At night, the hot springs in the backyard bamboo grove of She Mountain Clubhouse.

Steam rising, mist lingering, like a fairyland.

Lu Liang plunged into the spring, held his breath for a while, then surfaced, wiped the water from his face, and praised, "How come soaking in the spring feels even more comfortable in summer than in winter."

Meng Changkun laughed and said, "It’s just like treating winter diseases in summer; in winter, soaking in hot springs makes your head cold and body hot, and if you’re not careful, you might catch a cold when you stand up quickly. But summer is different; the Yang energy is naturally abundant, and the therapeutic effects of the hot springs can flow unobstructed throughout the body."

"Makes sense, ever since foreign trade stopped, have you been studying Chinese medicine principles now?" Lu Liang asked with a smile.

"Nothing much to do, idleness begets indolence."

Old Meng’s eyes showed a hint of delight, knowing Lu Liang was dropping hints, so he asked with a smile, "Got any good introductions, buddy? After all, I can’t really stay idle at all; I want to retire, but feel like I could still fight for a few more years."

"Good projects are scarce, but there’s one dumb project I wonder if Mr. Kun is interested in playing with?"

Upon hearing Lu Liang’s words, Meng Changkun’s eyes lit up.

He hurriedly said, "Even if it’s a dumb project, it’s still a project. As long as the two of us work together, it might turn into a good project."

Lu Liang gradually restrained his laughter and asked, "Have you ever heard about the charging station industry?"

Meng Changkun nodded slightly, but his brows furrowed, "I’ve looked into it a bit before."

As Lu Liang mentioned, it’s not a good project.

Although clean energy is booming, and charging stations are regarded as an industry windfall, investments often fall silent.

Out of ten charging stations, nine lose money, and the reasons are threefold.

First, random management fees. During the installation of charging stations, exorbitant entrance fees or management fees are often demanded by the property companies, sometimes even asking for a fifty-fifty split. If these demands are not met, they may resort to power cuts, parking spot occupation, or equipment sabotage, hence raising operational costs.

Second, heavy tax burdens. Some institutions housing public charging stations cannot provide electricity bills or the property companies refuse to take on tax points, leading operators to bear the taxes themselves, thus adding to operational costs.

Third, low utilization. A shortage of charging stations coincides with their low utilization, with an overall usage rate of less than 15%. Only when it reaches above 30% can the operating enterprises make a profit. Moreover, issues like fuel cars occupying spots, fully charged cars not leaving, and damaged charging stations frequently occur.

Lu Liang was surprised and laughed, "Mr. Kun, you know more than just a bit."

The three reasons almost precisely pinpoint the critical drawbacks of charging stations, Old Meng must have understood it deeply.

Meng Changkun laughed awkwardly, "You know, I also have an investment company, which specializes in investing in these startups, trying to use less to gain more. I’ve gotten to know a few things being around them."

Among them is a charging station company, which he invested in last year, pouring in over twenty million yuan over time.

But still hasn’t been recognized by the market, nor has stable profits, leading him to dread seeing calls from that entrepreneur.

Because it’s another inquiry for money.

"The charging station industry, if only relying on charging service fees for revenue, has a single operational mode, and it’s bound to hit a dead end."

After soaking for around twenty minutes, Lu Liang started feeling hot and got out of the water, adjusted his waistband, and sat at the edge.

He took a sip of hot tea and said, "But if we add the concepts of photovoltaic and energy storage, and operate using capital, it becomes profitable."

Charging stations are a form of the sharing economy, just old wine in new bottles, reheated leftovers, but their essence remains unchanged.

Once the essence is understood, operating becomes simple. Follow the shared power bank model, outlasting competitors wins.

Moreover, Lu Liang received news that photovoltaic and energy storage will become the new windfall in the upcoming years.

All related to electricity, as long as the story is coherent, there will be market buyers.

As long as funds can be raised, persistence will carry on, even if losses occur, it doesn’t matter.

Just like Ali Jingdong, Pinduoduo, many companies are still losing money, but the market has patience, waiting ten or twenty years, even longer doesn’t matter.

As long as market value keeps rising, investors’ equity keeps appreciating, the company’s losses don’t matter.

Meng Changkun glanced at Lu Liang, sighed, "A full man doesn’t know a hungry man’s plight, capital operations aren’t that simple."

Lu Liang said gently, "You do it, I’ll support it. As long as your management doesn’t mess up, in the end, the ones surviving will be us."

Tianxing’s stake, will definitely be of prime quality.

This is his reputation from countless investments and successes over the past three years.

But ever since Tianxing Public Offering held eighteen stocks, Lu Liang hasn’t dabbled domestically anymore, leaving many domestic followers unable to emulate even if they wanted to.

Lu Liang has this influence, as long as the startups he invests in, definitely can become favorites in the capital market.

Funding won’t be in short supply, nor will participants, as long as management doesn’t go wrong, going public is almost guaranteed.

Once listed, the path becomes smooth sailing, afterwards it’s just following the steps, telling the story well till the end.

Guaranteed ten-trillion new energy vehicle market, enough to nurture a dedicated charging station company.

Meng Changkun quietly listened, not speaking, his facial expression changing until it turned cold.

After Lu Liang finished speaking, Old Meng lifted his eyes, face cold, and said in a deep voice, "Are you pitying me?"

This is no longer just a handout but chewed up, all he needs is to swallow.

He might be seen as pretentious,

But he cannot stand this humiliation.

At twelve years old, he left his hometown, came to Modu seeking his uncle, worked as an apprentice chopping blocks in his restaurant.

All these years, he’s endured every hardship imaginable, suffered sneers, knelt before officials, and was someone’s dog.

Even when being a dog, in those humiliating years, it’s only because others found him to bark, to bite, to be useful, he’d be kept.

On the contrary, the project Lu Liang introduced and subsequent arrangements, anyone could carry the golden bowl he provided and beg everywhere.

Lu Liang’s face turned serious, "This is friendship; this is trust. Do you think I’d risk my reputation out of pity?"

Meng Changkun fell silent, looking up again, filled with self-reproach, "It’s my fault, being pretentious."

"We’re all men, speak openly and it’ll be fine."

Lu Liang laughed, took a beer from the side, threw it in front of Old Meng, splashing water: "Chug it, I’ll pretend I heard nothing."

Old Meng nodded heavily, didn’t hesitate, nearly broke his porcelain tooth, opened the cap, spun it causing a whirlpool, and chugged it all.

Lu Liang clapped, cheering, Old Meng burped, feeling touched, showing no signs of discomfort after drinking.

He’s chugged 53-degree white spirits before, beer to him is just water, except for diuretic effect, no other effect.

Old Meng pondered for a while, said, "I need to think seriously about this project, good steel should be used on the blade; your market reputation should be used at critical times, if too early, or on too small scale, it’s wasted."

"Then think clearly and give me a call."

Lu Liang paused for a few seconds and said softly, "We are friends, you’re one of my few friends, if I need anything, I’ll actively seek your help."

He added with a smile, "When the time comes, don’t pretend you didn’t hear."

Even though the expression was subtle, Old Meng caught the hidden meaning, he took another beer: "No more pretentious talk, it’s all in the beer."

Friends are equals; he doesn’t need to flatter Lu Liang’s woman, thereby pleasing Lu Liang.

Lu Liang shook his head, sighed, left the bamboo grove: "You take your time drinking, I’m off to find Number 18 for a massage, my shoulders feel tight again after so long."

"Don’t bother; Number 18 went home to get married."

"When did that happen?"

"Last year, I think."

"Whose skills are good?"

"Number 123, quite sassy."

"???" Lu Liang looked speechless: "They do proper massages; you don’t have to drag them into dubious dealings."

"It takes two to tango. Besides, persuading a prostitute to be good, persuading the good into bad, isn’t that a man’s hobby?"

"You’re you, don’t lump me in."