Chapter 800: The Battle Escalates!

March 23rd: Day Three of the Huifeng Shareholding Battle!

At 9:00 a.m., just moments before the market opened, the entire trading team from Star Investment had gathered in VIP Room No. 1.

Li Yi, seated at the head of the table, had just finished listening to Pang Feiyan’s report and immediately said, “So, does that mean there are still at least 150 million shares of floating stock in the hands of retail investors?”

“Yes, and that’s a conservative estimate!”

Pang Feiyan continued, “Over the past two days, we’ve spent 500 million Hong Kong dollars and acquired only 6% of Huifeng’s shares. Dolsons entered the fray later than us, so their results are even worse—they’ve acquired at most around 2%. Other institutions have acquired about 8%. At least 14% of the floating shares remain on the market, but…”

“But what?”

“It’s just that Huifeng’s stock price has already doubled since we entered the market. If we continue buying, the financial pressure will be significant!”

Pang Feiyan continued, “Most importantly, Huifeng’s stock is currently trading at a significant premium. Even if we ultimately secure a controlling stake in Huifeng, we likely won’t see much profit—we might even end up losing money!”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Li Yi replied calmly, “There’s no risk of losing money. Just based on Huifeng’s Hong Kong dollar issuance rights alone, we wouldn’t lose money even if the premium were three to five times higher!”

Li Yi spoke bluntly about his true objective: he was after Huifeng’s Hong Kong dollar issuance rights.

He was confident that word of this would reach Dolsons ears before long. With this alone, Dolsons would be forced to fight him to the bitter end—no quarter given!

“Boss, so are you saying we should keep pushing forward today?” asked Pang Feiyan.

“Of course. As soon as the market opens, raise Huifeng’s share price directly to 30 Hong Kong dollars!” Li Yi said.

“Yes…”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the opening bell rang outside.

Immediately, Li Yi addressed Pang Feiyan and the others: “You all heard what I just said. Let’s get moving now. Don’t worry about the money—our company has 60 billion yuan at your disposal. We have only one goal: take down Huifeng!!”

“Yes!”

At Li Yi’s command, the young traders at Star Investment sprang into action…

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, retail investors and institutional employees alike waited anxiously.

Everyone wanted to see what Star Investment would do—whether they would cash out immediately or continue buying more shares at high prices.

According to their estimates, Star Investment currently held at least 70 million shares of Huifeng, with an average purchase price of around 18 Hong Kong dollars per share.

Based on yesterday afternoon’s closing price, Star Investment was currently sitting on a paper profit of around HK$10 per share.

In other words, if they were to cash out now, they could make at least around HK$700 million.

Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that Star Investment might cash out and exit the market even though they know it is not the optimal move.

Once Star Investment cashes out, the standoff between the two major players will be broken, and Huifeng’s stock price will inevitably fall.

Consequently, every move Star Investment makes now serves as a barometer!

When Pang Feiyan and her group emerged from the VIP lounge, all eyes were fixed on them.

Pang Feiyan and the others paid no heed to the stares, clearly stating Star Investment’s stance with a buyout price of HK$30 per share.

Witnessing this, institutional investors and speculative capital were galvanized, immediately following suit and raising their bid prices one after another.

Meanwhile, retail investors holding Huifeng shares were torn. Some, unable to resist the temptation of prices that had doubled, sold off their holdings.

But there were also those who firmly believed that Huifeng’s stock price would continue to rise, so they held on tightly to their shares and refused to sell…

………..

VIP Room 9!

When Dolsen learned that Li Yi had raised the bid price to 30 Hong Kong dollars per share, the expression on his face instantly grew even more somber.

The price of HK$30 wasn’t particularly high; at the very least, it was still within their budget.

However, through this offer, Dolsen sensed Li Yi’s determination to take control of Huifeng.

This yellow-skinned monkey is willing to take a loss just to secure controlling interest in Huifeng.

Just think about it: that “banbanhaobang” guy has a massive 60 billion Hong Kong dollars at his disposal, while all the funds they’ve managed to raise so far amount to only about 20 billion—a 3:1 disparity. This gap left Dolsen feeling somewhat powerless.

But with things having come to this, he had no other choice but to order his traders to raise the bid to HK$30.50 and compete with Li Yi for Huifeng’s floating shares.

Although he had an ultimate weapon, such a market-crashing tactic came at too high a cost; one misstep could completely shatter investor confidence, so it must never be used unless absolutely necessary.

It was like those nations possessing nuclear weapons: although they had the capability to wipe out the enemy en masse, few dared to openly call for their use.

It’s not that they don’t want to use them, but the cost of deploying a nuclear weapon is simply too high.

Therefore, even when conflicts arise, both sides try to resolve them through conventional means rather than immediately dropping a “mushroom cloud” on the other.

Under these circumstances, throughout the entire day on the 23rd, the bulls continued to vie for Huifeng’s floating shares without resorting to any improper means.

By the time the market closed around 4:00 p.m., Huifeng’s stock price had surged past HK$38 per share.

Subsequently, Huifeng released a list of its major shareholders and their holdings. Star Investment Company’s name was prominently listed, holding a 7.8% stake and ranking as the third-largest shareholder.

It was only then that people realized that for a behemoth like Huifeng, the distribution of its shares was actually extremely fragmented.

The major shareholder, a British-owned conglomerate, held only 12.5%, while the second-largest shareholder held just 9%; combined, these two major shareholders accounted for less than 22%.

Apart from Star Investment’s 7.8%, all remaining shareholders held less than 5% each.

No wonder Star Investment had set its sights on Huifeng; such a shareholding structure was far too easy to manipulate.

With sufficient capital, it would be entirely possible to acquire control of Huifeng by targeting the floating shares and other small shareholders.

Just as everyone was stunned by the extreme fragmentation of Huifeng’s equity, another piece of news suddenly broke: Li Futiao, who attended the Far East Conference today, had secretly met with Richard, Huifeng’s ninth-largest shareholder. It is said that the two have a very close personal relationship.

Immediately afterward, another report surfaced: Richard intended to sell his 4% stake to the Li family for 1.2 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Before anyone could verify the truth of this news, yet another report surfaced: He Dongying, head of the He family, had traveled to Aocheng to visit gambling tycoon Chen Guangheng, who also held a 4% stake in Huifeng.

Subsequently, the Bao family, the Fok family, and other Chinese tycoons on Hong Kong Island all sprang into action, meeting with the small shareholders holding Huifeng stock.

Although some of these reports were true and others false, both the British-owned conglomerates and the institutional speculative capital felt immense pressure.

Dawson and his associates, in particular, once again found themselves under immense pressure.

While continuing to raise funds to prepare for a direct confrontation with Li Yi and Star Investment,

At the same time, he had Henry and others privately meet with Huifeng’s major and minor shareholders to explain the situation and request that they not sell their shares to Star Investment or those Chinese businessmen.

If they were determined to sell, they should give them first refusal.

The battle for Huifeng’s shares was gradually spreading beyond the stock market, and the conflict between the two sides was reaching a fever pitch.

But just then, Li Yi received a call from Li Futiao, who informed him that Li Yunbao and the others had arrived safely in London.

Furthermore, the 3.56 billion pounds had been transferred through secret channels into their account at the London Futures Exchange and was ready for investment at any time.

Upon receiving the news, Li Yi was overjoyed and immediately set off for the Li family estate, escorted by Zhang Ziqiang and others…

………..

At the very moment Li Yi and Li Futao were speaking, in the ancient castle villa on the outskirts of the city, the executives of the British-owned conglomerate were also discussing their countermeasures.

“Crack!”

An exquisite coffee cup was violently smashed onto the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces in an instant.

Immediately afterward, a slightly aged voice rang out in the villa’s grand hall: “How dare that yellow-skinned monkey go after Huifeng? Is he looking for death? Does he really think we won’t take him out?”

The speaker was Henry, the general manager of Huifeng Company. He had just learned that in less than an hour, Star Investment had snapped up 5% of Huifeng Bank’s publicly traded shares in one fell swoop and filed a report against his company through relevant authorities.

In Henry’s view, this was not merely an insult from Star Investment and Li Yi—it was a direct provocation against Huifeng. This infuriated the typically arrogant Henry, leaving him seething with a touch of humiliation.

At that moment, the gray-haired elder sitting next to Dolsen said calmly, “Henry, you need to stay calm. Given the current situation, we really can’t do anything to him!”

“Alex, how am I supposed to stay calm? That yellow-skinned monkey actually wants to forcibly take over Huifeng Bank! Once we lose Huifeng, we’ll effectively lose our financial leadership and control over Hong Kong Island—and it won’t be easy to get it back!” Henry shouted.

Dawson suddenly spoke up: “Five percent isn’t fifty percent. That small stake is nothing. The Alliance has already received 15 billion in funds, and we’ll lend this money to you for now to help you weather the crisis!”

“But I heard that yellow-skinned monkey has 60 billion Hong Kong dollars ready!” Henry said.

At those words, the entire living room fell silent…

60 billion Hong Kong dollars—the figure weighed on everyone’s minds like a mountain.

At present, Huifeng’s market capitalization was barely over 18 billion, and its shares were highly fragmented. If the other side went all-in and poured massive funds into acquiring Huifeng’s stock, it wouldn’t be particularly difficult to secure a 51% controlling stake.

Once the other party took control of Huifeng, they would immediately convene a board meeting and sweep all of them—the senior executives—out the door.

At that point, they would lose not only control of Huifeng, but also the jobs they depended on for their livelihoods.

After all, Dolsen was the carefully groomed heir of the Sassoon family. He understood all too well what a bank with the power to issue currency meant to the entire British Capital Group.

If Huifeng were to be acquired by those Chinese investors while under his watch, his trial would be over. Not only would the leadership of the British Capital Group change hands, but he would likely lose his chance to become the family patriarch.

In light of this, Dolsen said in a grave tone, “Although Star Investment claims to have 60 billion in capital, they cannot possibly use all of it against us. Therefore, we must now concentrate all our efforts on repelling their attack.”

“Henry, you must immediately raise funds to save the company. If necessary, you may use a portion of the depositors’ funds—I’ll put in a good word with the regulatory authorities!”

“Alright, I’ll cooperate fully!” Henry replied.

Dawson continued, “Furthermore, Li Yi isn’t acting alone. There are quite a few companies within the Chinese Business Association that are struggling financially. We can certainly target those companies—as they say, ‘besiege Wei to rescue Zhao.’”

“I’ll also report the situation to the family. I hope they can allocate more funds to assist us. If all else fails, we’ll have no choice but to resort to our ultimate measure!”

As soon as he said this, everyone’s gaze fixed on Dolsen. Everyone wanted to know what he meant by “ultimate measures.”

Seeing everyone staring at him, Dolsen said in a deep voice, “Hong Kong is our Hong Kong. We set the political and legal rules here. If necessary, we can completely halt trading of a certain company’s stock—or order a certain company to go public!”

Whoa!

Hearing this, everyone in the room couldn’t help but gasp in shock, yet at the same time, they felt a surge of excitement.

This move was truly ruthless—it was clearly a move to cut off the enemy’s lifeline.

Once implemented, it wouldn’t matter how much money Star Investment had or how clever Li Yi’s tactics were—it would be utterly useless.

Although using such underhanded tactics would undoubtedly come at a heavy cost, it would ensure one’s own invincibility.

As long as there’s profit to be made, who else would care about anything else!

Dorson observed the shifting expressions on everyone’s faces and remarked calmly, “As you all know, such a move would severely damage the authority and credibility of the Hong Kong Government and the Governor’s Office. Therefore, it’s best to avoid it unless absolutely necessary!”

“I’m telling you this in advance so you’ll understand: although we’re currently at a slight financial disadvantage, we’ve long since secured an unassailable position. This battle allows us to fight with complete freedom!”

“Alright…”

……….

The next day!

At 8:30 a.m., before the stock market had even opened, Li Yi arrived at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with a large contingent from Star Company.

At the same time, Dolsons and the senior executives of the British-owned group also arrived in a grand procession, and both sides entered the exchange hall almost simultaneously.

Li Yi spotted Dolsen, and Dolsen spotted Li Yi.

Their gazes met in midair, sparks flying instantly, and a tense atmosphere spread throughout the entire exchange.

However, they merely sized each other up briefly and did not stop to exchange a single word.

But this moment was captured by paparazzi who had been waiting near the exchange, and reports of their eye contact soon flooded the media.

Some gossip tabloids, eager to boost traffic and sales, used that single glance to spin a dramatic showdown worthy of a martial arts movie.

Li Yi and Dolsen did not disappoint. As soon as the bell signaling the market opening rang, the battle for Huifeng Bank shares erupted instantly.

As soon as the market opened, Huifeng Bank’s closing price of 22 Hong Kong dollars from the previous night was immediately shattered. Star Investment Company immediately placed a bid of 25 Hong Kong dollars per share, causing a sensation in the market.

We’ve seen crazy moves before, but never anything this wild—jumping the price by 12% right off the bat.

Fortunately, this was the early days of the Hong Kong stock market; had this been the mainland market, that surge alone would have hit the daily price limit.

Dorson wasn’t about to be outdone, immediately raising their bid to HK$25.50 per share, determined to outbid Starry Investment.

Watching the two giants go head-to-head, other players rushed into the fray.

In an effort to outbid the two giants and secure more shares, these smaller players and institutions charged in aggressively, offering prices higher than those of Starry Company and the British Capital Group.

They knew that if they couldn’t entice retail investors with their prices, they simply wouldn’t stand a chance against Starry Company and the British Capital Group.

As for whether bidding high would leave them stuck with a loss, there was no need to worry about that at the moment.

Unless Star Company and the British Capital Group reached a settlement, this battle would inevitably continue until one of them was defeated.

But everyone on Hong Kong Island knows the nature of the relationship between these two sides; from the stock market to the property market in the second half of last year, their clashes were visible almost everywhere.

No one would dispute that their animosity runs deep; given their history, it’s simply impossible for them to reconcile so easily.

As for one side collapsing, that is indeed a possibility. Last year, wasn’t Jardine Matheson ultimately crushed by Star Company after a fierce battle?

But Star Company has just announced a fundraising of 60 billion, and the British-owned consortium is the most powerful business alliance on Hong Kong Island, backed by the entire British business community—its strength goes without saying.

Therefore, even if one side were to fall, it wouldn’t happen that quickly.

Precisely because of this, these smaller players and brokerage firms looking to profit from the chaos felt emboldened, acting with complete impunity.

With their meddling, throughout the entire day of March 22, Huifeng’s stock price was driven straight from HK$22 per share to HK$28 per share—a doubling compared to the previous day’s price.

However, neither Starry Company nor the British-owned group managed to acquire many shares; instead, it was the speculative capital that reaped a large number of shares.

More importantly, this manipulation caused a fundamental shift in Huifeng’s equity-to-asset ratio.

Originally, the company’s market value of 18 billion was lower than its actual asset value of 21 billion; now, with the same 21 billion in assets, its market value has soared to 36 billion.

This has caused many to turn their attention to Star Investment, eager to see what they will do tomorrow—whether they will continue their acquisition or call it quits!

Hong Kong. The Li Family Estate!

In the study, Li Fu gazed at Li Yi, who was casually sipping tea across the coffee table, his expression somewhat complex.

His eyes betrayed surprise and confusion, but above all, concern.

“Old Li, just say what’s on your mind. Staring at me like that makes me feel a bit awkward!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“You actually feel a bit embarrassed sometimes?”

Li Futao continued, “Yunbao and the trading team have just boarded the plane and are expected to arrive in London tomorrow. The funds, however, will take another day or two to arrive!”

“Alright, once the team and the funds are all in place, I’ll give the go-ahead for them to move!” Li Yi nodded.

“Alright!”

Then, Li Futiao changed the subject and asked again, “I heard you made a move on Huifeng Bank’s stock this afternoon?”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Yes, I acquired 5% of the outstanding shares!”

Li Futiao furrowed his brow. “Why did you do that? Huifeng isn’t just any ordinary company.”

“Two reasons. First, the company is short on cash right now, so I’m planning to fleece those foreigners a bit!”

Li Yi continued, “The second reason is that those guys are way too arrogant and disruptive. To prevent them from jumping in and causing trouble at a critical moment, I’m going to teach them a lesson before I head to London to take down those Anglo-Saxons!”

“You’ve already diverted most of your funds to London. If you go to war with those British bastards now, how are you going to handle their counterattack?” Li Fu asked.

“Counterattack?”

Li Yi smiled faintly and said again, “That’s not going to happen. I’ve got 60 billion in funds right now. They’re barely able to protect themselves—they wouldn’t dare launch a counterattack!”

“But didn’t you already transfer all your money over there? Where did this 60 billion come from?”

“Haha, but they don’t know that. As long as neither you nor I say anything, Starry Sky Corporation still has six hundred billion!” Li Yi said firmly.

Li Futiao’s eyes lit up, and he immediately said, “The Empty Fort Strategy?”

“The Westerners may understand tactics, but when it comes to strategy, we’re their masters!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“Then why go after Huifeng? That’s a massive operation—you probably can’t pull it off with just the funds you have on hand!” Li Futiao said.

“Haha, Old Li, you’re overthinking it. I’m just here to cash in—I’m not planning to go all-out against them. 3 billion Hong Kong dollars is more than enough!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“How do you plan to do it?”

“Remember how we teased them with Hang Seng shares before we moved on Wharf Holdings last year? I plan to pull the exact same stunt again!” Li Yi said, making a startling revelation.

“But… aren’t you afraid they’ll turn the tables on you?”

Li Yi shook his head. “No, I’m not afraid. They wouldn’t dare!”

“???”

Seeing Li Fu’s puzzled expression, Li Yi immediately explained, “Huifeng is different from Hang Seng. Huifeng holds the right to issue Hong Kong dollars, and it’s the absolute core of capital for those Westerners—not just on Hong Kong Island, but across all of East and Southeast Asia. They’d never stand idly by and watch a ‘barbarian’ like me take it over—not even if there’s the slightest hint of it!”

Now that he was putting on a show of a rogue player entering the scene and aggressively acquiring Huifeng, neither Dalson nor the executives of other British-owned conglomerates dared to take him lightly.

As expected, they would inevitably throw all their resources into competing with Starry Sky for Huifeng’s shares.

By the time Huifeng’s stock price rises, Li Yi can suddenly pull out, selling the Huifeng shares he acquired at a low price at a high price—guaranteed to make a hefty profit.

As for whether the British-funded groups might back down early and let Star Investment take over, Li Yi hadn’t even considered it—because that was completely out of the question.

Instead, he was more inclined to believe that when these foreigners could no longer hold out, they might even hire hitmen to kill people!

Li Yi was quite confident in his assessment; after all, he was now threatening the British-owned group’s core interests—a move far more serious than desecrating a family grave.

“You mean the right to issue currency?” Li Fu asked.

“Exactly. That’s the piece of the pie those foreign bankers are most reluctant to let anyone touch—bar none!” Li Yi said calmly.

The international banking industry originated in ancient Europe. It rose gradually with the progress of industrialization, continuously placing its people in key sectors such as the judiciary, industry, government, and the media, becoming a special class that stood above most other industries.

Banking operations are also tiered. Third-rate banks are the ones that make money on credit spreads; the core of a truly first-rate bank has never been about taking deposits and making loans, but rather about manipulating the issuance of currency.

The elder Rothschild, who single-handedly created the banking legend, once said, “As long as I control the right to issue currency, I don’t care who makes the laws.” This highlights the critical importance of the right to issue currency.

In the struggle for control over currency issuance, nine U.S. presidents have been assassinated throughout history, with four—including Lincoln and Kennedy—killed in such attacks.

Even a president as powerful as those of the United States ultimately succumbed to international bankers in the struggle for financial dominance.

If the Federal Reserve is the lifeblood of the Jewish bankers in the U.S., then Huifeng is the apple of the eye of these Anglo-Saxons—touch it, and they’ll be furious.

“So what are you planning to do next?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’s next’?”

“You can’t just keep handing over tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars to Yunbao and his crew forever. But the moment you show up in London, those foreigners will realize you’ve been bluffing on Hong Kong Island. Once they catch on, they’ll likely launch a full-scale assault against you!”

Li Futiao continued with concern, “Who knows? They might even team up with those European conglomerates to attack your plans in London!”

“I won’t give them that chance. This time, I’m not only going to teach those bastards a harsh lesson, but I’ll also break the backbone of the Sassoon family, so they’ll never dare to bark at us again!” Li Yi said coldly.

“You’re going to take on the family behind Dolsen?” Li Futiao asked in surprise.

“Yes!”

“What do you plan to do? Do you need my help?” Li Futao asked.

“I’ve already drawn up a plan, but it’s not quite polished yet. I’ll let you know once I’ve finalized it in a few days!”

Li Yi continued, “As for helping me, there actually is something I need right now!”

“What is it?”

“Old Li, talk to Old He and the others. Have them reach out to the shareholders holding Huifeng Company stock on my behalf. Tell them I want to buy their shares—the price is negotiable!” Li Yi said.

“Are you just asking us to make contact, or are you serious about buying?” Li Futiao asked.

“For those who aren’t willing to sell, we’ll just make contact. But if anyone is willing to sell, then we’ll actually buy!”

Li Yi knows full well that although Huifeng is extremely conservative and cautious when it comes to investing, the company’s performance is truly impressive.

Over its 153-year history, the company’s market capitalization has increased nearly 100 million-fold.

In the future, this bank will continue to lead Hong Kong’s economy and rise to become the world’s seventh-largest bank.

Although his goal this time was to cash in on a deal and he had no intention of actually joining Huifeng, if the opportunity arose to acquire a stake in the company, he certainly wouldn’t pass up such a golden opportunity.

“Alright, I’ll talk to Old He and Old Luo and get things moving for you as soon as possible!”

“Mm-hmm. When you’re contacting those shareholders, make a big fuss about it!” Li Yi said.

“Got it—we just need to muddy the waters. I know exactly what you mean!” Li Futao said with a smile.

“Hahaha, if the water isn’t murky, we won’t be able to slip through unnoticed!”

“That’s true. I just wonder how that arrogant bastard Dolsen will react!” Li Futiao said.

“It doesn’t matter. I have the upper hand now, and victory will surely be ours!” Li Yi said confidently.

……….

Hong Kong Stock Exchange!

In VIP Room No. 1, Li Yi sipped his tea while listening to Pang Feiyan’s report.

After Pang Feiyan had gone over the basic information regarding the listed companies affiliated with the British Capital Group, Li Yi slowly set his teacup down on the table beside him.

Then, in a cool tone, he said, “So, 36 member companies of the British Capital Group are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange?”

“That’s correct. These 36 listed companies are all core members of the British Capital Group with strong financial standing. Even the weakest among them has a total market capitalization exceeding 4.8 billion Hong Kong dollars, while companies such as Huifeng (Long Live the Great Crab God) and Standard Chartered have market capitalizations in the tens of billions,” Pang Feiyan replied.

Li Yi remarked indifferently, “In that case, we made the right choice coming here today!”

Pang Feiyan immediately asked, “Boss, are you really planning to take action against those foreigners right now?”

“Why not?”

“It’s not that we can’t, but aside from the funds, we haven’t investigated the actual conditions of these companies yet. One misstep and we might end up paying a fortune for junk assets!” Pang Feiyan said.

“What if our target is Huifeng Bank?” Li Yi asked.

“Boss, you… you’re going to go after Huifeng?”

If she hadn’t known just how bold this young boss was, Pang Feiyan would have truly thought she’d misheard him.

Over the years, there have been those who’ve set their sights on Huifeng Bank, but without exception, they’ve all failed.

It wasn’t that they lacked ability or money; it was simply that no one could shake Huifeng’s position.

“What’s the matter? Is that not allowed?”

After a moment’s thought, Pang Feiyan replied, “Boss, when Sister Xinyi left, she told me never to question your decisions, and I’ve always followed that advice.”

“But if your target this time is Huifeng, I still want to advise you: this company is different from others. Even if we’ve prepared 60 billion Hong Kong dollars, it’ll be very difficult to shake this company!”

“Why?”

“Because they stand above the rules!” Pang Feiyan said solemnly.

However, Li Yi replied calmly, “Those are their rules, so they can flout them at will. But when it comes to my rules, they might not have the guts to do the same…”

Just then, a young man rushed in, pushed open the door, and whispered a few words into Li Yi’s ear.

Li Yi’s lips then curled slightly upward as he addressed Pang Feiyan and the others: “Those foreigners are here. Let’s move!”

Pang Feiyan saw that Li Yi was dead set on taking drastic action against Huifeng Bank. She immediately steeled herself and shouted, “Yes!”

“Manager Pang, there’s still an hour until the market closes. Start building a position immediately to acquire Huifeng’s publicly traded shares. You must secure 5% of Huifeng’s shares before the market closes!” Li Yi ordered.

“Yes!”

With that, Pang Feiyan hurriedly led her team out of the VIP lounge…

……..

Meanwhile, directly across from VIP Room No. 1, where Li Yi was located, Dolsons and his team had just settled into VIP Room No. 9.

Upon receiving word that Li Yi had arrived at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, they had cut short their internal meeting and rushed over.

But before they had even settled into their seats, they received news that sent shockwaves through the group: Li Yi had made his move!

No one had expected Li Yi to target Huifeng Bank—with a market capitalization nearing HK$20 billion—right off the bat.

Before anyone could react, the team from Star Investment launched a massive buying spree for Huifeng’s publicly traded shares.

This was no hyperbole—it was a genuine buying spree. Whenever someone sold, Star Investment would buy, regardless of the price.

As the largest commercial bank on Hong Kong Island, Huifeng is undoubtedly one of the few high-quality companies currently listed on the Hong Kong stock market, so there are indeed quite a few investors holding its publicly traded shares.

Where there are buyers, there are sellers, and the more frantic the buying, the higher the sellers dare to ask.

Driven by this dynamic, in less than an hour, Huifeng Bank’s share price soared from HK$14 to HK$18, a gain of over 25%.

With the Hong Kong stock market currently in a bear market—unlike the previous bull market when investors were living the high life—Huifeng’s soaring share price quickly caught the attention of many.

When it became known that the acquirer of Huifeng was none other than Starry Company, many instantly realized that Li Yi was about to make Huifeng his first target.

It is often said that there are no secrets in Hong Kong’s business world. Many have witnessed firsthand how the British-owned conglomerate has been acting with impunity and provoking the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in recent times.

Now that Li Yi of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has made his triumphant return, he certainly won’t pretend nothing has happened. It’s safe to say a fierce battle is on the horizon.

Some investors with exceptionally keen instincts have already sensed the smell of blood and have begun to move, rushing in to snap up shares.

Everyone has anticipated that once Starry Sky makes its move, Huifeng Bank will inevitably fight for shares to retain control of the company.

Under these circumstances, Huifeng’s stock price will skyrocket in the short term, likely stabilizing only after the two sides have fought to the bitter end.

With the battle just beginning to take shape and plenty of room for the stock price to rise, retail investors are charging in with great fervor.

Meanwhile, upon realizing that Li Yi’s target was none other than Huifeng Bank, Dolsons and his team couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

Without hesitation, they immediately ordered their trading teams to follow suit, engaging Li Yi in a fierce battle for the market’s floating shares.

With that, the battle for Huifeng shares had officially begun!

With so many looking to take advantage of the chaos—everyone knew Huifeng Bank’s stock would be profitable in the coming days, or even months—they all threw themselves into the fray without restraint. As a result, no one knew exactly how many players had entered the game.

But everyone could see that, amid the fierce competition from multiple forces, Huifeng Bank’s stock was soaring like a roller coaster!

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the market closed. When the closing bell rang, Dolsons and the others breathed a slight sigh of relief.

However, when they learned that Huifeng’s stock price had soared to HK$22 per share, everyone’s spirits—including Dolsons—plummeted.

Under normal circumstances, a rise in a company’s stock price would be an unquestionably positive development.

After all, it means the company is favored by investors, that its performance is strong, and that shareholders’ wealth is increasing.

But now, the rise in the stock price was clearly abnormal—it signaled the aggressive entry of a corporate raider.

Under these circumstances, the situation was quite different.

The higher the share price, the greater the capital required to compete with the other side for shares. Given that they clearly had less capital than their opponents, this put them at a significant disadvantage.

Therefore, immediately after the market closed, Dolsen convened a meeting with everyone, including Huifeng and other companies, to discuss a counterstrategy.

They had long known that Li Yi was sitting on a massive amount of capital this time—he might not make a move at all, but once he did, it would be a thunderous strike.

But they never imagined that this young man from the mainland would be so bold as to dare to target Huifeng.

This was no longer a simple business struggle; it was tantamount to desecrating their ancestral graves.

Compared to other companies, Huifeng was undoubtedly the core of the British-owned conglomerate; its existence was even more crucial than that of Jardine, Swire, and Kadoorie combined, because Huifeng controlled the issuance of the Hong Kong dollar.

It could be said that Li Yi’s move struck directly at the British-owned conglomerate’s Achilles’ heel, leaving them with no choice but to respond.

However, what Dolsons and the others could never have imagined was that, just as Li Yi was actively igniting the flames of war on the Hong Kong stock market, a massive sum of funds from Star Investment was being converted into British pounds through the Far East Club’s secret channels and transferred overseas.

All of this was carried out in complete secrecy; not only was the outside world unaware, but even within Star Investment, only a handful of people knew.

The entire situation was shrouded in mystery…

………

The circles of Hong Kong’s political and business worlds are small; business dealings—and even marital ties—are inevitable.

This is especially true for the major corporations and prominent families, whose ties are so deeply intertwined that they are impossible to untangle—a veritable web of complexity!

In such an environment, it is virtually impossible to maintain absolute confidentiality.

Stellar Corporation’s meeting didn’t start until noon, yet by a little before 1:00 PM, many major corporations and prominent families had already learned the gist of what was discussed.

Of course, this included the British expats at the British-owned conglomerate as well.

As the undisputed rulers of Hong Kong’s political and business circles, such news naturally couldn’t be kept from them.

When they learned that Li Yi had amassed a colossal sum of over 60 billion Hong Kong dollars and explicitly intended to target members of their British-owned conglomerate, everyone was stunned.

However, after the initial shock, Dolsons and the others’ first reaction was disbelief. First, they thought it was impossible for Starry Sky Company to have that much capital.

60 billion Hong Kong dollars—and in cash, no less. How could that be possible?

It’s important to note that, given the importance they attach to Li Yi, they have been investigating Starry Sky’s financial situation all along.

Although the company has indeed raised a significant amount of capital over the past few months, the total amount is only around 15 to 16 billion Hong Kong dollars, with fluctuations not exceeding 10%.

This is why he proposed raising 10 billion Hong Kong dollars yesterday; in his view, having 10 billion Hong Kong dollars on hand would be sufficient to fend off any attack on Star Company.

Although they had learned through wiretapping the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s meetings that those individuals were preparing to raise funds, upon discovering today that most of the listening devices had ceased to function, Dolsen and his team realized the other side had detected something amiss and must surely know that the contents of their meeting had been compromised.

Under normal circumstances, the agenda for last night’s meeting would inevitably have been altered—or even scrapped entirely.

Even if, by some stretch of the imagination, the other side were confident enough to make no changes and continue raising funds according to the original plan, how much could they possibly raise?

After all, the entire Chinese Chamber of Commerce consists of only about thirty people. Even if each contributed one hundred million, that would still amount to less than three billion—a far cry from six hundred billion.

Consequently, Dolsen and his associates’ first reaction was that Li Yi was merely bluffing, trying to intimidate them.

But just to be on the safe side, he ordered his intelligence network to investigate the financial transactions of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce members.

They didn’t know until they looked into it, but once they did, they were immediately struck with cold sweat.

The investigation revealed that Li Futao, the head of the Li family, had withdrawn 2 billion Hong Kong dollars from his personal account today and transferred it to the account of Star Investment Company.

He Dongying, the head of the He family, had similarly withdrawn 1 billion Hong Kong dollars from Standard Chartered Bank—their long-standing partner—that morning and sent it to Star Tower.

The Luo family and the “Ship King” had done the same, each withdrawing 1 billion Hong Kong dollars.

The other members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce were no different—some withdrew three to five hundred million, others one or two hundred million. When added up, the total amounted to a staggering 15 to 16 billion.

Add to that the private funds of Li Yi and Star Investment’s other major shareholder, Huang Lixing, and the total really does come to nearly 60 billion!

Faced with this realization, the executives of the British-owned conglomerate were instantly dumbfounded.

Especially Dolsons, the Duke, Powell, and the others—they felt as though they were under the gaze of the Grim Reaper.

It wasn’t that they were cowards, but rather that they knew their place.

As veterans of the financial world, they knew full well that in that realm, whoever had the most money called the shots and could do as they pleased.

More importantly, the current state of companies across Hong Kong’s business sector was truly dire. Affected by the stock market crash and the uncertain political situation, Hong Kong had suffered a double whammy in both the stock and real estate markets over the past year, with trends continuing to decline.

This market downturn has led to another serious problem: the depressed stock prices of listed companies, with many firms suffering from a severe mismatch between their stock prices and their actual assets.

To put it simply, some companies may have assets worth 10 billion Hong Kong dollars, but the combined market value of their shares may be only 6 or 7 billion.

This situation is very common in Hong Kong, affecting more than 90% of all listed companies.

It’s one thing for companies with relatively concentrated shareholdings—such firms still have the capacity to weather crises.

Take, for example, the family-run companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Although their management models may be somewhat outdated, the majority of their shares are held by family members, making it difficult for outsiders to meddle.

However, when it comes to companies with more dispersed ownership, if someone decides to make a forceful move, it’s easy for them to find an opening to exploit.

The logic is actually quite simple: if something worth ten dollars is currently priced at five, buying it yields a five-dollar profit.

Now, apply this to a company: if you have sufficient capital to aggressively buy up all the shares of a company whose stock price is below its actual value, the profits can be substantial.

Of course, this assumes there is no fierce resistance. If the other side also has substantial funds to prop up the stock price, the outcome may not be as favorable as imagined.

Clearly, many have already realized that Star Investment has suddenly concentrated such a large amount of capital—it’s obviously aiming for a hostile takeover, targeting these large conglomerates to buy at the bottom.

They had already employed the same tactic last year, successfully snatching Wharf Holdings from Jardine Matheson.

Upon receiving this news, Dolsons quickly convened a meeting with the members of the British Investment Group and briefly outlined the situation to them.

To address the potential crisis, under Dolsons leadership, the 94 core enterprises affiliated with the British Capital Group signed a mutual defense pact.

Under the terms of the agreement, should any company come under attack by Starry Sky, the others must provide full support.

At the same time, to ensure the safety of every company, Dolsen decided to increase the planned funding from 10 billion Hong Kong dollars to 20 billion. The Sassoon family would cover one-third of this amount, with the remainder to be shared by all member companies.

To boost the morale of the alliance members, Dolsen also assured everyone that the Empire and the British Hong Kong government would stand with them.

With Dolsen’s assurance, coupled with the very real threat posed by Star Company—and, more importantly, the fact that no one knew which company Star Company would target first—

Driven by this fear of the unknown, the members of the British-owned consortium—in a rare display of unity—rallied together and eagerly raised funds.

Meanwhile, as the two major groups frantically stockpiled “ammunition,” the atmosphere of tension within Hong Kong’s business community grew increasingly thick.

………

Just as Dolsen and the others had reached a conclusion at their meeting at Castle Manor, Li Yi made his next move.

At 2:00 p.m. on March 21, after Pang Feiyan had assembled the trading team, Li Yi personally led them to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The reason for choosing this stock exchange over Old Li’s Far East Stock Exchange was primarily that all the companies listed here were major British-owned conglomerates, including Huifeng Bank, Jardine Matheson, Hang Seng Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Swire Properties, Kadoorie Holdings, and more!

Besides, they had come with the intention of making a big splash—there was no need to operate on Old Li’s turf, lest they accidentally harm their own people!

When Li Yi and his group entered the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the escort of a large contingent of security personnel, they immediately drew the attention of a large crowd of investors.

It didn’t take long for people to recognize them as representatives from Star Investment, with none other than the renowned Li Yi leading the group.

Li Yi made no attempt to hide his identity. Upon entering the exchange, he immediately instructed the lobby manager who had come to greet him to summon the exchange’s general manager, all while greeting the ordinary investors who had gathered to watch the spectacle with a warm and friendly demeanor.

While winning over the crowd, news of Li Yi’s appearance at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange spread like wildfire.

In a very short time, all the major factions on Hong Kong Island were aware of the situation.

Subsequently, these major players reacted swiftly!

After Li Yi met with the general manager of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, massive sums of money were transferred through various channels into Starry Sky Company’s stock trading account at the exchange.

In less than twenty minutes, the account—which had previously held only tens of millions—was injected with a massive 3 billion Hong Kong dollars.

With this influx of funds, everyone knew that Li Yi meant business.

Seeing this, some were inexplicably excited, some fell silent as if struck by fear, while others began to stir restlessly, sharpening their knives!

In an instant, the entire Hong Kong stock market was gripped by panic, with a storm brewing on the horizon…

……….

City Center. Star Tower!

By the time Li Yi and Huang Lixing arrived at Star Company’s headquarters, it was already noon.

Upon arriving at the company, Li Yi made a brief appearance and immediately called a meeting with the company’s leadership.

Just moments ago, Huang Lixing had briefly briefed Li Yi on the company’s business situation.

Over the past few months, business had not been going smoothly for either Starry Sky Corporation or the Green Dragon Society.

This was especially true for Shield Security, the company in which Li Yi had placed such high hopes; it had now become a massive burden and liability.

Currently, the security firm has a total of 822 instructors and security personnel. Among them, more than 50 are from the mainland—all elite veterans from the military—while the rest are former Qinglong Society henchmen selected through intensive training.

These personnel are now divided into 4 security companies, 16 security platoons, and 64 squads!

Originally, according to Li Yi’s plan, once this force completed its training, it would take on assignments in the form of security squads or teams, gradually establishing Shield Company as Hong Kong Island’s top security firm.

This would not only establish a powerful force for him in Hong Kong but also gradually whitewash the Blue Dragon Society’s reputation, while even generating revenue through this security operation.

However, the reality was frustrating: in the more than six months since its establishment, Shield Security had taken on fewer than 30 assignments.

During this period, Li Yi and Huang Lixing had collectively invested over 50 million Hong Kong dollars into Shield Corporation, yet their returns hadn’t even reached one million Hong Kong dollars—a net loss!

On top of that, most of the Blue Dragon Society’s operations on Hong Kong Island have suffered a devastating blow.

Huang Lixing voluntarily shut down all three of their casinos—not a single one remained.

Businesses such as smuggling and home appliance sales were subjected to a full-scale crackdown by the British Hong Kong government and British-owned conglomerates, ultimately collapsing beyond recovery.

Today, the Blue Dragon Society is propped up by only a small amount of business at the docks, but it is clearly on its last legs.

But what worries Huang Lixing the most is Star Investment. The company currently has over 18 billion Hong Kong dollars in its accounts, yet with both the property and stock markets in Hong Kong Island in freefall, it is simply not the right time for large-scale investments.

The company’s investment managers have been trying to enter the stock market recently, but they haven’t been able to make any money. Even the most experienced and skilled ones, such as Lan Xinyi and Cai Bingyan, have barely managed to break even.

As for the rest, needless to say, they were essentially all in the red.

If this continues, it will not only damage the company’s hard-earned reputation but also place enormous financial pressure on the company.

We’re talking about over 18 billion Hong Kong dollars here. Even if we calculate based on a guaranteed minimum return, that money would require 1.8 billion in interest payments over the course of a year.

Such a massive sum amounts to nearly 5 million Hong Kong dollars per day on average!

And that’s just the payments to investors—it doesn’t even include employee salaries or the various taxes and fees owed to the Hong Kong government. If you really add it all up, these expenses would amount to an astronomical figure.

That is precisely why even Huang Lixing, who is usually reluctant to get involved in company affairs, is starting to feel a sense of urgency.

And Li Yi has come here now specifically to resolve the issue of the company’s idle funds…

………

In the large conference room, all the department heads and deputy heads from Starry Sky Company had gathered.

Seated at the head of the table, Li Yi looked around and noticed quite a few new faces—clearly recent promotions.

After all, a large number of senior executives, including Lan Xinyi and Cai Bingyan, had been transferred by Li Yi to the mainland to establish a branch office, and the vacancies left behind by their departure needed to be filled.

“Is everyone here yet?”

Chief Steward Lan Xinming immediately stood up and replied, “Boss, everyone is here!”

Li Yi cleared his throat and asked again, “The Li, He, Luo, and Bao families, among others, should have all come by this morning. How much funding have we raised in total?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the newly appointed head of the Investment Department, the chubby young woman Pang Feiyan, stood up and said, “So far, we’ve raised a total of 17.6 billion Hong Kong dollars. Of that, 15.8 billion has already been deposited, and the remaining 1.8 billion is expected to be deposited by 2:00 p.m.!”

Li Yi nodded, then asked again, “So how much is currently in the company’s accounts?”

The CFO, Zhao Xinlan, replied immediately, “Boss, excluding the 17.6 billion Hong Kong dollars raised today, we currently have over 18.24 billion Hong Kong dollars in the company’s accounts!”

“In addition, we have a large deposit of 1.2 billion at Citibank. The deposit matures on August 10, but we can redeem it early if we’re willing to forfeit some interest. However, this does not include the funds in your and Mr. Huang’s personal accounts!”

Li Yi paused to think for a moment, then said, “Manager Zhao, immediately transfer all the funds from my personal account into the company account under the guise of an investment!”

“Yes, sir!”

Li Yi then turned to Huang Lixing beside him and said, “Old Huang, you can discuss with Manager Zhao later how much you plan to invest!”

“I have about 3.6 billion in my account. I’ll keep 600 million for emergencies and invest the remaining 3 billion in the company!” Huang Lixing replied.

“Good. With that, our company’s on-balance-sheet funds will reach nearly 60 billion Hong Kong dollars. I’ll just have to see what those foreigners have to offer to compete with us!” Li Yi’s lips curled slightly upward as he spoke with an air of dominance.

The dozen or so senior and deputy managers in the conference room, upon hearing this, were left completely dumbfounded.

They never would have imagined that just three months ago, the company had distributed the vast majority of its profits to shareholders and investors, yet in the blink of an eye, there was now a massive 60 billion in the bank.

Keep in mind that the total trading volume of the entire Hong Kong stock market is currently less than 5 trillion, and the market capitalization is even smaller, at only around 180 billion.

For the company to enter the market with funds amounting to one-third of the total market capitalization—if this news got out, not just any single company, but even a dozen major corporations combined wouldn’t be able to withstand such a shock!

However, Li Yi paid no heed to what others might think and continued, “Manager Lan, Feiyan, and Banbanhaobang, immediately assemble a team of 12 elite traders. This afternoon, you’ll accompany me to the securities exchange for a look around!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Alright, let’s wrap up today’s meeting for now. Xinlan and Yunbao, come to my office. Everyone else, you may go!”

With that order given, Zhao Xinlan and Li Yunbao followed Li Yi to his office, while the rest of the group dispersed.

Upon returning to his spacious, luxurious office, Li Yi immediately pointed to the chair across from his desk and said, “Sit down!”

Once Zhao Xinlan and Li Yunbao had taken their seats, Li Yi asked, “Manager Zhao, how’s the matter I asked you to handle a while back coming along?”

“Boss, as you requested, all of the company’s funds and all funds in your personal accounts have been converted into British pounds and transferred via secret channels to Far East Securities’ account in London!” Zhao Xinlan replied.

“Very good. Aside from setting aside 10 billion for emergencies, convert the rest of the funds raised today into pounds and transfer them to that account as well!” Li Yi instructed again.

“Yes, sir!”

“When do you expect this to be completed?”

“It will take two days!”

“Alright, go ahead and take care of it!”

“Yes!”

After Zhao Xinlan left, Li Yi turned to Li Yunbao and asked, “Is everything ready on your father’s end?”

“It’s all set. Tomorrow, Far East Securities’ top trading team will depart for London. I’ll be going with them and will follow your remote instructions!” Li Yunbao replied.

“Alright, set off as soon as you’re ready. We don’t have much time left!” Li Yi said.

“Yes, so when are you heading over, Brother Yi?” Li Yunbao asked.

“You guys go ahead first. I’ll stay here for now to keep those foreigners in check. I’ll head over when necessary, and I’ll let you know before I leave!” Li Yi said.

“Yes…”

And just as Li Yi and Li Yunbao were talking, the entire Hong Kong financial and investment sectors were in an uproar. A rumor involving 60 billion dollars quickly spread throughout all the major listed companies on Hong Kong Island…

……….

Hong Kong. Cloudtop No. 1!

By the time all the guests had left, it was already past ten o’clock at night.

Zhang Ziqiang was about to help the tipsy Li Yi up to his room to rest.

But as they entered the bedroom, Li Yi whispered a few words in his ear before flopping onto the soft, large bed and immediately falling into a deep sleep.

After coming back downstairs, Zhang Ziqiang immediately summoned Zhou Wen, Yang Zhiwen, Xiao Wu, and the others.

Under Zhang Ziqiang’s direction, the group began a thorough search of every nook and cranny of the villa, starting from the first floor…

Soon, Xiao Wu made a discovery: he found a familiar device—a bugging device—under the sofa.

Clearly, someone had secretly planted this device while Cloud Peak No. 1 was unoccupied.

As for the purpose? Naturally, it was to keep tabs on Li Yi’s every move.

As the saying goes, “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles”—clearly, the other side was well aware of this principle.

Unfortunately for them, they had underestimated Li Yi—and the National Security Special Forces agents by his side.

The next morning!

When Li Yi woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

He glanced at his watch and saw it was already 9:30 a.m. Clearly, he’d had a bit too much to drink the night before.

Fortunately, he’d only had red wine the night before, and Li Yi had some tolerance for it, so he hadn’t completely blacked out.

After taking a shower in the bathroom and changing into some relatively casual clothes, Li Yi headed downstairs.

As soon as he reached the first floor, he saw that Huang Lixing and Tie Ying had arrived at some point and were chatting with Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the others.

Hearing footsteps, the group stopped immediately, and everyone’s eyes turned toward the staircase.

When they saw it was Li Yi coming down, Huang Lixing and the others all stood up.

“Old Huang, when did you get here? Did you get tired of waiting?”

“Not bad—I’ve only been here less than half an hour. Brother Zhang told me you weren’t up yet, so I just sat in the living room for a bit!” Huang Lixing said with a smile.

Li Yi nodded, then turned to Zhang Ziqiang and the others. “Daqiang, Wen, from now on, whenever Old Huang arrives, you must let me know immediately—even if I’m resting, you have to wake me up!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Huang Lixing hurriedly interjected, “Brother Zhang was just about to go up and wake you up, but I stopped him. You were rushing to catch a flight and then taking the ferry yesterday, and you drank quite a bit last night—it’s better for you to get some more rest!”

Li Yi nodded and replied, “I’m fine now. I’ve recovered.”

Compared to the relentless nagging from his own wife, this was nothing.

“That’s good. I came over today mainly to talk to you about the company’s situation…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi raised his hand to cut Huang Lixing off and turned to Zhang Ziqiang instead. “Did you find anything last night?”

Zhang Ziqiang replied immediately, “Yes. After a thorough search, we found a total of 17 listening devices in the villa!”

“Seventeen? That many?” Li Yi said, slightly surprised.

Although he had anticipated that someone would tamper with the villa, he hadn’t expected them to be so brazen—installing 17 listening devices in his home all at once. That was quite the operation!

Zhang Ziqiang nodded and said, “That’s right. These listening devices were all installed in key locations—like the conference room, the reception area, and even the bathrooms…”

Before he could finish, Huang Lixing frowned and said, “Brother Li Yi, from what you’re saying, someone installed listening devices in your home?”

“That’s right. We’ve found 17 so far!” Li Yi replied.

“It’s definitely those damn foreigners. What a bunch of bastards…”

Seeing Old Huang’s furious expression, Li Yi smiled and said, “Old Huang, calm down. These are just some underhanded, low-life tactics—no need to get angry!”

“How can I not be angry? They actually went so far as to install listening devices in your home, Brother Li Yi. That’s just too underhanded. Thank goodness you caught them; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!” Huang Lixing said.

“The business world is like a battlefield. While some tactics may be underhanded, they can be quite effective at times—provided, of course, that the other side doesn’t catch on. Otherwise, they’re useless!”

Li Yi then looked at Zhang Ziqiang and asked, “Have all those bugs been removed?”

“They’re gone, but…”

“But what?”

“But to avoid disturbing your rest, Brother Yi, we haven’t searched your bedroom yet. It’s such a crucial spot—the enemy surely wouldn’t have left it unmonitored!” Zhang Ziqiang replied.

“Go up and search it. As soon as you find any bugging devices, remove them immediately. Then conduct a thorough sweep of the entire villa—there must be absolutely no oversights!” Li Yi ordered in a stern voice.

“Yes, sir!”

With that, Zhang Ziqiang led Xiao Wu upstairs to conduct the search.

Just as Zhang Ziqiang and the others reached the top of the stairs, Huang Lixing’s expression suddenly darkened as he asked, “Brother, is it time to start inspecting the villa?”

“After the banquet last night, I suppose. What’s the matter?” Li Yi asked.

Huang Lixing frowned deeply and said, “That means the bugs in the conference room were still active while we were meeting. Doesn’t that mean those bastards know everything we discussed yesterday? This…”

Li Yi replied calmly, “Calm down… calm down. Actually, I anticipated this situation even before I returned. Given the way those Anglo-Saxons operate, they would definitely have made a move while I was away. Bugs and such are minor issues—they might even have planted a bomb in my house!”

“But… then why didn’t you check the place as soon as you got back? Instead, you took Old Li and the others straight to the conference room. Aren’t you afraid they might actually plant a bomb in your house or something?” Huang Lixing asked, puzzled.

“If I hadn’t seen you and your wife, I definitely wouldn’t have come in so easily. But since you two arrived early and even cleaned the entire villa, I knew those people wouldn’t dare kill me just yet—at most, they’d plant a bug or something!”

Li Yi continued, “So I gave them a chance—otherwise, they wouldn’t have had any sense of accomplishment at all!”

Huang Lixing couldn’t help but gasp. He never imagined that coming over early yesterday to clean up would be so dangerous.

If there really had been a bomb in this room, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

After a long moment, Huang Lixing said, still shaken, “So when you took Old Li and the others to the conference room for the meeting, you did it on purpose so they could eavesdrop on us?”

Li Yi nodded. “Exactly. If I hadn’t done that, how would those foreigners have known I was planning to take them down? How else would I have created that tense atmosphere?”

“But… is that really the right approach? Shouldn’t we have acted quietly and caught them off guard?” Huang Lixing asked, looking slightly puzzled.

“Normally, that’s not a good idea, but if it’s just to buy some time, there’s nothing wrong with it!” Li Yi said coldly.

“Buy time?”

“Right. I did come to Hong Kong this time to deal with these Westerners, but they aren’t my primary target. To prevent these bastards from coming out to cause trouble, I have to muddy the waters. That’s what they call ‘feigning weakness to conceal strength, and feigning strength to conceal weakness’—making it impossible for the enemy to tell what’s real and what’s fake!” Li Yi said.

Huang Lixing immediately asked, “So, Brother Li Yi, what’s your next move…? Never mind, I won’t ask. Just tell me what to do—Old Huang will follow your orders…”

Just as he spoke, hurried footsteps sounded again from upstairs.

Immediately afterward, Zhang Ziqiang and Xiao Wu came down the stairs, carrying several small black devices in their hands.

“Brother Yi, there were three bugs in your bedroom—one behind the headboard, one in the false compartment of the nightstand, and one inside the bathroom light fixture. We’ve taken them all out!” Zhang Ziqiang reported.

“Good. In a moment, go check the entire villa inside and out. Don’t just look for listening devices—check for any timed bombs or other dangerous items as well!” Li Yi ordered.

“Yes, sir!”

Li Yi then turned to Huang Lixing and said, “Old Huang, call in a security team from Shield Corporation. Have them provide me with protection!”

“Got it!”

“Oh, right. You mentioned earlier that you wanted to talk to me about company matters. Now’s the time,” Li Yi said.

“Alright…”

………..

Suburbs. The Castle Estate!

In the slightly dim living room, two or three dozen key members of the British-owned conglomerate had gathered.

Most of them were fair-haired, blue-eyed foreigners, but a significant number had local features.

If you looked closely, you’d recognize many of them as regulars on TV and in the newspapers—figures of considerable influence in the local business world.

However, whether they were the imposing foreigners or the meek locals, none of them looked particularly cheerful at the moment.

Almost everyone had furrowed brows, and when they spoke to one another, their voices were mostly low, their tones tinged with worry.

The conversation among a few of them was particularly telling, giving off a distinct “cry wolf” vibe:

“I heard that young man from the mainland is back again. I wonder if it’s true?”

“It must be true. My third aunt’s second cousin’s brother-in-law… he’s a reporter for the Oriental Daily. He saw that young man walk out of the port with his own eyes—there’s no way he’d be wrong!”

“If that’s true, we’re in big trouble. That young man is truly terrifying!”

“You’re absolutely right. Don’t you think Li Futiao and He Dongying went across the strait this time not for investment talks at all, but just to bring Li Yi back to take charge?”

“It’s possible. I’ve been saying we shouldn’t keep targeting those Chinese merchants. Look what’s happened now—trouble’s come our way…”

Just as the crowd was whispering and speculating, the sound of heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from upstairs.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the staircase and soon saw three people—two elders and a young man—coming down the stairs. To their surprise, it was Alliance leader Dolsen and the two elders sent by the Sassoon family to assist him.

Upon seeing the trio, everyone in the living room rose to their feet and, mimicking the manners of medieval European nobility, bowed to Dolsen.

Dorson thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of being the center of attention. He cleared his throat and said, “Please, everyone, have a seat!”

No sooner had they sat down than someone spoke up: “Mr. Dolsen, there was a rumor just now that Li Yi from Star Investment has returned. I wonder if it’s true?”

At these words, a look of concern and fear flashed across the faces of everyone present.

At the same time, nearly everyone’s gaze fixed on Dolsen’s face, waiting for his response.

Although he was deeply dissatisfied with the expressions on the members’ faces—each of them looking as if they’d seen a ghost—he wondered, “Who are they putting on a show for?”

But Dolsen also knew that Li Yi was an extremely difficult man to deal with. Even the heir his family had carefully groomed had suffered a major setback at that man’s hands, and the people before him had been left with psychological trauma by him. It was understandable that they feared him so much.

Therefore, he forced himself to suppress his unease and said, “The news is true. That bastard has indeed returned!”

“And as soon as he got back, he summoned all the members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the villa for a meeting. It looks like he’s planning something big!”

“Whoa!”

A few gasps could be heard faintly throughout the living room, followed immediately by murmurs of discussion:

“Calling a meeting the moment he gets back—he doesn’t want to waste a single minute. I wonder if their target this time is our British Capital Group?”

“I’d say there’s an eighty percent chance it is. After all, we’ve been relentlessly cracking down on the Chinese-owned group lately—they couldn’t possibly have no reaction at all!”

“What were Mr. Dalson and the Sir thinking? We should all just mind our own business and make our own money. Insisting on picking a fight with that guy—isn’t that just putting us all in the line of fire?”

“You’re absolutely right. We’ve got to be extra careful this time—last year’s lesson is still fresh in our minds…”

……..

Listening to the constant “buzzing” in his ears—as if hundreds of little bees were flitting around him—Dawson couldn’t help but feel a bit impatient.

But after all, he was an elite raised by a prominent family, and he was a master of restraint.

He cleared his throat and said in a calm, measured tone, “Everyone, please be quiet!”

His naturally authoritative voice instantly silenced the clamour in the living room.

Dawson then added, “There’s no need for any of you to worry. We’ll soon find out why those Chinese merchants have gathered. I also want to assure you all that as long as we work together and continue to trust the Alliance as we always have, we will safeguard your interests around the world!”

Despite Dolsons assurances, some remained uneasy—especially the merchants of Chinese descent, who were far from convinced by his promises.

After all, Li Yi was a truly formidable figure; even on his own, he could keep the entire Alliance in check.

Now, with the addition of the Li, He, Luo, and Bao families—a group of Chinese tycoons—all looking to him for leadership, their combined strength was already on par with that of their entire British-funded group.

What’s more, they were far more united than their own group. If the Chinese-funded consortium set its sights on them, this situation would be very difficult to resolve.

At that moment, a senior executive from Standard Chartered Bank suddenly spoke up: “Mr. Dolsen, based on past experience, barring any surprises, Li Yi’s visit to Hong Kong this time is undoubtedly aimed at our alliance. We must take this seriously to avoid being caught off guard.”

Dawson replied calmly, “There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘When the enemy comes, we’ll meet them head-on; when water comes, we’ll block it with earth.’ As long as we’re fully prepared to fight, we have nothing to fear from any provocation or attack!”

“Then may I ask, Mr. Dolsen, what exactly do you mean by ‘preparing for battle’?”

Dawson continued, “I’ve been studying that guy’s past moves in detail. I’ve noticed that he always gives very clear warning signs before he strikes—he never attacks out of the blue!”

“Furthermore, whenever that guy makes a move, he commits all his resources—like a gambler—striking with lightning speed and leaving almost no room for retreat. I’ve seen plenty of investors like that; they might win a hundred times, but a single loss could bring them down for good.”

“So, we can definitely prepare for these traits of his. First, we must pool a sum of funds to respond to any situation that might arise at any time. At the same time, all financial institutions on Hong Kong Island must join forces…”

Just as he was speaking, a white girl who bore a slight resemblance to Dolsen hurried down the stairs and walked briskly over to Dolsen, whispering in his ear for quite a while!

After the young woman finished speaking, a smug smile spread across Dolsen’s face, and he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve just received word. Just as we all anticipated, those dirty bastards have indeed gathered together to take us on!”

“Tomorrow, under the guise of investment, they will funnel massive sums of money into Star Investment Company, to be centrally managed by that maggot from across the strait. So starting now, we must keep a close eye on Star Investment Company while raising funds to prepare for any potential crisis!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone shouted, “Mr. Dolsen, is this information accurate?”

“The information comes from their inner circle. Although we don’t yet know what that maggot’s attack plan is, their target is us—there’s no doubt about it!” Dolsen said in a low, solemn voice.

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the living room instantly grew tense.

Last year, Li Yi had made several moves: the first time, he swallowed up Longheng Bank right from under their noses; the second time, he took over the Wharf Terminals. Each time, their companies suffered devastating blows.

Although they didn’t know what Li Yi’s target was this time, the uncertainty only made these people even more anxious and fearful for their own safety.

“Mr. Dowson, how much capital do you plan to raise for this emergency?”

“10 billion Hong Kong dollars!”

Whoa…

Hearing that figure, everyone couldn’t help but gasp.

They had only just managed to survive thanks to the Sassoon family’s low-interest loan, and now they were being asked to raise such a massive sum—it felt like they were caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Rest assured, everyone. Our family will contribute 3 billion of that 10 billion; the remaining 7 billion is up to you all!” Dolsen said calmly.

Hearing this, the crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began to voice their support: “HSBC is willing to contribute 1 billion!”

“We at Hang Seng Bank are willing to contribute 500 million!”

“We at the Chiang Corporation are willing to contribute 500 million!”

“We…”

For a moment, the key members in the living room eagerly stepped forward to pledge their contributions, and the previously oppressive atmosphere began to lift slightly!

Unfortunately, what they didn’t know was that Li Yi hadn’t considered them opponents at all…

……..

Tai Ping Shan. Cloud Peak No. 1!

Although he hadn’t stayed there for several months, the large villa at Cloudtop No. 1 was still spotless.

This was because, upon learning that Li Yi was returning today, Huang Lixing had instructed his wife, Chen Chuhong, to immediately bring a team over to thoroughly clean the villa inside and out.

As soon as Li Yi and his group returned to the villa, they saw Huang Lixing, Tie Ying, and the others standing at the entrance waiting to greet them.

After a brief exchange of greetings, the group made their way into the villa’s grand hall.

Knowing that quite a few people would be coming over tonight, Li Yi immediately explained the situation to Huang Lixing and asked him to contact the restaurant to have some banquet supplies delivered.

They say even an emperor can’t do without his soldiers—surely he couldn’t let these business tycoons go hungry on his watch!

While Li Yi was making these arrangements, Li Futao used the phone at Cloud Peak No. 1 to call over a dozen other members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, notifying them of the evening gathering.

Upon learning that Li Yi had returned from the mainland and was summoning them for a meeting, the others didn’t dare to delay. They all put aside their current tasks and rushed to Cloudtop No. 1.

Suddenly, traffic on Tai Ping Shan—which had previously been relatively light—surged.

In some places, traffic has even come to a standstill!

With no other choice, the police station had to temporarily redeploy officers to this area to direct traffic and maintain order.

At 5:30 p.m., the sky was growing dark!

Once the last member arrived, Li Yi immediately invited all thirty-plus people to the large conference room on the third floor.

Once everyone was seated, Li Yi—as both the villa’s host and the meeting’s convener—took the initiative and spoke first: “First of all, welcome everyone to my home. Please forgive any shortcomings in my hospitality!”

“Of course, I know you’re not here just for those few bottles of Moutai I brought back from across the strait, so let’s get straight to the point!”

Hearing this, the members of the Banbanhaobang exchanged knowing smiles while instinctively sitting up straight and perking up.

Especially Li Futiao and the others—they all knew Li Yi had returned with a murderous intent, and now was the moment to truly draw their swords.

Although the others didn’t know exactly what Li Yi intended to do, seeing the expressions on Li Futiao and He Dongying’s faces, they knew this was no trivial matter and instinctively grew serious as well.

Li Yi cleared his throat and continued, “I’ve heard those foreign devils are running amok, thinking they’re back on top. But I’ve also heard that although all of you here have been affected, you’ve never betrayed the Chamber of Commerce. I’m very happy and deeply relieved!”

“However, I’m not pleased simply because you’ve held the line and kept our original agreement; I’m pleased because you’ve made the right choice. I’ve gathered you all here today for one purpose only: to lead you in confronting those foreigners, and to help you make money!”

“A buzz of murmurs filled the room.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd immediately began whispering and discussing among themselves.

Yet among the murmurs of over thirty people, not a single voice raised a doubt; almost everyone’s expression was one of excitement, delight, and eagerness to get started.

Last year, in less than eight months, Li Yi, along with Huang Lixing, Li Futiao, and others, had struck four times in Hong Kong and the U.S., not only effortlessly swallowing over 20 billion Hong Kong dollars from British-owned conglomerates but also raking in over 5 billion U.S. dollars in a single blow on the U.S. futures market.

Such a track record was simply too brilliant to be questioned by anyone.

Unfortunately, Li Yi had operated in strict secrecy before his previous moves, never publicly raising funds. Consequently, aside from those who had invested in Star Investment Company in advance, no one else had the opportunity to participate in his operations.

Now that Li Yi was openly offering to help them make money, it was like manna from heaven for them, and they were all overjoyed.

At that moment, Huang Lixing stood up and said, “Brother Li Yi, taking me—Old Huang—along to make money is a great honor. I’ll do whatever it takes. Just tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll get right on it!”

Li Futao chimed in, “Old Huang is right. Whatever you need us to do, as long as we can manage it, we certainly won’t turn it down!”

“That’s right. Mr. Li has given his instructions—please issue your orders…”

Li Yi immediately raised both hands in a gesture to quiet the room.

He then looked around the room and continued, “Regarding this investment project, what I can tell you is that the investment period is three months, with a minimum return of 50%—and the sky’s the limit!”

“Due to confidentiality, I won’t disclose any further details. Anyone wishing to participate should start raising funds today. All capital must be delivered to Star Investment Company by noon tomorrow, and formal investment contracts must be signed!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Futiao asked, “Brother Li Yi, is there a minimum investment requirement for this operation?”

“No. You can invest 100,000 or 80,000, or even 1 billion or 800 million—but this is limited to everyone here. We will not accept funds from anyone else!” Li Yi replied.

“Mr. Chairman, we’re familiar with your rules. Once the operation is over, will we also receive half of the profits?”

Li Yi smiled and said, “This is our first collective venture since the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was established. To demonstrate my sincerity, after this investment concludes, I will take only 40% of the profits, and the remaining 60% will go to everyone here!”

Hearing this, the crowd in the conference room grew even more excited—that was a full 10% of the profits.

According to information previously disclosed by the Li and He families, the profit from this single operation was a whopping tens of millions.

The fact that Li Yi was willing to give up such a significant share of the profits clearly demonstrated his sincerity.

In an instant, everyone spoke up in support of Li Yi’s initiative:

“Brother Li Yi, you’re a man of great principle. Rest assured, the funds will be in place first thing tomorrow morning!”

“Mr. Li, the He family fully supports your initiative. We’ll have 1 billion yuan ready to be transferred tomorrow!”

“Count the Luo family in…”

Listening to everyone’s enthusiastic expressions of support for this operation, Li Yi nodded with satisfaction.

He then motioned for everyone to quiet down and said, “As I’ve said, this operation isn’t just about making money for all of you—more importantly, it’s about slapping those foreign bastards in the face. We’ll show them that even without partnering with their British-funded conglomerates, we Chinese businesspeople can still make money—and make a fortune at that.”

“So, from now on, if that bastard threatens you—saying he won’t work with us unless you join them—just tell him two words: ‘Get lost!’”

“And today, I’m announcing another rule: anyone who betrays the Chinese Merchants’ Association will no longer be a business partner of our Star Investment Company. If possible, I suggest our association adopt a similar rule: one betrayal, and you’re barred from membership for life!”

No sooner had Li Yi finished speaking than Li Futiao chimed in, “I think that’s a great rule—one act of disloyalty, and you’re out for life!”

“I agree as well. Since they’ve already betrayed us, they shouldn’t even think about coming back!” He Dongying added.

“Exactly, we need rules like this; otherwise, there’s no deterrent at all!” said Bao Chuanwang.

“I’m in favor of it too…”

“I agree…”

Seeing that most members supported the rule, Li Futiao, the president, immediately declared, “Since no one has any objections, this rule is officially incorporated into the bylaws of our Chinese Chamber of Commerce. From now on, whoever dares to violate it will be dealt with according to the rules!”

“Good!”

the crowd exclaimed in unison!

Just then, Zhang Ziqiang quietly pushed open the door and whispered a few words into Li Yi’s ear.

Li Yi immediately stood up and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the dinner is ready. Please join us in the banquet hall on the first floor!”

“Mr. Li just mentioned he brought some Moutai from the mainland. We’ve got to give it a proper taste tonight—Vice President Li, you can’t be stingy!”

“I hear Moutai is a favorite among many leaders on the mainland. The distillery produces special batches just for them—I wonder if this is one of those special-supply Moutais!”

“Given Mr. Li’s status and standing over there, this liquor is bound to be top-notch. We’re in for a real treat tonight…”

Listening to these business tycoons chattering away, Li Yi knew the tables he’d brought along were as good as gone.

However, just as Li Yi and his group were clinking glasses at Cloud Peak No. 1, a completely different atmosphere prevailed at the ancient castle estate on the outskirts of the city…

……..

March 20th, the 25th day of the second lunar month—an auspicious day for travel!

Early in the morning, Jiang Xue got up and began bustling about in the kitchen.

By the time Li Yi woke up, she had already prepared breakfast.

In addition to stewed lamb and simmered chicken soup, there were also steaming hot dumplings.

She had “prepped” the ingredients for the lamb and chicken soup the day before. After waking up at 5:00 a.m., Jiang Xue had placed the two pots on the stove and the fire pit, respectively.

By the time she woke up again at seven o’clock, the lamb and chicken soup were ready.

The dumplings had also been made the night before; the entire Li family had spent several hours wrapping them, all to prepare this morning’s meal for Li Yi, Zhang Ziqiang, and the others.

They say, “Dumplings before departure, noodles upon return”—with a loved one about to set off on a long journey, this meal had to be just right.

Perhaps sensing that Li Yi was leaving today, Yun Rui and Yun Jin clung to him the moment they woke up, refusing to be held by anyone but him.

To avoid disrupting Li Yi’s plans, Jiang Xue had no choice but to call the old family home and ask her mother to cover for her at work.

At 9:30, just as Li Yi was spending time with his wife and children inside, Zhou Rui arrived at the Li residence.

Knowing it was time to go, Li Yi bid a reluctant farewell to his wife and children and left home in high spirits.

That’s right—the moment he stepped out the door, although Li Yi felt a touch of reluctance, his heart was filled mostly with joy.

Three whole days—who knows how he managed to get through them!

They say there are only oxen that die from exhaustion, but no fields that get plowed to ruin.

When a woman goes wild, even the strongest man can’t handle her.

Now Li Yi knew this all too well—in short, he was genuinely a bit scared.

Watching Li Yi, clutching his waist and holding a cup of water infused with goji berries, flee as if escaping, a hint of triumphant mischief flashed in Jiang Xue’s eyes.

Although her mother had told her not to be a stumbling block for her husband, her own man was simply too outstanding—how could Jiang Xue not worry?

Besides, Sister Ah Hong had told her that Hong Kong was a place of neon lights and nightlife, and the one thing it had in abundance was beautiful women.

Even if her husband remained chaste and avoided flirting, those alluring women would inevitably throw themselves at him, and one slip-up could lead to his downfall.

So she had to make him understand that a man’s energy was, after all, limited—one field was enough for him to till; he shouldn’t be greedy!

Of course, Jiang Xue wasn’t doing this just to warn Li Yi; she was also making a concerted effort to try and conceive a second child.

Although Li Yi claimed that even if the government enforced family planning policies, he’d find a way for her to safely have a second—or even a third—child.

But Jiang Xue knew that defying national policy would certainly come at a cost.

Anyway, her body had recovered, and now with her older sister, Juanzi, Zhang Feng, Yang Miao, and others around to help her, she’d be able to manage another pregnancy.

With that thought, she instinctively placed her hand on her belly.

She hoped she’d be more fortunate this time and would definitely get pregnant.

At the same time, Jiang Xue made up her mind: if she didn’t get pregnant this time, she would make sure her husband, once he returned home, enjoyed a life of revelry and debauchery—a life where a king never attends court.

Outside the front gate, Li Yi, who was just about to get into the car, suddenly shuddered for no apparent reason.

Immediately afterward, his nose began to itch, and he sneezed several times into the air…

……..

Guangzhou Airport!

The atmosphere in Yangcheng today felt somewhat unusual. Early in the morning, large numbers of police officers had already taken to the streets to patrol, and traffic police were directing traffic at every intersection.

Traffic was even restricted on the highway leading from the port to the airport.

At 3:00 p.m., as an Ilyushin Il-76 passenger plane slowly touched down at the airport, staff who had been waiting there sprang into action.

Soon, a dozen or so government reception vehicles, led by a police car, sped into the airport.

Once Li Yi, Li Futiao, He Dongying, and the others disembarked from the plane, they boarded the vehicles without even leaving the terminal.

Once everyone was on board, the motorcade, with the police car leading the way, headed straight for Lotus Pier!

In fact, all of this had been arranged by Zhou Rui. Upon learning that Li Yi was heading to Hong Kong Island on official business again, higher-ups had ordered Zhou Rui and his team to provide full cooperation to Li Yi.

From the flight from Beijing to Guangzhou to the route from Guangzhou back to Hong Kong Island, Zhou Rui personally mapped out the entire itinerary and made arrangements along the way.

Although it was a bit of a hassle, the results were excellent.

Not only had they fulfilled the mission assigned by their superiors, but they had also allowed these Hong Kong businessmen to experience the local government’s hospitality and sincerity—killing two birds with one stone.

Only after watching Li Yi and his party board the ferry to Hong Kong Island did Zhou Rui finally let out a sigh of relief.

At the same time, his gaze toward Li Yi was filled with anticipation.

In less than a year, this young man had single-handedly brought back over a billion US dollars in foreign exchange for the country. What kind of miracle would he create this year?

As for Li Yi and his group, after a forty-minute voyage, the ferry finally arrived at Victoria Harbour just before 5:00 p.m.!

Since it was already March and not typhoon season, the ride was smooth, and Li Yi, unusually, didn’t get seasick.

Once the ferry docked, the group disembarked under the protection of their bodyguards.

However, the moment they stepped out of the terminal, they were startled by the massive crowd waiting outside.

Goodness gracious, the area outside the terminal was swarming with reporters from all the major media outlets, as well as bodyguards and motorcades from various prominent families.

The fact that Li Futao and his group were heading to the mainland for investment negotiations was no secret on Hong Kong Island.

For one thing, they had already organized a fact-finding mission there back in January.

Moreover, upon their return, nearly everyone had publicly stated that the investment environment there was quite favorable and that they intended to invest and build factories there.

So, this trip had been foreshadowed for some time.

On the other hand, on the mainland, there had been extensive publicity regarding Li Futao and his group’s investment plans across the strait. No matter how slow the media on Hong Kong Island was to react, it was impossible for them to be completely unaware of the rumors.

And this afternoon, someone noticed that the motorcades of the Li, Ho, Lo, and Pao families were all heading to the pier at the same time, and it didn’t take long for people to guess that Li Futao and his group were returning.

Given that Li Futao and his group had returned after staying on the mainland for only four days, many were buzzing with speculation. Some claimed that the reports in the mainland media were false and that no agreement had actually been signed between the two sides.

Others claimed that these Chinese businessmen had merely played along with the other side in a charade: the fact-finding mission was real, the negotiations were real, and the reports were real—but the investment was the only thing that wasn’t.

To put it bluntly, Li Futiao and his group were simply stooges for the government across the strait!

Others argued that the mainland’s state-run media still held significant authority, unlike the TV stations and newspapers here, which would broadcast any story—true or false—as long as they were paid.

So, they believe these Chinese businessmen are indeed planning to invest there.

With rumors flying in all directions, it was impossible to tell what was true and what was false; people could only wait for the parties involved to come forward and clarify the situation.

Consequently, upon hearing that Li Futiao and his group were returning to Hong Kong, a large number of reporters flocked to the pier, hoping for a chance to interview these prominent Chinese business tycoons.

However, at this point, neither Li Futao, nor He Dongying, nor “Ship King” Bao, nor anyone else had any intention of giving interviews—nor were they in the mood for it.

While in Beijing, Li Yi had made it clear to them that his return was intended to take a stand against the British-funded conglomerates, but he had revealed nothing about his specific plans or how he intended to do so.

So, the moment they returned to Hong Kong Island, everyone was eager to know what Li Yi’s next move would be.

Li Yi, however, made no secret of his intentions. The moment the ship docked, he immediately instructed Li Futao to summon all full members of the Chinese Business Group to gather at Cloud Top No. 1 that evening—he wanted to have a chat with everyone.

Upon receiving the news, the Chinese businessmen on board were in no hurry to return.

After disembarking, the group got straight into their own cars and set off in a grand procession toward Li Yi’s Cloud Peak No. 1!

It was late at night, and all was quiet!

On the large heated bed in the main room, the two of them, having just shared a passionate moment, lay nestled together, savoring the afterglow of their encounter.

After a moment, Li Yi suddenly said, “Xiao Xue, there’s something I want to tell you!”

“Go ahead, what’s the bad news?” Jiang Xue asked.

Li Yi frowned. “How do you know it has to be bad news?”

“Hehe, you took the initiative to cook today, picked me up from school, and were so proactive tonight—that’s very out of character for you!”

Jiang Xue continued, “As the old saying goes, ‘Unwarranted kindness is suspicious.’ You know the rest—I don’t need to spell it out, do I?”

Li Yi immediately laughed and said, “Is it that obvious?”

“You tell me. What’s going on? Spit it out!”

“I have to go to Hong Kong. I’m leaving in three days!” Li Yi said.

“Is that all? I thought it was something major!”

“I did promise to spend as much time as possible with you and the kids, but plans never keep up with changes. Something’s come up over there, and I need to go check it out!” Li Yi explained.

“If there’s a problem, just go. Although I’d love to have you by my side and the kids’ all the time, I wouldn’t want to hold you back from your work!” Jiang Xue said.

“Huh, that’s quite different from how you used to feel!” Li Yi said, somewhat surprised.

This girl used to be so dependent on him. Could it really be true, as people say, that a woman’s love shifts after she has a child?

Jiang Xue smiled, tracing circles on Li Yi’s chest with her finger as she said, “I used to be so anxious and couldn’t let go. But my mother told me that men are like ‘kites’—if they want to fly high, they have to be willing to let out the string, and women are the ones holding the string.”

“You’re a man destined for great things. Your life and your world shouldn’t revolve solely around me and the child. You deserve a bigger stage—you should dance with the wind, soar to the heavens, and look down upon all creation. As the woman holding the string, I can’t be a stumbling block in your path!”

Li Yi felt a slight tinge of emotion; his mother-in-law was truly someone he could get along with.

Of course, what moved him even more was his wife’s understanding and reasonableness.

“Silly girl, how could you ever be a stumbling block to me? You and the kids are the greatest motivation in my life and the most important thing on my mind. No matter how high or far I fly, or how beautiful the scenery I see, as long as you give the string a tug, I’ll come back. I promise!”

“Mm-hmm, I believe you!”

Then Jiang Xue said with a hint of regret, “Too bad Third Brother is going to be disappointed. He was actually planning to have you say a few words at the baby’s full-moon celebration. What a shame!”

Li Yi immediately replied, “There’s nothing we can do about it. Things over there are getting a bit tricky; I have to go!”

“Well… when will you be back?”

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, “The earliest would be mid-June!”

“Oh my, so you’ll be gone for over three months this time?”

“More or less!”

“Then why bother coming back? By that time, Juanzi and I will both be on vacation. We’ll just come find you there.”

Then Jiang Xue added, “Last time we were only there for six or seven days. We didn’t get to see all the fun places Sister Ah Hong mentioned.”

“Sounds great. I’ll make sure to show you around properly when you get there. If I have time, I can even take you to Zaiying across the ocean to experience the local culture and customs!” Li Yi said.

“Oh my, going abroad? Do we need to prepare anything in advance?”

“No need to rush that. We can just have Director Zhou and the others handle it on the spot when the time comes!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Okay…”

Li Yi was just about to discuss business matters here with Jiang Xue. After all, she had a background in accounting, and since the rules applied domestically differed from international standards, Li Yi planned to have her intern at the company whenever she had time.

However, before he could even speak, Li Yi sensed something was off.

Li Yi knew this girl wouldn’t let up until she’d wrung every last drop out of him today. Fortunately, he’d spent several days in Lin’an recharging his batteries.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he mounted his steed!

The battle raged once more…

…………

In the blink of an eye, three days had flown by!

Over the past three days, Li Yi hadn’t paid any attention to the negotiations taking place over there.

On one hand, he didn’t want to get involved—after all, negotiations often touch on both sides’ core interests, and meddling would only spoil the fun.

Li Yi didn’t want Li Futiao and his group to take advantage of the state, nor did he want those Hong Kong businessmen to give up their own interests because of him.

Just as he had simply stayed out of it when Starry Sky Corporation negotiated with the government back then, he chose not to get involved this time either.

Isn’t it better to just quietly be a handsome guy… no, a spectator?

Of course, another reason Li Yi stayed out of it was that he was truly powerless to do anything.

Yes, exactly as the word implies: power…less!

Whether it was because he’d been away for months or because she was fixated on not being able to conceive their second child, his young wife had been going all out these past few days, finding new ways to wear him down every single day.

Even though his older sister had been feeding him all sorts of nourishing soups every day, he’d still wake up the next morning feeling unsteady on his feet, with a sore back and aching muscles.

So these past few days, Li Yi has been busy drinking soups and goji berry tea and taking care of the kids—he hasn’t had the energy to worry about anything else!

On the afternoon of March 19, Li Yi received two consecutive calls from Li Futiao and Zhou Rui, both regarding the investment negotiations between the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Beijing municipal government.

One side was eager to attract foreign investment, while the other had investment needs and was eager to reach an agreement, so the negotiations progressed at lightning speed.

In less than three days, both sides reached a conclusion.

Of course, this was also thanks to the precedent set by Star Investment Company, so both sides had a fairly clear idea of what to expect from each other’s terms.

After three rounds of negotiations, the Beijing municipal government signed investment agreements with 17 families or companies.

Under these agreements, these Chinese businesspeople from Hong Kong have agreed to invest in mainland China this year, with the 17 entities collectively committing a total of $1.9 billion.

Including the $200 million recently confirmed by Star Investment Company—and excluding other channels—the investment from Hong Kong alone has reached $2.1 billion.

This is a remarkable achievement, considering that the total foreign investment we have attracted over the past few years amounts to less than half of this figure.

In light of this, the state has demonstrated the utmost sincerity, not only ensuring these enterprises’ operational rights on the mainland but also providing substantial support and preferential treatment—particularly regarding land and taxation—to those with innovative technologies.

At the same time, state-run media has provided follow-up coverage of this matter, lavishing high praise on figures such as Li Futao and He Dongying.

When both sides demonstrate sincerity, cooperation truly comes naturally!

However, none of this had anything to do with Li Yi. Upon learning that the negotiations had concluded successfully, he knew it was time to head south.

As this moment arrived, Li Yi felt a mix of pain and joy.

The pain came from not being able to see his wife, and the joy also came from not being able to see his wife…

Beijing. The Li Family Courtyard!

In the kitchen of the main house, Li Yi was stewing meat and steaming buns, while his eldest sister helped out beside him.

In the living room outside, Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the others were looking after their eldest nephew, Zhang Ning, and their youngest nephew, Yang Rui, while Yang Miao was alone with Li Yi’s two little darlings.

After meeting with Li Futiao that afternoon, Li Yi did not continue meeting with the other members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce but returned directly home from the State Guesthouse.

For the rest of the arrangements, he had asked Li Futao to handle them on his behalf. Li Yi was confident that, given Li Futao’s standing among the Chinese business community on Hong Kong Island, entrusting the matter to him would yield better results.

Upon returning home, Li Yi immediately dove into the kitchen and got to work, leaving his older sister staring at him in utter bewilderment.

“Yi, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. What’s up, big sis?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

“You’re asking me what’s wrong? You flew all the way back from Lin’an, and without even resting, you’ve started stewing meat. That doesn’t seem quite right!” his older sister said.

“I have to go to Hong Kong in a couple of days!” Li Yi replied honestly.

“When are you leaving?”

“In three days!”

“I thought so. Why else would you suddenly start cooking for yourself? So you’re planning to shut Xiao Xue up with some good food!” Big Sister said with a laugh.

“Sigh, I have no choice. Something’s come up in Hong Kong, and I need to go there!”

“Haha, telling me that won’t do any good—you’ll have to tell Xiaoxue. Don’t forget what you promised her!” his older sister said.

“But this is an emergency!”

Big Sister nodded, then asked, “By the way, have you heard anything from your brother-in-law? I wonder how his treatment is going?”

A while back, Li Yi had arranged for her husband, Yang Wenguang, to be treated by Zai Ying. By now, his surgery should be over, though he wasn’t sure how successful it had been.

“No word yet. Once I get to Hong Kong, I’ll be able to get in touch with them over there. I’ll let you know as soon as I can, Big Sis!” Li Yi said.

“Hmm, your brother-in-law’s injury is an old one. The military doctors already said that as long as he doesn’t do any heavy labor, it won’t affect his daily life!”

At this point, his older sister sighed and said, “If it weren’t for the fact that Wenguang doesn’t want to be an ordinary citizen for the rest of his life, and that he also wants to help you out a bit, otherwise, in my opinion, that surgery could have been skipped. Going back to work at the sugar factory wouldn’t be so bad!”

Li Yi immediately replied, “Sis, I know what you’re worried about, but please rest assured. I’ve arranged for your husband to see the best surgeon at Zaiying Hospital—the success rate for the surgery is very high!”

“Besides, I understand my brother-in-law. After all, he’s a top-tier soldier from the elite forces—a soaring eagle in the sky, a fierce tiger in the jungle. As long as there’s even the slightest chance, he doesn’t want to be stuck in a factory for the rest of his life!”

At the same time, Li Yi thought to himself, “Besides, you can’t stay at a factory forever anyway.”

In the coming years, as the pace and depth of reform intensified, those state-owned enterprises operating under the planned economy would face the direct impact of private enterprises emerging from the market economy. The sheer force of this “dimension-lowering” assault would cause most state-owned factories to rapidly decline, turning them into a burden on the government.

In the years that followed, state-owned enterprises were forced to restructure, and eventually, the once-secure “iron rice bowl” shattered, turning the nation’s pillars into laid-off workers.

So, Big Sister’s idea of returning to the sugar factory for a stable life was simply unrealistic.

However, the Hong Kong Island side wasn’t necessarily set on hiring her husband. In fact, Yan Guangming, Jin Junze, and others were also good candidates. Therefore, Li Yi decided to wait until her husband had finished his medical checkup at Zaiying before having a chat with him to hear his thoughts.

Li Mei knew her husband well. Hearing her brother say this, she remarked with a touch of resignation, “You men are all the same—you want to fly as high as the sky allows. We women, on the other hand, are just afraid you’ll fly too high and fall, or fly too far and never come back!”

“Hahaha, sis, don’t worry. No matter how high or far my brother-in-law flies, he won’t escape your grasp!” Li Yi said with a laugh.

“Stop joking around. It’s almost time. Do you want to go pick up Xiao Xue?”

“Alright, then. Sis, keep an eye on the meat in the pot for me. I’m heading over to the school!” Li Yi said.

“Sure…”

……….

Beijing University. Main Gate!

Jiang Xue and Zhang Feng emerged from the school one after the other, followed by two male classmates who were chatting with them nonstop.

Outside the campus, Li Yi, sitting in his car, watched the scene unfold clearly.

Speaking from experience, he could tell at a glance that someone was trying to poach his girlfriend.

Realizing this, Li Yi turned directly to Zhang Ziqiang in the driver’s seat and said, “Drive over there!”

Without hesitation, Zhang Ziqiang started the car and drove straight toward the main gate.

Jiang Xue and her friends had just left the school gates and were about to head to the bus stop next to the school to catch a bus home.

Suddenly, a brand-new Volga sedan pulled up and stopped right in front of Jiang Xue.

Caught off guard, she was genuinely startled.

The two boys walking beside her were also startled, but one of them immediately walked over to the driver’s side and shouted at Zhang Ziqiang, “How do you drive? Do you realize you almost hit someone?”

However, an awkward scene unfolded.

Jiang Xue and Zhang Feng opened the car doors and got right in.

The car then started up and sped away, leaving only the two somewhat awkward-looking boys standing at the school gate, at a loss for what to do.

Once Jiang Xue was in the car, Li Yi said with a smirk, “Suitors?”

Jiang Xue shot him a glare and retorted, “Hmph! After what you did during orientation, the whole school knows I got married young and am already a mother of two. Who would even try to court me now!”

“Oh, well, looks like I misunderstood!” Li Yi said, sounding a bit awkward.

“It’s not exactly a misunderstanding. Those two really were suitors—they just weren’t after me!” Jiang Xue said with a laugh.

“If they weren’t after you, then who were they after…?”

Li Yi then turned to Zhang Feng standing nearby and said, “Comrade Zhang Feng, I never would have guessed you were this charming. Even these elite students from Capital University have been captivated by you. So, what do you say? Want to give it some thought?”

Zhang Feng’s face flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said, “No way. I wouldn’t agree to that!”

“Why not? These students are all top-tier talent in the country. After they graduate, they’ll be government officials—true high-potential prospects. Marrying one of them would definitely be a good deal!” Li Yi said.

“It’s not a matter of whether it’s a good deal or not. We simply don’t belong in the same world. They’re only pursuing me because they’ve been deceived by my current status—that’s all!” Zhang Feng replied.

“What status? What deception?”

“They think I’m just like them—a college student at this school—but I’m not!” Zhang Feng said calmly.

Hearing this, Li Yi suddenly understood.

Ever since he had brought back over a billion dollars in foreign exchange for the country, the higher-ups had begun to take the safety of the couple very seriously.

Whenever Li Yi went out, he was surrounded by a retinue, with bodyguards clearing the way. Although Jiang Xue’s situation wasn’t quite as dramatic, she was also accompanied by people at all times.

However, since Jiang Xue was still a student, and to avoid drawing attention, the authorities had arranged temporary enrollment certificates at Beijing University for Zhang Feng and her colleagues, allowing them to protect Jiang Xue from close proximity under the guise of visiting students.

Obviously, the male students at the university assumed that Zhang Feng was just like them—a genuine college student—but they had no idea that she wasn’t a student at all, but rather a special operations agent for the State Security Bureau.

In a sense, they really were from different worlds!

“I’m really not interested. If you’re interested, I could…”

“I’m not interested. We have nothing in common. A momentary attraction isn’t enough to last the distance!”

Li Yi glanced at Zhang Ziqiang behind the wheel, then at Zhang Feng in the passenger seat, and an idea suddenly formed in his mind.

“Well, if the one pursuing you were also a soldier, would that make you feel something?”

“I’d consider it!”

Hearing this, Li Yi’s eyes lit up instantly. He immediately said, “Finding a soldier is a good idea. It’s best to find one who lives close to you, so you can spend more time together!”

Zhang Feng seemed to catch on to something. She glanced at Zhang Ziqiang, who was concentrating on driving, and nodded immediately!

Jiang Xue, sitting nearby, didn’t think too deeply about it and simply asked, “Stop worrying about Little Feng/Sister Feng finding a boyfriend. Didn’t you say you’d be back in a few days? Why are you back so early?”

“My sister-in-law and Second Sister have taken over things in Lin’an, so I came back.”

Then Li Yi changed the subject and added, “Oh, right—I made your favorite braised lamb. We can eat it as soon as we get back!”

Jiang Xue’s eyes instantly lit up with excitement as she said, “Okay, let’s hurry home then!”

“Okay…”

……….