A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Time flies, and it was August 1953 in the blink of an eye.

midsummer.

The superyacht 'British American' sailed toward the scenic Jeddah port.

Meanwhile, in the yacht's swimming pool, Chen Guangliang and Audrey Hepburn were playing, a scene more beautiful than any scenery.

Audrey Hepburn wore a one-piece swimsuit, looking both innocent and sexy.

In fact, the bikini was invented in 1946, but it was not accepted by the public. In fact, many European media outlets criticized it for undermining the aesthetic standards of clothing design, and many governments have introduced relevant laws to strictly prohibit women from wearing bikinis in public.

Therefore, even in private settings, Audrey Hepburn refused to wear such clothing; she would only dress her beloved in her room.

"Have they gotten bigger?"

"Of course, it's all thanks to me!"

"Darling, you are absolutely amazing!"

"Don't go around telling anyone, this is our secret."

"Of course, I'm also worried that more women will be sharing you!"

The two were so engrossed in each other in the pool that they were practically about to have sex.

During the 'British American's' voyage from London to Jeddah in Arabia, Audrey Hepburn accompanied the ship throughout the journey; of course, Ella and Chen Wen-ou were also on board, making it a rare vacation.

"Excuse me, may I join you?"

On the shore, fifty-year-old Ella, wearing a swimsuit, came to the poolside.

Chen Guangliang smiled and said, "Of course."

Ella then walked into the pool and said to the two of them, "I'm really worried that you won't be able to control yourselves here and will become a laughing stock among the servants!"

Good guy!
No, no, no!

Audrey Hepburn said shyly, "Mommy, what are you saying!"

Ella laughed and said, "I'm telling the truth. Every time you two are together, you only have eyes for each other. Victor has to follow me around asking, 'Grandma, where are Mom and Dad?' I always have to find all sorts of reasons to coax him. My God, is he superfluous?"

Although it was a joke, there was some truth to it: Chen Guangliang and Audrey Hepburn were in a passionate relationship.

They spend 30 to 40 days a year together, so much so that whenever they meet, they want to stick together and never be apart. Of course, even if Chen Guangliang were a superman, he could only last two hours, but Audrey Hepburn probably couldn't.

Audrey Hepburn said, "He's certainly not superfluous, but he's still young and might not remember these things. Besides, we're planning to have another child!"

Upon hearing this, Ella exclaimed, "So fast? Your body?"

Audrey Hepburn confidently stated, "My body is already in excellent health, so I want to have another child while I'm still young!"

Whether you give birth early or late, it's still giving birth. For Chen Guangliang's women, their constitutions have already been altered by their genes, so giving birth is no longer dangerous or damaging to their beauty, and they will recover quickly afterwards.

"Okay, anyway, I quite like kids!"

Soon, Ella couldn't stand the situation and could only mutter something before leaving.

It turns out that Chen Guangliang and Audrey Hepburn were always attracted to each other. Sometimes Chen Guangliang's large hands would massage her beautiful legs, and sometimes their lips would involuntarily touch. Their eyes would also lock.

As Audrey Hepburn watched Ella leave, she laughed and said, "Darling, weren't we being a bit too much?"

Chen Guangliang said, "I believe she will understand, after all, each time we meet is very short, and the opportunity is so rare!"

Audrey Hepburn nodded, and after thinking for a moment, said, "If I go to Hong Kong to see you, will it cause you any trouble?"

This person has really gotten used to being a 'lover' and has lowered their standards considerably.

Upon seeing this, Chen Guangliang immediately said, "Of course not, it's just that I've always been worried that you'd mind! In fact, your two older sisters no longer care about your existence."

"Two older sisters? You mean your two wives?"

"Yes, in our Chinese tradition, during the Republic of China era, concubines were allowed. However, the current laws in Hong Kong follow the Qing Dynasty law, so it's permissible. Therefore, if you wish to join this family, we can hold a family ceremony. If you don't want to, we can maintain the status quo. My love for you will not diminish, nor will my commitment to raising the children. My heart is fair!"

With so many businesses and assets around the world, and being so wealthy now, supporting a three-bedroom family in Europe is no problem for him!
Upon hearing this, Audrey Hepburn began to think seriously. She asked uncertainly, "You two sisters really won't mind? After all, I've been with you for twenty years longer than them. They must have thought for a long time that you wouldn't be unfaithful again."

Good grief, he's targeting himself!
"I don't care. We Chinese believe in male supremacy. I am your emperor!"

"How annoying. Even the emperors of Europe could only have one wife."

"They all have lovers, right?" "Okay, you're right!"

After exchanging a few jokes, Chen Guangliang put his arm around Audrey Hepburn's waist and carried her out of the pool.

Then, she wrapped herself in a bath towel and headed towards the bedroom, ready to enjoy the daytime.
late at night.

In his study, Chen Guangliang was studying a stack of documents, occasionally falling into deep thought.

A while later, Audrey Hepburn walked in, carrying a cup of coffee. Her attire caught his eye, for it was the 'princess dress' that Chen Guangliang had commissioned a designer to create for her, the same look she wore in "Roman Holiday" in his previous life.

Even her hairstyle—Audrey Hepburn had the short hair of the same era in her previous life—was so elegant and with a touch of playfulness.

"Your Majesty, please have some coffee!"

"My beloved concubine, you've worked hard."

Chen Guangliang sipped his coffee, admiring Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey Hepburn looked curiously at the documents on the table and said with puzzlement, "This seems to be a contract for oil exploration in the Arab world. Could this be the reason you came to the Arab world?"

Chen Guangliang smiled and said, "Yes, there are some reasons related to that, but I'm not here for the oil exploration contract. After all, Aramco has already taken the lead and built a tight wall, obtaining exclusive exploration rights. It will be difficult for any coveter to find a crack. I'm here for the oil transportation business!"

Saudi Aramco is a subsidiary of two giant American oil companies, Esso and Texaco. It produces 40 million tons of oil annually in Saudi Arabia, and its immense financial power makes it unmatched by any other company. Aramco's monopoly on Saudi Arabian oil extraction is clearly defined in contracts, with the kingdom receiving a substantial fee for each ton of oil extracted, which is then transported worldwide by the company's own tankers.

Since being looked down upon by major American oil companies last year, Chen Guangliang has been in a bad mood; moreover, his oil fleet has only been able to take on the leftover shipping orders from American and Greek fleets, which made him decide to take a risk.

He carefully studied the contract signed between Aramco and the Arab Kingdom. The extraction contract was indeed flawless, but the oil transportation was not mentioned in the contract.

Why should Aramco charter ships for oil transportation? (Aramco charters ships from shipping companies, and the pricing is controlled by Aramco.)

Of course, Chen Guangliang's willingness to take such a big risk from the United States is also a kind of 'risk'.

But he wasn't worried!
If he succeeds, he will soon become a billionaire; if he fails, he will still be famous worldwide.

As a pilgrimage site for one of the three major religions, Mecca strictly prohibits non-believers and women from entering. Chen Guangliang left Audrey Hepburn on the ship and went on a pilgrimage alone to the famous temple known as the "House of God," the Mecca.

However, as the world's most luxurious and largest superyacht, the 'British American' naturally did not escape the notice of the media in Jeddah; in a short time, major news media outlets reported on it.

In reality, no one could say for sure what the Asian shipping magnate was actually doing. As for speculation, few people paid any attention, as newspapers were filled with such articles every day. That year, Arab oil had just attracted the world's attention, and people looked at the black liquid flowing from the vast desert with envy and admiration, discussing the wealth of King Shah al-Qaeda, the owner of this private territory.

There was no energy crisis, no widespread use of oil as it is today, and no war. Therefore, this sun-scorched desert territory remained relatively tranquil.

In reality, Chen Guangliang did not go to the Temple of Melbourne, but was instead invited by the king to have dinner together.

In the magnificent palaces of Arabia.

Chen Guangliang sat cross-legged among the Arab sheikhs, enjoying roasted mutton and pilaf with them, talking about God, wealth, and even women.

King Ibn asked curiously, "Mr. Chen, you were born in a poor country and experienced many years of war, yet you are still wealthy. How did you manage to do that?"

The chieftains were all curious.

Chen Guangliang then laughed and said, "There are two reasons: First, I believe in the investment philosophy of 'don't put all your eggs in one basket'; second, I'm not too daring, so when Japan invaded Shanghai, I had already transferred my wealth to the rear of the war effort and to the United States. When the civil war broke out in China, I had already transferred my wealth to Hong Kong. I was very lucky both times."

The old King Ibn clapped his hands and laughed, "I think this is not luck, but rather that you have foresight, otherwise you wouldn't be so wealthy today!"

"Haha, thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty!"

Everyone present admired Chen Guangliang's 'precognition'.

Today, Chen Guangliang has a certain degree of fame in the world. After all, his 8-ton oil tanker fleet is worth more than US$1500 million. Add to that his 3000-ton cargo ship fleet, and the total value of the fleet is US$30 million.

After everyone finished dinner, the old King Ibn invited Chen Guangliang to his private room, knowing that Chen Guangliang had something important to discuss with him.

In the secret room, Chen Guangliang said directly, "Your Majesty, I have carefully studied Aramco's oil extraction contracts in Saudi Arabia and discovered a huge fortune that Your Majesty has missed."

The Ibn family was wealthy, and although the Americans were taking the lion's share of the profits, the family remained extremely rich. It's just that the common people didn't benefit much from it.

Even so, King Ibn was still tempted and said, "Mr. Chen, please speak?"

Chen Guangliang then explained in detail: "Therefore, the contract did not stipulate that Aramco should be responsible for the oil transportation business. According to the law, Saudi Arabia's oil should naturally be transported by His Majesty the King's fleet."

King Ibn was shocked!
He never imagined that he would miss out on such a huge opportunity.

But he quickly shook his head, remembering the power of the United States and the powerful backers of Aramco.

Of course, he didn't say it directly, but instead said, "Mr. Chen, it's just that we don't have experience in operating a fleet!"

Exactly what I want!

Chen Guangliang immediately introduced, “King Ibn, I have been involved in the shipping industry since the 1930s. I was once the general manager of the China Merchants Group, the largest ship fleet in a country with a population of 400 million. Now, I own a 300,000-ton cargo ship and an 80,000-ton oil tanker, which is one of the largest private ship fleets in the world. Therefore, I am willing to share the burden with Your Majesty and form this fleet with you, splitting the profits 50/50.”

It's naturally a 50/50 split, otherwise why would he come all this way?
Amidst a complex mix of fear, hesitation, and excitement, King Ibn asked, "What is your specific plan?"

Chen Guangliang said, “It’s very simple. We will form a fleet of 50-ton oil tankers to operate the transportation of oil extracted in Saudi Arabia. I understand the management technology, and you only need to share the profits. If we cooperate, we will definitely make a lot of money.”

Oil is currently around $3 per ton, but the price of shipping it from Saudi Arabia to Europe is over $4 per ton, and the price is even higher when shipping it to the United States.

In short, the profits from oil transportation are not much less than those from oil extraction companies.

“This matter involves a lot of information, and I need time to consider it. As a distinguished guest, Mr. Chen, you might as well take the time to tour Saudi Arabia. We will make things convenient for you.”

"it is good"

After separating from the old king.

Chen Guangliang then had another long talk with Crown Prince Abdulaziz, which was permitted by the old king because he knew that his position would eventually be passed on to the Crown Prince.

Compared to the old king's hesitation, the crown prince was stunned by the wealth. He regretted being overwhelmed by such a huge fortune, letting it flow into someone else's pocket without ever thinking about it.

Chen Guangliang's suggestion was wonderful and appealing: to use Arab oil tankers to transport Arab oil instead of Aramco, which flew the American flag, would double the kingdom's profits.

The allure of wealth is immense, and the Arab palace has lost its tranquility.

The Crown Prince said excitedly, "Mr. Chen, your suggestion is wonderful, but I wonder how my father responded to you?"

Chen Guangliang said, "His Majesty the King did not reply to me, but he said that His Highness the Crown Prince is also a master of the Arabs. I believe he still hopes that the Crown Prince can bravely take back the wealth that rightfully belongs to the Arabs."

The Crown Prince clenched his fist and said, "Of course! Oil has become an important resource for the development of many countries, but the Americans control the pricing power and suppress oil prices. Not only that, but the huge profits from oil transportation are also firmly controlled by the Americans, which is really too domineering. Now that the contract has not been signed, I think Saudi Arabia should take charge of oil transportation!"

Chen Guangliang said from the side, "The law and reason are both on our side!"

The Crown Prince nodded and said, "Mr. Chen, rest assured, I know the size of your fleet and your experience in the shipping industry. If this matter is settled, our royal family is willing to cooperate with you."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness."

The old king did not give Chen Guangliang a clear answer; he was still afraid of America's power and Aramco's background.

Chen Guangliang did not feel regretful because he knew that the key to success lay with the crown prince, since the old king was not going to live much longer.

So after bidding farewell to the old king, Chen Guangliang also visited Jamal Hussein, the leader of the anti-American movement in Saudi Arabia, and gave a detailed introduction to the plan that Saudi Arabia could reclaim the oil transportation rights.

This move received strong support from Hussein, who said, "Mr. Chen is indeed a business genius. Your plan can bring even greater wealth to Saudi Arabia. Rest assured, I will help you persuade His Majesty the King!"

Although Hussein was 'anti-American,' he was an important figure in Saudi Arabia and enjoyed the king's deep trust.

This is why Chen Guangliang wanted to visit him!

Of course, as a Chinese, he knew he couldn't come empty-handed, so Chen Guangliang presented the 'Falcon', a favorite of Saudi tycoons.

"Okay, I want to witness this historic moment so that those domineering and arrogant Americans can see that there are people in this world who can say no to them!"

"certainly"

Chen Guangliang is always stirring up trouble!

Shortly after the 'British American' yacht left Jeddah, another uninvited guest arrived in Riyadh. This wrinkled old man with glasses on his nose was no ordinary person; he was Jamal Schacht, the infamous president of the National Bank of Hitler's Germany.

After the war, instead of sitting in the electric chair at the Nuremberg International Criminal Court, he became a member of the international banking industry and continued his career as a financier.

The German banker's trip was to advise the Saudi king to establish an Arab oil tanker company with the participation of Asian shipping magnates, while Shaht promised to provide the kingdom with a huge loan through a German consortium.

Clearly, Chen Guangliang had reached an agreement with the German banking community—he would continue to obtain loans for shipbuilding in Germany, while the German consortium would persuade the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on his behalf.

At this point in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, only the old king remained hesitant, while the crown prince's heart had already drifted towards that fleet.

With all preparations complete, Saudi Arabia hesitated to openly confront Aramco, fearing the superpower behind Aramco—the United States.

Chen Guangliang could only patiently wait for the right opportunity.

Judging from the Saudi king's appearance, he seemed to be nearing the end of his life, so there was no need for him to rush things; he could simply wait for the crown prince to ascend the throne. (End of Chapter)