. The establishment of Activision is inevitable; it's just a matter of when and whether the name will still be Activision.

When the time comes, he can invest and take control, find a few programmers for targeted development, and there will be no problem.

As for the thing his father and grandfather have been teasing him with since the end of March, it's been two months already. A little more waiting won't hurt. After all, a week is a short time, and he has long regarded this as a way to hone his patience.

---

"God, is that Greenspan? Is it?"

"Of course, who else would it be, Bernanke?"

"Who's Bernanke?"

"Um… I forgot, maybe the next Fed chairman?"

"Sorry, I haven't heard of that name."

"It's okay, I haven't either."

At this point, the young man in front of him adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and changed the subject: "I really appreciate you inviting me to the Honaris Club, Eddie."

"Then how do you plan to repay me?" Li Xu asked with a smile.

"How about if Microsoft goes public, we let Stanley handle it?" Bill Gates said.

"Oh?" Li Xu raised an eyebrow in surprise, "The last time I suggested that, you said you needed to think about it."

"I have thought about it," Gates said seriously, then raised his hands, "Okay, I just heard that Apple's IPO was handled by Stanley."

"Don't want to lose to Jobs?" Li Xu chuckled, as if he really believed it.

"Then it's settled. Don't make it difficult for me, Bill." Li Xu patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry, you won't be disappointed," Gates nodded and glanced at Greenspan, "If you don't mind, I want to go over and say hello."

"Sure," Li Xu gestured, "I have some things to do, so I won't keep you."

He patted his arm, "Good luck."

Really, do I look like someone who wants to take over Microsoft? Li Xu grumbled to himself. Without someone like Gates, how could Microsoft become the behemoth it is today!

Of course, only he has this confidence. While Gates has talent in both technology and business, he hasn't reached that level yet, so it's understandable to have some concerns. So… let him be.

The reason he invited Gates to the Honaris Club to mix and mingle is to show goodwill.

Watching the future richest man in the world carefully approach Greenspan, Buffett, and the newly appointed CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, Li Xu shrugged and looked around, then walked to a corner of the hall.

"Honaris" in Latin means "honor," and the club was founded by his grandfather, so the meaning is clear.

In high society, such clubs are countless, the most famous being… yes, the Freemasons.

These clubs are a continuation of the salons in Europe, but today, their members are all wealthy and influential figures.

More importantly, the number of members is not large, and the fewer, the more exclusive the club. That's how it is.

Li Xu once heard his father tell an example: In the 1790s, a well-known gentleman in Montreal felt that there were too many people at a meeting of the city's most prestigious club, which did not highlight his superiority, so he withdrew and started his own club, inviting a few other people of similar status.

As a result, the news spread, and the upper class flocked to it, quickly replacing the other club as the most prestigious in Montreal.

Whether this example is true or not is not important; what matters is that the people who attend the club founded by his grandfather are indeed powerful figures.

Even if the club's regular activities are just chatting and playing golf, it is enough for them to complete many transactions. Li Xu came to the club in the suburbs of San Francisco today for this reason.

"Grandpa." After knocking and entering the private room, Li Xu bowed to his casually dressed grandfather and nodded to two middle-aged white men, about 45 to 50 years old: "Hello, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Mars."

"Hello, Edward, it's been a while. You've grown up." Johnson nodded first.

"Sit down and talk." Grandpa pointed to a chair.

"Okay, Grandpa." Li Xu sat down and straightened his back.

"I believe you understand why I called you here, right?" Mark Johnson asked.

"Yes, it seems the Northrop board has not yet reached a consensus." Li Xu said straightforwardly.

"You've given us a difficult problem, Edward," Craig Mars, who had been silent, sighed, "The board had already agreed to develop a new aircraft to compete with the F-16 while Carter's Directive 3 was still in effect, but after Old Li presented your suggestion, the board split again."

"That's because the board's differing opinions were forcibly suppressed." Grandpa interjected calmly.

"I don't see the problem, gentlemen. Isn't the Northrop board's goal to develop a new aircraft to compete with the F-16?" Li Xu shrugged.

Before they could speak, he continued, "Since the government is not funding it, using someone else's money is also an option. If I remember correctly, the Pahlavi government spent $1 billion to buy F-14s and also provided Grumman with a $75 million loan from domestic banks."

"And now the Iranians have 79 F-14s." Mars shook his head.

"So what?" Li Xu looked puzzled, "Not to mention they are all castrated versions, can they even maintain them?"

Then he laughed, "If you're worried about them being swallowed by the north, there's no need. I believe the north has the desire but not the capability."

"But China and the U.S. have officially established diplomatic relations," Johnson reminded, "They are asking Washington to stop military support to that region, and Washington has already warned us to be more restrained for now."

"So what?" Li Xu was unconcerned, "We have a contract. If they are willing to pay the compensation, we will tear up the contract immediately. Can they? They can't. After all, business is business, and we must respect the spirit of the contract."

Johnson and Mars exchanged glances, shrugged, and then Johnson asked, "But…"

Before he could finish, Li Xu interrupted, "I know there are many things still being negotiated between China and the U.S. We can set up a temporary R&D center there. Even if the north explicitly signs a communiqué requiring us to stop arms sales, we can use this R&D center to provide technical support and firmly control the market."

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, "I don't know what you are hesitating about, gentlemen. The main fighter aircraft there is the F-5 series, and Northrop has a natural advantage. They have always been eager for new aircraft, which is why they came to me. This is a golden opportunity!"