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

Chapter 254 4K at the End of the Year (Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and subscriptions!)

The Chinese Building, the headquarters of Cheung Kong Holdings.

Li Jiacheng leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples hard with his fingers.

Zhou Jinqian sat opposite him, his face solemn, barely daring to breathe.

"Four point nine percent—" Li Jiacheng opened his eyes, his voice a little hoarse, repeating the number, "and quietly obtained four point nine percent."

Chen Bingwen — excellent methods.

He looked at Zhou Jinqian and asked again to confirm, "Is the news true?"

Zhou Jinqian said cautiously, "Mr. Li, the source of the information has been verified, and it should be true."

"Our attention was previously focused on acquiring Hutchison Whampoa shares, and we really didn't expect him to suddenly target Cheung Kong Holdings, let alone do so quickly and accurately."

Li Jiacheng slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle: "This is a declaration of war! A blatant declaration of war! Does he think that taking over Hutchison Whampoa means he can sit back and relax?"

They're trying to take advantage of my Cheung Kong Holdings?!

His chest heaved, a deep sense of frustration he could not calm down.

Having navigated the business world for decades, this is the first time I've been pushed to such a predicament by a young upstart.

Losing control of Hutchison Whampoa was already a great humiliation, but now even the foundation of his business, Cheung Kong Holdings, is under siege, with its shareholding ratio approaching the 5% threshold that requires public disclosure. This has made him feel an unprecedented threat and intense anger.

Chen Bingwen's move was not only a precise commercial attack, but also a serious provocation against his personal prestige and status.

"He's trying to fight on two fronts, making it impossible for me to attend to both ends." Li Jiacheng forced himself to calm down, his brain racing. "He's using Cheung Kong's shares to restrain me, making me hesitant to act against Hutchison Whampoa's board of directors."

"Mr. Li, what should we do now?" Zhou Jinqian asked. "Should we buy back the shares on the market to stabilize the stock price and increase his acquisition cost at the same time?"

"Buying back is inevitable, but we can't do it in a big way, otherwise it will cause market panic, which is exactly what he wants," Li Jiacheng pondered. "Immediately activate the contingency plan and use several related accounts under our control to buy up retail shares in the secondary market on a small scale and in batches. We need to do it quietly and not attract attention."

First, stabilize the stock price, then increase our shareholding by one or two percentage points to raise the safety margin.

"Understood, I'll arrange it right away." Zhou Jinqian noted it down.

"Also," Li Jiacheng paused, his tone icy, "spread the word to those financial reporters who have good relations with us, saying that there are unidentified funds secretly collecting Cheung Kong shares with unclear intentions, possibly involving a hostile takeover."

Create some public pressure on him.

"Okay, I understand what to do."

After Zhou Jinqian left, Li Jiacheng sat alone in his office, his face gloomy.

Chen Bingwen's move hit him right where it hurt.

Changshi is his foundation, and he must not allow it to be lost.

But right now, he has to deal with two fronts at the same time: Hutchison Whampoa and Cheung Kong Holdings, which puts his funds and energy to the test.

"Young man, you have too big an appetite. Aren't you afraid of choking?" he muttered to himself, a fierce glint in his eyes. "If you want to play, I'll play with you to the very end."

Almost at the same time, in the top-floor office of the Weiye Building.

Chen Bingwen listened to Fang Wenshan's report with little expression on his face, only giving a soft "hmm".

"Mr. Chen, the news has been released as planned, and the initial effects are already visible."

Cheung Kong's share price fluctuated slightly today, with trading volume increasing.

"Li Jiacheng should have already received word," Fang Wenshan said.

"very good."

Chen Bingwen nodded. "Just let him know. There's no need for any further action for now."

Our goal isn't actually to acquire Cheung Kong, but to make him feel pain and distract him.

He had been planning this move for a long time: to acquire a 4.9% stake in Cheung Kong Holdings.

The objective was clear: to create a significant "backyard fire" incident for Li Ka-shing during the crucial period of the struggle for control of Hutchison Whampoa, so that he would be unable to concentrate all his resources on Hutchison Whampoa affairs.

This 4.9% stake is like a thorn stuck in Li Jiacheng's heart.

It is just one step away from the 5% threshold for disclosure, which means that Chen Bingwen could "show up" at any time, attracting greater market attention and regulatory inquiries, and putting CK Asset's share price under uncertainty.

Li Jiacheng either spends real money to buy back shares in the secondary market to stabilize his position, thus consuming precious cash flow.

Either you have to be constantly on guard against Chen Bingwen's next move, which is exhausting.

"How's it going with Huo Jianning?" Chen Bingwen turned around and asked.

"The details of the rights issue plan have been basically finalized, and the financial model and feasibility report for the development of the red plot are also nearing completion."

The matter can be submitted for consideration at next week's board meeting.

Fang Wenshan answered.

"Yes. Tell Jianning that the plan needs to be solid, especially the funding usage plan and return forecast, which need to withstand scrutiny."

Li Jiacheng will definitely cause trouble at the board meeting.

Chen Bingwen gave the instructions.

He predicted that Li Ka-shing would not easily give up his influence on the Hutchison Whampoa board of directors and would definitely use this rights issue to obstruct him.

"clear."

After Fang Wenshan left, Chen Bingwen sat back down at his desk and began reviewing documents.

He was not worried about Li Jiacheng's retaliation.

Business competition is essentially a contest of resources and strategies.

He now holds a controlling stake in Hutchison Whampoa, has abundant cash flow, and has just gained the endorsement of being a "director of Guoxin". He has the upper hand in terms of both strength and momentum.

Holding shares in CK Asset Holdings simply adds another bargaining chip and a means of control.

The key is how to use this bargaining chip effectively to force Li Ka-shing to make concessions on the Hutchison Whampoa issue.

A few days later, in Chaozhou, Guangdong Province.

The weather was sunny, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.

Dressed in brand-new Chinese-style clothing with red flowers pinned to their chests, Chen Guofu and Wang Qiaozhen, surrounded by local officials and villagers, laid the foundation stone for the first batch of "Bingwen Primary Schools".

Colorful flags fluttered in the breeze, creating a lively atmosphere.

Reporters from several mainland media outlets were present to cover the event.

At the ceremony, local leaders from Chaozhou delivered enthusiastic speeches, highly praising Mr. Chen Bingwen's patriotism and love for his hometown.

Their noble sentiments and dedication to education led them to call this a righteous act that "benefits their hometown, brings merit to the present, and benefits future generations."

Speaking as a family representative, Chen Guofu's simple words expressed his deep affection for his hometown and his satisfaction with his son's support for its development, earning rounds of applause.

Although Chan Ping-man was unable to attend in person due to his busy schedule with the integration of Hutchison Whampoa, his name and image were widely disseminated in mainland official media for the first time through this high-profile donation ceremony, portraying him as a "patriotic Hong Kong businessman" and "entrepreneur enthusiastic about education."

This donation of HK$1.8 million was a huge sum in mainland China at the time, and it caused quite a stir.

After the ceremony, the local government held a simple reception banquet.

During the meeting, the officials were exceptionally warm to Mr. and Mrs. Chen Guofu, and repeatedly mentioned their hope that Mr. Chen Bingwen could return to his hometown to investigate investment opportunities in the future.

Chen Guofu kept his son's instructions in mind, only saying that he would convey the hometown's warm welcome and development opportunities, and that specific investments would depend on Bingwen's company development strategy.

On the afternoon of the same day the school donation ceremony was published, Chen Bingwen received an unexpected phone call.

It was Li Jiacheng who called personally.

"Mr. Chen, how have you been lately? I heard you donated to build schools in the mainland; that's a commendable act of kindness." Li Jiacheng's voice sounded as calm as ever, revealing no emotion.

"Mr. Li, you flatter me. It's just a small token of my appreciation," Chen Bingwen replied politely, knowing that the other party was not merely exchanging pleasantries.

Sure enough, after a few pleasantries, Li Jiacheng got straight to the point: "Mr. Chen, let's not beat around the bush."

I am aware of your acquisition of CK Asset Holdings shares on the market.

Chen Bingwen smiled faintly: "It seems the news spreads very quickly."

It's just a small financial investment; Mr. Li, you don't need to worry about it.

"Financial investment?" Li Jiacheng sneered on the other end of the phone. "The shareholding is approaching the threshold for disclosure. This doesn't seem like a typical financial investment."

"Mr. Chen, let's be frank. What exactly do you want?"

Chen Bingwen knew the time had come, so he put away his smile and said directly, "Mr. Li is a straightforward person."

Then I'll just say it directly.

I hope Mr. Li will seriously consider selling all of his Hutchison Whampoa shares.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. Clearly, this request was somewhat unexpected for Li Jiacheng, or rather, he didn't expect Chen Bingwen to bring it up so directly.

"Hehe," Li Jiacheng chuckled twice, "Mr. Chen, isn't your request a bit unreasonable?"

Hutchison Whampoa has just completed its restructuring and has a promising future, so why should I sell it?

"For the sake of Cheung Kong Holdings' stability," Chen Bingwen said without backing down. "Mr. Li is a smart man; he should understand what I mean."

With you simultaneously managing Cheung Kong Holdings and Wong Hung, your energy is inevitably scattered.

In today's complex market environment, only by focusing can one achieve great things.

If you are willing to sell your Hutchison Whampoa shares, I can not only acquire your Hutchison Whampoa shares in a one-time cash purchase at market price, but also guarantee that Sugar Heart Capital will not increase its holdings in Cheung Kong Holdings within the next twelve months.

We can even seek cooperation in certain areas.

For example, Cheung Kong Holdings could potentially be involved in the future development of the Hung Hom site.

Chen Bingwen has thrown out a carrot and a stick approach. A one-time cash acquisition represents the benefit, ceasing to increase its stake in Cheung Kong represents a safety guarantee, and potential cooperation represents a future possibility.

The core idea is to use Li Ka-shing's withdrawal from Hutchison Whampoa in exchange for Cheung Kong's stability and the cash he urgently needs.

Li Jiacheng fell silent again, this time for an even longer period.

He was quickly weighing the pros and cons.

Chen Bingwen's terms were undeniably attractive, especially the cash acquisition and the promise not to increase his stake further.

But he was unwilling to be forced into a relationship with Huang by a young man.

"Mr. Chen, I will consider your proposal." Li Jiacheng neither immediately refused nor agreed, "But this is a matter of great importance, and I need time."

"Of course. The rights issue plan will be discussed at the board meeting next week. Hopefully, we can hear good news from Mr. Li before then."

Chen Bingwen set a deadline, putting pressure on the other party.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Bingwen knew that he had revealed his hand and taken the initiative.

The next step is to see how Li Jiacheng responds.

It's almost the end of the year.

Inside the Weiye Building, the employees of Sugar Heart Capital, amidst their busy schedules, are also looking forward to the company's annual year-end party.

The administrative departments had already begun preparations, booking hotels, arranging programs, and preparing prizes.

This has been a year of rapid growth for the company, from acquiring Qingzhou Yingni to taking control of Hutchison Whampoa and expanding its business to North America. Everyone is looking forward to a grand celebration.

Although Chen Bingwen was busy with the overall situation, he instructed Fang Wenshan to ensure that the budget for this year's year-end party was sufficient and the prizes were generous, so that the employees who had worked hard all year would have a good time.

He knew that morale should be boosted, not dampened.

A successful year-end party not only motivates employees and enhances team cohesion, but also serves as a window to showcase the company's strength and image to the outside world.

He plans to attend in person and toast all employees to thank them for their contributions.

Due to the rapid expansion of personnel this year, the total number of employees in Chen Ji Foods' production line, sales team, Sugar Heart Capital investment department, and some core management personnel from the recently merged Hutchison Whampoa has exceeded one thousand. Holding events in five-star hotels would be too costly and difficult to find suitable venues.

The final plan was to hold the events separately, as Chen Bingwen had suggested.

The employees of Chan Kee Foods and Sugar Heart Capital held a private dinner at a newly opened large restaurant in Wan Chai, while Hutchison Whampoa Group arranged a small-scale gathering at its headquarters canteen through its existing administrative system.

On the night of the year-end banquet, the restaurants in Wan Chai were brightly lit and bustling with activity.

Employees of Chenji Foods and Sugar Heart Capital, along with their families, gathered in a bustling crowd. A banner reading "Striving for Excellence, Creating New Glory" hung on the stage.

Chen Bingwen, accompanied by the management team, delivered a brief toast to thank employees for their hard work throughout the year and announced a generous year-end bonus plan and a lucky draw, which drew cheers from the audience.

Chen Bingwen, holding a wine glass, walked between the tables, offering toasts.

Meanwhile, a different scene unfolded in the canteen at Hutchison Whampoa headquarters.

The dinner was much smaller in scale, limited to department managers and above, and hosted by President Wei Li, with Huo Jianning attending as a representative of the major shareholders.

Wei Li's toast was steady and measured, reviewing the past year's "stable operations" but remaining vague about future integration plans.

The middle managers of Hutchison Whampoa sitting in the audience had different thoughts.

The entire dinner ended in an atmosphere of superficial politeness but underlying alienation.

Two days after the year-end party, Fang Wenshan reported a situation to Chen Bingwen: "Mr. Chen, in the past two days, the heads of two fund companies with which we have a good relationship have contacted me privately to inquire whether we are interested in transferring our shares in Cheung Kong Holdings."

They said that the price was negotiable if interested, and they hoped to make friends.

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Upon hearing this, Chen Bingwen smiled.

"How did you reply?" he asked.

"I did not make any definitive statements as you suggested."

They stated that this was a normal financial investment and there were currently no plans to transfer it, but market changes are unpredictable, and any possibility cannot be ruled out in the future. They emphasized maintaining open communication channels.

Fang Wenshan answered.

"Hmm, that's a good reply." Chen Bingwen nodded. "It neither closed the door to negotiations nor revealed our true intentions."

Let him guess.

He knew that this probing itself indicated that the pressure on Li Jiacheng's side was increasing.

The date for the next meeting of the Hutchison Whampoa board of directors is drawing ever closer.

Chen Bingwen instructed Huo Jianning to deliver the final version of the rights issue plan and the development plan proposal for the Red Land plot to each director.

He knew that the next board meeting would be a crucial battle that would determine the future direction of Hutchison Whampoa.