Chapter 175: The Rise of the Post-80s Generation

Baidu's IPO has created a multitude of billionaires and millionaires. Among them, Li Dong, who is the youngest, least famous, and most uniquely positioned, has become the center of attention.

Several "firsts" make Li Dong a focal point for major media. Some media from Pingchuan and even major domestic outlets have flocked to Yuanfang to cover him.

Soon, websites and media outlets began to reveal detailed information about Li Dong.

Li Dong, 20 years old, from Qingyang, Jiangbei, is the head of Yuanfang Company and a student at Jiang University…

Some media outlets estimated Li Dong's fortune: Baidu stock valued at 480 million, Yuanfang Supermarket valued at 120 million, giving Li Dong a total net worth of 600 million!

Starting from scratch, a 20-year-old with a net worth exceeding 600 million—this is truly a legend!

There are certainly many people in the country richer than Li Dong, but his name quickly became known nationwide in a short period.

The reason for this fame isn't just about the money, or perhaps not even primarily about it.

What made Li Dong's story so inspirational was his path to success!

Many post-80s people hailed Li Dong as a prodigy. Who says the post-80s generation is a "lost generation"?

Li Dong, coming from a small vendor family, built his empire single-handedly!

He is not a second-generation rich kid but an ordinary person who, through his own efforts, created a miracle.

Since Li Dong can achieve this, why can't the rest of the post-80s generation?

Soon, Li Dong's name became synonymous with the rise of the post-80s generation.

"Do you want to be the next Li Dong?"

"Just work hard, and you can be the second Li Dong!"

These phrases spread rapidly online. If there were internet celebrities, Li Dong would have been the hottest celebrity of 2005.

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Despite the buzz, Li Dong himself gradually became more composed.

The money wasn't in his hands yet. Everything said was still empty talk. The estimated net worth of over ten billion was becoming increasingly exaggerated, but Li Dong actually had very little cash.

Forget ten billion, he couldn't even come up with one million right now.

In the past few months, Yuanfang had managed to save some money, but Li Dong used it all to redeem stocks.

Previously, he had mortgaged stocks to borrow thirty million. Part of this money was used for the Tongshan store, and part was kept as working capital.

Now with Baidu going public, Li Dong didn't want to keep the stocks mortgaged. He had to deplete Yuanfang's reserves to buy back the stocks.

With thirty million gone, he could barely come up with a few hundred thousand now, let alone a million.

Others thought he wasn't short of money now, but they didn't know how stressed Li Dong was over his finances.

As he sat there dazed, Sun Tao and Shen Qian arrived together.

Seeing them, Li Dong grumbled, "Don't talk to me about money. Whoever brings it up, I'll fall out with them!"

Sun Tao chuckled, but Shen Qian was skeptical, "The media says your net worth has exceeded ten billion. Is it true that you don't have money?"

"Do you have ten billion to give me?"

Li Dong gave her a disdainful look and said, "Have you dealt with the media downstairs?"

"Mr. Li, I actually think it's necessary to accept a few media interviews. It can increase Yuanfang's visibility, which is like free advertising for us. There's no need to reject all of them," Sun Tao interjected.

Li Dong shook his head and sighed, "If it were for advertising Yuanfang, it would be fine, but those media downstairs are all tabloid newspapers. Who knows what nonsense they'll write in their reports?"

Not continuing the discussion about the newspapers, Li Dong asked, "What's the matter?"

"It's still about the stores."

Sun Tao glanced at Li Dong and said, "The big investment we talked about before, I think we can start it now. Shen Qian and I have conducted a comprehensive survey in Pingchuan. According to my plan, Pingchuan can support opening five secondary stores, ten tertiary stores, and twenty quaternary stores. This way, we can achieve full coverage in Pingchuan…"

Li Dong shook his head and said, "The investment is too large. Opening thirty-five stores simultaneously in Pingchuan would require at least one or two billion. Yuanfang can't afford it."

"Mr. Li, the reason you're refusing is because of a lack of money, right?" Shen Qian asked.

"Yes, I can't sell the Baidu stocks right now…"

Before Li Dong could finish, Shen Qian said in disbelief, "Mr. Li, your thinking is really unique!"

"We can't sell the stocks. Do we have to wait until we can sell them before starting the construction?"

"Time is money. Because of your stocks, we have to wait another six months. How many opportunities are we wasting?"

Shen Qian was exasperated with Li Dong's outdated and conservative thinking!

Yuanfang had developed to this point without a single cent of debt!

If this were known, people would laugh and be incredibly shocked. Which company reaches this stage with zero debt? Li Dong truly is a miracle-maker!

After Shen Qian finished, Li Dong sheepishly said, "I'm being cautious, don't you understand?"

"It's cautious enough, but you're being overly cautious!"

Shen Qian complained, then continued, "Given Yuanfang's current scale, even without using your stocks as collateral, it's not difficult to borrow fifty million or a hundred million. There's no need to wait. With your stocks as collateral, we could borrow two to three billion. Mr. Li, I think we should borrow if we can. Interest is just a small matter. Time is money!"

Sun Tao agreed, "Mr. Li, I think so too. We could do a lot in six months."

After hearing this, Li Dong hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm not against borrowing, but we shouldn't borrow too much…"

"Mr. Li, I've only heard of people worrying about not being able to get a loan. It's the first time I've heard of someone worried about borrowing too much!" Shen Qian said, exasperated.

Li Dong glanced at her, now doubting whether he or Shen Qian had become richer.

Talking about one or two billion like it's nothing—it's as if money doesn't matter!

Not wanting to argue further, Li Dong said, "We can open the Pingchuan stores, but there's no need to open them all at once. The investment is too large for simultaneous construction. We can phase it, opening in batches—three months per batch, divided into three phases, totaling nine months. An initial investment of forty to fifty million should be enough."

Borrowing forty to fifty million was still acceptable to Li Dong, but borrowing several billion at once would be terrifying with its interest.

Hearing Li Dong's plan, Sun Tao didn't argue further. He also thought this approach was more prudent.

Shen Qian, however, wanted to complete it all at once and was about to say more when Li Dong's phone rang.

He gestured for them to wait, answered the phone, and briefly spoke. After hanging up, he frowned slightly.

Seeing Shen Qian still waiting, Li Dong impatiently said, "Don't try to achieve everything at once. Young people should learn patience. Take it slow."

Shen Qian, frustrated, thought: Who's the real young person here?