Hong Kong Storm: The King of Jobs

Chapter 523, Section 113: Man proposes, God disposes.

(Thanks to 20230120180757298 for the support! Your support is my motivation to update!)

"Is Jardine Matheson very interested in AKB48?"

Chi Mengli stubbed out the half-smoked Double Happiness cigarette in the ashtray, picked up her teacup, and moistened her throat.

“Jardine Matheson has no interest in AKB48, because Jardine Matheson’s corporate strategy has never included the entertainment industry. Even the shares that TVB gave away at rock-bottom prices were cashed out by Mr. Simon at the highest price.”

“But AKB48 is the best collateral. Jardine Matheson has shares in RTV and CJTV. If Mr. Chi is interested, Jardine Matheson is willing to exchange them in the form of a share swap.”

Jardine Matheson has its own strategy. Jardine Matheson focuses solely on real estate, docks, cargo fleets, luxury hotels, and retail. Simply put, it's about creating businesses that require only one investment and then generate ample cash flow.

Such companies, although with low net profits, have high turnover rates and can continuously contribute cash flow.

Share swap!

That's a good idea!
Chi Mengli nodded, but he did not give any effective reply and remained silent.

After reading the information, Xi Ren coughed lightly and said, "Xia Sheng, I have finished reading the information. Chi Sheng and I have decided to donate one million to the Yihe Art Charitable Foundation, along with the seven landscape paintings and two Qing Dynasty imperial kiln vases."

"These items should be donated to a safekeeper, which would be a great act of merit. We have only one request: that these exhibits be publicly displayed."

"If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them. Mr. Chi will take out 50 million and have the escort vehicle deliver it to Jardine Matheson Insurance Company tomorrow. This is just the first phase. In the next three months, there will be two more 50 million deposits into Jardine Matheson Insurance Company."

"This is the price Chi Sheng can offer. I wonder if Xia Sheng is satisfied with it?"

Chi Mengli cannot speak; if she does, every word she utters can be used as evidence in court. But Xiren is different. Xiren holds no position in Chi Mengli's company, and the two have no legal connection.

Xi Ren's words cannot be used as evidence in court. Even if they were used as evidence, Xia Jiade would not admit it, because he had never seen Xi Ren, so how could he have heard her words?

"Jihe loves friends, and the more friends he has, the more he loves them!"

Xia Jiade nodded in satisfaction, and then continued, "The interests of our friends are the interests of Jardine Matheson. The day before New Year's Eve is the Governor's Mansion's party, and we have prepared two invitations for Mr. Chi."

"Unfortunately, His Excellency Governor MacLehose is returning to his ancestral home to attend a closed-door ceremony in the House of Commons. This reception will be hosted by the Governor's wife."

Xia Jiade took two gold-embossed invitations from the documents and placed them in front of Chi Mengli and Xiren.

"You and Chi Tai can share one card, and you can give the remaining card to anyone. My junior sister will also be attending."

Once you board Jardine Matheson's ship, it's like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Jardine Matheson will find a way to help you wash your hands of the mud, but this opportunity to cleanse yourself only comes once. If you don't seize it, there's nothing you can do.

"Thank you!"

Xi Ren nodded in satisfaction, indicating that she was very pleased with Yi He's arrangements, but that was not the purpose of this trip, nor was it to obtain an invitation to Victoria Peak.

"Xia Sheng, now that we've finished discussing the important matters, let's go to the rooftop and enjoy the night view!"

"But before that, could you take me to the restroom so I can use the facilities?"

After finishing the pleasantries, Chi Mengli stood up and asked Xia Jiade to take her to the restroom so she could take care of something.

"Of course! This way, please!"

Xia Jiade also stood up and led Chi Mengli to the restroom used by the executives.

Upon entering the restroom, Chi Mengli first unbuckled her belt to relieve herself. After finishing, she kicked open the stall door and, finding no one inside, walked to the sink to wash her hands.

"Xia Sheng, let's not beat around the bush. I've recently noticed something amiss. You're a legal expert, so I hope you can give me some legal advice."

"Ideally, it should be free. Hong Kong is a great place in every way, except for one thing: you have to pay to acquire knowledge."

Chi Mengli disliked the idea of ​​calculating money everywhere, but despite her dislike, she still had to abide by the rules.

"We're all friends, and I give my friends advice for free."

"Chi Sheng, just speak up!"

"Don't worry, I will leave all our messages in this restroom and will definitely not take them out."

Xia Jiade stated that all his advice was free and that he offered the best advice from a friend's perspective.

"I mean, hypothetically, if one day my insurance contract has a problem, how would Jardine Matheson ensure that my interests are not harmed?"

Chi Mengli took out her cigarette case, lit a cigarette, and explained the topic of the evening, asking Xia Jiade to give a general outline of the process that Yihe would follow.

Xia Jiade smiled. He understood what Chi Mengli meant. He wasn't worried about the thugs trying to pull any tricks. After all, Chi Mengli had provided a three-party insurance policy, and Yihe's role in it was to ensure that the contract between the two parties could proceed.

Simply put, Jardine Matheson acts as a guarantor and intermediary. If one party violates the contract, Jardine Matheson will freeze the subject matter of the contract. If the collateral is insufficient to cover the three times compensation stipulated in the contract, then everything of the related companies will be frozen.

Even so, insurance fraud is not allowed, because the contract clearly states that, except for force majeure, there can be no related transactions.

If the defaulting party provides sufficient assets for compensation, Jardine Matheson will be liable for subrogation.

“Mr. Chi, the whole process is like this: after a problem occurs, Jardine Matheson will freeze all the defaulting party’s accounts. The freezing is reasonable and legal because we will apply to the Grand Justice as soon as possible.”

“If you report the case to the police station, the Commercial Crime Bureau will start an investigation immediately, and Jardine Matheson’s commercial investigation company will also get involved immediately.”

"The investigation period may be quick or slow, but according to the terms we signed, Jardine Matheson will provide some funds to help you stabilize the situation, and may even make advance compensation."

At this point, Xia Jiade smiled and said with utmost seriousness, "But Mr. Chi, your gift won't earn you the highest level of friendship from Jardine Matheson. At most, you can get a portion of the initial compensation, maybe one-tenth."

"This kind of big lawsuit will definitely not be over in less than three to five years."

"Chi Sheng, can you really hold on? Besides, there are still three thousand nails on the wrecked ship. The longer it drags on, the more unpredictable things will happen! In your Chinese saying, it's common for a big ship to capsize in a ditch."

"Chi Sheng, if you want to win beautifully, you have to be swift and decisive! Your first three moves must be executed flawlessly."

The claims process is very simple, consisting of only a few steps, which Xia Jiade explained briefly. However, it is absolutely impossible to obtain full compensation from Jardine Matheson Insurance. Most of the settlements are reached under the guidance of Jardine Matheson.

“Jardine Matheson has no interest in AKB48, but Jardine Matheson definitely has designs on Daily Fresh. Please convey to Mr. Simon that if I get what I want, I can transfer 30 percent of the shares of Daily Fresh Supermarket to Jardine Matheson.”

“Daily Fresh is developing well. I will only retain the remaining 21% of the shares and share the profits. Jardine Matheson can take away the management rights.”

"how?"

Jardine Matheson prefers companies with high cash flow and high turnover. Chi Mengli concluded that Jardine Matheson must have investigated Daily Fresh. Tens of millions in deposits and a million in donations alone were not enough to persuade Jardine Matheson to take sides.

All we can do now is escalate the situation! Throw Daily Fresh onto the scales and get Jardine Matheson on our side.

Tigers and leopards bury deep in the mountains, while unicorns emerge from the fields.

After Mr. Simon returned from Beijing, he kept repeating this phrase. Xia Jiade didn't believe it at first, but now he does.

He had only said a few words, but this thug in front of him started raising the stakes and singled out the companies that Jardine Matheson was currently interested in.

The thugs who rise from the streets may not be well-educated and may have shortcomings in interpersonal skills, but they all have a sharp eye and will bite right at your weak points as soon as they open their mouths.

“Jardine Matheson is indeed interested in Daily Fresh. There is a lack of seafood chain supermarkets in Hong Kong’s retail industry. Chinese people do business by monopolizing and cultivating the market meticulously. If it were fifty years ago, there would have been no problem doing this.”

"But now that we're almost in the 21st century, without capital operation, a business can't expand."

"If Jardine Matheson takes over Daily Fresh, it will immediately expand its capital."

"Chi Sheng, are you really willing to give this up?"

Xia Jiade smiled broadly, but his words still carried a hint of probing. Now, Riri Fresh is a golden goose that lays golden eggs, and no normal person would give it up.

“In business, I’m open to negotiation as long as the price is right, but if you want to buy my life, Chi Mengli, then I won’t do it. That’s out of the question.”

“I originally intended to sell my shares in Daily Fresh; 39 percent of the shares would have been enough for Jardine Matheson to gain control of Daily Fresh.”

"As for the remaining 12 percent stake, I will retain it, but within five years, I will sell it all to Jardine Matheson, acquiring 51 percent of the shares. Even if Daily Fresh goes public, Jardine Matheson will still be the controlling shareholder."

“The Japanese Chamber of Commerce previously approached me, offering HK$300 million to buy my shares, but that was the price six months ago. One shouldn’t be too greedy. I only need HK$350 million, or 39% of the shares, to go to Jardine Matheson.”

“Jardine Matheson only needs to pay me 80 million in cash, and the remaining 270 million in cash will be deposited into Hong Kong Land’s bond program, with a one-year term.”

"I will sell the remaining 12 percent at the average price on the listing day, and the proceeds from the transaction will be deposited into Hong Kong Land's bonds, which will be three years in value."

"Both of these transactions can be executed as agreed, with Jardine Matheson receiving a 5% management fee and commission."

"With hundreds of millions in assets, just the management fees and commissions alone, Xia Sheng could become Hong Kong's golden boy this year!"

"Congratulations!"

Chi Mengli told Xia Jiade the exact details of the transaction plan she had come up with when she was releasing the water.

I'll buy whatever my friend likes!

This is called giving someone what they like!
Xia Jiade remained silent. He pondered for a full three minutes, but still dared not give a definite answer. This matter was too big for him, a partner and senior vice president of Jardine Matheson Insurance, to handle.

“Chi Sheng, I will convey your request to Mr. Simon. Mr. Simon will be attending the farewell banquet for the Foreign Secretary of the Governor’s Office tomorrow evening. If Chi Sheng has time, I can arrange a meeting for him.” Xia Jiade knew his place; this deal was too big and needed Mr. Simon to finalize it. He could only arrange a meeting between the two parties.

"my pleasure!"

It was quite a coincidence that Chi Mengli was also attending the diplomatic secretary's farewell dinner the next day. The two sides, like a single thread tied together, communicated, aligned their positions, and assessed each other's demands.

Whether you herd one sheep or two sheep, it's all the same. If you can solve the problem once and for all, that's better than anything else.

"It's too windy tonight, and my wife has caught a bit of a cold recently. That's all for today's conversation. If you have any news, you can contact Attorney Shan directly."

Chi Mengli had absolutely no interest in the rooftop of the Jinshan Building. If this plan failed, he could finish his Western meal and then directly experience a ropeless bungee jump.

After all, if the Wen family realizes what's happening, they certainly won't leave themselves a way out.

Chi Mengli tore off two pieces of paper, wiped her hands clean, and waved goodbye to Xia Jiade.

Xi Ren and Xi Zai were already waiting at the elevator entrance, accompanied by Xia Jiade's female secretary. The two shook hands and then took the elevator away from Jinshan Building.

As Chi Mengli walked out of the Jinshan Building, she looked back and saw that in the night, the Jinshan Building resembled a hungry lion, devouring all of Hong Kong's ambitions.

"Brother Sheng, what are you looking at?"

Xi Ren stopped in her tracks. She felt a little cold, so she tightened her Burberry leather trench coat and asked Chi Mengli beside her what she was looking at.

"future!"

"I just realized today that the Kingsoft Building is a bit short!"

After Chi Mengli finished speaking, she took Xiren's hand and turned to leave.

Xi Ren smiled. Sometimes a man's ambition is higher than the sky. Of course, he would think this tallest building in Asia is too short.

The night in Hong Kong carries the dreams of everyone.

Wearing a safety helmet, Fu Wenpei stood inside the processing plant, ordering the employees to open all the sealed warehouses.

The three temperature- and humidity-controlled sealed warehouses were opened, and a sweet aroma wafted out.

Dried sea cucumbers require white sugar, premium sea salt, and various secret recipes, then are sealed with lard and stored in pine boxes for at least one year and at most three years.

This method preserves the nutritional components of the dried sea cucumber and also removes the fishy smell.

(Legend has it, authenticity not guaranteed! In Ah Xian's eyes, bird's nest, sea cucumber, and fish maw are all just gelatinous jelly, like the pork skin jelly eaten during the Chinese New Year in Northeast China, containing only chicken feather-like nutritional components!)

Fu Wenpei took the down jacket handed to her by her assistant, put it on, glanced at Wen Tianxin beside her, and saw that the scoundrel was yawning and smelled of alcohol. She knew that the scoundrel had gone out drinking and carousing again.

"You bastard! You drink all day and neglect your business. If your boss were still alive, she would have skinned you alive!"

“This business deal is huge. If something goes wrong, the Wen family will be severely damaged, if not completely ruined. You need to go to the company every day recently. Anyway, the real estate company is going to stop construction now, so you have nothing to do.”

"Also, you should move back home. Miaoyun has been depressed lately, so spend more time with her and don't mess around!"

"If you want to go further, you can't do without the Zhou family's help."

Wen Tianxin is both her stepson and her nephew, someone Fu Wenpei watched grow up. It's impossible for them not to have feelings for each other, so she could only give him a few words of advice.

"Auntie, I know. Starting tomorrow, I will cancel all social engagements and go back to the office to focus on helping you keep an eye on this deal."

"You can rest assured about what I do!"

Wen Tianxin let out a burp, put on the mink coat he had prepared beforehand, donned a safety helmet, and walked into the sealed cold storage.

"Auntie, this handsome guy Sheng is really something. He sold 10,000 blue dragons in just one morning. Damn! Blue dragons! The cheapest one costs at least a thousand dollars, and he actually sold 10,000 in just one morning!"

"Outrageous!"

"Today, Dragon Palace Nightclub is having a grand sale! Every person in every private room will receive a blue dragon, all of which are free gifts from AKB48's large yachts. They say it's a huge special offer! A New Year's gift!"

"That's quite a generous gesture!"

"The Japanese Chamber of Commerce's king crab, snow crab, and abalone are all sold out!"

"Wow! When did the citizens of Hong Kong suddenly become so rich?!"

With seven flagship stores, ten franchise stores, and seventeen stores, the company's turnover reached over 30 million yuan this morning alone, directly breaking the Fisheries Association's seafood sales record.

The Wen family's arch-enemy, the Cai family, and Wen Tianxin's arch-enemy, Cai Kaisheng, actually produced canned gift boxes containing high-end goods like shark fin and bird's nest. A tiny bottle, barely enough for three sips, yet they dared to sell it for hundreds of yuan—it's outrageous!

During holidays and festivals, when visiting relatives and friends, you definitely can't go empty-handed!

These shark fin and bird's nest gift boxes are priced at only two-tenths of the normal price of bird's nest. They are also easy to prepare, cost less money, and are prestigious, so of course everyone wants to buy them.

Handsome guy wins against this loser, and he's even offering a big discount promotion: buy a 500 yuan prepaid card and get a free box of bird's nest.

With such generous discounts, sales are sure to be high.

Handsome Sheng is a marketing genius; he can ignite the Hong Kong business world with any idea he comes up with.

"That's human nature. Everyone's trying to outdo each other in how they live. If your family has abalone and lobster for New Year's Eve dinner, my family can't be without those two things. Besides, if there are only oysters and celery in the 'poon choi' dish, no one can save face."

"It's perfect timing that Daily Fresh is having a special sale and promotion, making things like lobster and abalone more affordable!"

"Everyone knows how much profit there is in seafood like abalone and lobster. But what makes Liangzai Sheng the most money isn't these expensive items, but rather processed oysters and scallops, especially the processed scallops!"

"After processing the scallops, pry open half of the shell, remove impurities, wash them, pack them with some vermicelli and prepared garlic sauce, pack them into bags of sixteen, vacuum compress them, and send them directly into the cold storage."

Thinking about this, Fu Wenpei felt stupid. Steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli is a famous dish in Hong Kong, sold everywhere, but none of the seafood merchants, stall owners, and restaurant owners could come up with a good solution, since labor costs in Hong Kong are not high.

But Liangzai Sheng had an idea. He proposed a very good concept: the central kitchen. However, if the concept of the central kitchen were to cover the entire food industry, it would be a very absurd idea.

However, if it covers only a few items, then it is a unique existence.

For example, steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli can utilize the concept of a central kitchen. A box of steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli contains only sixteen scallops, but it sells for 38.8 yuan per box.

Even so, housewives are willing to buy them because sixteen are just enough to fill a seven-inch plate, making it very full.

After buying it home, you don't need to do anything. If you have an oven, just put it in the oven and heat it for two minutes. The taste will be just right. If you don't have an oven, you must have a steamer. Once the water in the steamer is boiling, put it on the steamer and steam it for ten minutes. Then it's ready to eat.

The main dish of steamed scallops with garlic and vermicelli is the garlic and vermicelli; the scallops are just a side dish.

Chi Mengli's recipe is simple and appeals to housewives who are free chefs at home, so sales are naturally good. Although the chef doesn't have to pay money, the chef can still decide what you eat for your New Year's Eve dinner!
With a selling price of 38 yuan and a profit of 15 yuan, a single Riri Fresh flagship store can sell thousands of boxes a day.

Even many vendors selling goods from pushcarts come to Daily Fresh to stock up, selling three for ten yuan each, and they're sure to make a profit.

However, Daily Fresh can only enjoy this one New Year promotion period. After the resumption of work next year, major seafood suppliers will definitely turn their attention to this semi-finished product and develop various new dishes.

"You can't have someone with a sharp and insightful mind just by envying them!"

"work!"

Thinking of this, Fu Wenpei sighed and instructed her employees to begin unpacking the boxes.

Wen Tianxin casually opened a box, took out the dried sea cucumbers, carefully inspected them, and found that they were all of good quality and had no problems. He nodded and told his employees to get to work.

"Auntie, the daily fresh food store is closed now. If we open the box at this time, where should we store it?"

Wen Tianxin tossed the dried sea cucumber into the pine box, rubbed his nose, and asked curiously.

"Load them onto the trucks first. They're all refrigerated trucks, so it'll only waste a little bit of chili oil. Once it's light, we'll deliver the first batch of sea cucumbers to Riri Fresh."

"It's the fifth day of the promotion now, and consumers' enthusiasm has waned. They don't know where the dried sea cucumbers will sell. Although Liangzaisheng is offering a fixed price for all the sea cucumbers, if they don't sell, it will damage the reputation of Tiantian Seafood Farm."

"I plan to transfer the group's employee benefits for this year to Daily Fresh, giving each employee a 200 yuan prepaid card, 100 yuan of which can be used to buy dried sea cucumbers. I hope the situation won't be too bad."

The old man dragged out the negotiations for too long. If Tian Tian Seafood Farm had been on the first batch of promotional lists for Ri Ri Xian, it would have sold out long ago. These past two days, Cai's Fa Shun Seafood Shop has been making headlines in the tabloids every day.

After all, Fa Shun Seafood Restaurant had high sales performance and benefited from the success of Riri Fresh.

It is true that there is not enough success and more than failure!
"Auntie, Ri Ri Fresh won't accept the goods because Liang Zai Sheng has his own fleet of vehicles. He won't want the goods you deliver."

“We have a warehouse inside the Pacific Wharf. If I remember correctly, the contract stipulates that the warehouse location is also Pacific Wharf.”

“Dad said that Handsome Sheng is in danger right now. Don’t be fooled by how popular Rih Ri Fresh is every day. If he doesn’t settle a certain account, Handsome Sheng will be in trouble.”

"Let's be careful not to give Handsome Winner any leverage."

"Transport the goods to the cold storage at Taikoo Wharf. Have Handsome Sheng's truck team come and pick them up tomorrow!"

Wen Tianxin suggested that they should not give Liangzai Sheng a chance to lose his temper!
(End of this chapter)