In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Hong Kong, Central, Hong Lok Building.

Lin Haoran sat comfortably in his chair, looking at a document in his hand.

Behind him, Liu Xiaoli was standing behind the chair, massaging Lin Haoran's shoulders with her slender hands.

With just the right amount of pressure and skillful technique, Lin Haoran would occasionally let out a comfortable groan and relax against the back of the chair.

He knew about what happened in Mexico last night.

He wasn't surprised that his reputation could be reversed so easily.

After all, in the face of absolute evidence, no rumor can withstand the test.

The information from Citibank is indeed sufficient to prove that this was a unilateral statement released by Soros's side.

Whether Lin Haoran actually participated in shorting Mexico is another matter entirely, and nobody cares about that detail.

After all, short selling in secret is completely different from manipulating public opinion to short sell.

Therefore, the Mexican government no longer has any reason to make him a scapegoat.

Lin Haoran put down the documents in his hand, a faint smile on his lips.

Those Mexican politicians who previously called for his execution must be sweating bullets right now.
After all, they had previously vehemently accused him of being an "accomplice of Wall Street vultures," and some had even proposed confiscating Southern Company's assets in Mexico.

Now that the evidence has been released and the truth has come out, what can they say?
Are they being misled as well?

Are they also victims?
Lin Haoran could imagine that politicians would jump out one by one, righteously condemning Soros and the media outlets that were paid to do their bidding, while clearing themselves of any wrongdoing.

It was as if those impassioned speeches and threats to drive the Southern Company out of Mexico had never happened.

That's politics.

There will always be a reason, an excuse, and a way out.

But Lin Haoran didn't care.

What he wants is not an apology, not compensation, and not the bowing of those politicians.

After all, he still needs the Mexican market to make money for him, and he also needs to make further moves!
Anyway, Huanyu Investment Company has already liquidated its positions, so naturally he hopes to see Soros go bankrupt next.

Just then, the phone rang.

Liu Xiaoli stopped what she was doing, quickly walked to the side, picked up her mobile phone, and handed it to Lin Haoran, who was lying on the chair.

Looking at the number, it was an unfamiliar international call.

Without thinking much, he pressed the answer button.

"Boss, it's me. I have something important to report to you!" Suzuki Toshifumi's voice came from the other end of the phone.

At this time of day, it should be evening in Mexico, so his call at this hour must mean he has something important to report.

Therefore, Lin Haoran said with a smile, "Mr. Suzuki, please speak."

"That's right. After the press conference during the day, in the evening, a high-ranking official in the Mexican government invited me to a private meeting."

Suzuki Toshifumi's voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with a hint of caution.

"Some important figure?" Lin Haoran raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Toshifumi Suzuki lowered his voice and said, "Mr. Carlos Salinas, the Mexican Minister of Finance."

Lin Haoran narrowed his eyes slightly.

Finance Minister?

This is quite a heavy weight.

What did he want to talk to you about?

Toshifumi Suzuki said, "On behalf of the Mexican government, he formally apologized to you and Southern Company. He said that the previous accusations against you were based on false information, and that they have launched an internal investigation and will take action against those responsible."

Lin Haoran smiled.

"Apologize? They certainly know how to pick their timing."

Toshifumi Suzuki continued, "He didn't just apologize; he also made a request."

"What request?"

Toshifumi Suzuki hesitated for a moment, then said, "He hopes we can help the Mexican government stabilize the domestic economic situation and restore everyone's confidence in Mexico's finances."

Lin Haoran was stunned for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

Toshifumi Suzuki explained, "Mr. Salinas said that Mexico is indeed in a difficult situation right now. Through this incident, they realized that your influence is still very significant. Therefore, he hopes that you can use your resources and influence to take concrete actions and show the outside world your confidence and support for Mexico."

Suzuki Toshifumi paused, seemingly considering his words.

"Mr. Salinas means that what Mexico lacks most right now is confidence. They have sought a loan from the International Monetary Fund, which can solve the immediate problem, but if the market lacks confidence in Mexico and foreign capital continues to withdraw, that loan will not be enough."

He hopes you can take some concrete actions to send a signal to the outside world that Lin Haoran is optimistic about Mexico and willing to continue investing there.

After listening, Lin Haoran remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he laughed.

"They're quite clever. They were just criticizing me, and now they want me to endorse them?"

Suzuki Toshifumi smiled and continued, "Yes, Mr. Salinas himself said that this request is somewhat presumptuous, but he emphasized that it is not a request, but an invitation."

He said that if Mr. Lin is willing to stand up for Mexico at this time, the Mexican government will definitely remember this friendship.

In return, they will provide maximum support and convenience for all your future investments in Mexico, including preferential policies.

Furthermore, they will take full responsibility for all losses incurred by 711-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores!

Lin Haoran's smile deepened after hearing the last sentence.

"They will take full responsibility for all the losses?" he repeated, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Toshifumi Suzuki said, "Yes, boss, Mr. Salinas personally promised that the Mexican government would bear the losses of all the stores under the Southern Company that were smashed and burned in this incident."

Furthermore, they are willing to compensate the injured employees for their medical expenses and emotional distress.

Lin Haoran did not speak.

He quickly estimated it in his mind.

During the recent riots in Mexico, at least 300 stores owned by Southern Company were affected to varying degrees.

Some had their windows smashed, some had their goods stolen, and some were burned beyond recognition.

If the Mexican government were to compensate for the entire amount, it would be a substantial sum.

It would cost at least several million dollars.

Although, in Lin Haoran's eyes, this amount of money was just a small sum.

However, for Mexico, which is currently in a debt crisis, this amount of money, while not astronomical, is now being spent wisely, with every penny saved!
Salinas's willingness to make this promise shows that he has truly gone all out.

She genuinely wanted to build a good relationship with Lin Haoran.

What Lin Haoran valued most was not this, but the guarantee from the Mexican government that all his future investments in Mexico would receive maximum support and convenience from the Mexican government, and even preferential policies.

If Mexico can achieve this, then Mexico will become Lin Haoran's most important bridgehead in Latin America.

This is not just a matter of convenience store business, but a strategic layout for the entire Latin American market.

After all, his business, particularly the convenience store business, is only a small part of his overall operations.

If he were to expand into finance, trade, real estate, and other sectors in Mexico, then Mexico would not just be a convenience store market, but a vast stage capable of housing his entire business empire.

Lin Haoran leaned back in his chair, already sketching out a blueprint for the future in his mind.

finance?

The banking and insurance businesses under Southern Company could certainly enter the Mexican market.

Mexico's financial system is underdeveloped, and the public has a huge demand for financial services; it is a goldmine waiting to be tapped.

trading?

Mexico borders the United States. If a trade hub could be established in Mexico to transship Asian goods to the United States, many trade barriers could be circumvented.

Moreover, Mexico itself is a consumer market with a population of over 70 million, and its demand for Asian goods is growing rapidly.

estate?

Major cities like Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara are undergoing rapid urbanization.

Commercial real estate, residential real estate, and industrial real estate all have huge development potential.

If you can get preferential policies from the Mexican government, acquiring land and obtaining approvals will be much smoother.

There's also energy, mining, infrastructure...

The more Lin Haoran thought about it, the more he realized that the Mexican market was even bigger than he had imagined.

Mexico is the second largest economy in Latin America, with a population of over 70 million, and its population is projected to exceed 100 million in the future!
Its advantageous geographical location, bordering the United States to the north and Central America to the south, makes it a gateway to the entire Spanish-speaking world.

If they can establish a foothold in Mexico, they can expand southward to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, and northward to influence the Hispanic market in the southern United States.

The potential for this is far greater than the millions of dollars in compensation.

Southern Company already has a certain foundation in Mexico, with over 500 stores across its 7-Eleven and Lawson convenience store brands combined. Although it suffered significant damage in the recent riots, its core operations remain intact, its supply chain is still functioning, and its team is still there.

If they can get the full support of the Mexican government now, the pace of expansion will be astonishing.

Tax incentives, preferential policies, expedited approval processes...

These seemingly insignificant advantages often play a decisive role in business competition.

While others need three months to complete the paperwork to open a store, he only needs three days.

While others have to pay 30% tax, he only needs to pay 15%.

While others are hampered by various regulations, he gets the green light all the way.

This is competitiveness, this is profit.

Once he establishes a foothold in Mexico, the entire Latin American market will open its doors to him.

Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama...

Although these small Central American countries may not have large individual markets, their combined size is considerable.

Moreover, they are all heavily influenced by Mexico, and if there is a successful experience in Mexico, it would be very easy to replicate it.

Further south, there are Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil...

Latin America, with a population of over 500 million and a GDP of over two trillion US dollars, is a huge, yet largely untapped market.

What would it mean to build your own business empire in this market?
A slight smile appeared on Lin Haoran's lips.

Although his market has long since expanded to Europe and America, he is actually very clear that the core of his business empire is still in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Although he has a presence in Europe and America, it is far from being large-scale.

Therefore, if the Mexican market is truly opened to him, he will have a bridgehead into the American market, a strategic foothold that can radiate throughout the entire Western Hemisphere.

Lin Haoran leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, his mind already beginning to sketch out a blueprint for the future.

Mexico's initiative this time was indeed a pleasant surprise to him.

Even if the Mexican government didn't bring this up, he would still try to restore public confidence in Mexico as quickly as possible in order to retaliate against Soros and for his own future plans.

Unexpectedly, the Mexican government took the initiative to approach them, and in such a humble manner.

These are completely different concepts.

One was Lin Haoran begging the Mexican government to let him do business on their territory; the other was the Mexican government begging Lin Haoran to help stabilize the economy.

Although the final outcome may be that Lin Haoran increases his investment in Mexico, the difference is huge depending on who holds the initiative.

Lin Haoran now holds the initiative and can propose various conditions to secure the greatest benefit for himself.

The Mexican government had no choice but to accept it passively.

This is a demonstration of strength.

"Boss, boss~" Suzuki Toshifumi's voice pulled Lin Haoran back from his thoughts.

Lin Haoran snapped out of his reverie and realized that he had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he had forgotten the phone call hadn't ended.

“Yes, I’m listening, Mr. Suzuki, please continue,” Lin Haoran said.

Suzuki Toshifumi smiled and said, "Boss, as I was saying, Mr. Salinas also mentioned something else."

"what's up?"

"The Mexican president wishes to invite you to visit Mexico, and there is no time limit. You are welcome to visit whenever you are available." Suzuki Toshifumi's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"Moreover, Mr. Salinas also hinted that if you can help Mexico this time, you may even be granted the title of honorary citizen of Mexico in the future. This is an extremely high honor for a foreign businessman, and it also means that your status in Mexico will be far superior to that of ordinary foreign companies."

Lin Haoran narrowed his eyes slightly.

Honorary citizen of Mexico?
This title is indeed extraordinary.

With this status, he was no longer just a foreign businessman in Mexico, but someone recognized and respected by the Mexican government.

Doing business there in the future will be much easier, both in terms of policy support and social recognition.

More importantly, the title itself is a powerful signal that Lin Haoran is under the protection of the highest levels of government in Mexico.

Those who want to harm him in Mexico should first ask the Mexican government for permission.

“Mr. Salinas is quite generous,” Lin Haoran said with a smile.

Toshifumi Suzuki said, "Yes, boss, I can tell that he really wants to get you on their side. Mexico is in a very difficult situation right now, and they desperately need a significant foreign company to step up and give the market a shot in the arm."

Lin Haoran nodded.

He understands this principle.

What Mexico lacks most right now is confidence, and confidence is something that can't be expressed with words, but rather with concrete actions.

If he could make a large-scale entry into Mexico at this time, he could not only reap rich rewards for himself, but also do the Mexican government a great favor.

Kill two birds with one stone.

However, he has no interest in going to Mexico recently.

At least for the next few months, I have no intention of going there.

Perhaps, when he needs to travel to the United States sometime, he will take the opportunity to visit Mexico.

After all, Mexico is adjacent to the United States, and it only takes four or five hours to fly from New York to Mexico City, and it's even closer from Los Angeles.

But that's for later.

Right now, he has more important things to do.

Guan Jiahui's due date is in the middle of this month, which is less than a week away.

Guo Xiaohan's due date is only two months later than Guan Jiahui's.

At this point, would you send him to Mexico on the other side of the world?

impossible.

Even the biggest matters can only be discussed after he has witnessed the safe birth of his child.

“Mr. Suzuki,” Lin Haoran said, “tell Mr. Salinas that I have noted his invitation and that I will definitely visit Mexico once I have finished dealing with things here, but the specific time cannot be determined yet.”

Toshifumi Suzuki said, "Okay, boss, I'll pass it on to him."

"Furthermore, regarding the Mexican government's demands, I will respond to them with concrete actions by tomorrow at the latest!" Lin Haoran continued.

Suzuki Toshifumi paused for a moment, then understood.

"Boss, you mean..."

Lin Haoran smiled but didn't answer directly. He simply said, "Just wait and see what happens in the news."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Haoran handed the mobile phone to Liu Xiaoli and leaned back in his chair.

"Boss, you're amazing! Even the president of a country personally invited you to visit," Liu Xiaoli exclaimed sincerely, her hands moving even more gently.

Lin Haoran smiled but didn't reply.

An invitation from the president of a country certainly sounds prestigious.

However, given his current international influence, this is not entirely unexpected.

Lin Haoran was well aware of his own importance.

Now, no matter which country he goes to, he will receive the highest level of courtesy.

This is not arrogance, it's the truth.

His past achievements need no further mention; he simply succeeded in predicting the US stock market crash, had the Queen of England officiate at a wedding, and brought together twelve semiconductor giants in Hong Kong...

Any one of these achievements would be enough for any businessman to gain a foothold on the international stage.

Lin Haoran embodies all of these qualities.

Such a person will be the center of attention wherever they go.

He lay back in the chair, carefully recalling what Toshifumi Suzuki had said.

The Mexican Finance Minister personally apologized, the Mexican President personally invited him, he was granted the title of Honorary Citizen of Mexico, and he promised maximum support and convenience for all future investments…

These conditions are undeniably generous.

But Lin Haoran knew that there was never a free lunch in this world.

The Mexican government offered such favorable terms because they had no other choice at the moment.

After Soros's actions, no one dared to make any rash moves against the Mexican market at this time.

Those Wall Street capitalists are all hiding in their shells, watching from the sidelines.

Those European capitals are busy dealing with their own debt crises.

Therefore, at this point, Mexico had no choice but to turn to Lin Haoran.

After all, the reason why the crisis in Mexico broke out earlier than expected is largely because Soros dragged Lin Haoran into it.

This shows that if the market trend in Mexico is to reverse, Soros is not qualified, but Lin Haoran is.

This isn't him boasting, but rather the result of the market voting with real money. (End of Chapter)