Chapter Seven: Brewing Wine and Discussing Heroes
Li Fengyu’s response was impressive—he neither revealed his personal opinions nor failed to display a breadth of knowledge. Lin Chu began to feel a fondness for him inwardly; this must be the mutual understanding that exists among merchants. Lin Chu intended to continue testing Li Fengyu, as he needed to ensure that this man possessed extraordinary wisdom and learning, along with an unshakable composure, keen logical thinking, and strong debating skills—to be certain that he could truly be of help.
Drawing upon his own knowledge from Stanford University, Lin Chu proceeded with another test, smiling slightly as he said, “Mr. Li Fengyu, you truly are erudite and versatile. I heard from Li Sen that you studied at the same school. Which university was it?”
Li Sen took a sip of coffee, glancing awkwardly at Lin Chu and then at Li Fengyu, perhaps feeling a little embarrassed. Li Fengyu, however, replied candidly, “Ha ha ha, I can’t compare to Mr. Lin Chu. Li Sen and I attended a vocational school here in the city. But as the saying goes, heroes do not ask about their origins; nobles and generals are not born from noble blood alone. I am studying here at the moment, and I plan to start my own business in the future.”
Lin Chu exhaled quietly. Though this man’s background wasn’t noble, he possessed a determined and ambitious spirit. Lin Chu smiled gently and said, “Mr. Li Fengyu, I admire you very much. There is a sense of camaraderie between us, almost like kindred spirits. Since you have some understanding of finance, how about we have a discussion over wine today—a discourse on heroes? Who, in your opinion, is the most successful merchant throughout history?”
Li Fengyu stood up and spoke confidently, “Mr. Lin Chu, you ask who the most successful merchant is. First, may I ask how you define ‘most successful’ and what you believe are the factors behind success?”
Lin Chu was momentarily puzzled. Adjusting his glasses awkwardly, he replied, “Def…definition? I’m not quite sure what you mean.”
Li Fengyu furrowed his brow but explained matter-of-factly, “Allow me to share three examples. First: In 15th-century Europe, every nation believed its own land was the world’s center. Take Spain and Portugal, small countries on the Iberian Peninsula, whose combined area is smaller than a single province in China, with populations under one million. Their simple desire to obtain spices sparked the true Age of Discovery. At that time, most thought the endless ocean was untraversable. Yet, with the young Prince Henry’s investment in navigation, explorers like Columbus, Magellan, Dias, and da Gama ventured across vast seas, bringing back treasures and knowledge that Europeans risked everything to pursue. This connected the world into a whole. Spain and Portugal seized the moment, rising to unprecedented colonial empires and pioneering the triangular trade.”
Lin Chu listened intently, then eagerly urged Li Fengyu to continue with the second example. Li Fengyu went on, “Also in the 15th century, the Netherlands—this small country in northwestern Europe, twice the size of Beijing, yet the world’s third-largest agricultural exporter—was once just lakes eight centuries ago. Even today, a third of its land lies below sea level. Three centuries ago, this tiny nation became Europe’s maritime superpower, nearly monopolizing global sea trade. It was the economic and wealth center of the world. The Netherlands extended its influence to nearly every corner of the globe. Its rapid rise was a historic miracle. In the 17th century, by establishing modern financial and commercial institutions, it created a global business empire.”
Lin Chu interrupted, “Then the Dutch founded the world’s first joint-stock company to pool capital and established the first stock exchange—three centuries before New York’s. The capital market was born. They pioneered modern banking and created a credit system still in use today. Their economic prosperity solidified their dominance, right?”
Li Fengyu smiled slightly and said, “Exactly.”
Lin Chu had begun to grasp the essence but wanted to confirm his understanding, so he encouraged Li Fengyu to continue.
Li Fengyu then presented the third example: “This one is not a story but a phrase: England. This small, peripheral nation seized the historic moment of transformation and reached the threshold of modern civilization, poised to steadily rise to the world’s center. In the following two centuries, it would stand proudly above all others.” (He was referring to the Glorious Revolution that established constitutional monarchy.)
Li Fengyu continued, “You asked who the true financial genius of all times and places might be. I asked you about your definition of success and its factors. These three examples have already answered those questions.”
Lin Chu finally woke as if from a dream. Although he had caught on earlier, he hadn’t considered so much. He said with surprise, “The first teaches us to have the courage to take risks and the indomitable pride to possess what others do not. The second shows us the value of investing wisely and leveraging resources—our time, energy, and wealth—to enrich ourselves and optimize our allocations. The third reminds us to seize historical opportunities, to embrace change and innovation. With these three elements combined, great success becomes possible. Finding a successful person is not difficult; the key is to learn their essence and make it your own.”