Strictly speaking, this asset transfer event is not directly related to B.H., which is listed in the US (It's hard to explain to shareholders for doing such kind of thing in the name of a listed company, TinJau thought). TinJau's assets were actually transferred to an investment fund opened in Buffett's personal name.
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The fund's capital is not large, and it is composed entirely of 'LV' members who need temporary custody of their assets. Although this fund is completely separate from B.H., it holds a very high percentage of B.H. stocks, which is basically no different from directly giving money to Buffett for investment.
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Buffett himself also promised in the contract that all investment losses would be borne by him personally.
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If you put your assets under the management of this fund for a year, you will not get rich suddenly, but the risk of loss was zero. So, TinJau had no reason to refuse such a great deal.
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B.H. did not have any offices locally. They only entrust a multinational company to act as an agent for all contact jobs.
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After signing the asset management authorization document, TinJau walked on the street and still didn’t feel anything real.
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It all just happened so fast.
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What happened to TinJau this afternoon was really like the layout of a Hollywood movie. He began to suspect if there was any conspiracy behind all the “goodwill” that was forcefully pushed onto him, and if all this matter will cause him some trouble.
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However, he couldn't refuse anything he received this afternoon.
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Who wouldn't want to start a long vacation tomorrow as long as it didn't affect their career?
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And it was no reason to refuse a bonus that unconditionally offered by the company's directors (although the amount was not a lot).
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Buffett, the God of share market whom TinJau had always been regarded as his idol, actually opened his wallet privately and used his money to invest in stocks for him!
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TinJau ended up left all his sundries at the company and only took the two envelopes that would completely change his life with him.
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He took out the white business card that was attached to the cheque.
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All these changes were orchestrated by the organization called "LV." In order to figure out all the strange events in front of him, TinJau has only one place to go.
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TinJau opened the door of the "LV" headquarters. Besides the dazzling indoor lighting, the room was full of the chirping sound of the two girls chatting excitedly.
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"It is earlier than we expected," Bianca said.
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"We were just guessing that you wouldn't be back until tomorrow morning at the earliest," SiuPui said. "Look, I even took out my sleeping bag. I was planning to chat with Bianca all night long."
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"Hmm," TinJau coughed. "You should be ready to explain to me, right?"
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"Which part do you want to start with?"
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"..."
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"Hold on, I think I'm going crazy." TinJau think really hard. SiuPui and Bianca had been explaining for nearly two hours, but he still couldn't grasp the most basic part, the motivation of this organization. "That mean the purpose of this 'LV' organization is to create conditions suitable for backpacking and bumming around for urbanites like me and to provide assistance during the backpacking journey, is that correct?"
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"You finally understand. Then-"
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"I don't understand at all! This is not a operational model that should exist in a capitalist society! This kind of organization cannot possibly exist!"
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"Can you be more specific about your doubts?"
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"Okay. I don't believe any organization would unconditionally provide such generous favours just for members to go backpacking! We are not famine refugee or war victims, why would there be an organization like a charity group, come and offer us alms?"
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"First of all, don't categorize 'LV' in your mind as a business entity whose existence is profit-driven through selling products. And 'LV' is not a one-way giving charity organization either. It's best to think of 'LV' as a cooperative," Bianca suddenly interrupted, startling TinJau. It turned out this girl understood Chinese.
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"Then, what exactly is the so-called 'cooperative'?" TinJau asked.
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"It's a group that shares experiences and helps each other," Bianca continued.
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"To give an example from daily life," Bianca went on, "let's say one day you're out shopping and you come across a new shop selling delicious snacks. Would you buy some to bring back to the office and share with your colleagues?"
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"Isn't that something everyone would do?" TinJau responded.
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"Sharing is the core concept of 'LV'. We are all willing to share our good experiences with others. For example, after reading a very touching novel, we would be happy to lend it to our friends, or recommend them to buy it, or even buy a few copies to give away. It is human nature, right?"
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"Yes. But..."
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"The same goes for traveling. That's why we are all eager to take photos when we travel so that we can share our experiences with friends when we return. We are willing to buy some local souvenirs for our friends if we afford to do so. And even when we are captivated by the beauty of a foreign country, we would want to bring our family or best friends along to share the moment. You might sigh and say, 'Wouldn't it be great if I could bring them all here next time!'"
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"I understand the concept of sharing. But we can't possibly afford to take all our friends and relatives abroad! How much money would that cost? That's why we can only bring back photos!"
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"Based on your current financial ability, it definitely quite difficult." SiuPui said, "But what if in the future you have ten times more wealth than you have now?"
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"...I might take my parents with me. I might even take my girlfriend there again."
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"What if you became the second richest person in the world?"
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TinJau immediately remembered the report that once shocked the world: Warren Buffett, the world's second richest, the God of the stock market decided to donate over $30 billion to charity, sharing his lifetime wealth with the world.
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Indeed, there are people in this world who are practicing this 'selfless sharing'.
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He kind of figure it out.
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"The prototype of 'LV' is actually just a private act of sharing. At first, there was a group of urbanites who were really determined to realize their dream of bumming around. After they complete their journey and returned to society, they actively encouraged and helped their friends and family members around them, let them feel what they experience and gain while they are backpacking and bumming around the world.
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In the beginning, it was just a father helping his son who worked in the family business, or a university professor encouraging his graduate students to make good use of their summer vacations. Until the liberal trend was at its peak around 1960s, this kind of sharing behaviour of 'helping those around you temporarily cast aside worldly constraints and experience traveling around freely' become a trend in some avant-garde circles.
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At that time, a group of American university professors, along with professionals from various fields, combined several youth hostels or backpacker groups to which they belonged, and officially established the organization "Long Vacation". It systematically helping those who were less able to adapt to the pressure of the city or need to temporarily escape from real life to pursue their long-standing desires.
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"I seem to understand a bit... but it's still hard to believe..." TinJau said, "This organization... is really too huge, and its capabilities are really terrifying. How did they get me this unpaid leave guarantee letter, and even gave me $600,000 travel expenses in the name of a bonus, and, and even had Buffett, “the Oracle of Omaha” trade the stocks for me!"
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"Isn't it no longer a secret that Buffett was once a member of 'LV'? He mentioned it in his memoir too. It is said that he understands the contradictory attitude of urbanites towards travel around with backpack, want to leave everything behind but unable to make up their mind, keep on wasting their youth in hesitation. That’s why he took the initiative to propose to 'LV' many years ago that he willing to use his power and social network in the finance world to handle asset management matters for the members, helping the newbie to make up their mind quickly. It suits his working style, and he has said that it feels good to doing such things."
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This explanation is quite convincing to TinJau. From several memoirs of financial celebrities he had read, successful people who could climb to high positions of power were those who had strong-will and they did not hesitate to break various social norms and bureaucratic obstacles in pursuit of efficiency and results.
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Bianca continued, "The value of 'LV' lies in the global network of interpersonal and political relationships it has established over the past thirty years. They were all ordinary cardholding members of 'LV'. After completing the journey, they became part of the 'LV' network and went to help newcomers when needed. The motivation is very simple, purely out of a spirit of sharing."
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"This is the 'price' I mentioned to you last time," SiuPui said, "All cardholding members must take on the obligation to help new members after completing the journey, this is a lifelong responsibility. Of course, there are no legal obligations, only verbal commitments made based on each person's desire to 'share'."
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"In addition to Buffett, I heard that a former UK prime minister and a former US Democratic Party president were also cardholding members when they were young, and even traveled together for a while. Haven't you noticed how close they are and the kind of relaxed and generous style in their actions?"
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"Last year when I stayed in Hollywood, I heard that Robert Redford from his university days and John Travolta were also 'LV' members before he makes a comeback."
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"Really?" Bianca screamed, "I am a huge fan of John’s movie! I love his performance in 'Face Off'."
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"It is said that they had left a travel log in the 'LV' hostel in Seattle, but I didn't confirm it. There are also rumors that they are each the sponsors of five membership cards now, but I haven't found out the numbers yet."
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"When you meet other cardholders on your future journeys, you will hear many surprising rumors."
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In college, TinJau liked to watch movies to pass the time during skipping classes. Among his dabbling, there were many Hollywood classic works, and he knew a little bit about the lives of some famous movie stars, which he enjoyed as entertainment gossip news.
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Among those movie stars, TinJau once admired the young Robert Redford.
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It is said that Robert Redford was a cynic in his twenties. He couldn't seem to find his way after his dream of becoming a Professional baseball player was shattered. Browsing through the online movie database, there are also recorded his experience of leaving everything behind to bum around in Europe. The records didn't go into much detail about the process. But when he returned, he was determined to become an actor and started auditioning everywhere. His star quality, some say, was cultivated during that traveling period.
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As for John Travolta, he became an international movie star at a very young age with "Saturday Night Fever," but then went silent for twenty years. It is said that he managed his finances well, and although he had almost no income during this long period of silence, he was still able to live a luxurious and leisurely life with his family, and even owned two private jets.
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Both of them originally have a temperament that yearns for freedom. Even though they are not typical urban white-collar workers who are bound by work, perhaps they each carried many worldly burdens and needed the help of 'LV' to find their liberation.
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TinJau listened to the two girls mentioning one name after another, either a head of state or an international movie star. His heart was beating wildly with excitement at first. But as he kept listened to them, he began to question again.
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"But... I'm not a political leader, and I don't have money. Why would 'LV' choose me? My existence will not help ‘LV’ expands its network at all."
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"You think about it the other way around. 'LV' only helps 'urban people who truly need to travel around with backpack,' and will not consider how much that person can be of use to 'LV'. And, as we mentioned just now, most of those people joined before they became famous or when they were young and poor."
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"Moreover, the matter of 'social network' is very peculiar. It is not simply a gathering of powerful rich people where everything goes their way. The most ideal social network is one where the proportions of various characters are roughly comparable to the real world, allowing the network to penetrate into every level of society. In other words, in a certain sense, the value of TinJau to 'LV' network is irreplaceable even by Buffett."
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"Speaking of networks, TinJau, in regards of your own case, you are a good example. We seem to have not yet answered, how did 'LV' let your company give you a one-year unpaid leave. Do you want to know?"
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"I heard that the unpaid leave and the bonus were approved and issued by a director within the company. Was he once a cardholder member?"
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"He's not. We have checked and found that no one in your company directly linked to 'LV' network, however," SiuPui said slyly, "it turns out that director has several mistresses. One of them, his favorite one, used to be a cardholding member."
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"So that's how it is."
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"If just at this level, there wasn't enough power to settle your matter within three hours. Coincidentally, that director did something wrong before and angered that mistress. She has ignored him for two weeks. I heard that she gave him this opportunity to be attentive. He was overjoyed. That's why we say you are destined to 'LV'."
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"You guys could even find out when someone is quarreling with his mistress?"
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"It is not that difficult. Office gossip, close friends' gossip, pillow talks among lovers, the more secretive the news, the faster it spreads. People are always curious about scandals like this. It often spreads throughout the city within days," SiuPui said, "Do nothing you would wish to conceal."
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"But... isn't this too coincidental? What if there's no director's mistress in my company who once was a 'LV' member?"
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"Then we'll have to find another way. We only will use economic or political influence, if the personal connection doesn’t work. In an international city like ours, many people have achieved their dreams through 'LV' over the years. This means that we have established a very complete social network in this city. It does not require much political power to let an ordinary white-collar worker take unpaid leave for a year."
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"Phew..." TinJau couldn't help but sigh, "It turn out that ‘LV' is such an organization."
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"That's the basic explanation. Is there anything else I need to add?" SiuPui asked.
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"I have something to add," Bianca interjected, "TinJau, it's not 'LV' choosing you this time, it's SiuPui."
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SiuPui blushed and pinched Bianca's arm hard, making her scream in pain. "You've slept with him. How come you still feel shy! Hey!"
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So far, TinJau had been brought here by some unknown hand behind the scenes. In one day, he had unloaded the burden of work, money, and asset management, and listened to an explanation about a nearly surreal organization. He was completely confused, standing there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do for a while.
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"Then... what should I do now?"
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"Go to the room behind, take photos and record your fingerprint data, then this card will be yours," SiuPui handed the card to TinJau.
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He turned the card over and over, hesitating whether to go or not. Would deciding to go be too hasty? If he decided not to go, what would be his reason? (I actually really wanted to go bumming around. However, I couldn't accept the idea that "you can leave tomorrow" so abruptly. The human psyche is really strange, sometimes when things come too easily, it can be a bit scary. Could it be that all those times I shouted in my heart that I wanted to travel around, was it all just causal talk? Dare to think but not dare to do, am I still considered as a man? (Author's note: Just because TinJau is a man.... I feel that in some ways, women are more daring to think and act.)
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Neither SiuPui nor Bianca urged TinJau, because this kind of hesitation is a psychological stage that almost every card-holding member has gone through. Indeed, there have been some people who did not dare to accept this membership card because they do not believe that too many good things would happen to them at once.
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"By the way, Bianca," SiuPui asked, "Last time in Peru, didn't I ask you to investigate who is the sponsor of this '0713' card was? Did you find out anything?"
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"A Japanese man came to Check-In last month, he heard from hearsay that the sponsor of '0713' is a Japanese writer, seems to be called Murakami."
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"Murakami?" TinJau was shocked after hearing this, "Is it really Murakami? What's the full name?"
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"It is hard to pronounce Japanese, I don't remember it clearly."
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"Is it Haruki Murakami? Or Ryu Murakami?"
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"Yes! It's Haruki! He even mentioned a novel called 'Norwegian Wood' and wanted to give me the Japanese original version he had."
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"No, really?" TinJau's hands were shaking so much that he couldn't even hold the card, "This, this is a membership card sponsored by Murakami? He is, he was also a member of 'LV'?"
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"Is this Haruki Murakami very famous? Are there any Chinese translated versions of his books?"
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"You haven't even heard of Haruki Murakami before?" TinJau looked incredulously at SiuPui, "During my college days, he was the supreme god of our group of 'skipping class'! 'Norwegian Wood' is a sacred book that has influenced countless college students for life! Oh my god! If this is a dream, let me die in my dream! To think that it was Haruki Murakami who gave me money to bum around with backpack! Do I have any reason not to go? I believe now! I am truly destined with 'LV'!"
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Haruki Murakami is a famous backpacker in the literary world. It is said that he traveled all over Japan with a backpack in his youth. Many of his characters in his novels often escape from the worldly shackles and wander around the big cities like strangers, with a touch of desolated and raffish.
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After he became famous, he continued to live a life of traveling and writing on the road. His charisma not only showed in his novels that are known for being "full of urban sensibility”. Haruki Murakami’s life is also deeply admired by countless readers, even leading many people to embark on the path of writing without any hesitation.
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