After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 582 Charity Auction
The bailout plan has been finalized.

The delegation represents the port's business community, as well as the port itself, and even the entire mainland.

This visit to Hong Kong was very high-profile.

Many media outlets, especially those with official backing, are reporting on this, actively highlighting the concern of the people of the motherland for their compatriots in Hong Kong.

Therefore, the market rescue plan must be impressive!

It cannot be ordinary or unremarkable.

Instead of investing the HK$4 million in the entire stock market, it would be better to select a few key companies to support and boost their stock prices in the short term. This would quickly demonstrate the effectiveness of the market rescue efforts.

So the question is, which stocks should we choose?

As for Zhou Zhengqi, everything was already decided long ago. He bought a luxury mansion in Hong Kong long ago and became a darling of flaunting his wealth, hailed by the local media as the richest man in the harbor...

He has someone he likes.

Therefore, he needed to firmly win over Jiang Feibiao in order to gain his support.

After experiencing a series of failures in the delegation, Zhou Haoran seems to have relinquished power.

I did not participate in any of these.

Instead, he attended a charity auction held at the Peninsula Hotel, which was part of the entertainment industry.

So-called charity.

This was a display of the Hong Kong government's celebrities' fervent enthusiasm to raise funds for flood relief efforts in mainland China. The initiative included not only charity auctions but also charity performances. Almost all of Hong Kong's top stars participated, including the Four Heavenly Kings, Jackie Chan, Anita Mui, and many more…

All the performances were free.

All proceeds will be donated to the mainland affected by the floods.

This has almost become the norm in Hong Kong's entertainment industry.

Before the devastating earthquake in 2008, whenever the mainland encountered any uncontrollable natural disaster, Hong Kong celebrities would unite to hold charity performances and auctions, raising a large sum of money to donate.

There is a dividing line between charity performances and charity auctions.

Those who participate in charity performances are all artists.

Those who participate in charity auctions are mostly bosses and managers. If any celebrities participate, they have to be at the level of the Four Heavenly Kings. If some second- or third-tier celebrities participate in charity auctions, people who don't know the situation might think they are trying to use this opportunity to get to know those big shots.

Zhou Haoran is going to participate in a charity event.

They can only participate in charity auctions.

Getting an invitation is really difficult, but luckily he's a "representative," possessing a certain official status. Participating in a charity auction is a good thing; it should be actively promoted.

Then, the Liaison Office staff made the arrangements directly.

He introduced Shaw Yi-fu, the most powerful figure in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.

The two met.

It felt like we'd known each other forever!
Even Shao Yifu was moved to tears.

It turns out that the Shaw Brothers ran a film company on the Huangpu River during the Republic of China era and had received favors from the Red Mansion Teahouse. Thinking back, that was fifty years ago.

Unexpectedly, half a century has passed.

The appearance of the Master of the Red Mansion Teahouse rekindled Shao Yifu's old memories.

That night.

Zhou Haoran, accompanied by his female companion Tang Shiyi, rode in Shao Yifu's private car, which had the license plate number 6, to the Peninsula Hotel.

Shao Yifu and his wife, Ms. Fang, made an appearance.

Standing side by side with him were Zhou Haoran and Tang Shiyi.

Outside the Peninsula Hotel, reporters and paparazzi thronged, their flashes illuminating the night like day!
This is quite surprising.

Mr. Shao is quite old, and it's rare for him to participate in such activities these days. This will definitely be a major news story for major media outlets tomorrow.

But who are the handsome man and beautiful woman next to them?

Could he be Mr. Shao's illegitimate son?

"Mr. Shao, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

Upon entering the hotel, the first person to greet me was an elderly man in a tuxedo, who looked to be at least sixty years old.

Everyone in the industry knows this.

Mr. Shao is proficient in the harbor dialect, which wouldn't work for the Hong Kong government.

He can speak Cantonese, but he doesn't like to.

We usually communicate in English.

So they spoke in English.

Shao Yifu responded in English, "Mr. Yang, you're here too?"

Mr. Yang sighed and said, "This flood in the Yangtze River is quite massive, a once-in-a-century event. I've seen the scenes of flood control and rescue efforts... It's both moving and heartbreaking."

"Ah."

Shao Yifu nodded.

Mr. Yang glanced at the young man beside him and couldn't help but ask, "Who is this?"

Shao Yifu then became more talkative, saying in Cantonese, "This is Mr. Zhou Haoran, from the harbor. The harbor's business community has come to rescue the market, not hesitating to challenge international capital, you know that, right?"

"know."

Mr. Yang looked suspicious.

Shao Yifu pointed at Zhou Haoran and said, "That's him. He's the head of the delegation."

"So young?"

Mr. Yang was taken aback.

Zhou Haoran joked, "International capital is like wolves and tigers, and only a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers."

"sorry!"

Mr. Yang dared not be careless this time, and quickly changed his tone to introduce himself.

He said he runs a small business and owns a company called Emperor Group.

"So, you're going to enter the entertainment industry?"

Shaw Yi-fu was very familiar with the Hong Kong government. This Mr. Yang's sudden appearance at such a charity auction was not simply a matter of donating money and showing love; rather, it indicated that the Emperor Group intended to enter the entertainment industry and was making an appearance.

Mr. Yang readily admitted, "There is indeed such a plan, and I hope Mr. Shao will take good care of it."

Shao Yifu gave a calm "hmm".

Then we went into the elevator together.

Headed straight to the charity gala venue.

But I didn't expect it.

When Zhou Haoran was about to enter the elevator, he was stopped by the security guard standing at the elevator door, who said something in Cantonese that Zhou Haoran didn't understand.

They probably asked him to go to the elevator next door, feeling that since he was from the mainland, he wasn't qualified to ride the elevator with Mr. Shao and Mr. Yang.

Did they not look at anyone else and actively avoid them?
Fortunately, Shao Yifu said something that allowed Zhou Haoran and Tang Shiyi to get into the elevator as well.

Once inside the charity auction venue...

Now things are getting lively!
Mr. Shao has arrived!
Everyone in the room stood up.

Those who aren't high-profile enough should wait in the distance.

Only a few big bosses could enthusiastically come up and chat with Shao Yifu with smiles on their faces.

This scene resonated deeply with Zhou Haoran.

This is what a true gangster boss is like!

Shaw Yi-fu's prestige and influence within the Hong Kong government's entertainment industry truly made him an industry leader.

What follows is a repetitive scene.

Many prominent figures in the industry came over, and Shao Yifu generously introduced Zhou Haoran, the deputy head of the delegation, to everyone. In an instant, those strange looks turned fervent.

Praising the powerful and belittling the weak has always been a local characteristic.

Wait until the charity auction begins.

Shaw Yi-fu was the first to make a move, spending HK$60 to buy a painting.

This sets the tone for tonight's charity auction.

This is a donation.

This is not a place to flaunt wealth.

HK$60 is the upper limit.

Everyone should donate what they can, and not endlessly raise prices in an attempt to use this sacred occasion to the fullest to try and outdo other bosses in order to elevate their status and gain fame.

This can be considered a common practice in societies with more mature charitable activities.

It can prevent charity from being distorted.

In contrast, the situation in mainland China is not good, not even in twenty or thirty years. Many people use charity as an opportunity for self-promotion, driven by strong utilitarianism. They exploit the opportunity of charitable acts to generate exorbitant sums to attract public attention, become famous, and become patriotic role models, thereby earning even more money.

Unaware of the situation, some people might even praise him, saying, "He deserves to make money."

Zhou Haoran followed local customs and also contributed HK$60.

When the hammer fell, several strange looks were indeed seen in the audience.

This young man offered HK$60, which puts him on par with Mr. Shao. Everyone else offered tens of thousands less than Mr. Shao when they donated.

After all, there aren't many top-tier wealthy families in the entertainment industry.

Shao Yifu is the biggest tycoon in this industry.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Haoran, a newcomer, is so fierce right from the start!

Yes, it definitely has an official feel to it!

This delegation that went south to rescue the market is truly extraordinary!
"Mr. Zhou, I noticed you've already placed an order for a small gift, so I wanted to come over and introduce myself. I'm the CEO of Media Asia Films, my surname is Liu, and everyone calls me Johnny..."

A filmmaker with a small mustache bowed and walked over.

"Hello, please sit down."

Zhou Haoran smiled, giving the other person a chance to approach.

Mr. Liu sat down and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Zhou, you are the deputy head of the market rescue delegation. I would like to know what market rescue plan you have adopted?"

"This one……"

Zhou Haoran seemed to be in a dilemma.

Mr. Liu sighed, "International capital is too hateful. They have carried out a brutal and inhumane plunder of the Hong Kong government. The stock price of Media Asia Films has fallen by 75% compared to last year's high."

"so much?"

Zhou Haoran was shocked.

Mr. Liu said bitterly, "That's right. The Hong Kong film market is in decline. Mr. Lin and I wanted to save the Hong Kong film industry, so we founded Media Asia Films to lead it out of the shadows. We were doing well, but then we encountered Soros."

"Mr. Lin?" Zhou Haoran asked calmly, "Who is this?"

Mr. Liu said, "Lin Jianye, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lixin Group."

"Oh, so famous!"

Zhou Haoran immediately became respectful.

Actually, I found it funny.

The Lin family is a truly top-tier local wealthy family in Hong Kong, but due to a dispute over family inheritance, internal strife erupted, making them a laughing stock of the Hong Kong government. This Mr. Lin founded Media Asia Films not to save Hong Kong films, but because he was a womanizer and wanted to take advantage of his position. Even at his advanced age, he was still competing with his sons and grandsons for women.

"So, Huanya is quite powerful!" Zhou Haoran said solemnly. "Even the financial crisis won't affect Huanya, right?"

Mr. Liu said, "Mr. Lin's several listed companies have also been affected... Alas, Mr. Lin can't do without them either. Huanya can only make a living on its own."

"That's it..."

Zhou Haoran drew out a long note.

This Mr. Liu wasn't a big boss at all; he was a film producer by trade, so he was naturally willing to lower himself and ask for a favor. He whispered, "Mr. Zhou, if it's alright, could you please do me a favor?"

"What's the deal?"

"Save Huanya."

(End of this chapter)