Hong Kong Tycoon: Starting from Delivering Dongfeng Express

Chapter 192 Daoheng Bank's Hundred Million Yuan Apology! (6K)

At the entrance of Dongfeng Express, Chairman Guo and President Ma waited somewhat anxiously.

At this time, there were still quite a few people queuing inside the store to send packages, and some acquaintances were even chatting:
"Wow, Lao Jia, aren't you the most cowardly one? There was a robbery yesterday, and you still dare to come here today?"

"I certainly wouldn't dare go anywhere else, but with Ye Sheng and his employees being so formidable, who would dare to offend Dongfeng Express? Of course I dare to come!"

"I was there yesterday. You wouldn't believe it, Ye Sheng really stood in front of us without even raising an eyebrow amidst the hail of bullets. What a real man!"

Wow! That's so impressive!

The two looked at the group of worshipping citizens outside the store, and then at the group of customers praising Ye Dongsheng inside the store. Being among them, they could completely feel the people's worship of Ye Dongsheng.

Mr. Guo sighed: "I wonder if Ye Dongsheng would be willing to see us?"

President Ma said, "Today we must find a way to persuade Mr. Ye. The key is for him to change his mind and express his attitude. Otherwise, all our subsequent actions will be useless..."

The two men were well aware that Daoheng Bank hadn't done anything to them, so the police couldn't really do anything to them. Moreover, the public was more willing to believe Ye Dongsheng's attitude than the police's.

This bank run was itself a crisis of public opinion and a crisis of trust. Only by dealing with Ye Dongsheng, the source of the problem, can the attitudes of citizens and the public towards them be changed.

Hopefully, it will come true!

Upon seeing Ruan Mei walk out, the two immediately smiled and looked at her nervously, afraid of being rejected.

Ruan Mei smiled and said, "Gentlemen, Mr. Ye would like to invite you."

The two were immediately delighted: "Thank you, Miss Ruan!"

Following behind Ruan Mei, the two men breathed a sigh of relief. This was a good start; the fact that she was willing to meet with them meant there was room for discussion!
"Mr. Ye, our two guests have arrived!"

When Chairman Guo and President Ma entered the office, they saw Ye Dongsheng sitting in the boss's chair with his back to them, so they couldn't see his expression. However, they quickly bowed and greeted him.
"Greetings, Mr. Ye. We've come uninvited and apologize for disturbing you..."

The sound of a door closing came from behind them, and the boss's chair spun around. Both of their expressions changed!
Because Ye Dongsheng, who was sitting comfortably in the boss's chair, was holding a Black Star pistol in his hand at this very moment!
Ye Dongsheng, gun in hand, glared at the two men and questioned them:
"Mr. Guo, I'm willing to meet with you because I want to ask you face-to-face, how do you intend to cause trouble in my own backyard?"

As he spoke, he began to work with his hands...

Click!

In front of the two men, Ye Dongsheng cocked the Black Star pistol!

Guo and Ma were terrified by the scene. The man in front of them had just shot at robbers with an AK yesterday and killed people in the street!
Looking at the dark pistol and feeling the menacing aura emanating from it, both of them felt their legs tremble!
At this moment, even Mr. Guo was starting to regret it. If he had been shot dead, there would have been no use in getting the money!

Mr. Guo hurriedly shouted, "Mr. Ye! No! I really didn't collude with the robbers!"

"Hmm? You mean I misspoke and misunderstood you?"

President Ma quickly added, "No, no! Mr. Ye, it's not your fault, it's ours! It's all because of Daoheng Bank's past mistakes that Mr. Ye has developed a bad impression of us! Today, Daoheng Bank is here to apologize to Mr. Ye!"

After saying that, President Ma bowed deeply to Ye Dongsheng at a 90-degree angle: "Mr. Ye, I'm sorry!"

Mr. Guo chimed in, "Mr. Ye, I'm sorry, I misspoke!"

Ye Dongsheng did not speak, and the room fell silent. The two remained bowing, unable to see Ye Dongsheng's expression, only able to hear the rapid beating of their own hearts.

After admiring their sincere expressions of remorse for a moment, Ye Dongsheng said calmly, "Move over."

The two looked up and saw Ye Dongsheng waving his gun at them. They quickly moved two steps to the right.

"Someone died where you're standing yesterday. A robber got his head blown off here. Seeing you standing here reminds me of yesterday! So, I'm not in a good mood right now!"
I'm currently busy assembling security forces to prevent a repeat of this 'backyard fire' situation. If it's just an apology, then you can leave!

The two men glanced at the spot where they had just stood and felt a chill run down their spines when they thought about how a robber had been killed there the day before.

But in an instant, they all tensed up and hurriedly said, "Mr. Ye, it's not just an apology! It's also an offering of apologies! We came here specifically to apologize!"

Ye Dongsheng twirled the gun in his hand: "Oh? Tell me about it!"

President Ma spoke first:
"Mr. Ye, the 1960 million you deposited in our bank will be paid to you immediately! Previously, our Daoheng Bank was confused and couldn't distinguish right from wrong, causing trouble for Mr. Ye!"
You can withdraw this money at any time!

Ye Dongsheng snorted coldly: "I've already said that this money is mine. You still want to sue me and waste so much of my time. Is returning the money enough to make amends?"

The two had already prepared themselves, knowing that this trip wouldn't end so easily; simply giving the money to Ye Dongsheng wouldn't be enough!
Mr. Guo shook his head:

"No, no, Mr. Ye, Daoheng Bank will cover all the legal fees!"

Furthermore, to express our apologies to you from Dao Heng Bank regarding your 1340 million mortgage loan…

Ye Dongsheng raised his hand to interrupt the other party: "Since I took out the mortgage loan, I will definitely pay it back! Otherwise, I'm afraid of being labeled a deadbeat in the future!"

Ye Dongsheng had previously considered defaulting on the loan and then auctioning off the villa at a low price.

But now the situation is different. He not only won the case and became a hero in defending his rights, but also became a "city hero" because of this robbery!
He doesn't want to tarnish his reputation just to get this loan!
President Ma and Chairman Guo exchanged a glance and immediately replied:
"Yes, yes, we all know that Mr. Ye is a law-abiding citizen and a trustworthy and responsible businessman. You would never do anything like breaching a contract or violating ethics!"

Our Daoheng Bank would never allow Mr. Ye to be placed in an unjust situation!

Seeing that the direct loan approach was not feasible, the two immediately switched to a backup plan!
President Ma said, "Mr. Ye, how about this? To compensate you for the losses we've caused, Daoheng Bank will waive all the interest on your 1340 million mortgage loan!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Dongsheng raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that Daoheng Bank was finally going to show some sincerity this time.

Don't underestimate the interest waiver; the interest rates in Hong Kong during that era were far higher than those of later generations can imagine!
In October 1981, Hong Kong Island Bank saw a peak annual interest rate of 16.61% for six-month fixed deposits, while the interest rate for three-year fixed deposits exceeded 20%.

The high interest rates at the time were mainly due to the global economic environment, with soaring global inflation and economic instability caused by the oil crisis, leading to a general rise in global interest rates.

Although interest rates declined in the following years, even so, in 1985, the best fixed deposit rate in Hong Kong Island was still over 10%!

With deposit rates already so high, loan rates are naturally even higher. For example, the loan rate Hengfeng Bank gave Ye Dongsheng was 13.5%. That was already considered a preferential rate; rates as high as 15% were not uncommon.

Although property prices on Hong Kong Island were relatively low during this period, the interest burden of buying a house was incredibly heavy! Many citizens hesitated and missed the opportunity to buy a house because they were afraid of such high interest rates!

What does a 13.5% interest rate mean?
Simply put, money deposited in a bank can double in less than six years. However, considering Ye Dongsheng's loan of 13.4 million yuan, with a 15-year repayment period as per the contract, excluding the principal, Ye Dongsheng would have to pay over 18 million yuan in interest alone!

In other words, by waiving interest, Dao Heng Bank waived a cash flow of up to 1800 million over the next 15 years!
Ye Dongsheng was unwilling to have the loan waived outright, but waiving the interest would solve the problem; no one could accuse him of not repaying the money, and it wouldn't cause any damage to his reputation!

However, Ye Dongsheng did not speak, but simply looked at the two of them.

It shows sincerity, but it's not enough!
President Ma and Chairman Guo also understood that waiving interest was still somewhat different from directly waiving the loan.

Chairman Guo spoke again: "Mr. Ye, Daoheng Bank greatly admires your heroic performance in this robbery!"

You not only protected the lives of many citizens, but also curbed the arrogance of criminals on Hong Kong Island, making these robbers dare not act recklessly in the future. Our Daoheng Bank has also benefited greatly from this!

Therefore, Daoheng Bank is willing to provide you, Mr. Ye, with a 10-year interest-free loan of 3000 million!

President Ma immediately followed up, saying, "Mr. Ye, you are free to use this loan as you see fit. Daoheng Bank will not interfere with how it is used! You just need to repay the loan in 10 years!"
Of course, if you are willing to deposit this 3000 million in cash with our Daoheng Bank, we are willing to offer you an annual interest rate of 18%! Valid for 10 years!

A 3000 million yuan interest-free loan, plus an extra-high deposit interest rate of 18%!
In other words, if this money is left untouched, it will become 6863 million after 5 years and 1.57 million after 10 years!
Ten years later, Ye Dongsheng only needs to repay 30 million, making a net profit of 1.27 million!
This condition already far exceeds the value of the loan of 1340 million!

Waiving the 1340 million yuan mortgage interest, offering a 3000 million yuan interest-free loan, plus an 18% deposit interest rate – this is the most sincere offer Daoheng Bank can make at the moment!

No matter how much more they ask for, even the bank can't afford it!

After they finished speaking, President Ma and Chairman Guo waited anxiously for Ye Dongsheng's reply, hoping to persuade him!

At this moment, Ye Dongsheng quickly calculated in his mind the value of these conditions. It was practically like giving him money for free!

Moreover, the money was given in a completely legal and compliant manner, and even if it is leaked in the future, there will be no reason for people to criticize it.

I have to say, these people in finance are really thoughtful!
Who says they can't provide service? If they're willing, they can create a solution that will satisfy you the most!

Ye Dongsheng had to admit that Daoheng Bank was truly sincere this time, offering nothing but substance!
After all, Dao Heng Bank can't compare to a behemoth like HSBC, so offering these terms is a significant investment.

Ye Dongsheng asked, "These conditions are to be kept secret?"

Ye Dongsheng didn't want to become someone others envied. Chairman Guo immediately nodded vigorously, like a chicken pecking at rice: "Of course! We can sign a confidentiality agreement, and we will take strict confidentiality measures to ensure it's never leaked!"

Then President Ma said sincerely, "Mr. Ye, 18% is already the highest interest rate we can offer right now. If it goes any higher, the Financial Regulatory Bureau may have to talk to us."

Please don't tell anyone else, otherwise it will be difficult for us if other clients find out..."

Ye Dongsheng put the gun away, then smiled and said, "Please have a seat, both of you. Wait a moment, and I'll have my lawyer come over to discuss this further!"

Upon hearing this, Guo and Ma immediately beamed with joy: "Thank you, Mr. Ye! From now on, Daoheng Bank will definitely provide you with the best service and will not let you down!"

Soon, Sandy and Attorney Han arrived.

Attorney Han couldn't help but sigh. He had already lost to the other party once in court, and this time he was even more utterly defeated off the court, forced to sign a treaty of "ceding territory and paying reparations." He felt that he would never be able to hold his head up in front of Sandy, his junior lawyer, again.

By the time all the agreements were signed, it was already evening.

Ye Dongsheng shook hands with Chairman Guo and said with a smile, "Chairman Guo, President Ma, we've become friends through a misunderstanding. Please don't hold grudges about the past."

"Mr. Ye, you are too kind. In the past, Daoheng Bank was blind to your greatness! It is an honor for Daoheng Bank to serve a city hero like you!"

After parting ways with Ye Dongsheng, the two returned to the car and both breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Chairman Ma, although we've dealt with Ye Dongsheng, we can't let our guard down yet."

"Yes, I've already contacted the other shareholders and directors. Tonight, we'll pool our funds to deal with any potential bank runs in the coming days!"

Even though a reconciliation has been reached with Ye Dongsheng, a crisis of trust has already occurred, and Ye Dongsheng's statement tomorrow will not change everyone's attitude.

Daoheng Bank must be prepared; at least now there is a glimmer of hope, it's just a matter of whether they can survive!

"Sigh, this is truly an unexpected disaster!" Mr. Guo slammed his fist on the car seat.

To be honest, I felt frustrated and indignant. Of course I did!
Who would willingly give up such a large sum of money?
But there was nothing they could do; the situation was beyond their control, and Daoheng Bank had to humble itself and act subserviently!

President Ma comforted him, "Chairman Guo, this is not your fault. From my observation, Ye Dongsheng is a man of great fortune, and he is currently at the peak of his career!"

"Oh?"

"Think about it, he started from scratch and became a billionaire in a short period of time. Moreover, he always turned misfortune into good fortune and escaped danger. Even when such a fierce bandit fired AKs at him, he was unharmed. If this kind of person is not blessed with good fortune, then what is he?"
So if you run into him and suffer a loss, it's not your fault; you can only say that fate is on his side!

Upon hearing this, Mr. Guo felt that this statement made a lot of sense. Leaving aside ancient history, just looking at Hong Kong Island in the last few decades, aren't all the people who have been able to build their fortunes from scratch the same way?
When shipping magnates like Pao Yue-kong, Fok Ying-tung, and Cheng Yu-tung were making their fortunes, countless people who opposed them suffered heavy losses, no less than Ye Dongsheng!

But Ye Dongsheng seems to be walking down the same path as these people!

Hong Kong Island is a place where people have always believed in ghosts and spirits, especially in fate!
The more Guo thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and he slapped President Ma's thigh:
"Old Ma, you're right! Ye Dongsheng is indeed at the height of his power, unstoppable and invincible! At this time, we absolutely cannot oppose him!"

"Alas, it's a pity we realized it too late! If we had known this would happen, we would have just paid him the 2000 million, and this wouldn't have happened!"

"Chairman Guo, we managed to cut our losses in time this time, and we didn't make a big grudge against him. Otherwise, we might have ended up with our families ruined and our lives destroyed."

Moreover, we've now reconciled with him, providing him with a 3000 million interest-free loan, effectively making him our client and putting us in the same boat. Presumably, we won't suffer any more from his bad luck. If we handle this next hurdle well, we should be able to get through it!

Attorney Han, who grew up studying law, has never been a big believer in such things. However, seeing how seriously Guo Dong and President Ma were talking, he was also somewhat skeptical, since he had experienced the whole thing himself.

"Okay, let's serve him well from now on!"

Mr. Guo sighed. He had suffered such a great loss, but he no longer had any thoughts of revenge against Ye Dongsheng. Or if he did, they were buried deep in his heart.

Anyone can see that Ye Dongsheng is no ordinary person. Not only is his career booming, but he also enjoys a high reputation! Who would be foolish enough to target someone like him at this time?

As long as Ye Dongsheng remains powerful, Daoheng Bank will obediently comply with all conditions!
……

The next day, in the early morning breeze, a minibus shuttled along the road.

On his way to work, Lin Xiang'an leaned back in his seat, eating egg waffles while reading the newspaper he had just bought.

The fat man behind him leaned forward and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Daoheng Bank and Ye Sheng have reconciled?!"

The person next to him immediately asked, "Huh? What happened? Didn't they say yesterday that Heng Bank might be the mastermind behind it all?"

"That's what the newspaper said!"

[Tao Heng Bank: The backyard fire was a slip of the tongue by the chairman; misunderstanding with Mr. Yip has been cleared up!]

Daoheng Bank: Our bank has no connection with the robbers and admires Mr. Yip's heroic act!

Look, this sign says that Daoheng Bank came to apologize and obtained Mr. Ye's understanding, clearing up his misunderstanding!

Daoheng Bank not only repaid the 2000 million owed to Mr. Ye, but also, to express its admiration for Mr. Ye's success in eliminating the robbers, provided him with a commercial loan to help him build a security force!

"Heh, that's not all! Daoheng Bank also donated 1000 million to the police force. That's what you call spending money to ensure safety!"

Someone asked, "So, does this mean that Mr. Ye and the police force have been bribed by Dao Heng Bank?"

Someone immediately retorted, "What are you talking about? Don't you have a brain? Daoheng Bank already owed Ye Sheng 2000 million, and they even lost the lawsuit. It's only right that they pay back the money now!"

"That's right! Not to mention Daoheng Bank repaying the money, Ye Sheng wiped out the robbers, so it's only right to give him money!"
"The police force is really shameless; they've taken advantage of Mr. Yip and gotten so much money for nothing!"

"Sigh, let's say less! After all, Ye Sheng is only one person and can't protect us. We can only hope that the police will do their job after taking the money!"

"Hey, speaking of which, it seems the police have really gotten involved! Last night, the police launched a major raid near my house and arrested a bunch of gangs that were collecting protection money!"

"Hmm? Really?"

"The Assistant Commissioner and the Chief Superintendent have both made public statements, so the police force will definitely have to put on a show! At least those gangsters will behave themselves for a while, and we'll have a few days of peace!"

At HSBC, an armored truck unloaded the cash, and Ye Dongsheng was invited into the office of Boss Shen Bi.

"Mr. Ye, shouldn't we deposit this 3000 million into a fixed-term deposit?"

Ye Dongsheng put down his teacup and said with a smile, "No need, it's just a temporary cash deposit. Maybe I'll withdraw the money in a few days!"

Shen Bi smiled and said, "Dao Heng Bank is really generous!"

Ye Dongsheng smiled and did not deny it.

This 3000 million was an interest-free loan from Daoheng Bank, which he withdrew directly and transferred to HSBC.

Today he cooperated with Dao Heng Bank in a media interview, stating that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, which can be considered as him standing up for Dao Heng Bank.

However, Ye Dongsheng was unsure whether Daoheng Bank could weather this run on its banks, so he decided it was best to withdraw the 3000 million yuan first.

I'll wait and see for another week. If Daoheng Bank passes the test, I'll deposit the 3000 million back. After all, a risk-free interest rate of 18% for 10 years is really tempting!
As for why HSBC doesn't exist, their best deposit rate is currently only 10.5%, and you have to deposit for a full 5 years. Unlike Dao Heng Bank, which offers the option to withdraw funds at any time!

Ye Dongsheng looked at Shen Bi: "Boss Shen, after this robbery, you know how much I value security. From now on, the cash from Dongfeng Express will have to rely on your armored trucks for transport!"

Shen Bi immediately became serious: "Mr. Ye, rest assured, this Dongfeng Express robbery has served as a wake-up call for HSBC. We are currently upgrading our security system and will definitely provide your escort team with sufficient security personnel!"

Then Shen Bi asked, "Mr. Ye, I heard you're planning to build your own security force. Do you need HSBC's help? We can connect you with the world's top security companies! Whether it's French mercenaries or Blackwater from the US, I can introduce you to them!"

Ye Dongsheng smiled and shook his head:

"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Shen! But I trust myself the most, and I will personally build the security system for Dongfeng Express!"

French mercenaries and Blackwater security companies? With so many veterans on the mainland, he'll definitely be looking for them from there!
Previously, he was somewhat concerned about the Hong Kong government's reaction, but this was a perfectly legitimate opportunity. Even the police force had already agreed in front of the media that he could directly select a team of veterans from the mainland under the guise of building a security force!

Xiao Fu and Wang Jianjun have also returned!

PS: Hong Kong Island interest rate data is sourced from "Historical Fixed Deposit Interest Rates 1980-2024: Peaks, Troughs, and the Stories Behind Them".

(End of this chapter)