Siheyuan (courtyard house): My name is Shazhu!

"I have another matter to discuss here. Boss Mai came over and said that he hopes our company can resolve the Kowloon Walled City issue, as it is the root of all evil!"

Mr. Ho, what are your thoughts on Kowloon Walled City?

"Why are they so eager to demolish Kowloon Walled City so soon? Wasn't it supposed to be done a few years later? What happened?"

"A large-scale shootout broke out inside the walled city, and the police who tried to stop it suffered serious casualties. This is not the first or second time that chaos has occurred there."

Moreover, in the past ten years or so, there have been at least five hundred wanted criminals in Kowloon Walled City. Once someone is arrested, they hide inside, and no one comes out to commit further crimes.

We took down 'Hongyi Hall,' which then became a transit and distribution center, giving the police an even bigger headache. They were all desperate criminals, and gunfights frequently broke out during their shootouts.

"You mean you agree? This is no small project; it took six years from project initiation to actual demolition during the two leaders' tenure."

"The amount of money isn't important to us. If Boss Mai and his men are going to pay, we can gain a lot of benefits. It's about public sentiment and politics!"

"Money is not important. We can have Mr. Mak provide compensation and land to build public housing, and we can pay less."

The original model would have involved both parks and plazas, without the need for recreational or commercial functions; residential buildings would simply be constructed there.

"It is impossible to build high-rise residential buildings. There are height restrictions near Kai Tak Airport. Kowloon Walled City is located below the airport flight path, and there are clear restrictions on the height of buildings not exceeding 14 stories."

Buildings constructed along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in early 1975 were mostly 10 to 16 stories high.

"What if we combine Kowloon Walled City with the future new airport? Kai Tak Airport is quite large, and Hong Kong is about to experience another population explosion."

Moreover, land prices here will skyrocket. Acquiring the former Kai Tak Airport site and demolishing the Kowloon Walled City is a minor matter for us; we can do it for free.

If the new airport gives us a share price or a usage period, we are unlikely to lose money. You can do the calculations and reply to Mr. Mai.

Regarding the demolition of Kowloon Walled City, my stance is that demolition is permissible. We will provide the funds; the question is whether they are willing to leave, the original site, and where the relocated residents will go.

"I talked to them, and they said this is not something that can be done in a short time."

"Take it slow. They've had headaches over the new airport and Kowloon Walled City, but right now they're still the ones with the lowest tax revenue."

"I see."

These two projects shouldn't be rushed; it would be best to acquire them together, as the two adjacent areas can be planned together.

Due to height restrictions in Kowloon Walled City, it's impossible to build high-rise buildings for residential or commercial use. Furthermore, the relocation of Kai Tak Airport resulted in insufficient passenger traffic.

The 2.1 square kilometers of land at Kai Tak Airport is large enough, 7.78 times the size of the 0.27 square kilometers of Kowloon Walled City. It would be no problem to build a fully-equipped residential area on the same land.

There was no rush; Zhao Youcai would take care of it. He Yuzhu began to have some free time.

By August, the Kowloon Walled City issue had been largely resolved. However, a problem arose with the new airport: their tax revenue was low, and they did not have the funds to build it.

At the same time, they did not want the new airport to be privatized. Regarding Zhao Youcai's 45% stake in the new airport after its completion, there were both opposition and support for the old Kai Tak Airport site.

The Dongda Group fully funded the new airport project, which was an enormous temptation, as they were desperately short of funds and had long wanted to relocate the old airport.

Zhao Youde didn't mention the usage period. It's not worthwhile now, but it'll be fine to use it after 2000. These big shots have already left, and it would be troublesome to ask others to acknowledge them!

"Yuzhu, is our company going to take over the Kowloon Walled City and the new airport construction projects?" Zhou Songyu heard about this a month later.

"We're in negotiations, so it's hard to say right now. Two major projects can't be settled in just a few days. Let's not rush things and see how things go."

"Where's the problem? Is it that they don't want private individuals to handle the airport?"

How did you know?

"Kai Tak Airport is a big problem. A few years ago, they wanted to build a new airport, but they didn't have enough funds. They tried to raise funds by selling a portion of their shares in the new airport, but that plan was rejected."

Kai Tak Airport is one of their few major profit generators, and they have their eyes on it.

"The information network is quite good, but the issue is stuck on the shares in the new airport. Demolition of Kowloon Walled City separately would also be acceptable."

"If you really want shares in the new airport, try your luck with public opinion."

"Haha, Madam, you're amazing! You actually know how to use public opinion to stir up a trend. I'll give it a try!"

"A family secret technique!"

"Madam is awesome!"

"How much investment is needed in total?"

"We will be responsible for the cost and compensation of relocating the houses in Kowloon Walled City, while they will provide the land for building public housing. Once the new airport is completed, we will take the land from the old airport."

If these 100 billion can be stopped, then the construction of the old airport and Kowloon Walled City will also require 100 billion.

The biggest expense will be the land reclamation after the new airport is built, which will require two to three hundred billion yuan. We'll only contribute a small portion based on our shareholding, so five hundred billion yuan should be enough.

"Do you have billions of US dollars worth of currency?"

"It's not like we're taking out hundreds of billions of US dollars all at once. A new airport takes at least five years, and developing the old site takes another three to five years. It's easy to get a thousand dollars in eight years."

My two companies' after-tax profits reached over 24 billion US dollars last year. Producing 13 billion US dollars a year is not difficult, and our company profits are still rising significantly.

"Our company is awesome. I only heard Zhong'er say that you sold 300 million worth of weapons in February and made 100 million US dollars, and that was without even raising the price too much. Is selling weapons that profitable?"

"Of course it's profitable. Otherwise, why would all those guys be selling weapons? Sometimes the profit is five or ten times the cost. It depends on who you sell to and whether they crave weapons."

"It's about whether they need weapons or not."

"That's right. Just like how the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish, he desperately needs you to fetch a high price."

"How are the warlords who bought weapons doing now?"

"They've made rapid progress, capturing three-quarters of the territory, and it's estimated that the battle will be resolved this year."

"Aren't you afraid he'll turn around and attack you?"

"If he dares to come, he'll die even faster. Don't underestimate my military strength there; it's a force that can go toe-to-toe with the Eagle and Bear brothers."

"Keep bragging. As long as Zhong'er is alright there, that's fine."

"Don't worry, it's much safer there than here, and the security is much better."

"How's it going back to your hometown? I heard Sir Zhao has started pulling people from the company to prepare for their trip there."

"There are already signs of this; they've sounded out the grain companies there."

It might not be possible within a few months; we'll have to wait until next year. They need to issue official documents before we can go, and only then will we feel at ease.

"Don't worry, they were portrayed as terrifying back then. Niu Niu and his ilk are no good."

"Zhu Zi, can we go back openly and honestly in the future?" Qin Huairu had always wanted to go home and visit her family.

"It should be possible in two years; we also need to formally negotiate the issue of returning here."

"Will you definitely go back?"

"One hundred percent, this is a territorial issue, there's no room for negotiation."

"You are very confident about going back."

"Of course, mainly because our homeland is very strong, especially militarily. The Russians, on the other hand, are quite weak; they are no longer considered a true superpower."

"What if they won't let us do business after we go back?"

"No, all the rich people have run away, leaving behind a bunch of poor people. It's a mess. We might as well have taken it back more than 20 years ago."

"Quite a few people don't want to go back!"

"Shortsighted, they don't even understand the benefits of resting under a big tree, as if others care about their meager money."

"You've got quite the nerve to say that now!"

"certainly!"