Chapter 22: A Spicy Life

Everyone was joking around with the same carefree spirit they had back in school over a decade ago, except for Xiao Yongbing, who seemed weighed down by his thoughts, his words tinged with an unmistakable, persistent anxiety. Brother Hao looked at him and asked with concern, "Yongbing, how is your business lately? What are you up to these days?"

Xiao Yongbing shook his head helplessly, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What else could I be doing? Just trying to scrape by. I couldn't continue in the tutoring industry, so I went back to my old trade—medical equipment. But instead of being a wholesaler for hospitals, I’m dealing directly with end-users now. I’m an agent for Yuwell medical devices, specifically those for home care, like home oxygen concentrators and rehabilitation equipment for the elderly. By the way, Brother Hao, being in the United States, do you know much about these home healthcare devices? What’s the market outlook like over there?"

Brother Hao sighed softly, a look of complexity flashing in his eyes. "They’re incredibly expensive. There’s a type of elder-care robot in the U.S. that can help seniors in bed turn over, give injections, and even provide massages—it’s extremely pricey! In the U.S., these high-end care robots aren't something an average family can afford."

Old Jia jumped in, "That’s for sure. Medical resources in the U.S. are primarily for the wealthy; the poor usually can't afford care. But the high-end services they provide for the rich are truly top-notch—though, of course, the price tag is equally high."

Li Zhiheng chimed in with a grin, "That’s why China's wealthy go to the U.S. for treatment. Take someone like Brother Hao, for instance—living to a hundred in the U.S. shouldn't be a problem at all!"

Sister Mei snorted, her tone dripping with disdain. "The U.S. is a paradise for the rich. Especially for wealthy men like you."

Old Jia turned to Sister Mei, a look of confusion in his eyes. "Hey, have you never thought about immigrating to the U.S.? With your current net worth, you’d have absolutely no problem getting in. And if you’re not satisfied with us Chinese men, finding an American man wouldn't be a bad idea, either. Besides, your company is already listed in the U.S."

Sister Mei curled her lip in contempt. "Pfft, I’d sooner die than move to the U.S. My business stays here in China. Getting listed on NASDAQ back then was just me being hoodwinked by you finance types."

Old Jia felt a pang of tension. When Sister Mei’s company listed on NASDAQ, it was Changfeng International—the Hong Kong subsidiary of the firm where he worked—that had acted as the sponsor. He quickly clarified, "It really wasn't a scam. Back then, industries like yours couldn't get listed in the domestic capital market at all; you had no choice but to go overseas for a listing and financing. But it seems the authorities here have had a change of heart; they’re gradually allowing the gaming industry to list domestically. Even companies like [that one] are now allowed to go public here. Think about it—it’s unfair to domestic investors that the companies most capable of creating wealth in China all list in the U.S., letting American shareholders reap the profits while domestic investors are stuck speculating on major cyclical industries like real estate."

Li Zhiheng said to Sister Mei, "Gaming policies have relaxed lately. The relevant departments approved fifty or sixty game licenses in one go. Did you get any?"

Sister Mei immediately said with pride, "We got two. We’re rushing the testing now, hoping to launch as soon as possible."

Li Zhiheng said with envy, "You gaming folks are the real deal; you’ve got hundreds of millions in cash flow just sitting in your accounts." He sighed and continued, "Unlike us in animation—it’s as miserable as tightening screws. After we pour our hearts into making a film, we have to wait for the platforms to air it before we even see a cent. It takes hundreds of people years to finish one production; the stress is unbearable! Our cash flow is so tight that we often struggle to make payroll. Sigh, I wonder when we’ll finally catch a break."

Li Zhiheng’s company was listed on the New Third Board, but the stock had no liquidity—it was essentially worthless and unmarketable—and the company was barely clinging to life. He deeply regretted ever listing on the New Third Board. When it was first launched, it was touted as China’s NASDAQ, and thousands of companies rushed to list, but now, only a handful have survived. Li’s company was among the first batch, and Old Jia had personally handled the listing. Ten years later, there was no hope of transferring to the main board, and financing was incredibly difficult. Fortunately, the founding team had stayed the course; even during the three years of the pandemic, when supply chains were broken, they sold everything they had to keep the staff and the company afloat. Now, their products had broken into the three major platforms—Tencent, iQIYI, and Mango—but they had also officially begun a life of resigned exploitation at the hands of those platforms.

Xiao Yongbing followed up, "You two can stop crying poverty; I’m the most miserable one at this table. At least you both have listed companies. Sigh, unlike me—nothing I’ve done these past few years has gone smoothly. I just hope I don’t fall into another hole in the future."

Xiao Yongbing turned to Old Jia and asked, "Tell me, oh great financier, now that Comrade Chuan Jianguo is in office, is it a curse or a blessing for us private entrepreneurs, especially for industries like ours?"

Xiao Yongbing snatched the chopsticks from Old Jia’s hand and said, "Stop eating the fish for a second. Tell us, and if your answer is good, I’ll pack up another serving of chopped chili fish head for you to take home!"

Old Jia glared at Xiao Yongbing, gasping from the heat of the spice, and retorted, "I’m already half-dead from eating half a fish head, and you want to pack more for me? Are you trying to kill me with spice?"

Sister Mei added another fish head to Old Jia’s plate, fueling the fire: "It’s fine, just eat! If you spice yourself to death, I’ll arrange for a young girl to look after you. I guarantee you’ll be in heaven, ha-ha!"

Facing such a "female ruffian," Old Jia complained inwardly but had to beg for mercy. He wiped his mouth with a tissue, breathing out spicy air, and laughed, "Alright, alright, I’ll just chat a bit. Sigh, I’m terrified of you. Tell me, Sister Mei, with such a fierce personality, are you ever going to get married?"

"Get married? Why? Isn't it fine living alone? No strings attached. When I’m old, I’ll just have Xiao Yongbing get us one of those elder-care robots, won't that be enough?" Sister Mei’s words cut off any further teasing, proving she was indeed a ruthless character.

"Right, speaking of these elder-care robots," Old Jia perked up. He took a long swig of iced soda to cool the fire of the chili, feeling refreshed. He cleared his throat and said, "I think this is a promising track. Yongbing, you really should pay close attention to this market. Currently, the U.S. and China are set to compete fiercely in the robotics field. The U.S. started a few steps ahead, but China now has a new technical route. Because China’s electric vehicle technology, when applied to robotics, might be more suitable and cost-effective than the mechanical transmission technology the Americans are using. Take that Boston Dynamics robot, for instance—it’s focused on miniaturizing mechanical transmissions, while China is taking a purely electric route. The technical hurdles the U.S. faces will be easily resolved by China’s electric drive technology, so there’s a real possibility for China to 'overtake on a bend' in the robotics field. Right now, robotics isn't just about hardware; I think the real key is AI computing power, and in that regard, China is still several orders of magnitude behind the U.S."

Brother Hao added, "The U.S. AI industry certainly attracts the vast majority of global talent, including that big donor of Chuan Jianguo—Musk!"

"I also think the future of this elder-care robot track is great, but right now, there aren't any mature products on the market, and the prices are too high. It’s like trying to quench a fire with water from far away. Plus, I’m worried: will I fall into another trap? My luck has been far worse than yours. The industries you’re in are so smooth-sailing; even with the occasional bump, you can keep going. Unlike me—I started in medical, then went into tutoring, and now I’m back in medical. Just as the first two were reaching their peak, they were shut down overnight, and the entire industry vanished. Changing fields means starting from scratch every time, so I’m terrified running this Yuwell agency. I don’t know how long it will last. I’ll just take it one day at a time. Sigh, there’s no choice—I have to make a living, and I’m still young, I can’t just sit idle, can I?" Xiao Yongbing lamented with a downcast face.

Xiao Yongbing’s words left everyone feeling heavy. They fell silent, burying their heads in their meal.