From a Jiangsu Town to an E-commerce Empire: The Legendary Life of Liu Qiangdong

From a Jiangsu Town to an E-commerce Empire: The Legendary Life of Liu QiangdongLiu Qiangdong, a rural boy who rose from a small town in northern Jiangsu, has broken the shackles of class through his intelligence, courage, and perseverance, ultimately becoming the helmsman of JD.com, a Chinese e-commerce giant

From a Jiangsu Town to an E-commerce Empire: The Legendary Life of Liu Qiangdong

Liu Qiangdong, a rural boy who rose from a small town in northern Jiangsu, has broken the shackles of class through his intelligence, courage, and perseverance, ultimately becoming the helmsman of JD.com, a Chinese e-commerce giant. His legendary life is full of ups and downs, from the arduous struggles of his early entrepreneurial days to leading JD.com to achieve brilliant success in the e-commerce field, and then from experiencing a low point in life to rising again. Liu Qiangdong's story is undoubtedly an inspirational legend, showcasing the fighting spirit and the spirit of the times of Chinese entrepreneurs.

I. The Entrepreneurial Path of a Grassroots Counterattack

On February 14, 1974, Liu Qiangdong was born into an ordinary rural family in Suqian, Jiangsu. His parents drove small boats to transport goods on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, constantly traveling and unable to take care of the young Liu Qiangdong and his sister, Liu Qiangru. The two siblings were raised by their grandmother. This challenging childhood experience fostered Liu Qiangdong's independent and resilient nature.

In 1992, at the age of 18, Liu Qiangdong was admitted to the Sociology Department of Renmin University of China with the highest score in the liberal arts in Suqian. This achievement caused a stir in the small town at that time, however, it did little to change Liu Qiangdongs family circumstances. To pay for the expensive tuition, he had to rely on the help of local residents. To save money, Liu Qiangdong carried 76 boiled eggs to Beijing, didnt visit the canteen for a week, eating only eggs every day, saving 3 yuan for living expenses.

During his university years, Liu Qiangdong demonstrated exceptional intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit. He taught himself computer programming, and by his junior year, he had earned 130,000 yuan through information technology projects. He used this money to help his parents pay off their debts, and with the remaining money, he opened a small restaurant near Renmin University. However, due to an employee's betrayal, the restaurant lost 240,000 yuan after six months. This failure made Liu Qiangdong deeply aware of the importance of integrity and character, and it laid an important foundation for his management philosophy in running JD.com later on.

After graduating from university in 1996, Liu Qiangdong gave up the opportunity to work in a government organization and chose to work for a Japanese company. Two years later, he resigned to start his own business, renting a counter in the electronics market opposite Haierong Plaza in Zhongguancun, where he began selling electronic products. On June 18, 1998, 24-year-old Liu Qiangdong formally registered and established JD.com, embarking on his entrepreneurial journey. Although his girlfriend at the time, Gong Xiaojing, did not support his entrepreneurial aspirations, Liu Qiangdong persisted in his choice. This decision not only changed his life trajectory but also planted an important seed for the development of China's e-commerce industry.

II. From Brick-and-Mortar to E-commerce Giant

In 2003, the "SARS" epidemic swept across China, posing a severe challenge to many businesses. Faced with this crisis, Liu Qiangdong demonstrated extraordinary leadership and adaptability. He bought two Jinbei vans full of instant noodles, ham sausages, and mineral water, and had his employees stay in the company and avoid going out. Liu Qiangdong shared the hardship with his employees, living in the company and even cooking for everyone on the balcony. This spirit of sharing adversity greatly united the team. It was this crisis that made Liu Qiangdong realize the importance of online business. He began to explore e-commerce models, which directly led to the official launch of JD.com's e-commerce business in 2004.

With the explosive growth of online business, in 2005, Liu Qiangdong made a bold decision: he closed down 12 brick-and-mortar chain stores and dedicated all his efforts to building the JD.com online mall. Although this decision was initially opposed by the team, Liu Qiangdong stuck to his convictions, demonstrating his foresight as an entrepreneur.

In 2007, JD.coms rapid development attracted the attention of investors. Today Capital Venture Investment Co., Ltd. invested $10 million, and subsequently, many investment companies contacted JD.com. Over several years, JD.com raised over $2 billion, providing strong impetus for the company's rapid expansion. With ample capital support, Liu Qiangdong led JD.com onto the fast track of development.

Under Liu Qiangdongs leadership, JD.coms business portfolio continued to expand. From the initial retail of electronic products, it gradually extended to logistics, digital technology, healthcare, insurance, cloud computing, real estate, and many other fields. JD.com gradually grew into China's largest direct-sales e-commerce company, holding a prominent position in the industry.

In May 2014, JD.com reached an important milestone. The company successfully listed on the Nasdaq in the United States, becoming the first major comprehensive e-commerce company in China to be listed on the Nasdaq. This not only signified JD.coms recognition by the international capital market but also meant that Liu Qiangdong and his team had reached new heights.

From starting with a small counter to becoming a Nasdaq-listed company, JD.coms rise has been filled with challenges and opportunities. Liu Qiangdong, with his keen business acumen, decisive decision-making ability, and unwavering determination, led JD.com step by step towards success. This process not only reflects Liu Qiangdong's personal growth, but also reflects the booming development of China's e-commerce industry. The success of JD.com has enabled Liu Qiangdong to make a stunning transformation from a rural boy to an e-commerce giant, setting an example for China's internet industry.

III. A Rollercoaster Ride in Love

Liu Qiangdong's love life has been as turbulent as his entrepreneurial journey. During college, he fell in love with Gong Xiaojing, a girl from Beijing his age. The Gong family had three generations of government officials, with a superior family background, and they did not approve of Liu Qiangdong's individual business status. When Liu Qiangdong decided to start JD.com, Gong Xiaojing expressed strong opposition. In 1999, due to differences in values, the two ultimately broke up. The failure of this relationship deeply hurt Liu Qiangdong. Many years later, in an interview, he admitted: "At that time, my girlfriend looked down on me, feeling that I had no future, and I couldn't find dignity in love." This experience became one of the driving forces for Liu Qiangdong's struggle, and he secretly vowed to break through the established class structure and prove his worth with his own abilities.

In 2012, 38-year-old Liu Qiangdong fell in love with Zhang Jia, a JD.com employee. Zhang Jia was the purchasing director for small home appliances at JD.com, a graduate of a prestigious university, with both beauty and talent. After their romance was exposed, the outside world thought that Liu Qiangdong would marry Zhang Jia. However, this relationship only lasted for a year before ending in a breakup. Nevertheless, Liu Qiangdong still allowed Zhang Jia to continue working at JD.com, demonstrating his magnanimity.

In the autumn of 2013, during his study tour at Columbia University in the United States, Liu Qiangdong met "" (Milk Tea Sister), Zhang Zetian. Zhang Zetian was born in 1993, 19 years younger than Liu Qiangdong. Her fresh and sweet image quickly captured Liu Qiangdong's heart. The two quickly confirmed their relationship and went public in 2014. To better match his young girlfriend in appearance, Liu Qiangdong made a firm decision to lose weight. He was originally 80 kilograms, but in just 3 months, he lost 18 kilograms. He also began to pay attention to his clothing and appearance, using face masks and skin toners, making himself appear much younger and more energetic.

On August 8, 2015, Liu Qiangdong and Zhang Zetian obtained their marriage certificate at the Civil Affairs Bureau of Chaoyang District, Beijing. On October 1 of the same year, the two held a grand wedding ceremony in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. After their marriage, they purchased a million-dollar wedding house in Sydney. On March 24, 2016, Zhang Zetian gave birth to a healthy daughter for Liu Qiangdong, their world for two becoming a family of three.

Liu Qiangdong highly values this marriage and often brings Zhang Zetian to various public events. On the New Fortune 500 Rich List, Liu Qiangdong even listed his wife's name alongside his own, demonstrating his respect and appreciation for her. From a lovelorn young man to a happy husband, Liu Qiangdong's emotional experience reflects his growth and transformation. This marriage not only provides Liu Qiangdong with a happy and fulfilling family life but also injects new energy into his career development.

IV. The Darkest Hour of Life

In May 2016,

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