1977: The beginning of the blind date with the daughter of the king

Chapter 660 To take something, you must first give something!
There's a saying that goes, "When employees leave, it's either because they feel wronged or because they weren't paid enough."

Li Changhe couldn't be emotionally close to his employees, but when it came to money, he was absolutely willing to pay them.

Upon hearing Li Changhe's words, the managers leading the team all showed joy on their faces.

They had already estimated in their minds how much commission they would receive.

This profit will definitely make them all millionaires easily, in Hong Kong dollars!

Even so, it was enough for them.

Ten million Hong Kong dollars is enough for them to buy a villa and drive a luxury car in Hong Kong Island where the price of a square foot is only a few thousand dollars these days.

"By the way, I know that many of you will receive a lot of money this time, so let me give you some advice."

“Once you get the money, I don’t recommend that you buy a house immediately. You can also tell your subordinates. This is my personal suggestion. I think there will be a big correction in the real estate market next year or the year after, and then you can buy a house at a cheaper price.”

"Of course, this is my personal judgment. Believe it or not, it's up to you. This is just a small suggestion."

Li Changhe casually said to the group.

Upon hearing Li Changhe's words, Wu Zhicheng hurriedly replied, "Boss, we understand. I'll tell the brothers below."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. When you get back, ask the people in the company if anyone is willing to be stationed in Europe long-term."

“I need a group of people to be stationed in Europe for about three to five years. I also set up an investment company there and need some people to build up the framework.”

Li Changhe then spoke to Wu Zhicheng.

He also started an investment company with the Rothschilds. Although it was a collaboration, there were definitely some of his own people involved.

Li Changhe planned to send a few people from Hong Kong Island over. Anyway, Europe wasn't the main focus. Once things were settled in Japan, he could stop paying so much attention to Europe.

"Okay, we'll screen them for you as soon as we get back."

Afterwards, Wu Zhicheng and his group left in high spirits, while Li Changhe continued to look at the report.

This time the profits were beyond imagination, amounting to nearly $7.4 million. Most importantly, this was all taken in.

Because this money didn't come from the stock market in the traditional sense, but from a pirated stock market in Kuwait, there were no transaction fees or income tax whatsoever.

This also made Li Changhe's money much more plentiful.

How should we spend this money?

Li Changhe sat there and began to ponder.

It's not suitable to continue investing in Japan. The current continuous pouring of money into Japan is too obvious, and it will take another seven or eight years before we can reap the benefits from Japan. The initial investment has already been enough.

The rest can wait until Japan opens its financial sector in 85 before transferring in.

In the United States, he doesn't plan to make any major moves for the time being. His cooperation with Rockefeller and the California consortium is enough for now, and there's no need for further expansion.

Otherwise, he worried that his piece of meat was too fat and would attract the covetousness of some people.

However, money shouldn't be left stagnant in your hands; it's best to let it circulate.

After thinking for a while, Li Changhe had an idea.

This money should stay in Hong Kong Island, since property prices there are expected to plummet next year.

He originally planned to use the US dollars he borrowed from various banks to buy at the bottom of the market. Now that he has this money, he can buy at the bottom even more recklessly.

It's important to know that next year's property market crash will be accompanied by a wave of people fleeing to Hong Kong.

These people who fled to Hong Kong were mostly elites and wealthy individuals on the island, and the land and properties they sold were generally high-quality properties.

Besides that, there's one more thing you could try: Standard Chartered Bank.

The reason Li Changhe hadn't targeted Standard Chartered Bank before was that he didn't have the money.

To be precise, he didn't have enough money to take over Standard Chartered.

Li Changhe had previously estimated that at least $20 billion would be needed, but now, that amount is no longer required.

Bank of America and Wells Fargo hold a combined 10% stake in Standard Chartered. With a few more acquisitions on the market, becoming a major shareholder of Standard Chartered would be a piece of cake.

"Ella, please arrange a meeting with Mr. Ron from Standard Chartered Bank. Tell him I'd like to invite him to dinner tonight and see if he has time."

At this moment, Li Changhe picked up the phone on the table and spoke to his secretary, Ella.

"Okay, boss, I'll contact Standard Chartered Bank right away."

Not long after, Ella knocked on the door of Li Changhe's office.

“Boss, Mr. Ron is not in Hong Kong Island right now. His secretary said he went to Singapore. He just contacted Mr. Ron and he would like to invite you to dinner in three days. He asked if you agree.”

Upon hearing Ella's report, Li Changhe thought for a moment and said to Ella, "Check the time. If I don't have any other important plans that day, I'll make it a date with Ron."

"understand!"

After Ella left, Li Changhe finished some more work and then got up and walked outside.

Shao Weiming invited him to dinner tonight, and he has already accepted.

That evening, Li Changhe took Ah Hu and the others to a restaurant in North Point.

This is a traditional Chinese building with an antique charm, called Fujian Grand Restaurant.

Upon seeing Li Changhe arrive in the private room, Shao Weiming immediately came to greet him.

"Vic, you're here."

"Brother Weiming, you've found quite a surprise restaurant here, even all the way to North Point."

Although North Point is located on Hong Kong Island, it was originally a military camp and later a power plant of Hong Kong Electric. Therefore, there were very few foreigners living here, and most of them were Chinese. Later, it also became a residence for Fujianese people.

This restaurant is called Fujian Grand Restaurant, and unsurprisingly, it serves Fujian cuisine.

"Don't underestimate this place. I discovered it by accident. The owner is new, but his skills are impeccable. Most importantly, they have a famous dish here."

"【Soup-filled Yellow Croaker】, the signature dish of the Manchu Han Imperial Feast. I heard that the owner and chef of this restaurant used to be a royal chef in the palace, and he is very good at making palace dishes."

"I specifically reserved this place and invited you to try it."

At this moment, Shao Weiming praised Li Changhe.

After hearing this, Li Changhe smiled and said, "Brother Weiming, if you put it that way, I'll have to try it."

"By the way, has the matter with Cheng Long been resolved?"

When Li Changhe left last time, Zou Wenhuai wanted to use Li Changhe to get rid of Cheng Long's troubles. He wondered how Shao Weiming was handling it now.

Shao Weiming smiled and said, "Now that you've spoken up, how can this not be resolved?"

"It's easy to talk to Luo Wei. I gave him ten million in breach of contract fees and that was it. As for Xinji, I found Xiang Yan, the Four-Eyed Dragon. Xiang Yan hosted a meeting between me and Su Long."

“I told Su Long your terms, and he didn’t object. After all, you’ve already given him a casino, so he knows the potential profits.” “As for Golden Harvest, Sammo Hung and his Hung Ga Ban have already gone to Planet Films. I heard that Planet Films has set up a separate company for him, similar to Jackie Chan’s Fist of Fury, a satellite company. I heard that Sammo Hung has already started making films.”

"In addition, I have also made an agreement with Golden Harvest that Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest will share theaters, with each side having ten slots for each other's films to be shown in the other's theaters every month."

"If we include the cinemas in Golden Princess and Silver City, theoretically we have connected all the cinemas in Hong Kong Island. We just don't know how much the box office will rise."

Nowadays, there are only a few cinema chains on Hong Kong Island. Previously, Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers never collaborated, so their films were only shown in their respective cinema chains.

Now, thanks to Shao Weiming's actions, Planet Cinema has essentially connected with all the cinema chains in Hong Kong.

"Given the limited number of moviegoers on Hong Kong Island, the box office is estimated to be at most 40 to 50 million. However, I predict that with the interconnection of cinema chains, the box office will soon reach 20 to 30 million."

"You also need to get overseas copyright channels working out."

"By the way, when you go to the US in a while, I'll introduce you to the people in charge at MCA, especially Universal Pictures."

"Next, I estimate that I will split Universal Pictures off in the United States. Weiming, you need to prepare the manpower. I need trustworthy people to join Universal Pictures at that time."

Li Changhe then spoke to Shao Weiming.

After hearing this, Shao Weiming's face showed a look of shock.

"You mean you want to take sole control of Universal Pictures?"

Universal Pictures, a Hollywood giant film company, who in Hong Kong doesn't know these companies?

Is this behemoth about to fall into Victor's hands?

“MCA is too big. Given my position in the United States, it is not suitable for me to lead such a behemoth media group as MCA. So my original intention in acquiring MCA was to break it up.”

"I have already discussed this with Luwatherman. He has been preparing for it, and I estimate that the company's separation will be completed soon. At that time, Universal Pictures and Universal Music will be transferred to my hands."

"By the way, we can hand over ATV's music company to Universal Music as their branch in Hong Kong. This will also help their development."

"What about Planet Planet? Will it also be handed over to Universal Pictures?"

Shao Weiming asked hesitantly at this moment.

Li Changhe shook his head: "No need. Planet Films can remain independent. It doesn't need to be acquired by Universal Pictures. When the time comes, you can act as a go-between to help them reach an overseas distribution agreement."

The film market on Hong Kong Island is actually not very large; the scale of Planet Cinema is limited.

However, Li Changhe was well aware that Planet Cinema was his springboard into the mainland film industry, and under such circumstances, it was not suitable for Planet Cinema to have foreign capital controlling stake.

After all, as an important medium and a tool for ideological propaganda, film is subject to much stricter censorship than music companies.

"Okay, I understand now."

Shao Weiming nodded.

Just then, someone knocked on the door of the private room, and then the manager in a suit walked in.

"Mr. Shao, our dishes are ready. Shall we begin serving?"

"Okay, let's serve the food!"

Soon, one dish after another was served, including the star dish of the day: [Soup-filled Yellow Croaker].

The yellow croaker in the soup-filled yellow croaker is the wild East China Sea yellow croaker, the kind of fish whose price will be comparable to gold in the future, but it is still relatively common now.

"Wild yellow croaker, the belly of the fish is filled with a stuffing made from sea cucumber, abalone, shark fin and other ingredients. Combined with the tenderness of the fish meat, I have eaten it once before and it was indeed very delicious."

"Come on, Ayang, have a taste!"

Shao Weiming then helped Li Changhe cut out a piece of fish belly meat. Li Changhe picked it up and tasted it; indeed, it tasted great.

"This boss is quite skilled."

"Ah Hu, write down this location. Tell Landmark later, and when City Plaza opens, have them invite this store over."

Li Changhe only took one bite before deciding to include this restaurant in his urban complex project invitation list.

After all, in addition to high-end department stores, upscale restaurants are also an essential part of this new product of urban complexes.

It needs to have all kinds of specialty foods, including Western and Chinese cuisine.

As for Western food, he has already finalized the deal with Maxim's restaurant, which Pierre Cardin recently acquired. It's a traditional Parisian establishment with enough style.

As for Chinese food, there aren't many places to find these days, but this place that he discovered today was a pleasant surprise for Li Changhe.

After finishing his meal, Li Changhe chatted with Shao Weiming for a while before returning to Kadoorie Hill.

It's been hot lately, and he's been very irritable!
After three days of relief, Li Changhe finally felt better and then leisurely went to the Fujian Grand Restaurant that evening.

Well, he treated Ron to yellow croaker soup again, since it tasted good and he liked it quite a bit after just eating it.

As for whether Ron likes to eat fish or not, he couldn't be bothered.

It was the same private room. When Li Changhe arrived, Ron was already there.

“Mr. Victor, it’s so nice to see you again.”

These past few months have been full of surprises for Ron. With Victor's help, he reached cooperation agreements with Bank of America and Wells Fargo, which made him famous at headquarters.

Furthermore, he plans to expand his business into Saudi Arabia, since Saudi Arabia can now be considered the leader of Sunni Islam in the entire Middle East.

Once he enters Saudi Arabia, he can connect his business in Qatar, the UAE, and Africa, forming a currency loop across Asia, Africa, and Europe, including Egypt and Pakistan.

And all of this can be attributed to Victor.

So when Ron saw Li Changhe again, he was all smiles.

“Mr. Ron, I’m honored to see you so happy.”

"To be honest, I have another piece of good news to tell you about this meeting, which is also a new collaboration that I want to reach with Mr. Ron."

Li Changhe smiled and said to Ron, then Ella handed him a document.

“Mr. Ron, this is a club I’m planning to set up. It contains information about the club’s membership cards. I think you can take a look first. I hope these membership cards will be issued by Standard Chartered Bank.”

Li Changhe smiled and spoke to Ron, handing him some of the club's organizational structure information at the same time.

After hearing what Li Changhe had said, Ron curiously took the document and began to read it.

Then, slowly, Ron's expression became serious.

As the head of the bank, he immediately saw the significance of this club. It was not just about a large group of high-net-worth clients, but more importantly, it would be a high-end platform for the wealthy.

In such a platform, if Standard Chartered Bank becomes the sole internal banking channel, what benefits would that bring?
Seeing Ron's excited expression, Li Changhe silently took a sip of tea.

To take, you must first give!
The principle that our ancestors explained long ago is absolutely easy to use!

(End of this chapter)