In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

When the host asked that question, millions of viewers in Hong Kong probably held their breath at that moment.

Although it is common knowledge that Li Jiacheng lost to Lin Haoran in the business world.

But everyone wanted to hear that answer from Li Jiacheng.

One is a straightforward fact, the other is the person involved voluntarily admitting defeat, and doing so in front of the entire Hong Kong population. There is clearly a difference.

Li Jiacheng did not answer immediately.

He leaned back on the sofa, crossed his hands on his knees, and held that position for a full five seconds.

Then, he sat up straight again.

“Loss?” Li Jiacheng repeated the word, his tone carrying a strange calm, as if he were savoring the full weight of the word.

He leaned slightly forward, placed his hands gently on his knees, and looked directly at the camera.

That's at least a million viewers in Hong Kong, many of whom might be his old business friends, and Lin Haoran might even be watching on TV.

"If we look at the numbers on the rich list, I have indeed lost. 69 billion to 678 billion, this is not a gap, it is an insurmountable chasm."

His voice was calm and steady, without resentment, only the calmness of stating the facts.

"But if winning or losing is defined solely by wealth figures, then this game is far too simplistic."

Shen Ting keenly sensed the deeper meaning in his words: "You mean? You think you can win it back in the future?"

“No, what I mean is,” Li Jiacheng said slowly, “I didn’t lose a battle, but an era.”

The studio lights shone softly on his face, illuminating the lines etched by time.

This legendary businessman, who once seized Hutchison Whampoa from British capital but ultimately lost it to Lin Haoran, is now showing a rare attitude of reflection.

“Lin Sheng showed me that the way my generation accumulated wealth may be outdated in the new era,” Li Jiacheng said. “We believe in industry, we believe in real estate, and we believe in tangible assets.”

We expand cautiously and move forward steadily, prioritizing risk control above all else.

“But Lin Sheng is not like that.” He paused, as if organizing his thoughts. “He believes in the power of leverage, the value of the right to speak, and the possibility of using capital to quickly leverage even more capital.”

He dared to forge ahead when everyone else retreated, dared to create new rules outside the established ones, and possessed a remarkably forward-thinking business acumen.

A complex emotion flashed in Li Jiacheng's eyes—admiration, regret, and a certain doubt about his past convictions.

“What impressed me most was not how much money he had, but how he used it,” he continued. “He turned money into influence, using the media to influence public opinion, using rankings to define standards, and using a global network to build a global presence.”

This kind of gameplay is something our generation wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Shen Ting asked softly, "So, where do you think you lost?"

“I lost because of my mindset, my courage, and my imagination for the future,” Li Jiacheng said without hesitation. “While I was considering whether or not to buy the next piece of land, Lin Sheng was already thinking about how to reconstruct the commercial ecosystem of the entire area.”

While I was weighing the risks of a particular investment project, Lin Sheng was already planning the industry landscape ten years from now.

He shook his head slightly and continued, "This gap cannot be bridged by hard work. It is a generational difference, a chasm of time. I am old, and Hong Kong is ultimately still a world for young people."

However, just when the audience thought this business tycoon was about to completely "accept his fate," Li Jiacheng changed the subject.

“But admitting defeat is not the same as accepting fate. I, Li Jiacheng, am fifty-four years old this year and have been working in the business world for more than thirty years. I have experienced more difficult times than this, such as the hardship of starting a business and the all-or-nothing gamble when acquiring Hutchison Whampoa. Every time was a tough battle.”

He sat up straight again, and the confidence that came with years of business experience returned to his face: "I admit that I have fallen behind today, but that does not mean I will give up. In the marathon of business, it is not about who runs the fastest in a certain section, but about who can persevere to the end."

"Lin Sheng taught me the most important lesson: to dare to break free from fixed mindsets." Li Jiacheng's eyes sharpened. "So, from today onwards, I will relearn."

Learn how to see the world with new eyes, and learn how to find your place in this era where capital and information reign supreme.

He looked at the camera, as if declaring to the entire Hong Kong business community: "Cheung Kong Holdings will not be limited to the real estate industry. We will embrace technology, we will embrace capital, we will expand globally, and we will explore new business models."

I know I may never catch up with Lin Sheng, but at least I want to make sure I don't stand still.

These words were powerful and resounding, acknowledging the defeat while demonstrating the determination to make a comeback.

However, the phrase "Lin Sheng taught me" was quite surprising.

After all, Li Jiacheng is over fifty years old, while Lin Haoran is not even thirty.

It feels a bit awkward that a senior figure in the business world said that a junior had taught him something.

Shen Ting keenly noticed this detail, and asked in a perfectly timed tone of surprise, "Mr. Li, you just said, 'Mr. Lin taught me the most important lesson.'"

Given your qualifications and achievements, don't you find it somewhat unusual to say such a thing? After all, Mr. Lin Haoran is almost thirty years younger than you.

The entire Hong Kong audience held their breath once again.

This is an extremely sensitive issue. Age, seniority, and achievements have always been important criteria for ranking people in Chinese society.

It is almost unimaginable in traditional thinking for a 54-year-old business legend to publicly admit that he was "taught a lesson" by a young man under 30.

Li Jiacheng smiled, a smile that carried a sense of worldly wisdom and detachment.

“Unusual?” he asked rhetorically, then shook his head slightly. “If this had happened ten years ago, or even five years ago, I might have found it unusual, but now I think it’s normal, even necessary.”

He picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it; he just looked at the clear tea in the cup.

“In the business world, age is never the deciding factor,” Li Jiacheng said slowly. “I started my business in the 1940s and 50s, and more than 30 years have passed since then. Back then, many people thought I was too young and didn’t understand the rules.”

But I proved with facts that youth is not a disadvantage, but rather an advantage; it means having no baggage and daring to think and act.

"Now it's my turn." He said calmly, "Times are changing, the rules of the game are changing, and what Lin Sheng represents is not just himself, but also a brand new business mindset and a new wave of the times."

If I cling to the outdated notion that "I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice," then I'll truly be left behind by the times.

Shen Ting pressed further, "So you believe that age and experience are no longer absolute advantages in the new era of business competition?"

“Experience is certainly valuable,” Li Jiacheng nodded, “but it can be a double-edged sword. Relying too much on past experience can make it difficult to see the future direction.”

Some of the mistakes I've made in recent years stemmed from overconfidence in my own experience, believing that 'things should be done this way.' This led me to unconsciously underestimate young people like Lin Sheng, and this underestimation cost me dearly.

He put down his teacup and continued, "As for Lin Sheng, he has almost no 'experience baggage.' When he saw the possibility of an oil crisis, he didn't think about avoiding the risks, but rather how to profit from it."

When he saw the media industry, he didn't think about how to run a good newspaper, but rather how to seize the power to define wealth.

When he saw the global market, his thought wasn't about gradual penetration, but rather how to quickly establish a presence and build a network.

“This way of thinking,” Li Jiacheng paused, “is something I lacked in my thirty years of business experience, so when I say he ‘taught me a lesson,’ it’s not just polite talk, it’s the truth.”

As the interview drew to a close, Shen Ting asked a deeper question: "Mr. Li, based on your 'confrontation' with Mr. Lin Haoran, what advice do you have for young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Jiacheng gave a thought-provoking answer.

"First, don't be afraid to challenge authority. My biggest mistake was that I trusted my own experience too much and thought that young people needed time to mature."

But Lin Sheng proved that sometimes, youth itself is the greatest advantage—unburdened and daring to think and act.

“Second, we must understand the nature of capital,” Li Jiacheng continued. “Our generation has viewed capital as a tool to buy land, build buildings, and do business.”

But Lin Sheng views capital as a weapon to change rules, influence trends, and reshape the landscape—this is a completely different level of thinking.

“Third, and most importantly,” he said, his tone becoming particularly solemn, “we must have a pursuit that transcends wealth. What I admire most about Lin Sheng is not how much money he has made, but what he has done with that money.”

He redefined Hong Kong's place on the global business landscape, he gained a voice for Asian businesses, and he showed the world another possibility for Chinese entrepreneurs.

Li Jiacheng has a far-sighted vision: "Wealth will eventually come to an end, but influence can transcend time."

When young people start their own businesses, they shouldn't just think about how much money they can make; they should think clearly about: what changes can your success bring to the world?

At Shi Xundao Villa, Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan sat snuggled together on the soft sofa.

The color television screen played the closing scene of "Face to Face with the Rich," with the host shaking hands with Li Jiacheng to announce the official end of tonight's interview.

This program was actually suggested by Lin Haoran, so he was naturally curious about it.

What's more, the fact that the first person invited was Li Jiacheng made him even more interested.

Therefore, when the program started airing, he and Guo Xiaohan sat in their living room on the third floor of their house and watched it on TV.

This program has indeed had a significant impact in Hong Kong.

After all, the wealthy are not entertainment stars; they are rarely seen, and it's even more difficult to hear them talk about their development history.

Nowadays, a program that features face-to-face interviews with the wealthy has naturally attracted the curiosity and enthusiasm of countless viewers.

Moreover, the first guest was Li Jiacheng, who is currently in the eye of the storm.

How will this former business tycoon, who was recently "crushed" by Lin Haoran by nearly ten times on the wealth list and lost control of Hutchison Whampoa not long ago, face this almost public "interrogation"?
All of Hong Kong is waiting to see his reaction.

Li Jiacheng's performance surprised everyone.

He did not evade the issue, nor did he offer any explanations or complaints.

Instead, he confronted his failures, limitations, and reflections with an almost candid honesty.

This attitude not only did not damage his image, but also earned him the respect of countless viewers, including many ordinary citizens who originally had some opinions about him.

"Brother Haoran, Mr. Li is a highly respected figure in Hong Kong's business world. I never expected him to say such things, even admitting that he's inferior to you. Such magnanimity is truly rare!" Guo Xiaohan nestled in Lin Haoran's arms, sighing softly. Li Jiacheng's influence in Hong Kong has always been considerable, especially after acquiring Hutchison Whampoa as a Chinese businessman. His influence reached its peak when former Huifeng tycoon Sir Michael Sandberg personally courted him, and even in Southeast Asia, his reputation was not low.

Lin Haoran gently stroked her hair, his gaze still fixed on the television screen broadcasting the advertisement, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Li Jiacheng personally admitted on television that he was inferior to him and that he would never be able to surpass him. Although this was true, it still gave me a strange sense of satisfaction to hear him say these words.

After all, this person was the richest Chinese man he had heard about since childhood.

"When Uncle Liu called me today, we talked about the program 'Face to Face with the Rich,' and he mentioned Mr. Li. He said that Mr. Li was very humble after accepting the invitation to the program, which surprised him."

"Now it seems that Mr. Li Jiacheng is wiser than I expected," Lin Haoran said with a smile.

Guo Xiaohan looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity: "Wisdom? I thought you would think he was showing weakness."

"Show weakness?" Lin Haoran shook his head. "No, he is 'retreating to advance,' publicly admitting defeat to someone nearly thirty years younger than himself. It may seem like he has lost face, but in reality, he has regained the upper hand."

He picked up the remote control from the coffee table and turned off the TV, instantly making the living room quiet.

“Look at every word he said tonight, it was all carefully crafted,” Lin Haoran analyzed.

"He acknowledged the gap but emphasized the long-term nature of the 'marathon'; he expressed admiration but declared that he needed to 'relearn'; and his final advice to young people was to portray himself as an 'experienced person' imparting his knowledge."

Guo Xiaohan seemed to understand something: "So, he's actually reshaping his image?"

“That’s right.” Lin Haoran gave her an approving look. “From ‘the older generation being surpassed by young people’ to ‘a senior who keeps up with the times and is willing to learn’.”

This image transformation will be of great benefit to his future standing in the business world and to the transformation of Cheung Kong Holdings.

He stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window, the night view of Stanford Road is tranquil and luxurious, with the lights of Victoria Harbour faintly visible in the distance.

“More importantly,” Lin Haoran continued, “his words were actually setting the tone for the transition between the old and new generations in Hong Kong’s business community.”

Instead of fierce confrontation and stubborn conservatism, this approach of frank exchange and mutual learning is beneficial to the harmonious development of the entire business community.

Guo Xiaohan walked to his side and gently took his arm: "So do you think he's really learning from you?"

Lin Haoran smiled, a smile that carried a hint of worldly wisdom.

"It's about half and half. A businessman like Li Jiacheng certainly has a learning mindset; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to go from making plastic flowers to becoming a real estate tycoon."

But tonight's remarks were more of a strategic gesture; he was sending a signal to me and the entire business community: Cheung Kong Holdings will not continue to focus solely on real estate development, but will diversify its business strategy.

Li Ka-shing's acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa was aimed at diversification.

Unfortunately, before he could even enjoy the acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa, it was snatched away by Lin Haoran.

However, it is also clear that the other party's ambitions will not be limited to the real estate industry.

Although Hutchison Whampoa was lost, Cheung Kong Holdings still exists, which means that the other party's foundation is still there and there is still a chance to rise again.

However, Lin Haoran was not worried about whether the other party could surpass him in the future.

After all, the gap between the two sides has indeed widened to an insurmountable level.

Not to mention that Lin Haoran has a lot of hidden wealth, even his publicly known wealth is hard for the other party to surpass.

Lin Haoran turned around and looked at Guo Xiaohan: "And you know what? The three pieces of advice he gave to the young people at the end were actually meant for me."

"Tell you?" Guo Xiaohan looked surprised.

“Yes.” Lin Haoran nodded. “‘Don’t be afraid to challenge authority’ is an affirmation of my decision to choose Jardine Matheson and challenge traditional rules.”

'Understanding the essence of capital'—this is how I interpret my business model;
"We must have pursuits that transcend wealth"—this reminds me that beyond wealth, there are greater responsibilities and missions.

A look of realization flashed in Guo Xiaohan's eyes: "So, he's actually using this method to have a conversation with you from afar?"

"Smart." Lin Haoran patted her hand approvingly. "A seasoned veteran like Li Jiacheng never has only one purpose in doing things."

Tonight's interview not only reshaped his image and promoted Cheung Kong Holdings' transformation, but also provided me with a high-level "dialogue"—truly killing three birds with one stone.

For Lin Haoran, Li Jiacheng's words demonstrated the wisdom of a "richest man," proving that those who succeed are indeed extraordinary.

However, this "richest man" only existed in his previous life.

As for this life, the title of "richest man" has completely slipped away from Li Ka-shing.

He walked back to the sofa, sat down, and picked up the teacup that had gone slightly cool.

“However,” Lin Haoran took a sip of tea, “he’s right. Wealth has its limits, but influence can transcend time.”

"By creating the rich list, establishing the Oriental Media Group, and expanding globally, it's all ultimately about building influence."

Guo Xiaohan snuggled closer to him again: "So do you think Li Jiacheng can successfully transform his business? Can Cheung Kong Holdings keep up with your pace?"

After a moment's thought, Lin Haoran gave a fair assessment.

“The transformation will definitely be partially successful,” he said. “Li Jiacheng has good execution and vision, and Cheung Kong Holdings’ foundation is still intact. As long as he is sincere in wanting to change, Cheung Kong Holdings can make a difference in technology investment and global expansion.”

Based on my understanding of him, although he lost Hutchison Whampoa, he will definitely set his sights on other British or Chinese-owned enterprises in the future and make acquisitions to diversify his business.

But to say you've caught up with me..."

He smiled, a smile that was confident but without a trace of arrogance.

“Everyone’s path is different. I’ve taken the path of crazy acquisitions, capital integration, media dominance, and global networks. This path requires specific timing, specific resources, and,” he paused, “a bit of extraordinary courage and luck.”

"Li Jiacheng has his advantages: decades of experience in industry, extensive network of contacts, and a steady business style. He doesn't need to completely copy my path, nor is it possible for him to do so."

He only needs to find his place within Cheung Kong Holdings in this new era to maintain its important position in Hong Kong's business community.

Lin Haoran's path is one that only he can walk.

After all, every single time he made a move, the amount of money he earned was staggering.

For example, on his first attempt, without much personal wealth, he made over HK$70 million using Wharf Holdings shares.
By stockpiling oil in advance during the oil crisis, they ultimately made a net profit of over HK$400 million.

Investing in gold futures netted a staggering $11.4 billion.
He invested in Apple and made a profit of $3.25 million.
He made a profit of HK$68 billion from purchasing Toyota Motor shares.
Shorting Huifeng Bank netted a profit of HK$53 billion...

Which of these investments didn't have a high rate of return?
Such a rate of return, if fully disclosed, would be enough to shock the global financial world.

The returns on each one are astonishing; such investments are simply beyond the reach of people in this era.

Even American financial tycoons struggle to achieve this, let alone Li Ka-shing, who built his fortune in industry.

Therefore, it can be said that the path he took was one that others could not take or learn.

Of course, Lin Haoran would never reveal this to anyone.

These figures represent not only the speed of his personal wealth accumulation, but also reveal a forward-thinking and operational ability that transcends the times.

Once this ability is fully disclosed, it will attract countless unnecessary attention, suspicion, and even targeting.

Even Citibank only knows a small part of it.

Guo Xiaohan listened quietly, her eyes filled with admiration.

She loved watching Lin Haoran analyze the business landscape; his insight and composure captivated her.

"So how do you plan to respond to him?" she asked softly. "He's so openly 'learning' from you, you have to do something, right?"

Lin Haoran put down his teacup and smiled.

"Tomorrow I will have someone send a gift over, just that set of Ming Dynasty purple clay teapots from my office collection, along with a card that reads: 'There is a sequence to learning, and each profession has its own expertise. Let us encourage each other.'"

Guo Xiaohan blinked: "That's it?"

“That’s it,” Lin Haoran said with a smile. “What Li Jiacheng wants is respect and equal dialogue, not my ‘guidance’ or ‘charity’.”

This gift and these words are perfectly timed.

He stretched and glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost 10:30 p.m.

"Alright, it's time to rest." Lin Haoran stood up and took Guo Xiaohan's hand. "We have to receive some important people tomorrow."

Guo Xiaohan nodded and snuggled up to him as they walked toward the bedroom.

As she reached the door, she suddenly turned back and glanced at the now-blacked-out television screen.

“Brother Haoran,” she said softly, “I think what Mr. Li Jiacheng said tonight was very true: ‘Hong Kong is ultimately a world for young people,’ and you are the one who is defining this new world.”

Lin Haoran didn't answer, but gently put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

Outside the window, the night view of Hong Kong is still dazzling.

Amidst this dazzling spectacle, old and new forces are completing a dignified and wise handover.

Lin Haoran knew that his era had only just begun. (End of Chapter)