Hong Kong films: From street thugs to Hong Kong financial tycoons

In Guangdong Province, at an ordinary public university, the School of Architectural Engineering.

"Beep—Buzz!"

As five hundred of the latest IBM top-of-the-line graphics workstations from across the United States were simultaneously powered on, a sci-fi-inspired electronic storm seemed to sweep through the entire large computer room.

The pale blue light from the screens merged into one, illuminating the flushed faces of hundreds of college students, who were overcome with excitement.

Li Qiang sat in the brand-new genuine leather ergonomic chair, his hands holding the extremely smooth mouse as if it were a priceless treasure, and opened the project file that had already been copied in.

"Whoosh!"

A miracle occurred. The massive blueprints, which used to cause the old, clunky computer to freeze for a full ten minutes or even risk a blue screen crash from the slightest mouse movement, were now working perfectly.

In front of this performance monster that cost tens of thousands of US dollars, it unfolded completely and smoothly in less than three seconds.

Without any lag or ghosting, the incredibly grand panoramic bird's-eye view of the Maoshan Celestial Master's Mansion, the arrangement of every steel bar, and the cross-section of every load-bearing wall, are all displayed with an absurdly clear clarity on the ultra-high-resolution professional monitor.

"Holy crap... is this the pinnacle of capitalist productivity?"

Li Qiang gasped, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. The smooth dragging experience and the instantaneous speed of polygon rendering were simply unbelievable!

"Slurp—ah!"

Beside him, the Mediterranean-looking professor, holding a stainless steel lunchbox, took a big gulp of rich, century-old ginseng and chicken soup, and let out a satisfied burp.

He felt as if he had inexhaustible strength all over his body, and even his usually aching lower back no longer hurt.

"Don't just stand there! Boss Lin from Hong Kong chartered a plane overnight to airdrop 500 super weapons into our hands. He even upgraded our meals to the standard of a state banquet with ginseng and bird's nest. If we still mess up, we might as well find a block of tofu and smash our heads against it."

The old professor put down his lunchbox, took the pointer and slammed it twice on the blackboard, his expression instantly becoming extremely serious and rigorous.

"Listen up, everyone. With these god-like computers, our rendering and calculation time has indeed been greatly reduced, but I must reiterate."

The old professor's sharp gaze swept across the entire room: "Construction projects are a matter of life and death. This is a real, large-scale, real-life palace spanning tens of thousands of square meters."

"Even with the most advanced equipment, our entire hospital of several hundred people still has to work diligently and systematically for a full month."

"The mechanical tests of every load-bearing column and the interlocking data of every tenon and mortise structure of the underground ghost gate must be cross-checked at least three times."

"This 30-day deadline is a death order, not a single day can be missed. Anyone who tries to rush the schedule and tries to cut corners on the blueprints will have their graduation revoked and be kicked out of the project team!"

"Understood, mission accomplished!"

Hundreds of college students, who had drunk a potent tonic and were using top-of-the-line equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars, erupted in a deafening roar.

Like a pack of howling construction wolves, they plunged headlong into the vast and complex ocean of lines once again. For the next month, even the King of Heaven himself couldn't interrupt their drawing.

……

Meanwhile, on the 48th floor of the Far East Financial Center, was the headquarters of Yaosheng Capital.

The morning sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the million-dollar mahogany executive desk.

Lin Yao, dressed in an extremely sophisticated Armani custom-made dark patterned suit, was holding a cup of freshly ground hand-drip Geisha coffee, staring intently at the huge global stock market real-time data display on the wall.

"Boss, those Dutchmen from Asma are settled in."

Chen Zheng pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, took a document, and strode forward to report: "Lu Qiu didn't fight with them. Instead, two groups of tech fanatics got together and almost blew the factory up."

"When Peter and his team saw Lu Qiu's EDA software, it was like they had seen God. Now both groups have completely gone mad, eating, drinking, and relieving themselves in the cleanroom, and they won't listen to anyone's advice."

"Let them be. There's no limit to research funding, as long as they don't die suddenly. That lithography machine is the trump card of our future technological empire."

Lin Yao withdrew his gaze, took his coffee, walked to the leather sofa, and sat down. He crossed his legs, tapping his fingers lightly on the sofa armrest, exuding a domineering aura unique to those in power.

"Old Chen, Yaosheng Capital has been buying land to build Asia's tallest building, setting up technology factories, and making movies lately. The media outside are starting to think of us as philanthropists who run real businesses."

Lin Yao's lips curled into a cold, ambitious smile.

"But don't forget, what I, Lin Yaoli, aspire to be is an absolute financial tycoon spanning the globe. The capital market is our real playground."

"Making money through manufacturing is too slow. True financial giants operate on leverage, mergers and acquisitions, and a strategy of reaping profits at a lower level!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zheng's heart jolted, and a bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes.

He knew his boss's expression all too well. Every time his boss showed that smile, it meant that some foolish tycoon was about to suffer a major setback.

"Boss, are you planning to make moves in the international capital markets?"

"Hong Kong is still too small a pool. After we crushed the old Qian family, the local nouveau riche are all trembling with fear."

Lin Yao put down his coffee cup, his tone revealing the excitement of a hunter searching for prey.

"The stock market crash just happened, and Wall Street and Europe are full of bleeding giants. Aren't there any unfortunate companies desperately needing cash flow to stay afloat and coming to Asia to look for money?"

Chen Zheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly flipped through the encrypted files in his hand, pulling out a top-secret document.

"Boss, there really is a big tycoon who's desperate and running into walls everywhere in Hong Kong!"

Chen Zheng's voice was tinged with excitement: "John Smith, the Asia President of Black Gold Capital, a top venture capital firm on Wall Street!"

"Black money capital?"

"Yes, this is a super giant that can do whatever it wants on Wall Street."

"But during the Black Monday stock market crash some time ago, they suffered a crushing defeat and were wiped out because they had used extremely high leverage to go long on the Nikkei index."

Chen Zheng explained with a cold smile, "Now that Black Gold Capital's funding chain has been completely broken, major American banks have frozen their credit lines in order to protect themselves."

"John Smith's secret trip to Hong Kong this time was to find Asian tycoons for a huge bridge loan to fill the hole and protect their core assets from liquidation."

"Oh? You need the money urgently?"

Lin Yao laughed, a very happy laugh. In this world, he liked dealing with capitalists who desperately needed cash the most, because at such times, the other party's bottom line was practically nonexistent.

"What core assets does he possess that are worth protecting?"

"There are so many, and they're all golden goose hens!"

Chen Zheng knew them all like the back of his hand.

"Although Black Gold Capital is on the verge of bankruptcy, they hold an absolute controlling stake in Universal Lionsgate, one of the eight major Hollywood studios, as well as the permanent mining rights to two super iron ore mines in Western Australia."

"Once these high-quality assets enter the bank's bankruptcy liquidation process, they will absolutely be snapped up by other Wall Street giants at rock-bottom prices!"

One of the eight major Hollywood studios, an Australian super iron ore mine?

Lin Yao's eyes narrowed instantly, as if a storm was brewing in his deep gaze.

Isn't this a top-tier feast delivered right to his doorstep? He was just worried about how Yaosheng Pictures would use its upcoming epic fantasy drama to dominate the North American market.

If they directly use one of the eight major Hollywood studios as their exclusive distribution channel, wouldn't they be able to wield absolute power in the hands of foreigners?

"Old Chen."

Lin Yao suddenly stood up, placed his hands on the executive desk, and exuded an aura of dominance.

"Go and contact that foreign devil named John, and tell him that Yaosheng Capital, which has the most cash reserves in Hong Kong, is willing to sit down and talk to him about acquisitions and financing."

"Today, I'm going to teach these Wall Street elites a lesson in what true capital hunting really means!"

2 PM, Yaosheng Capital, VIP Room No. 1.

The heavy walnut door was pushed open, and a tall, blond, blue-eyed white man, dressed in an extremely sophisticated Savile Row bespoke suit, strode in, accompanied by two expressionless white bodyguards.

This man was John Smith, President of Black Gold Capital Asia.

Although he was now in dire straits, being turned away by major conglomerates in Hong Kong like a football these past few days, the arrogance and prejudice inherent in white people were still firmly etched on his haughty face.

In his view, these so-called tycoons in Hong Kong are nothing more than a group of nouveau riche who made their fortunes by reselling land and light industry, and they don't understand what real Wall Street finance is at all.

"Mr. Lin, I've long admired your name."

John saw Lin Yao sitting in the main seat, but he didn't offer to shake hands. Instead, he sat down on the leather sofa next to him and even habitually crossed his legs.

"My time is precious, let's get straight to the point."

John, speaking in heavily arrogant English, said condescendingly, "I know that your Yaosheng Capital has recently made a lot of cash in the Hong Kong market. I'm here to give you an excellent opportunity to network with the top circles on Wall Street."

He held up a finger, his tone as if bestowing a great favor upon Lin Yaotian.

"I need to secure bridge financing, one billion US dollars in cash, for a three-month term. After three months, I will repay you one billion five hundred million."

"A 5% interest return is an extremely high premium in international bridge financing. Mr. Lin, Yaosheng Capital has really gotten a great deal on this deal."

The meeting room was eerily quiet. Standing behind Lin Yao, Chen Zheng looked at John's arrogant face, which resembled that of an idiot, and couldn't help but push up his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes filled with pity for a dead man.

A bankrupt CEO whose cash flow has dried up and who is on the verge of jumping off a building by banks comes to talk to a Hong Kong financial tycoon with more than 30 billion in cash about financing, and he even dares to act as if he is doing you a favor.

Five percent interest? Are you trying to fetch a beggar?

Lin Yao completely ignored John's words. He slowly took out a Cuban handmade cigar from the sterling silver cigarette case, and the dog next to him immediately lit it for him with a snap using a windproof lighter.

"call--"

Lin Yao exhaled a thick smoke ring, the pale blue smoke shooting straight at John's astonished face.

"Mr. John, is that right?"

Lin Yao switched to extremely fluent English, even with a pure London aristocratic accent, his tone revealing a bottomless mockery and ridicule.

"Do you think that because Hong Kong doesn't have telegraph service, we can't receive financial news from Wall Street?"

"Your Black Gold Capital can't even pay your executives' salaries now. JPMorgan Chase is going to file for forced bankruptcy liquidation against you tomorrow afternoon."

"You're like a stray dog ​​now, blacklisted by all the major banks."

Lin Yao flicked his cigarette ash, looking at him as if he were a clown jumping around.

"They come to me asking for a billion dollars, and only offer five percent interest? Are Wall Street beggars now so brazen?"

"you!"

John, stung by the merciless and scathing insult, blushed and stood up abruptly, slamming his hands on the coffee table as he roared:

"Lin Yao, show some respect. Our Black Gold Capital holds hundreds of billions of dollars worth of high-quality real assets."

"I just need some cash flow temporarily to weather this crisis. As long as we get through these three months, we'll still be the gods of Wall Street!"

"If you're unwilling to cooperate, fine. There are plenty of Asian conglomerates lining up to take over our financing deals!"

John made a move to turn and leave, attempting to manipulate Lin Yao with this extremely clumsy negotiation tactic.

"The door is over there, the gate is wide open, take care and don't come back."

Lin Yao leaned back comfortably in his chair, not even lifting his eyelids.

"But I bet the cash in my account that if you walk out of this door today, there will be one more white man's body in Victoria Harbour tomorrow morning, a man who has committed suicide by jumping into the sea because of bankruptcy."

"Besides me, Lin Yao, no one in all of Asia can gather a billion US dollars in cash for you in an hour."

John's foot, which had just been taken out, froze on the spot as if it were filled with lead.

He was covered in sweat, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his nails were almost digging into his flesh.

Lin Yao's words hit the nail on the head. In the past few days, he had traveled all over Japan and Southeast Asia to meet with tycoons, and no one was willing to spend a billion US dollars to fill the bottomless pit of black money capital at this critical juncture.

He took a deep breath, and like a defeated rooster, turned around dejectedly and sat back down on the sofa. His once proud head finally lowered, and his tone softened completely.

"Mr. Lin... please name your terms. What would it take for Yaosheng Capital to provide this life-saving bridge loan?"

Lin Yao looked at John's arrogance, now completely crushed, and a chilling smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

You think you're so great? I'll crush your spine with my massive cash flow, and then suck your marrow dry in the capital market!

"A billion dollars is nothing. Your hole is so small that a billion dollars wouldn't even fill a gap between your teeth."

Lin Yao tapped the table and threw out a number that made John's heart pound wildly, almost stopping him.

"I'll give you two billion US dollars."

"Two billion?"

John's eyes widened, and a look of ecstasy instantly appeared on his face. If two billion dollars were injected, Black Gold Capital could not only be completely revitalized, but could even buy up several bankrupt stocks on Wall Street and turn the company around.

Don't be too happy yet; there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Lin Yao leaned forward slightly, his eyes like those of an ancient financial behemoth eyeing its prey.

"We at Yaosheng Capital are investment banks, we don't make that kind of hard-earned 5% profit. This 2 billion US dollars, I'm not lending it to you, but issuing a short-term convertible bond with a betting option."

Lin Yao held up seven fingers, his eyes icy cold. "The deadline isn't three months, it's only seven days."

"Within these seven days, I demand that you freeze your assets, including 100% of the controlling stake in Universal Lionsgate under your Black Gold Capital, and all mining rights in the Australian iron ore mine, as collateral for this betting agreement."

"If you can come up with three billion US dollars, including principal and interest, to redeem the bonds in seven days, the assets will be returned to you intact."

Lin Yao's voice suddenly rose, like the pronouncement of death: "But if, seven days later, this three billion US dollars is missing even a penny..."

"This bond will automatically convert into equity, and your Hollywood film company and your Australian iron ore mine will all belong to the Lin family. Do you understand?"

Extreme greed, extreme exploitation, using two billion in cash flow as deadly bait, setting up a super dead end that a Wall Street giant with a broken capital chain could not possibly fill in within seven days.

Lin Yao is clearly not doing bridge financing; he is blatantly trying to exploit the rules to legally acquire Black Gold Capital's most core, high-quality assets.

John stared at the betting agreement Chen Zheng handed him, which felt like a death knell. Sweat dripped from his blond hair onto the leather sofa, and he trembled like a leaf.

Sign it? There's a very high probability that we'll lose the Hollywood studio and the mines seven days later.

Refuse to sign? Tomorrow the company will be forcibly liquidated by Wall Street banks, John Smith will be burdened with billions of dollars in debt, and then be drowned in the Hudson River by assassins hired by angry Wall Street tycoons.

When faced with absolute life and death, the so-called arrogance of Wall Street is nothing but a fart!

"I...I'll sign!"

John trembled as he pulled out his pen, as if selling his soul, and with red eyes, he signed his name on the contract and stamped it with the company seal.

Looking at the fully effective betting agreement, Lin Yao leaned back in his boss's chair with satisfaction.

"Old Chen, transfer the money to him."

Lin Yao waved his hand, his smile both bright and cruel.

"While you're at it, give Fatty Wang a call and tell him to get ready to take over Hollywood's distribution channels."

"Seven days from now, I'm taking our Yaosheng Pictures' epic production to 'strike the heads of those foreign devils'!"