Chapter 57

"Hmph, you’re still making excuses for being a foreign worshipper!" Ni Siyi raised her head proudly and turned her face away.

As the granddaughter of a tycoon, she was a pampered girl. Seeing that her grandfather had spent hundreds of millions and still failed to buy a piece of Ru porcelain, how could she give Li Ting a good look?

Ni Liqun tugged at his granddaughter, but she did not respond. He sighed, put on a humble face, and said to Li Yi, "Mr. Li, I’m sorry, my granddaughter is still young and doesn’t know any better. Please allow me to apologize on her behalf. I sincerely congratulate you on selling your exhibits at the exhibition for a sky-high price! Here is my business card, if you don’t mind, I welcome you to stay in touch!"

Li Yi recognized Ni Liqun. Not long after the exhibition began, Ni Liqun had come to Li Yi’s booth and observed the Ru porcelain along with other tycoons. At that time, Tan Mingcheng had specially introduced him.

"Mr. Ni, you’re too kind. My sister is also very immature, I apologize for her behavior." Li Yi took Ni Liqun’s business card with both hands and then took another one from his pocket, "This is my business card, please accept it!"

Li Yi’s business card was made in the afternoon with the help of the venue staff. Ni Liqun took the card and found it very simple, with very few words. It only said: Chairman of Yuxue Group: Li Yi, followed by a row of phone numbers.

"Group?" Ni Liqun’s eyebrows raised.

As a well-known real estate developer nationwide, Ni Liqun had much broader knowledge than ordinary people. He was very clear about the definition of a group, which was different from a conglomerate.

A group, in a broad sense, refers to a monopolistic organization formed by a few financial oligarchs controlling huge banks and large enterprises. Compared to other legal entities, they have distinct characteristics.

First, the strength of a group is extremely strong, controlling a vast amount of capital. Second, the industries they involve are usually very broad, often spanning heavy industry, light industry, traditional industry, emerging industry, production sector, and distribution sector.

The Rockefeller Group in the United States is a typical example of a group that controls industrial capital through banking capital. It has a vast financial network, with the Chase Manhattan Bank at its core, and includes over a hundred financial institutions such as the Chemical Bank of New York, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and Equitable Life Assurance Society.

Through these financial institutions, they directly or indirectly control many mining and enterprises, including large enterprises in the metallurgy, chemical, rubber, automotive, food, aviation, transportation, and telecommunications industries, even extending to the arms industry.

For example, the largest U.S. airlines, Pan American World Airways, American Airlines, Trans World Airlines, and Eastern Airlines, as well as famous arms companies like McDonnell Douglas, Martin Marietta, and Sperry Rand, are all under their control.

Looking around the world, there are not many companies that can be called groups. In China, due to the different system, the banking and securities industries are basically monopolized by the state, so there are almost no companies that can be called groups.

"Is Mr. Li an overseas Chinese?" Ni Liqun asked with interest.

Since there were no significant groups in China, Ni Liqun could only guess it was a foreign one.

"I am Chinese, but my grandfather is an overseas Chinese. I just inherited the family business," Li Yi said.

Li Ting, standing beside him, almost burst out laughing when she heard her brother say he inherited the family business.

Her grandfather was a target of public criticism during the turmoil and later disappeared. Most people, including her father, believed he had died, but a few speculated he might have escaped abroad. Now, Li Yi was making up stories, saying he inherited his grandfather’s business, which was unverifiable.

"Oh, I see!" Ni Liqun nodded, looking enlightened.

Ni Siyi suddenly turned to Li Yi and said, "Did your antiques come from your grandfather? Did he know you were selling these treasures to foreigners?"

"Child!" Ni Liqun quickly gave his granddaughter a meaningful look.

Ni Siyi ignored her grandfather’s gesture and pouted, "My grandfather would never let me sell good things to foreigners!"

"Is that so? I remember Mr. Ni’s company is also a major export enterprise!" Li Yi smiled.

"But you sold the Ru porcelain to foreigners!" Ni Siyi said with wide eyes.

Tan Mingcheng interjected, "Miss Ni, you don’t know. Mr. Li didn’t just sell good things to foreigners. Do you know what the two most valuable items in his exhibition are?"

"The most valuable?" Ni Siyi blinked, recalling that she had seen Li Yi’s booth earlier, "Oh, the original 'Lanting Xu' by Wang Xizhi and the Imperial Seal!"

"Exactly, the 'Lanting Xu' and the Imperial Seal," Tan Mingcheng nodded with a smile, "Mr. Li donated these two treasures to the state for free!"

"What? Mr. Li donated the 'Lanting Xu' and the Imperial Seal to the state?" Ni Liqun was visibly moved.

These were priceless treasures, and donating them to the state showed a great sense of patriotism!

Excitedly, he grabbed Li Yi’s hand and praised, "Mr. Li is truly a role model for us all!"

"Actually, my brother was forced to donate the treasures, no need to be so excited," Li Ting thought to herself.

Ni Siyi stammered, "I... It’s impossible! If you donated such good things to the state, why did you sell the Ru porcelain to foreigners?"

Li Yi smiled, "I’m also contributing to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. Isn’t it common for Chinese porcelain to be sold abroad?"

"You’re right, selling two sets of porcelain to Americans is nothing!" Ni Liqun patted Li Yi’s shoulder, "Returning national treasures to the state shows Mr. Li’s deep love for his country, making us seem petty. Mr. Li, I’m determined to be your friend! Xiao Yi, apologize to Mr. Li quickly!"

Ni Siyi pouted but said nothing.

Li Yi smiled, "Mr. Ni, there’s no need to be so formal. Apologies aren’t necessary, she’s just a child, let her say what she wants!"

"That’s right, that’s right, she’s just a child!" Li Ting repeated her brother’s words, glancing at Ni Siyi with a happy smile.

"How old are you?" Ni Siyi glared at Li Ting.

"I’m a high school student!" Li Ting proudly puffed out her chest, a gesture that indeed showcased her "size," making Ni Siyi feel inferior.

"I’m a high school student too!" Ni Siyi said, somewhat不服气 (unwilling to admit defeat).

"Xiao Yi, you’re still so immature in high school. Apologize to Mr. Li quickly!" Ni Liqun’s voice became stern.

Although Ni Siyi often acted spoiled in front of her grandfather, she knew not to anger him. She lowered her head, feeling wronged, and said softly, "Mr. Li, I’m sorry..."

"Louder, I can’t hear you!" Ni Liqun said.

"Mr. Li, I’m sorry!" Ni Siyi said loudly, then her nose twitched, and she began to sob softly.

Ni Liqun said awkwardly, "This child is just spoiled!"

Li Yi looked at Li Ting and said, "Ha ha, our family is the same!"

"You’re the same? You’re acting like you’re older than me!" Li Ting said, clearly unhappy.

"Xiao Ting!" Lin Ruxue held Li Ting’s hand, signaling her to stop.

Strangely, although she always thought Li Ting was more sensible, today Li Yi clearly showed more maturity, even surpassing her.

Li Yi chatted warmly with Ni Liqun and Li Changhe for a few more sentences, then walked toward Yun Haiyong at the other end of the hall.

Yun Haiyong played a crucial role today. If not for his support, Li Yi’s donation of the two treasures would have earned him only a million in rewards.

Want to negotiate with the relevant departments? Please, they would only listen if they wanted to!

"Xiao Yi, there’s no need for thanks between us. You saved Zhenzhen, and you’re my savior. If there’s anything I can help you with in the future, just let me know!" Yun Haiyong smiled.

Li Yi said, "That’s what I wanted to say. If you have any difficulties in the future that you can’t solve, I can help you!"

"Ha ha, then I’ll take you up on that, you’re a miracle doctor!" Yun Haiyong was clearly very happy with this promise.

——

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