Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.

After the plane landed, the group disembarked. The early spring air of the south was refreshing; although it was still a bit chilly, it was much warmer than Beijing.

Xie Laozhuan and Jia Xiaoying stood in front of a car, waving goodbye to Qin Hao and the others. Xie Laozhuan would remain in Guangzhou to oversee the Burger King market there.

In front of another car, Qin Hao said to Yang Shumo, "Let's go, get in. We'll go straight to Shenzhen."

The three got into the car, which drove out of the airport and headed north along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway. This road wasn't very wide in 1985, but the traffic was already quite heavy, mostly trucks transporting various goods between Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

More than two hours later, the car entered the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

Entering Shenzhen's urban area, the scene before me was vastly different from what I had seen six months ago. Construction sites were everywhere, tower cranes stood tall, and scaffolding grew like a jungle. Pedestrians hurried along the streets, and bicycles, motorcycles, and cars mingled together, creating a busy yet vibrant atmosphere.

The car arrived at the "Jinxiu Garden" construction site.

At the construction site, workers have resumed work after the Lunar New Year. The mixers roared, sparks flew from the welding machines, and various building materials were neatly stacked. Yang Shumao put on his safety helmet and walked into the site; several foremen immediately surrounded him.

"Mr. Yang, you're back!"

"Happy New Year, Mr. Yang!"

"Mr. Yang, here is the construction progress schedule for the past few days. Please take a look."

Yang Shumo took the schedule and asked as he looked at it, "Are all the workers here? Is the material supply keeping up?"

"Most of the workers have returned, and some who come from far away say they'll arrive in a couple more days. As for materials, the cement and steel bars are all in place, but the supplier says they'll have to wait another week for some of the special bricks and tiles."

“We can’t wait a week.” Yang Shumo shook his head. “It has to be in place within three days. Tell the supplier that if it can’t arrive within three days, we’ll find another one. There are so many construction companies in Shenzhen now, we don’t need another one.”

"Yes, yes, I'll go and urge them right away," the foreman replied hastily.

Qin Hao stood to the side watching, nodding in satisfaction. Yang Shumao had made great progress in the past two years, transforming from the timid and hesitant "Silly Mao" in front of his parents into the decisive and authoritative project manager he was today.

After inspecting the construction site, Qin Hao called Yang Shumao aside.

"You'll have to work hard again this year," Qin Hao said. "The first phase of the project must be completed before October; that's a no-brainer. We need to start sales before the end of the year."

Yang Shumo nodded emphatically: "Don't worry, I will keep a close eye on it for you. As long as the material supply keeps up and the workers don't slack off, it should be completed before October."

"Okay." Qin Hao patted him on the shoulder: "Contact me anytime if you encounter any difficulties. Tell me if you need money, people, or connections."

"Understood," Yang Shumao replied.

Qin Hao added, "In addition, the design plan for the second phase of the project has been completed and is in my office. Take a look when you have time and give me your feedback. The second phase is larger in scale and has higher requirements than the first phase, so you need to prepare in advance."

"Okay, I'll check back later."

After handing over their work, Qin Hao and Zhao Yajing didn't linger. They got back into the car and headed to the Luohu Port in Shenzhen. They were going to cross the border to Hong Kong.

In the car, Zhao Yajing leaned on Qin Hao's shoulder, looking somewhat tired: "This year has been so busy, I haven't even had a chance to catch my breath."

“Being busy is a good thing.” Qin Hao held her hand. “It means we have things to do and opportunities. We should start to worry when we’re not busy anymore.”

Zhao Yajing smiled and didn't say anything more. She actually enjoyed this feeling of being busy—fulfilling and rewarding. Especially watching the businesses she was involved in grow little by little; that sense of satisfaction was irreplaceable.

……

On my second day in Hong Kong, bad news came.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Qin Hao sat in his office at the Burger King headquarters in Central, flipping through today's newspaper. The headline of the financial section prominently read:

**International fast-food giant KFC announces its return to the Hong Kong market**
After experiencing a wave of store closures in 1975, KFC did not give up on the Asian market. Instead, it expanded to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, achieving considerable success in these countries. Now, they are making a comeback, preparing to re-enter Hong Kong.

KFC began its promotional campaign on television and in newspapers during the Lunar New Year period. The first store, located on Jordan Road, is currently undergoing intensive renovations and is expected to open at the end of March.

Qin Hao put down the newspaper, his brows furrowing slightly.

Zhao Yajing pushed the door open and came in, holding a newspaper in her hand, her face serious: "Old Qin, did you see that? KFC is coming back."

"I saw it." Qin Hao nodded.

"What should we do?" Zhao Yajing asked with some worry. "KFC is an international giant with abundant funds and a strong brand influence. If they really make a big push into the market, our business will definitely be affected."

"The impact is certain." Qin Hao stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bustling street scene of Central outside. "But there's no need to worry too much. The Hong Kong market is only so big. If they come, we'll just play along."

That being said, the market reacted faster than expected.

That day was the first trading day for Burger King stock after the Lunar New Year. After the market opened, the stock price began to fall. Many retail investors, seeing the news of KFC's return to Hong Kong, worried that Burger King would be impacted and sold off their shares.

By the close of trading in the afternoon, Burger King's stock price had fallen from HK$4.12 before the holiday to HK$3.88, a single-day drop of 5.8%.

This drop wasn't particularly large, but it stood out starkly in the generally positive environment of the Hong Kong stock market at the beginning of 1985. Some financial commentators began to predict Burger King's demise, believing it would struggle to maintain its growth momentum under the pressure from international giants.

Qin Hao stared calmly at the stock price chart on his computer screen. Zhao Yajing, however, was getting anxious: "It's dropped so much, shouldn't we issue an announcement to stabilize it?"

"No rush." ​​Qin Hao shook his head: "Let's hold a board meeting first and see how the shareholders react."

The following day, Burger King held an emergency board meeting. The meeting was held in the company's main conference room, and all the directors were present—Qin Hao, Zhao Yajing, Shi Xiaona, and representatives of four institutional investors.

The atmosphere was somewhat solemn.

A director surnamed Li spoke first: "Chairman Qin, KFC is coming on strong this time, we need to have a strategy to deal with it. The stock price has already fallen by almost 6%, if this continues, investor confidence will collapse."

Another director, surnamed Wang, chimed in, "Yes, Chairman Qin. Shouldn't we consider adjusting our strategy?"

The board members of the organization exchanged views, but the core message was the same: KFC is too strong, and we need to avoid its sharp edge.

Qin Hao waited until they finished speaking before slowly saying, "Gentlemen, KFC is very strong, but Burger King is not weak either. We have hundreds of stores in Hong Kong, high brand awareness, and good customer loyalty. Why should we back down?"

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, KFC's return this time isn't without its weaknesses. They failed in Hong Kong ten years ago, and although they've made a comeback, they're definitely still haunted by the experience. The fact that they only opened one store this time is clearly a trial, and they're not confident in expanding across the board."

"So, what does Chairman Qin mean..." Director Li asked.

“What I mean is, we should not only respond to the challenge, but also take the initiative.” Qin Hao stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and picked up a pen: “KFC’s first store was on Jordan Road, right?”

“Yes.” Zhao Yajing nodded: “It’s at the intersection of Jordan Road and Nathan Road.”

“Okay.” Qin Hao drew a circle on the whiteboard: “Then let’s open a Burger King and a Tea Yan Yue Se right across from it, sandwiching it between them. And we’ll open on the same day as KFC, with a big promotional event.”

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

“This…” Director Wang hesitated: “Isn’t this too aggressive? Opening a store directly across from theirs is like going head-to-head with them.”

"We have to face them head-on." Qin Hao said firmly, "The business world is like a battlefield, and the brave will win when paths cross. If we back down, the market, investors, and customers will think we're afraid of KFC. In that case, we'll lose not only face, but also our stock price."

Shi Xiaona was the first to express her support: "I agree with Chairman Qin's strategy. Although KFC is strong, we have a deep foundation in Hong Kong, are familiar with the market, and are not afraid to compete with them head-on."

The board members exchanged glances. Although they were worried, they also knew that Qin Hao was right—in the business world, sometimes showing weakness is more fatal than failure.

“Okay, then we’ll do as Chairman Qin says.” Director Li finally stated, “However, the opening event must be a big one, we need to make a big splash and let all of Hong Kong know that we’re not afraid of KFC.”

"Of course." Qin Hao nodded. "I already have arrangements."

……

Jordan Road became unusually lively over the next month.

The KFC store is undergoing intensive renovations, and its bright red signboard is already up, making it very eye-catching. Just across the street, less than fifty meters away, two other stores are also under renovation at the same time—one with a red and yellow signboard for Burger King, and the other with a green signboard for Chayan Yuese.

This move, opening a shop directly opposite its competitor, caused quite a stir in Hong Kong's business community. Newspapers began reporting on it, with headlines increasingly eye-catching:
**Fast Food Wars Are About to Erupt! Burger King Takes on KFC Head-to-Head**
**A Clash of Titans: Domestic Brands Take on International Giants**
**Jordan Road Becomes a Battleground: Two Restaurant Brands Face Off Across the Street**
The public attention, ironically, brought a surge of buzz to Burger King. Many citizens were curious about where this local fast-food brand got the confidence to challenge KFC head-on.

At the end of March, KFC announced its official opening, with the date set for April 1st.

Upon receiving the news, Qin Hao smiled slightly: "Opening on April Fool's Day? Interesting. Let's set the same day then."

On the morning of April 1st, Jordan Road was packed with people. KFC's entrance was adorned with flower baskets, and a lion dance troupe was on display, creating a lively atmosphere with the sounds of gongs and drums. Several media reporters were also present, ready to report on the grand return of this international fast-food giant to Hong Kong.

However, when people turned their attention to the other side, they discovered that the situation there was even larger.

A temporary stage was set up in front of Burger King and Chayan Yuese. A huge banner hung on the stage: "Warmly celebrate the grand opening of Burger King Jordan Road Store and Chayan Yuese Jordan Road Store!"

What's even more surprising is that a familiar figure is standing on the stage – Sam Hui.

This Hong Kong music superstar surprisingly appeared at the opening ceremony of a fast food restaurant today. He was holding a microphone and interacting with the audience.
"Hello everyone, neighbors and friends! I'm Sam Hui. I'm very happy to be here today for the opening events of Burger King and Chayan Yuese. Why am I here? There are two reasons—"

He paused, then smiled and said, "First, I'm a loyal Burger King customer; I love their fried chicken legs. Second..."

He pulled out a piece of paper and waved it in front of the camera: "I bought Burger King stock! So, helping Burger King is helping myself!"

This remark elicited laughter and applause from the audience.

Sam Hui continued, "To celebrate the opening, everyone who comes to shop today will enjoy a 50% discount! And the first 100 customers will receive a free autographed photo of me!"

"Wow!"

The scene instantly erupted in excitement. A 50% discount was already incredibly attractive, but what about autographed photos of Sam Hui? For Hong Kong citizens, this was simply an irresistible temptation.

Crowds began to flock to Burger King and Chayan Yuese. Long queues formed in front of both stores, stretching all the way down the street and blocking the entrance to KFC.

KFC was also offering opening discounts, but it was much quieter by comparison. Only a few customers went in; most people were drawn to the lively scene across the street.

Media reporters also turned their cameras to Burger King. After all, Sam Hui's star power was far more appealing than any opening lion dance.

That evening, television news and the next day's newspaper headlines were almost entirely about this "fast food war." And without exception, the focus of the reports was on Burger King:
**Sam Hui's appearance at Burger King draws huge crowds**
**Local Brand Outperforms International Giants, Achieves Victory in Opening Battle on Jordan Road**
As the media predicted, Burger King's stock price began to rise after the market opened the following day. Investors were greatly encouraged to see that Burger King was not only unafraid of KFC but had also successfully launched a brilliant counterattack. By the close of trading, the stock price had risen from HK$3.88 to HK$4.12, recovering all its previous losses.

On the third day, the stock price continued to rise, once breaking through HK$4.3 and setting a new historical high.

In this grand opening battle, Burger King emerged victorious.

……

The Shi Group headquarters, Chairman's office.

Shi Fangren put down the Ming Pao newspaper in his hand, a smile of admiration on his face: "This young Qin really has a way with things. I guess KFC is in a dilemma right now."

Sitting across from him, Shi Xiaona smiled and said, "Yes, at the beginning of the year, everyone was worried at the board meeting, but he wasn't flustered at all. This counterattack was a slap in the face to those stock commentators who were pessimistic about Burger King."

She paused, then added, "Dad, look at the stock price, it's already risen to 4.3 yuan. The stocks we hold have appreciated quite a bit."

Shi Fangren nodded, about to speak, when Shi Xiaojun beside him let out a soft snort:
"Aren't you getting a little too cocky now? Don't forget, that's KFC, a real international giant. They can crush Burger King with money. Can Sam Hui help them every time? Once this wave of hype dies down and KFC recovers, they'll have plenty of ways to deal with Burger King."

Shi Xiaona frowned, about to retort, when there was a knock on the office door.

"Go in," Shi Fangren said.

The door opened, and the assistant walked in. He quickly walked to Shi Fangren's side, bent down, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Shi Fangren's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously glanced at Shi Xiaona with a somewhat complicated look in his eyes.

"Alright, I understand," Shi Fangren said to his assistant. "You can go out now."

After the assistant closed the door and left, Shi Xiaona asked in confusion, "Dad, what's wrong?"

She noticed that her father's gaze towards her earlier was a little strange.

Shi Fangren hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Richard from Swire Group invited me to afternoon tea."

"Swire Group?" A bad feeling suddenly welled up in Shi Xiaona's heart: "The Swire Group that got the exclusive agency for KFC in Hong Kong?"

Shi Fangren nodded.

Swire Group, one of Hong Kong's four major British trading companies, established its operations in Hong Kong in 1870. After more than a century of development, its business encompasses a wide range of sectors, including real estate, aviation, beverages and food chain, marine services, trade, and industry. Although British capital is gradually withdrawing from the Hong Kong market recently due to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the influence of long-established British companies like Swire Group remains considerable.

"Dad, why did Taikoo Group ask you to meet at this time? Could it be..." Shi Xiaona's voice was a little tense.

Shi Fangren waved his hand, interrupting her: "It's too early to make a judgment now. But no matter what, we still have to give Swire Group face."

Shi Xiaona bit her lip: "Dad, I think... I need to call Qin Hao first. At least let him know about this."

"Xiao Na!" Shi Xiaojun said with dissatisfaction, "We haven't even figured out why Taigu Group is looking for Dad yet. You don't need to report everything to Qin Hao, do you? Don't forget, you're still a daughter of the Shi family, not a daughter-in-law of the Qin family."

Those were very hurtful words. Shi Xiaona glared angrily at her second brother: "Shi Xiaojun, what are you saying? Don't forget, we are also shareholders of Burger King! Anyone with eyes can see what Swire Group's purpose is in contacting Dad—they want to buy Burger King shares from Dad and the other minority shareholders, thereby forcing Qin Hao to sell Burger King to them!"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke: "At that time, all they need to do is change the name, and KFC will take over. And the 'Burger King' that Qin Hao worked so hard to build will cease to exist!"

Shi Xiaojun smiled dismissively: "That's right, we are indeed shareholders of Burger King. But if the other party offers a high enough price and we can also give Swire Group face, why wouldn't we do such a worthwhile deal?"

"You—" Shi Xiaona was so angry she couldn't speak.

Seeing that the brother and sister were about to start arguing, Shi Fangren cleared his throat and said, "Alright."

The two immediately fell silent.

Shi Fangren looked at his daughter, then at his son, and slowly said, "It's not wrong for Xiao Na to tell Xiao Qin. After all, we are shareholders of Burger King, and we have an obligation to inform the major shareholder of important information."

Shi Xiaona's eyes lit up.

But Shi Fangren continued, "However, Xiao Jun's point isn't entirely unfounded. We still need to give face to the Swire Group. How about this—"

He glanced at his watch: "It's 11 a.m. Xiao Na, call Qin Hao now and tell him about this. Then, Xiao Jun, get ready, and come with me to see Richard this afternoon."

Shi Xiaojun glanced smugly at his younger sister. Although Shi Xiaona was dissatisfied, she knew this was the biggest concession her father could make.

"Okay, I'll call now." Shi Xiaona picked up the phone.

……

The call was connected.

"Hello, is this Qin Hao? This is Xiao Na."

Qin Hao's calm voice came from the other end of the phone: "Xiao Na, is something the matter?"

Shi Xiaona took a deep breath and said quickly, "Richard from Swire Group just invited my dad to tea this afternoon. I guess they want to buy our Burger King stock."

She spoke very directly, without hiding anything.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a few seconds.

Shi Xiaona was a little nervous and asked cautiously, "Are you... angry?"

Qin Hao chuckled: "Why would I be angry? Because Uncle Shi went to see Richard?"

"Hmm..." Shi Xiaona nodded subconsciously, even though Qin Hao couldn't see it.

Qin Hao laughed and said, "From Uncle Shi's perspective, even if he sells his Burger King shares to Swire Group, it's a normal business choice and there's nothing wrong with it. Capital is profit-driven; it's only natural to sell to whoever offers the highest price."

This statement is very insightful and calm.

Shi Xiaona was even more worried: "But... if Dad really sells it, then the Taikoo Group will..."

"Xiao Na," Qin Hao interrupted her, "No matter the outcome, I'm glad you told me about this. At least it prevented me from being 'robbed' before I even realized it."

His tone was sincere. Shi Xiaona could tell that this wasn't just polite talk.

"Really?" Shi Xiaona's voice softened. "You're really not angry with me?"

"of course not."

Shi Xiaona's pretty face flushed slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart: "That's good... By the way, you should go and reassure the other shareholders first. Since Swire Group has approached my father, they will definitely approach others as well."

"Okay," Qin Hao said. "After I finish dealing with these matters, I'll treat you to a meal to express my gratitude."

"Mmm," Shi Xiaona replied softly.

After hanging up the phone, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Shi Fangren watched his daughter with a complex expression. He had heard the entire phone call. Qin Hao's reaction surprised him—there was no anger, no blame, but rather understanding and calmness.

This young man was more mature than he had imagined.

"Dad, I'll go get ready now," Shi Xiaojun said.

“Go ahead,” Shi Fangren nodded.

After his son left the office, Shi Fangren looked at his daughter and suddenly asked, "Xiao Na, what do you think of Qin Hao?"

Shi Xiaona was stunned for a moment, then blushed again: "Dad, why are you suddenly asking this..."

"Just asking casually." Shi Fangren smiled. "What kind of person do you think he is?"

Shi Xiaona thought for a moment and said seriously, "He is very smart, insightful, and decisive. Most importantly, he is very sincere and honest with his friends and business partners."

Shi Fangren paused, then looked at his daughter: "Xiao Na, do you think we should sell our Burger King stock?"

Shi Xiaona said without hesitation, "No. Dad, we've had a very pleasant collaboration with Qin Hao. We've also invested a lot of money in his 'Jinxiu Garden' project in Shenzhen. If we stab him in the back now, how can we continue our cooperation?"

Shi Fangren nodded and said nothing more.

On the other side, Qin Hao immediately took action after hanging up the phone.

He first called several institutional directors, informing them that Swire Group might contact them, and emphasized: "'Burger King' is currently doing very well, and its stock price is still rising. If you sell now, you may miss out on even greater gains."

Several directors have stated that they will not sell the company easily.

Next, Qin Hao called Zhao Yajing and asked her to prepare some materials—Burger King's development plan for the next three years, including plans to enter the mainland market, new product development plans, and potential merger and acquisition opportunities.

"It needs to be detailed and convincing," Qin Hao instructed. "I want all shareholders to see that Burger King's future is more valuable than it is now."

"Understood," Zhao Yajing replied.

After finishing all this, Qin Hao stood by the office window, looking at the bustling street scene of Central, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Swire Group...KFC...This battle came faster and more directly than he had imagined.

……

2 PM, Peninsula Hotel coffee shop.

Shi Fangren and Shi Xiaojun sat by the window, opposite a foreigner in his fifties—Richard Hamilton, senior vice president of Swire Group, in charge of the catering business.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the waiter served coffee and tea.

Richard cut to the chase: "Mr. Shi, our Swire Group hopes to acquire your Burger King shares at a price 50 cents per share higher than the market price."

Upon hearing this, Shi Xiaojun's eyes lit up. Five cents above the market price! Burger King's current share price is HK$4.3; if they acquire it for HK$4.8, their profit will be considerable.

But Shi Fangren remained calm. He took a sip of his coffee, put down the cup, and said with a smile, "Mr. Richard, this price is indeed very attractive. However, I think Burger King's stock price still has room to rise, so making a move now doesn't seem like a good choice."

Richard gave a forced smile: "Mr. Shi, you should know that Burger King is just a brand founded by a gangster with no background. But KFC is an international catering giant, backed by our Swire Group. In direct competition, Burger King is no match at all."

He paused, then emphasized, "KFC has just entered Hong Kong and is still in the adjustment period. Once we've established a foothold and expanded fully, Burger King's market share will be severely squeezed. At that point, the question won't be whether the stock price will rise or fall, but how much it will drop."

That statement had a somewhat threatening tone.

Shi Fangren remained unmoved and instead laughed: "Oh, really? But I heard that your opening event on Jordan Road was a complete failure?"

A flicker of annoyance crossed Richard's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it: "That doesn't prove anything. A temporary marketing campaign can't change the fundamental balance of power. KFC is an international catering giant with a presence all over the world; this is not something a small 'Burger King' can compete with."

“If it were someone else, I might have agreed to the deal without hesitation.” Shi Fangren smiled faintly, “But I’m sorry, he’s different.”

Richard's expression shifted from anger to confusion: "Why?"

Shi Fangren paused, then looked at Richard: "The reason I'm unwilling to sell is because I trust Qin Hao. He's not an ordinary businessman; he has vision, courage, and ability."

Richard sneered: "Mr. Shi, you overestimate him. A young man from the mainland who has made a name for himself in Hong Kong with a bit of cleverness and luck is worth your high regard?"

“If you knew his experiences over the past three years, you wouldn’t say that,” Shi Fangren shook his head. “He started from a small shop in Guangzhou and, in three years, built Burger King into a publicly listed company with a market value of over a billion yuan. At the same time, he also developed a 130-acre real estate project in Shenzhen. Do you think someone like that just got lucky?”

Richard paused for a few seconds, then said, "Even so, he can't possibly compete with the combined efforts of KFC and Swire Group. Mr. Shi, I hope you will consider this carefully. If you don't sell now, you won't get this price when Burger King's stock price plummets in the future."

This is the last threat.

Shi Fangren slowly stood up: "I'm sorry, I cannot grant your request."

He glanced at the coffee on the table: "The coffee is good, but I prefer tea. I happen to have quite a few good teas at home. If Mr. Richard has time, you are welcome to come over for a visit."

After saying that, he nodded slightly and left with Shi Xiaojun.

Richard watched the departing figures of Shi Fangren and his son, his face grim, and slammed his fist on the coffee table.
"Shit!"

……

Stepping out of the Peninsula Hotel and into his car, Shi Xiaojun finally couldn't hold back any longer:
"Dad, why refuse? This acquisition price is already quite high! HK$4.8, we can make a lot of money!"

Shi Fangren did not answer immediately, but waited until the car started and merged into traffic before slowly speaking:
“I’ve told you so many times, you can’t just look at the immediate benefits when you do things. Yes, Swire Group’s price is not low. But don’t forget, our cooperation with Xiao Qin is not just about ‘Burger King’.”

He turned to his son and said, "We invested a full 80 million RMB in the 'Jinxiu Garden' project in Shenzhen. Do you think Xiao Qin is the kind of person who would smile at you and give you a share of the profits after being stabbed in the back?"

Shi Xiaojun opened his mouth: "But...we signed a contract, how dare he..."

“Don’t forget, this is Shenzhen, not Hong Kong.” Shi Fangren interrupted him: “If he really wants to fight us to the death, what can you do? The contract is fixed, but people are flexible. If he delays the construction, lowers the quality, or even finds reasons to cancel the project, our 80 million will be wasted.”

"On this point, you're not as insightful as Xiaona!"

Shi Xiaojun was speechless.

Yes, Shenzhen isn't Hong Kong. Its laws, systems, and interpersonal relationships are all different. Qin Hao has been operating in Shenzhen for several years; his connections are definitely deeper than theirs. If things really fall apart, they're likely to be the ones who suffer.

"So you mean," Shi Xiaojun asked hesitantly, "that we're going to team up with that kid surnamed Qin to fight against Swire Group and KFC?"

Shi Fangren looked at his son, who seemed shrewd but was actually short-sighted, and sighed.
"When did I ever say I would stand by him through thick and thin?"

Shi Xiaojun opened his mouth, but for a moment he was speechless.

"Xiaojun, do you know the biggest difference between investing and gambling?" Shi Fangren said earnestly, "Gambling is about luck and probability. Investing is about judging the situation and having insight into people and things."

He paused, then continued, "Before the situation becomes clear, what we need to do is observe and wait. Neither easily take sides nor easily give up. This is the true way of investing." (End of Chapter)