Hong Kong Film: Short mules have no future, I am in charge of Hong Kong

Chapter 291 Who can survive this storm!

"Nonsense!" Lu Wancheng glared at him. "The government is the most stable backer. As long as we can deal with them, Su Hanze is nothing! He can control the market, but does he dare to fight the government?"

"But what are you trying to do this time?" the tall and thin man asked vaguely with greasy mouth.

"Simple." Lv Wancheng narrowed his eyes and spoke in a voice as low as a venomous snake. "I plan to apply for the 'Cultural Industry Support Fund' and package my products as a symbol of 'national cultural heritage'. As long as the funds are approved, I will have the capital to turn things around."

The tall and thin man was stunned when he heard this: "National culture? Brother Lu, aren't our jades just ordinary goods? Can they be considered culture?"

"You know shit!" Lv Wancheng patted the plan. "What is culture? It's stories! As long as you can tell stories, anything can become culture. I'm going to find a few so-called 'experts' to write some high-sounding articles about my products, and then hold an exhibition specifically for the government. By then, whether the funds are approved or not will all depend on their words!"

"Great, Brother Lu, your method is amazing!" The tall and thin man admired him. "But, if Su Hanze finds out, will he interfere?"

"Can he get involved?" Lv Wancheng sneered. "This time, I didn't connect with the market at all, I just went for the policy. No matter how capable he is, he can't control this!"

A few days later, Lv Wancheng's "National Culture Jade Inheritance Plan" was officially launched. He not only invited several scholars with some fame in the cultural circle to support the project, but also organized a "Traditional Jade Culture Art Exhibition" and packaged himself as "the pioneer of Hong Kong Island's jade culture revival." The media reported a lot on this matter, and even some government officials began to pay attention.

When the news reached Su Hanze's ears, he had just finished a client meeting. Ah Liu rushed in, his face full of worry: "Boss, it's bad! That guy surnamed Lu is causing trouble again!"

Su Hanze picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said calmly: "What happened again?"

"He's not playing in the market anymore. He's doing cultural heritage instead. He even organized an exhibition specifically for the government!" Ah Liu looked anxious. "Do you think he wants to take the policy route?"

"Policy?" Su Hanze was slightly stunned, then put down the teacup, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth, "It seems that he is planning to take one last gamble."

Lin Ke'er walked in from the reception room at this time. Hearing this, she couldn't help but ask, "Boss, what are you going to do? This is a government matter. Isn't it too dangerous for us to intervene?"

"It's dangerous, but we can't just sit there and do nothing." Su Hanze narrowed his eyes, "However, this time we can't do it directly, but we have to ask others to help us."

"Others?" Ah Liu was confused. "Who?"

"It's very simple." Su Hanze picked up the phone and dialed a number. "What does the government like? It likes clean projects. Everyone knows how dirty Lv Wancheng's hands and feet are. We just need to find the right person and let the truth surface on its own."

Ah Liu listened with admiration: "Boss, you are trying to kill someone with a borrowed knife!"

"Borrowing a knife is not difficult. The key is to be fast enough." Su Hanze hung up the phone, with a hint of cruelty in his eyes. "This time, I will make sure that Lv Wancheng has no way out."

A few days later, Su Hanze was in the office organizing the next event plan. He thought that Lv Wancheng's "cultural heritage plan" was just a flash in the pan, and even if it could attract some attention, it was just a joke. However, not long after he sat down, Ah Liu rushed in in a hurry, almost stepping on his shoes.

"Boss, something happened! A big thing!" Ah Liu looked nervous, holding a newspaper of the day in his hand.

Su Hanze frowned and put down the teacup in his hand: "What's wrong? Don't be so surprised when you speak."

Ah Liu spread the newspaper on the table. The headline on the front page made Su Hanze's heart rise to his throat -

"The dark side of the jade industry exposed: Hong Kong's well-known brands are suspected of monopoly and gray transactions, and the authorities have launched an investigation!"

He stared at the title for a long time without saying anything, and slowly scanned the content below. The article was written vividly, listing many accusations against the jade industry: price manipulation, gray channels, opaque transactions, and even a few obscure paragraphs alluding to the "Su brand" - wasn't this aimed at him?
"Who did this?" Su Hanze's voice was a little lower and a little cold.

"Who else could it be!" Ah Liu slammed the table in anger, "It must be that grandson of Lu Wancheng! He came up with this 'cultural inheritance' thing and now he's doing this. It's obvious that he wants to drag us down with him!"

Lin Ke'er also walked in with a newspaper, her face rarely showing a serious expression: "Boss, this matter is not simple. The newspaper is not the point. I just got the news that the people from the Financial Management Bureau have also started investigating us."

"Financial Administration Bureau?" Su Hanze's face darkened. "What are they doing here? All our accounts are clean recently!"

"The problem may not be the accounts." Lin Ke'er threw the newspaper on the table and said in a serious tone, "This investigation is aimed at the entire jade industry. To put it bluntly, someone is pushing us to the forefront and making us a target."

"Lv Wancheng's move... is really ruthless." Su Hanze sneered, but he knew in his heart that this move was not only ruthless, but also extremely accurate. If he was not careful, not only would the market be out of control, but even his own brand might be destroyed.

"Boss, what should we do?" Ah Liu was a little panicked. "Should we find a few people to suppress this matter first?"

"I can't suppress it." Su Hanze shook his head, his face showing no sign of relaxation. "The newspaper matter is easy to handle, but the investigation by the Financial Administration is no joke. If they target us, even if they can't find anything substantial, they can still drag down our business."

Lin Keer frowned and said slowly: "It seems that Lu Wancheng has made up his mind this time to drag us to death together."

"To kill us?" Su Hanze raised his head, his eyes cold and stern, "I think he wants us to die and himself to live."

Ah Liu scratched his head and said, "But he's not the only one involved in this matter. There must be someone else backing him up. With his limited ability, how could he have the ability to get the Financial Management Bureau to intervene?"

"That's right." Su Hanze nodded, stood up and paced around the office. "There must be a bigger force behind this incident. The question is, who is helping him?"

Ah Liu suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly said, "Boss, I just heard that Lv Wancheng has been very close to a man named 'Yu Wendong' recently."

"Yu Wendong?" Su Hanze frowned. "The one who does real estate?" "Yes, that's him!" Ah Liu nodded repeatedly. "I heard that he wants to develop in the jewelry industry recently. Maybe he has his eyes on our market. Maybe Yu Wendong is behind Lv Wancheng's actions this time."

"Yu Wendong..." Su Hanze repeated the name in a low voice and began to calculate rapidly in his mind.

Lin Ke'er sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and said with a hint of sarcasm: "This is interesting. A real estate developer and a half-dead jeweler are teaming up to deal with you. Boss Su, this is not like your style."

"Style?" Su Hanze sneered, "Style can be used to make a living? It's not that I don't want to fight back now, but we have to solve the current trouble first."

Lin Keer spread her hands and said, "Okay, then tell me, what is the most important step now?"

"Let's stabilize the Financial Administration Bureau first." Su Hanze's tone was calm, but with an unquestionable determination, "There is no problem with the accounts, but our recent large orders can easily be taken out of context, so we must prepare all the transaction proofs in advance. In addition..." He paused and looked at Ah Liu, "Check the recent capital flows of Yu Wendong and Lu Wancheng to see if they have made any tricks through other channels."

"I understand. I'll go right away!" Ah Liu ran away.

"One more thing." Su Hanze stopped him, "Try to keep a low profile and don't let anyone know that we are investigating them."

"Don't worry, boss, I will be careful!"

After Ah Liu left, Lin Ke'er looked at Su Hanze with a hint of amusement in her eyes: "Boss Su, I feel more and more that this matter is not just a simple market struggle. Lu Wancheng's actions, Yu Wendong's involvement, and the investigation by the Financial Administration Bureau... Don't you think these things are too coincidental?"

"Coincidence?" Su Hanze's lips slightly raised, but there was a hint of coldness in his smile. "Ke'er, do you think there is such a thing as 'coincidence' in the market?"

Lin Keer shrugged: "No. But if these are not coincidences, it means someone has been eyeing you for a long time."

"So, what I have to do now is to find that person." Su Hanze's eyes became deep, "Since he wants to play, then I will play with him to the end."

A few days later, the investigation by the Financial Services Administration arrived as expected. Several investigators in neat uniforms walked into Su Hanze's company, holding a stack of documents, and stated straight away that they wanted to review recent financial records and transaction details.

"Mr. Su, this is a routine inspection, please cooperate." The leading investigator was polite, but there was an irresistible majesty in his eyes.

"Of course." Su Hanze smiled and personally took them to the Finance Department. "Our company's accounts have always been transparent. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Although he looked calm on the surface, he was not so relaxed in his heart. He knew that the sudden arrival of the Monetary Authority must be caused by someone behind the scenes. He even felt that this investigation might not only target him, but also a major reshuffle of the entire Hong Kong Island jade industry.

The investigators began to look through the accounts carefully, while Su Hanze sat aside and quietly observed their every move. He knew very well that this "review" was not only a test of the company's finances, but also a challenge to his psychological quality.

A few hours later, the investigators left without revealing any conclusions. Su Hanze knew that this was just the first step, and the real trouble might be yet to come.

Just as he was about to take a breath, Ah Liu rushed in with a printed document in his hand: "Boss, I found out! Lv Wancheng and Yu Wendong did have a large amount of money recently, and the money was transferred through several shell companies!"

"Sure enough." Su Hanze took the document, his eyes becoming even colder. "Where did the money go?"

"This... I haven't found out yet." Ah Liu felt a little ashamed, "But I guess they are definitely preparing for the next big move."

"The next big move..." Su Hanze fell into deep thought. He knew that this struggle was no longer a simple market competition, but a power game with undercurrents. It didn't matter who the opponent was. What mattered was that he had to find a way to break the situation before the opponent made a move.

Lin Ke'er looked at his expression and couldn't help but smile: "Boss Su, the situation this time is more complicated than before, right? Can you still turn the tables as easily as before?"

"Easy?" Su Hanze sneered, "Ke'er, have you ever seen anyone feel relaxed while playing chess? This is not a game, it's a war."

After he finished speaking, he raised his head, a cold light flashed in his eyes: "Ah Liu, continue to check Yu Wendong's background. I don't believe he is clean. Also, sort out our recent client list to see if there is anyone worth winning over. Our game of chess has just begun."

The night in Hong Kong Island was full of bright lights and bustling streets, but Su Hanze's office was filled with a suffocating and depressing atmosphere.

"Boss, something terrible has happened!" Ah Liu rushed in breathlessly, holding a stack of documents in his hand, with beads of sweat on his forehead running down his temples. "Our company's suppliers have suddenly stopped supplying goods across the board! They said... they said they were afraid that the Financial Administration would investigate them!"

Su Hanze heard this and his hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, but he quickly concealed his emotion. He looked up at Ah Liu and said calmly, "Suspending the supply? Is the reason so simple?"

"Yeah!" Ah Liu sat down on a chair, breathing heavily, "I just contacted several suppliers, some of them simply refused to answer the phone, and some simply told me that they didn't want to 'get involved in this storm' and asked me to 'take care'."

"Take care?" Su Hanze sneered and put the teacup heavily back on the table. "These people are good at distancing themselves from the matter. They usually make a lot of money, but now at the slightest sign of trouble, they all become turtles."

Lin Ke'er also sat up from the sofa and asked with a frown, "If the supplier stops supplying, how long can our inventory last?"

Ah Liu flipped through the documents, his tone revealing despair: "Two weeks at most. If this continues, we won't even be able to deliver the orders from the previous auction!"

"This is no small problem." Lin Ke'er frowned. "If the customer finds out that we can't deliver the goods, not only will our reputation be ruined, but the previously suppressed reputation will be reinforced."

Su Hanze leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his mind racing. He knew very well that the supply chain problem this time was no coincidence. The actions of Lu Wancheng and Yu Wendong, coupled with the investigation by the Financial Administration, made the atmosphere in the entire market extremely tense. And these suppliers were obviously watching the wind and waiting to see who could survive this storm.

(End of this chapter)