A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

"It feels so good to be back in Hong Kong! I have two beautiful wives and a bunch of obedient and sensible children. This is the life I've always wanted!"

Upon returning to Hong Kong from Japan, Chan Kwong-leung sighed with emotion at his villa on Conduit Road.

Yan Renmei and Jiang Meiying, one on each side, welcomed him home, giving him the highest status in the family.

Yan Renmei, standing to the side, said with a smile, "Everyone thinks our Mr. Chen is all about 'making money,' but little do they know, Mr. Chen values ​​family the most."

That’s true!

To outsiders, Chen Guangliang must have so many and such large businesses that he must be working 24/7.

Chen Guangliang said confidently, "Making money is easy for me, so it doesn't take up too much of my energy. Spending more time with my family is naturally very important."

Jiang Meiying also said, "The children love to be around you so much; they ask me every day when their dad is coming back!"

Chen Guangliang said proudly, "So, I am a true winner in life."

He typically works eight hours a day, 52 hours a week, and rarely works overtime. As for social engagements, he avoids unnecessary ones and spends more time with his family.

The three of them walked into the villa chatting and laughing. The children were still at school, so they didn't disturb them.

"Perfect timing, let's go to the pool for a swim and relieve the fatigue of the journey."

A slight blush appeared on the faces of the two women. Although a year ago, the relationship between the man and the woman had become a reality, the two women still routinely refused for various reasons, only occasionally indulging in a little bit of craziness.

It was 10 a.m., and the children had all gone to school. This man had been cooped up in Japan for a while, and there was no reason for him to let this opportunity slip by.

Soon, the three of them arrived at the swimming pool.

At that time in Hong Kong, even drinking water was a problem, but Chen Guangliang's swimming pool had plenty of tap water.

There's no way around it; if the poor are asked to save money, the rich should naturally spend more. Otherwise, how can the rich distribute their wealth to the poor?

Although the two women's swimsuits were conservative, they were considered quite revealing for this era, showing off their long, white legs. Even after having several children, the two women still possessed a youthful charm.

Over the years, time seems to have left few marks on them. Jiang Meiying, 35, and Yan Renmei, 33, look like they are in their early twenties. If they were to play college students, they would definitely be praised without a doubt.

Even after a long marriage, passion can still linger. As long as the relationship is strong, every day can feel like a new day. Of course, adding a little excitement now and then is certainly a form of romance.

Yan Renmei was elegant and beautiful, while Jiang Meiying possessed a classic and sexy charm; both were top-tier beauties of the Republic of China era, and both ended up marrying Chen Guangliang, much to the envy of many. More importantly, both came from prominent families and had considerable influence.

Chen Guangliang was able to marry these two wives not because of his wealth, and neither woman would have given herself to him for money. Ultimately, it was Chen Guangliang's personal charm that made him successful.

This could also be a kind of "time travel cheat," after all, he can handle things that even ancient emperors couldn't.

"You two go to the bedroom and get ready. I'll be right back for you!"

Yan Renmei first said seriously, "Aren't you ruining our lives again?"

Chen Guangliang shamelessly said, "We're an old married couple, sometimes we need something different. I've been cooped up outside for ten days, I'm afraid you two can't handle it alone."

Jiang Meiying took Yan Renmei's arm and said, "Sister, look at his eyes, they look like he wants to eat people. I think we should just agree to him today."

Yan Renmei spat and said, "You always give in to him."

Even so, they had already started walking inside.

Chen Guangliang rubbed his hands together, thinking to himself that he was in for a treat today.

It's June.

Although Chiang Kai-shek's "tiger-hunting operation" in Shanghai failed, he still managed to plunder over 1.146 million taels of gold, over 3452 million US dollars, 11 million Hong Kong dollars, over 369 million silver dollars, and over 960,000 taels of silver for the Nationalist government.

It is called a 'failure' because Kong Lingkan, the boss of Yangzi Company, the largest smuggling group in Shanghai, was released without charge thanks to the intervention of Sister Song and the Commander-in-Chief.

Therefore, the media have said that this so-called "anti-corruption campaign" is nothing more than a complete "plundering operation".

As a result, the economy of the areas under the Nationalist government's control deteriorated completely, and the gold yuan depreciated at a rate that could be described in seconds.

By the time you made the purchase, the gold yuan had likely depreciated significantly, so many merchants simply closed their doors and refused to sell their goods.

This situation exacerbated the flow of wealthy people from the mainland to Hong Kong, not only due to changes in the war situation, but also because the Nationalist government was experiencing internal problems in its governance.

Gold became one of the most valued tools for preserving wealth among Chinese people at this time, so gold prices in Shanghai, Guangdong, and Hong Kong soared, creating a huge price difference with overseas prices.

For example, in Hong Kong, one tael of gold has reached HK$430, which is more than twice the price of gold in the United States.

The United States had a gold price of $35 per ounce, which was relatively cheap in the world. It was precisely because of the Bretton Woods system that American gold gradually flowed to other countries.

Of course, there was no sign of that yet, since the system had only just been established.

In the office, Chen Guangliang and a group of financial advisors were discussing the issue of gold in Hong Kong.

Zhang Shounian offered his perspective: "The Hong Kong Gold and Silver Exchange's gold prices are severely out of sync with overseas markets, making it a lawless zone according to relevant US regulations. I believe that relevant international organizations will inevitably put pressure on the Hong Kong government!"

Chen Guangliang calmly asked, "So, do you think gold will continue to rise, or conversely, fall?"

Zhang Shounian said, "There is a high possibility that prices will continue to rise. Merchants from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai who have come to Hong Kong have joined the Hong Kong Gold and Silver Exchange to speculate on gold. In addition, the domestic market has made gold a safe-haven asset. What I am worried about is that the Hong Kong government may be under pressure to cancel or restrict the Gold and Silver Exchange."

There's some truth to that. If gold prices in Hong Kong remain high, it would be tantamount to undermining the 'post-war financial system' established by the United States, which would certainly put pressure on Britain and Hong Kong.

Chen Guangliang quickly replied, "It's alright. I predict that if 99% gold can't be speculated on, 94% or 95% gold will be fine. Recasting the gold can avoid that possibility, so the Hong Kong Gold and Silver Exchange will not be cancelled."

However, he also had a thought in mind: once the price of gold in Hong Kong reached HK$500 per tael, he planned to cash out 30,000 taels to test the waters. After all, his portfolio was too large, and if he cashed out through the Gold and Silver Exchange, it was unlikely that the price would rise to over HK$600 or HK$700 per tael, as it had in his previous life.

He has a total of over 170,000 taels of gold, which he needs to cash out completely before September next year. The cashed-out Hong Kong dollars also need to be exchanged for US dollars, because the British pound is expected to depreciate by 30% next year, and the Hong Kong dollar will naturally depreciate as well.

For example, currently 1 US dollar is equal to 4 Hong Kong dollars, but after September next year, 1 US dollar will be worth slightly over 5 Hong Kong dollars. This exchange rate, along with minor fluctuations, remained stable until the early 1980s.
Ye Ximing said, "Perhaps even if gold in Hong Kong reaches HK$500 per tael, the pressure can still be withstood. The key point is that Cantonese gold speculators use Macau as a base to import gold from overseas and then smuggle it to Hong Kong to cash out at high prices. Those gold speculators from Shanghai really have no idea about this."

In fact, if their boss hadn't ordered an investigation, they wouldn't have known that the Cantonese gold speculators had formed gangs, clearly taking advantage of the Shanghai gold speculators' unfamiliarity with the environment to prepare to win this war.

Chen Guangliang calmly stated, "Let them speculate. We'll remain calm and collected. We've recently withdrawn the funds we used for gold speculation, and we'll no longer engage in futures trading."

"Ok"

In reality, Ping An Bank's gold futures trading on the Gold and Silver Exchange is more of a smokescreen; the trading is active, but the profits and losses are extremely low.

Chen Guangliang's real goal was simply to cash out his gold holdings.

Hang Seng Bank.

He Shanheng gathered He Tian and others and said, "Recently, you should apply for gold more frequently. More and more wealthy people in Shanghai are enjoying the gold and silver trading market. They are happy with speculating on and holding gold, and the market is getting better and better."

Everyone was overjoyed!

All people know is that they cooperate with Luo Bao and He Xian in Macau, which allows them to have a stable supply of goods at a very good price.

He Tian nodded and said, "Okay, I usually apply for 2000 or 3000, and I'll increase the frequency later. But I heard that Ping An Bank is also trading gold, and Chen Guangliang is a gold trading expert. Do you have the confidence to control this market?"

Liang Qiuju and others were also concerned about the issue. They knew that Chen Guangliang had the reputation of being the "King of Gold Bidding in Shanghai" in the early 1930s, and was also the most influential "speculator" in Shanghai.

He Shanheng laughed and said, "No matter how capable he is, without Macau as a base, it will be difficult for him to import and export gold from Hong Kong. So this is our Cantonese territory, how can he possibly compete with us? By the way, the Chaoshan gang is also importing gold from Macau. They are a very good force. I have already contacted Chen Bichen of Pangu Bank, Liao Baoshan of Liu Chong Hing Bank, and other Chaoshan gang members, and we are preparing to join forces to drive up the price of gold, lure Shanghai people into a trap, and then cash out at the peak. With just this one move, we will be in an invincible position."

He Tian nodded and said, "The people of Shanghai are unfamiliar with the place and the market, which is a good opportunity for us Cantonese. After the war, Chen Guangliang came to Hong Kong and made us Cantonese merchants pale in comparison. It's time for us to win back some ground."

"right"

Chen Guangliang's strength has amazed many people—he is a Chinese-owned behemoth in almost every industry, including shipping, trade, finance, real estate, industry, and film.

The two adopted sons of Hardoon—David George Hardoon and Robert Vidor Hardoon—also quickly discovered the secrets of the Hong Kong Gold and Silver Exchange after arriving in Hong Kong.

David George Hardoon said to his brother, “Victor, I think we should move some of our assets to Hong Kong, but money will depreciate if it’s not invested. So I think we should come to Hong Kong to speculate on gold.”

Robbie Vidor Hardoon asked doubtfully, "Investing in gold? I think investing in real estate is a safer bet."

"No, no, no, think about it: if the Nationalist government fails, will Hong Kong be stable?"

"It's unlikely to be stable."

"So, real estate can't be moved, but gold can. Therefore, many Chinese people will need more gold, and the price of gold will rise even higher. So I have already started hoarding gold in Hong Kong, and we will sell it later and exchange it for US dollars and British pounds. Maybe then we can go back to Europe and become nobles."

Robbie Vidor Hardoon's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Great, let's speculate on gold in Hong Kong."

The case of Hartung, which lasted 16 years, was finally settled last year.

The specific allocation plan is as follows:
After the remaining gold and silver jewelry in the estate was appraised, 88% was given to David George Hardoon and Robert Vito Hardoon, and 12% was given to the Brothers of Hardoon.

David George Hardoon received more than 260 mu of land, accounting for 58.3% of the total, and more than 15 square meters of houses, accounting for 48.2% of the total (including the number of foreign adopted children other than Robert Vito Hardoon);

Robbie Vido Hardoon received over 60 mu of land, accounting for 13.3% of the total, and over 5 square meters of housing, accounting for 13.7% of the total.

Luo Youlan and others received more than 70 mu of land, accounting for 17% of the total, and 6 square meters of houses, accounting for 19% of the total.

Ji Juemi and others received the remaining land of more than 50 mu and houses of 4.7 square meters.

Many of the land and properties were still mortgaged because, according to the UK inheritance tax law at the time, Hardoon's enormous fortune was subject to an inheritance tax of 1700 million yuan. Luo Jialing couldn't come up with that much cash immediately, so she had no choice but to mortgage 16 properties in the city center to obtain a loan of 1800 million yuan to pay the taxes. This loan had an annual interest rate of 6.5% and a term of 10 years, but it was never fully repaid before Luo Jialing's death.

Of course, Hardoon's descendants are divided into two groups: foreigners and Chinese.

Among the foreign descendants, David George Hardoon and Robert Vito Hardoon inherited the largest share of the wealth, and now they have decided to speculate on gold in Hong Kong.

Those of Chinese descent have no intention of immigrating.

Fate has such a clever way of arranging things; what awaits Hardoon's descendants is, of course.
Mid-month.

A grand groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new headquarters building of Ping An Bank, located at No. 1 Garden Road. Chen Guangliang invited many Hong Kong celebrities to attend the ceremony, and the most important person was then Governor of Hong Kong, Alexander Grantham.

At the scene, everyone congratulated Chen Guangliang and marveled at the strength of Hong Kong's largest Chinese-owned bank.

The new Ping An Bank building, including the land, is expected to have a total investment of HK$800 million, equivalent to US$200 million, which is quite extravagant.

The new building is 15 stories high, surpassing the 14 stories of the Bank of East Asia and the 13 stories of HSBC, making it the tallest commercial building in Hong Kong.

In his speech, Grantham cited Chan Kwong-leung's investment in the Ping An Bank Building as an example, emphasizing the excellent prospects of Hong Kong under British rule, and thus positioning Chan Kwong-leung as a business figure who was close to Britain, in order to attract the Chinese people's attention.

Chen Guangliang will not comment on this, since he is not currently involved in either of the two factions in China, so it is normal for him to lean towards the West.

In the future, as long as the Chen Guangliang family is powerful enough, they will naturally receive the best treatment. Just like the Dong Haoyun family in the previous life, who helped transport military supplies between Taiwan and the United States in the 1950s, their eldest son also rose to a very high position.

These days, only 'profit' matters!
At the subsequent reception, Chen Guangliang greeted everyone one by one, enjoying immense prestige.

He is powerful, but no one can do anything about him.

Historically, powerful figures who ultimately collapse are usually those who suffer from internal problems. However, the Chen family will remain under Chen Guangliang's control for the next seventy or eighty years, so there will naturally be no internal issues.

As for the longer term, the family has already been around for so long; it's no longer his concern. (End of Chapter)