In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

After saying goodbye to John Madden, Lin Haoran returned to the Shi Xun Road villa in a pleasant mood.

Although he was quite confident that he could persuade the other party before he went there.

But when the deal was actually done, he still felt a sense of relief.

After all, this is not just a simple matter of acting as a lobbyist for Bao Yugang.

The ownership of Wheelock involves the last remaining strongholds of the British-owned conglomerate in Hong Kong, the future plans of Wharf Holdings, and also his own interests.

Lane Crawford was what he longed for most.

Founded in 1848, this high-end retail department store group has a history of over a century and has now developed into the largest high-end retail department store group in Hong Kong.

Acquiring Lane Crawford would greatly benefit his future retail strategy.

Now, if Wharf Holdings acquires Wheelock, Lane Crawford Group will be his for the taking.

Back in his study, Lin Haoran didn't rush to rest or call Bao Yugang. Instead, he sat on the sofa, picked up a cup of tea, and slowly sorted out the conversation from that evening.

John Madden was more insightful than he had imagined.

I thought it would take a lot of talking, but I didn't expect that a few words would hit the nail on the head.

None of his three sons were willing to take over the business, and Zhang Yuliang was secretly plotting against him. He himself also lacked confidence in the future of Hong Kong.

In this situation, anyone in that position would want to step down.

However, some people are unwilling to retire, and some retire in an undignified manner.

Lin Haoran gave him a dignified choice.

However, while he was in no hurry, Bao Yugang couldn't wait any longer.

The ringing of the phone brought Lin Haoran back to his senses. Looking at the displayed number, he saw it belonged to Bao Yugang.

As soon as Lin Haoran pressed the answer button, Bao Yugang's impatient voice came from the other end: "Haoran, how did the talks go?"

"Of course I won't disappoint Uncle Bao!" Lin Haoran said with a smile.

"Haoran, it has to be you. It's late today, I'll go to the Kang Le Building tomorrow morning to talk to you in detail. Thank you for your hard work!" Bao Yugang on the other end of the phone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and his tone was no longer so urgent.

"Okay, Uncle Bao, I'll be waiting for you in the meeting room of the Kang Le Building at 10 a.m. tomorrow!"

After hanging up Bao Yugang's call, Lin Haoran couldn't help but stand up and stretch.

Tonight's trip was worthwhile.

John Madden's inner conflict, in the end, was nothing more than saving face and having a way out.

He was unwilling to let his life's work go to waste, and he was even more afraid of being ousted by his juniors and ridiculed by the British business community.

Selling to Bao Yugang not only saved face but also allowed him to withdraw with a large sum of money, retire peacefully in England, and no longer have to deal with the mess at Wheelock, deal with shareholder pressure, or lose sleep over the final payment for those two giant ships.

For John Madden, this deal was a way out in a desperate situation.
For Bao Yugang, it was a golden opportunity to expand his business empire.
For Lin Haoran, it was an opportunity that guaranteed a profit.

What he wanted was never Wheelock's bloated shipping business and scattered real estate, but simply Lane Crawford.

With the acquisition of this century-old high-end department store, his retail empire in Hong Kong is now complete, encompassing everything from discount supermarkets and chain convenience stores to high-end boutique department stores. Coupled with his large stake in Walmart, his global retail layout is now in place.

As for whether Wharf Holdings' acquisition of Wheelock would lead to a tight cash flow and heavy debt burden, Lin Haoran didn't care at all.

Paul Yip has been deeply involved in the business world for many years, and shipping is his original profession. Since he chose to acquire Wheelock at this time, he must have his own considerations.

Wharf Holdings' acquisition of Wheelock was not simply about expanding its territory and annexing assets; it was a precise strategic move and a formal takeover of a long-established British stronghold by Chinese capital.

Even if a large amount of cash flow is used in the short term, given Wharf's sound financial condition, there will never be a crisis of cash flow shortage. Lin Haoran knows this better than anyone else.

Moreover, while Wheelock may appear to be a large and complex company, its strengths and weaknesses are actually quite distinct.

Those shipping fleets that had been losing money year after year were a burden to Bao Yugang; they were easy to deal with, either by splitting them up and selling them or by streamlining and restructuring them, and he could quickly recover his losses.

Moreover, funding is not an issue at all. With his Hengsheng Group backing him up, once the real estate and shipping industries recover in the next few years, it will be time for Wharf Holdings to take off again.

Lane Crawford, which Lin Haoran has his eye on, is one of Wheelock's most valuable core assets, boasting a century-old reputation, top-tier customer traffic, and prime locations—all treasures.

What he wanted from the beginning was Lane Crawford: to fill the last gap in his retail portfolio and to connect the entire industry chain from mass consumption to high-end luxury goods.

Lin Haoran walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and the cool night breeze brushed against his cheeks, dispelling his fatigue.

Before you knew it, the night had passed.

The next morning, Lin Haoran woke up from his dream as usual.

In order not to disturb his sleep, Guo Xiaohan has moved to another bedroom a few days ago, because she occasionally has to get up at night to breastfeed.

After washing up, he left his bedroom and went to Guo Xiaohan's room.

Inside the room, Guo Xiaohan had woken up sometime earlier and was reading a book in bed.

Next to the large bed, there was a crib where the baby was fast asleep.

"Good morning, Haoran." Guo Xiaohan greeted Lin Haoran with a sweet smile.

"Good morning, my Mrs. Lin!" Lin Haoran laughed heartily.

He walked forward quietly, his gaze first falling on the crib beside him. Seeing the little one curled up and sleeping peacefully, his face was delicately sculpted, and his eyes still held a touch of softness. The sharp edge he had in the business world instantly melted away.

He reached out and gently touched the baby's soft little hand, his movements incredibly tender, a stark contrast to his cunning and manipulative demeanor the night before.

After chatting with Guo Xiaohan for a while, he went downstairs to have breakfast.

While eating a bowl of seafood rice noodle rolls, I picked up a copy of the Sing Tao Daily and started reading.

After reading through it briefly, I picked up another copy of the Oriental Daily News.

Today, the news in major newspapers is mainly focused on the real estate crisis in Hong Kong.

The front page headlines were filled with news of a housing market crash, banks tightening credit, and small and medium-sized real estate companies going bankrupt.

Panic permeated the streets and alleys. Many property speculators who owned several properties were particularly worried, fearing that their properties would become worthless liabilities.

Lin Haoran ate his rice noodle rolls slowly and deliberately, his eyes scanning the large headlines on the newspaper. His expression remained calm and unaffected by the panic in the outside world.

What others saw as a catastrophe was, in his view, merely an inevitable step in the changing times, and a good opportunity for capital to reshuffle and for the strong to enter the game.

The sluggish housing market and plummeting land prices may seem like a crisis, but in reality, they conceal a wealth of opportunities.

He had already foreseen that acquiring prime land at a low price now would yield exponentially higher returns once the market recovered.

Even the real estate assets under Wheelock's name were completely lost by this crisis, which caused John Madden to lose all confidence in holding on, thus benefiting him and Bao Yugang.

Besides the real estate market, the newspapers also mentioned Wheelock's recent situation sporadically, with words revealing its decline and fall. The shipping business was suffering heavy losses, and internal conflicts among shareholders were frequent. Rumors had long circulated that this long-established British trading company could not hold on any longer.

All of this seemed to have nothing to do with Lin Haoran's group.

As early as the beginning of last year, his various groups sold off some ordinary real estate projects, bringing back a large amount of funds, leaving only high-quality real estate projects or commercial projects.

Moreover, all the debts have been cleared.

Therefore, no matter how much Hong Kong Properties fluctuates, it won't affect him.

Lin Haoran's conglomerates, on the other hand, are now watching this industry upheaval with detached indifference, like bystanders. Not only are they unscathed, but they have also amassed enough confidence to openly begin buying up assets at rock-bottom prices. After all, he had previously publicly announced on television, in front of the Governor's Office and the citizens of Hong Kong, that he would invest over HK$200 billion to support Hong Kong's real estate market.

To others, Lin Haoran was acting out of necessity, giving face to the Governor's Mansion.

But only Lin Haoran himself knew that his move was never a compromise, but a long-planned grand scheme.

Publicly expressing support for Hong Kong real estate can win the favor of the government and the public, stabilize market sentiment, and earn a reputation for being righteous and generous. It can also be used as a pretext to legitimately provide funds for a buying spree when land prices are at their lowest.

He can acquire land plots that others dare not touch and high-quality properties that are eager to be sold at extremely low prices, keeping costs to a minimum.

Once the real estate market recovers and land and housing prices rise, these assets will appreciate many times over.

Whether you hold the property for rental income or resell it for cash, it will be a sure-fire way to make money. You can not only make a fortune but also further expand your business empire, achieving multiple benefits in one fell swoop.

Lin Haoran didn't care at all about the outside world's discussions and ridicule.

Mediocre people only see the immediate storms, while only true strategists can see the long-term benefits.

Every step he took, seemingly casual, was actually carefully considered, and he never made a mistake.

The current real estate crisis is a dead end for others, but for him, it is the best opportunity to expand his assets.

Just like the Wheelock acquisition case, others only saw the decline and risks of British-owned trading companies, but he was able to seize Lane Crawford, which he wanted most, and help Wharf complete its expansion while reaping the benefits himself.

Lin Haoran put down the newspaper and finished the last few bites of rice noodle roll. The maid then cleared away the plates and brought over some warm tea.

Not long after, the nanny carried her son, Lin Yaoguang, downstairs, with Guo Xiaohan following behind.

Lin Haoran took his son and, as usual, strolled with Guo Xiaohan in the back garden, or sat on the swing together reminiscing about the interesting things that had happened since they met.

Lin Haoran didn't leave until 9:30 a.m.

The Rolls-Royce drove along the winding Victoria Peak Road and appeared in the underground parking space of the Connaught Building a dozen minutes later.

Coincidentally, Bao Yugang's private car was already parked nearby, indicating that the business tycoon had arrived well before the agreed time, demonstrating his eagerness for the acquisition.

I took the private elevator all the way up to the 51st floor. As soon as the elevator doors opened, I saw Liu Xiaoli, who had been waiting for me there.

"Boss, Mr. Bao is already waiting for you in the reception room. I've prepared tea for him," Liu Xiaoli reported.

As Lin Haoran stepped out of the elevator, he asked, "How long has he been here?"

“It’s been 8 minutes since we arrived here,” Liu Xiaoli replied without hesitation, simply glancing at the time. She had clearly taken note of this.

"Okay, I'll go over there now. Prepare me a cup of Longjing tea," Lin Haoran said with a smile.

"Good boss."

Upon entering the reception room, Lin Haoran found Bao Yugang standing in front of his photo wall, looking at the photos of Lin Haoran with leaders or business tycoons from various countries.

He turned around when he heard footsteps.

"Good morning, Uncle Bao. Sorry to keep you waiting," Lin Haoran greeted him with a smile.

Actually, it was only 9:50 a.m., and their agreed time was 10:00 a.m., so Lin Haoran was not late.

All I can say is that Bao Yugang was too impatient.

"No, I just arrived early!" Bao Yugang waved his hand and said.

The two sat back down on their individual sofas, not in a hurry to discuss business.

After a while, Liu Xiaoli brought in a cup of hot tea, placed it next to Lin Haoran, and then tactfully left the reception room and closed the door.

The room fell silent immediately.

Bao Yugang couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Haoran, how did your talk with Madden go last night? Tell me in detail what his attitude was."

After taking a sip of tea, Lin Haoran slowly began to recount the entire meeting from the previous night in a calm and clear manner.

"So, John Madden didn't know that I was the one who called you over to act as an intermediary and persuade him to sell Tak Fung shares to Wharf Holdings?" Bao Yugang said with some surprise after hearing Lin Haoran's account.

Lin Haoran laughed and said, "That's right. He thought from beginning to end that I was the one who originally wanted to acquire Wheelock, but because he was not very willing to sell to me, I could only settle for Uncle Bao and let you acquire Wheelock with Wharf Holdings."

"It's normal for him to have this misunderstanding. After all, Haoran, you've been a crazy collector of British-owned companies these past few years, from Hong Kong Electric Holdings, Hongkong Land, Hong Kong Telephone, HSBC Bank, and so on."

Each of these companies, taken individually, was an industry giant in its respective field in Hong Kong, yet they all ended up being acquired or controlled by you. "Bao Yugang remarked with emotion, and he couldn't help but feel admiration when talking about these achievements.

Lin Haoran, despite his young age, is quick and accurate in his actions, targeting British-owned companies with deep roots and high-quality assets, never doing anything in vain.

With each move, they accurately grasped the opponent's weaknesses, either acquiring them outright at a low price or strategically controlling them, gradually eroding the territory of British conglomerates and quietly accumulating an astonishing business empire.

It's no wonder John Madden thought that way. Anyone would think that given Lin Haoran's methods and ambitions, it was perfectly normal for him to have his eye on Wheelock.

No one would have guessed that Lin Haoran looked down on Wheelock's bloated shipping mess; all he wanted from beginning to end was Lane Crawford.

Bao Yugang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said with emotion, "Haoran, I owe you a huge favor again!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran naturally understood what the other party meant.

When Pao Yu-kong arrived in Hong Kong in 49, he was able to successfully develop into a world shipping magnate, which must have been due to the key support he received from many conglomerates and powerful figures along the way.

The Madden family was clearly one of the most important benefactors in his early rise to power.

Back then, Bao Yugang started from scratch with only a few old ships and no foothold in the shipping industry. It was John Madden's father who recognized his courage and tenacity and gave him a helping hand.

Not only did they rent him quality berths at low prices and introduce him to stable cargo sources, but they also helped him secure his first large-scale financing, which enabled the start of Global Shipping.

It can be said that without the support of the Madden family back then, no matter how capable Bao Yugang was, he would have had to struggle at the bottom for several years and might not have achieved his current status and success.

Over the years, Bao Yugang has always remembered this kindness and has never neglected it in the slightest.

It was precisely because of this old friendship that he couldn't bring himself to personally approach John Madden to discuss the acquisition, fearing that he would be seen as ungrateful and taking advantage of someone in distress, and even more so, that he would damage the long-standing relationship between the two families.

That's why he approached Lin Haoran, asking this outsider to mediate, which both accomplished the important task and saved face.

The acquisition of Wheelock was Paul Y.'s ambition.

Now, Lin Haoran has taken this ambition upon himself, leading John Madden to mistakenly believe that the initiator of this acquisition is Lin Haoran, the richest man in Hong Kong, rather than him, a descendant who has received favors from the Ma family.

This not only protected his reputation and spared him the stigma of ingratitude, but also successfully achieved his goal. Bao Yugang was deeply grateful for this thoughtful approach.

After all, once you reach a certain social class, reputation becomes more important than money.

Pao Yu-kong is now a world-renowned shipping magnate, and his every move is being watched by the entire Hong Kong. If he were to be branded as an ingrate, he would not only lose face, but would also find it difficult to establish himself in the business world in the future.

The reason he owes another big favor is because Lin Haoran reminded him of his health problems, allowing him to know early on that he had cancer, and that it was in its early stages. Early intervention leads to a very high cure rate, and it can even be completely cured without leaving any future problems.

If it weren't for Lin Haoran's reminder, he would still be busy with work all day and neglect his physical examination. By the time the cancer had progressed to the late stage, even a god could not save him. The huge business empire he had built and the vast wealth he had accumulated would all be for nothing in the end.

This life-saving grace alone is enough for Bao Yugang to remember for the rest of his life.

Lin Haoran waved his hand and said with a smile, "Uncle Bao, we are friends despite our age difference, and we are also business partners. It is only right that we help each other."

Moreover, I am also a shareholder of Wharf Holdings. I trust Uncle Bao's vision. With you at the helm, Wharf Holdings will surely have a brighter future, and as a shareholder, I will be able to reap the benefits.

Therefore, you don't need to constantly use the word "favor"; it's too formal. (End of Chapter)