Chapter 24: The Black Monkey Wukong

The fish head hot pot on the table had boiled down almost to nothing, and a faint scent of scorched fish began to drift through the air. Brother Hao broke the silence, calling the waiter over to top off the broth. Once a real estate tycoon, he was now a man of leisurely retirement, his eyes reflecting a composed outlook on the unknown and a quiet confidence in his past. Tapping his fingers on the table, he spoke with calm deliberation: "Meizi, that 'Black Monkey' game that’s been so popular in your industry lately—that’s a clear direction. It’s a massive hit abroad now, and plenty of foreigners are actually diving into 'Journey to the West' just to play it."

Old Jia’s mind raced; his long-honed market instincts immediately ignited a spark of excitement in his eyes. He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Exactly! That is culture going global. China has always been restrained in this, not exactly exporting a revolution. But now, amidst the backdrop of the US-China rivalry, China doesn't seem to be hiding its light under a bushel anymore. If you’ve got it, export it, right? Five thousand years of Chinese civilization belongs not just to the Chinese, but to the world. To build a community with a shared future for mankind, we naturally need foreigners to grasp the essence of Chinese civilization. In that sense, exporting culture is the true 'people’s mission' of your industry. As for the size of the overseas market? Don't even get me started. Just look at the number of Chinese speakers alone! Of course, if foreigners want to learn our culture, they’ll have to overcome the language barrier first. Mandarin has to be the hardest language on earth. Just the character 'hui' from 'fennel bean' could drive them insane, ha ha!"

As his voice trailed off, a burst of boisterous laughter echoed through the restaurant. Sister Meizi, a powerhouse in the gaming industry, looked as if she had just discovered a new continent. She picked up another cigarette, took a deep drag, and let the smoke swirl before her. "Hahahaha! Just imagining foreigners playing a Chinese game, staring at those cryptic Chinese characters on their screens with such baffled expressions—it’s hilarious! Honestly, listening to Old Jia today has resolved so many of my anxieties. This is why I need to hang out with you guys! When I’m with my girlfriends, it’s just gossip all day long; nothing like the profound discussions you men have."

Li Zhiheng gave her a mock-serious look and teased, "Are you even a woman? You should be poised and elegant like a female executive. Smoking, drinking, and shouting like that—what kind of 'big sister' act is this?"

Sister Meizi scoffed, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Cut the crap! I’m no flower vase—I am the empire! Does an empire need to be delicate and pretty? When I’m with you guys, I’m just one of the boys. Do you think running this company is easy? I’ve got hundreds of employees to feed! All I think about from dawn till dusk is how to make money. I’m terrified that one day the company will just collapse. Under that kind of pressure, what woman could stay cheerful and elegant? Anyway, enough—I’m on this pirate ship now, no turning back." She rolled her eyes at Li Zhiheng with a sharp, playful glare.

Old Jia interrupted their bickering with a laugh. "You two are a real comedy duo; the party wouldn't be the same without you. Look, the 'Black Monkey' example Brother Hao mentioned points you both toward a golden path. One of you in gaming, the other in animation—you should follow that lead. Take traditional Chinese IPs and bring them to the world through animation and games. It’s not just a mission for your cultural enterprises; it’s a business model for long-term, healthy, and sustainable growth."

Li Zhiheng grew animated as well. "That's true. Look at this year's animated film 'Chang An,' which had such a stellar box office performance. I believe the future of China's animation and film industries lies in the deep exploration of traditional IP. We’re already focusing our efforts there, and there's an incomparable advantage: developing traditional Chinese IP costs nothing in royalties, and the audience base is already built-in, which significantly lowers production and marketing costs."

Brother Hao encouraged him with enthusiasm. "Exactly! If you could adapt 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' into an animation, it would be a smash hit. That is the pinnacle of Chinese civilization—its grand scale and captivating sense of mystery are no less impressive than 'The Three-Body Problem'!"

Li Zhiheng nodded, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes. "We have those plans, but such investments require massive capital. Developing a complete traditional IP takes years. Look at 'Black Monkey'—they invested hundreds of millions and worked for years before launching it." He turned to Old Jia. "Can you finance types give our industry a bit more funding? Invest a bit more?"

Old Jia spread his hands with a helpless look. "That is precisely the direction of our current financial reforms. Financial services for the real economy should be pouring money into small and medium-sized enterprises like yours—businesses that dig deep into traditional Chinese culture. But while the desire is noble, the reality is harsh. Right now, Chinese financial institutions are stuck in the quagmire of real estate or locked up in astronomical government debt that can't be liquidated. With the real estate market so stagnant and housing prices down, the assets of the Chinese financial sector aren't flowing either. We don't even know when we'll be able to get out. So, financial institutions have the heart to support small businesses, but they lack the means!"

Xiao Yongbing sighed with envy. "Brother Hao had it best. He reaped the dividends of real estate, sold off his projects, and immigrated to the United States. No debt, no property burdens—Brother Hao, you are truly brilliant."

Brother Hao shook his head helplessly, a trace of self-deprecation in his eyes. "I didn't have that kind of foresight; it was pure coincidence. Do you think I have a crystal ball to see that the real estate market would end up like this? When the projects sold out and I’d made some money, it triggered internal power struggles, and the shareholders started undermining each other. You know my personality—I don't like to fight. At the time, my son wanted to invest in immigration to the US, which required a large sum, so I proactively sold my shares at a low price, quit the company, and moved to the US with my son's family to take care of the grandkids. If I hadn't, I would have just invested in the next project and fallen into the same trap. The reason I ended up here isn't because I'm talented or far-sighted; it’s purely because the timing of fate fell into place, allowing me to slip away with a clean exit. Otherwise, I’d be just like the other developers—either jumping off a building or blacklisted as a deadbeat debtor. I wouldn't have the peace of mind to sit here, chat, and gnaw on fish heads with you all." A flicker of lingering fear passed through his eyes.

Old Jia sighed, his expression turning profound. "That’s it, then. Life is determined by the era, and the outcome is the destiny of one's character. In the face of the national 'beta'—the macro-tide—individual effort is truly insignificant."