Rebirth of the Hong Kong Millennium Conglomerate

Chapter 72 Mysterious Phone Call

This morning, as soon as Yong An Bank opened its doors, it was greeted by a large number of customers coming to withdraw money.

The once spacious lobby was instantly packed with customers, who formed long queues, each with an anxious expression, constantly urging, "Hurry up, I need to withdraw all my deposits!"

"Hurry up, I need to deposit money at the Qian Gu Bank across the street!"

"Mr. Zhang, you have deposited your money in our bank for so many years, why do you suddenly want to withdraw it?"

"Our bank's interest rates are a bit higher than Qian Gu Bank's, and our security is guaranteed!" Teller Xiao Lin said while quickly processing the withdrawal, trying to retain the customer.

"What's the use of high interest rates? Security is the most important thing!" Mr. Zhang waved his hand and said firmly, "Look at the Qian Gu Bank across the street, they have displayed gold worth a billion US dollars. They are the ones who are truly not short of money."

"Your bank is so small, what if your funding chain breaks down one day? Wouldn't my money be lost? I can't take that risk."

O

Xiao Lin wanted to say something more, but seeing Mr. Zhang's determined eyes, she swallowed her words and could only speed up her work to process his withdrawal.

This scene played out at various branches of Yong'an Bank throughout the morning.

Customers came in droves to withdraw their money, and everyone gave the same reason—Qian Gu Bank was too powerful, and they felt safe depositing their money there.

Zhang Guohua's gaze swept across the lobby downstairs, watching those once-familiar customers, one by one carrying heavy loads of cash, walk out of Yong'an Bank without looking back, cross the street, and enter Qiangu Bank across the street. His heart felt as if it were being torn apart repeatedly, the pain unbearable.

Some of these customers were brought in by him personally visiting them, while others were long-time customers of Yong'an Bank.

Now, they have all left and joined Qian Gu Bank, which not only stole his existing customers, but also completely cut off the future of Yong An Bank.

"Chairman, this is the withdrawal data for this morning." Secretary Xiao Chen walked into the office with a pale face, holding a report in her hand, and said in a trembling voice, "By noon, we have lost 80% of our deposit customers, and the total withdrawal amount has reached HK$70 million."

Banks are currently facing a severe shortage of liquidity, making it impossible for many businesses to operate normally.

"7

Zhang Guohua took the report, and the numbers on it were like bolts from the blue, making him feel dizzy.

He staggered back two steps, barely managing to steady himself by grabbing the desk for support. Seventy million Hong Kong dollars—this was almost all of Wing On Bank's liquid assets; the massive withdrawals from customers had plunged the bank into a severe liquidity crisis.

"Eternal Bank—Li Bin—" Zhang Guohua gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, and said, "You're ruthlessly killing me!"

He knew that Qian Gu Bank's move, seemingly due to the stock market and aimed at stabilizing customers, was actually a devastating blow to all small and medium-sized banks in Hong Kong.

Because of its geographical location, Yong'an Bank became the most direct and severe victim of this blow.

Zhang Guohua slowly walked to the window, looking at the still bustling Qian Gu Bank across the street, feeling a sense of powerlessness.

He knew that once a customer's confidence was lost, it was very difficult to regain it.

Looking down at the increasingly deserted lobby, Zhang Guohua felt a chill in his heart.

His life's work, the Yong'an Bank to which he had dedicated most of his life, may be about to perish in this storm.

The April winds, carrying a warm and humid atmosphere, swept across Southeast Asia, and Zhang Zeyang's long-dormant plan finally came to fruition as time passed.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, at the Guo family mansion.

Since the Shangri-La Hotel, built with investment from Robert Kuok, took root in Singapore, this sprawling mansion has become his most frequent residence.

The climate in Southeast Asia is always hot and humid, with rain coming and going at any time. Even though the Guo family has long been equipped with the most advanced air conditioning system to keep the indoor temperature cool and comfortable, Robert Kuok, who is nearly fifty years old, has been troubled by a strange sense of irritability lately.

Having navigated the business world of Southeast Asia for decades and weathered countless storms, from rubber trading to hotel investment, he has always managed to turn adversity into opportunity and achieve smooth sailing. He has long since developed a calm and composed temperament.

But in the past few days, nameless anxiety has grown wildly like vines, especially at night when I toss and turn and can't sleep. The more I try to calm myself down, the more restless I feel.

It was late at night, so Robert Kuok got up, put on his coat, pushed open the carved wooden door of the master bedroom, and strolled into the courtyard.

The evening breeze, carrying the sticky dampness after the rain, rushed towards me, but instead of dispelling my vexation, it made the tightness in my chest even worse.

The tropical greenery in the courtyard cast shadowy shadows in the night, and the sounds of frogs croaking and insects chirping rose and fell. What used to be a lively sound had now become a disturbing noise.

He stood alone for a moment, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the old jade bracelet on his wrist. Just as he was about to turn around and go back into the house, a servant hurriedly came from the end of the corridor, looking respectful: "Mr. Guo, there is a phone call from Hong Kong, specifically asking for you."

Hong Kong?

Robert Kuok raised an eyebrow slightly. The Kuok family's business empire had long since spread across the globe, but its core remained firmly rooted in Southeast Asia. Although there had been several visits to Hong Kong, it had not yet been included in the formal expansion plan. A call at this late hour, and on a dedicated line directly to the mansion, was certainly no ordinary matter.

He strode towards the living room, where the indicator light on the landline phone on the wooden coffee table was still flashing, indicating that it was in a call.

Picking up the receiver, a steady male voice came through the static, carrying a hint of solemnity: "Mr. Guo, I am a representative of China Resources Ng Fung Holdings. I have important matters to discuss and would like to arrange a meeting with you at the Baohua Building."

China Resources Ng Fung Hong? Baohua Building?

These two keywords, like pebbles thrown into a still lake, instantly stirred up a thousand waves in Robert Kuok's heart.

He immediately realized that this was no ordinary business negotiation. His anxiety and restlessness over the past few days seemed to have found an outlet. He even secretly speculated that it was this premonition that made him uneasy.

"Okay, I'll fly to Hong Kong first thing tomorrow morning and be there on time."

After hanging up the phone, his anxiety vanished, replaced by the composure of a businessman.

My original plan to return to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow to handle matters related to the rubber industry has been completely disrupted by this unexpected invitation.

However, compared to Hong Kong, the trivial matters in Kuala Lumpur can obviously be put aside for the time being.

"Book the next available flight to Hong Kong immediately," Robert Kuok instructed the servant who came running at the sound of his voice.

"Sir, you just instructed that you want to book a flight to Kuala Lumpur for tomorrow—" the maid hesitated and reminded him in a low voice.

"The Kuala Lumpur flight doesn't need to be cancelled, but the Hong Kong flight must be secured as soon as possible."

"Yes, I'll arrange it right away." The maid was full of doubts, but dared not ask any more questions, and bowed as she withdrew.

Robert Kuok sat back down on the sofa, tapping his fingertips lightly on the armrest, his thoughts racing.

What's the real story behind CR Ng Fung's invitation?

What kind of cooperation was involved in the meeting at Baohua Building?

Just as dawn broke, before the morning light had even penetrated the blackout curtains of the Guo family mansion in Singapore, a soft yet firm knocking sounded outside the master bedroom door.

Robert Kuok's consciousness instantly snapped out of his light sleep. The mysterious invitation from Hong Kong last night surfaced as clearly as a brand, and the restlessness of the past few days was replaced by caution.

He stood up and said, "Come in."

The maid pushed open the door and entered, handing over a plane ticket with both hands, and said respectfully, "Sir, the plane ticket to Hong Kong has been arranged. As you instructed, no accompanying personnel have been arranged."

Robert Kuok took the plane ticket, scanned the information on it with his fingertips, and then turned and walked towards the washroom.

The cold water splashed on his face, completely dispelling any lingering drowsiness. He quickly finished tidying up, glanced at his watch, and saw it was 7:00 AM Singapore time, just one hour before his flight took off.

A simple meal had already been prepared in the mansion's dining room. Robert Kuok quickly finished his meal and, without lingering for a moment, went straight to the car waiting outside the courtyard.

The car door closed gently, the engine started silently, and the vehicle smoothly drove towards Singapore Changi International Airport without any obstacles.

When I arrived at the airport, there was still half an hour before boarding.

Robert Kuok avoided the noisy public waiting area and waited in the private VIP lounge until the boarding announcement was made before discreetly entering the security checkpoint.

The first-class seats were spacious and comfortable. After sitting down, he closed his eyes to rest, repeatedly rehearsing the upcoming meeting in his mind, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest.

With the engines roaring, the plane slowly took off, breaking through the morning mist of Southeast Asia and speeding towards Hong Kong.

The four-hour flight passed in the blink of an eye, and when the plane landed smoothly, the midday sun was shining brightly outside the window.

At Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong, Robert Kuok walked down the gangway alone, without any entourage or media presence, his figure appearing remarkably low-key.

He deliberately kept his trip to Hong Kong secret, not wanting to reveal his whereabouts too early.

Upon exiting the airport arrival hall, he hailed a taxi, opened the door, and sat in the back seat, saying in a deep voice, "Driver, please go to the Po Wah Building in Central."

The taxi merged into the traffic, weaving through the streets of Hong Kong. The street scene outside the window rushed past, with rows of buildings blending Chinese and Western styles, and the air was filled with the aroma of sea breeze and the hustle and bustle of city life.

After about half an hour's drive, the vehicle gradually entered the core area of ​​Central, and the outline of the Baohua Building was clearly visible not far ahead.

The taxi glided smoothly along the streets of Central, and after about half an hour, it came to a steady stop in front of the Po Wah Building.

"Sir, we've arrived at our destination," the driver said, turning to the side.

Robert Kuok nodded, promptly paid the fare, and got out of the car.

The afternoon sun shines through the glass curtain wall of the building, casting dappled shadows on the ground. As one of the landmark buildings in Central, the Po Wah Building has a calm and dignified appearance, and most of the people who come and go are business elites, exuding an invisible sense of solemnity.

He climbed the steps and had just stepped into the lobby on the first floor when two figures got up from the rest area and walked straight toward him.

The two men were impeccably dressed and exuded a capable air; one glance was enough to tell they were long-serving officials—they were Qiao Wenli, manager of China Resources Dexin, and Cao Wantong, deputy manager of China Resources Wufeng.

In Hong Kong's business circles, both of them are high-ranking officials with real power, and China Resources and Ng Fung Hong are the core hubs connecting mainland China with overseas trade. Any cooperation that passes through their hands is an important matter concerning the overall situation.

Robert Kuok knew in his heart that the meeting was of far greater significance than he had anticipated, given that these two men had personally come to greet him.

"Mr. Guo, you must be tired from your journey." Qiao Wenli extended his hand first, his tone earnest.

Cao Wantong also stepped forward and shook hands with Guo Henian, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and caution: "I have long admired Mr. Guo's name. It is a pleasure to meet you today."

Robert Kuok smiled and shook hands in return, feeling the steady strength of the other's palm through his fingertips, making his prediction even clearer.

The lobby was bustling with people and not a suitable place for conversation. The three did not exchange many pleasantries. Qiao Wenli stepped aside and gestured for them to proceed: "Mr. Guo, the office upstairs is ready. Let's move there and discuss this in detail."

7

Robert Kuok nodded in agreement and followed the two towards the elevator. The metal doors slowly closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world. The atmosphere inside the elevator became somewhat quiet for a moment, with only the flashing of the indicator lights reflecting the thoughtful expressions of the three.

Please vote for me! Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!