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

Chapter 739 Victory is certain
Sunningdale Stadium, West London, England.

Bao Yugang, holding a golf club, strolled and chatted with a white man in his sixties on the green golf course.

“Bow, Mary is very annoyed with your nephew.”

“A few days ago, Edward Youde from Hong Kong came to Downing Street in person and told Mary about some of your nephew’s actions. Mary was very dissatisfied after hearing it.”

"But Mary also learned about your nephew's status in Hong Kong Island. She told me herself that she underestimated your nephew."

"She always thought that Victor achieved his success in the United States by using your name, but now she knows she was wrong."

As Margaret Thatcher's husband Dennis walked, he chatted casually with Bao Yugang.

"Sigh, Dennis, to be honest, there's nothing I can do about this."

“Many people think that Victor achieved his success by using my name, but to be honest, I only gave him a little bit of insignificant help in the early stages of his business.”

"All the subsequent business operations were completed independently by him. Therefore, in fact, Victor's business and my business did not have much overlap."

"The young man felt slighted, so he angrily started to show off his power. By the time I realized it, it was too late."

"So this time, I brought him with me to London so that he could meet you in person."

Bao Yugang shook his head, feigning helplessness, indicating that he couldn't control his nephew.

Dennis nodded in agreement: "Bao, I can understand you on that point. Young people have their own ideas."

Upon hearing Dennis's words, Bao Yugang, being astute, immediately sensed a breakthrough.

"Dennis, if I may ask, is Mark and Carol still getting along so badly with Mary?"

Mark and Carole were Thatcher and Denise's twins, a boy and a girl.

However, everyone in Britain knew that Margaret Thatcher was a biased mother who doted on her sons but barely paid attention to her daughters.

She kept her son by her side and spoiled him, while sending her daughter to boarding school.

Therefore, Carole, the daughter, had a very bad relationship with Margaret Thatcher.

But what's strange is that Mark, the son whom Margaret Thatcher doted on, also had a terrible relationship with his mother and was not friendly at all.

Bao Yugang and Dennis are very close friends, so he naturally knows very well the complicated situation in their family.

Dennis sighed, "Sigh, nothing has changed. Mary rarely fulfills her responsibilities as a mother, especially towards Carol."

“I think you could introduce them to Victor. Victor is about their age, and I think young people like them would have a lot in common.”

Bao Yugang then said with a smile.

Dennis's mind raced after hearing this.

He didn't think that Bao Yugang was trying to use his children to secretly win them over, after all, he knew Bao Yugang's character.

Moreover, Dennis's family is not short of money. Dennis himself is a wealthy man, although not a billionaire, but still quite well-off.

After Youde came to Downing Street to report, Downing Street, through MI6, obtained a more comprehensive intelligence report on Victor, including his many investments in Europe and America.

This young man actually wields more influence in Europe and America than he does in Hong Kong. He has now truly gained access to the top echelons of Europe and America, including the Rothschilds.

Could someone of their age really guide Mark and Carroll?
“Bao, your suggestion is very good, but I think I need to go back and talk to Mary, and also ask Mark and Carol for their thoughts.”

Dennis did not agree immediately.

He may not have been as successful as his wife Margaret Thatcher in his career, but as a husband and a father, he was very successful.

Therefore, even though Margaret Thatcher is now the Prime Minister of Downing Street, she is still willing to get up every morning to make breakfast for Dennis, and her children have the same harmonious relationship with their father.

"Of course, Dennis, it all depends on your and Mary's wishes!"

Bao Yugang smiled and said to Dennis.

Afterwards, the two tacitly stopped discussing these topics and started playing golf.

In the afternoon, Bao Yugang took a car back to Garden Street in Kensington.

After dinner, Bao Yugang invited Li Changhe to a study upstairs.

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Thatcher's re-election this year is virtually guaranteed. The Falklands War has given her enough prestige, and it will be very difficult for the Labour Party to shake her position this time."

“Simply making political donations probably won’t get her much recognition.”

Bao Yugang quietly told Li Changhe the intelligence he had obtained that day.

Political donations are highly effective when given when the recipient is in dire need of them. However, if you give them when the recipient is already certain of victory, they will only be a source of applause and celebration for the winner, without much reward.

Coincidentally, Thatcher has a high chance of winning this year because the Falklands War has given her great prestige and trust, which has also cleared most of the risks for her re-election.

"Also, Ah Yang, I spoke with Dennis today. From what Dennis said, although Thatcher has some dissatisfaction with you, this dissatisfaction can be completely resolved."

“I think you could start with her and Dennis’s son, Mark.”

"As far as I know, this female prime minister dotes on her son very much."

"There's one thing you need to be careful about: her son isn't a likable guy. As far as I know, he has a terrible reputation. If you're going to use him, you need to think things through carefully and not get dragged down by him."

Upon hearing Bao Yugang's analysis, Li Changhe nodded in understanding.

"Understood, Uncle. I'll investigate Mark Thatcher's background first, and then see if I can get in touch with him."

Bao Yugang nodded in agreement: "Yes, that's one direction. Also, have you had any ideas on your end these past few days?"

Li Changhe smiled and took out a document.

"Uncle, this is an idea of ​​mine."

Bao Yugang took it and started reading.

Then, he looked at Li Changhe with a puzzled expression: "Acquire a football team?"

"Yes, or more accurately, it's about building a stadium."

"Chelsea is a team located in Kensington, but its stadium is located in Fulham, next to the Thames River."

“The team is in a bad situation right now. The stadium renovation has been suspended due to funding issues. Moreover, the founding family is now planning to sell the stadium and separate it from the team. I think this is an opportunity for me.”

"The British love football. Chelsea is in a great location. If we can turn Chelsea into a world football powerhouse, it will be a source of pride for the people around us. It will help us better integrate into the upper class of Britain."

“For Downing Street, the construction of a sports stadium may not seem like much, but the resulting changes in the cityscape, the financial investment, the employment, and even the creation of a landmark culture for Fulham are certainly not to be underestimated.”

Li Changhe chose Chelsea not because of Chelsea's future dominance, but because Chelsea is located in Kensington, and the stadium is in Fulham—two of the most concentrated areas of Britain's upper class, situated on opposite banks of the Thames. Li Changhe's plan is to invest money to transform the stadium into a modern, large-scale super stadium and landmark, and then boost Chelsea's performance to make it a symbol of West London.

Regardless of the amount of money involved, the political and social influence it brings is something Downing Street can see.

Most importantly, stadiums are expensive to build and have limited uses. Most European and American municipalities are unwilling to spend money on them because they don't generate revenue and it's a waste of money.

Li Changhe's intervention now is actually providing a very good solution for the local area. This matter is not serious, but as a gift, it already shows great sincerity.

After all, a team's stadium isn't something you can just build by investing three to five million pounds.

"Your idea is a bit unexpected. A football team and a stadium, if done well, would indeed be quite good."

"However, the Dennis couple might not be very interested. As far as I know, Margaret Thatcher wasn't interested in sports, while Dennis was. He liked things like golf."

"In fact, the British do like football, but that's for the lower and middle classes. For the upper class, horse racing, golf, and tennis might be more to their liking."

Bao Yugang pondered for a moment and then said.

Li Changhe nodded: "I know, but that's just the usual situation. In fact, if I make Chelsea the best team in all of Europe, then there will definitely be many people who become loyal Chelsea fans."

"In reality, what the true upper class values ​​boils down to three words: scarcity."

"As long as something is scarce enough, it will be their favorite."

"When Chelsea is the strongest team in Europe, but only has twelve boxes, those twelve boxes must be treasures that London's high society is vying for."

"Of course, this has little to do with the current state of Downing Street."

"Actually, I think that building a stadium for Downing Street in Fulham is already quite sincere. If Downing Street still tries to take advantage of me on this basis, then I will have to consider other ways."

Li Changhe said softly at this moment.

Britain is important, but not that important to him.

Even if Downing Street refuses to sell to a British car company, there are always ways to acquire one. Once the other party initiates privatization, it's usually just a matter of price.

"Don't think about anything else. Let's use this first to talk to the Dennis couple. We'll talk to them again when things really get really out of hand."

At this moment, Bao Yugang hurriedly gave Li Changhe some pointers.

He was genuinely afraid that Li Changhe would continue to cause trouble.

Li Changhe nodded: "Don't worry, Uncle, I know London is not Hong Kong. I won't act recklessly here."

After finishing his conversation with Bao Yugang, Li Changhe returned to his room, picked up the phone on the table, and instructed Catherine to begin investigating Mark Thatcher's situation.

Soon, two days later, Catherine arrived with information on Mark Thatcher.

“This Mark Thatcher doesn’t seem like a very shrewd guy.”

Li Changhe flipped through the documents and said thoughtfully.

Catherine echoed, "Yes, boss. According to my information, he's just a spoiled brat who abuses his family background."

As the son of Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis, Mark was neither a top student nor an elite; his grades were terrible, and he was known as "Stupid Mark."

It's easy to imagine that in a top-tier private school like Harrow School in England, such a nickname would bring him no glory, but rather endless humiliation.

Li Changhe could imagine that this troubled child had a self-destructive mentality, which is why he later liked racing and a wild life that was in opposition to all elite behaviors.

Is it a kind of intangible resistance?

Of course, according to the information, he is not a sports prodigy, but just a spoiled second-generation rich kid.

This guy must be short of money, to be able to spend a lot at a luxury hotel and then renege on his debts.

Soon, a vivid portrait of a character appeared in Li Changhe's mind: a conceited young man who wanted to fight against the glory of his family and parents, but whose personal abilities were not up to par yet he was arrogant and conceited!
Compared to Mark, Li Changhe immediately thought of that little Bush from Texas. The difference was that at least Bush had a loving father and a filial son, and he listened to his father's arrangements.

This one, well, he's not that smart.

How should we handle this energetic young man?
Li Changhe quickly came up with an idea.

Margaret Thatcher eventually invited Bao Yugang and Li Changhe to her home in Downing Street for a family dinner.

At the family dinner, only Mark Thatcher appeared; their daughter, Carole Thatcher, did not return.

The family dinner was unremarkable. Margaret Thatcher chatted with Li Changhe for a few minutes and expressed her approval of his intention to acquire Chelsea Football Club and build a football stadium.

Then there is no more then.

The response was relatively unremarkable.

Well, there was no particular expression of dissatisfaction, but there was also no particular welcome.

Clearly, in the other party's mind, they are probably still in the evaluation stage regarding Li Changhe and have not yet made a final decision.

It was under these circumstances that Li Changhe privately invited Mark Thatcher to meet with him.

"I'm surprised you would invite me to meet here."

"I thought our meeting would take place in an elegant and quiet coffee shop, or a high-end luxury hotel."

In front of the boxing ring, Mark Thatcher looked at Li Changhe, who was dressed in sportswear, and said with considerable surprise.

"Interested in a free-fighting match, Mark?"

Li Changhe tossed a pair of boxing gloves to Mark, then smiled and said to him.

Mark looked at the boxing gloves in his hand, a hint of surprise on his face.

As the prime minister's most favored son, he has many people who want to curry favor with him, and many wealthy people send him money and women.

Countless people accompanied him in his activities.

But this was the first time he'd ever met someone who immediately challenged him to boxing.

This wealthy man from the East is quite interesting.

Mark went to change his clothes in a good mood.

He wasn't particularly enthusiastic about kickboxing, but he was quite interested in beating up that wealthy Easterner.

As for losing?
nonexistent.

Does that kid really dare to beat him up?

(End of this chapter)