371: Maintain a sense of vigilance

The nearby security personnel immediately stepped forward to assist, forming a human wall to block the reporters outside and slowly guide them backward.

A few persistent reporters tried to bypass the security personnel, but they were all easily intercepted by Lei Ying. Her movements were precise and powerful, devoid of unnecessary words, yet they made everyone think twice before attempting to advance rashly again.

Lei Jun remained composed throughout, making her way through the crowd to the lead black armored vehicle at the front.

The car door had already been opened by the driver. Su Qing, Su Ya, and Lei Yue followed closely behind and got in. Lei Ying made a final check of the surroundings, confirming there were no security threats, before getting in and taking the seat next to Lei Jun.

Greg Penner only breathed a sigh of relief after watching Lei Jun's car drive away. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and immediately instructed his CFO beside him.

"You stay behind to handle the reporters' questions. Do not reveal any details of the company's plans. Just say Ms. Lei Jun is here to attend the supplier summit, and do not respond to anything else. Monitor the media reports closely and inform me immediately if there is anything unusual."

After saying this, he also got into another car, following Lei Jun's motorcade as it headed towards the Four Seasons Hotel.

Sitting in the car, Lei Jun leaned back in her seat, gazing at the New York cityscape flying past the window.

Under the night sky, New York was ablaze with lights, its skyscrapers standing row upon row. The bustling streets, teeming with traffic, showcased the prosperity of this international metropolis.

The business rules in the USA are different from those in China. With rampant local protectionism and the internal factional struggles within Walmart, she, as a foreign controlling shareholder, was bound to encounter significant resistance in trying to establish a firm foothold.

She began mentally mapping out her next steps: First, upon arriving at headquarters tomorrow, have the heads of each department report on their work. Get a clear picture of the actual situation regarding the company's core operations like supply chain, finance, and store operations, and identify existing loopholes and problems.

Second, hold individual meetings with the core executives to understand each person's stance, capabilities, and demands. Screen for usable personnel and weed out the parasites who are inactive, engage in internal strife, or line their own pockets.

Third, promote resource synergy between Walmart and Alibaba, Xiaomi, and BYD. Push high-quality domestic products into the European and American markets through Walmart's global channels. Simultaneously, leverage the advantages of the domestic supply chain to optimize Walmart's cost structure and enhance profitability.

In short, she must quickly translate control into practical operations... Meanwhile, back in China, the major corporate leaders were all closely watching Lei Jun's trip to the USA.

Jack Ma, Lei Jun, Wang Quanfu, and others had all arranged for dedicated personnel to interface with Walmart for updates, ready to grasp Lei Jun's decisions at any moment in order to adjust their companies' cooperation strategies promptly.

Pony Ma, Zhang Yiming, and others remained constantly vigilant, worried that Lei Jun might make new acquisition moves that could affect their own enterprises.

Online buzz also remained high. Topics concerning Lei Jun's trip to the USA continued to dominate the trending charts on major platforms.

"Is the Goddess of Thunder going to flex her muscles big time in the USA? She's already taken Walmart. Is she going to sweep through the European and American retail markets next?"

"Looking forward to the Goddess of Thunder bringing Alibaba, Xiaomi, and BYD products into Walmart's global stores, making domestic goods sell worldwide!"

"Hahaha, some netizens are saying the Goddess of Thunder's next step is to buy the entire planet. Although it's a joke, given her expansion speed, it might just be possible!"

"Those Americans who look down on Chinese people must be dumbfounded now, right? Our Goddess of Thunder directly controls your homegrown giant. That's real power!"

"I wonder how the Goddess of Thunder will transform Walmart. Will she optimize the supply chain to drive prices down so we can buy cheaper imported goods?"

The netizens' enthusiasm for discussion remained high. Some were hopeful, some were joking, some were proud—various voices intertwined, further pushing the topic's popularity.

On major short-video platforms, compilation videos about Lei Jun once again dominated the front page, with view counts breaking hundreds of millions in just a few hours... A little over half an hour later, the motorcade arrived at a hotel in New York.

This hotel, located in downtown Manhattan, is a globally renowned top-tier five-star hotel—low-key yet luxurious, with tight security. Many foreign dignitaries and business magnates choose to stay here when visiting New York.

The presidential suite Greg Penner arranged for Lei Jun spanned over 300 square meters, divided into multiple areas including a living room, bedroom, study, dining room, gym, and private bathroom... The decor adopted a classic European style, with furniture custom-made in Italy. The floors and walls used imported marble, exuding a sense of quality.

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room faced directly onto New York's Central Park, offering an excellent, unobstructed view of the night scenery.

A huge leather sofa sat in the center of the living room. On the coffee table beside it were fresh fruits and pastries, all airlifted in that day from around the world... Shine Muscat grapes from Japan, cherries from Chile, macarons from France.

After Greg Penner finished showing Lei Jun and her group around the suite, he said respectfully,

"Ms. Lei Jun, for your convenience in daily life and work, I have arranged for two senior Walmart staff to remain at the hotel. One is a bilingual assistant, responsible for your daily communication and itinerary coordination... The other is a lifestyle butler, responsible for your meals and daily needs. Please feel free to instruct them for any requirements you may have."

He arranged these two people partly to curry favor with Lei Jun, and partly to understand her movements and thoughts through them.

Lei Jun shook her head and said to the translator.

"That won't be necessary. I have Lei Ying, Su Qing, and the others with me. That's enough; I don't need others to serve me."

She understood Greg's intentions perfectly. These Walmart staff, ostensibly there to serve, could actually be informants.

She was in a foreign country, unfamiliar with the place and people. She simply couldn't afford to easily trust these strangers. If her itinerary or thoughts were monitored or leaked, it could cause trouble for her subsequent work.

Moreover, Lei Ying could handle security, Su Qing and Su Ya could take care of her daily needs, and Lei Yue could manage legal and work-related matters. The people around her were reliable enough; there was no need to involve outsiders.

Greg Penner was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Lei Jun to refuse, but he didn't dare insist. He quickly replied,

"Very well, Ms. Lei Jun. We will follow your arrangements. If you have any needs at all, whether work-related or personal, please feel free to call me anytime. I am on standby 24/7."

After saying this, he reiterated a few more points regarding precautions, such as the hotel's security contact information and emergency procedures, before respectfully leaving the suite.

After seeing Greg Penner off, they all felt somewhat fatigued.

The long flight, coupled with jet lag, had left everyone tired.

Lei Jun said, "Let's not go out for dinner today. We'll just order room service. After eating, let's rest early and properly adjust to the time difference so we have the energy for headquarters tomorrow."