In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

The Li Ka-shing family has staked almost their entire fortune on Cheung Kong Holdings.

If Cheung Kong Holdings really goes bankrupt, he will not only be completely removed from the list of Hong Kong's top ten richest people, but the wealth he has accumulated over half his life will also be lost!

He's over fifty and doesn't want to experience starting from scratch again.

That would be too difficult and too long; he no longer had the abundant energy and time he had in his youth.

And what about Lin Haoran?
Although both are among Hong Kong's top ten richest people, he is the richest man at the top of the list, and his wealth is beyond Li Ka-shing's reach.

Most importantly, Lin Haoran is not even thirty years old!

Li Jiacheng knew perfectly well that Cheung Kong's shares were only a small part of Lin Haoran's vast assets.

Even if Changshi really falls, it won't shake Lin Haoran's foundation.

That's why he doesn't even have the right to "gamble".

This "signature" signifies humiliation and helplessness, yet it is also the only way out at this moment.

Li Jiacheng sighed.

As long as Cheung Kong can secure a loan of 2 billion in cash, even if this real estate crisis lasts for two or three years, he can help Cheung Kong hold on.

As the founder of Cheung Kong Holdings and one of Hong Kong's real estate tycoons, Li Ka-shing has this confidence!
"A wise choice." Lin Haoran nodded, without putting any further verbal pressure on him.

He knew that Li Jiacheng had already made the decision that best served his own interests, and that excessive pressure might backfire.

"It wasn't wise, it was because we had no other choice!" Li Jiacheng said with a wry smile.

He then recalled his experiences over the past year.

If he hadn't opposed Lin Haoran, perhaps he would still be full of vigor and ambition now?
In the past, when he was in charge of the two major groups, Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa, even if a real estate crisis broke out in Hong Kong, he could calmly mobilize funds and even expand against the trend, acquiring high-quality assets at low prices to accumulate strength for the next round of take-off.

But there is no if in reality.

The thrilling business battle with Lin Haoran not only cost him Hutchison Whampoa, his cash cow, but also severely depleted Cheung Kong Holdings' own vitality.

In order to retain control of Cheung Kong Holdings, he pledged and mobilized almost all available funds, resulting in a tight cash flow that proved so vulnerable in the face of the sudden storm.

One step wrong, step by step wrong.

If we had paid more attention to this suddenly rising young man and underestimated him less back then;

If the risk of an overheated real estate market could be detected earlier;
If Bao Yugang persuaded him to bow down to Lin Haoran, he agreed;
If he hadn't later allowed Hutchison Whampoa to provoke competition in supermarkets, ports, etc.;

in case……

But how many "what ifs" are there in this world?
Now, as he sits here signing this humiliating agreement that may even damage his family's reputation, isn't this the painful price he's paying for his initial misjudgment and impulsive actions?

Lin Haoran watched the changing expressions on Li Jiacheng's face, and he could clearly see the regret and resentment mixed in with that bitter smile.

But he neither pointed it out nor offered any comfort.

The business world is like a battlefield; the winner takes all, and the loser is nothing—this has always been the case.

If Lin Haoran were to fall into a disadvantageous position today, Li Jiacheng might not necessarily show any mercy.

“Mr. Li,” Lin Haoran’s voice pulled Li Jiacheng back from his memories, “What happened in the past is no longer important.”

The important thing is that with this two billion, Cheung Kong has a chance to catch its breath and has the possibility of regrouping, and you are still the helmsman of Cheung Kong.

Normally, my shareholding is not much different from yours, so why didn't I compete for control of Cheung Kong?

Of course, I have high hopes for Mr. Li's business acumen and management skills. I believe you can lead Cheung Kong out of its predicament and even to greater heights.

Given Mr. Li's experience in the real estate industry, if he can help Cheung Kong Holdings overcome its difficulties and even find opportunities during the real estate downturn, there is a possibility that it could make a comeback and become even stronger in the future.

These words were half reality, and half a subtle, almost imperceptible, seduction.

Lin Haoran needs Li Jiacheng to continue managing Cheung Kong with all his heart, instead of letting it decline.

Offering a glimmer of hope can sometimes be more motivating than pure intimidation.

Li Jiacheng's eyes flickered slightly.

Yes, as long as Cheung Kong Holdings remains and the "Cheung Kong" brand stands, it still has a great chance.

Two billion is enough for him to do a lot of things.

The real estate crisis is a disaster, but it also contains opportunities.

Those small and medium-sized developers with insufficient strength, those speculators whose capital chains have broken down...

They may possess valuable assets that have been sold off cheaply.

With his profound understanding of Hong Kong real estate and Cheung Kong's existing team and channels, he may well be able to carve out a path for Cheung Kong and himself in this crisis, recovering some of the losses and dignity.

Anyway, he couldn't expect to surpass Lin Haoran in this lifetime.

But if you can't be number one, can't you at least be number two?

By completely binding himself to Lin Haoran and relying on his own talents, he was confident that he could make Cheung Kong an indispensable, even pivotal, part of the Lin family's business empire!

Even if he were to be relegated to a subordinate position, Li Ka-shing and Cheung Kong Holdings would still be a force that no one in Hong Kong's business community could ignore!
This thought spread and rose rapidly in his heart like wildfire, instantly dispelling the humiliation and dejection he had just felt.

He seemed to have found a new goal and meaning in life: not to fight, but to integrate, and in the process of integration, to maximize his value and seize his own position and interests!

Adopting the strong is a common practice in the business world.

He used to be the strong one, and others depended on him.

The situation is now beyond our control; if things turn around, it may not necessarily be a dead end!

The key is to gain the most advantageous position and take as much initiative as possible in this new relationship!

His gaze toward Lin Haoran changed once again.

There was less resentment and bitterness, and more careful consideration and deliberate respect.

"Lin Sheng's words were like a wake-up call." Li Jiacheng's voice became steady and powerful. "Indulging in past glories and temporary gains and losses was indeed a narrow-minded thing for me."

The business world is ever-changing, with its ebb and flow. The key to long-term success lies in being able to assess the situation and leverage existing resources.

Mr. Lin is a man of great talent and vision. It is a great fortune for Cheung Kong Holdings and for me, Mr. Li, to be valued and to cooperate with him.

"Lin Sheng is right. What's past is past, but the future is still within reach. I, Li, will certainly use this money wisely and live up to Lin Sheng's kindness in helping me in my time of need."

This statement is completely different from the previous forced submission, and carries the implication of taking the initiative to approach and seek "win-win cooperation".

A barely perceptible hint of appreciation flashed across Lin Haoran's eyes.

Li Jiacheng truly lives up to his reputation as a shrewd and capable man; his speed in adjusting his mindset and repositioning himself is astonishing.

The ability to quickly find new psychological support and action strategies after extreme setbacks demonstrates remarkable resilience and a strong sense of reality.

Such a person, if used properly, is an extremely sharp knife.

“It’s wonderful that Mr. Li thinks this way.” Lin Haoran continued, his tone becoming even more amiable. “I have always believed that true strength lies not in monopolization, but in integration and leadership.”

Cheung Kong has a solid foundation, Mr. Li has the ability, and Heng Sheng has the capital and platform. With sincere cooperation and complementary strengths, both sides can not only weather the current difficulties together, but also create a new business in Hong Kong and even the broader market in the future.

He smiled slightly, knowing that his goal had been achieved.

"I believe in Mr. Li's abilities. I will call Mr. He later to discuss the specific details of the cooperation. Mr. Li, it is already very late. You can take your lawyer directly to the Hengsheng Group headquarters tomorrow morning. I will explain everything to Mr. He!"
"It's getting late, Mr. Li, you should go back and prepare."

Li Jiacheng said no more, carefully put away the "shameful" document, and placed it in his briefcase.

He bowed slightly to Lin Haoran again, this time with a lower posture, but also with a more resolute attitude. Since he had no other choice, he could only move forward.

"Farewell, Mr. Lin."

"Take care, Mr. Li."

The butler was already waiting outside the door, silently leading Li Jiacheng downstairs.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell, gradually fading into the distance.

Lin Haoran only turned his gaze away from the doorway after the car engine noise had completely disappeared into the night.

He picked up the phone and dialed He Shanheng's mobile number: "Mr. He, it's me. Li Jiacheng just left. The agreement has been signed, and the terms haven't changed."

There was a brief, almost frozen silence on the other end of the phone.

Even through the receiver, Lin Haoran could imagine the astonishment on He Shanheng's face, and that he might even subconsciously push up his glasses to make sure he hadn't misheard.

"Haoran, you mean Li Jiacheng, he agreed to all the terms? Including the unlimited personal guarantee and the pledge of the 'Changjiang' brand?" He Shanheng's voice trembled with disbelief, a rare occurrence for him.

He has handled countless complex business negotiations and financing agreements, and knows all too well what those terms mean for a traditional Chinese businessman like Li Ka-shing, who started from scratch and values ​​his reputation above all else.

That is not just a business risk, but a complete stripping and trampling of the fruits of his life's labor and spiritual symbolism.

In his original estimate, even if Li Jiacheng was desperate, he would at least fight back desperately, especially the two points of brand pledging and public thanks, which would most likely become the tug-of-war points in the negotiations.

He had even prepared several alternative plans with slight concessions.

But I didn't expect...

“Not a single word was changed.” Lin Haoran’s tone was calm and even, as if he were stating something trivial. “He signed it.”

He Shanheng fell silent again, this time digesting this astonishing truth. Only his slightly heavy breathing could be heard through the receiver in the study.

After several seconds, he slowly spoke, his voice filled with complex emotions: "Haoran, Li Jiacheng actually managed to endure this humiliation? This, this is truly..."

He couldn't find the right words to describe it for a moment.

Is it "able to bend and stretch"?
Or should we "completely accept defeat"?
Or perhaps it was because they were "driven to the brink of despair and gave up even their last shred of pride"?
Lin Haoran could understand He Shanheng's shock.

Ho Sin-hang was an old-school banker who valued propriety, rules, and a certain degree of "gentlemanly conduct." Even in business disputes, he usually left room for maneuver. Such clauses, which were almost "ruthless" and "heart-wrenching," were indeed beyond his usual framework for handling affairs.

"Uncle He, this is not a matter of whether or not to endure it, it is a choice between life and death."

When an individual, a family, their life's work and their entire fortune hang by a thread, and their only lifeline is in someone else's hands, and that lifeline explicitly tells them, "If you don't do things my way, you'll die," then all notions of dignity, pride, and brand become illusory.

Survival and preserving what is most fundamental are the only real demands.

Li Ka-shing is a shrewd and ruthless man. A shrewd and ruthless man understands best how to weigh pros and cons, and also knows when to humble himself.

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, I gave him the greatest hope: the hope of continuing to manage Cheung Kong Holdings and even making a difference during the real estate downturn."

Although this hope came with its own set of constraints, it was better than utter despair. He grasped at this thorny straw, not because he liked it, but because he had no other choice.

He Shanheng let out a long breath on the other end of the phone, seemingly finally calming down.

"Haoran, your insight is truly remarkable, and your grasp of people's hearts is something I admire." His tone was full of emotion. "However, as a result, Li Jiacheng has probably harbored deep resentment and unwillingness in his heart."

We will likely need to be extremely cautious in our subsequent oversight and cooperation.

"That's exactly what I wanted to remind you: the agreement is signed, the shackles are put on, but that doesn't mean everything is fine."

Li Jiacheng's compliance at this moment may have stemmed partly from a genuine desire to use this opportunity to survive, but it was more of a temporary period of strategic maneuvering.

Once he catches his breath, or feels he has an opportunity, it's hard to guarantee he won't have other ideas. Therefore, our supervision must be implemented effectively, with strict oversight at every stage.

After the initial funding is disbursed, we must immediately follow up to ensure transparency in its flow and control over the project. Any acquisition or cooperation intentions he proposes must be evaluated with double the rigor, and the terms must be negotiated in the best interests of us.

“Yes, I understand. I will handle this matter well!” He Shanheng replied.

"Uncle He, it's getting late, you should get some rest. I won't disturb you any longer!" Lin Haoran said with a smile.

"Okay, you should get some rest too." He Shanheng's voice returned to its usual calm and capable tone, but the lingering shock still left a trace in his voice.

After hanging up the phone, the study became completely quiet.

The hands of the grandfather clock are quietly sliding toward 10 p.m.

Lin Haoran, however, felt no sleepiness whatsoever.

He walked to the window and pushed it open.

A cool night breeze, carrying the unique salty and humid scent of Victoria Harbour, swept in, dispelling the rich aroma of tea in the study and making his mind clearer.

In the distance, the skyscrapers of Central and Kowloon Peninsula still have lights still on, like the eyes of a lurking beast, watching the city's fate unfold in the darkness.

He knew he wasn't the only one who wouldn't be sleepless tonight.

What is Li Jiacheng doing right now?
Was he alone in his study, staring blankly at the agreement, overwhelmed with regret?
Or have they already mustered their spirits and begun to plan how to use that two billion, how to find a way out and turn things around for Cheung Kong and for themselves in the cracks?

Have Standard Chartered's new tycoon, the outgoing governor at Government House, and other real estate giants already gotten wind of this?
How will they react?

Is it mocking Li Jiacheng's "kneeling," or is it being terrified by Lin Haoran's ruthless and decisive methods?

All of this will gradually become clear after the sun rises tomorrow.

Lin Haoran took a deep breath of the cool air.

This feeling of having everything under control, yet being filled with unknown variables, gave him a long-lost sense of excitement and challenge.

At that moment, Guo Xiaohan walked in wearing her pajamas.

When Li Jiacheng was there, she did not come out, but stayed in the bedroom to read.

"Still busy?" Guo Xiaohan walked behind Lin Haoran and gently draped a light jacket over his shoulders.

She noticed that he was standing by the window wearing only a shirt, and the night wind was already chilly.

"It's alright, it's resolved!" Lin Haoran turned around, shook her hands, and smiled.

"Is Mr. Li here to discuss cooperation?" Guo Xiaohan asked curiously.

"Yeah, more or less. We were talking about a collaboration. It's getting late, let's go get some rest. You're going to Fragrant Hills tomorrow, right?" Lin Haoran asked in return.

“Yes, a village in Xiangshan was affected by a typhoon in October, which destroyed most of the houses in the village. Last month, I went there on behalf of the Haoran Charity Foundation and promised to donate houses to these poor villagers. Construction started at the end of the month, and I plan to go over to check it out again tomorrow,” Guo Xiaohan said obediently.

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran's eyes revealed approval and warmth.

After becoming his fiancée, Guo Xiaohan did not settle down to be just a wealthy socialite. Instead, she actively devoted herself to charity, using her influence to give back to society, especially focusing on the lives of the underprivileged.

This not only reflects her kind nature, but also, to some extent, accumulates valuable social reputation and popular support for him and the entire Lin family.

At this sensitive time when Hong Kong is about to undergo dramatic changes, such acts of kindness, which are subtle and pervasive, are sometimes even more valuable than a shrewd business investment.

"You've worked hard. The conditions there are tough. Take a few more people with you and be careful." Lin Haoran gently put his arm around her shoulder, his tone full of concern. "If you need the foundation to increase the budget or coordinate local relations, just let me know."

"Don't worry, the foundation team is very professional, and the local government is very cooperative." Guo Xiaohan nestled in his arms, enjoying a rare moment of tenderness from her husband. "But you, are you really okay with Xiangjiang Real Estate suddenly experiencing such a big change?"

I noticed your brow was furrowed the whole time.

"Of course nothing's wrong, even if something happens, it's a good thing!" Lin Haoran laughed heartily.

Seeing this, Guo Xiaohan felt relieved.

In the blink of an eye, a night had passed.

Early in the morning, Guo Xiaohan left the villa on Shi Xun Road and headed to the Central Pier to take the hydrofoil to Fragrant Hills.

With this hydrofoil, traveling to and from various parts of Guangdong Province is indeed much easier.

Lin Haoran finished his breakfast and then went to the Kang Le Building.

Today is October 30th.

In other words, in just one more day, it will be the last day of this year, and the Gregorian New Year will be just around the corner.

But Hong Kong's business community clearly has little interest in welcoming the New Year.

The air was thick with a sense of unease and restlessness even more intense than the winter fog over Victoria Harbour.

This Forbes report is truly impressive.

With their own efforts, they turned Hong Kong's real estate market upside down and even affected the entire Hong Kong economy.

It truly lives up to its reputation as a world-class financial magazine.

However, they thought they could use this trick to severely reduce Lin Haoran's assets, but they never expected that it would not only fail to harm Lin Haoran in the slightest, but could even be considered to have helped him.

Lin Haoran stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor of the Kang Le Building, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Forbes thought it was targeting this "newly rich Chinese businessman" in retaliation for his being the first to publish the "rich list".

Little did they know that the fire they ignited would only burn down their already unstable and blindly expanding rivals.

His fortress, built with cash and rationality, not only remained unscathed, but he was also able to calmly pluck the most valuable "spoils" from the ruins.

Li Jiacheng's Changshi was merely the first heavyweight prey cornered by the fire and forced to "surrender" to him.

Meanwhile, many more prey, disoriented in their panic, are revealing their fatal weaknesses.

He turned back to his desk and picked up a confidential document that had just been delivered.

This is a "Comprehensive Assessment Report on Potential Acquisition Targets in the First Phase" jointly submitted by Galaxy Securities and Hongkong Land Group.

The list above includes 12 large, medium and small real estate companies, each of which owns land reserves in excellent locations or properties in prime locations, such as Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui.

But at this moment, all of these are teetering on the brink of collapse due to high debt and a broken cash flow.

The report includes a detailed valuation analysis, debt structure, and a suggested "maximum acquisition price" for the future.

Those prices were shockingly low, almost 40% or 50% of what they were at the peak of the bubble, or even lower.

Of course, the acquisition does not refer to acquiring these companies, but rather to acquiring the prime real estate and land owned by these companies!

After all, if they acquire the companies, they will indirectly assume those companies' debts.

Hongkong Land Group has no intention of being taken advantage of like that.

However, the current Hong Kong property crisis has not yet reached a major outbreak; at most, it can only be considered to be in its early stages.

Therefore, we still need to wait patiently for the time when companies under Lin Haoran's control, such as Hong Kong Land Group and Wanqing Group, will reap the rewards of Hong Kong real estate. We need to let the panic fester for a while longer and let those highly leveraged speculators completely exhaust their last bit of luck and funds.

Right now, it's just the planning and testing phase.

Lin Haoran put down the report, his gaze deep.

He knew, of course, that the Forbes report was just a trigger, and that the real estate crisis was far from over.

According to his memory and historical trajectory, the comprehensive plunge and deep adjustment of Hong Kong real estate will continue for the next one or two years, and the decline may far exceed everyone's current imagination.

In particular, in September of next year, the British lady was in a daze after the talks in Beijing. When she went down the steps, she missed her foot and touched the ground with one knee and both hands.

When the news reached Hong Kong, that was the moment when confidence in Hong Kong's real estate market completely collapsed and prices plummeted into an abyss.

That scene will be the last straw that breaks the camel's back, and it will also be the best time for Lin Haoran to begin a comprehensive and large-scale "harvest".

But now, it is December 30, 1981.

There are still more than nine months until that crucial moment.

Jumping in now might get you some bargains, but it's far from the cheapest time to buy.

What he had to do was, like the most experienced hunter, set a trap, prepare ammunition, and wait quietly for the prey to walk into the deepest part of the trap in despair before delivering the fatal blow.

At the same time, achieve the greatest results with the least cost. (End of Chapter)