Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

Hong Kong, 1955. This Pearl of the Orient displayed unique vitality in a post-war era of reconstruction and abundant opportunities. Ships came and went in Victoria Harbour, and the neon lights of Wan Chai were just coming on, but the city's underbelly was still filled with shantytowns and social conflicts.

A cargo ship from San Francisco slowly docked. What was unloaded from the ship was not only Carrefour supermarket goods, McDonald's special equipment, and Huaqing Food instant noodles, but more importantly, the vanguard of the Wang family's "Eastern Project"—an elite team with Situ Nianhua and Wang Huanshuang at its core.

Leveraging Situ Meitang's influence within the global Hung Society, Situ Nianhua had already established connections with local Hong Kong forces. This time, his objective was clear: he directly met with the head of the Fok family, a shipping tycoon renowned in Hong Kong at the time for his decisiveness, credibility, and patriotism.

The Huo family study was filled with the aroma of tea. Situ Nianhua didn't engage in much small talk, directly outlining the cooperation plan: "Mr. Huo, I've long admired your name. Our Wang family intends to develop retail, food processing, and logistics real estate in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. We have money, technology, and a mature operating model, but locally, we need a strong partner. We believe the Huo family is the best choice."

Mr. Huo pondered for a moment. He had heard of the Wang family's power in the United States and was also wary (or perhaps needed) of the Hongmen's influence behind Situ Nianhua. "Mr. Situ, that's very good, getting straight to the point. In which areas does the Wang family wish to cooperate? And how exactly will it be carried out?"

Situ Nianhua smiled slightly and, following Wang Huanbo's script, said: "First, the retail industry. We hope to introduce the Carrefour supermarket model to Hong Kong, establish a joint venture company, with the Huo family holding shares, and be responsible for facilitating local connections, acquiring land, and building stores. Second, the food industry. Our Huaqing Foods intends to set up a factory in Hong Kong to produce instant noodles and other fast-moving consumer goods to supply Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Third, and most importantly, real estate."

He produced a preliminary planning map: "We want to partner with the Fok family to establish a brand new real estate company—Wanda Real Estate. Instead of developing high-end office buildings like those owned by British companies that are only for rent and not for sale, we'll focus on 'quality residential housing for the general public'! We plan to build a new type of 30-story residential tower in suitable locations in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, designed by American architects. Each unit will have four bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, equipped with multiple elevators and independent water and electricity. Most importantly, we'll sell each unit individually, making the prices affordable so that ordinary Hong Kong families can also afford their own homes!"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Fok leaned forward slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes. This idea was incredibly bold! At the time, Hong Kong's housing consisted mostly of low-rise tenement buildings and crowded public housing estates; high-rise apartments were rare and primarily catered to the wealthy. The Wong family's proposed model of "high quality, affordability, and benefit to the public" directly addressed market pain points and aligned with his long-held desire to improve the living conditions of Hong Kong residents.

"What a brilliant 'follow Sir Lee's path, leaving Sir Lee with nowhere to go'!" Mr. Huo exclaimed in admiration (he was clearly aware of some of the competitors' activities). "This plan is very ambitious! I'm very interested! We can discuss the specific details!"

The two sides quickly reached an agreement. Soon, the news of the establishment of the "Ho Wong Group" shook the Hong Kong business community. The first large-scale housing estate launched by its subsidiary, "Wanda Real Estate"—"Mei Foo Sun Chuen" (tentative name, symbolizing American technology + the Ho family's reputation)—was announced. With its modern design, reasonable unit types, affordable prices, and the "housing for all" concept, it instantly ignited the market. The moment the project was announced, the sales office was packed with people, and the first phase of units sold out quickly, creating a miracle in Hong Kong real estate sales! Traditional British real estate developers like Sir Lee were caught off guard.

Meanwhile, Carrefour Hong Kong's first flagship store opened in Causeway Bay. Spacious, bright, well-stocked, and reasonably priced, it quickly became a new shopping destination for locals. Wah Fung instant noodles, produced by Wah Ching Foods and available in both bagged and cup packaging, became a sensation throughout Hong Kong for their convenience, delicious taste, and affordability, making them a favorite among working professionals and students.

The Wang family's business empire, centered in Hong Kong, rapidly expanded throughout Southeast Asia. Powerful capital, advanced management, and localized strategies (especially the alliance with the Fok family) enabled Carrefour, McDonald's, and Wanda Real Estate to dominate the region. Meanwhile, Blackwater Security's elite forces, operating under the guise of a "security company," quietly infiltrated the area, ensuring the safety of the businesses; and SF Express Logistics built an efficient regional distribution network.

The mastermind behind all of this was Wang Huanbo, who, seemingly focused on steel technology, was based in Beijing. He maintained contact with his father, brothers, brother-in-law, and sister through encrypted business correspondence, precisely guiding each move. He knew that the layout in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was not only for commercial interests, but also to establish a solid base for the procurement and transshipment of materials in advance for the difficult period that might occur in the mainland a few years later.