Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

The interrogation records from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, along with a preliminary assessment report on the "Hong Kong Lin Group" and its leader "Lin San," were quickly sent to higher-level authorities as urgent confidential documents.

Inside the high-level meeting room, amidst swirling smoke, several decision-makers faced the report and fell into a long period of contemplation and discussion.

"Based on the current investigation, this Lin San and the Lin Group behind him do indeed wield considerable power. To be able to obtain so much grain and break through the blockade to bring it in is something no ordinary businessman could do," a leader mused.

"Their selling price is indeed far below the regular black market price, even at a loss, as many people who bought the grain can attest. It doesn't seem like they're doing it for profit, but rather... like they're doing charity?" Another person in charge looked at the accompanying explanation, his tone somewhat incredulous.

"But in any case, their actions have undermined the country's policy of unified purchase and distribution and disrupted market order—that is a fact! This trend must not be allowed to continue!" Those who take a cautious approach emphasize principles.

"But the problem is," the leader who spoke first tapped the report, "that 'capability' they've demonstrated is exactly what we desperately need right now. What if... if they were truly willing and able, under state leadership and oversight, to continue securing a stable food supply from overseas? That would be crucial in alleviating our current difficulties."

Silence fell again in the meeting room. Weighing the pros and cons, making a decision was difficult.

Ultimately, after repeated discussions, a preliminary, tentative decision was made: the Lin Group's actions would not be publicly characterized for the time being, but relevant departments would contact and talk with this "Mr. Lin San" to further understand his true background and intentions, and to explore the possibility and controllability of his proposed "procurement assistance" plan.

The guidelines were relayed down through the ranks, eventually reaching the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Captain Zhang and the veteran policeman sat down opposite Lin San again, but this time, the atmosphere was different. The handcuffs were removed, and a cup of hot tea was placed on the table.

"Mr. Lin," Captain Zhang's tone became much more polite, "we have already reported your situation to our superiors. The higher-ups understand your desire as overseas Chinese to care for your motherland and help your compatriots."

Lin San smiled slightly and nodded calmly. Even in the interrogation room, he remained composed. "Thank you for the government's understanding. It is our honor to be able to contribute our modest efforts to the motherland." His voice was calm and steady, carrying a reassuring strength.

"But," the old policeman continued, his gaze still sharp, "policy is policy. Your methods are ultimately wrong."

"Yes, we recognize the procedural flaws and are willing to accept corrections." Lin San's attitude was humble yet neither servile nor arrogant.

"Let's put the punishment aside for now," Captain Zhang waved his hand. "What the leaders are more concerned about is what you mentioned earlier, about the Lin Group's willingness to continue assisting in procuring grain from overseas... Is that for real? What specific varieties can they provide? And how will transportation and payment be handled?"

Lin San leaned forward slightly: "Comrade Police Officer, although we brothers have lived overseas for a long time, we always keep our word. We are serious about this matter. As for the specific items..." He paused for a moment.

"We can mainly provide a stable supply of whole grains such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cornmeal. These crops are relatively abundant in the international market, and their prices are relatively stable, making them ideal for bulk purchase to alleviate hunger among the grassroots population."

He then changed the subject: "As for refined grains like rice and wheat flour, they are much more expensive on the international market, and the supply is relatively tight. We can try to adjust the supply, but the quantity is limited, and it's probably difficult to supply them on a large scale at affordable prices like coarse grains."

Seeing the other party nod in understanding, Lin San continued calmly, "Regarding the payment method, we have a special proposal." His gaze deepened, "We are well aware that the country's foreign exchange reserves are precious and should not be wasted on grain purchases. Therefore, the Lin Group is willing to accept settlement through barter."

"Specifically, we can accept antiques, jade, gold, and silver as payment. These items not only preserve value but also avoid depleting the country's precious foreign exchange reserves," Lin San said sincerely. "My brothers and I are experts in these kinds of collectibles and are willing to do our part to preserve these cultural heritages for the country."

He paused briefly, then added, "Of course, the value of all these items will be assessed by a nationally designated professional agency to ensure fairness and reasonableness."

"Regarding the transportation issue," Lin San continued, "such a large-scale grain transport certainly requires professional logistics support. We suggest that the state allocate a certain number of large-tonnage cargo ships to handle the main transportation tasks. At the same time, the Lin Group has excellent cooperative relationships with Sir Yue-Kong Pao and Mr. Henry Fok in Hong Kong, and we can supplement this by chartering their cargo ships to ensure that the grain arrives on time and stably every month."

"As long as the country needs it and provides the necessary policy approvals and access channels, our Lin Group is confident that we can provide you with at least this amount of extra coarse grains every month." He gestured with his hand to show an astonishing number.

"All purchases will be strictly calculated based on international market prices, and we will bear all transportation and losses ourselves. We are willing to accept full supervision and auditing of the procurement and transportation processes by the designated national departments. We only hope to share some of the burden on the country, without any strings attached."

This specific and sincere statement deeply moved the two police officers. If it could truly be realized, it would undoubtedly be a timely and much-needed help!

"Of course," Lin San changed the subject, becoming more candid, "such a large-scale cross-border trade also requires corresponding cooperation from the domestic side, such as coordination at the receiving port, cooperation from professional assessment personnel, and... understanding of our group's 'procedural impropriety' this time." He cleverly proposed the exchange conditions.

The conversation lasted a long time. Lin San's performance perfectly embodied the image of a patriotic businessman who was powerful, knew the rules, and cherished his homeland. His extraordinary demeanor even made the interrogators treat him with respect.

A few days later, after higher-level secret consultations, Lin San, Lin Xiao, and other involved personnel were quietly released.

On the day of his release, a staff member from a relevant department "happened" to pass by and "coincidentally" met Lin San. They had a brief "informal" conversation, leaving him contact information and a meaningful remark: "Mr. Lin, please rest well. Regarding the question of how patriotic businessmen can better contribute to the construction of the motherland, perhaps a comrade will soon formally contact you to discuss it."

Lin San understood immediately and humbly said he would be ready to wait at any time.

Back at their temporary lodging, Lin San dismissed his attendants and immediately reported to Lin Yan via divine sense: "Master, the game has unfolded as you predicted. The opponent has accepted the pieces, and the initial probing contact has been completed. More formal negotiations are expected to follow."

Inside the space, Lin Yan, who was refining a new batch of pills, had a slight smile on his lips. Everything was under control.

"Very good. Keep an eye on things and handle it normally. They'll soon realize that cooperating with the 'Lin Group' is their best option right now."

The flames within the alchemy furnace leaped and soared, reflecting in Lin Yan's deep eyes. The plan was complete; all that remained was for the opportune moment to strike the decisive blow.

Hong Kong, China Resources headquarters. The atmosphere in the office of the person in charge, Mai Wenlan, was heavy. He had just deciphered an encrypted telegram from Beijing, the contents of which made him frown deeply.

The telegram demanded that China Resources immediately conduct a comprehensive and secret background investigation of the "Hong Kong Lin's Group" and its core personnel to "assess whether it has ulterior motives."

"The Lin Group?" Mai Wenlan pondered. This name had indeed recently begun to emerge in Hong Kong's business circles. He dared not delay and immediately summoned his capable assistant, whispering, "Use all available channels to gather all information about the 'Lin Group,' especially its founders Lin Yi and Lin Er, and a person in charge named Lin San. The key is their sources of funding, business scope, political leanings, and their network of relationships. Be quick and discreet!"

Over the next few days, fragments of information gradually surfaced on Mai Wenlan's desk. The information revealed that the Lin Group possessed extremely strong financial resources, having quickly acquired a prime property in Central as its headquarters, and maintained close ties with major British banks such as HSBC and Standard Chartered. More notably, the intelligence mentioned that several key figures in the Lin Group had recently had private meetings with Sir Yue-Kong Pao and Henry Fok, and that both Pao and Fok spoke highly of them after the meetings.

"Bao Yugang and Fok Ying-tung?" Mai Wenlan keenly grasped this clue. These two gentlemen were not only business tycoons, but also politically trustworthy.

Without delay, Mak Man-lam decided to pay a personal visit. He first visited Sir Y.K. Pao, who was known for his steady and refined manner.

In Sir John Paul Bay's spacious and bright office, Mak Man-lam subtly mentioned the Lam Group. Upon hearing this, Sir John Paul Bay smiled with admiration: "Brother Man-lam, you've also noticed the Lam brothers? Truly formidable young men! That Mr. Lam the Second has exceptional insight; he possesses astonishingly profound understanding of shipping, real estate, and even the future development trends of Hong Kong. He's no ordinary person. As for his character, he's humble and polite, a genuinely committed businessman." Sir John Paul Bay's evaluation was extremely high.

With Bao Yugang's positive evaluation in mind, Mai Wenlan immediately visited Mr. Fok Ying-tung.

The atmosphere of the meeting with Henry Fok was more direct and heated. When Mak Man-lam mentioned the Lin Group and its activities in mainland China, Henry Fok became visibly agitated, slamming his hand on the armrest of the sofa.

"Mr. Mai! The Lin brothers, especially Lin Er, they're something else!" He gave a thumbs up. "They've had in-depth conversations with me more than once! I, Huo, have personally experienced their sense of national identity and their fervent patriotism—it's absolutely genuine!"

Henry Fok leaned forward, his voice strong and resonant: "They, like me, firmly believe that Hong Kong's future is inextricably linked to the motherland! They are optimistic about the country's development and are willing to wholeheartedly contribute to the nation! I've heard a bit about what happened on the mainland this time, and it perfectly aligns with the philosophy Mr. Lin Er shared with me—'What is taken from society should be given back to society!' They must have seen their compatriots on the mainland in difficulty and couldn't help but lend a hand! How can this be 'ulterior motives'? This is clearly a righteous act of providing timely help!"

Henry Fok's words were full of unquestionable sincerity and admiration. With his enormous prestige and his own patriotic reputation, he provided the strongest endorsement for the Lin Group.

After the two visits, most of Mai Wenlan's doubts had dissipated. The background and motives of someone who could simultaneously earn such high praise and trust from both Bao Yugang and Fok Ying-tung should be beyond question.

Back at his residence, Mai Wenlan drafted a telegram overnight. He sat under the lamp, carefully choosing each word:

"A word of advice from the central leadership:"

Preliminary results have been obtained regarding the investigation into the Lin Group. Multiple investigations have confirmed that the group possesses substantial financial resources, is experiencing rapid business growth, and has a well-structured business layout.

Crucially, the group's core figures maintained close relationships with patriotic businessmen such as Y.K. Pao and Henry Fok, earning their deep appreciation and trust. Mr. Fok emphasized that the main members of the Lin family harbored extremely profound feelings for the country, possessed a clear and firm political stance, and that he was willing to vouch for their patriotic fervor with his own reputation.

In summary, while the Lin Group operates in a unique style, it is undoubtedly a business force with a strong affinity for the motherland. Although its actions in the mainland may have been flawed, its initial intention to alleviate hardship and benefit the people is genuine. This group possesses considerable power, and if properly guided, it could become a significant asset to our economic and trade activities in Hong Kong and abroad.

The above information is provided for the leader's reference.

Mai Wenlan knocks

After sending the telegram, Mai Wenlan breathed a sigh of relief. He believed that the testimonies of these two heavyweight figures, Bao Yugang and Fok Ying-tung, would greatly influence the central government's final decision regarding the Lin Group.