Chapter 43. Mr. Mo Is Unfathomable…
That same night, just past 7 PM, Teacher Ma called Li Mo to say he was already on his way to the hotel.
After hanging up, Li Mo glanced at the Five Tigers, all brimming with fighting spirit, and said simply, “Let’s go.”
Only then did everyone head to their cars.
Recently, Li Mo had even arranged Mercedes-Benz vehicles for Ma Tengyun and the others. The entire fleet now looked rather formidable.
Upon arriving at the reserved hotel, Li Mo and the Five Tigers waited at the entrance to greet Teacher Ma.
Li Mo stepped forward and shook his hand warmly.
“Yes, yes… I feel ashamed.”
Sensing the cooling air, Li Mo said, “Let’s go inside. The weather’s turning—it wouldn’t do to catch a cold.”
He thought of how Su Qingyan had been dressing more warmly lately. If not for her busy studies, she would surely have attended an event .
Once they were seated at the table, Teacher Ma immediately turned to Li Mo and apologized.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Mo. I let down your kind advice. This time… I truly admire your foresight.”
Regret filled Teacher Ma’s voice as he looked back on past decisions.
Ma Tengyun and the others were stunned. None of them had expected Teacher Ma to actually admit fault.
“Back then, Mr. Mo warned me not to expand so aggressively overseas. I remembered, but… I thought I could manage it. Looking back now, I was too stubborn. The company’s cash flow has been stretched thin. At our current burn rate, we might only survive another month.”
Due to this crisis, Teacher Ma had even postponed the “West Lake Summit” he’d planned nearby.
Li Mo patted his shoulder. “It’s alright.”
“Teacher Ma, actually… this is what makes you remarkable.”
“Why was Cao Cao able to become a formidable warlord? Because he had his own judgment—he was a strategist in his own right.”
“If a company’s leader lacks independent thinking, how can they achieve anything meaningful?”
“Everyone makes mistakes. I believe you’ll see Alibaba’s future path more clearly through this temporary setback.”
“This failure is only the beginning. Alibaba’s domestic business has already established a stable profit model. Growth from here will come easily.”
Though Teacher Ma knew Li Mo was offering flattery, he still felt immensely comforted.
Li Mo’s words—his tone—were an art form in themselves.
“Mr. Mo,” Teacher Ma said, “no more words—I’ll drink to that!”
He raised his glass and downed three cups in a row, just like last time.
Li Mo and the Five Tigers followed suit.
Knowing Li Mo wanted to invest in Alibaba, Ma Tengyun seized the moment.
“Teacher Ma, since you’re short on funds now… does that mean you’re actively seeking investment?”
Teacher Ma set down his glass. “Mr. Mo was right all along. Goldman Sachs’ $5 million, plus funds from a few smaller firms, barely raised $5 million total. Now with NASDAQ still sliding, they’re not willing to invest more.”
“Mr. Mo’s foresight was truly ahead of its time.”
“Sometimes I think about how he made 30 million in the stock market… then 300 million in real estate in just three months… and I realize—there’s always someone more capable out there.”
The gap between people… sometimes feels wider than the gap between man and pig!
“In that case,” Ma Tengyun pressed, “why not let Mr. Mo invest in Alibaba? Your team still holds many shares. And I hear Goldman Sachs is also willing to sell some of theirs.”
Li Mo grew serious. It was clear—Teacher Ma’s visit to Shenzhen was about securing funds. How many Alibaba shares he could acquire tonight would determine everything.
Still… he could tell: although Teacher Ma respected him, he’d never be as deferential as Ma Tengyun.
“That’s right,” Teacher Ma continued. “Goldman Sachs has lost confidence. The smaller VCs want to exit as well—selling now guarantees them a profit.”
Many investors were now eyeing Alibaba precisely because it had become profitable.
Teacher Ma’s main concerns were valuation—and control of board seats.
No matter what, he had to ensure Alibaba remained under his control.
“Not long ago,” Teacher Ma added, “SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son approached me. He offered $30 million… for 30% of Alibaba.”
The Five Tigers were stunned—not by the amount, but by the man behind it.
Masayoshi Son. The name alone carried enormous weight.
SoftBank—once a mere software firm—had evolved into a powerhouse that rivaled even Goldman Sachs.
And now he was offering $30 million for a 30% stake?
That kind of boldness… was almost beyond belief.
Yet Ma Tengyun stayed calm. He’d learned by now—following Mr. Mo meant staying composed no matter what.
Zhang Zhidong and the others followed suit, betraying no emotion.
Li Mo, already expecting this twist, didn’t even blink.
From what he knew of alternate timelines, Masayoshi Son would continue investing, eventually holding nearly half of Alibaba—and reaping trillions.
From a nationalistic point of view, Li Mo didn’t want that future to repeat.
All six men remained silent, watching Teacher Ma as if he’d said nothing noteworthy at all.
Teacher Ma, whose face had turned red from alcohol, gradually returned to his natural complexion.
Do they not know who Masayoshi Son is?
Should I explain his background?
He had hoped this news would push Li Mo to raise his offer.
Instead… their reaction was completely unexpected.
Apparently, after spending enough time with Li Mo, even the Tigers had seen too much of the world.
Ma Tengyun’s calm was one thing…
But now, even the other four…
Seemed completely unfazed by Son’s involvement.
Was truly unfathomable.