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Chapter 1123: Chapter 982: Even Hurun is Surprised
Tang Qing.
Hurun’s last visit for the current rich list.
Today.
It was also the final proofreading day; all others had been confirmed. However, Tang Qing’s information was somewhat complex—many of his industries were difficult to calculate because the companies under Tang Qing had not gone public.
Their value was hard to estimate.
Due to differences in statistical methods, it was common for actual figures to differ from calculations, but as long as the discrepancies weren’t too large, there wasn’t a problem. However, the gap for Tang Qing’s companies was too significant.
He had to make a trip.
There were also some facts that needed confirming.
After multiple contacts, Tang Qing finally agreed to the meeting two days ago, allowing Hurun to breathe a sigh of relief. With just one week before the release, any mistakes would undoubtedly bring the list’s credibility into question.
Living room.
"Mr. Hurun, welcome."
Tang Qing and Hurun shook hands.
Knowing a stranger was coming over, the other four girls had gone shopping.
"Chairman Tang, hello, it’s an honor to meet you." Hurun’s Chinese was quite proficient, honed to near perfection through extensive interactions with many individuals.
"No need to be so polite, please take a seat." Tang Qing gestured toward the sofa with his palm.
"Thank you."
Hurun nodded and then sat down.
"Chairman Tang, I apologize for intruding on your vacation, but as you know my profession, and you understand the purpose of my visit, I ask you to grant me this opportunity for a brief exclusive interview."
Hurun was very humble in his approach.
Tang Qing smiled, "Of course, I am happy to share what I can with Mr. Hurun."
"Thank you." Hurun looked intently at Tang Qing.
Without thorough research and confirmation,
no one could imagine
that this handsome, sunny young man before them had created a miracle. At such a young age, he possessed such a vast fortune—a kind of legend that seemed only possible in the United States.
And now, in Huaxia,
a tycoon who would capture the world’s attention was emerging.
Hurun understood Tang Qing’s previous low profile. The so-called "concealing wealth, the bird that sticks its head out gets shot", Huaxia entrepreneurs prefer to hide their riches, not wanting too many people to know.
Besides fears of being approached for ’alms’,
Hurun felt the main reason was the reluctance to have their wealth scrutinized by the public. Many entrepreneurs in Huaxia, perhaps during their initial rise, would have all sorts of ’blemishes’.
The initial accumulation of capital
is hard to keep clean,
especially in an emerging market country.
The more attention received, the easier these problems come to light. Hurun felt helpless as many rich listers who fell into trouble had no connection to him, yet he couldn’t make this claim openly.
All he could say was
this was a chain of karma.
He was merely an excessively ’teased’ participant in these karmic events.
"Chairman Tang, this is the data we’ve collected regarding your subordinate enterprises, the content that will be published in the list. There are some figures I would like to confirm with you, and some others I need to verify."
Hurun quickly extended a document.
Tang Qing took it.
The content of the document was simple, mostly comprising the names of his companies and their stock percentages, as well as descriptions of their business and estimated values. Tang Qing didn’t speak but began to read seriously.
He found that Hurun’s data was quite accurate.
Sheng Tang Group.
Tianyan Group.
Comet Group.
Zhongyu Special Guard.
Microcrystalline Technology.
Qing Yuan Technology.
Even Dream Melody Group and Jinghua Real Estate’s stock holdings were clearly collected, but Wan Qing Mining and the Investment Company were missing. In some places the figures differed significantly, with some overestimations and some underestimations.
On average,
the differences weren’t too egregious.
Looking from above,
Hurun’s main source of data still seemed to be taxation.
Companies have to pay taxes.
There’s no escaping it.
A lot can be inferred from a company’s tax returns, and it’s not difficult to investigate if one is diligent, especially for Microcrystalline Technology, where the US statistics are even more comprehensive—Hurun’s document even mentioned the recent Saudi order that Microcrystalline Technology secured.
A moment later,
Tang Qing handed it back with a smile, "Mr. Hurun, it seems like you’ve done your homework quite thoroughly, not bad, it’s pretty much the same as the information I have. I permit you to publish all of it."
Hurun expressed his gratitude, "Thank you. I have two more pieces of data I’d like to verify with you. It’s okay if you’re not comfortable answering. First, Wan Qing Mining, which is also said to be your company, I’d like to inquire about the stocks, and second, do you have any other companies abroad?"
This question
was very direct, something most people would choose not to answer.
However,
Tang Qing was not most people.
Next month, Forbes will release their Huaxia rich list after Hurun, and in March next year, Forbes’s "World’s Billionaires List" will also be out. Those guys have already investigated Tang Qing’s overseas properties thoroughly.
Offshore centers.
Confidentiality?
It’s just nonsense.
The purpose of an offshore center is to avoid taxes, not to hide share ownership.
Besides, Tang Qing has never concealed the operations of Wan Qing Mining, many company people know about it, and the security personnel of Zhongyu Special Guard are also aware. This part of the property, Tang Qing had no intention of hiding.
Registered in an offshore center.
It’s simply to avoid paying taxes in Huaxia again.
Tang Qing nodded in acknowledgment right away.
"Yes, Wan Qing Mining is my sole proprietorship, I own all the stocks. As for other companies, I also own forty percent of the stocks in an Algerian oilfield. These two companies, you will find out their value soon enough."
Compared to the immense property controlled by fighters,
what he had
was nothing too significant to expose, just peanuts. In fact, the enterprises listed under his name from the beginning, Tang Qing never intended to conceal. Otherwise, why not just give them to the fighters?
Hearing this,
Hurun was shocked.
"Huh..." Hurun forced himself to calm down. He didn’t know about the oilfield, but he was aware of Wan Qing Mining, as there had been reports on Congo Gold and Algeria.
The property was easy to assess.
Adding up the acquisition price was all it took.
Whether there were any liabilities was not within his consideration, because the value is ownership, indicating the company still belongs to Tang Qing. Only a transfer of ownership would affect the estimated value.
He was very pleased.
Tang Qing actually admitted it so easily.
This was different from other entrepreneurs in Huaxia.
"Thank you," Hurun smiled.
"Don’t mention it."
"Chairman Tang, I’ve interviewed many Huaxia entrepreneurs before, but I never thought I’d have the chance to interview a super-tycoon under twenty. I believe it won’t be long before your name will resound throughout Huaxia," Hurun said.
"Fleeting fame, I’m not even sure what trouble it’ll bring me," Tang Qing waved his hand and smiled.
"Haha, indeed."
Fame does bring trouble, not just an empty saying. This proverb, after deeply understanding the art of Chinese language, Hurun felt it was very apt, especially fitting for the current Tang Qing.
The first question.
"Chairman Tang, what initially made you think about getting involved in business when you were still in high school?" Hurun pulled out a notebook, not a recording pen, because Tang Qing had said no.
"It’s simple, I thought since I’d have to find a job after graduating anyway, why not be my own boss. I could change not only my life but also others’, and do something meaningful."
"Now that you almost have what you wanted, what are your plans for the future, such as learning from Bill Gates and dropping out to focus on managing your own property?" Hurun asked again.
Tang Qing said, "Firstly, I am a student, and the business is just a side pursuit. This is my unwavering notion—education changes destiny, or to say, the money created by knowledge can change destiny.
In the future, I will continue my education. As for those companies, I’ll leave them to professional managers. I’m someone who dislikes trouble, I prefer multiple-choice questions over essay questions."
"You are now involved in many industries; could you share your thoughts about the future direction of the current business market in Huaxia?"
"..."
Question after question,
Answer after answer,
The interview lasted for over half an hour.
From a serious interview, it gradually turned into a friendly chat. This conversation allowed Hurun to form a comprehensive impression of Tang Qing—knowledgeable, high IQ, high EQ, with impeccable mental fortitude.
Throughout,
he never saw Tang Qing stutter.
He had an answer to every question instantly, and no description of a question included even one superfluous word, nor did he pause to think.
No wonder he could achieve such a level.
Aside from having an uncle, Tang Kai, who was also a super-tycoon,
Tang Qing’s own capabilities were absolutely not as rumored ’relying on someone else’, but matched by his insight as well as the ability to strategize and control the big picture.
This reasoning
left Hurun astonishingly impressed.
