In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 728 The joyous day of her engagement—she had waited too long for this day!
"How bustling!" Standing on the hydrofoil, looking at the towering buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour, Liu Xiaoli murmured.

At this moment, the amazement and longing in Liu Xiaoli's eyes were almost overflowing.

Jiangcheng, where she previously lived, is a well-known major city in mainland China. She has even been to cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

In the early 1980s, even in these major cities in mainland China, urban construction was very basic, with very few high-rise buildings, narrow and crowded streets, and a far less vibrant and diverse commercial atmosphere.

Before us lies Victoria Harbour, where skyscrapers pierce the clouds, their glass curtain walls reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors, creating a scene straight out of a dream.

On the sea, cruise ships shuttle back and forth, their horns mingling with the sound of the waves to create a stirring symphony.

She had seen pictures of Victoria Harbour in magazines, but when she arrived there in person, she truly felt the awe-inspiring presence, as if she had stepped into a completely different world.

At that moment, she personally experienced what it meant to live in two different worlds.

At the same time, she became even more certain that her decision was the right one.

If she hadn't mustered the courage to make that decision and begged Lin Haoran to bring her from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, she might never have witnessed such a prosperous scene, let alone pursued her dance dreams here.

Lin Haoran sat on a bench on the boat and heard Liu Xiaoli muttering to herself. He smiled slightly, knowing that the girl was deeply shocked and unable to calm down at this moment.

This is actually quite normal; Hong Kong's current level of prosperity is among the best in the world.

As for major cities in mainland China, their development has been relatively slow due to economic isolation in recent years. Although they have begun to strive to catch up with the times, the gap with Hong Kong is still very large.

Therefore, it can be said that Hong Kong in this era was like living in two different worlds from first-tier cities in mainland China.

The hydrofoil docked smoothly, and the modern atmosphere of Hong Kong became even more palpable.

The dock was bustling with people of all skin colors hurrying by, fashionable men and women, and business people in suits, creating a vibrant urban scene.

Liu Xiaoli carefully followed Lin Haoran off the boat, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, afraid of missing any new sights.

The sound of high heels clicking on the ground, the intermittent Cantonese and English conversations, and the distant car horns—all these sounds intertwine to create a unique urban symphony.

"Boss, I'll take two people over first and drive over. Please have a seat here," Li Weidong said, bowing slightly.

Their car was parked in the parking lot of Central Ferry Pier, owned by Hongkong Land Group. Even if it was parked there, it would be watched by someone 24 hours a day.

Furthermore, they will check the vehicle before driving it to see if there are any problems.

After all, the fact that a time bomb was planted under the car before was enough to make security personnel more cautious about the safety of the boss's vehicle.

Lin Haoran nodded.

Liu Xiaoli stood somewhat uneasily beside Lin Haoran.

Arriving in this bustling yet unfamiliar city, unable to speak the language, she now completely relied on Lin Haoran.

Seeing this, Lin Haoran smiled and said, "I've already made arrangements for you. Someone will take you to the hotel to settle in shortly. Just tell her if you need anything. I won't abandon you before you get used to the environment in Hong Kong, so don't worry!"

Now that he had brought Liu Xiaoli to Hong Kong, Lin Haoran wouldn't just abandon her like that.

After all, in Hong Kong at that time, gangs were everywhere. A young woman, especially a stunningly beautiful one like Liu Xiaoli, would definitely attract the attention of some thugs. If she wasn't careful, she could easily get into trouble.

Moreover, since he chose to bring her here, he must have coveted her beauty, and Lin Haoran naturally didn't want such a beautiful flower to fall into someone else's hands.

"Thank you, Mr. Lin," Liu Xiaoli said softly, her unease easing slightly.

She secretly observed the young yet powerful man beside her; the calm and unhurried tone of his voice made her feel inexplicably at ease.

Before Li Weidong and the others had even driven over, a woman in her thirties dressed in business attire rushed over in a hurry.

"Boss, I'm so sorry, there was a lot of traffic on the way, but thankfully I wasn't late." The woman was slightly out of breath, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead, clearly having rushed over.

She was an assistant at Hong Kong Land Group, temporarily assigned by Lin Haoran to handle Liu Xiaoli's affairs in Hong Kong.

Lin Haoran nodded to Zhou Meiqi: "Assistant Zhou, I'm leaving Miss Liu in your care. Take her to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central to settle in first, and then we'll handle the Hong Kong ID card and other related procedures tomorrow."

“Understood, Mr. Lin.” Zhou Meiqi replied respectfully, then turned to Liu Xiaoli, “Ms. Liu, please come with me, the car is already waiting.”

Just then, Li Weidong pulled up next to Lin Haoran in his Rolls-Royce. Behind the Rolls-Royce were two ordinary bulletproof cars.

Before getting into the car, Lin Haoran said gently to Liu Xiaoli, "Go to the hotel with Assistant Zhou to rest first. If you need anything, just tell her."

"Mr. Lin, if I want to see you, how should I find you?" Liu Xiaoli seemed to have hesitated for a long time before she mustered up the courage to speak softly.

"I'll contact you when I have time. You should get used to the environment in Hong Kong first!" Lin Haoran waved and got into the car with a smile.

The Rolls-Royce slowly started moving, followed closely by two other cars, and soon disappeared into the traffic at the Central Ferry Pier.

Liu Xiaoli watched the departing convoy, a sense of loss welling up inside her, but she quickly rallied.

"Miss Liu is so lucky to have won the boss's favor!" The assistant looked at Liu Xiaoli with envy.

Their boss is the most powerful person in Hong Kong's business world; countless girls dream of getting close to him.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaoli blushed slightly, but she did not explain her relationship with Lin Haoran.

She asked softly, "Assistant Zhou, is Mr. Lin very popular in Hong Kong?"

As Zhou Meiqi opened the car door for Liu Xiaoli, she said with a smile, "He's more than just popular. Mr. Lin is the most powerful person in Hong Kong's business world. He's not only successful in his career, but also handsome and dashing. I don't know how many socialites and heiresses want to win his favor."

Once inside the car, Zhou Meiqi sat in the driver's seat and started the engine while explaining, "However, Mr. Lin has always been low-key and rarely participates in social activities. The fact that he specially arranged for me to take care of you shows how much he values ​​you."

The car drove smoothly toward the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Along the way, Zhou Meiqi carefully introduced the landmark buildings to Liu Xiaoli: "That tallest building over there is the Kangle Building, this is the Wanqing Building, that building is the Hengsheng Building, and ahead is the Landmark Plaza. The building we just passed that is under construction will become the world's tallest building in the future. These are all properties owned by Mr. Lin's companies..."

Meanwhile, Lin Haoran's convoy quickly left the bustling Central district and headed straight for the Deep Water Bay villa area.

It was already past 5 p.m. at this point.

The day after tomorrow is his engagement day. His parents have been working hard for him these past few days, but he has been busy with his own work. They really feel bad about it.

Therefore, after returning from Pengcheng, Lin Haoran chose to go directly back to the Deep Water Bay villa.

On the way, he used his mobile phone to call his family in Deep Water Bay and tell them that he was on his way back.

When Lin's mother learned that her son was coming home, she could tell from his voice that she was very happy.

Half an hour later, Lin Haoran's convoy stopped in front of the Lin family villa in Deep Water Bay.

Several people came out of the villa after hearing the engine.

Besides his father Lin Wan'an, Lin Haoran also met his elder brother Lin Haoning, his sister-in-law Cao Shaoling, and his nephew Lin Jianbin.

It's been a long time since I've seen my nephew, Lin Jianbin. He's grown quite a bit and gotten quite fatter.

"Hello, Second Uncle." Lin Jianbin greeted Lin Haoran in a low voice, clearly a little afraid of this famous business tycoon in Hong Kong.

Lin Haoran picked up Lin Jianbin and said to Lin Haoning with a smile, "Big brother, if you don't control Jianbin's weight, I won't be able to carry him anymore!"

Lin Haoning said with a wry smile, "This kid has been eating a lot lately, and your sister-in-law always spoils him."

Cao Shaoling chided from the side, "What kind of father are you? The child is growing, what's wrong with him eating more?"

Looking at this scene, Lin Wan'an said with some relief, "Don't stand outside anymore, come inside and talk. Your mom knows you're coming back, so she specially told the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes."

Lin Haoran nodded, and the group went into the house together.

The brothers Li Weidong and Li Weiguo were also carrying many gift boxes, all of which were local specialties brought back from Shenzhen, such as Shajing oyster canned goods, Gongming sausages, and nut crisps. Although they were not valuable, they were rare in Hong Kong and could not be bought even if one wanted to.

“These past few days, your second and third sisters have been coming back every day to help out, and they don’t leave until after 4 p.m. If they had known you were coming back tonight, they wouldn’t have come back so quickly. Your eldest brother has also been staying at home to help out these past few days. The Peninsula Hotel has already made preparations for the engagement banquet,” Lin Wan’an said as he walked.

"Daddy, eldest brother and sister-in-law, thank you for your hard work," Lin Haoran said with a smile.

He was the one who got engaged, but he went off to do whatever he wanted, while his family had to take care of everything for him.

Lin Haoning, the elder brother standing to the side, said, "I just happened to be free from business recently, so I came back to help out. We've been married before, so I know how complicated wedding preparations are. You're finally getting married, and I'm very happy for you. When a man reaches a certain age, he should get married!"

The two had clashed fiercely over the right to inherit the inheritance, and their relationship had once reached a freezing point.

It wasn't until Lin Haoran rose to prominence in the business world with his extraordinary talent, creating a business empire far surpassing the Lin family in just a few years, that the ice between the brothers began to melt quietly.

What convinced Lin Haoning even more was that Lin Haoran reminded him several times, which led to his successful investments on several occasions.

The investment advice Lin Haoran gave him has now turned into astonishing figures on his books.

Therefore, Lin Haoning now feels not only familial affection for his younger brother Lin Haoran, but also gratitude for his kindness.

Without Lin Haoran, there would be no Lin Haoning with a net worth of over a billion today.

Lin Haoning patted Lin Haoran's shoulder sincerely: "Honestly, seeing how successful you are now and about to start a family, I'm very happy for you. What happened before... I was wrong."

Lin Haoran smiled slightly: "Let bygones be bygones. We're family; blood is thicker than water."

The family enjoyed a pleasant evening together.

As the engagement banquet approached, Guo Xiaohan stayed at the Guo family home.

According to Lin's father, many core members of the Guo family have come from Southeast Asia and will attend the engagement banquet together.

Although the engagement is merely a private contract with no legal effect, it is clear that both parties take it very seriously.

After all, both companies hold very special positions.

One is the richest family in Southeast Asia, and the other is the richest family in Hong Kong.

The two families are indeed well-matched.

Although Lin Haoran's net worth is far greater than that of the Guo family in terms of wealth, the Guo family has been operating in Southeast Asia for generations, with deep roots and extensive connections. These are intangible assets, and the Guo family has provided a great deal of assistance to Lin Haoran in his expansion into Southeast Asia in the past two years.

More importantly, Guo Xiaohan herself is intelligent, capable, and beautiful, and she and Lin Haoran are very compatible, which is the most precious thing. That evening, in the study, Lin Haoran talked for a long time with his father, Lin Wan'an, and his elder brother, Lin Haoning.

On the other hand, although Lin's father has been busy preparing for Lin Haoran's engagement, he has not forgotten his own career.

Lin Haoran learned from Lin Wan'an that they had already acquired a full 87% stake in Shaw Brothers Studio, and that they would be able to forcibly privatize the stock in a short period of time.

When Run Run Shaw decided to sell Shaw Brothers Studio to the Lin family, this former Hong Kong film giant was already destined for privatization.

However, because he has been busy preparing for his youngest son's engagement, Lin Wan-an, although he has taken over Shaw Brothers Studio and become its new head, has not devoted much energy to it.

After all, for Lin Wan'an, his son Lin Haoran's life event is the most important thing right now.

As for Shaw Brothers Studio, there are professional managers handling things, so there shouldn't be any major problems for the time being.

After leaving the study, Lin Haoran made a phone call to Guo Xiaohan.

During the phone call, Guo Xiaohan poured out her longing for Lin Haoran.

Lin Haoran's fiancée is now eager to become Mrs. Lin.

Before you knew it, the night had passed.

The engagement banquet is almost all prepared.

As the protagonist, Lin Haoran only needs to be present at the scene.

As for gifts such as betrothal money, jewelry, wedding cakes, coconuts (symbolizing "having a father and a son"), and tea (symbolizing that the marriage agreement cannot be broken), Lin's father had already arranged them for him.
Even at Shi Xundao's villa, Lin Wan'an has made arrangements in the past few days, such as setting up the newlyweds' bed, placing auspicious items, and even arranging for a little boy to sit on the bed, symbolizing "early birth of a son".

These may seem feudal and superstitious, but for Hong Kong's wealthy families, not a single step can be omitted!
Unlike wedding banquets, engagement parties are not large gatherings, so not many people were invited; instead, close friends and family members from both sides were invited.

For example, on the Lin family's side, apart from all the Lin family members and some close relatives, there weren't many people invited. Several key figures from Lin Haoran's companies, such as Burton, Ma Shimin, Cui Zilong, Chen Shulin, and He Shanheng, were invited to attend.

Aside from that, he quietly invited a few business friends of Lin Haoran who had good relationships with him, such as Bao Yugang, Shao Yifu, and Liu Luanxiong. That was basically it.

As for the Guo family, they also sent more than twenty people from Southeast Asia.

Therefore, the engagement party was very low-key, and they didn't even plan to make it public.

Today, Lin Haoran did not go out, but stayed at the Deep Water Bay villa.

Early in the morning, my second sister and her three families came over again with their children.

However, neither of his brothers-in-law came along.

These two brothers-in-law are now quite wealthy, although their assets are far less than Lin Haoran's, they are still billionaires.

Therefore, they are indeed quite busy and cannot come every day.

Lin Haoran naturally felt closer to his two older sisters.

Back when he was competing with Lin Haoning, his two older sisters secretly gave him money to help him out.

Although the millions of Hong Kong dollars were not crucial to Lin Haoran at the time, he appreciated the sentiment.

This is why he helped his two brothers-in-law separate from their respective families and develop their own businesses.

With the arrival of the two older sisters and their children, the Lin family became lively once again.

Compared to other wealthy families, the Lin family is indeed a small, relatively small one.

Therefore, Lin's parents have always hoped that Lin Haoning would have a second child.

However, after so many years of waiting, Lin Haoning still only has one son.

Therefore, Lin's parents have placed their hopes on Lin Haoran, hoping that he will get married and have children as soon as possible to strengthen the Lin family.

No matter what, the Lin family is now the most prestigious family in Hong Kong.

Although it was entirely supported by Lin Haoran.

But Lin Haoran is, after all, a member of the Lin family, and his achievements are the glory of the Lin family.

He didn't go to the Kang Le Building today, but Ma Shimin called him to report some important matters.

For example, Wellcome supermarkets, owned by Hongkong Land Group, are still engaged in a price war with ParknShop supermarkets, owned by Hutchison Whampoa.

The conflict between the two companies has caused many supermarkets, large and small, in Hong Kong to suffer as a result.

Because no single company has the strength to wage a price war against these two giants.

If you can't offer discounts, then naturally you won't get any business.

Therefore, many supermarkets have simply closed down temporarily, waiting for the two giants to stop their price war.

As for the losses, they can only be borne silently by oneself.

That's how the business world works: survival of the fittest!
In addition, Dai Shi from Galaxy Securities also called Lin Haoran to report on the situation over the past few days.

For example, they acquired more shares in Hutchison Whampoa and Cheung Kong Holdings, but not by much.

In addition, they have already discussed with Cui Zilong's side and are preparing to choose a time to release some reports about Hutchison Whampoa's internal cash flow problems.

At that time, Hutchison Whampoa's share price will surely fall, and more shareholders will sell their shares. Galaxy Securities will then be able to acquire more shares more easily at a lower price.

……

In the blink of an eye, another night has passed.

The date was September 6, 1981, which was the ninth day of the eighth lunar month.

The calendar on the wall turned to this day, which read: Today is auspicious for travel, moving, marriage, engagement, making vows, raising the roof beam, erecting pillars...

Today is also the day of their engagement banquet.

Early in the morning, the two parties drove to the Peninsula Hotel in a large group.

The representative of this luxury hotel in Hong Kong is now entirely surnamed Lin.

The Peninsula Hotel's banquet hall was not open to the public today, and the entire hall was decorated with exceptional elegance and luxury.

Inside the banquet hall, flowers bloomed in abundance and crystal chandeliers sparkled, showcasing the distinguished status of the two families.

Lin Haoran, dressed in a custom-made Chinese-style suit, stood regally at the entrance of the banquet hall to greet the guests.

Beside him, Guo Xiaohan, dressed in an exquisite Chinese-style dress, looked dignified and elegant. Standing together with Lin Haoran, they seemed like a match made in heaven.

"Are you nervous?" Lin Haoran asked his fiancée softly.

Guo Xiaohan smiled slightly, her eyes filled with happiness: "With you here, I'm not nervous."

She had waited too long for this day.

Although the engagement banquet doesn't fully signify that she has become Mrs. Lin, it's like she's already halfway there.

The first to arrive were Lin Haoran's generals.

Chen Shulin, Ma Shimin, Burton, Cui Zilong and others arrived one by one and offered their blessings to their boss.

After that, his friends in the business world came over one by one.

Bao Yugang and his wife arrived, smiling and offering their congratulations: "Haoran, congratulations!"

Shao Yifu joked, "You'd better settle down from now on and not be so busy with work all day like before."

Liu Luanxiong then presented a generous gift: "It's just a small token, wishing you a lifetime of happiness together."

Lin Haoran thanked them one by one, his manners impeccable and generous. At this time, the Guo family's relatives and friends also arrived one after another.

The elders of the Guo family, who came all the way from Southeast Asia, were all extraordinary, demonstrating the profound heritage of this prominent Southeast Asian family.

Guo's father approached with several clan elders, and Lin Haoran immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Uncle, elders, welcome to Hong Kong."

Mr. Guo looked at his prospective son-in-law with satisfaction and said to the elders of the clan beside him, "Haoran is young and promising. I am very relieved that Xiaohan has found such a suitable partner."

The engagement ceremony officially begins.

According to traditional etiquette, the two parties exchanged tokens of affection.

Lin Haoran put an exquisite diamond ring on Guo Xiaohan's finger, and Guo Xiaohan reciprocated with a precious pocket watch, symbolizing their constant companionship and devotion.

During the banquet, Lin Haoran raised his glass to toast the elders of the Guo family. His proper manners and elegant speech left a deep impression on the Guo family and their relatives.

After the ceremony, Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan toasted everyone one by one.

Upon arriving at his relatives' house, Lin Jianbin excitedly ran over and said, "Second Uncle and Second Aunt, I wish you a happy baby soon!"

The child's innocent remark drew laughter from everyone. Guo Xiaohan's cheeks flushed slightly, while Lin Haoran smiled and patted his nephew's head, saying, "Thank you for your kind words."

Lin Haoning raised his glass and said, "Haoran, Xiaohan, I wish you a lifetime of happiness and a long and loving marriage."

Sister-in-law Cao Shaoling also said with a smile, "We hope to give Mom and Dad a grandson soon. Mom has been looking forward to it for a long time."

As the banquet drew to a close, Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan took to the stage.

Amidst the blessings of relatives and friends, the two smiled at each other.

At this moment, all the prosperity and achievements cannot compare to the smile of the person in front of you.

Having settled down and started a family, Lin Haoran has now achieved all of that.

(End of this chapter)