“Crack!”
With a loud crash, Li Jiuying violently smashed an exquisite teacup onto the floor, shattering it into a thousand pieces!
Yet, after his outburst of rage, he slumped dejectedly into his chair.
He knew the Li family was finished—and so was he!
Just moments ago, when he had called his contacts at the British Capital Group for help, the lines were either dead or met with excuses and claims of helplessness.
With no other choice, he had to call the head of the Yingzi Group, the Duke, hoping that the Duke would help the Li family out, considering all the years they had served him faithfully—even if they hadn’t achieved great feats, they had at least put in the hard work!
But to his dismay, the Sir didn’t even pick up the phone. Instead, his assistant answered and coldly said, “Clean up the mess you’ve made yourself!”
Li Jiuying was no fool; he immediately realized that the Li family had been sold out by those British bastards at the British-owned conglomerate!
What “mess you’ve created”? If it weren’t for their instructions, why would he have stuck his neck out in the first place?
Now that trouble had erupted, it had become his own mess to clean up. Those bastards really knew how to burn their bridges.
Li Jiuying was now filled with bitter regret. How could he have been so stupid? Of all the people he could have provoked, he had to go and provoke that big shot.
But it was too late now. Since those foreigners had already discarded him as a pawn, they wouldn’t care about Longheng Bank’s fate anymore.
As expected, it wouldn’t be long before Longheng Bank was taken over by the British Hong Kong government for failing to pay depositors, and then forced into auction!
As for the Lai family, their plight would be even worse. Unable to repay the bank’s loans, not only would their shares in Longheng Bank be confiscated, but their 36 jewelry stores and all other investment projects would also be sold off at rock-bottom prices.
By then, the Lai family would be bankrupt!
But that isn’t the worst of it. Money lost can be earned back, but not everyone has the chance to make a comeback.
Over the years, as the Lai family rose to power, they resorted to all manner of underhanded tactics, alienating many people in the process—including triad bosses like Huang Lixing.
When the Li family was at the height of its power, naturally no one dared to touch them. But now that the Li family is in trouble, there are plenty of people waiting to kick them while they’re down—or even to wipe them out completely.
Thinking of his elderly parents, his devoted wife, and his children who had just come of age, Li Jiuying couldn’t help but shudder…
Just then, a series of urgent knocks suddenly rang out from outside the door!
“Come in!”
When Liao Yong entered the office and saw the mess strewn across the floor, his heart sank.
Li Jiuying could tell from Liao Yong’s expression that there was certainly no good news, but he still asked, “Go ahead, what’s the bad news this time?”
“Boss, the company just called to say that HSBC has frozen our account. We can’t access any of the funds we have there!”
Li Jiuying shot upright in his chair. HSBC had always been the primary bank for their company’s business settlements, and it was where their only 20 million yuan in reserve funds were held.
Once frozen, the Li family would be unable to conduct any business operations.
Although he had already anticipated that the bastards at the British-owned conglomerate might kick him while he was down when he finished his call a moment ago, he believed that even if those foreigners wanted to make a move, they would wait until the Li family was truly on the brink of collapse.
Yet he never imagined these foreigners would be so ruthless—striking this early.
Although those foreigners were also afraid of losing their investment in the Li family, this approach was still unacceptable to Li Jiuying; it was essentially driving the Li family to its death.
Still, Li Jiuying didn’t fly into a rage like he had before. He braced himself against the desk with both hands, his fists clenched tight.
But inside, he was forcing himself to stay calm!
He knew full well that anger was useless at this moment; he had to come up with a solution as soon as possible, or the Li family’s doom would truly be upon them.
Just then, Liao Yong, standing nearby, spoke up again: “Boss, the project manager at Happy Valley just called. He said people from Jardine Matheson have arrived at the project office, claiming we owe them 30 million Hong Kong dollars, and that they’ve taken over the Happy Valley project!”
“Bastards!”
Li Jiuying said through gritted teeth, his face contorted with fury.
The Happy Valley project was the Li family’s most successful venture in the real estate industry. They had invested a full 400 million yuan, and with completion just around the corner, what right did these people from Jardine Matheson have to take it over?
Liao Yong looked at the furious Lai Jiuying and swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. He was genuinely afraid that if he delivered the next piece of news, his boss might not be able to handle it…
But how could his expression possibly escape Li Jiuying’s notice? Fixing his gaze on Liao Yong, Li Jiuying said in a deep voice, “If there’s any other bad news, just spit it out!”
“Boss…”
“Speak!” Li Jiuying said firmly.
“The Governor’s Office has gotten involved as well. They’ve ordered the Economic Investigation Division to station personnel at our company, claiming they’re going to investigate our accounts…”
Before he could finish, Li Jiuying could no longer contain his anger; he swept all the documents and files off the desk onto the floor.
In an instant, the office—already in disarray—became even more chaotic, looking as if it had been ransacked!
The company’s accounts had been frozen, its assets seized, and now it was facing an investigation!
They were trying to drive the Li family into the ground!
What was even more significant was that these tactics weren’t being employed by their enemies—they were all being carried out by the Li family’s former allies, stabbing them in the back.
When Li Jiuying thought about how the Li family had fallen to this state, he found it incredibly ironic!
Li Jiuying knew the company was beyond saving. Now, the most important thing wasn’t just reviving the company, but protecting her family.
“Where’s my wife? Have her come back immediately. Also, book me a few plane tickets to Zaiying!”
The only option now was to get his wife, children, and the rest of the family out of the country to hide; staying on Hong Kong Island was simply too dangerous.
Fortunately, he was the type to always keep a backup plan. Long ago, he had acquired some properties in San Francisco, and he also had a secret stash of funds stored there.
Though not a large sum, it was enough to support his wife and children there.
As for himself, Li Jiuying had no intention of fleeing with them.
He had devoted half his life to this place. Even though he knew he had no chance of winning, he was determined to make one last stand!
“Boss, maybe we still have a chance!”
Li Jiuying had nothing to hide from this right-hand man who had been by his side for over twenty years. He immediately gave a bitter laugh and said, “There’s no chance left. Those foreigners have already abandoned us. We’re like a piece of meat on a chopping block now—we’re at their mercy!”
“Boss, the opportunity I’m talking about isn’t the Duke or the British-owned conglomerate…”
“Then what is it?”
“Stellar Corporation. Li Yi!”
“That big circle?”
“Right. I just got word that if we agree to make peace, they’re willing to let bygones be bygones. But…”
“But what?”
“But we’ll have to take care of that troublemaker, Ma Biao!”
Upon hearing this, Li Jiuying’s eyes narrowed instantly, and his mind began racing.
First, he had to consider whether the information was genuine and whether the other side truly intended to make peace with him, or if they were merely trying to use him as a pawn to eliminate someone else.
Second, he had to consider his chances of success if he were to actually take action against Ma Biao.
But after much deliberation, Li Jiuying realized he seemed to have no other choice. With the British-funded Group eyeing the Li family like a predator ready to devour it, his only path to survival was to align himself with the Chinese-funded Group.
Regardless of whether the other party was sincere or not, he had no choice but to take a gamble.
As for that vicious dog Ma Biao, ever since he swallowed up Huang Lixing’s business, he’d become unbearably arrogant and no longer treated Li Jiuying with the respect he once did.
In that case, he would use Ma Biao’s head as a token of loyalty to Mr. Li!
With that thought, Li Jiuying made up his mind…
…….