Hong Kong Storm: The King of Jobs

Chapter 497, Section 78: Finding an Soft Persimmon to Pinch

"Silk Knot, you're a smart kid, quick-witted and sharp-minded. Your dad should give you some pointers. I won't say any more."

Zhang Jieli took out an invitation from his suit jacket pocket, placed it on the table, and said, "Tomorrow is the wedding anniversary of the big boss and Miss He. Go buy Da Luo a box of cigars, Havana brand."

“Da Luo is a princeling from a wealthy family. He has hundreds of millions of dollars in cash in HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank, and more than a billion dollars in the Sir Luo Foundation. He only cares about people now, not money.”

When Dan Sijie saw the private invitation on the table, he smiled knowingly. If he refused, his former boss, now the big boss, would not have taken out this nameless invitation.

Opportunities are scarce, and resources are limited; no one can afford to waste them.

"Thank you for your guidance, expert!"

With a thank you in her mouth, she opened the glass door of her office and asked her assistant to fetch two cups of coffee. After giving the instructions, she went back to her desk and sat in the expensive executive chair that she had bought with her own money.

"Chi Sheng's assistant called me today and said he wants to come over to discuss some private business."

"Owners of listed companies and leaders of triads have personal matters that are not easy to handle."

"Silk Knot, you need to be prepared."

Zhang Jieli reminded Dan Sijie of something, but he didn't reveal any of the client's key information. He was a senior lawyer who needed to go to court; knowing too much wouldn't do him any good.

Two cups of coffee were served. Dan Sijie served one to Zhang Jieli first, and then to himself. After the assistant left, he spoke up, saying, "The more difficult the task, the more our value is demonstrated."

"Providing clients with the most honest legal advice is what we lawyers should do."

"I just hope that my clients are not extremists who blindly believe in the law and think that justice is the best policy."

"Hahaha"

The mention of a single-strand knot made Zhang Jieli laugh happily a few times, and then he said, "Then I wish you good luck."

"However, these wealthy people have very unique ideas, especially your ancestral family member with a foreign face."

"come on!"

The coffee at Lawyer Law Firm, owned by Lawrence Lo, is the best in the firm, made from premium Guatemalan coffee beans. But after drinking it for years, even the most virgin would find it unpalatable.

Zhang Jieli has already given the points that needed to be made clear, because Chi Mengli also made it clear to him that she wanted AKB's annual 10 million dollar deal, as well as positions such as independent director on the board and legal counsel.

The fact that Luo Wenjin's law firm had to cooperate with her was quite meaningful, especially given Chi Mengli's use of the word "cooperate."

Should we involve a law firm to handle the foreigners, or the Securities and Futures Commission, the Department of Justice, or the Commercial and Industrial Authority?

Zhang Jieli was a senior lawyer, and according to the bar association's code of ethics, he shouldn't have interfered. He had said what he needed to say, and he stood up, preparing to return to his office to greet Chi Mengli.

Dan Sijie stood up, saw the bigwig he had just paid his respects to out the door, and stood in front of the glass door, watching Zhang Jieli leave the office area and return to his own office.

In the eyes of Chinese people, they are foreigners. If it were twenty years ago, if a Chinese person got involved with a foreign lawyer, it would definitely mean getting involved with high-ranking officials and students to obtain a protective umbrella.

After all, twenty years ago was a time of conflict between two dynasties. As long as the ship was loaded with goods and transported across the border river or to Macau, it could be exchanged for gold, US dollars, British pounds, and Hong Kong dollars.

These are all strategic materials and are subject to regulation. As long as they are lying in the dock warehouses, they will be managed by the industrial and commercial authorities.

If you want to transport goods to the border river, you need to take care of the Commerce and Industry Bureau, since the customs is under the jurisdiction of the Commerce and Industry Bureau.

But things are different now than they were twenty years ago. Now, Hong Kong only needs a few types of goods that require protection.

Miss White? Pork? Bath salts? KFC? Cocoa extract?
Dan Sijie has lived in Hong Kong for a long time. Although she did not study at university in Hong Kong, she still remembers the nicknames that were passed down among her junior high school classmates.

I can help with networking, but I can't let myself get bogged down in these dirty tricks.

Chi Mengli was unaware of Zhang Jieli and Dan Sijie's thoughts. If she had known, she would have been amused by their whimsical ideas. It was almost the 21st century, and yet there were still people who wanted to open a noodle stall.

People become gangsters because they have no legitimate way to make money, but even as gangsters, they still have to run a noodle stall. This is why even gangsters can't get dog food.

The last time Chi Mengli came to Master's Building, he was still a quiet gangster, but this time, everything has changed. Now, wherever he goes, he can be called Master Chi.

As he got out of the car, he looked at the flower shop next to him. Flower shops were the most numerous stalls in Central. He looked at Xizai and asked him to buy two bouquets of flowers. Today's visit was to offer congratulations, and it wouldn't look good to come empty-handed.

Xizai understood immediately. He first had his henchman park the car, then went to buy two bouquets of flowers and brought them back.

Having bought the gifts, Chi Mengli took the lead and walked to the elevator. The group entered the private elevator of Luo Wenjin Law Firm and went straight to the eighth floor.

When the group arrived on the eighth floor, the receptionist at Lawyer Luo Wenjin’s office saw the elevator doors open and immediately went to greet them. After asking for clarification, she immediately notified Zhang Jieli.

Zhang Jieli, accompanied by his assistants, came out to greet Chi Mengli. After exchanging a few pleasantries with her at the front desk, he received flowers from Chi Mengli in front of everyone and expressed his gratitude.

After completing the formalities, Zhang Jieli invited Chi Mengli into his office and served her two unopened bottles of mineral water.

"Mr. Chi, you've gone to a lot of trouble. Everyone knows that flowers in Central are the most expensive."

Zhang Jieli closed the door, sat down opposite Chi Mengli, made a joke, crossed his legs, glanced outside, and continued, "Chi Sheng, you don't come here unless you need something."

"These flowers can be sent by someone; there's no need for you to go to the trouble of bringing them."

"It seems that Chi Sheng has something important to do!"

Chi Mengli didn't say anything at first, but took out a cigarette case and handed one to Zhang Jieli. Zhang Jieli quickly took it, picked up a lighter from the coffee table, and lit it for the big spender in front of him.

"I've been really hungry lately and I want to eat meat."

"But after looking around, I've actually found a suitable piece of meat. I need an expert to guide me, but let me make it clear beforehand that I'm doing legitimate business. I don't do anything illegal or disorderly."

“Attorney Zhang is one of our own, and he’s also my contracted senior lawyer, so we should still ask Attorney Zhang for advice.”

Humans need to eat meat to grow.

But Chi Mengli makes a living in the martial arts world; if he wants to get his hands on meat, a lot of people will have to die.

Zhang Jieli hadn't smoked Double Happiness cigarettes for over twenty years. As soon as the cigarette went into his mouth, he felt the smoke choking his lungs, but he still held back, suppressed his cough, and replied, "My mentor taught me that the law is like a girl who can be dressed up however you like."

"What we're competing on is the amount of knowledge we have and how familiar we are with the cases."

"But now the news media is very developed. Any little thing can alarm a lot of people. You need to have enough evidence and be able to stand up to public opinion."

To carry out evil deeds and conspiracies in Hong Kong these days, one needs the right timing, location, and people; none of these can be lacking.

In just one month, he would be leaving Lawrence Lo's firm to become a Chinese prosecutor, and the reason Chi Mengli approached him at this time was not for the present, but for the future.

Zhang Jieli flicked his cigarette ash and realized he had underestimated the young man in front of him; this young man had big ambitions.

"Public opinion is very important, and I am well aware of that. I just don't want to leave myself with any future troubles."

"I'm just a scoundrel, I don't know any big shots. I'll need Attorney Zhang to guide me. I still have some business to attend to at the company. I'll pay you a visit after you've helped me figure things out."

"Holy crap! It's like we're telepathically connected; my legal counsel has arrived."

Outside the glass door, Dan Sijie waited patiently for good news. Chi Mengli took the cigarette out of her mouth and put it into the ashtray.

Zhang Jieli stood up, took the cigarette out of his mouth, put it in the ashtray, and said with a smile, "My little brother here is probably getting impatient."

"A talented man and a beautiful woman are a perfect match. My younger brother is good at teamwork. Even a great hero needs a sharp sword."

Attorney Zhang's words made his meaning very clear: Dan Sijie is a clever person who would sell everything for power. Now, Chi Mengli is a valuable asset, and it's time to choose a reliable partner to share the burden.

Things are different now. If it were ten years earlier, Chi Mengli wouldn't have hesitated and would definitely have gotten her hands on a promising foreign woman like Dan Sijie. But now it's a very awkward time.

The Westerners' reign is like a rabbit's tail—it won't last long, although they still have nearly twenty years of rule ahead of them.

Now is a great opportunity to buy up Hong Kong assets at rock-bottom prices. Buying at the bottom is a tough job, and having a foreign wife will definitely arouse suspicion. Sometimes, having too many labels isn't a good thing. "Thanks for the reminder! The path of the underworld is a one-way street. I've been in this business for so long, and I've never seen anyone retire from it."

Zhang Jieli nodded in agreement. He had been in the legal profession for a long time and knew several bigwigs in the underworld. These bigwigs had different fates; some died violently in the streets, while others died peacefully in their old age. But he had never seen any of them retire from the criminal world.

A person's path is entirely a matter of choice. Chi Mengli has already chosen her path, so Zhang Jieli naturally couldn't say anything. He walked to the office door, opened it, and invited Dan Sijie in.

"Chisheng has official business to consult, Sijie, you must serve Chisheng well."

"Chi Sheng, I have an appointment, so I won't be able to keep you two company!"

According to unspoken rules, Zhang Jieli had to find a reason to ask Chi Mengli and Shan Sijie to leave his office.

"I heard that Mr. Chi likes green tea, so I specially learned the tea ceremony. I wonder if there is any opportunity for Mr. Chi to taste it!"

Dan Sijie quickly spoke up, inviting Chi Mengli to his new office for some tea.

"Since such a beautiful woman has invited me, of course I have to give her face."

"Attorney Shan, please lead the way."

"Attorney Zhang, let's have a proper chat next time. I really enjoy talking to you."

Chi Mengli stood up, politely said goodbye to Attorney Zhang, and then followed behind Dan Sijie to Dan Sijie's office.

On the first visit, you must complete the formalities. The next time, you won't need to go through Zhang Jieli; you can go directly to the single-strand knot.

Dan Sijie's office was small, with only enough space to place the tea set on the desk. Chi Mengli took the flowers back from Xizai and gave them to Dan Sijie: "Congratulations on getting your own office in Central. That's wonderful."

Thank you! Please have a seat.

Dan Sijie placed the flowers on the desk and invited Chi Mengli to take a seat.

"Consultant Shan, I'm not in the mood for tea right now, and I don't think you want to demonstrate your tea ceremony to me in such a small space."

"Shall we talk about business first?"

Although Chi Mengli had nothing to do today, he didn't want to waste time beating around the bush, so he went straight to the point: "To put it simply, I don't lack lawyers, I lack..."

“Chi Sheng, this is not something to be ashamed of. You don’t lack lawyers, but rather brokers.”

“My father has worked in Hong Kong for over ten years and knows many people. It’s difficult to get him to do things based on personal relationships, but getting him to open his pockets and let Mr. Chi slip him some money shouldn’t be a problem.”

"Chi Sheng, is there anything I can do to help you?"

The single-strand knot is straightforward, indicating that the person can act as Chi Mengli's broker.

“I have a rival who has been causing me trouble lately, and I haven’t been able to deal with him. But last night I suddenly realized that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, and I need to use the law as a weapon.”

“Hong Kong is a commercial society. After the end of the Control Act, everything can be sold as long as taxes are paid.”

“Attorney Shan is sharp-eyed and perceptive; he should have heard that Evergreen Group is acquiring Oak International’s docks. Such large acquisitions usually take several years to complete.”

“If that’s the case, I’m not worried. But I recently heard that Evergreen Group has reached an agreement with Oak International and is preparing to complete all the legal contracts before June.”

"So I want to spend a lot of money to disrupt this deal, and then announce the acquisition of Oak International's docks once my funds are in place."

Chi Mengli did not hide her thoughts. Shuifang was not short of funds. As long as she made progress, Shuifang's legal funds in the Cayman Islands, Morocco, and Singapore would be available.

However, Evergreen Group is no pushover either. They have already raised funds in New York and are prepared to acquire the ship at a price three-fifths lower than the market price. In exchange, Evergreen Group's fleet will only dock at Oak International's port in the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea routes.

Meanwhile, Song Sheng could also use the Evergreen Group's fleet to cramm in tons of baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor) and pork to establish new shipping routes.

Since Chi Mengli is prepared to oppose Song Sheng under the guise of avenging the big boss, he cannot stand by and watch Song Sheng acquire Oak International's cargo terminal in Hong Kong.

“It’s difficult! If it’s this, no one will dare to accept your money, Mr. Chi.”

"This acquisition was personally approved by Governor MacLehose. Evergreen Group will donate 300 million to build three public primary schools and one public hospital in Yuen Long."

"Even the equipment for public hospitals is all handled by Evergreen Group."

"McLee Ho's wife, the Baroness, will also serve as the Chairperson of the Evergreen Foundation. As for the rest, Mr. Chi, I don't need to tell you!"

"No one in Hong Kong can stop Evergreen Group from acquiring Oak International's docks now."

If it can be done, it can be done; if it can't be done, it can't be done. When dealing with clients who are willing to spend real money, Single Knot never lies.

"No way at all?"

Chi Mengli liked honest people, but he still wouldn't give up and tentatively asked a question.

"No one can stop Evergreen Group from acquiring Oak International's docks, but if Mr. Chi is just angry and wants to vent his anger, I do have a way."

"I guarantee it will appease you, Mr. Chi, and also make your opponent uncomfortable."

"Now we just need to see how far Chi Sheng wants to go."

Dan Sijie took the copper kettle off the charcoal stove, poured a small half cup into the teacup in front of Chi Mengli, rinsed the teacup, poured the dirty water into the trash can, and then took out a dozen or so Longjing tea leaves from the tea canister and put them into the teacup.

"Knowing that Chi Sheng likes to drink tea, especially Longjing tea, I did some research and found that I had been taken advantage of by the tea stalls in Chung Ying Street."

“The Longjing tea hasn’t been harvested yet, but it’s the top-grade West Lake brand from last year’s Qingming Festival. They say it’s worth a thousand dollars a piece. When I bought it, it cost two thousand Hong Kong dollars.”

"The water is also the best spring water; I drove there specifically to buy it."

"Please try it."

West Lake Tea House uses old trees, and the top-grade buds have the best flavor. The dry tea is brown rice-colored with emerald green hues. The flat buds are slightly curled like sparrow tongues, and when you smell it, you can smell a refreshing roasted bean aroma.

Spring water bubbled like crab eyes in the copper kettle. With both hands holding the teapot, the water flowed like a white ribbon into the bottom of the cup, and the rising steam, carrying warmth, reached the tip of the nose.

The water flowed up and down three times into the rim of the cup, and the emerald green leaves floated and rolled in the water, gradually releasing a pale yellow tea soup.

The tea buds floating on the surface of the water shimmered like stars, and the fragrance of orchids mixed with the freshness of beans overflowed from the mouth of the cup. In the steaming mist, the buds stood upright at the bottom of the cup, and the color of the tea soup resembled the juice of freshly peeled green plums, clear and shiny.

“Good tea!”

The aroma of tea was enticing, and Chi Mengli couldn't help but say "good." But the tea needed to be steeped a bit before drinking it. He asked, "Consultant Shan, you are now my legal counsel."

“If I remember correctly, I have already signed your salary contract, which is HK$500,000 a year. You will also serve as the legal counsel for the minibus company and the advertising company.”

"These two companies will pay Ms. Shan a total of 200,000 yuan in service fees."

"A newly graduated lawyer should be grateful if he can earn enough to make a living and should go and pray to the gods."

“But you are different. Regardless of whether Attorney Zhang acknowledges me as one of our own, I treat Attorney Zhang and Miss Shan as one of our own. As one of our own, we should say what one of our own should say.”

An annual salary of 700,000 is a sum that even the top executives of the four major foreign firms cannot earn.

If the single thread knot continues to play tricks on her, Chi Mengli will definitely contact Attorney Zhang everywhere and find a more pragmatic legal advisor.

Dan Sijie wasn't in a hurry. She put the kettle back on the charcoal stove and said, "Asian companies are very different from European and American companies. Asian companies are family businesses. If you touch my interests, I will definitely fight you to the death. There is no retreat!"

“But European and American companies are different. Oak International has been listed in the City of London for over a century. The controlling family has completely moved behind the scenes, and the shares have been transferred to the family foundation.”

"The current CEO of Oak International is a professional manager."

"Professional managers only care about performance. As long as the performance is good, they can give out more bonuses and dividends. These people don't care about the life or death of the company."

(End of this chapter)