After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 597 Not Good Intentions, But a Threat

The delegation is having a meeting.

Just like the entire Hong Kong government, it was filled with a festive atmosphere.

Major media outlets are already reporting that international capital, led by George Soros, has finally been defeated in Hong Kong after sweeping through multiple countries around the world. Some even speculate that Soros lost at least $7 million in this battle!
It just goes to show how skilled Wall Street financial traders are; their various hedging strategies are dazzling.

If they win, they can earn billions of dollars; if they lose, they will only lose a few hundred million dollars.

Fortunately, it was refunded.

The Hong Kong government has returned to calm amidst the chaos.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Zhengqi also attended the delegation meeting, dressed in a black suit and white gloves. Anyone who didn't know better would have mistaken him for someone's bodyguard.

Upon inquiring, I discovered that he was indeed dressed as a bodyguard.

He was terrified.

Therefore, he hired five or six bodyguards to protect him.

This is not enough.

He dressed like a bodyguard, usually hiding among them, so that even if an assassin came, he could pass as one and get away with it.

Feeling sympathetic, Zhou Haoran warmly greeted him, "Young Master Zhou, I have good news for you!"

"is it?"

Zhou Zhengqi's face was gloomy.

Soros and his associates are proficient in various financial strategies and have always used hedging strategies to mitigate risks so that if they ultimately fail, they can lose less.

Zhou Zhengqi was no good.

How could he possibly know any of this?

They all rushed in blindly, following the short sellers of international capital.

He raised a total of HK$3 million, of which he personally contributed HK$2 million.

After the big battle, HK$8000 million remained.

It suffered a loss of HK$2.2 million.

If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have come to the Hong Kong government against the wind.

"Really!" Zhou Haoran exclaimed happily. "The delegation made a fortune this time, and everyone who invested benefited!"

"Ah."

Zhou Zhengqi's reaction was indifferent; his heart was bleeding.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "As of yesterday's closing, the delegation's unrealized profit was 86.2%. You invested HKD 50, and you've already made over HKD 40!"

"Ah."

The happier Zhou Zhengqi saw him, the more heartbroken he became.

Zhou Haoran boasted, "Back then, I said the direction for rescuing the market was entertainment blue-chip stocks, but you didn't agree. Now, how about it? My strategy was right, wasn't it? It made you hundreds of thousands!"

"Well, thanks."

Zhou Zhengqi gritted his teeth.

Zhou Haoran smiled and said, "No need for thanks. Saving the market is an act of patriotism, and it's only right that we repay them in the future."

Zhou Zhengqi couldn't listen any longer and said seriously, "By the way, for this trip to the Hong Kong government, I asked a lot of media friends for help with public relations and building the delegation's reputation, which cost a lot of money. I heard that the reimbursement process is stuck?"

“It was initially blocked, but then I heard about it and gave you special approval.” Zhou Haoran seemed quite nonchalant. “Anyway, it’s only HK$160 million, not much.”

Zhou Zhengqi's expression softened, and he said calmly, "These are official expenses for the delegation's efforts to revive the market. They should all be reimbursed. There's no reason for me to pay out of my own pocket."

"Yes, that's the truth."

Zhou Haoran accepted it completely.

"Okay, let's have a meeting then."

Zhou Zhengqi's anger subsided slightly.

As a result, when the meeting started, his temper flared up again.

Because of the successful market rescue and the profits made, Zhou Haoran's authority became unshakeable, and the place practically became his personal fiefdom.

That’s all.

One member openly provoked.

To say that some people are saving the market while others are secretly traitors is intolerable!
This behavior should be reported to Secretary-General Yang, and he should be expelled from the delegation, or even dismissed from the port's business community! He should be forever branded with shame!

Although no names were mentioned, everyone knew that the target was Zhou Zhengqi!
Fortunately, Zhou Haoran acted as a peacemaker, saying kindly, "Alright, Lao Meng, these are all hearsay and unsubstantiated rumors, so let's not discuss them in the meeting."

"If you want evidence, just check with the securities company and you'll find out!"

Old Meng stared coldly at Zhou Zhengqi.

"Alright, now that the market rescue is successful and international capital has withdrawn, today is a celebration. We can discuss other matters later!"

Zhou Haoran then smoothed things over.

But he didn't rule out the possibility of a definitive answer.

This caused Zhou Zhengqi some panic.

After the meeting.

Zhou Haoran then revealed the reason.

"Young Master Zhou, I remember you told me before that you and Mr. Ye from Fitto Records are good friends?"

Zhou Haoran has encountered a small problem with his acquisition of Fitto Records. "Is there something wrong?"

Zhou Zhengqi immediately realized that this was a offer to set conditions, and the benefits wouldn't be free.

Zhou Haoran smiled and said, "It's like this, Tangren Media is a media and entertainment company in our harbor, and they wanted to acquire Fitto Records. The talks were going well, but just yesterday, Emperor Group got involved; they also want Fitto Records."

"Emperor Group?"

Zhou Zhengqi raised an eyebrow; that was a local behemoth of the Hong Kong government.

Zhou Haoran nodded. "Yes, talk to President Ye and agree on the price he suggested: HK$4000 million. Hopefully, we can sell Fitto Records to Tangren Media."

The original agreement was to acquire Fitto Records for HK$1000 million, plus assume HK$2500 million in debt.

But Emperor Group still made a move.

They want to acquire Fitto Records for HK$1500 million, including HK$2500 million in debt and HK$4000 million in liabilities.

There's no other way but to go with the price.

"Tangren Media..." Zhou Zhengqi had naturally heard of it; the name had appeared frequently in major Hong Kong newspapers recently. "Is this your company?"

Zhou Haoran smiled and said, "Just helping a friend out."

"Ah."

Zhou Zhengqi didn't believe it at all; this was most likely his company.

Zhou Haoran said in a deep voice, "During the meeting just now, Lao Meng said some harsh things, which I think went too far. If someone becomes a traitor and the news gets back to the port, their reputation will be completely ruined, and they will never be able to stand up again. I think that went too far. Hong Kong is a free port with free trade, and it doesn't involve moral judgment. That's my consistent understanding of the market."

Zhou Zhengqi could vaguely sense the threat in his tone.

However, they were powerless to refute it.

“Fitto Records…” Zhou Zhengqi hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, “Mr. Ye’s wife and my wife have been friends for many years. Let me ask her for you and see what the situation is.”

Zhou Haoran shook his head and said calmly, "4000 million Hong Kong dollars to acquire Fitto Records. I don't like clowns who haggle. The Hong Kong government has many record companies, it won't make a difference if it doesn't work out! If it works out, great; if not, so be it."

I'll try my best!

Zhou Zhengqi realized the seriousness of the matter.

Oh shit!

This is a threat!

While at the harbor, he went to the Red Mansion Teahouse and threatened Mr. Da, saying that if he didn't help, there would definitely be a very strong competitor in the transportation card project.

However, Zhou Haoran was not swayed by this and did not accept the threats.

Now that the Hong Kong government has arrived, Zhou Zhengqi has been outmaneuvered.

They were also threatened.

But he didn't even have the courage to refuse!
If it were discovered that the deputy head of the bailout delegation was secretly engaging in short selling with international capital... this is certainly not illegal, and he would not be expelled from the port's business community.

However, it doesn't hold up morally.

The reputation of "Master Zhou" that had been painstakingly built up was completely ruined.

"Yes, I'll try my best," Zhou Zhengqi repeated. "I'll try my best to get it done for you!"

……

The last two days of August have passed.

There's a feeling that the smoke of battle has cleared up.

June 1th.

The formal contract was signed.

Tangren Media completed its first acquisition in Hong Kong, buying Capital Artists from the South China Morning Post Group for a total price of HK$9000 million.

Of this, HK$6000 million is in cash and must be settled by the end of the year.

The remaining 3000 million is Capital Artists' own debt.

This is absolutely big news in Hong Kong's entertainment industry, especially in the music scene; it's quite a sensation. You know, even the renowned Anita Mui's contract is still held by Capital Artists. What direction will she take in the future?

Tang Shiyi gave several interviews to reporters from the Hong Kong government, discussing this matter.

They indicated that Capital Artists will treat every established singer more fairly in the future.

Every artist is a partner.

Tangren Media will establish Tangren Records, and Huaxing Records, as a subsidiary of Tangren Records, will adopt the same mechanism as Tangren Records.

It's no longer the kind of contract system that exploits artists.

It's a partnership system!

We must return creative freedom to artists and share market profits more fairly with every artist.

For a time, the "partnership system" became the biggest topic in the Hong Kong music scene.

Singers who have been exploited for too many years are yearning for this.

What exactly is this mechanism?
It feels very high-end!
Tang Shiyi didn't explain much; she was preparing for something else.

Today is September 1st.

As agreed before.

It's time to take possession of the house.

(End of this chapter)