In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 761 Li Jiacheng admits defeat and shakes hands with Lin Haoran to make peace!
Central, Prince's Building, 21st floor, this is Pao Yu-kong's private meeting room.

It is worth mentioning that this building belongs to the Hongkong Land Group.

Bao Yugang's Worldwide Shipping Group only rented a few floors of this building as its headquarters.

He specially built a spacious and luxurious private reception room on the 21st floor for meeting important figures.

Three years ago, Paul Chung and Jardine Matheson engaged in a fierce battle over Wharf Holdings.

At that time, Jardine Matheson twice attempted to exchange Hongkong Land's properties on Hong Kong Island for the shares of Wharf Holdings held by Paul Y.

At the time, Bao Yugang explicitly demanded that Hongkong Land Group exchange the Golden Gate Building, Swire Building, and Prince Building for the property.

It's worth noting that among these three buildings, Swire Building and Prince Building are highly sought-after properties in the Central District, especially Prince Building, which is also the headquarters of the Worldwide Shipping Group.

However, Jardine Matheson was unwilling to hand over the Prince's Building and Swire Building to Paul Y.G. The two sides parted on bad terms due to significant differences in the terms of the exchange.

Unexpectedly, these properties have now benefited Lin Haoran.

If Jardine Matheson had agreed to let Hongkong Land exchange Swire Building and Prince's Building for these properties, then these priceless properties would not be in Lin Haoran's hands today.

Last year, after Hongkong Land Group completed its privatization, Worldwide Shipping Group became a tenant of Lin Haoran's company.

Inside the reception room, Li Jiacheng sat alone on the sofa.

He arrived at the last minute. When he arrived, Bao Yugang was still busy handling some important work matters, so he asked his assistant to lead him to this meeting room to wait for a while.

The sea breeze from Victoria Harbour was blocked by the thick glass curtain wall of the Prince's Building, but it seemed to blow the chill in Li Jiacheng's heart intensified, making him feel a bone-chilling cold from the bottom of his heart.

He sat upright on the expensive Italian leather sofa in Bao Yugang's private reception room, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, so stiff that he could not move.

Outside the window was the bustling Central business district, but those scenes had long since become blurred in his eyes.

Only the outlines of a few massive office buildings under Lin Haoran's control remain clearly visible: the Kang Le Building of Hongkong Land Group, the Wanqing Building of Wanqing Group, and the Hutchison Whampoa Building, which has just changed hands...

These buildings, like towering mountains, weighed heavily on his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

The door was pushed open silently, and Bao Yugang walked in.

This "world shipping magnate," who has dominated the global shipping industry for decades, walked in with a light step and a rosy complexion. Although he had recently undergone major surgery, he was clearly recovering very well.

"Brother Li, a rare guest indeed. It seems you're still resentful about your defeat at Hao Ran's hands?" Bao Yugang's words were very direct.

Li Jiacheng forced a smile, a hint of bitterness almost overflowing: "Brother Bao, to be honest, I'm feeling extremely uncomfortable right now."

He took a deep breath, as if to dispel the sense of humiliation, and his voice lowered: "Hutchison Whampoa is lost, I admit defeat. Mr. Lin's methods are swift and decisive, I, Li Jiacheng, have nothing to say."

But now, he has not only taken over Hutchison Whampoa, but has also become the second largest shareholder of Cheung Kong Holdings, holding the title of vice chairman of the board!

This means that I will be seeing him all the time from now on. In every board meeting and every decision discussion, I will have to face this 'partner' who just dug out a corner of my foundation!
Brother Bao, I really can't swallow this insult, and I truly don't know how to face this person!

He picked up the slightly cool tea in front of him, and the rim of the teacup trembled slightly.

The three words "unresolved feelings" were branded onto his heart like a mark.

The storm that raged in the negotiation room on the top floor of the Kang Le Building, Governor Merrih's almost commanding phone call, Lin Haoran's condescending 50% discount demand, the complex, unspoken anger in the eyes of the board members when the agreement was signed, and the panic selling frenzy by shareholders after the resumption of trading due to shattered illusions...

Each scene echoed sharply, repeatedly cutting into his nerves.

Li Jiacheng has been a prominent figure in the business world for many years. When has he ever been so thoroughly suppressed and humiliated?
Bao Yugang listened quietly without interrupting, simply picking up his own cup of tea and gently blowing away the foam, his movements composed.

Only after Li Jiacheng finished his cathartic outpouring, leaving only the slow swirling trail of cigar smoke in the reception room, did he slowly begin to speak.

"Still resentful? Brother Li, let me ask you something: is face more important, or is the Cheung Kong Holdings, which you built from scratch, and the livelihoods of the thousands of shareholders and employees who depend on you for their livelihoods more important?" Bao Yugang's voice was not loud, but it was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, stirring up ripples.

Li Jiacheng suddenly looked up, a look of astonishment and struggle flashing in his eyes.

Bao Yugang didn't give him any time to think and directly presented his own example:
"Then look at me. Wharf Holdings, that's the meat I snatched from the mouth of Jardine Matheson, a century-old company! That battle was fierce and terrifying, which Hong Konger doesn't know about it? But what did I do after the dust settled?"

He paused, then emphasized, enunciating each word clearly: "I personally invited Lin Haoran to become the second-largest shareholder of Wharf Holdings!"

Li Jiacheng's pupils suddenly contracted.

The Battle of Kowloon Wharf was one of the most glorious battles of Bao Yugang's life. He certainly knew about bringing in Lin Haoran as an "outsider," but the fact that Bao Yugang said it so calmly at this moment, especially in this situation, was extremely impactful.

"You want to ask why?"

Bao Yugang saw through his thoughts, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Because I see it clearly! Times have changed! Jardine Matheson, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank... which of the British conglomerates that once rode on the backs of the Chinese and acted arrogantly has not stumbled at Lin Haoran's hands?"

He held up his fingers, counting them one by one, his tone filled with unquestionable certainty: "HSBC was forced to bow its head by him, and Standard Chartered doesn't even dare to breathe loudly now! Wharf Holdings brought him in, which is like bringing in a powerful backer, a torrent strong enough to deter any unscrupulous attempts!"

His presence on the Wharf board isn't about vying for power with me; it's about adding a massive safety net to Wharf! Who dares to mess with Wharf?
With Lin Haoran's prestigious reputation, Wharf Holdings' future is limitless—that's a tangible benefit!

Bao Yugang took a big gulp of tea and stared intently at Li Jiacheng: "Look at your Cheung Kong Holdings! Lin Haoran is now the second largest shareholder, and he's also the vice chairman that you personally announced at the press conference."

What does this mean? It means that behind Cheung Kong Holdings stands Lin Haoran, Hong Kong's wealthiest businessman!

He stretched out his arm and drew a circle in the air, as if encompassing all the vast businesses belonging to Lin Haoran outside the window.

"Hengsheng Bank! A financial behemoth in Hong Kong! Credit resources, financing channels, international network... how many companies would kill for it? Lin Haoran's meager savings are enough for Cheung Kong to feast on!"

In comparison, what are Standard Chartered Bank and Huafeng Bank compared to them today?
Moreover, Lin Haoran becoming the second largest shareholder means that the future of Cheung Kong Holdings will also be viewed favorably by countless shareholders. If the stock price is stable, your personal wealth will be stable, and your assets that are mortgaged to banks will be safe!
Hengsheng Group, Hongkong Land Group, Hutchison Whampoa, Hong Kong Electric Group, Wanqing Group… these companies, no less powerful than Cheung Kong Holdings, and even surpassing it, could potentially create countless business opportunities if they could synergize with Cheung Kong Holdings' operations in the future, thanks to Lin Haoran's connections.”

Bao Yugang's voice carried a clarity born of experience: "Brother Li, why are you still holding onto that petty sentimentality? Lin Haoran's rise is a change unprecedented in the century since Hong Kong opened as a port!"

His dragon has already taken flight, overlooking the entire Hong Kong! Go against him?

He shook his head and said decisively, "There's no way out by going against him! Lin Haoran taking over Cheung Kong is like him entering my Wharf Holdings. For the entire company, it's like adding the strongest moat! This isn't just meddling; it's clearly giving you, Li Jiacheng, a 'golden talisman' to protect you for decades to come!"

Li Jiacheng was struck as if by a heavy blow, and sat frozen on the sofa.

Bao Yugang's words were like a sharp scalpel, precisely dissecting the fog of "humiliation" before his eyes.

The example of Wharf Holdings is so vivid and powerful, and the power of Lin Haoran's vast financial and industrial empire is so clear and terrifying.

Hengsheng Bank's cash flow, Galaxy Securities' market control, and the terrifying assets of the Land Group...

If these forces become an aid rather than a hindrance, what would that mean for Cheung Kong Holdings?
Countless images flashed through his mind in an instant: the pressure of banks chasing loans, the sleepless nights when the project's cash flow was tight, the inherent disadvantage of facing competitors with British capital in bidding, and so on.

If Lin Haoran nods in approval at the Cheung Kong board meeting, if Heng Sheng Bank can offer Cheung Kong even more favorable credit terms, if...

An unprecedented surge of warmth, imbued with a strong sense of reality, suddenly dispelled the cold, stagnant feeling that had accumulated in his chest.

Feeling resentful?
Faced with absolute power and enormous practical benefits, personal "spirit" appears so pale and laughable.

Moreover, the business world is like a battlefield; defeat comes at a price, which is normal.

He lost to Lin Haoran and paid a huge price—the price he paid for choosing the wrong side.

Since things have come to this point, dwelling on the current situation is irresponsible towards your future!
Having already offended Lin Haoran and suffered such a complete defeat, should we continue to be his enemy?

After Lin Haoran acquired Hutchison Whampoa, his strength increased significantly once again.

On the other hand, not only did they lose Hutchison Whampoa, but Cheung Kong Holdings, the group they founded, was also interfered with by the other party.

Given this situation, his decision to remain resentful and continue to be Lin Haoran's enemy is indeed extremely irrational.

Li Jiacheng let out a long, deep breath.

The breath that had been stuck in his chest for so long seemed to be exhaled along with the heavy feeling of humiliation.

His tense shoulders slowly relaxed, and the intense emotions surging in his eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a clarity after exhaustion and a sense of resigned relief.

Bao Yugang keenly noticed the subtle change in his friend's expression, a calm that emerged from the final compromise after an intense internal struggle.

He smiled with satisfaction, then picked up the phone and dialed a number without saying anything more.

Seeing Bao Yugang's actions, Li Jiacheng roughly guessed the other party's purpose and did not stop him.

He came here specifically to find Bao Yugang, but deep down, didn't he also have this idea?
As a top Hong Kong entrepreneur, Pao Yugang knows that the higher you stand, the fewer friends you can truly confide in.

In Hong Kong's business circles, he had only a handful of close friends, including Li Ka-shing and Lam Ho-yin.

Therefore, Bao Yugang believes that if Lin Haoran and Li Jiacheng can reconcile and the three of them work together in the Hong Kong business community, it will only benefit all parties and cause no harm.

The call was quickly answered.

"Hello, Haoran? It's me, Bao Yugang. Yes, I'm at the Prince Building. If you have time, it would be best if you could come over now?" His tone was relaxed and natural, as if he were inviting an ordinary old friend.

"It's nothing serious, Brother Li just wanted to have some tea and chat with me. It just so happens that we have some ideas about future cooperation, and I think it might be more thorough if the three of us discuss them in person? Okay, okay! I'll be waiting for you."

The call ended. Bao Yugang nodded to Li Jiacheng: "He'll be there soon."

The meeting room fell silent again for a brief moment, but the atmosphere was different now.

Li Jiacheng silently picked up his teacup, took a sip, and didn't even care that the tea had gone cold.

Less than thirty minutes later, a knock sounded, and the heavy wooden door of the reception room was silently pushed open.

Lin Haoran appeared at the doorway behind Bao Yugang's assistant.

He wore a well-tailored, custom-made dark gray shirt and pressed dark trousers, which made him look less sharp and more casual, but his inherent composure and sense of control remained undiminished.

Lin Haoran's gaze swept calmly across the room, first landing on Bao Yugang, and he nodded slightly: "Uncle Bao."

Then, his gaze turned to Li Jiacheng.

That gaze held neither the deliberate provocation of a victor nor feigned pity, but only a deep, calm stillness, as if piercing through all of Li Jiacheng's complex pretenses and reaching the depths of his recently calmed state of mind.

Li Jiacheng felt an invisible pressure; under that calm gaze, the psychological defenses he had just built seemed to waver slightly.

He instinctively wanted to look away, but forced himself to meet her gaze.

"Lin Sheng." Li Jiacheng's voice was slightly hoarse, but he still clearly uttered the two words.

He stood up, his movements carrying a subtle stiffness.

Bao Yugang stood up with a smile to greet him, warm but not rude: "Haoran, please sit down! Try the Longjing tea I just brewed, the first batch of this year's new tea."

Bao Yugang is from Zhejiang Province, and Longjing tea is a specialty of Zhejiang Province. Therefore, his favorite tea is Longjing tea from Zhejiang Province. When guests come, he usually serves Longjing tea to them.

Lin Haoran calmly walked in and sat down in the spot indicated by Bao Yugang, directly opposite Li Jiacheng.

"Good tea." He picked up the small teacup that Bao Yugang handed him, smelled the aroma, and took a small sip, his posture elegant and natural.

During the brief tea gathering, Bao Yugang mainly led the conversation, chatting about some trivial matters concerning the current situation in Hong Kong and some interesting anecdotes from the business world.

Li Jiacheng sat silently to the side, like a statue burdened with worries, mechanically picking up his teacup and putting it down again.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of top-grade green tea, yet it couldn't dispel the invisible heaviness.

Bao Yugang put down his teacup, looked at Lin Haoran, then at Li Jiacheng, his smile fading and replaced by a more solemn, almost dignified expression.

“Haoran,” Bao Yugang’s voice broke the surface calm, “I invited you here mainly for one thing, which is also a knot in Brother Jiacheng’s heart.”

The business world is like a battlefield; winning and losing are commonplace. But since we see each other all the time, how to look ahead and how to coexist requires a set of rules.

He paused slightly, turned to Li Jiacheng, his eyes filled with encouragement and a hint of invisible pressure, "Brother Li, let's speak frankly. Haoran is not a petty person."

All eyes immediately focused on Li Jiacheng.

Li Jiacheng felt as if something was stuck in his throat, making it feel tight.

Having spent most of his life navigating the business world, he had seen all sorts of ups and downs and navigated all sorts of interpersonal relationships. But at this moment, an unprecedented pressure was surging towards him like a tidal wave.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze meeting Lin Haoran's unfathomable eyes once more.

There was no mockery, no impatience, only a calm waiting, as if scrutinizing Li Jiacheng's final choice.

Taking a deep breath, as if using all his strength, Li Jiacheng finally spoke, his voice low and clear, carrying a sense of weariness and resolve as if the dust had settled:
“Mr. Lin, I, Li Jiacheng, have overestimated myself during this period.”

These words immediately surprised Lin Haoran and Bao Yugang.

A complex look flashed in Bao Yugang's eyes, a mixture of relief and a barely perceptible sigh.

Lin Haoran paused slightly in the teacup, a faint look of surprise flashing across his eyes before returning to his usual calm.

He had anticipated Li Jiacheng's compromise, but he did not expect the other party to lower himself so much, directly admitting his "overestimation of his abilities".

This resolute self-denial, on the contrary, reveals a heavy sense of a tyrant's demise.

Li Jiacheng didn't pause. He straightened his back, as if trying to suppress the last bit of resentment, and his voice became a little calmer: "In the ups and downs of business, the winner takes all, and the loser is nothing. I have no complaints."

Now, Mr. Lin is an important member of Cheung Kong Holdings and the vice chairman of the board. All the past grievances stemmed from me. Today, in front of Brother Bao, Mr. Li Jiacheng is willing to put aside past grievances.

He stared intently at Lin Haoran, his gaze devoid of emotion, revealing only a clear and unwavering choice: "Cheung Kong Holdings is the culmination of my life's work. From now on, I only wish to cooperate sincerely with Mr. Lin."

He spoke the words "sincere cooperation" with exceptional clarity.

This was no longer a perfunctory formality, but the most pragmatic and only promise made after recognizing reality, witnessed by Bao Yugang.

He was no longer the spirited Li Jiacheng who intended to compete with Lin Haoran for Hutchison Whampoa, but a business owner who had to learn to coexist with this "dragon crossing the river" in a small pond and even seek its protection.

Lin Haoran stared at him quietly for several seconds.

The air in the reception room seemed to freeze.

Bao Yugang held his breath, his gaze sweeping between the two men.

Finally, Lin Haoran put down his teacup.

The delicate porcelain and mahogany tabletop produced a soft, crisp tapping sound, breaking the silence.

He stood up, his tall figure casting a clear silhouette under the light, and then extended his right hand to Li Jiacheng.

That was a hand that controlled the financial lifeline of Hong Kong, defeated many British-owned conglomerates, and forcefully seized Hutchison Whampoa from Li Ka-shing.

Li Jiacheng's gaze fell on that hand, and in an instant, countless images flooded his mind again—the phone call from the Governor's Mansion, the lights of the Kang Le Building, the name signed on the 50% discount agreement, the frenzy of the stock market crash after the press conference...

Humiliation, resentment, anger, helplessness, and other emotions surged like waves, but when they touched the hand that symbolized absolute power and reality, they were fiercely suppressed back into the depths of their hearts by an even stronger and colder force.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all that remained was a calm that had settled, a clarity that came from resignation.

He stood up, his movements no longer stiff.

He reached out his hand to meet Lin Haoran's hand.

Two hands that had once clashed fiercely and determined the flow of Hong Kong's vast wealth finally clasped together in a luxurious, tea-scented reception room on the upper floor of the Prince's Building, under the calm gaze of Pao Yu-Kong.

Lin Haoran's palms were dry and warm, containing a heart-stopping sense of power.

Li Jiacheng's hand was slightly cool, but his grip was equally firm, without any further hesitation.

"Chairman Li, you flatter me. All that has happened in the past is just the rule of the business world. I am grateful to Uncle Bao for valuing me and inviting me to join Wharf Holdings. I also know that only by working together can we achieve greater success. Cheung Kong Holdings has a solid foundation, and Chairman Li is a leader in the business world. In the future, I am willing to work with Cheung Kong Holdings to seek common development." Lin Haoran said with a calm smile.

Now that Li Jiacheng has already backed down, there's no need for him to continue pushing him.

He still has the magnanimity to tolerate such things.

Let us work together for development.

This is both a promise and a boundary.

Lin Haoran is Lin Haoran, and Chang Shi is Chang Shi.

He is the second largest shareholder of Cheung Kong Holdings and the vice chairman of the board, but the "chairman" of Cheung Kong Holdings is still Li Ka-shing.

For Li Jiacheng at this moment, a clear positioning and well-defined boundaries have become a strange comfort.

"Good! Good! Good!" Bao Yugang's hearty laughter rang out at the right moment, full of sincere satisfaction, instantly dispelling the last trace of solemnity in the air.

"This is the vision and spirit that Hong Kong's Chinese business community should have! Let's turn the page on the past! In the future, let's work together to make the pie even bigger! Haoran, Brother Li, let's drink this cup of tea instead of wine to this 'joint development'!"

He first personally poured a cup of hot tea for each of the other two people, and then took the lead in raising his teacup.

Lin Haoran's lips curled into a very faint smile as he raised his glass.

Li Jiacheng looked at the steaming tea in front of him. The amber liquid seemed to reflect the ever-burning lights of Victoria Harbour, as well as the four golden characters of "Cheung Kong Holdings".

He raised his glass and gently clinked it against those of Lin Haoran and Bao Yugang.

The crisp sound of porcelain clinking together was particularly pleasant in the quiet reception room.

This sound heralded the complete end of a fierce business war that had once shaken the entire city of Hong Kong, and also unveiled the prelude to a new alliance that was re-bonded by real interests under the pressure of powerful external forces.

The tea is slightly bitter upon entering the throat, but leaves a lingering sweet aftertaste.

　Happy National Day, dear readers!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)