Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire.

Chapter 248 Dealing with 4K (Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and subscriptions!)

79 Deep Water Bay Road, Hong Kong Island, the Li family residence.

The atmosphere in the study was somewhat oppressive.

Li Jiacheng sat in a large leather armchair, holding a thin piece of paper in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.

Under the lamplight, his face appeared somewhat gloomy, his brows furrowed, and his gaze repeatedly swept over the few lines of text on the paper.

"—It has been confirmed that Chen Bingwen has received a formal invitation to serve as a director of the newly established Huaxia International Trust Investment Company—this is the first batch of representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao business community selected—"

Every word was like a needle, pricking his nerves.

The news from the Director of the International Trust Investment Company came faster and more directly than he had expected.

He originally thought that, with his network of contacts built up over the years and his good but distant relationship with the mainland, this position should have been his for the taking.

He had even been secretly working on this for a long time, believing it was a natural progression.

Unexpectedly, Chen Bingwen appeared out of nowhere!

A young man in his early twenties, who has only risen to prominence in a few years?

How did they manage to get this far and snatch this highly valuable admission ticket before him?

Anger, resentment, and a hint of indescribable frustration intertwined in his heart.

Li Jiacheng worked hard for decades, starting with plastic flowers and gradually building his business in real estate. He was cautious and meticulous, taking each step carefully, and it was not easy for him to achieve his current status and reputation.

He considers himself to be friendly towards the mainland, and the Tin Shui Wai project is proof of that.

Why?

Why would Yanjing choose Chen Bingwen, who is so young, has such a sharp style, and is even somewhat aggressive?

Is it because he acquired Qingzhou Ying?

Selling the cement business to China Resources?

Or is it because he is more energetic and better fits some people's expectations of a new face?

Li Jiacheng put down the paper, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his turbulent emotions, but to little avail.

This incident disrupted his plans and made him feel threatened like never before.

For Chen Bingwen, obtaining this identity was far more than just an empty title.

This means that he has gained a certain level of recognition and endorsement, and will have more leverage and greater say in future negotiations with HSBC and in the struggle for his own Hutchison Whampoa shares.

As the tide recedes, the situation is turning against him.

He stood up and paced around the study a few times, but ultimately could not shake off the vexation in his heart.

He needs to talk to people and hear different opinions.

Stepping out of the study, I found my wife, Zhuang Yueming, sitting on the sofa in the living room reading a book, bathed in soft lamplight.

She looked up, saw her husband's expression, put down her book, and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"You look so pale, is something wrong at the company?"

Li Jiacheng sighed, sat down next to her, handed her the intelligence summary, and said in a low voice, "Read it yourself."

Zhuang Yueming took the paper, quickly glanced through it, and a look of surprise appeared on her face. "You're not in it?"

There was a hint of confusion in her voice.

Given Li Ka-shing's current status and good relations with the mainland, this is indeed somewhat unexpected.

"It wouldn't matter if I weren't there." Li Jiacheng's finger tapped heavily on a name at the end of the note, his tone filled with barely concealed anger. "But he's there! Chen Bingwen!"

Zhuang Yueming stared at the three characters "Chen Bingwen" and remained silent for a moment.

This news was indeed unexpected.

She put down the note and looked at her husband: "Is it confirmed? It's just a preliminary list, right?"

There hadn't been a single word about it beforehand.

Li Jiacheng leaned back in his chair and said reluctantly, "It's basically the final list."

I never expected this—

"Yes, I really didn't expect it. The shares with HSBC haven't even been finalized yet, and they've already beaten us to it here!"

Li Jiacheng rubbed his temples and said angrily, "I thought that this position should have been given to those of us who have been in business for decades and have a more stable foundation."

I didn't expect them to choose someone so young.

What incredible luck did this kid have? Or did he connect with some unknown connection?

Zhuang Yueming was calmer than her husband. She pondered for a moment and said, "There's no use saying these angry words now. Now that it's happened, we need to think about why it happened and what to do next."

She paused for a moment, then analyzed, "Yanjing must have its own considerations when it does things."

Chen Bingwen is currently riding high, having acquired a British-owned company and then proactively sold its core business to China Resources to support mainland development. His achievements are numerous and far more prominent than our private, tentative collaborations.

In their view, this might be a more positive and direct expression of patriotism.

Moreover, his youth, self-made success, and legendary status perhaps better align with the image of a new generation of businessmen they want to establish.

Li Jiacheng scoffed, "A role model? In business, what matters is real ability and a long-term foundation, not a fleeting moment of glory!"

"That's true, but the considerations above are different from ours," Zhuang Yueming reminded him. "Losing your temper won't solve the problem now."

The key question is, how do we salvage the situation? Or rather, how do we catch up?

"Try to salvage the situation?" Li Jiacheng frowned. "The list is almost finalized. How can we salvage it? Am I supposed to go and tell the higher-ups that this position should be mine?"

"Of course not that directly." Zhuang Yueming shook her head.

She paused, then looked at her husband: "Are you angry because you feel something that should be yours has been taken away, or because you're worried it will affect our future plans?"

After his wife exposed his thoughts, Li Jiacheng paused for a moment before admitting, "I have both."

For the sake of appearances, that's secondary; the key is the practical benefits this identity brings.

With this halo, HSBC's attitude will likely be even more ambiguous.

The difficulty of securing Hutchison Whampoa shares has increased again.

"Since it has already happened, getting angry won't solve anything," Zhuang Yueming said calmly. "The most important thing now is to think about how we should deal with it."

Can we salvage the situation, or at least prevent him from expanding this advantage?

Li Jiacheng gave a wry smile. "The list is already finalized. Can we really ask Yanjing to reverse its decision?"

"Directly changing the outcome may be difficult, but we can do things to balance and offset its impact."

.

Chong Yuet Ming pondered for a moment and said, "First of all, we need to express our support and confidence in the economic development of the mainland more actively."

International trusts serve as a window for introducing foreign investment and technology, and our Cheung Kong Holdings can also make a difference in this regard.

Is it possible that we could propose a concrete cooperation project as soon as possible, with a larger investment and a more significant impact on the mainland economy?

For example, investing in and building large-scale residential areas or modern factories in mainland China?

We need to be quick and practical, showing them our sincerity and capabilities, proving we are no less capable than Chen Bingwen.

As Li Jiacheng listened to his wife's words, his anxiety gradually subsided, and his eyes regained their usual sharpness and calmness.

He had to admit that Zhuang Yueming's words had awakened him.

Getting angry is useless; the competition has only just begun.

"Specific projects — Hmm, this idea is good."

We need an investment that's respectable and can be finalized quickly.

"Secondly," Zhuang Yueming continued, "you need to have a more in-depth talk with HSBC, especially with Sir Michael Shen."

Instead of just complaining or putting pressure on him, you should clearly explain to him that having Cheung Kong Holdings take the lead in Hutchison Whampoa is the best way to maintain Hutchison Whampoa's stability and to protect HSBC's long-term interests.

We want to emphasize our experience, our stability, and the rapport we've built with HSBC over many years.

This also suggests that we have strong ties and development plans in mainland China, and the balance of power will not change because of a single board seat.

"That old fox Shen Bi values ​​profit above all else." Li Jiacheng nodded. "He was waiting for the best price before, but now that Chen Bingwen has raised his stakes, we have to follow suit."

It's time to have another in-depth talk with him.

"Furthermore," Zhuang Yueming added, "the buying of Hutchison Whampoa shares in the secondary market cannot be stopped."

We need to accumulate more leverage to increase our confidence.

Even if we can't get the large stake from HSBC for the time being, the scattered shares we collect will still form a considerable force.

"You're right." Li Jiacheng took a deep breath and agreed, "Getting angry is useless; taking action is what matters."

Chen Bingwen got this position because of his own abilities.

But I, Li Jiacheng, haven't worked for nothing over the past few decades.

Next, we'll see how they use their methods.

As for the mainland," he pondered for a moment and said, "Chen Bingwen sold the cement business in Yingni, Qingzhou to China Resources in order to improve relations with the mainland. We also need to find a breakthrough point and seize the opportunity of the mainland's reform and opening up as soon as possible."

Zhuang Yueming's eyes showed approval: "That's right. From the current perspective, after the reform and opening up in the mainland, the economy will inevitably experience a period of rapid growth, after all, there is such a large population."

This market is so large; Hong Kong Island can't compare. We need to find opportunities to get in as soon as possible.

After discussing the strategy with Zhuang Yueming, Li Jiacheng seemed to feel a bit better. "Okay, let's do it this way. I want everyone to see that my sincerity and strength are never inferior to anyone else's."

Weiye Building.

Looking at the formally worded and significant document in his hand, Chen Bingwen found it difficult to remain completely calm, even though he had been mentally prepared.

Director of Huaxia International Trust Investment Company.

These nine words carry a heavy weight.

This is not just a title, but a very high level of recognition, a passport to the core economic circle of the mainland.

The trust and opportunities it represents far exceed our imagination.

He recalled his journey step by step: acquiring Qingzhou Yingni, selling the cement business to China Resources, and decisively transforming the industry.

These decisions, which may seem risky or even radical to outsiders, are now given a deeper meaning and become stepping stones to this position.

"Looks like selling the cement business was the right decision," he thought to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips.

This move was initially driven more by considerations of funding and strategic transformation, but it unexpectedly brought such enormous added value.

He immediately realized that this identity would greatly change how the outside world viewed him, especially in his power struggle with HSBC and Li Ka-shing.

He will transform from a "rising star with great potential but shallow foundation" into a "business leader with national endorsement," a completely different level of influence.

But at the same time, he also felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

This position means that his future actions will be under greater scrutiny and will require more caution.

He must better balance business interests with the relationship with the mainland.

He pressed the intercom button and said to his secretary, Ali, "Please have Director Fang and Attorney Gu come to my office."

A short while later, Fang Wenshan and Gu Yongxian walked in one after the other.

"Mr. Chen, you're looking for us?" Fang Wenshan asked.

Chen Bingwen gently pushed the letter to the front of his desk.

"Just received the official notification."

Huaxia International Trust & Investment Company invited me to serve as a director.

Upon hearing this, Fang Wenshan and Gu Yongxian both showed expressions of surprise and excitement.

As core team members, they are very clear about the significance of this role.

"Congratulations, Mr. Chen!" Fang Wenshan said first. "This is incredibly good news! It means we've received approval from the highest levels!"

Gu Yongxian nodded and said, "It is indeed of great significance. It is an extremely important bargaining chip for our future development in the mainland and for dealing with various parties."

Chen Bingwen nodded calmly: "It's an opportunity, but also a responsibility."

Many of our strategies may need to be adjusted going forward.

This identity is a double-edged sword; if used well, it can open up unprecedented opportunities for us.

If used improperly, it may also bring unnecessary trouble and restrictions.

Fang Wenshan nodded excitedly: "The benefits definitely outweigh the risks! Especially regarding the Hutchison Whampoa deal, HSBC will probably have to reassess it."

Li Jiacheng is probably going to get restless.

He looked at Gu Yongxian and asked, "Mr. Gu, from the perspective of Hong Kong Island's laws and compliance, what are some things that need special attention when serving as a director?"

Especially in business dealings and information disclosure.

After a moment's thought, Gu Yongxian replied, "Mr. Chen, the position of director itself will not directly conflict with your business activities, but you need to be extra careful to avoid conflicts of interest."

For example, when Sugarheart Capital or Qingzhou Yingni engages in transactions with Guoxin or its affiliated companies in the future, they need to ensure that the procedures are absolutely compliant, the transaction terms are fair, and that information disclosure is done properly.

Furthermore, greater caution is needed in public statements, which must be consistent with the role of a board member.

"Yes, you need to keep a close eye on these aspects for me and set the rules."

Chen Bingwen nodded, then looked at Fang Wenshan: "Director Fang, we also need to make some adjustments in internal management and external communication."

This news will not be proactively announced to the public at this time.

"Understood, Mr. Chen. I will handle it," Fang Wenshan replied, understanding that his boss wanted to maintain a low-key and humble attitude.

"In addition," Chen Bingwen pondered, "with this identity, it will be more convenient for us to deal with the mainland, but our expectations will also be higher."

The previously discussed project of donating to build a school in our hometown needs to be expedited and done exceptionally well, setting a benchmark for others.

This is both a way of giving back to our community and a demonstration of our sincerity and social responsibility.

"The plan has been refined to a high degree, and we can finalize the details with the local government and start the groundbreaking ceremony soon," Fang Wenshan reported.

"Okay." Chen Bingwen tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "In North America, the market response has been enthusiastic after the Leap Forward plan was successful, but production capacity and distribution channels need to keep up."

Marketing hype alone is not enough; product supply and quality are fundamental.

Tell Li Ming and Mai Lisi to hurry up.

Also, regarding Hutchison Whampoa, the legal procedures for the share swap involving Weili need to be completed as soon as possible.

Regarding HSBC, we will maintain contact for now and observe the situation.

Fang Wenshan and Gu Yongxian wrote it down one by one.

They could sense that although the boss had acquired such an important position, his thinking was clear, and his focus remained on consolidating the foundation and advancing the established strategy.

"Okay, go ahead and get busy."

Please feel free to contact us if needed.

After the two left, Chen Bingwen picked up the letter again and looked at it before carefully putting it into the drawer.

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