Once a soldier in the People's Liberation Army, today he's the richest man in China. Last week, he stunned everyone by advising entrepreneurs to set "a small target first, like earning 100 million yuan.''

Sixty-one-year-old Wang Jianlin's father was a soldier in the Red Army that liberated the country, and his influence got Wang entry into the PLA at the early age of 15. Wang was taken into a special unit which was given intensive winter field training advocated by Mao. He recalls having to wade for two months through knee-deep snow, carrying arms and ammunition, and making his own "bed'' in the snow. Those who couldn't cope would forfeit promotions and, of course, the 'Exemplary Fighter' award - something Wang, who dreamt of becoming a general, couldn't imagine doing.

He could withstand 17 years in the army despite not being good at physical activity, he once said, because of his belief in "revolution and communism as a means of transforming oneself and mankind''. Though the army discipline moulded his character: he neither smokes nor drinks, and sleeps by 11 pm, there's little evidence of communist belief in his success story. The Wanda Plaza in Nanjing which this diarist often visits is a vast mall, exuding an aura of prosperity, with gourmet regional and international restaurants, a huge Walmart, and a cinema. There are 109 such across China.

When Deng Xiaoping took over in the 1980s, the PLA was downsized and Wang allotted to a government office. Deciding this wasn't the job for him, he joined a State-run construction company, rose to the top fast, got a "comrade'' in a bank to loan the company $80,000, and soon converted it into a share-holding firm. Today it's the biggest real estate firm in China, but Wang hasn't forgotten the early years of waiting outside bank managers' offices, once for the entire day, for loans.

Set apart

Wang's net worth is said to be almost $30 billion. He's the biggest movie-theatre owner in the world, having acquired cinema chains in the United States of America and Europe, and may soon buy a leading Hollywood studio. He has shown interest in India's PVR chain too, though this might spell bad news for Indians as Wang's brand is associated with luxury. He has construction projects in Madrid, London, Paris, and has lectured at Harvard and Oxford.

Two things set Wang apart from the typical Chinese billionaire. One, his strong streak of pride in things Chinese. He recently warned Disney that its "tiger'' - the new Shanghai Disneyland, would prove no match for his "pack of wolves'' - Wanda City theme parks. "This craze for Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck is over,'' he added. Tickets to the only Wanda City he has so far opened are half the price of Disneyland tickets. He's also building a film complex to rival Hollywood; foreign producers have already committed to making 30 films there.

Wang has not denied reports that relatives of top leaders, including current President Xi Jinping, have owned shares in his firms. A Communist Party member, he admits that no business in China can be successful without government connections. He's taken care to support the fancies of top leaders: hence his investments in "culture'' and football. The second thing that sets Wang apart is his charity. He is the biggest philanthropist in the country. Surprisingly, none of Wang's traits seems to have passed on to his son, who recently posted pictures of his dog wearing two gold Apple watches.

How does his father, a Red Army veteran, look at his capitalist son? Wang moved his parents from a State-run "cadre retirement home'' to a private apartment, with a chauffeur-driven car. Was it better to be dependent on the State or on his son, he asked his father. He claims his father chose him.