Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

Wang Yaotang never expected that the person sitting in front of him would be Grandpa Lin.

Today I came to discuss the acquisition of the stone quarry. I had made an appointment with the owner, Fu Kaixin, but when we met, I found that someone else had taken over.

Wang Yaotang didn't blame the four-eyed boy, but instead smiled and shook hands with Grandpa Lin, saying, "If I had known it was Old Master Lin, I would have brought gifts to pay him a visit."

"Haha, Ah Yao, you're too kind." Grandpa Lin said with a smile, "The building materials business is not easy. We're all from the same village, so if the Lin family has a share, it'll be easier for them to speak up if anything happens."

"Oh, it seems Boss Fu doesn't trust my character, which is why he asked Elder Lin to uphold justice." Wang Yaotang raised an eyebrow.

"Don't mention it. I came here to take this opportunity to have a chat with you, Ah Yao. There have been some rumors circulating in the martial arts world lately, and I don't know if they're true or false."

"So what if it's true or false? Does the Xiang family want to interfere with how I, 'Shengyi,' do things?" Wang Yaotang's expression was somewhat unfriendly.

Because of this incident, he has received many phone calls in the past few days, which has annoyed him a lot.

"I wouldn't say I'm in charge, but it's not good for A-Yao to break the rules so casually, is it?" Grandpa Lin asked with a smile.

"Rules? Whose rules? The Kuomintang's rules!" Wang Yaotang sneered.

Grandpa Lin frowned. "That's getting off-topic. It's all about the rules of the martial arts world."

“Old Lin can talk to me about rules, and the New Journalists can talk to the British in Hong Kong about rules, but do they dare to talk to the Chinese?” Wang Yaotang chuckled. “I certainly don’t.”

“I will definitely cut ties with these small venues that have little money and a lot of work; I will only be responsible for security afterwards.”

Grandpa Lin frowned, somewhat unsure whether it was true or not.

“Fu Kaixin, I want to use your quarry to enter the building materials industry. I’ll give you a few options. First, I’ll buy your shares with cash.”

Wang Yaotang held up two fingers, "Second: For the change of industry, find a professional appraisal company to calculate the price, and refund or collect the difference accordingly."

“I own a plastic products factory in Tseung Kwan O, and I also hold a global design patent for assembling pontoons. My Maple Leaf Hotel chain is also up for sale. If you’re still not satisfied, then nightclubs in Yau Tsim Mong are also an option.”

"Mr. Lin, Hong Kong is about to face an unprecedented transformation. The government will change, the major families will change. In the face of this trend, the so-called rules of the underworld are nothing more than that."

Fu Kaixin opened his mouth. He was the major shareholder of the stone quarry, but today, apart from greeting him, he didn't have a chance to say a word.

He really wanted to point at Wang Yaotang and yell, "Get the hell out of here!"
Just thinking about how, upon meeting him, hundreds of security guards in black combat uniforms suddenly appeared from ten Toyota Hiace vehicles, while he only had a dozen or so people on his side, his momentum instantly weakened, and he turned to look at Grandpa Lin.

"Mr. Lin, look..."

Grandpa Lin pondered for a moment and said, "You can choose whichever you want. There's no rush. Ah Yao's generosity is well-known in the martial arts world. He won't take advantage of you."

Fu Kaixin opened her mouth, then sighed silently, "Brother Yao, I'll discuss it with my family and give you an answer as soon as possible."

"Haha, Mr. Fu is quite decisive." Wang Yaotang laughed and extended his hand.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Brother Xie Yao." Fu Kaixin forced a smile.

New industries are not easy to run; it's just that circumstances are beyond one's control.

"The Lin family owns 20% of the stone quarry in Fanling. I wonder if we could be lucky enough to hitch a ride?" Grandpa Lin said with a smile. "In this small area of ​​the New Territories, the Lin family's words still carry some weight."

After the joint statement, the New Territories entered a phase of large-scale development with many major projects. Wang Yaotang tilted his head and thought for a moment before smiling and saying, "This stone quarry in Fanling is just a stepping stone. I will have more big moves to make later."

"My Lin family still has some wealth."

"Then... it's a pleasure to cooperate." Wang Yaotang stood up this time, smiling and extending his hand.

"Ah Yao is so straightforward!" Grandpa Lin stood up with a smile and extended his hand as well.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Fu Kaixin pursed his lips, feeling like his wife had slept with him right in front of him. "I'm still here, you bastard!"

"Boss Fu." Sitting down again, Wang Yaotang smiled at Fu Kaixin and said, "I don't know much about the operation of stone quarries. Boss Fu is very experienced. Do you have any new technologies or ways to improve the production efficiency of small quarries? Please share them with me."

Fu Kaixin's lips twitched. This is too much! You want me to push your butt?
“Okay.” Fu Kaixin picked up the cooled tea and took a sip before looking up and saying, “Stone quarries are mainly divided into open-pit mining and underground mining. In Hong Kong, they are all open-pit mining. In terms of technology, the most important things are drilling and blasting and bench mining. Different explosives and blasting points are used according to the results of the measuring instruments and drilling machines. It mainly depends on experience. However, I heard that there are more advanced geophysical exploration instruments abroad, but Hong Kong does not have them.”

"To improve efficiency, we need better explosives and perforation equipment to reduce secondary crushing costs. The best option is transportation, crushing and screening machinery, but these need to be adjusted according to the type of stone in the mine."

"The best talent in exploration and blasting is in Lui Che Woo's hands?"

“Hong Kong Electric’s technology is also very good, and they have brought in people from Europe. However, our small mines can’t afford to maintain them, so our costs are much higher than Lui Che Woo’s.”

"I understand." Wang Yaotang nodded. Europeans are people too; there's nothing they can't handle!
After chatting about other things and having lunch together, Wang Yaotang left with his men.

Watching the dozen or so cars disappear from sight, Fu Kaixin spat angrily, "How afraid of dying are you to bring so many people with you when you go out!"

Grandpa Lin patted him on the shoulder with a smile, "Changing industries is good too. You're still young. You can't compete with Lui Che-woo in the stone industry."

“I know, it’s just… sigh.” Fu Kaixin sighed.

……

It was a little after 6 p.m. at the Peninsula Hotel.

The Indian man in red opened the car door, and Wang Yaotang stepped out. He was having dinner with some high-ranking police officers here tonight.

There are always two sides to every story. While throwing the smaller establishments out into the open certainly turned the underworld into a cesspool, the police received good news.

Cabel called at noon to say that the police force had held a high-level meeting that morning specifically to discuss the approval of security companies. Although a few old-timers still believed that security company qualifications should not be opened to Chinese people, and that only the British could maintain Hong Kong's security, the senior officials that Cabel had been lobbying had changed their attitudes because of Wang Yaotang's separation measures.

Kelvin, Senior Assistant Director of the Crime and Security Department, said in a deep voice: "British companies are certainly better, but the resources they can currently invest are too small. The largest investment in Hong Kong is G4, with only about 100 people. They mainly do personal security and air transport services. The security market cannot remain blank forever. Data shows that robberies have doubled last year. We cannot do nothing."

"Ha, that's exactly the problem. All the robbers are Chinese. If we open the security market to Chinese people now, it will only lead to more robberies!"

“Establishing an entry threshold is what our police force should be doing, isn’t it?” Kelvin smiled and shrugged. “More than half of the management of security companies must have police work experience. The Hong Kong Police Force is the best in Asia, bar none. Don’t any of you here believe that?”

"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is certainly the best, but the police force has more than 2 people, and the number of people retiring over the years is even greater. I don't think that's a threshold."

“I suggest we increase the required years of service, how about five years?” Cabel said. “No good. A police officer with five years of service is still a police officer. Security companies should have higher requirements for professionalism, management skills, and personal character.”

"Work experience at the level of inspector or above".

Under Kelvin's guidance, the debate gradually shifted from whether to open the market to Chinese people to how to raise the bar. By the time the conservative old guys realized what was happening, it was too late, and they could only follow suit and make even stricter demands.

Listening to Cabel's story, Wang Yaotang raised his glass and clinked it with Kelvin's. "Your wisdom amazes me. They are completely led by the nose by you."

"Thank you," Kelvin said with a smile. "I stand on the side of truth, and being in this position always means doing something. I hope my son can follow my example."

"Kelvin is studying law at the London School of Economics and Political Science and currently works at a law firm," Cabel said with a smile.

Wang Yaotang immediately understood, "You know, doing security business inevitably involves a lot of legal issues, and I really hope to hire Kelvin Jr. to work in the company's legal department."

"I thank you on behalf of Kelvin." Kelvin raised his glass, and the two clinked it lightly.

Later, Wang Yaotang reached procurement agreements with Andy, Assistant Director of the Operations Department, and Ambrose, Assistant Director of the Support Department, respectively, for communication equipment and security equipment.

After a banquet, they booked a room at the Peninsula Hotel upstairs, where they arranged for a young and beautiful Scandinavian girl to accompany them. Wang Yaotang also had a private chat with Kabel in the coffee shop.

"The governor has been in informal communication with the north, but the north's attitude is very tough," Cabel said, his voice tinged with desolation as he spoke with a hint of drunkenness. "Everyone is rather pessimistic."

"Hehe, several of the opposition members are over 50 years old. They can retire while still in office, so naturally they don't want to change anything. But we are different. If the negotiations really fail, the top police officers will definitely be replaced. This is a violent institution, and it is impossible for it to continue to be controlled by the British."

Wang Yaotang understood what he meant. They were looking for a way out for themselves, and now that they saw him making a big clean-up, they were preparing to place a bet on him.

The police force truly began localizing its civil servants after the handover. The north has always prioritized stability, so a gradual replacement is inevitable. These people will have at least another 20 years of good days ahead, so cooperation is definitely worthwhile.

……

"Boxing champion Hai, what are you still hesitating for!"

"Can't you see it clearly? Cai Shenyao is simply trying to completely privatize 'Shengyi'."

"Screw his generosity. He gave all the lower-level territories to his underlings to buy them off. He distributed so many territories, and the three of you do nothing. How can the underlings stay in line?"

"He has his own ways of making money, do you?"

"You don't have any!"

"After things have escalated for a while, how many people will still be willing to follow you loyally? At that time, unless you are willing to be his dogs, you will have to give up your positions with just one word from him. He may call you uncles, but how will you support yourselves in your old age?"

“In a few years, the entire ‘Sheng Yi’ will be his people, hehe, and it will become ‘New Sheng Yi’ Company just like the Xiang family. There won’t be any room for you to eat then.”

"This is the best opportunity. All the major companies in the industry hate him now. If you miss this chance, you'll never have another one."

"Think about it!"

……

"Brother Yao, two invitations, where to?" The four-eyed guy spread out the two invitations on the table.

One of the invitations came from the official Pengcheng government, inviting him to attend the New Year's Eve party.

One was sent by TVB, also about the New Year's Eve gala.

Wang Yaotang took the document, opened it, and slapped the bespectacled guy across the face. "You idiot! It's clearly from two different days! You scared me half to death!"

He definitely had to attend since he was from Pengcheng, but Old Man Shao had previously given him face by selling the copyright, and he also wanted to acquire the TVB copyright later, so he couldn't very well refuse the invitation.

The bespectacled guy chuckled, "I heard from Jia Hui that Wu Zhiqiang also has a show."

“His name is Wu Zhenyu now,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile.

"I feel his name is poorly chosen. How can Wu Zhenyu become famous? Who will remember him?"

"Then what did you call it?"

"His name is Wu Zhentang, he's in charge of the fire!"

"Tch!" Wang Yaotang gave him the middle finger. "Did Fu Kaixin send any word?"

"We gave it to him. He wanted shares in the plastics factory, but he wanted us to keep 10%, but we would have to compensate him 1200 million."

"Damn, mining rights are really valuable," Wang Yaotang cursed. "Agree to it."

"We've got results from Hong Kong Electric. We've obtained evidence of wrongdoing from most of the management. When are we going to talk to them?"

Wang Yaotang picked at his fingers. "Do you think we have any hope of taking the mine back from Hong Kong Electric?"

"Huh? That can't be right?" The bespectacled man frowned and said, "The reason the Hong Kong government kept the two mines in its hands was to regulate the building materials market."

"Adjust my ass! We only have 5% market share left on the surface. What are we going to adjust?" Wang Yaotang scoffed. "I bet those guys at the Governor's Office don't even know where Shek O is!"

"That doesn't matter. Someone will definitely jump out and obstruct it, unless you're prepared to pay them off."

“Not necessarily.” Wang Yaotang chuckled. “Why should we push for it? Let the two mines speak up themselves, let the Hong Kong government increase investment in technological upgrades and improve workers’ treatment, and then organize a group of sick workers to protest and demonstrate. There’s a lot of dust from mining, so most of them have lung disease, and there are bound to be many workplace injuries. Let them make a scene.”

“If you directly acquire those bureaucrats, they definitely won’t agree, but if you get them to solve the problems, they’ll immediately agree to sell.”

"That's what Lu Xun said!"

The four-eyed guy's eyes lit up; he'd learned something new again!
This time, unlike the fighting and killing in the past, it's all normal business tactics!

"Let's send them the evidence of their crimes first to make them happy, and then we can talk."

"Okay, I'll take care of it!" (End of Chapter)