In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Lin Haoran fully understood Bao Yugang's purpose in coming.

Under normal circumstances, if Lin Haoran were not a major shareholder of Wharf Holdings, Bao Yugang would definitely continue to develop in a low-key manner, and only consider further expansion after completely paying off the debts incurred in acquiring Wharf Holdings.

But now, with Lin Haoran as a powerful ally, Bao Yugang has more confidence.

He didn't want to wait any longer for Wheelock and Company, this lucrative prize.

After all, the longer the time frame, the more likely things are to change.

Wheelock's stock price has now hit rock bottom, making it the perfect time to buy.

If they wait any longer, and John Madden finds another buyer, or the shipping industry recovers, they will miss the best opportunity.

Lin Haoran understood Bao Yugang's thoughts.

As a time traveler, he knew that the shipping industry was in a slump throughout the 1980s and that it was impossible for it to recover in the short term.

But Bao Yugang didn't know that. He only knew that the shipping industry was in a terrible state, but who knew if things would get better tomorrow?

What if it warms up tomorrow?
Therefore, he wanted to take over Wheelock as soon as possible and firmly grasp all possibilities.

Now that the debt is almost gone, he doesn't want to wait any longer.

"Uncle Bao, I agree with the Huidefeng project, but I have one condition," Lin Haoran said with a smile.

From a business perspective, if Wharf Holdings wants to acquire Wheelock Properties, Bao Yugang alone absolutely cannot do it without Lin Haoran's support.

After all, although Wharf Holdings' annual revenue is not low, a lot of its funds are invested in Harbour City and other projects, leaving not much profit each year.

Furthermore, as the second-largest shareholder of Wharf Holdings, Paul Y.'s decision to have Wharf Holdings acquire Wheelock & Co. required his approval.

Bao Yugang was slightly taken aback, then asked, "What are the conditions?"

Lin Haoran laughed and said, "Uncle Bao, don't be nervous, it's not a difficult matter. I want to visit Lane Crawford Group, a subsidiary of Defeng Group!"

As early as 1979, Lin Haoran had proposed to John Madden, chairman of Wheelock & Co., that he wanted to acquire Lane Crawford Group.

At the time, Wheelock was selling the Federal Building and the International Building, and Lin Haoran personally negotiated with John Madden to purchase the two buildings.

During the negotiations, the acquisition of Lane Crawford was also proposed, attempting to achieve the goal through a package deal.

Because Lane Crawford's Dah Sing Department Store and Chung Hwa Department Store are among the largest retail groups in Hong Kong.

In addition, Lane Crawford is known for selling high-end European fashion boutiques, specializing in high-end goods from Europe and America, and holding agency rights for many international brand products in Hong Kong. It is an important force in Hong Kong's fashion retail industry.

Antiques, jewelry, cosmetics, and other items are also important business segments for Lane Crawford.

Acquiring Lane Crawford is tantamount to capturing half of Hong Kong's high-end retail market.

However, John Madden had no intention of selling Lane Crawford at the time, so the matter was dropped.

Lin Haoran was originally very interested in the retail industry, so the companies he subsequently acquired, Hongkong Land and Hutchison Whampoa, both of which had strong retail capabilities, as well as the two chain convenience store giants under Southern Company that he later acquired.

The reason why they did not forcibly acquire Lane Crawford was that Wheelock & Co. held a full 56.5% stake in the Lane Crawford Group, and they thought that as long as John Madden did not give in, no one could take over the Lane Crawford Group.

Lin Haoran himself was not interested in Wheelock & Co.

After all, in Lin Haoran's view, Wheelock was not worth the high price he paid to acquire.

Although Wheelock & Co. was a large and powerful company, even known as one of the four major foreign firms in Hong Kong.

However, its business is very diverse, involving shipping, real estate, retail, and trade, but it does nothing well.

The shipping industry is declining, the real estate industry is about to face a harsh winter, and the retail industry is doing relatively well thanks to Lane Crawford, but he doesn't own any shares in Lane Crawford.

Such a company is neither worth keeping nor worth abandoning.

Paul Chung wanted Wharf Holdings to acquire Wheelock in order to complete Wharf Holdings' business portfolio and make Wharf Holdings bigger and stronger.

Therefore, Wheelock is a very suitable company to be merged into Wharf Holdings, as the two groups can complement each other's shortcomings.

Wharf Holdings is mainly engaged in real estate and port operations, while Wheelock Properties is mainly engaged in shipping and trade. The merger of the two companies can form a complete industrial chain.

In addition, Bao Yugang himself started in shipping. He took advantage of the downturn to buy up Wheelock's shipping business at rock-bottom prices, and when the shipping industry recovers, he can make a fortune.

Bao Yugang had calculated this very clearly.

What Lin Haoran wanted was Lane Crawford Group.

Lane Crawford's two major department stores, along with his existing 711-Eleven, Lawson, ParknShop, Wellcome, and other supermarkets, are enough to make him the absolute hegemon of Hong Kong's retail industry.

He also holds a 20.3% stake in Walmart, the US retail giant, of which 10% was acquired publicly through financing and the remaining 10.3% was acquired covertly.

Walmart has experienced rapid growth in the past two years, and its stock price has been rising continuously. The value of Lin Haoran's shares has increased several times over.

In addition to his retail presence in Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe, a global retail empire is taking shape.

Upon hearing Lin Haoran mention wanting to acquire Lane Crawford Group, Bao Yugang remained silent for a moment.

This was indeed unexpected, because when he came, he hadn't thought that Lin Haoran would make such a request.

However, Bao Yugang quickly came to a realization.

Lane Crawford is good, but it's not essential for him.

He wanted Wheelock's entire business, especially its shipping and trading sectors.

As for Lane Crawford, it wouldn't matter if it were given to Lin Haoran.

Moreover, Lin Haoran has helped him so much over the years, even reminding him of health problems so that he could detect his early-stage lung cancer in time. It's only right to return the favor.

Currently, the biggest obstacle for Wharf Holdings to acquire Wheelock is the lack of funds.

Once he has enough funds, he is absolutely confident that he can acquire Defeng.

For Wharf Holdings to obtain sufficient funds, borrowing from the major banks under the Hengsheng Group is obviously the simplest option.

As the owner of Hengsheng Group and one of the owners of Wharf Holdings, Lin Haoran's approval would guarantee the acquisition of Wheelock Properties.

Bao Yugang had a clear understanding of these relationships, which is why he dared to propose the acquisition of Wheelock at this time.

"Haoran, I agree to your terms," ​​Bao Yugang said with a smile. "However, Wharf Holdings needs to trouble you with one more thing if it wants to acquire Wheelock!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran asked curiously, "Uncle Bao, what's the matter?"

Bao Yugang no longer concealed anything and continued, "I actually have a deep connection with the Madden family. As early as thirty years ago, I began doing business with the Madden family."

By the 1960s, my Worldwide Shipping Group even partnered with Wheelock and Company to form Worldwide Bahamas Industries Limited and Bermuda Limited to jointly develop the shipping industry.

John Madden's father was one of my closest friends, so strictly speaking, although John Madden wasn't much younger than me, I was his elder.

Lin Haoran listened and nodded inwardly.

He did know something about Bao Yugang's connection with Wheelock.

Back when Paul Chung was able to become a world shipping magnate, the Madden family of Wheelock & Co. did indeed help him a great deal.

The two companies have cooperated in the shipping industry for many years and have a very special relationship.

If Paul Y. had attempted to forcibly acquire Wheelock without John Madden's consent, it would have undoubtedly ruined the long-standing friendship between the two companies and left a bad impression on the outside world.

This is something Bao Yugang doesn't want to see.

"Uncle Bao, so you want me to accompany you to meet John Madden to discuss the acquisition in person. If we can reach an agreement, that would be the best outcome. If we can't, then we can consider a forced acquisition. Is that what you mean?" Lin Haoran asked with a smile.

“No, I would like to ask Haoran to contact John Madden in his personal capacity first and sound him out,” Bao Yugang said, expressing his thoughts. “You are an outsider and a rising star in Hong Kong’s business world. He will feel much less pressure when facing you.”

Moreover, since you don't have much of a relationship with him, you can be more direct in business negotiations without worrying about personal feelings or saving face.

Lin Haoran was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

Bao Yugang's arrangement was indeed brilliant.

Sending Lin Haoran ahead to scout ahead would both prevent a direct confrontation between the two sides and allow him to ascertain John Madden's true intentions.

If John Madden is willing to talk, and Bao Yugang steps in again, both sides can save face. If John Madden takes a hard line, there is still room for maneuver.

“Uncle Bao, I’ll help you with this,” Lin Haoran said with a smile. “However, I need to do some research first to understand Wheelock’s financial situation and the Madden family’s situation.”

Bao Yugang nodded: "Don't worry about that. I'll have someone send the information over. I have a deep understanding of the Madden family and the Wheelock Group."

“Okay, I’ll wait for you to send it over first. As for when to meet Mr. John Reed, I probably won’t be free these next few days. Let’s find some time to talk to him in a few days!” Lin Haoran said with a smile.

In a few days, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Hong Kong's real estate industry will be hit by a storm. As Hong Kong's richest man and a real estate tycoon, he is bound to be involved.

Putting aside everything else, Governor Youde would definitely come to him to discuss countermeasures, and might even ask him to personally step forward to quell the public's panic.

After all, Lin Haoran still wielded considerable influence in Hong Kong, and the Governor's Office needed him to stabilize the market.

Therefore, he needs to arrange things at home, hand over matters at the company, and deal with the Governor's Office in the next few days before he can free up his hands to deal with Wheelock's affairs.

Bao Yugang understood what he meant and laughed, "Okay, then let's wait a few days. There's no rush."

After chatting for a while, Bao Yugang got up to say goodbye.

Lin Haoran escorted him to the elevator and watched him leave.

Back in the meeting room, Lin Haoran stood by the window, looking at Victoria Harbour in the distance.

Today in Hong Kong, the weather is sunny and the view is excellent.

Sunlight shone on the sea, making it sparkle. In the distance, the numerous peaks of Kowloon were lush and green. Several cargo ships were slowly sailing out of Victoria Harbour, and the sound of their horns could be faintly heard.

But who knew that a few days later, when the mainland's tough stance and the news of Margaret Thatcher's fall on the steps of the Great Hall of the People reached Hong Kong, what kind of panic would engulf the city?
This is an inevitable trend, and Lin Haoran will not try to stop it, nor can he stop it.

The only thing he could do was to lay the groundwork before the storm hit, thereby consolidating his position.

"Boss, I've brought you a fresh cup of hot tea." Liu Xiaoli appeared beside Lin Haoran at some point, holding a steaming cup of Longjing tea.

Lin Haoran snapped out of his reverie, took the teacup, and took a small sip. The aroma of the tea filled his mouth, soothing his soul.

Looking out the window at the scenery, he smiled and said, "Xiaoli, do you think Hong Kong is prosperous?"

Liu Xiaoli followed his gaze and nodded: "It's very prosperous. Before I came to Hong Kong, I had never seen such a prosperous city. I never thought that a city could be so prosperous and have so many tall buildings."

Before coming to Hong Kong, Liu Xiaoli was just a dancer in Jiangcheng. Although she had been to major inland cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and even Shanghai, the prosperity of these cities in that era could not compare with that of Hong Kong.

Especially at night, when the neon lights on both sides of Victoria Harbour light up, the dazzling scene is something she has never seen before.

Lin Haoran laughed and said, "Then how long do you think this prosperity can last?"

Liu Xiaoli paused for a moment, then shook her head: "I don't know, but I do know that as long as the boss is here, Hong Kong's prosperity will never end."

Lin Haoran laughed: "You certainly know how to talk."

Liu Xiaoli said earnestly, "It's not just about being eloquent, it's about speaking from the heart. Boss, you are the most capable person I have ever met. No matter what happens, you can solve it."

Looking at the admiration in her eyes, Lin Haoran couldn't help but feel a little smug.

At the same time, he felt a little emotional. No wonder so many people were still happy to flatter him even though they knew their subordinates were just praising him.

It feels really good to be admired.

However, Lin Haoran quickly put away his smugness.

He knew that Liu Xiaoli was sincere and not one of those people who said nice things just to please him.

This girl, from the very first day she followed him, never once tried to play tricks on him.

Liu Xiaoli is very direct in everything she does. For example, when she wanted to come to Hong Kong, she went straight to him and told him what was on her mind without any pretense.

If you want to be his woman, you should just say so directly, without beating around the bush.

If you want children, just say so openly and honestly.

Lin Haoran felt very reassured by this personality.

Because a straightforward person would never do anything underhanded.

Moreover, what reassured Lin Haoran the most was that he could see Liu Xiaoli's loyalty!
"Alright, stop flattering me. Come over here and give me a shoulder massage. To be honest, I'm used to your massages. It's been a while since I've had one, and I'm starting to feel a bit lost." Lin Haoran walked back to the sofa with his teacup, sat down, and said with a smile.

Liu Xiaoli nodded obediently, walked behind him, and gently massaged his shoulders.

Her technique was very professional, and the pressure was just right, making Lin Haoran close his eyes in comfort.

“Boss, I always feel like something’s missing from your office,” Liu Xiaoli said as she massaged Lin Haoran’s shoulders.

"Oh? What's missing?" Lin Haoran opened his eyes, looked at the office next door, then at the reception room, and said in surprise.

"We need a room for the boss to rest in. If there were a room with a Simmons bed, that would be even better, so I could serve you anytime, anywhere." Liu Xiaoli's voice was soft, with a hint of shyness.

Lin Haoran was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

This girl is quite thoughtful.

However, what she said makes sense.

Although he has an office and a meeting room on the 51st floor of the Kang Le Building, there is indeed no place for him to rest.

The main reason is that, in addition to his office, a number of senior executives from Hongkong Land Group also work on the 51st floor, so it is indeed not very convenient to set up a lounge here.

However, Liu Xiaoli's suggestion gave him a new idea.

Every time I had to share a room with Liu Xiaoli, we had to go all the way to the villa in the Mid-Levels of Wan Chai, which was quite inconvenient.

After all, he now has two homes to travel back and forth between, and a son and a daughter are waiting for him to be with them.

In addition, Liu Xiaoli sometimes finds herself unable to attend to everything.

Having a fixed rest area near the company would certainly be much more convenient.

“That’s a good idea,” Lin Haoran said with a smile. “However, the 51st floor is indeed not very convenient. How about this, I’ll have someone find a place downstairs and set up a lounge there.”

Liu Xiaoli blushed slightly and said softly, "I just said it offhand..."

Lin Haoran grasped her hand and smiled, "You hit the nail on the head with just a casual remark, which shows you're thoughtful."

Liu Xiaoli lowered her head, a blush rising on her face.

Lin Haoran guessed that Liu Xiaoli probably wanted to get pregnant with his baby as soon as possible. How could Lin Haoran not see through her little scheme?
However, he was not averse to it.

After all, he now has a large and successful family, and the more children he has, the happier he is.

He owns the entire Kang Le Building; if he wants to create a rest area, that's easy enough.

Although the occupancy rate of businesses in Kang Le Building is quite high, the offices on the upper floors are almost never open to the public and are reserved for internal use.

Therefore, Lin Haoran only needed to tell Huo Jianning which floor he wanted to set up a lounge on.

"I've got this in mind," Lin Haoran said with a smile. "Once I'm done with these next few days, I'll have Huo Jianning make the arrangements."

Liu Xiaoli nodded, a shy smile on her face.

After all, the purpose of setting up a lounge was inextricably linked to her.

Looking at her expression, Lin Haoran couldn't help but laugh: "What, are you shy?"

Liu Xiaoli shook her head and said softly, "It's not that I'm shy, it's just that I feel you're too good to me, boss."

Lin Haoran held her hand and squeezed it gently: "You are my woman, it's only right that I treat you well. You've been with me for so long and have never made any requests. Now that you've made one, how could I refuse?"

Liu Xiaoli's shoulder massage became more and more powerful, and she put more effort into it.

Lin Haoran closed his eyes again, quietly enjoying this rare moment of comfort.

The reception room was quiet, with sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the two of them in a serene and peaceful atmosphere. (End of Chapter)