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

Chapter 691 Missing My Son!

The Hong Kong Island Yacht Club had actually planned to set up a branch on the south side of Deep Water Bay.

After all, with the economic development of Hong Kong Island, in addition to the traditional wealthy area of ​​Victoria Peak, many high-end mansions have also been built in Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay.

Deep Water Bay, in particular, has become the preferred residence for many wealthy Chinese, as top Hong Kong tycoons such as Y.K. Pao, Li Ka-shing, and Bao Zeyang all live here.

Moreover, there are very few foreigners here, unlike in Victoria Peak where there are many.

Therefore, the Hong Kong Island Yacht Club also wants to open another yacht marina in Deep Water Bay and set up a branch.

However, before they could take any action, the land had already been bought by the club company established by Li Changhe. Although the club was not a simple yacht club, it did include yacht projects.

This left the Hong Kong Island Yacht Club somewhat helpless.

It's not just because Deep Water Bay is in a good location; more importantly, given Bao Zeyang's influence, it's obvious that the Hong Kong Island Yacht Club will take away a large portion of its customers.

After all, most members of yacht clubs socialize through yachts, and an important need in socializing is to climb up the social ladder and find a group above them.

In this respect, it is no exaggeration to say that Bao Zeyang has reached the pinnacle of Hong Kong Island and even Asian Chinese tycoons. He represents the ultimate social need for many people.

Therefore, the Hong Kong Island Yacht Club, having noticed the problem, did not hesitate to extend an invitation to Li Changhe's club. Unable to find Li Changhe, they turned to He Houzhao instead.

He Houzhao was quite surprised that Li Changhe would refuse so decisively.

"Ah Yang, is it really a bad idea for us to reject them so bluntly?"

Although the yacht club is not as large as the horse racing club, it is still a traditional social hub for the British. Li Changhe's direct refusal was rather disrespectful.

Li Changhe smiled and looked at everyone present: "Is that what you all think too?"

Guo Bingxiang and the others didn't say anything. After all, they had just arrived and weren't very familiar with Bao Zeyang yet. They were currently carrying the entrustment of their fathers.

"Ah Yang, the yacht club is, after all, a traditional British force. Should we compete with them?"

Guo Ling hesitated for a moment before asking.

"Then let me ask you this: if we cooperate with the yacht club, will we be in charge, or will the yacht club be in charge?"

"First of all, I need everyone to understand our intention in setting up this club."

"This club is not simply about creating a social space; more importantly, I want to create a communication platform exclusively for Chinese people."

"The best function of this platform is to facilitate dialogue with various parties, just like the major financial groups in the United States."

"As you all should know, Hong Kong Island is currently in a special situation. It is about to become a core area where East and West meet, and naturally, the forces here will be a mixed bag."

"In this situation, do you think it's better for us to maintain our independence, or to get involved with the yacht club?"

"Yacht clubs are traditional social venues for the British, and the people there have diverse backgrounds. If we get involved with them from the beginning, will you all see us as an independent club system or as an appendage of the British?"

Li Changhe spoke calmly, while everyone present fell into deep thought.

It turns out that Li Changhe's club had such high-level intentions.

Li Changhe looked at them, remaining expressionless.

In fact, the above are just some reasons. The real reason he refused was that he didn't want the British to get involved, so as to promote future cooperation between these people and the mainland.

"Ah Yang, your intentions are really too sophisticated. We really never thought of them."

He Houzhao shook his head and said with a sense of helplessness.

Originally, he just wanted a special entertainment venue, but now Li Changhe is telling them that he wants to build it into a platform for dialogue with all parties.
"I'm only talking about the future, not the present."

"We are still too small to engage in dialogue with national-level entities, but I believe our future is promising."

"So from the very beginning, we had to maintain the independence of our club and its members, so that we would have the confidence to engage in dialogue with all parties later."

“If our stance is flawed from the outset, our interests will be affected when we integrate our forces later. This is definitely not the future I want to see.”

"If that's the case, then I don't even think there's any need for this club."

Li Changhe's calm words carried an undeniable firmness, making it clear to everyone present the club's core intentions.

"I know that what I'm saying today may be a shock to you all, so you have one last chance to make your choice."

"Before the club is fully established, you are free to choose to participate or withdraw."

"After today, if everyone chooses to continue participating, then we will have to follow the club's rules and regulations completely."

For Li Changhe, gathering them today meant finalizing all the core directions for the club.

“Ah Yang, since everyone is here, it’s natural that you support this club, so you can rest assured.”

He Houzhao then spoke seriously.

During the time Li Changhe was away, they had already met several times and naturally became quite familiar with each other.

Furthermore, this is just a club, not some special organization. There will definitely be a withdrawal clause. If it doesn't work out, everyone can just withdraw.

Others also expressed their support at this time. Regardless of the future, as things stand, following Bao Zeyang will still bring benefits.

"Since no one has any objections, let's finalize all the core directions for the club today."

"Regarding the membership cards, I have already commissioned Visa in the United States to produce membership cards exclusively for our club. We have already negotiated the credit limit. After this meeting, I will arrange for someone from our company to discuss the authorization with Standard Chartered."

"There are also global benefits for club membership cards, which are covered by each member company. After this meeting, you will each go and work with the management of your respective companies to advance this matter."

"My plan is that our club will officially start operating on January 1st next year, and all member benefits will be fully implemented."

Li Changhe spoke seriously at this moment, and everyone present nodded in agreement.

"Ah Yang, how do we charge for memberships?"

He Houzhao then asked seriously.

"Each member pays a membership fee of ten million Hong Kong dollars, in addition to an annual membership management fee of two million Hong Kong dollars."

"In addition, I suggest that our membership quota be reviewed every five years, and those who do not meet the standards should be removed!"

Li Changhe then spoke slowly.

But when he announced the price, a look of shock appeared on the faces of those present.

The membership fee is ten million, and the annual management fee is two million. In other words, just to become a member of the club, you have to pay twelve million.

This doesn't even include subsequent expenses, club fees, etc.?

"Ah Yang, isn't this price too high?"

He Houzhao asked, somewhat shocked.

After all, the membership fee for the Hong Kong Island Jockey Club is only a few hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars a year.

The price set by Bao Zeyang is not just astronomical, it's the absolute astronomical price.

"Is it high?"

"I don't think so. I think I've already lowered the threshold, and I'm considering raising it further in the future."

"To be honest, if you join our club and then feel that even the membership fee is a burden, then you don't deserve to be with us."

"Fourth Brother, what we need is not just social elites, but those who have the potential to reach the top of society."

"A genius is just the threshold to our future." Li Changhe's tone was gentle, but his demeanor was domineering.

In fact, although the amount was high for that era, Li Changhe still felt it was cheap.

Because this club, in a sense, will be a platform for him to choose partners.

Given Li Changhe's grasp of the future, any direction he chooses could become a career that these people would dedicate their entire lives to.

So, is a membership fee of ten million and an annual fee of two million too high?
It's not high at all.

“I understand. You’re planning to go for a small but exquisite approach. Well, with your membership system, it’s really not suitable for large-scale promotion.”

"Okay, let's set the membership fee and membership fee at this price for now. If there's a need to adjust it later, we can discuss it in a meeting."

He Houzhao expressed his support.

Others also expressed their support at this time. For them, ten million Hong Kong dollars was not a lot, and they could afford a membership fee of two million.

Then the group of people started discussing and finalizing all the club rules and regulations, including the welfare system.

Actually, there were drafts of these before; it's just that everyone has finalized them now.

The membership benefits offered by each of these companies had already received support from their respective families within the organization; otherwise, Li Changhe wouldn't have taken so long to finalize the matter with them.

After everything was agreed upon, Li Changhe looked at the recorded benefits and then shook his head.

"There's still something missing, and that's travel."

"We provide too few benefits in terms of travel."

Li Changhe looked at all the welfare systems and said softly.

“I think that’s enough. You’ve even provided a private jet. Isn’t that enough?”

"These days, you don't see many Asian tycoons who own private jets."

Li Changhe even included his private jet in the membership benefits system, which He Houzhao thought was already quite generous.

"Private jets exist, but there are too few of them, and it would be crowded if everyone used them."

"Moreover, the cost of flying private jets is too high, making them suitable only for emergency calls, not for regular travel."

"We'd better reach a cooperation agreement with the airline."

"However, on Hong Kong Island, Cathay Pacific is owned by the Swire family, which is British influence, and I'm not comfortable with that."

"Here's what I'm going to do: I'm planning to start my own airline. If any of you are interested, you can invest in it."

Guo Ling and the others were stunned when they heard Li Changhe's words.

"Ah Yang, are you going to start your own airline?"

"This"

Guo Ling was somewhat shocked.

This is an airline, not a private jet.

The investment required for an airline is not something that can be achieved with just three or five hundred million.

"Yes, I am very optimistic about the development of Hong Kong Island. It will become a meeting point for capital from the East and the West in the future, and for capitalists, the most convenient way to travel will definitely still be by airplane."

"Currently, there is only one airline in Hong Kong Island, Cathay Pacific, which is too small compared to the global aviation market."

“I think we can start our own airline. Of course, this is just my idea, and you don’t have to participate.”

"Of course, if you are interested, I will not refuse and you are welcome to invest."

Li Changhe then said with a smile.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, I don't have that much money."

Guo Ling shook his head. He could come up with tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars, but he couldn't make a decision on such a major strategic direction as investing in an airline.

"It's alright, I know this is a big deal, and there's no rush."

"However, there is an investment opportunity that I can offer you recently."

"As initial members, each of you will have a quota of HK$50 million to HK$100 million. Those of you who are interested can participate."

"Ah Yang, what kind of investment are you referring to?"

He Houzhao asked in confusion at this moment.

"I think there will be a very good opportunity to buy at the bottom in Hong Kong Island, either this year or next year."

Li Changhe then shared his analysis with everyone present.

After listening to Li Changhe's analysis, He Houzhao and the others all began to analyze it in their minds.

The analysis under this trend actually focuses on a gamble; if you gamble correctly, you will win big.

If you bet wrong, then there's no loss.

So what's there to hesitate about?

"Okay, I'll do it. I think it has a chance!"

He Laosi was the first to show his support for Li Changhe, even though he didn't have that much money, his family did.

“I also feel there is hope for success, so I will participate.”

"Okay, let Fourth Brother do the math. Everyone will put their money into a newly established finance company. After this investment is completed and the profits are distributed, the finance company will be deregistered."

Li Changhe then offered his opinion.

This will also be his future modus operandi: he can let these rich kids play around, but he will only invest in the name of the club. Once the investment is complete and the profits are in hand, the investment company will be dissolved, and he will collect the money and leave.

"Okay, I'll arrange it then."

"Oh, right, A-Yang, there's something else. We need to find someone to be in charge of the club."

He Houzhao continued, saying that he was currently taking on part of the work, but in the future, the club would definitely need an overall person in charge.

“I’ve thought it through. I have someone here named Wendy, who used to be my financial manager and also oversaw the accounts on the high seas.”

"My private jet, yacht, and sports cars are all under his management."

“I think this person’s abilities are very suitable for the club’s direction. If everyone agrees, I recommend Wendy to be the head of the club.”

Li Changhe recommended Wendy to be the club's head manager.

Everyone agreed with this, since Li Changhe provided the bulk of the club's resources, from its founding to its welfare system.

So they had no objection when others assigned someone to be in charge.

Afterwards, Li Changhe stayed in Hong Kong Island for two more days before returning to the mainland.

He mainly missed his son!

(End of this chapter)