In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 774 Guo Henian's Shock
Lin Haoran has been in the capital for three days now.

Now, the date has quietly arrived at October 13th.

Fangfei Garden in the early morning, just like yesterday morning, was filled with the unique crisp air of late autumn in the north. The cool breeze gently seeped into the room through the carved window lattices.

Today, Lin Haoran no longer went to the alley for breakfast with great enthusiasm as he did yesterday. Instead, he stayed quietly in the state guesthouse, enjoying a delicate and delicious breakfast.

He still finds the events of yesterday morning quite unexpected.

Lin Haoran originally thought that even though he had been on CCTV, he was only somewhat famous.

But reality was far beyond his expectations; his fame in the capital was now incredibly high.

Even though he deliberately changed into a set of clothes that are currently popular in mainland China, instead of a suit and tie, he was still easily recognized.

That's why, after leaving that nameless alley, Lin Haoran gave up the idea of ​​going out to "wander" any further and obediently stayed at the state guesthouse.

Back at the state guesthouse, he obediently allowed the accompanying specialist sent to him from the mainland to follow him, and then visited famous attractions such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Summer Palace.

Accompanied by a special envoy, Lin Haoran toured the Forbidden City's red walls and golden tiles, walked through Tiananmen Square, and stopped by Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace.

Wherever he went, people still recognized him, causing some small-scale onlookers and discussions. However, with the accompaniment and guidance of officials, the scene became much more orderly.

Being a special guest is definitely a privilege; no matter which scenic spot you visit, you'll have access to a dedicated VIP lane, a stark contrast to the long queues not far away.

The architectural details hidden in the dust of history, the bricks and tiles that have witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties over hundreds of years, all resonated with him, a soul with memories of the future, and evoked a strange sense of awe and wonder.

During breaks in his tour, he would also engage in in-depth exchanges with the accompanying officials, as well as with scholars and officials he occasionally encountered who were knowledgeable in economic policy.

He not only talks about investment, but also cares about policy trends, industrial layout, and talent cultivation. His broad vision and profound insights often move his listeners.

“Mr. Lin, your understanding of the domestic situation far exceeds our imagination.” At that time, a senior expert from the State Planning Commission exclaimed as he walked along the Long Corridor of the Summer Palace, “You see many issues more clearly than some of our colleagues.”

Lin Haoran smiled modestly: "I'm just standing on the shoulders of giants, having read a few more books and thought about a few more possibilities. The mainland has enormous potential; the key is how to unleash it."

Throughout the day, Lin Haoran didn't visit many places, mostly focusing on a few attractions in the center of Beijing.

Lin Haoran sat in a courtyard outside the suite, recalling yesterday's experience.

At this moment, Liu Xiaoli excitedly brought over several newspapers and placed them on the stone table, bringing Lin Haoran back to his senses.

On the stone table, newspapers lay quietly, exuding a faint smell of ink.

Liu Xiaoli's voice was filled with barely concealed excitement as she pointed to the newspaper and said, "Mr. Lin, look! The Beijing Daily, the Beijing Youth Daily, and the Beijing Morning Post all featured your story at the food stall yesterday on their front pages, calling you 'the most down-to-earth patriotic capitalist' and 'a breath of fresh air in Hong Kong's business community'!"

In a large photograph in the newspaper, Lin Haoran is seen holding a bowl of douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) and chatting and laughing with citizens, making the image particularly eye-catching.

Lin Haoran's gaze slowly swept over the headlines, his expression calm and undisturbed.

He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said slowly, "Public goodwill is like fragile glass; the higher it is held up, the harder it will fall."

Today, the mainland urgently needs a representative figure like him to give the people confidence in reform and opening up, and also to show foreign businesses that are currently observing.

Therefore, it is understandable that the media is so enthusiastic about him, and this must have been at the behest of the government.

This is certainly a reward for his strong support of the mainland's reform and opening up, and also an expectation and encouragement for his future investments.

After all, he knew that the mainland media at that time were not as open as they would be decades later, and could not report whatever they wanted.

Therefore, Lin Haoran did not lose himself because of this.

He gently put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping across the newspaper: "These accolades are now a powerful weapon in our hands, but if used improperly, they can become swords that wound us."

Although Lin Haoran was young, he had heard far too much praise and slander in his previous life and had long seen through the true nature of the media and public opinion.

He understood the principle that the higher you stand, the harder you fall.

The excitement on Liu Xiaoli's face gradually faded, replaced by an expression of attentive listening.

“We are now in the eye of the storm,” Lin Haoran continued. “Every move we make will be magnified and interpreted. Today, the public may praise us for a bowl of soy milk or a donation, but tomorrow they may criticize us for a decision.”

Liu Xiaoli nodded thoughtfully, but Lin Haoran could tell that she still didn't really understand.

She ultimately didn't quite understand.

After all, she hadn't seen much of the world, and spent most of her time practicing dance, so she didn't understand the complexities of human relationships and public opinion.

Lin Haoran noticed her confusion and patiently explained, "Look at the artificial hill in this courtyard. When people look up at it, it seems majestic and magnificent, but if even one stone loosens and falls, all the previous praise will turn into criticism."

He casually picked up a fallen leaf from the stone table: "We are like this leaf now, lifted up by the east wind of the times, but remember, the wind will eventually stop, and what will ultimately allow us to land firmly is our own weight."

Liu Xiaoli seemed to understand: "So we need to take advantage of this favorable wind and quickly solidify our foundation?"

“Exactly.” Lin Haoran nodded approvingly. “The media’s attention won’t last long, and the government’s full support can’t last forever. We must finalize the projects we need to discuss and meet the important people we need to meet during this period.”

Once the hype dies down, we'll rely on tangible results from our collaboration.

Currently, there are still too few foreign investors investing in the mainland, so it has received unprecedented attention.

But once foreign businesses discover the prospects of the mainland, they will flock in.

If he doesn't build up enough competitive barriers by then, all his current glory will quickly fade.

Business and politics are too much of a headache. Liu Xiaoli is ultimately just a professional young dancer, not a proper secretary.

So, she changed the subject, asking, "Mr. Lin, what are our plans for today?"

arrangement?

Yes, he is indeed meeting with a senior official at the Great Hall of the People at 10:00 a.m.

This was an important itinerary that was finalized yesterday.

In addition, many Hong Kong businessmen, Taiwanese businessmen, and even Chinese businessmen from Southeast Asia will arrive in Beijing one after another.

For example, Guo Xiaohan's uncle, Guo Henian, will fly directly from Singapore in Southeast Asia today.

As the richest man in Southeast Asia, Guo Henan was naturally on the list of invitees.

He already knew that the other party would arrive around 2 PM.

This is also why Lin Haoran did not come to Beijing with Guo Henian, because Guo had returned to Southeast Asia during this period.

Guo Henian was his fiancée's uncle, which meant he was her elder.

Moreover, his business expansion in Southeast Asia also benefited greatly from Guo Henan's support.

Therefore, when the other party arrived in the capital, Lin Haoran planned to personally go and pick them up.

Several business tycoons from Hong Kong were also among those invited.

As for Bao Yugang, due to work commitments, it has been confirmed that he will arrive tomorrow.

Lin Haoran's schedule for today naturally did not require Liu Xiaoli to accompany him.

After all, she wasn't Lin Haoran's real secretary.

Thinking of this, Lin Haoran said gently to Liu Xiaoli, "You should rest at the hotel today, or you can walk around the neighborhood and familiarize yourself with the area."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Liu Xiaoli's eyes, but she still nodded obediently, "Okay, Mr. Lin."

At 9:30 a.m., Lin Haoran, along with Li Weidong and others, set off for the Great Hall of the People on time.

The meeting went very smoothly. The leader fully affirmed his investment plan and expressed his sincere gratitude, especially praising his donations to the education sector.

Lin Haoran also promised to invest not only in Guangdong Province, but also in Beijing or other coastal provinces. For example, he plans to build a landmark building in Beijing to house the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which will also serve as the headquarters of his Beijing branch.

In addition, he would try his best to meet any business needs that the capital city required him to invest in.

For Lin Haoran, investing in Beijing in 1981 was a sure way to make money, no matter what he invested in; the land he acquired alone was guaranteed to be profitable!
Undeniably, it's impossible to recoup your investment quickly in this era, but Lin Haoran is playing the long game, focusing on the development dividends of the next few decades.

This significant meeting lasted for more than an hour before concluding successfully.

At noon, Lin Haoran stayed in the Great Hall of the People for a sumptuous lunch.

This standard is said to be at the level of a state banquet.

All of this is enough to show how much Lin Haoran is valued.

Moreover, during a conversation with the accompanying specialist, Lin Haoran learned some surprising news.

That is, more than 20 overseas Chinese businessmen were invited this time, and almost every one of them is a well-known figure in the business world. However, their accommodations were not arranged like his, where they stayed in the State Guesthouse, but were arranged to stay at the Beijing Hotel.

Like the State Guesthouse, the Beijing Hotel is an important venue in Beijing for receiving visiting foreign guests, but the two are distinctly different in terms of scale and symbolic significance.

The Diaoyutai State Guesthouse has always been the place to receive the most important state guests, such as foreign heads of state and heads of government, and its significance is extraordinary.

While the Beijing Hotel is also a hotel catering to foreign guests, it primarily serves important business people and social elites. This difference in arrangements made Lin Haoran more clearly aware of his special status in the eyes of those on the mainland.

This is not just a courtesy, but a clear signal that he is regarded as the most important partner.

To say I'm not excited would be a lie.

Faced with this kind of differential treatment, and being the one receiving special privileges, Lin Haoran couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

However, Lin Haoran also guessed that this might be something the mainland had deliberately done for these invited business tycoons.

He is now the Hong Kong businessman with the largest investment in the mainland, and his investment scale is far ahead of other Chinese business tycoons.

The high level of courtesy extended to him by the mainland is not only an affirmation of his personal achievements, but also a clear signal to other Chinese businessmen: whoever truly supports reform and opening up will receive the greatest support and opportunities.

Shortly after lunch, he said goodbye to his superiors and then took a car to the Capital International Airport.

Guo Henian will be here soon.

Sure enough, upon arriving at the airport, Lin Haoran met Guo Henian in less than ten minutes.

Officials also arrived at the airport to welcome Guo Henan, but the procession was noticeably smaller compared to the grand welcomes they had given him previously.

As Guo Henian walked out of the passage, he immediately saw Lin Haoran standing at the front of the welcoming team, and his face lit up with surprise.

He strode forward, shook hands with the official, and exchanged a few words. Then, he looked at Lin Haoran in surprise and said, "Haoran, why did you come in person? I feel so bad about this."

"Uncle Guo has come from afar, and as a junior, it is my duty to greet you." Lin Haoran smiled as he accepted the luggage from the entourage, his attitude friendly.

The car slowly drove away from Beijing Capital International Airport. It was a black Hongqi sedan with a special pass hanging on the front. Under the afternoon sun, the car body was as smooth as a mirror.

The car has a spacious interior, with seats upholstered in dark leather and the air conditioning providing a cool breeze that keeps out the dryness of Beijing in October.

Lin Haoran and Guo Henian sat side by side in the back seat, while in the front were driver Li Weidong and an accompanying specialist.

Outside the window, the poplar trees lining the airport expressway rushed past, and the outline of Beijing could be vaguely seen on the distant horizon.

Guo Henian was wearing a dark gray suit with an exquisite gold brooch pinned to his chest, which was the emblem of the Guo family of Nanyang.

Although he is nearly sixty years old, he is in good spirits and has sharp eyes like an eagle.

As the richest man in Southeast Asia and Guo Xiaohan's uncle, he had long admired Lin Haoran, not only because his niece Guo Xiaohan took an instant liking to Lin Haoran, but also because of Lin Haoran's shrewd and influential methods in the Hong Kong business world.

This wasn't his first time visiting the capital.

As the richest man in Southeast Asia, Guo Henian actually began investing in mainland China as early as 1978. For example, he renovated and built China's first Shangri-La Hotel in Hangzhou.

However, the scale of the investment is not large.

At that moment, Guo Henian was looking out the window when he casually mentioned the itinerary: "Haoran, the official just said that we invited Chinese businessmen are all being accommodated at the Beijing Hotel."

I've been there a few times. While it's not as luxurious as the hotels in Hong Kong, its convenient location—close to the City Hall—makes holding meetings much easier.

Lin Haoran smiled slightly. He was wearing a well-tailored dark blue Zhongshan suit, which made him look dignified yet youthful and sharp.

He always treated Guo Henian with the respect due to a junior.

"Uncle Guo is right, the Beijing Hotel is indeed convenient. However, this time I was arranged to stay somewhere else, not at the Beijing Hotel," Lin Haoran said with a smile.

Guo Henian turned his head, his brows furrowing slightly: "Another place? Besides the Beijing Hotel, where else could it be? Could it be the Peace Hotel or the Friendship Hotel? I just heard the receptionist say that I was indeed arranged to stay at the Beijing Hotel. Are they really arranging me in different places?"

He clearly didn't make much of a connection.

“It’s the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse,” Lin Haoran replied casually, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

"What?" Guo Henian's body stiffened, his eyes widened suddenly, and his shock was evident.

Although he was a wealthy businessman from Southeast Asia, he was well aware of the significance of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, a place for receiving foreign heads of state and top dignitaries, symbolizing the highest level of hospitality from the mainland.

When Lin Haoran moved into Fangfei Garden, even ordinary people like Liu Xiaoli were shocked. Guo Henian, as a seasoned veteran, understood the political significance behind it even more.

"Diaoyutai State Guesthouse? Haoran, are you sure you didn't hear wrong? We businessmen, no matter how rich we are, are just merchants. How can we be worthy of such a place?" Guo Henian's voice was filled with shock.

“I’ve worked in Southeast Asia for decades, I’ve been to the Presidential Palace and met the King, but the State Guesthouse… that’s a different level! Why would the mainland government treat you so specially?”

Lin Haoran noticed Guo Henian's shock, a reaction he had anticipated.

He gently patted Guo Henian's hand, signaling him to calm down.

"Uncle Guo, that's true. After I arrived in Beijing the day before yesterday, I was arranged to stay at the Fangfei Garden in the State Guesthouse. As for why it was arranged this way, the authorities probably have their own reasons."

He recalled details from the reference materials: CCTV reports, meetings with leaders, and state banquets—all stemming from Lin Haoran's status as a "patriotic Hong Kong businessman exemplar."

He made large-scale investments in the mainland in advance, established the Langwei Group to integrate global fast-moving consumer goods brands, built a production base in Guangdong Province to improve the level of light industry, and promised to donate 100 schools every year, etc.

These actions served as a "model" in the early stages of China's reform and opening up, amidst a wait-and-see attitude among foreign investors.

As the car entered the city, the scenery outside the window changed: the wide Chang'an Avenue was bustling with traffic, and the buildings on both sides had both the solemnity of the Soviet style and the noise of the new construction sites.

Guo Henian remained silent for a moment, digesting the information, and then suddenly sighed: "Haoran, I thought I was someone important in Southeast Asia, but compared to you, I seem like a frog in a well."

"The authorities are treating you like this, so the development prospects in the mainland must really be that great?" His tone turned serious. "I came to this conference to test the waters."

As you know, although Southeast Asia is wealthy, its market is saturated and its politics are volatile. As for the mainland, although it is said that it will reform and open up its economy, the risks are not small—unstable policies and backward infrastructure make us old-fashioned businessmen very worried.

"You invested early and received such preferential treatment, aren't you afraid?"

The question gets straight to the heart of the matter, revealing Guo Henan's conflicted feelings about the mainland market: he has both ambition and concerns.

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran turned his gaze to a building under construction outside the window. Tower cranes stood tall, and workers were as numerous as ants. This scene reminded him of the prosperous days of Hong Kong.

"Uncle Guo, I understand your concerns, but please listen to me: investing in the mainland is not just about following a trend, but about betting on the future. The development prospects of the mainland are not just big, they are practically the stars and the sea!"

He confidently stated, "I dare say that the economic development here in the next ten or twenty years will not disappoint you, for three reasons."

"Oh? I'd like to hear more!" Guo Henian immediately became interested upon hearing this.

If Lin Haoran's words make sense, he will definitely make some adjustments to his investment strategy in mainland China.

"First, the policy dividends are unprecedented. You see, the mainland's promotion of reform and opening up is not just empty talk. I received an invitation from the person in charge of the Hong Kong office. The theme of this symposium is economic cooperation, which is enough to show the mainland's attitude towards reform and opening up."

I met with the leader this morning and had a chat with him. I could deeply feel that the authorities are genuinely committed to opening up, and that we Chinese businessmen are "one of us," so policy support will only be increased.

Why did I dare to invest such a large scale in Guangdong Province? It's because I saw this clearly: the inland areas lack capital and technology, but they have a firm political resolve. We invest money, they provide land and preferential policies—it's a win-win situation!

Guo Henian nodded slightly, but still had doubts: "The policy is good, but how will it be implemented? I've seen too many 'armchair strategists' in Southeast Asia."

Lin Haoran smiled: "So the second point is that the market potential is limitless. The mainland has more than one billion people, and consumption is just starting. My Langwei Group has a production base in Guangdong Province. Why is it successful?"

Because we introduced global brands and improved local manufacturing, now a bottle of shampoo is of comparable quality to imported products, but costs less than half the price!
In the future, demand will explode across everything from home appliances to automobiles, from retail to real estate!

The car slowed down and drove through Tiananmen Square, where red flags fluttered and tourists thronged.

Lin Haoran pointed out the window: "Thirdly, there is the human factor. The people in the mainland are hardworking and intelligent, the costs are low, the people are eager for change, the government needs results, and we Chinese businessmen can make a lot of money and gain a good reputation by investing."

Uncle Guo, you know how important talent is, having run businesses in Southeast Asia. In the mainland, you can easily recruit workers at low wages, yet with high efficiency. In my factory in Guangdong Province, the workers are incredibly motivated because they see a future in the company.”

As Guo Henian listened, his expression shifted from doubt to deep thought.

He took out a cigar, but didn't light it; he just rubbed it in his hand.

"Haoran, you make it sound nice, but what about the risks? Like political turmoil? There's been too much turmoil in the mainland in the past. My meager assets can't withstand any more storms."

Guo Henian's statement is the most important reason why many business tycoons are so cautious.

Nowadays, they are more focused on trying out investments, such as donating money to build schools and hotels, rather than investing heavily in real industries like Lin Haoran.

Lin Haoran understood the other party's thoughts, but Guo Henian had provided him with a lot of help after all, and they were considered to be on the same side, so he didn't mind letting Guo Henian make big plans in advance.

The market is so big, it's impossible for one person to monopolize it, and the government won't allow him to monopolize it either!
It would be better to have more allies to invest together in the mainland.

Lin Haoran shook his head, his tone resolute: "There are risks, but they are controllable! The mainland is not what it used to be. The path of reform and opening up has been set, and development is the only way forward. Why is my treatment different from yours? I believe they are using me to attract more foreign investment. So I dare say that investing in the mainland is more secure than investing in Southeast Asia."

"Uncle Guo, you are my elder and Xiaohan's uncle. Why would I lie to you? I've invested all my money in the mainland. Every investment there is a big project."

You're involved in palm oil, shipping, and the hotel industry in Southeast Asia—mature industries, but lacking in growth. This is probably why you value the Hong Kong market. But isn't the premise of valuing Hong Kong precisely because Hong Kong is backed by the motherland?

The air inside the car seemed to freeze, with only the hum of the engine remaining.

Guo Henian closed his eyes, as if weighing his options.

After a while, he opened his eyes, a smile appearing on his lips: "Haoran, you have such a mouth, you can talk the dead back to life! No wonder the British in Hong Kong have all fallen to you."

He patted Lin Haoran on the shoulder and said with emotion, "I admit, you've enlightened me. The mainland is just starting to develop. If I don't seize the opportunity now, once everyone else has figured it out, I won't get a share of the pie!"

(End of this chapter)