Reborn since 1993

Chapter 1418 Chips are for exchange.
The reputation of a person is like the shadow of a tree. Among the older generation of Hong Kong figures, such as the shipping magnate Bao, they have either passed away or retired from the business world. Currently, the most senior and influential person active is Mr. Li of Cheung Kong Holdings.

Otherwise, sometimes, all the fighting and arguing is ultimately about who lives longer. Only by living can you talk about victory or defeat!
Hearing that Mr. Li from Changjiang had personally come to Dongke Port City Building still caused a stir throughout the entire Dongke Port City.

Lin Xianhui and Liang Botao were also taken aback for a moment. They hadn't expected that Mr. Li from Changjiang would actually come to their door in person to give Mr. Li a "complaint".

Previously, the Li family of Cheung Kong Holdings announced the sale of Orange Telecom in the UK without notifying the Zhixing Foundation, the second-largest shareholder of Orange Telecom. This angered Li, the philanthropist, who demanded an explanation from the Li family of Cheung Kong Holdings.

Since Li Dongling arrived in Gangcheng, the Li family of the Yangtze River had remained silent, but unexpectedly, they came to visit him in person today.

"When guests come to our door, how can we not see them?"

Upon hearing that Mr. Li from the Yangtze River had come in person, Li Dongling thought for a moment and then spoke to Lin Xianhui and the others.

Having visited Hong Kong several times, Li Dongling had never actually met the influential figure who had stirred up Hong Kong for decades. This time, they were bound to meet.

As the saying goes, those who come here are not friendly, but now, the great philanthropist Li is the one who holds the initiative. If we avoid him and word gets out, we'll be laughed at.

Li Dongling personally led a group to welcome Boss Li of the Yangtze River.

Mr. Li's visit this time was clearly a grand affair; even some media reporters, having gotten wind of it, rushed over to stake out the location beforehand.

The moment Li Dongling met with Mr. Li of Changjiang at the Dongke Port City Building, the reporter who had been waiting nearby immediately raised his camera and captured this moment that was destined to be recorded in history.

"I've come uninvited and have disturbed you, Mr. Li!"

"Mr. Li, you're too kind. Dongke welcomes you!"

There was no tense standoff or expected verbal sparring. On the contrary, the current richest man in Asia and the former richest man in Hong Kong were both smiling, like old friends who had been separated for a long time.

Boss Li of the Yangtze River was sizing up Li Dongling in front of him, and Li Dongling was also sizing up this old fox who had dominated the underworld for decades.

Do not underestimate anyone. Those who are destined to be recorded in history books and leave their mark on history, even if it is just a few words, are by no means easy to deal with.

Some people in history books seem to have made mysterious decisions or been short-sighted when viewed from a later perspective, but in their time, they were all influential figures whose choices affected the world order. Their fame is simply bestowed upon them by posterity.

Regardless of how the world evaluates Mr. Li of Cheung Kong in the future, he is currently a big figure in Hong Kong. His every move can affect the fate of countless people and even the situation in Hong Kong!
"I've long heard of your great name, Mr. Li, but I've been too busy to have the chance to meet you!"

Mr. Li from Changjiang arrived at Dongke Port City Building accompanied by the eldest son of the Li family. From the moment he arrived, Mr. Li from Changjiang adopted a very humble attitude.

Given Mr. Li's status in the business world, for him to say such a thing is essentially a sign of weakness, which is also his attitude after assessing the situation.

Currently in Hong Kong, Cyberport is indeed riding high, and the head of Hong Kong is clearly getting closer to Li Dongling's side. Mr. Li of Cheung Kong is a very pragmatic person and would not do anything that is beyond his capabilities.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Mr. Li of Changjiang has given up or anything. He's just waiting for the right opportunity. Over the years, Mr. Li of Changjiang has developed his own style of doing things. When things are not going to work, he waits for the right moment and eventually gets his revenge.

"It is I who should be visiting Mr. Li, but I have never had the opportunity. I am truly ashamed that Mr. Li has come first!"

Standing behind Mr. Li of the Yangtze River, the eldest son of the Li family looked at the philanthropist Li, who was saying he felt ashamed but had no expression on his face. He didn't know how the philanthropist Li could say such things.

What do you mean there's no chance?!

Li Dashanren has been to Gangcheng several times. Every time he comes, he's busy messing with Yingke Power and the Li family of Changjiang.

Previously, they were able to gather a large group of Chinese capital to directly challenge the Li family of Cheung Kong, but they didn't have time to pay a visit to the Li family of Cheung Kong.
After Li Dongling met with Boss Li of the Yangtze River, they exchanged pleasantries, and to outsiders, their relationship seemed quite amicable.

But only Lin Xianhui, Boss Li of Changjiang, and others who were following behind the two knew what their attitude was: neither of them spoke the truth and they were both very wary of each other.

As for seeing Mr. Li from the Yangtze River, Li Dongling showed none of the respect or excitement that others showed when a junior met a senior.

When you meet Li the Great Philanthropist, the eldest son of the Li family of the Yangtze River, you get the feeling that you've met someone of the same generation as the Yangtze River Boss, like the shipping king or Shark Tong.

"Truly, the new generation surpasses the old, and a new generation replaces the old!"

Upon arriving at the Dongke Port City Building, after a brief tour of several departments, Mr. Li from Changjiang sighed to Li Dongling in a tone that suggested he was about to retire.

But Li Dongling didn't take that seriously. "Boss Li is still going strong. It wouldn't be an exaggeration for him to continue leading the Yangtze River Group for another thirty years!"

Upon hearing Li Dongling's words, the expression of the Yangtze River Li family Boss did not change, but the expression of the eldest son of the Yangtze River Li family changed drastically, and several other senior executives of the Yangtze River Li family couldn't help but look towards the eldest son of the Li family.

How can a prince reign for fifty years? If Mr. Li were to lead the Cheung Kong Group for another thirty years, he would probably be in his sixties or seventies by then, if not the eldest son of the Li family. How many more years could he remain in charge then?

"Mr. Li, you really have a clever trick up your sleeve. With a single move, you've made the Yangtze River Group do all the work for you!"

After sitting down, Mr. Li from Changjiang finally made his point clear: he was here today for the sake of British Orange Telecom.

"Mr. Li, you're too kind," Li Dongling said politely to Mr. Li. "The Zhixing Foundation invested in Orange Telecom entirely because we trust Mr. Li's judgment!"

"Everyone in Hong Kong is saying that Mr. Li has a unique vision. I finally witnessed it with Orange Telecom. It's truly well-deserved!"

Mr. Li from Cheung Kong said that Mr. Li, the philanthropist, was making a quick buck, but Li Dongling didn't refute it. Instead, he countered by saying that this was just copying Mr. Li's work and making a "small" profit. In the end, he estimated that he would only make a few hundred billion Hong Kong dollars.

These words left Mr. Li, the owner of Changjiang, speechless for a moment. He took a deep breath and recovered.

Then, Mr. Li from Changjiang's expression turned serious. "Mr. Li, you have high hopes for the telecommunications industry in old Europe?"

"I trust Mr. Li's judgment more!"

Meeting Boss Li's gaze, Li Dongling gave an answer that left Boss Li feeling ambiguous.

Not getting the answer he wanted made Boss Li frown. He brought Li Dongling here to test his abilities, but he couldn't find out anything at all.

This time, Mr. Li from Changjiang came in person to investigate the background of the philanthropist Li, partly to resolve the issue with Orange Telecom.

On the other hand, it is to resolve a long-standing question: was the Zhixing Foundation's investment in Orange Telecom intentional or unintentional?
If it's the latter, that's fine, but if it's the former, then Mr. Li from Changjiang will have to think twice.

Once is never enough. What if the Li family's investments in old Europe are targeted by the philanthropist Li again? How will they handle this? Will they be subject to Li's control in every aspect of their lives? So, Mr. Li wants to resolve this matter.

"How does Mr. Li intend to resolve the matter with Orange Telecom?" Seeing that he couldn't get any information out of him, Mr. Li from Changjiang simply brought up the topic directly.

"The Zhixing Foundation only wants a fair resolution to this matter. I believe the interests of minority shareholders should also be respected. What does Mr. Li think?"

Li Dashanren, speaking in a tone representing the minority shareholders of Orange Telecom, declared that the Zhixing Foundation represented the interests of minority shareholders at Orange Telecom, and that this was not a matter of settling personal scores.

"If the Zhixing Foundation delays the sale of Orange Telecom, the Zhixing Foundation may become the culprit!"
Whether Orange Telecom's minority shareholders will still support the Zhixing Foundation at that time is hard to say!

Zhou Nianmao, the legal manager of the Li family of Changjiang, couldn't help but speak up.

The reason Mr. Li from Cheung Kong came in person this time was because the Zhi Xing Foundation had assembled a large-scale team of vulture lawyers in the UK, as if they were ready to fight a tough battle against the Li family, the major shareholder of Cheung Kong.

The actions of the Zhi Xing Foundation have cast a shadow over the sale of Orange Telecom. Even Mannesmann Telecom of Germany, which was most interested in acquiring Orange Telecom, is worried that the Zhi Xing Foundation might sabotage the acquisition.

Although not explicitly stated, it was a subtle way of conveying to the Li family of Changjiang Telecom that they hoped the Li family could first resolve the internal "trouble" of the Zhixing Foundation with Orange Telecom.

Otherwise, if the Zhixing Foundation makes a fuss and at least delays the lawsuit, the sale of Orange Telecom will be delayed indefinitely, and Mannesmann cannot afford such a drain.

Moreover, things can change quickly if the acquisition is delayed. It's uncertain whether the acquisition can continue at all!

"The Zhi Xing Foundation only wants fairness!"
An acquisition that wasn't approved by Orange Telecom's board of directors and investors is unfair!

Seeing Zhou Nianmao fighting bravely for Boss Li of Changjiang, Lin Xianhui immediately switched to his "protective mode" and started arguing with Zhou Nianmao.

Lin Xianhui's implication was clear: by selling Orange Telecom without going through the Zhixing Foundation and its minority shareholders, the Li family of Changjiang was disregarding the interests of minority shareholders.

Seeing Zhou Nianmao and Lin Xianhui arguing, Boss Li from Changjiang looked towards Li Dongling, only to find that the philanthropist Li was as calm as ever, even enjoying his tea.

He sighed inwardly. In other matters, Mr. Li of Changjiang had enough patience, but when it came to selling Orange Telecom, he felt that the internet bubble had already grown too big and he needed to get rid of it as soon as possible, otherwise he might miss the opportunity and never have it again.

"Mr. Li, what does the Zhixing Foundation want?"

Boss Li of the Yangtze River asked first in a deep voice. Upon hearing this, the eldest son of the Yangtze River Li family, Zhou Nianmao, and others couldn't help but look at Li Dongling.

They all understood the meaning behind Boss Li's words: the philanthropist Li was not asking the Li family of Changjiang for any "explanation," but rather using the opportunity to negotiate terms.

(End of this chapter)