In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

January 1, 1982, 6:00 AM.

Before dawn, the streets of Hong Kong were shrouded in a thin winter mist.

But today, a gloom even thicker than fog is spreading throughout the city.

A long queue had already formed in front of a long-established newsstand on Des Voeux Road in Central.

As the newsstand owner, Old Wu, deftly unpacked and shelved the newly delivered newspapers, he shouted in a hoarse voice, "Breaking news at the start of the year! Forbes authoritative report: Lin Haoran's net worth halved! Jianing and Chen Songqing expose that the real estate industry is full of swindlers! Buy two newspapers together and get a free financial special edition!"

The people in line began to stir.

There were housewives in their pajamas, white-collar workers who got up early for morning exercise, and a few elderly stock investors with gray hair.

"Boss, I also want a copy of the Renren Daily, a copy of Sing Tao Daily, and the English version of the South China Morning Post!" A middle-aged man squeezed to the front and slapped several banknotes on the stall.

Old Wu quickly handed over the newspaper.

The People's Daily is a niche newspaper in Hong Kong, with usually dismal sales.

But today, because it published this "big news at the start of the year," it has become one of the most popular newspapers.

The man eagerly unfolded the front page of the Renren Daily. On the left was a striking headline in bold: "Forbes' Major Report: Has Lin Haoran's Wealth Myth Collapsed?" Below the headline was an excerpt from a Forbes article.

The core argument is highlighted in bold: "Given the deepening crisis in Hong Kong's real estate market, the valuation of the Lin family's core assets, which are deeply tied to real estate, may evaporate by 40%-50%... The authenticity of the data on the Oriental Rich List is questionable..."

On the right side of the front page is an equally shocking headline: "A series of scandals have been exposed in the real estate industry! Multiple companies are suspected of financial fraud, bribery, and property fraud." Below are the names of five or six small and medium-sized real estate companies and a "summary of their crimes."

The wording was extremely harsh: "According to anonymous whistleblower materials, XX Real Estate inflated its sales by 80% over the past three years... YY Real Estate obtained excessive loans by bribing bank approvers... The property rights of three plots of land under ZZ Group have serious defects..."

The two reports were published side by side, creating a devastating visual impact.

On the left is the "wealth trial" of Hong Kong's richest man by authoritative international media, while on the right is the "systemic rot" exposed by the industry itself, as if the entire edifice of Hong Kong's real estate and financial system is collapsing simultaneously from the top to the bottom.

"Is this real? If it is, it's over, it's all over." The middle-aged man muttered to himself, his hands beginning to tremble.

He holds a significant number of shares in two of the companies named.

The same scene was playing out simultaneously in front of hundreds of newsstands in Hong Kong.

Both Forbes and Chen Songqing secretly collaborated with many local Hong Kong newspapers and magazines, with the aim of spreading the content they wanted to promote throughout Hong Kong.

Newspapers were snapped up in a frenzy, and people who couldn't get in line crowded around those who had already bought newspapers, craning their necks to see what was going on.

Discussions, exclamations, and curses rose and fell on the streets in the early morning.

"Forbes says Lin Sheng's net worth is going to shrink by half? How can we trust his rich list then?"

"Look here, Yida Real Estate inflated its sales figures by 80%? I just bought a pre-sale apartment from them six months ago!"

"It's not just one company; more than a dozen companies have problems. The article also says that this is only a small part of them. Is there any clean company left in this industry?"

"No wonder it fell so badly; it was rotten to the core!"

Panic, like a virus, spread rapidly through every pore of the city, carried by the scent of ink and word of mouth.

At 7:30, in Kowloon Tong, downstairs from the headquarters of a medium-sized real estate company.

The company's founder, Mr. Zhang, dragged a small suitcase and hurriedly slipped out of the back door, trying to get into a black car that was already waiting.

But as soon as he opened the car door, he was surrounded by seven or eight angry men and women.

"Zhang Sheng! Where do you think you're going?!" A construction foreman with greasy hands blocked the car, his eyes bloodshot. "You owe our construction team over three million yuan in project fees. You promised to settle it by the end of the year, but now you're not answering your phone, the company is closed, and you're trying to run away?"

“And our materials! Two and a half million!” Another building materials supplier waved the bill.

"Our employees' salaries! It's been three months!"

"Give me my money back! Give me my deposit for the pre-sale apartment!"

The crowd grew larger and larger, and the roars almost shattered the tranquility of the early morning.

Mr. Zhang's face turned pale as he tried to explain, "Listen to me, everyone, the company is only experiencing temporary cash flow difficulties, and I'm trying to find a solution..."

"Find a solution? It's all over the newspapers! Your company inflated sales figures and cheated on loans! How dare you say you're having cash flow problems?" A creditor who had clearly read the newspaper interrupted him sharply, "You're not leaving until you hand over the money today!"

It's unclear who started it, but the situation quickly spiraled out of control.

Mr. Zhang was dragged out of the car, his suitcase was stolen and opened, and inside, besides a few pieces of clothing, there were several passports with different names and a large bundle of US dollars in cash.

"Look! He was already prepared to run away!"

"Call the police! Catch this scammer!"

The sound of sirens grew louder as the crowd approached, but the angry mob had already surrounded Mr. Zhang and his black sedan, and some people began smashing the car windows.

This scene was quickly captured by a passing reporter.

Similar scenes were playing out simultaneously or sequentially in various locations in Hong Kong.

The dozen or so small and medium-sized real estate companies named in the newspapers almost simultaneously encountered a wave of creditors besieging them, employees demanding back wages, and customers canceling their subscriptions.

Panic quickly spread from the financial markets to the real economy.

Meanwhile, some of the heavily indebted real estate tycoons who weren't named breathed a sigh of relief, and many have already begun plotting to flee Hong Kong.

These people had already transferred their assets to varying degrees in advance. Now that the company is completely beyond saving, they naturally have to make plans for their own and their families' future.

Inside an unassuming tenement building in Kowloon City.

Hung Kam-fai, the boss of "Hung Lee Properties," was urgently instructing in a low voice over the phone: "Ah Chung, is the boat arranged? Tonight at midnight, Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter Pier No. 3, the fishing boat 'Fuk Cheong'. Remember, give the captain plenty of money, and make sure to deliver it safely to Macau!"

"Don't worry, boss, everything's taken care of. The boat captain is an expert; crossing the sea at night won't be a problem," came the reply from the other end of the phone.

"Okay, send those boxes I asked you to put on the ship ahead of time. Also, have my wife and children go to Macau this afternoon under the pretext of visiting relatives. They should go separately and not attract attention."

Hong Jinfa wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at the newspaper spread out on the table. Although his company's name was not on it, the dire situation of his peers and the inevitable stock market crash made him realize that his company, which was already insolvent and relied entirely on borrowing new money to pay off old debts, would definitely not survive this week.

The bank called three times yesterday to collect the debt, each time with an increasingly aggressive tone.

He quickly packed a few personal belongings and the most important documents, and stuffed the remaining stacks of cash in the drawer into his handbag.

Looking around at this tiny apartment he had secretly purchased after he became wealthy, for "unexpected needs," a wave of sorrow and resentment welled up in his heart.

A few years ago, he was also full of vigor, making waves in the real estate market, living in a luxury mansion on the hillside, and driving a Rolls-Royce.

Now, they have to sneak out of the port under the cover of night, like stray dogs.

"It's all Forbes' fault! It's all that madman Chen Songqing's fault!" he cursed under his breath, but more than that, he was filled with fear.

He knew that staying meant certain death: either being driven to suicide by creditors, being liquidated by the court, or even going to jail for some less-than-clean past dealings.

Running away offers a glimmer of hope; at least the money hidden in Macau or even Southeast Asia can provide his family with a comfortable life. He has already planned to find a way to go to the United States or Canada once he arrives in Macau.

Similar plots and escape preparations were quietly carried out in many dark corners of Hong Kong.

Some astute real estate developers, aware of their grave sins or their inability to reverse the situation, have begun to launch their own "escape plans."

Some chose to smuggle themselves across the border by sea like Hung Kam-fai, some tried to leave the country through the airport using pre-prepared false identities, and others hid in secluded residences in the rural areas of the New Territories or even outlying islands to avoid the limelight for the time being.

This undercurrent of exodus, though not as conspicuous as street blockades and stock market crashes, has further eroded already fragile market confidence and foreshadowed deeper social upheavals, capital flight, brain drain, and a complete collapse of trust.

Panic instantly engulfed the entire Hong Kong.

Today is definitely a black New Year's Day.

This festive season, however, marked the beginning of the darkest period in Hong Kong's economic history.

This panic is not just a numbers game on paper, but a real turning point in the fate of countless ordinary people.

Everyone knows that Hong Kong's real estate industry may be on its last legs.

How can we salvage this situation after a string of bad news?
The sky is falling! The sky is really falling!

At the Governor's residence, Merrihow was woken up early in the morning by the ringing of the telephone.

The information faxed over by his subordinates made him realize the seriousness of the situation.

Once these real estate developers all run away, who will fill the huge hole they leave behind?

This is a very real problem, and Meryl Streep can imagine that it must be much more serious than the real estate crisis of 1973.

Thousands of investors, suppliers, employees, and even ordinary citizens will lose all their life savings.

The resulting social unrest, unemployment, and even security problems would be a disaster that he, as governor, could not afford during his term, and would also severely damage Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial center.

With a grave expression, Mai Lihao put down the phone and walked to the office window.

The sky was overcast, as heavy as his mood. He knew that this crisis, ignited by a financial report and pushed to its extreme by the mad, had transcended the realm of simple market fluctuations and evolved into a systemic risk that could shake the very foundations of Hong Kong society.

He originally thought he would be able to get through the last few months of his term unscathed, and according to the original plan, he would step down in May.

Unexpectedly, a storm suddenly descended upon him at the end of his political career, far more intense than anticipated, making a dignified and smooth handover of power a pipe dream.

"We must not let the situation get completely out of control," he muttered to himself, and quickly called his secretary, instructing him to summon all senior officials to a meeting at the Governor's Mansion.

"Notify the heads of all relevant departments, including the Financial Secretary, the Police Force, the Department of Justice, the Financial Services Bureau, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the Securities and Futures Commission, to assemble in the emergency conference room at the Governor's House within half an hour!" McLeod's voice, delivered over the phone, carried an undeniable sense of urgency.

Half an hour later, the atmosphere in the soundproofed meeting room of the Governor's Palace, used to deal with major crises, was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The long table was filled with heads of Hong Kong's core power departments, each with this morning's newspaper and a brief crisis briefing in front of them.

Without wasting time on pleasantries, Mak Lei-ho cut straight to the point: "Ladies and gentlemen, as you have all seen, Hong Kong is facing an unprecedented financial and social crisis."

Forbes' report has shaken market confidence in top wealth benchmarks, while the rumors and panic spread by these smaller publications are destroying the credibility of the entire real estate industry.

Now, many real estate developers are preparing to abscond, the stock market is crashing, and street clashes have already broken out. We must take immediate and decisive action to prevent the situation from spiraling completely out of control!

He surveyed the crowd, his gaze sharp: "I request all departments to coordinate and immediately implement the following measures:"

First, the Immigration Department, in conjunction with the Financial Secretary, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), should immediately impose emergency travel restrictions on key personnel and their immediate family members of companies involved in the current real estate crisis, those with serious debt problems, or those suspected of illegal activities.
The list can be broadened appropriately; it's better to intercept the wrong person than to let one through! At the same time, all ports of entry, ports, and airports should be notified to strengthen inspections!

The Director of Immigration immediately nodded: "Yes, Governor, we are already preparing the system instructions. Once the list is in place, we will execute them immediately."

"Secondly, the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and the Securities and Futures Commission will form a joint investigation team to immediately investigate who is behind this trouble. In addition, we will immediately conduct preliminary investigations and monitoring of other real estate companies that have been exposed or are suspected of serious misconduct, in order to stabilize the emotions of creditors and prevent large-scale mass incidents!"

The Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner Against Corruption solemnly agreed at the same time.

"Third, the Financial Secretary and the Financial Affairs Division should immediately convene an emergency meeting with major financial institutions such as Hang Seng, Standard Chartered, Bank of East Asia, and HSBC to discuss a joint plan to stabilize the financial market."

The government can promise to provide liquidity support or special guarantees if necessary, but only if the banking sector first takes steps to save itself, cleans up its own practices, and makes serious loan issues transparent to prevent further spread of risk.

The Financial Secretary looked troubled: "Governor, providing direct government guarantees requires authorization from London and could potentially create moral hazard..."

“I will personally explain the situation to London and request special authorization!” Meryl Streep interrupted him. “But right now, we must first make a statement and tell those bankers that if they don’t want to see the entire financial system collapse, they must unite and weather the storm together!”

In particular, we must secure the explicit support of Lin Haoran from Hengsheng Group. They currently possess the largest cash flow and are the most stable force in the market!

"Fourth," Mak took a deep breath, his tone becoming even more somber, "the Department of Justice and the Department of Home Affairs must immediately begin studying contingency plans to prepare for potential large-scale corporate bankruptcies, a wave of unemployment, and the resulting social welfare and security issues. We must prepare for the worst!"

The Secretary for Justice and the Secretary for Home Affairs nodded solemnly.

"Fifth, the land and sea border defense and maritime departments should immediately strengthen maritime patrols, focusing on patrolling outlying islands, typhoon shelters, informal wharves and waterways commonly used for smuggling, and strictly prevent suspects from escaping by sea."

"If necessary, we can request the assistance of the British garrison in Hong Kong to blockade the main sea areas!" Mak said with absolute certainty.

The head of the Marine Department and the security officer immediately took notes.

"Finally," Mak Lei-ho looked at the head of the government information services, "prepare for an emergency press conference immediately, which I will personally chair. We must convey a clear message to all Hong Kong citizens and the international community:

The Hong Kong British government had the capability and determination to safeguard the rule of law and financial stability in Hong Kong. We will never sit idly by while swindlers and gamblers abscond with funds, nor will we allow ordinary citizens to bear the consequences of their actions! Our tone must be firm, and our attitude must be resolute!

……

Central, Hang Fung Building.

A ray of sunlight peeked through the gaps in the heavy velvet curtains into the luxury apartment on the 19th floor of Hengfeng Building.

In the bedroom, Guan Jiahui was curled up in Lin Haoran's arms, breathing evenly, with a sweet smile on her lips.

The fireworks, confessions, and surprises on New Year's Eve last night ensured she slept exceptionally well.

Lin Haoran, however, had already woken up.

He gently withdrew his arm, tucked the blanket around Guan Jiahui, and quietly got out of bed.

Barefoot on the soft carpet, he walked to the French windows and opened one crack.

Downstairs, the hustle and bustle of Des Voeux Road could be faintly heard.

Even from the height of the nineteenth floor, he could still feel that unusual restlessness.

He turned around, glanced at Guan Jiahui who was still fast asleep, his gaze lingering on her flat stomach for a moment, his eyes filled with complex and tender emotions.

The arrival of this child was an accident, but also a special gift from this turbulent era.

The feeling of learning you're going to be a father on the eve of the Forbes report's market frenzy is quite complex.

He had naturally been informed in advance of the Forbes article targeting him.

However, after learning the contents of the other party's article, he was completely relieved.

If it is merely an "analysis report" based on speculation and pessimistic assumptions, then it cannot pose a real threat to Lin Haoran's foundation.

Forbes may have its authority, but authority is not the same as truth.

They may question whether the "paper value" of Lin's assets might shrink in extreme circumstances, but they cannot deny the Lin Group's healthy cash flow, high-quality asset portfolio, and the vast business ecosystem that Lin Haoran himself has built over the past few years.

A faint smile appeared on Lin Haoran's lips.

This storm did him absolutely no harm.

Forbes arrogantly believed it could use public opinion to render the rich list published by Oriental Media Group utterly unauthoritative, unaware that its wealth was not only not exaggerated, but much of it was actually hidden. In reality, proving its wealth would be effortless for it.

She tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the living room.

He first looked at the mobile phone on the coffee table, only to see that there were already several missed calls.

I looked through the phone numbers and saw calls from Ma Shimin and the intelligence department under the Oriental Media Group.

Although Choi Ja Lung is currently busy in Singapore with the release of the Singapore Rich List, he is still being contacted by people from the intelligence department.

Lin Haoran first called Ma Shimin, who then told his boss everything that had happened that morning.

Lin Haoran frowned as he hung up the phone.

It's astonishing that someone would stir up trouble at this time, releasing potential "dirt" on some small and medium-sized real estate companies, and even some large companies, through underground channels and tabloids, further exacerbating market panic.

This tactic, this opportune moment...

Lin Haoran frowned.

This is nothing like what an organization like Forbes, which pursues "authoritative analysis," would do, nor is it as simple as a panic sell-off by ordinary investors.

This is more like a meticulously planned, premeditated, indiscriminate attack targeting Hong Kong's real estate industry and even the entire financial market!
What is the purpose?
To create more chaos, accelerate the market collapse, and profit from it?

Or was it to cover the retreat or operation of certain specific targets?
Or were they after Lin Haoran?

Do they want to drag him, this "stabilizer," down with them and cause the situation to spiral completely out of control?
He immediately called back the intelligence department of Oriental Media Group.

The report from the intelligence department was unexpected.

"Boss, you're already aware that several small and medium-sized newspapers have exposed potential 'dirt' on some small and medium-sized real estate companies, and even some large companies, right?"

"Yes, I already know. Have you found out who did it?"

"We've roughly figured it out. Through cross-referencing multiple sources, we've confirmed that the source of the anonymous 'dirt' sent to tabloids and news agencies starting in the early hours of the morning strongly points to the Jianing Group, especially Chen Songqing himself and several close associates in his inner circle."

Furthermore, we bribed several tabloid owners, and the source of this bribery also points to Chen Songqing himself. Therefore, although we cannot be 100% certain, it is highly likely that Chen Songqing himself instructed and directed this action!

Sure enough it was him!

When Ma Shimin told him about this, the first person he thought of was Chen Songqing.

Now, I am even more certain.

When Chen Songqing, this mad dog, was driven to desperation, he indeed chose the most extreme and insane way to retaliate.

He indiscriminately attacks the entire industry, attempting to drag everyone down and create a systemic collapse of trust, thereby creating chaos and opportunities for his own "escape" or "comeback," and may even be trying to curry favor or cooperate with certain international vulture forces.

If anyone in Hong Kong knows best about the financial magic, fraudulent transactions, and systemic fraud behind the "success" of the Caring Group, besides Chen Songqing himself, it would undoubtedly be Lin Haoran.

As a time traveler who knew the history of how the Jianing Group rose and fell so quickly, Lin Haoran knew better than anyone that the Jianing Group, this seemingly magnificent giant ship, was riddled with holes inside and was barely holding on by constant lies and new capital inflows.

What's even clearer is that Chen Songqing's madness was by no means a simple act of desperation.

This is more like a "terrorist" business strategy, threatening to destroy the entire system when it cannot survive, in order to coerce "rescue" or gain room for "negotiation".

"Mr. Lin, what should we do now? Should we immediately expose Chen Songqing as the mastermind through the media?" the intelligence chief asked.

"No need, don't worry about them for now. They won't affect us for the time being. Keep an eye on things and call me as soon as you hear anything," Lin Haoran said with a smile.

"Yes, boss, I'll get back to work now!" the intelligence chief said respectfully. (End of Chapter)