Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 232 Reactions from All Sides, Finding an Alternative Path

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency!"

“My boss is a man of his word. As long as the land in Kwai Chung is legally and compliantly transferred to Yellow River Industrial Group as agreed, all related items of this ‘thing’ will completely disappear, as if it never existed. My boss guarantees that you and the gentlemen in London will never have to worry about it again.”

The governor stared intently into Ah Lang's eyes, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of his words.

After a long silence, he wearily waved his hand: "Go back and tell He Fei... to watch his step! I'll have the Land Administration Bureau and the Public Works Department directly liaise with Yellow River Industry. The bidding process will start as soon as possible. Get out of here!"

"Then I'll go back and await good news." Ah Lang bowed slightly, and turned to leave with steady and composed steps.

The moment the door closed, the governor grabbed the crystal ashtray on the table and smashed it against the wall!
With a loud bang, the expensive ashtray shattered into pieces, sending fragments flying everywhere.

"He Fei! That damned yellow-skinned monkey! Damn it... how dare he!"

Ah Lang, standing outside the door, rubbed his ears, then a silent, cold smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

More than an hour later, at the headquarters of Yellow River Industry, in He Yuzhu's office.

"Boss! It's a success!" Ah Lang burst through the door, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. "That old devil's face turned green, but he still gritted his teeth and agreed in the end! It's a prime piece of land! We'll go through the bidding process at market price, but he guarantees we'll win the bid!"

He Yuzhu also showed a faint smile: "You've worked hard, A Lang. How was the Governor's reaction?"

“Just as you predicted, boss!” Ah Lang vividly described the governor’s entire process, from shock and anger to humiliation and eventual forced compromise. “He was so angry when I left that he smashed the ashtray! He’s probably cursing right now!”

“As expected. No matter how important face is, it can’t compare to position and future prospects.” He Yuzhu walked back to his desk and sat down. “He doesn’t dare to gamble. The dirt left by those idiots in the Fifth Division is enough to drag him down. No matter how much pressure Jardine Matheson puts on him, it can’t compare to the official hat on his head.”

"Boss, what's next? We definitely need to go through the bidding process, but since the governor has given his assurance, it shouldn't be a big problem. We need to start the development plan for the Kwai Chung plot immediately!" Ah Lang rubbed his hands together, eager to get started.

He Yuzhu looked at Chen Sheng and said, “Consultant Chen, I’m entrusting the design and planning of Kuiyong Wharf to you. What I need is not just a wharf berth, but a strategic fulcrum that can integrate our logistics resources and enhance the overall competitiveness of the group. You can recruit more professional people to help you complete the planning. The design must be excellent, easy to maintain and upgrade in the future, and the cost must be well controlled.”

"Understood, boss! I'll get to assembling the team right away!" Chen Sheng replied immediately.

He Yuzhu continued, "Go for it, A Lang will support you. Also, A Lang, you are in full charge of the bidding process, and get the land back as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, boss! But boss, what about those things?"

“If our governor keeps his promise, then we will keep our promise.”

"understood."

"Alright, you can all go back to your work."

"Yes, boss (Mr. He)!"

News quickly spread that Ah Lang had met the Governor, and that the Land Administration Bureau and the Public Works Bureau had begun to contact Yellow River Industries.

The news, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up huge waves in Hong Kong's business community.

Although the Governor's Office did not issue a formal announcement, the fact that officials from the Lands Department and the Public Works Department suddenly contacted Yellow River Industries to discuss the specific details of the bidding for the Kwai Chung plot was a very clear signal.

There are no real secrets in Hong Kong's political and business circles.

Especially when it involves the two arch-rivals, Jardine Matheson and Yellow River, countless eyes are closely watching the Governor's Office's movements.

Jardine Matheson headquarters, Chairman's office.

Henry Keswick nearly snapped the cigar in his hand. In front of him lay a detailed plan of the Kwai Chung Container Terminal, with the core area that Ah Lang had pointed to marked heavily in red.

"Prime land! Their target is actually a prime piece of land in Kwai Chung! Has the Governor lost his mind?! How could he agree to this?! Has he forgotten who is supporting Hong Kong's economic lifeline?!"

“Henry, calm down. The governor has clearly been coerced by He Fei in some way we don’t know. Lang Hong went to the governor’s mansion yesterday, and when he came out, there was a sound of things being smashed coming from the governor’s office. This is very unusual,” said Chief Financial Officer Davis.

"Coercion? What kind of coercion could make the governor hand over the future golden wharf to that damned He Fei? That's the heart of Kwai Chung, what right does Yellow River Industries have to get involved?"

"Whatever it is, the Governor has compromised, which means that He Fei's cards are more deadly than we thought, and may even threaten the Governor himself and London," said Operations President Burns.

Another director analyzed, his tone grave, "Henry, we must reassess the level of danger He Fei poses. He is far more than just a lucky nouveau riche."

“Assessment? What’s the use of an assessment now!” Henry slammed his fist on the expensive mahogany desk. “Once that land falls into Huanghe’s hands, they’ll have a foothold in the dock logistics! It’ll be much harder for us to strangle them like before! And this sets an extremely bad precedent! The core infrastructure land promised and planned by the Hong Kong government has been taken away by a Chinese company in this almost extortionate way! What will other British conglomerates think? What will those restless Chinese businessmen think?”

Henry's fears immediately became a reality.

After the news spread, several heavyweight British companies (such as Swire and Wheelock) and powerful Japanese conglomerates (such as Mitsui and Sumitomo) that were determined to acquire the Kwai Chung plot were shocked and alarmed. They had originally thought this would be an "internal game" between British and Japanese capital. The sudden intervention of Yellow River Industrial, and its immediate targeting of the core plot, completely shattered their tacit understanding of "foreign monopoly".

“This He Fei… he’s incredibly audacious!” The head of Swire Group said with a grim face, “The Governor’s Office actually yielded? It seems that Jardine Matheson has suffered a more serious setback than we knew.”

"We must reassess the level of threat posed by Yellow River Industries. Their acquisition of this land was not solely due to luck or some underhanded tactics." A representative of the Japanese conglomerate expressed similar concerns, adding, "This means that the rules in Hong Kong... are loosening."

What makes the foreign investment camp even more uneasy is the subtle change coming from the Chinese business camp.

Those patriotic Chinese businessmen who had previously dared not speak out against Jardine Matheson, or who had suffered greatly for daring to speak out, and who had previously adopted a wait-and-see attitude towards the rise of Yellow River Industries, now seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

This move by Yellow River Industry is tantamount to prying open a crack in the iron plate of British monopoly!
This proves that Chinese capital is not only capable of being dependent on or subservient to others. As long as the methods are strong enough and the timing is right, it can also get a share of the core interests in Hong Kong!

Soon, the phone in He Yuzhu's office began to ring frequently.

The first call came from Huo Sheng.

"Mr. Ho! Congratulations!" Mr. Huo's voice was filled with genuine joy and excitement. "A prime piece of land in Kwai Chung! A huge investment! This really makes us Chinese proud!"

"Mr. Huo, you flatter me. It was just luck," He Yuzhu said modestly.

"This isn't luck! It's courage and skill!" Huo Sheng exclaimed. "Foreign investors were caught completely off guard this time. He Sheng, this piece of land is of great significance, not only in terms of commercial value but also in its symbolic meaning! In the future, whenever the Huo family needs our help, just ask! We Chinese who are in business and hope for a better Hong Kong should support each other!"

Huo Sheng's statement carries significant weight.

This is not just a polite remark; it represents the recognition and initial willingness of the patriotic Chinese business community in Hong Kong to form an alliance with Yellow River Industries.

He Yuzhu clearly felt the weight of this olive branch.

"Thank you, Mr. Fok! The future of Hong Kong ultimately depends on the concerted efforts of all of us." He Yuzhu responded solemnly.

Following this, Bao, Li Ka-shing, and several other prominent Chinese business leaders in the shipping and real estate sectors either called in person or sent their confidants to offer their congratulations, expressing their appreciation for Yellow River Industries' move and their expectations for strengthening future cooperation.

They saw He Yuzhu's ability to manipulate the rules, and they also saw the huge business opportunities hidden within—a new era that seemed to be dawning, breaking the British monopoly and allowing Chinese capital to participate in competition more fairly.

Of course, whether these people genuinely want to help or are just looking to profit is another matter. Even when it comes to cooperation, He Yuzhu will carefully screen potential partners before choosing them, especially businessmen like Li Ka-shing.

He Yuzhu was getting a little impatient with all the calls from Chinese businessmen, but a sudden phone call woke him up.

"He Fei!"

"you are?"

"Henry Keswick!"

"Oh, so it's our newly appointed head of Jardine Matheson! I haven't even had a chance to congratulate you on your appointment yet!"

"He Fei, you don't need to pretend. My cousin's matter will be investigated sooner or later, and then we'll settle the score together."

"Your cousin, oh, the one who fell into the sea? What does his falling into the sea have to do with me? Besides, if he hadn't fallen into the sea, how could you have become the head of the department?"

"you"

“If you’re just trying to threaten me and get a verbal advantage, Mr. Henry, I’m sorry, I’m busy and don’t have time to listen.”

"He Fei, you think you've won just by getting a piece of worthless land? Dream on! Jardine Matheson's century-old foundation can't be shaken by a clown like you who tries to take shortcuts! You can't keep that land! And Yellow River Industries won't have an easy time either!"

“Mr. Henry, such a temper is bad for your liver. I suggest you see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. Also, Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. The land was legally acquired, so its development is legal. If Jardine Matheson has any objections, they can sue in court, or... continue with your underhanded tricks? But I warn you, the consequences could be very serious.”

The sound of something being smashed came from the other end of the phone. Henry Keswick was clearly angered by He Yuzhu's sarcastic yet sharp response.

Especially that line, "Go see an old Chinese medicine doctor," he's been really angry lately, with blisters on his lips and urine that's yellower than water soaked with tobacco. "He Fei! Put away your silver tongue! Let me tell you, the game has only just begun! You think the Governor is intimidated by your little tricks, and that Jardine Matheson can't do anything to you? Dream on!"

“I’m not trying to scare anyone. I got my land through a fair bidding process.”

“He Fei, very good! I will make it impossible for you to develop Kuiyong. No Huanghe Industrial’s building materials, not even a grain of sand, will be delivered to the construction site.”

"childish!"

"Beep beep beep," He Yuzhu hung up the phone abruptly, somewhat bewildered. "Was this idiot sending me intelligence?"

Although this guy spouted a lot of nonsense, his last sentence was somewhat useful: building materials.

Henry Keswick's statement was not merely a threat, but a testament to Jardine Matheson's immense control over logistics and supply chains in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's building materials market, especially bulk commodities such as cement and steel, has long been controlled by British companies associated with Jardine Matheson and local suppliers who depend on them for survival, forming an invisible monopoly network.

Cutting off the supply of building materials is indeed the most direct, effective, and difficult-to-prevent way to kill a large-scale development project.

"Hello. Smack!" Henry Keswick on the other end of the phone clearly didn't expect He Yuzhu to hang up so suddenly, and he slammed the receiver on the table in anger.

He Yu then dialed another number.

"Huo Sheng, it's me, He Fei."

"He Sheng?"

"Jardine Matheson's new tycoon, Henry Keswick, just called me. The gist of it is that Jardine Matheson wants to completely block all building material supplies from Yellow River Industries for its Kwai Chung project."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Huo Sheng's voice, barely containing his anger: "He really said that? These foreigners, unable to compete head-on, resort to these underhanded tactics! The building materials market in Hong Kong, especially for bulk commodities, is indeed deeply controlled by them and their few major suppliers. He Sheng, what do you plan to do? Do you need me to..."

"Mr. Huo, thank you! I understand your intentions. But right now, Jardine Matheson is definitely keeping a close eye on you and Mr. Bao and other patriotic Chinese businessmen. If you make any unusual moves, they will immediately become alert and exert even greater pressure. This time, we need to change our approach and take a path that they haven't thought of yet, or rather, that they disdain to even consider."

"What road?" Huo Sheng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"domestic!"

"This is not a good situation. Many of my domestic suppliers have stopped supplying goods, and as you know, my ships are being inspected very strictly."

Have you ever attended the Canton Fair?

Huo Sheng suddenly realized, his voice tinged with excitement: "Brilliant! He Sheng! This is truly a great channel. Those people at Jardine Matheson are used to being high and mighty, their eyes only on the European, American, and Japanese markets. They are blind to the development potential of the mainland, and even scoff at it. They would never have imagined that you would break through from here!"

"Therefore, I need Mr. Huo to introduce me to Mr. Li Huan. I've heard he's a regular at the Canton Fair and knows domestic suppliers and export procedures inside and out. With him connecting us, we can save a lot of time figuring things out and achieve twice the result with half the effort. Time waits for no one. Since Jardine Matheson has made its statement, the blockade could begin at any time," He Yuzhu said, revealing his purpose.

"Brother Huan? You've heard of him? He didn't call you before, that's unusual, given the commotion you've caused!"

"I had heard about it before, but I didn't receive a call from him."

"Leave this to me. I'll personally take you to see him. He'll definitely be happy to see you! Wait for my news!"

"Then I'll leave it to Mr. Huo!"

"You're too kind. Huan is a man of strong character. He must have been busy with other things before and didn't catch up on the recent news!"

After hanging up the phone, He Yuzhu called A Lang again, reminding him to be wary of troublemakers. Not allowing building materials into the factory would not only mean not being able to get the goods, but also not being able to deliver them.

"Boss, are they going to resort to dirty tricks again?"

"It's just a precaution!"

"it is good!"

Then He Yuzhu received a call from Huo Sheng. As night fell, Huo Sheng brought Li Huan to a private room at the Peninsula Hotel, just as promised.

Li Huan was around fifty years old, not very tall, but his eyes were bright, revealing a shrewdness and boldness honed by his experience in the business world.

He was wearing a well-fitting suit, but the collar was slightly open, making him appear somewhat casual.

"Hello, Brother Huan!"

"Mr. He! I've long admired your name! As soon as Brother Huo mentioned it to me, I came immediately! Those bastards at Jardine Matheson have been bullying and oppressing Hong Kong for decades, relying on the capital accumulated by their ancestors through burning, killing, and looting. This kind of despicable tactic of destroying people's foundation is their specialty!"

"Since Brother Huan is so aware of their methods, I'll be frank. I need to use the Canton Fair to reliably purchase large quantities of building materials: cement, steel bars, rebar, timber, and aggregates—the more the better, and the faster the better! Prices are negotiable, but the quality must be up to standard!"

Li Huan waved his hand dismissively: "Don't worry, Mr. He! I've been running the Canton Fair for over a decade; I know the ropes even with my eyes closed! Domestic building material factories, especially the major steel and cement plants, have made rapid progress in recent years! Their quality is no worse than the foreign ones, and their prices are at least 30% cheaper! Plus, the quantities are huge and plentiful! They're just worried about their export channels not being smooth enough! How much do you need? I'll help you contact the right large factories and sign annual supply agreements directly—no problem! Transportation? Leave it to me! I, Li Huan, may not have many other skills, but I have some connections in the shipping industry. I can charter a few 10,000-ton vessels specifically for transporting your building materials, guaranteeing it will be much faster than those small boats that Jardine Matheson is using to cut off our supply!"

Huo Sheng added with a smile, "Huan Ge's connections at the Canton Fair and his relationships with domestic manufacturers are invaluable! With him involved, the deal is already half done."

He Yuzhu was greatly relieved: "That's great! Brother Huan, I'll have someone bring you a detailed list of the specific types and quantities tomorrow to discuss them! The prepayment and contract details will all be done according to your rules! If this goes through, you'll be doing Huanghe Industry a huge favor. I, He Fei, will remember this kindness!"

"Hahaha! Mr. Ho is so generous! No need for favors, just reserve a hold for me when Kwai Chung is built, so my ship can enter your port!"

“There definitely will be, there must be!” He Yuzhu said with a smile.

The next morning, the purchasing team from Huanghe Industrial knocked on Li Huan's office door in Central, carrying a detailed list of building materials personally approved by He Yuzhu.

The numbers on the list left even Li Huan, who was used to big events, slightly speechless: "Mr. He is going to rebuild the entire Kuiyong Wharf with reinforced concrete! Good! That's bold! Now that's what you call doing big things! Don't worry, leave it to me!"

Li Huan's "golden reputation" is well-deserved.

He immediately drew upon his extensive network of contacts built over a decade at the Canton Fair.

Several telegrams were sent directly to the offices of the heads of several large steel mills, cement plants, and building materials companies in the mainland.

He didn't dwell on the fierce business battles in Hong Kong, but only emphasized a few points: Hong Kong Yellow River Industrial Group is a national capital group with strong financial strength and an excellent reputation; its demand is huge and stable, and it intends to sign long-term supply agreements; prices are settled according to international standards, and payment is guaranteed; and transportation will be personally handled by Li Huan to ensure smooth operations.

Manufacturers in mainland China are at a critical juncture, eager to expand exports and earn valuable foreign exchange.

They might be unfamiliar with the name Huanghe Industrial, but as a "familiar face" at the Canton Fair and a guarantor of trust, Li Huan's words carry great weight.

Moreover, such a large order volume and commitment to long-term cooperation is an irresistible temptation for any factory.

Quality? This is an opportunity to enter the international market and build a reputation. The factory managers all patted their chests and guaranteed that they would definitely produce the best quality products without any compromise!

The agreement was reached at an astonishing speed in just a few days.

Li Huan even personally went to Guangzhou to finalize the details of the first batch of supplies and the shipping schedule with several core factories.

At the same time, leveraging his deep connections in the shipping industry, he quickly chartered several 10,000-ton cargo ships, with routes directly connecting Guangzhou Huangpu Port and Shanghai Port, specifically for transporting building materials for Yellow River Industry.

"Mr. He, the first batch of steel bars and cement will be loaded onto the ship and shipped within half a month! The subsequent sources of sand, gravel, and timber have also been secured, ensuring a continuous supply!" Li Huan rushed back to Hong Kong and immediately reported the good news to He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders and sincerely praised Li Huan's efficiency and energy: "Brother Huan, I can't thank you enough! Yellow River Industry will remember this kindness. There will definitely be a dedicated berth for your ship at Kuiyong Wharf!"

"Hahaha, okay! It's a deal!" Li Huan laughed heartily.

"By the way, Huan-ge, you guys aren't going into Hong Kong to go into Wharf Holdings, are you?"

"How could that be? We have our own methods. By the way, do you have enough trucks?"

"Has Brother Huan forgotten that I also own a car factory?"

"Look at my brain. Alright, you get the truck ready. Once you get the first parking space in Kwai Chung sorted out, things will be much easier for us."

"The materials will arrive soon."

"Then we'll just wait and see. We won't have to put up with the foreigners' attitudes anymore."

(End of this chapter)