Chapter 571: The Li Family’s Crisis!

After watching Li Yi leave, Li Fu Tiao’s mind remained unsettled for a long time.

The Li family is finished, and Longheng Bank is likely headed for bankruptcy!

As a financial titan, Li Futao understood Hong Kong’s financial industry better than anyone. He knew full well that the market in Hong Kong was limited, and competition in every sector was fierce—including, of course, the banking industry.

Here, a bank absolutely cannot afford any serious negative publicity; otherwise, not even a god could save it.

After all, every bank holds the financial security of tens of thousands of families, and no one would risk their life savings.

Countless banks on Hong Kong Island have proven this through their past bankruptcies—take the once-renowned Liu Chong Hing Bank, for example.

As one of the earliest private banks established on Hong Kong Island, Liu & Chuang Bank held a pivotal position in the local banking sector during the 1950s and 1960s.

But on June 13, 1961, Hong Kong newspapers reported: “A well-known local banker has become the subject of a police investigation and has been ordered to leave Hong Kong.”

At the time, numerous negative rumors about Liu Chong Hing Bank were already circulating on Hong Kong Island. The publication of this news caused public suspicion to focus directly on Liu Chong Hing Bank.

Although the Hong Kong Police Force issued an urgent denial the very next day, Liao Chuangxing Bank still faced a massive bank run, with over 3 million Hong Kong dollars withdrawn that same day.

Over the next two days, the run on the bank intensified, with over 30 million Hong Kong dollars withdrawn, forcing Liao Chuangxing Bank to seek assistance from the two note-issuing banks, HSBC and Standard Chartered.

A month later, Liao Chuangxing Bank’s chairwoman, Liao Baoshan, passed away due to illness. The bank’s board of directors was reorganized, and the bank never fully recovered.

In addition to Liu Chong Hing Bank, many banks on Hong Kong Island also experienced similar situations. For instance, Chinese-owned banks such as Guangdong Trust Commercial Bank, Hang Seng, Kwong On, Tao Heng, and Wing Lung were successively hit by bank runs; even the renowned Hang Seng Bank could not escape this fate.

At the time, Hang Seng Bank was also hit by a run on its deposits over a minor issue, losing over 200 million dollars in deposits within half a month. With no other options left, Hang Seng Bank had no choice but to sell a 51% stake to HSBC, thereby relinquishing control.

Although Longheng Bank was no pushover, after the Lai family had siphoned off so much of its capital, facing such a severe run on the bank—well, even a fool could see how this would end!

Li Futao truly never imagined that the Lai family, which controlled Hong Kong’s sixth-largest bank, would be driven into a corner like this, on the brink of collapse.

He recalled how, just over ten days ago, Li Yi had rushed back to Hong Kong Island, declaring to him that he intended to seek justice for Huang Lixing—and that the Lai family would be the first to pay the price. At the time, Li Futao hadn’t really believed Li Yi could pull it off.

After all, the Lai family’s strength was undeniable; even the Li family would have struggled to take them on.

Yet Li Yi, an outsider, had managed to stun the Lai family and the entire British-owned conglomerate with just a few well-timed moves.

As for Ma Biao, the man who had laid a hand on Huang Lixing, Li Yi hadn’t even bothered to acknowledge him.

But now it seemed that bastard’s fate wouldn’t be much better than the Li family’s.

To be honest, Li Futao was truly stunned by Li Yi’s tactics.

What does it mean to “defeat the enemy through strategy” and “subdue the enemy without fighting”? This is exactly it!

Look all over Hong Kong Island—you won’t find a second person with such skills.

For those Westerners from the British-owned conglomerate to go out of their way to pick a fight with him—aren’t they just asking for trouble?

But considering the current tense relations between the two sides, the British-owned conglomerate—and indeed the Hong Kong-British government backing them—would certainly not give Li Yi a warm welcome. After all, he has official ties to the other side.

It’s like two tigers fighting—one is bound to get hurt!

Judging by the current situation, the British colonial government and their master, Big Ben, haven’t gained the upper hand in negotiations with the other side, and the British-funded conglomerates are unlikely to come out on top in their struggle against Li Yi.

Things are getting more and more interesting. Li Futao is actually curious to see what choice the Lai family will make next!

………

Downtown. The Li Residence!

In the study, Li Jiuying clutched the phone in his hand, his face grim.

Just moments ago, he had received a call from the board of directors at Longheng Bank, demanding that the Li family immediately repay the 1.5 billion yuan they had borrowed.

That’s right—the Li family had borrowed not 500 million, but 1.5 billion from Longheng Bank.

Of that amount, 500 million was borrowed this time to cover payments to customers at their jewelry store, while the remainder was borrowed earlier to expand into real estate and other industries.

They had originally assumed that, as major shareholders of Longheng Bank, borrowing from their own bank would mean they wouldn’t be pressured to repay the debt.

But they never imagined the collection call would come so soon—and that it would be made personally by President Charles’s assistant!

Although that loose woman’s tone on the phone was still relatively polite, Li Jiuying could detect her hardline stance. Clearly, that vile woman had been instructed by that foreign devil Charles—those bastards were determined to drive the Li family to ruin.

Being hounded for debt by his own bank, Li Jiuying felt he must be the most humiliated banker on the entire island of Hong Kong!

The reason for this situation was entirely because, although the Li family was the majority shareholder of Longheng Bank, he was not the chairman of its board of directors.

The chairman of the bank’s board was Charles, another member of the British-owned conglomerate, yet his stake in Longheng Bank was a mere 17%, far below the Li family’s 42%.

However, since the Lai family did not hold an absolute controlling stake in Longheng Bank, they held only one seat on the board and were unable to reorganize the board of directors.

Originally, after acquiring a stake in Longheng Bank, the Li family had planned to restructure the board and nominate Li Jiuying as chairman.

However, Charles persuaded the Duke to intervene and mediate, and since the Li family held less than 51% of the shares, they ultimately abandoned their plan to restructure the board and instead threw their full support behind Charles’s control of Longheng.

But they never imagined that now, just as the Li family has fallen on hard times, they would turn their backs on us and try to cut us off at the knees.

Li Jiuying knew full well that they simply couldn’t come up with 1.5 billion in funds right now!

Although the Li family currently owns a significant number of real estate properties—for example, they invested in a large shopping mall in Happy Valley, pouring 300 million into it over the years.

Another example is a residential development in Causeway Bay, which also required an investment of several hundred million.

If you do the math, the Li family’s real estate holdings are worth at least 2 billion Hong Kong dollars. Add to that the 36 gold shops in the city and their other properties, and the total value wouldn’t be less than 2.3 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Then there’s the 42% stake the Lai family holds in Long Heng Bank; before the bank run, those shares alone were worth 1.5 billion Hong Kong dollars.

But just how much they’re worth now—only heaven knows.

These assets may seem substantial, but it’s important to note that they are merely assets, not cash.

To repay the bank, they would have to sell these properties. However, with the entire Hong Kong Island currently facing a severe stock market crisis and real estate prices plummeting—with the vast majority of properties already halved in value and the downward trend continuing—

It’s easy to imagine that if they were to put these properties on the market now, regardless of whether there are any buyers—and even if there were—the prices would be driven down to rock bottom.

But he also knew that the depositors were desperate for their money, and the bank simply didn’t have that much cash on hand.

And if the bank runs out of funds, it will put pressure on the Lai family. If they cannot raise the money, their properties will likely be forcibly repossessed and auctioned off.

It’s safe to say that right now, the Li family is truly at a critical juncture—a matter of life and death!

One misstep could mean losing everything—bankruptcy and the destruction of their family!

With this in mind, Li Jiuying thought of the bigwigs at the British-funded conglomerate and the promises they had made to him.

Without delay, he picked up the phone and dialed a number…

………

On September 13, the third day of the run on the Lai Family Jewelry Stores, the situation was finally stabilized after the Lai family deployed massive amounts of capital.

Over the past three days, all 36 of the Li family’s branches in Hong Kong Island had faced massive runs on the bank. Hundreds of thousands of investors had withdrawn 780 million Hong Kong dollars in cash from Li Family Gold Shops in a very short period of time.

At the same time, customers withdrew gold worth 500 million Hong Kong dollars.

In less than three days, the Lai family had suffered losses exceeding HK$500 million.

Fortunately, Lai Kau-ying, the head of the Lai family, was a man of great resolve. No matter how many people came to demand their money, he insisted on honoring all payments in full.

Moreover, he paid in cash where cash was demanded and in gold where gold was demanded, never shirking his responsibilities.

At the same time, media outlets controlled by British-owned conglomerates went all out, vigorously praising the Lai family’s responsible approach.

Even the Governor’s Office, in a rare move, stepped in to publicly endorse the Lai family.

Soon, some of the clients who had originally intended to redeem their holdings let down their guard and abandoned their claims. Miraculously, the once-teetering Lai family managed to stabilize the situation.

Moreover, after weathering this run on the bank, the people of Hong Kong not only retained their trust in the Lai family but actually held them in even higher regard.

It could be said that although the Lai family lost a significant amount of money in this turmoil, they gained an excellent reputation!

However, just as Lai Jiuying and the British-backed conglomerate behind him thought they had finally weathered the storm, the media broke a story that caught them completely off guard.

Once again, it was the South China Evening News that broke the story first, reporting that informed sources revealed the Lai family’s ability to so resolutely repay clients in full with cash and gold was entirely due to Longheng Bank keeping them afloat.

The report also exposed the truth of the matter, revealing that on the very day the Lai family faced a run on their business, Lai Jiuying leveraged his position and influence at Longheng Bank to secure a massive unsecured loan worth 500 million Hong Kong dollars, which was used to settle payments to customers at the Lai family’s jewelry store.

In effect, this meant the Lai family was using Hang Lung Bank depositors’ money to keep their jewelry store afloat.

More importantly, this report in the *Nan Hua Evening News* described the detailed sequence of events with great authority, even publishing a copy of the loan agreement signed by both parties in the newspaper.

At the same time the *Nan Hua Evening News* reported this story, a slew of tabloid newspapers jumped on the bandwagon.

Unlike the *Nanhua Evening News*, which merely reported the facts without speculation or conjecture, these tabloids let their imaginations run wild. Some claimed that the Li family had long since squandered investors’ money and had been relying on bank loans to keep up appearances.

Other tabloids reported that the Li family had long anticipated a run on their jewelry store, so they had transferred their assets to Zaiying Bank well in advance; the Li family was now nothing more than an empty shell.

Some tabloids even went so far as to wildly speculate that the Li family had already squandered all the customer deposits at Longheng Bank, and that everyone’s money was about to go down the drain.

The moment this news broke, it sent shockwaves throughout Hong Kong Island.

In the blink of an eye, a massive crowd of depositors rushed to Longheng Bank, scrambling to withdraw their funds.

Longheng Bank reacted swiftly, holding a press conference that very afternoon to solemnly declare that it had no financial ties to the Li Family Gold Shop—yet it remained silent on the loan agreement.

However, the bank stated that it would immediately raise funds to prepare for depositors’ withdrawals.

Although Longheng Bank’s public relations response was timely, the people of Hong Kong Island were not convinced. Soon, long lines formed outside all of Longheng Bank’s branches, and a bank run began.

Li Family Manor. Study!

When news broke that Longheng Bank was facing a full-scale bank run, Li Yi was having tea and chatting with Li Futi and Huang Lixing!

They were all in high spirits, as Li Yi and Li Futao had just received the profits from their gold investment.

Starting on September 2, they had bought gold at a price of around 3,500 Hong Kong dollars per tael and eventually sold it at a high price of 5,500 Hong Kong dollars.

After deducting various costs, the return on this investment reached 40%. Li Yi and his company, Starry Sky, raked in over 70 million Hong Kong dollars, while Li Futao also pocketed a hefty 60 million.

Even by their current standards, this was still a colossal sum.

More importantly, through this counterattack, they dealt a crushing blow to the Lai family, the foot soldiers of the British-owned conglomerate.

Just as they received their investment returns, they learned that Longheng Bank had suffered a run on deposits, which put the three of them in an even better mood.

“Brother Li Yi, how long do you think the Lai family can hold out this time?” Li Futao asked with a smile.

“Three days—three days at most!”

“No way. The Li family has suffered significant losses, but they aren’t insolvent. How could they possibly only last three days?” Li Futiao asked in surprise.

Huang Lixing, standing nearby, added, “Exactly. I don’t think that’s likely either. After all, the Li family has the British Capital Group backing them. As long as they’re willing to bail them out, even if the Li family can’t weather this crisis, they shouldn’t collapse that quickly, right?”

However, Li Yi replied calmly, “Theoretically, that’s true. But that’s just theory. In reality, given the current situation, the British Capital Group won’t just fail to help the Li family—they might even take the initiative to drain them of their very last drop of blood!”

Upon hearing this, Li Futao fell silent.

Having dealt with those Westerners for so many years, he knew exactly what they were like. When they were useful, they were close partners; but once they lost their value, it was entirely possible they’d be discarded like worn-out shoes.

If the Li family could weather this storm, that would be one thing, but if they showed any signs of collapse, the British-owned conglomerate might be the first to strike.

After all, they all had business dealings with the Li family to some extent; if the Li family collapsed, they would certainly suffer losses.

Given those foreigners’ purely profit-driven nature, they’ll undoubtedly secure their own interests before the Lai family even goes under.

If that happens, the Lai family will go under even faster.

“Is there any chance the Lai family could turn things around on their own? After all, Longheng Bank’s situation isn’t as dire as the outside world claims. If Longheng Bank can hold on, the Lai family should be able to survive as well!” Huang Lixing suddenly asked.

Li Yi smiled and said, “The problem is that the chances of Longheng Bank surviving are slim to none, unless the British-owned conglomerate is willing to bail it out at any cost—and the funds would have to be at least 1 billion Hong Kong dollars!”

“But that’s practically impossible. After all, no one would pour that much money into a pawn that’s lost its utility—let alone the self-serving Anglo-Saxons!”

“So does that mean the Lai family is doomed?”

“Not necessarily. It all depends on what Li Jiuying does!” Li Yi said, making a startling remark.

“Brother Li Yi, what do you mean?” Li Fu asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

“If I’m not mistaken, it won’t be long before the British-funded conglomerates abandon the Lai family—or even kick them while they’re down!”

Li Yi continued, “If Li Jiuying is smart enough, he’ll come to us with Ma Biao’s head to make peace! If he really does that, I wouldn’t mind letting him off the hook!”

As far as Li Yi was concerned, the mastermind behind this incident was undoubtedly the British-funded group, with Ma Biao serving as the executor. As for Li Jiuying and the Li family, they were merely intermediaries facilitating communication between the two.

If the Li family were truly willing to switch sides, Li Yi wouldn’t mind sparing them. After all, even if they managed to survive this crisis, they would be severely weakened and, clinging to life, would be unable to cause any significant trouble.

But his presence could serve a triple purpose: it would infuriate the British-backed group, allow him to deal with that bastard Ma Biao without spilling a drop of blood, and serve as a warning to those forces willing to act as lackeys for the British-backed group—this is the fate of those who act as lackeys.

Killing three birds with one stone—why not?

“What if he remains stubborn?” Li Futao said in a low voice.

Li Yi replied calmly, “If he insists on going down that path to the bitter end, then we have no reason to hold back—we’ll just crush the Li family!”

“So what do we need to prepare now?”

“First, secure the funds to acquire Longheng Bank!”

Li Yi continued, “At the same time, let the word out that as long as the Li family takes out Ma Biao, we’re willing to make peace with them!”

“Alright, I’ll have someone handle that!”

“Alright…”

………

Downtown. The Li Family!

Just as Li Yi was discussing with Li Futiao, Huang Lixing, and others how to bring down the Li family, a very different scene was unfolding at the Li family residence in another part of the city.

In the study, Li Jiuying’s expression appeared calm on the surface.

Although the gold shop had been hit by a run on deposits—an event that had come suddenly—he wasn’t entirely unprepared for it.

After all, with gold prices so high right now, some investors had likely purchased their gold at prices half—or even less—of what they were today.

Selling now would mean a profit of one or two times the original investment; naturally, some would be unable to resist such temptation and would seek to withdraw their gold from their accounts or simply convert it into cash.

Therefore, while reaping massive profits this time, he had also set aside a reserve in the accounts of each gold shop specifically to prevent a potential run on the bank.

However, the current situation has still taken him somewhat by surprise.

First, the number of people rushing to withdraw their funds was simply too high; a massive influx of customers flooded his various branches, demanding to withdraw the gold accumulated in their accounts.

Second, the media was fanning the flames; almost overnight, newspapers of all sizes were reporting that the Li family was at risk of default, which made Li Jiuying sense a strong whiff of conspiracy.

Based on his years of experience in the business world, it was clear that someone was orchestrating this behind the scenes. Therefore, while he ordered his staff to issue a public announcement to calm the public, he also instructed them to launch an investigation into the matter.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Just as Li Jiuying was deep in thought, a series of urgent knocks suddenly sounded at the door.

“Come in!”

As the study door swung open, Li Jiuying saw his trusted assistant, Liao Yong, walk in with a grim expression.

“Boss, in less than half a day, 190 million Hong Kong dollars has been withdrawn from all our branches. Several branches have already run out of funds. What should we do?”

After hearing Liao Yong’s report, Li Jiuying didn’t answer him but asked in return, “Have you made any progress on the investigation I asked you to look into?”

“Yes!”

Liao Yong continued, “We paid a hefty sum to buy off the editors of several gossip tabloids. According to them, they only reported the news about our potential default after receiving money from others, and…”

“And what?”

“And the other party had already approached them a week ago, though they only received the articles yesterday…”

Hearing this, Li Jiuying felt a sudden chill run down her spine—it meant the other side had been planning this all along.

No wonder so many newspapers and media outlets suddenly started reporting those baseless rumors—and why they spread so quickly!

“If I’m not mistaken, that Da Quan Zai is behind this!” Li Jiuying said coldly.

Ever since Star Company had suddenly started buying up large quantities of physical gold a while back, he’d had a vague feeling they were targeting him—he never expected it would actually come to pass.

“Boss, what should we do now?”

“Continue mobilizing funds to ensure every client’s gold holdings are fully redeemed!”

Li Jiuying understood the importance of business reputation all too well. Hong Kong Island was a small place, with a population of only a few million. Once a family’s business reputation was ruined, there would be no chance of making a comeback.

Besides, the Li family wasn’t in a situation where their assets were insufficient to cover their debts.

Although the gold accumulation plan had indeed caused them some losses, over the years they had invested the funds raised in real estate and banking, making a substantial profit. Therefore, they were fully capable of paying back their clients.

“Boss, some clients don’t want their money back—they want gold…”

“Then find a way to acquire the gold!”

“What about the price?”

“Buy it at market price. If the company doesn’t have enough funds, we’ll borrow from the bank.”

Li Jiuying then looked at Liao Yong and said earnestly, “Let me tell you, a crisis is also an opportunity. If we weather this storm, the Li family’s reputation will be gilded with gold. From now on, when Hong Kong residents invest in gold, they’ll look to us, the Li family, without fail!”

Li Jiuying had now figured out why Star Company had suddenly launched a massive buyout of physical gold—their goal was to rapidly drive up the price of gold.

Once gold prices skyrocketed—combined with their sensational media coverage—they could easily trigger a run on the Li Family Gold Shop.

If the Lai family couldn’t hold out, bankruptcy would be inevitable.

Unfortunately for them, the Lai family’s financial strength went far beyond that. While ten billion Hong Kong dollars was a substantial sum, it was not enough to bring down the Lai family.

Nevertheless, Li Jiuying was still startled by the terrifying tactics of that young man from Star Company.

That young man’s business acumen was truly astonishing. Having returned to Hong Kong Island only a dozen days ago, he had nearly driven the Lai family to the brink of ruin—he was truly a formidable figure.

At this moment, he was also reflecting: was it worth it to rashly offend such a powerful and cunning business prodigy?

But there was no turning back now; having come this far, he had no choice but to see it through to the end!

With that in mind, Li Jiuying spoke again: “I hear that bastard Ma Biao has already taken over all of Huang Lixing’s dozen or so ships and three casinos?”

“Yes, he’s already taken them over!”

“Make him cough up half of it. The Li family has suffered such massive losses this time; someone must share the burden!” Li Jiuying said in a deep voice.

“Wouldn’t that be a bit unseemly? After all, we previously…”

“There’s no such thing as ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ What does that Ma Biao think he is? Why should we be the ones bearing the brunt of that Da Quan Zai’s attack while he reaps the benefits?”

“What if he refuses to comply?”

“Hmph, I doubt he has the guts. After offending the Li family and the entire Hua Capital Group, even if you gave Ma Biao ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare cross our Ying Capital Group again,” Li Jiuying said confidently.

“Yes, I’ll contact Ma Biao right away!”

“Go on, and tell the manager of the jewelry store to make sure every single customer gets paid out, no matter what!” Li Jiuying instructed once more.

“Yes!”

After speaking, Liao Yong hurriedly left.

After watching Liao Yong leave, Li Jiuying paused to reflect for a moment, then immediately picked up the phone on the desk and dialed a number.

“Ring… ring…”

The call was answered quickly, and a deep voice came through the receiver: “Hello?”

“Sir, that big shot has launched a counterattack against our Li family. Our family’s jewelry store has been hit by a run on deposits, and the losses are catastrophic!”

“I’m already aware of the situation over there. I can assure you that the entire British Capital Group will stand behind you. No matter how great the Li family’s losses may be this time, we will provide you with full compensation!”

“With your assurance, I’m put at ease!” Li Jiuying said gratefully.

“What’s the current situation? Do you have enough funds to weather this crisis?”

“It’s not a major problem. Although some of our funds are tied up in that real estate project on Happy Valley, with Longheng Bank on our side, it’s simply impossible for that big shot to use such tactics to bring down the Li family!” Li Jiuying said confidently.

“Good. Go ahead and deal with that man. If you need anything, just give me a call!”

“Alright…”

With the backing of the British-funded conglomerate’s bigwigs, Li Jiuying felt much more confident.

What he didn’t know, however, was that Li Yi didn’t have just one trump card up his sleeve—he had a surprise attack in store as well.

Just as Li Jiuying thought victory was assured, Li Yi struck again…

………

Hong Kong Island. The Li Family Estate!

On the spacious second-floor terrace, Li Futao, Li Yi, and Huang Lixing sat around a round table.

On the small round table sat an exquisite teapot and several cups, the tea inside still steaming.

Huang Lixing had regained consciousness on the third day after Li Yi arrived in Hong Kong. Although he had had a brush with death, he had managed to survive.

However, having suffered seven stab wounds, his injuries were severe. Even after so many days had passed, he was still unable to move freely and could only sit in a wheelchair.

On top of that, his men had suffered heavy losses, and Ma Biao’s men were still watching his house from outside; the moment Huang Lixing dared to leave the Li residence, they would strike again.

So ever since he was injured, Old Huang had been staying at Li Futiao’s house.

Sitting in a wicker chair, Li Futiao poured some tea into Li Yi’s cup and said, “Brother Li Yi, that was quite a move of yours. The Li family’s jewelry store is now facing a run on deposits. That bastard Li Jiuying is in big trouble now!”

“Haha, since he chose to be the one sticking his neck out, he should be prepared to be the first to go down!” Li Yi said indifferently.

Huang Lixing grinned and said, “The Li family built their fortune on gold reserves and investment. With gold prices so high right now, if investors start a run on the bank, the Li family’s losses won’t be small!”

“A conservative estimate would be a loss of several hundred million.”

Changing the subject, Li Futao added, “But as the bank’s major shareholder, Li Jiuying will inevitably bail out the jewelry store with funds from the bank. This time, we can only make that bastard suffer heavy losses—it’s a shame we can’t finish him off completely!”

However, Li Yi replied with a cold glare, “There’s nothing to be sorry about. The Li family must go bankrupt this time, and Ma Biao must die!”

Upon hearing this, both Li Futiao and Huang Lixing looked utterly stunned.

“Brother Li Yi, do you have a follow-up plan?” Li Futiao asked curiously.

“Yes. I’m just waiting for the Li family to withdraw funds from the bank to bail out their jewelry store. The moment they dare to do that, I’ll have a way to bring their little shabby bank down!” Li Yi said.

“Brother Li Yi, the Li family controls Longheng Bank, ranked sixth in Hong Kong, with assets worth billions of Hong Kong dollars. It won’t go under that easily!” Li Fuzhao cautioned.

“As long as it’s tied to the Li family, it’s doomed. Not even a god could save it!” Li Yi declared with absolute certainty.

Although Li Futiao didn’t know what Li Yi’s next move was, just seeing how resolute he was, he could tell that Li Yi was quite confident about this.

With that in mind, he immediately asked, “Brother Li Yi, what should we do now?”

“First, let’s secretly sell the gold and recoup the money we’ve already spent!”

“Sell? I see the gold price is still rising. Won’t we lose out if we sell now?” Li Futiao said.

“It’s true that international gold prices haven’t peaked yet, but the physical gold we hold is unlikely to appreciate much further. Most importantly, we have too much gold on our hands—it’s hard for most places to absorb such a large volume.”

Li Yi continued, “While the Li family’s gold shop is desperately in need of gold to handle the run on their business, we should move our stock quickly. We can drain their funds while making a small profit—why not?”

“Hahaha, that makes sense. But what price per tael should we set?”

“5,500 Hong Kong dollars per tael is about right. We bought this batch at an average price of around 4,300 Hong Kong dollars, so we’ll make a net profit of 1,200 per tael—not bad at all!” Li Yi said.

“Alright, let’s sell this batch of gold first and see what happens!”

Just then, Huang Lixing suddenly spoke up: “Brother Li Yi, won’t your actions against the Li family provoke a backlash from the British-owned Group? Although Li Jiuying doesn’t have a huge fortune, he still holds quite a bit of clout within the British-owned Group…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi replied in a deep voice, “I don’t care if the British-funded Group turns on me en masse. I’ll deal with whatever comes my way—there’s nothing to fear!”

“But I know this: those sons of bitches can’t lay a finger on my family or friends. They incited Ma Biao to try to kill you, Old Huang—that’s a blatant provocation against me. No matter how powerful they are, I’ll make them pay a heavy price!”

Huang Lixing was deeply moved by these words.

He could tell that Li Yi truly regarded him as a brother.

“Brother Li Yi, I appreciate your sentiment, but the British Capital Group is far more powerful than we could ever imagine. Behind them stand not only financial giants like Jardine Matheson and HSBC, but also the British Hong Kong government—and even the British government itself. We’re no match for them. We’ll just have to swallow this humiliation if we can. Don’t let this happen because of me…”

Before Huang Lixing could finish, Li Yi spoke up again: “Old Huang, do you know what the ‘Drawing the Sword’ spirit is?”

“No… I don’t know!”

“In ancient times, when swordsmen faced their opponents head-on, no matter how powerful the foe—even if he were the greatest swordsman under heaven—they would draw their swords, knowing full well they stood no chance. Even if they fell by their opponent’s blade, they would die with honor!”

Li Yi continued, “Whether it’s the Li family, the British-funded conglomerate, or even the colonial government backing them—in my eyes, they’re nothing but paper tigers. Even if we’re outnumbered right now, even if we’re surrounded, I won’t bow down to them. As long as they dare to provoke us, I’ll dare to draw my sword and fight until the very last man.”

“If they lay a finger on you this time, I’ll hit them back with the Li family’s bankruptcy and Ma Biao’s head. If they still don’t back down, I’ll destroy the entire British Investment Group!”

As soon as those words were spoken, both Huang Lixing and Li Futiao were stunned by Li Yi’s overwhelming presence and astonishing resolve.

His mention of the “spirit of drawing the sword” was particularly striking.

Facing a formidable opponent, knowing full well he was outmatched, he would still resolutely draw his sword; even if he fell, he would become a mountain, a ridge!

What a sense of dignity, what a sense of resolve, what a sense of exhilaration, what a sense of grandeur!

Li Futiao immediately clapped his hands and said, “Excellent! What a spirit—daring to draw your sword and fight to the last man! Brother Li Yi, go ahead and do whatever it takes. The Li family stands with you through thick and thin…”

Just as he spoke, his assistant Zhou Xinghua hurried in.

Upon reaching Li Futiao’s side, Zhou Xinghua paid no heed to Li Yi and Huang Lixing standing nearby and said directly, “We’ve just received word that the Li family has issued a public announcement: anyone who has invested in the Li Family Gold Shop’s gold savings plan may now redeem their accumulated gold at any of the 36 branches citywide!”

“However, since there is currently no gold in stock, we can only pay out the corresponding cash at current market prices. If they insist on receiving physical gold, they’ll have to wait a bit longer—the Li family is doing everything they can to secure the gold!”

Li Futiao glanced at Li Yi and said, “Brother Li Yi, can we sell our stock now?”

“Let’s do it. While we’re at it, sell off my share too. After all, if my people make a move, the other side will catch on easily!”

Li Yi knew Li Fuzhao’s capabilities. The Li family’s reputation as the head of Hong Kong’s Four Great Families wasn’t just for show—they had influence in both the legitimate and underworld spheres.

If Lan Xinyi and her team were to handle this, the British-owned conglomerate would find out in no time.

But if the Li family handled it, the British-funded group would have to work a lot harder to trace the source of that gold.

“Alright!”

Li Futao then turned to Zhou Xinghua and said, “Sell off all the gold we’ve acquired. Set the price at 5,500 yuan per tael. Keep this discreet—don’t let anyone suspect that this gold comes from the Li family or Starry Sky Company!”

“Yes…”

……….

September 3rd. The gold market on Hong Kong Island was just as bustling as it had been the day before.

As soon as each gold shop opened its doors, crowds of people eager to buy gold gathered outside.

The reason these people were so eager to buy gold wasn’t entirely because Li Yi had led a sweep of Hong Kong Island’s gold shops.

More importantly, people had noticed one thing: since early August, the price of gold had risen by about 70%.

In other words, if you had invested 100 Hong Kong dollars in gold at the beginning of last month, you would now have a profit of 70 dollars—a return on investment that was practically more tempting than robbing a bank.

Furthermore, investing in gold carries lower risk. Unlike the stock market, where shares can become worthless if you get stuck holding them,

But with gold, what you buy is tangible gold; even if its price drops temporarily, it might very well rebound in the future.

This aligns with the mindset of Chinese housewives who believe they can bring down Wall Street in thirty years: as long as gold is available at a low price, we’ll keep buying.

So, even though major gold shops have successively raised their prices by 10% to 15%, they still can’t dampen investors’ enthusiasm.

There are still many people waving their cash and snapping up gold in large quantities.

Of course, the gold merchants and banks on Hong Kong Island are more than happy to see this situation play out.

After all, compared to the price of HK$110 per gram on Hong Kong Island, the international price of gold is only US$500 per ounce, which works out to just HK$87 per gram.

The soaring gold prices have made these gold shops and banks on Hong Kong Island rake in huge profits. While they frantically dump high-priced gold onto the Hong Kong market, they are simultaneously trying to source more low-priced gold from outside.

For them, a 30% profit margin on a single transaction is practically a windfall—only a fool would pass it up.

Some banks have even tapped into their own gold reserves—they had no choice, given just how exorbitant gold prices on Hong Kong Island have become.

As long as international gold prices didn’t skyrocket and they could ensure a steady supply of gold from abroad, they wouldn’t bear any risk.

However, just as all residents and financial institutions on Hong Kong Island were reveling in the sky-high gold prices, the Bear Alliance in the North presented the people of the world with a “gift”—the “Western” military exercises had begun.

The “Western” military exercises, now commonly known as the “81 Exercises,” set numerous records. They were the largest military exercises in human history and the largest-scale military deployment in Europe during the Cold War era.

These exercises can only be described as unprecedented; they were even hailed as “the Bear Alliance’s final blow to the West before its collapse.”

In terms of scale, the exercise mobilized over 100,000 troops, with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Strategic Rocket Forces conducting joint operations. Targeting Western nations led by the United States in Eastern Europe as a hypothetical enemy, the exercise simulated a War Bear Alliance military campaign to breach West Germany and seize control of Western Europe.

On September 4, the Soviet forces were fully deployed. The mechanized infantry regiments and tank units of the Army alone were equipped with over 4,000 tanks and armored vehicles, with all three generations of main battle tanks—the T-64, T-72, and T-80—making an appearance, and the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier also made its debut.

To achieve a deterrent effect against the “enemy,” prior to the start of the exercises, the Soviet government extended invitations to all foreign diplomatic missions within its borders, inviting ambassadors to bring observers and journalists to observe the maneuvers.

With the exception of missile units, which were kept under wraps, all other weapons and equipment were open to photography.

So, when the exercises began, as the journalists’ cameras swept across the armored formations stretching for kilometers, the Soviet Army’s “steel torrent” sent a chill down the spines of observers from various nations.

The exercises lasted eight days, and each day’s developments made headlines in the majority of countries around the world the following day.

In just eight days, the Bear Alliance silenced the entire world with its formidable military might.

Whether they were “enemies” of the Bear Alliance or neutral nations, upon seeing the endless rows of tanks, armored vehicles, and self-propelled artillery before them, everyone couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat, holding their breath in fear.

Especially the “Eagle” and its European minions and lackeys—they looked so insignificant in the face of such a torrent of steel. The Bear Alliance used this high-profile “greeting” to make them lose sleep and appetite.

Faced with the Bear Alliance’s blatant display of military might, people all over the world could feel the scent of war in the air.

Amidst the anxiety, those with foresight could not help but begin preparing for a potential war.

Consequently, some quietly converted their cash or savings into hard currency like gold, while others built shelters in their backyards or in the woods, stockpiling large quantities of food inside.

It could be said that the entire world was intimidated by the Bear Alliance’s might.

Consequently, even before the exercises had concluded, global gold prices began to skyrocket.

On September 4, the day the exercises began, the international gold price was only $509 per ounce, but by September 5, it had risen to $520.

On September 6, it reached $535…

By September 9, the figure had soared to $552 per ounce.

By September 11, when the exercise concluded, the international gold price had reached $575 per ounce.

In other words, in just eight days, the international gold price soared by $66 per ounce—more than doubling compared to a month earlier—and the world was stunned by the skyrocketing gold prices.

But Li Yi was not among them!

He knew that although the current international gold price was already high, it had not yet reached this year’s peak.

By the end of October, the international gold price would hit a high of $599, coming within a hair’s breadth of breaking the $600 mark.

But after that, it would plummet all the way down to $270 per ounce.

For Li Yi, however, this price level was perfect for executing his plan to use others to achieve his goals, as it would prevent the Li family and the British-backed conglomerate behind them from sourcing gold at lower prices elsewhere.

After all, with global gold prices having soared to this level, no matter where they went or who they bought from, the price would be higher than the international rate—not lower.

Once the Li family and the British-funded group could no longer secure such large quantities of gold, their misfortune would begin.

So, it was time to close the net!

Without hesitation, Li Yi immediately went to the Li family estate and held a private meeting with Li Futao that lasted several hours.

Early on the morning of September 12, residents of Hong Kong Island woke up to a shocking piece of news: the Lai family’s gold shops had run completely out of gold.

The news was reported by Hong Kong’s renowned *South China Morning Post*, which simply stated that the Lai family’s 36 gold shops across Hong Kong had no gold left to sell.

If that were all, it wouldn’t be so alarming, but the truly frightening part was that the report also provided a detailed analysis of future gold prices.

According to the author’s analysis, current gold prices had far exceeded normal levels and were approaching historic highs; therefore, investors were advised to sell their gold as soon as possible to secure their profits.

Since the analysis seemed reasonable, those who saw the report were somewhat unsettled.

In addition to the South China Morning Post, various local tabloids also covered the story; however, compared to the more credible South China Morning Post, these tabloids were far more explicit in their reporting.

They directly analyzed the potential crisis looming over Lai Family Gold Shop, arguing that the company had raised hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars from investors through its “24K Gold Accumulation Plan” when prices were low. Now that gold prices are at such a high level, if investors were to sell off or withdraw their gold on a large scale, Lai Family could face immense pressure.

After all, investors purchased their gold at low prices, but now they would have to sell at high prices—and Lai Family would be responsible for covering the resulting price difference.

According to these tabloids’ estimates, Li’s previously raised at least HK$500 million, and now that sum would require at least HK$1 billion in payouts.

As things stand, it is truly difficult for the Lai family to come up with that much money, and there is a high likelihood of default.

When dozens of gossip tabloids simultaneously reported this news, ordinary people on Hong Kong Island panicked and rushed to Lai’s jewelry stores…

…….

The next morning!

When Li Yi arrived at the company, he saw Lan Xinyi and Cai Bingyan standing at the entrance with grave expressions, as if waiting for someone.

Seeing him emerge from the elevator, the two hurried to meet him!

“What’s going on? You two don’t look too good!” Li Yi said as he walked over.

Lan Xinyi immediately replied, “Boss, there’s been a major setback in our plan. It might… it might not be possible to complete it!”

Li Yi frowned at first, then said, “Let’s discuss this in my office.”

They then went together to Li Yi’s office!

After closing the door, Li Yi asked, “What exactly happened? Why can’t we complete our plan on time?”

After all, acquiring physical gold on the market was Li Yi’s first step in dealing with the Li family. If this step couldn’t be completed, the rest of the plan would be impossible to carry out.

Consequently, Li Yi’s expression was extremely grave as he spoke.

However, after listening to Lan Xinyi and Cai Bingyan’s report, his furrowed brow slowly relaxed.

“Are you saying that people all over Hong Kong are now following our lead and snapping up gold?”

“Yes. According to our investigation, at first it was only the Li, Huo, and He families and others following the trend. Although these families were buying in large quantities, it didn’t have a significant impact on us.”

Lan Xinyi continued, “But for some reason, by the afternoon, rumors that gold prices were about to skyrocket had spread across nearly the entire island. As a result, large numbers of ordinary people also flooded into the gold shops, frantically snapping up every piece of gold and gold jewelry they could find!”

“There were simply too many people scrambling to buy gold—so many that even our own staff couldn’t squeeze into the stores. Our original plan to secure two tons of gold within three days might not be achievable!”

As she spoke, Lan Xinyi was also observing the expression on Li Yi’s face.

She knew just how domineering the man before her was. Whether it was Mr. Li from the Far East Association or the head of the He family, when it came to investments, Li Yi was absolutely uncompromising.

Now that their original plan was in jeopardy, she was genuinely worried Li Yi would lose his temper.

But to her surprise, Li Yi didn’t reprimand her. Instead, he asked calmly, “How much gold have we acquired so far?”

“One ton, at a cost of 90 million!” Lan Xinyi replied.

“So how much gold is left on the market now?”

“There shouldn’t be much left. According to my sources, the Far East Association has acquired at least 700 kilograms, the He family 500 kilograms, and the Huo family 300 kilograms. As for the general public, it’s impossible to calculate, but a conservative estimate suggests that major banks and gold shops together sold off at least 3 tons of gold yesterday!”

Hearing this, the corners of Li Yi’s mouth turned up slightly.

As far as he knew, the British Hong Kong government’s gold reserves currently amounted to just over two tons.

Of course, this was only the British Hong Kong government’s own gold reserves, not including the gold held by other banks and jewelry stores.

But even if you added those to the total, it wouldn’t exceed 5 tons.

In just a single day, they had snapped up more than half of the entire gold reserves on Hong Kong Island—his objective was nearly achieved.

“Step up the effort tomorrow and keep buying!” Li Yi said.

“Yes, sir, but…”

“But what?”

“Gold prices have already risen by 12% this afternoon. If we keep buying up like crazy tomorrow, the price might skyrocket again!”

“Don’t worry. As long as the price doesn’t rise by more than 50%, we don’t need to worry about the price!” Li Yi said.

“Understood!”

Li Yi knew Lan Xinyi was worried that buying gold at such high prices might inflate the market artificially. If gold from other regions flooded into Hong Kong, the local gold market could collapse instantly.

In the past, that might indeed have been a possibility, but now? There was absolutely no need to worry about it.

The reason was that the international situation was about to undergo a major shift—a shift that would drastically alter the current global landscape and ultimately cause the price of hard currency like gold to skyrocket!

When gold prices are skyrocketing worldwide, who would go to the trouble of shipping gold to Hong Kong? It doesn’t matter where it’s sold—it’ll sell anywhere!

………

Li’s Gold Shop Headquarters!

Li Jiuying looked at the sales figures reported by his subordinates, but instead of showing the slightest sign of joy, his face was filled with worry.

According to the consolidated data from all branches, the 36 gold shops under the Lai family’s name sold 876 kilograms of gold yesterday afternoon alone.

Although they had taken in over 80 million Hong Kong dollars in cash, the company’s gold reserves had dwindled to less than 300 kilograms.

For other gold shops, running out of gold reserves isn’t a big deal—at worst, they can simply close when they run out of stock.

But that wasn’t an option for the Li family’s stores, because in addition to selling gold and gold jewelry, their business also included a portion of the gold financial sector.

The most important business in their stores is the “24K Gold Accumulation Plan.” This plan is actually quite simple: citizens need only purchase one tael of physical gold to open a gold trading account and speculate on gold based on the daily gold price.

Through this business, the Lai family raised HK$300 million in just a few short years, catapulting them to become the largest gold supplier on Hong Kong Island, and Lai Kau-ying came to be known as the “Gold King of Hong Kong Island.”

It was by leveraging these funds that the Lai family expanded into the banking sector, leading to a massive increase in the family’s assets and ultimately resulting in their acquisition by a British-owned conglomerate.

However, that money—or rather, that gold—was merely entrusted to the Lai family by the public; it was not their own. Therefore, this business carried immense risk.

They were particularly afraid of rising gold prices—and even more so of a sudden surge!

If gold prices rose too sharply, two scenarios could arise:

First, account holders might rush to sell off large quantities of gold, putting the Lai family under immense financial pressure.

The other scenario is that account holders would demand physical gold withdrawals, putting immense pressure on the Li family’s gold reserves.

So, while the rest of the Li family and the managers of the various gold shops saw the profits brought by the skyrocketing gold prices, Li Jiuying saw the crisis lurking behind it all.

Especially after learning that the company buying the most gold was that “Big Circle Guy’s” Star Company, his concerns deepened. At the same time, he had a vague premonition that the “Big Circle Guy” might very well be targeting him.

Just as Li Jiuying was deep in thought, the phone on his desk suddenly rang!

His train of thought interrupted, Li Jiuying couldn’t help but frown, but he patiently picked up the receiver and asked, “Who is this?”

The voice of his trusted right-hand man, Liao Yong, came through the receiver: “Boss, all the branches are calling to demand more stock. They say there are long lines outside their stores and they need us to supply goods immediately!”

Li Jiuying frowned and said, “Don’t worry about the supply for now. What’s the latest on the company’s deposit account?”

“Since yesterday, the reserve account has increased by 15 million Hong Kong dollars. The public’s confidence in investing in gold is very strong!” Liao Yong said cheerfully.

Hearing this, Li Jiuying felt a slight sense of relief.

They weren’t worried about the public increasing their investments; what they feared most was a mass sell-off of gold.

“How’s the matter I asked you to handle yesterday regarding securing gold supplies coming along?”

“Don’t worry, boss. I’ve already taken care of it. HSBC is willing to source 2 tons of gold for us from Southeast Asia, and the Xie family on Macau Island and the Zhou family on Wan Island are also willing to sell us a total of 2 tons of gold bars. I plan to go sign contracts with them this afternoon!” Liao Yong said.

“What about the price?”

“These parties may already be aware of the sharp rise in gold prices here, so their asking prices are slightly higher than before—all at 4,000 Hong Kong dollars per tael!”

“4,000 it is. Compared to what we’ll make, their price hike is nothing!”

Li Jiuying then added, “I’ll start distributing the stock to all our branches right away. I’ll also withdraw the 500 kilograms of reserve gold we have in the bank. Give the branch managers a call later and tell them to raise the prices by another 15%!”

“Fifteen percent… Is such a steep price hike really feasible?” Liao Yong asked, somewhat taken aback.

“Buying on the rise and selling on the dip is a gambler’s common flaw—they’ll accept it. Hurry up and relay the order!”

“Alright…”

After hanging up, Li Jiuying, in high spirits, leaned back in his chair, calculating just how much the Li family stood to profit from this!

Based on the current situation, they’d make at least 50 million—and if executed well, even 100 million was possible.

But he didn’t realize that he was stepping, one step at a time, into a trap that someone had meticulously set for him…

……..

September 2nd, the fifth day of the eighth lunar month!

When Li Yi woke up from the soft bed in Cloud Peak No. 1, it was already 10:00 a.m.

Last night, after instructing Lan Xinyi on the gold acquisition, he had retreated to his study to carefully devise his plan to use others as tools to achieve his ends.

Since their targets were the minions and henchmen of the British-owned conglomerates, and given that the conglomerates—led by Jardine Matheson and HSBC—might step in personally if necessary, they had to anticipate every possible scenario.

After all, the funds available for this operation were meager—a mere 180 million Hong Kong dollars.

Never mind Jardine Matheson and HSBC—even Lai Jiuying’s own net worth far exceeded that amount. He was essentially using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

After more than four hours of careful analysis, the entire plan was finally finalized.

And that was precisely why Li Yi couldn’t sleep that night.

Of course, aside from this matter, another reason for Li Yi’s insomnia was that he was homesick.

Yesterday was Jiang Xue’s first day of college—a day that should have been quite memorable. Li Yi had even planned to cook a delicious meal that evening to celebrate with her.

But man proposes, God disposes—at such an important moment, he couldn’t be by her side.

That was exactly why Li Yi had decided to teach that Li guy a harsh lesson—otherwise, he’d be letting down not only Old Huang but also his own wife.

After getting up, he changed into a light yet formal outfit, and then, under the protection of Zhang Ziqiang and the others, Li Yi drove to the company!

When Li Yi arrived at the company, he noticed that the people staking out the place were still there.

Moreover, according to Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, Yang Zhiwen, and the others, the number of groups monitoring Xingchen Company outside seemed to have increased today—there were as many as four groups.

However, Li Yi knew these people feared the Li family and the mainland government behind him, so they didn’t dare to openly take action against him. Therefore, Li Yi paid no mind to these rats hiding in the shadows.

Let them keep watching. In a few days, when they witness his thunderous methods, they’ll naturally scram.

Upon entering the office, before Li Yi had even settled into his seat, Lan Xinyi walked into his office!

As soon as she walked in, Lan Xinyi spoke up: “Mr. Li, I have something to report to you!”

“Alright!”

“As you instructed, starting today, our Investment Division will focus all efforts on acquiring physical gold. The plan is now finalized and awaiting your approval!”

With that, Lan Xinyi placed a thin stack of documents on Li Yi’s desk and slid it toward him.

Li Yi didn’t hesitate; he immediately picked up the document and began reading.

He read through it very quickly and finished the entire plan in no time.

“Not bad. It’s very detailed and well-thought-out. I can tell you’ve put a lot of effort into this. I approve the plan. Let’s get started right away!” Li Yi said.

“Yes, sir. However, given the size of the funds involved, you’ll need to personally speak with Manager Zhao in Finance!” Lan Xinyi added.

“Alright, I’ll speak with her!”

After saying this, Li Yi immediately had someone summon Zhao Xinlan, the finance manager, and briefly outlined his plan to her, instructing the finance department to fully cooperate with Lan Xinyi’s Investment Management Department.

When Zhao Xinlan learned that Li Yi intended to use all the company’s funds to buy up all the physical gold on the market in Hong Kong, she was completely taken aback.

It’s important to note that physical gold is different from financial gold. Financial gold products are actually more like stocks—once purchased, investors mostly wait for them to appreciate in value or close their positions when prices drop.

But physical gold is the real deal—once purchased, it needs a place to be stored.

Based on current gold prices, 180 million Hong Kong dollars could purchase at least 2,300 tons of gold.

Such a massive quantity of gold—not to mention the risk of attracting the attention of ruthless criminals—poses a major problem just in terms of storage alone.

But Zhao Xinlan, just like Lan Xinyi, knew her boss Li Yi very well. She knew that once he made up his mind, not even eight oxen could pull him back—especially when it came to investments.

So, although Zhao Xinlan really wanted to try to dissuade Li Yi, she ultimately gave up and chose to carry out his orders without question!

………

At Li Yi’s command, every investment manager and top salesperson at Starry Sky Company was mobilized. Waving wads of cash, they went on a buying spree at every gold shop on Hong Kong Island.

According to Li Yi’s plan, once inside the gold shops, they were to take anything made of pure gold—whether gold bars or jewelry—without exception.

They didn’t spare the banks either—anyone willing to sell gold bars was bought out.

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred gold shops across Hong Kong Island found themselves in this situation.

At first, the store managers and owners were overjoyed—they’d landed a major client, and it looked like they were about to strike it rich!

However, they soon realized something was wrong.

No sooner had someone swept up all the gold in their store than new stock arriving on the shelves was snapped up again, rapidly depleting the inventory of major gold shops.

In light of this, the owners of these gold shops had no choice but to raise gold prices, while simultaneously urgently mobilizing gold supplies from neighboring Macau and Lantau Island.

In just one afternoon, the local gold price on Hong Kong Island rose from around 3,800 HKD per tael to 4,500 HKD, equivalent to an increase of about 15 HKD per gram.

Since so many eyes were on him, Li Yi did not keep this gold-buying operation a secret, and his high-profile actions naturally drew the attention of other factions.

Everyone was speculating: what was Li Yi buying all that gold for?

Was it for investment, or did he have ulterior motives?

Although no one was entirely sure of his intentions, that didn’t stop some from jumping on the bandwagon!

It’s worth noting that Li Yi is a rather enigmatic figure. His first move on Hong Kong Island netted him a staggering 4 billion Hong Kong dollars, shocking the entire city.

His second investment involved betting heavily on gold. Although he hasn’t sold any of his gold yet, international gold prices have surged by about a third since he entered the market.

It is said that if Li Yi were to sell, the return on this investment alone could reach a staggering 30%.

Furthermore, he previously converted all of his company’s funds into US dollars and deposited them in the bank, and people weren’t quite sure what he was thinking at the time.

However, during this period, the Hong Kong dollar’s exchange rate against the US dollar has fallen repeatedly, depreciating from 5.07:1 to 5.97:1—a significant drop.

Li Yi’s recent string of investments has yielded staggering returns, leaving everyone in awe.

His sudden move to buy gold this time was clearly not a whim; it may well be his fourth investment on Hong Kong Island.

In light of this, some people couldn’t resist jumping in as well.

As a result, a craze for investing in physical gold swept across Hong Kong Island in an instant, with numerous wealthy families flocking to major gold shops to frantically buy up all kinds of gold.

Soon, this trend caught the attention of ordinary people as well. Upon learning that gold prices might skyrocket again, they could no longer sit idly by and rushed into the gold shops in droves…

………

Li Yi made no attempt to hide his return to Hong Kong Island; in fact, he made a high-profile visit to Starry Sky Company, clearly signaling to everyone that he was back.

In no time, news of Li Yi’s high-profile return to Hong Kong spread throughout elite circles.

The news that Huang Lixing had been attacked and was in critical condition was already common knowledge within the circle.

Consequently, everyone was eager to see how Li Yi would handle the situation.

After all, Huang Lixing was Li Yi’s most important business partner in Hong Kong. Starry Sky Corporation—which had recently made a huge splash by investing in gold—was a joint venture between the two of them.

It was said that the company had already raked in over a billion Hong Kong dollars solely from gold investments.

More importantly, all signs pointed to the fact that the two were not merely business partners; they were also close personal friends.

Now that Huang Lixing has gotten himself into such a huge mess, what will Li Yi—his friend and business partner—do?

Will he seize the opportunity to take over Huang Lixing’s share of the business?

Or will he seek revenge for Huang Lixing and demand justice?

Furthermore, the fact that Li Yi visited Li Futao at the Li Family Estate on the very day he returned to Hong Kong Island has only fueled speculation about whether he’s planning a major move.

For the time being, all parties following this matter have fixed their attention on Li Yi, waiting to see what he will do next.

Inside a building at Wan Chai Pier, Ma Biao—who found himself at the center of the storm—was also discussing the matter with several of his trusted lieutenants.

As direct participants in this incident, they were the most concerned about Li Yi’s next move.

“Brother Ma, based on the surveillance reports from our men, that guy Da Quan doesn’t seem to be up to anything in particular. He stayed at Yuanhua Tower for less than half an hour before heading to the Li Family Estate, and he hasn’t come out yet…”

Before the sentence was even finished, Ma Biao, seated at the head of the table, spoke in a deep voice: “What’s the reaction from the Li family?”

“Less than half an hour after that ‘Big Circle Guy’ arrived at the Li family estate, Mr. Li returned to the estate!”

Hearing this, Ma Biao couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

Although he had anticipated this outcome when he ordered the attack on Huang Li, the thought of going up against a colossus like the Li family still sent a chill down his spine—even for a gangster like Ma Biao, who had climbed to the top through sheer ruthlessness and bravado.

After all, people like them were not part of the establishment. The Li family had countless ways, both overt and covert, to eliminate him and toss his body into the open sea to feed the fish.

But there was no turning back now. Since he’d chosen to collaborate with them, there was no room for regret.

“Haven’t the Li family already contacted quite a few people? What are those people up to now?”

“Things are relatively quiet for now. Our inside sources haven’t reported anything yet!”

“Hmm. Keep men on them. Report immediately if anything happens!” Ma Biao ordered.

“Yes, sir!”

“Biao, what should we do about that big guy? Should I take some men and—”

As he spoke, the henchman made a slashing motion across his throat—the implication was clear.

Ma Biao was quite tempted. He knew a thing or two about the relationship between Huang Lixing and Li Yi; from the few casual remarks Huang Lixing had let slip before, he knew the two were very close personally.

Not only had he beaten Huang Lixing half to death, but he’d also seized his fleet and casinos. That fatso certainly wouldn’t let it go.

Therefore, that guy was a thorn in his side, and it would be best to get rid of him as soon as possible.

But he didn’t dare make the decision on his own. After all, Big Circle had intricate ties with the authorities across the water. Taking him out wouldn’t be as simple as sending a few men to hack him to death—managing the fallout would be far more critical.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ma Biao said, “Let’s not act rashly just yet. I’ll talk to Li Sheng first and see what he thinks.”

In Ma Biao’s view, Li Jiuying represented not just the Li family, but the British-owned conglomerate—the most powerful and influential force on Hong Kong Island.

If they gave the green light, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second—after all, the British-owned conglomerate was backed by the Governor’s Office and the entire British Empire.

After that, Ma Biao briefed his men on their tasks, then hurried back to his office and picked up the phone…

………

Victoria Peak. Cloudtop No. 1!

Having just finished his shower, Li Yi sat in a chair in his study, eyes closed, carefully plotting his counterattack.

Just as he had told Li Futao, there was little point in focusing his efforts on Ma Biao and his henchmen—they were nothing more than tools in someone else’s hands.

Even if he were to sever that blade today, they would simply pick up an axe or a sword tomorrow. Dealing with minions like Ma Biao was therefore completely pointless.

This was clearly a provocation by the British-funded conglomerate, an attempt to use the Huang Lixing affair to humiliate him and provoke him.

If he lost his temper and did something reckless, the Governor’s Office—the power behind the British-funded group—would have a legitimate reason to come after him.

How could Li Yi be so foolish as to hand them a pretext on a silver platter?

But he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing either. Setting aside the fact that these people’s ultimate target was him, Li Yi had to see justice done for Huang Lixing, if only because of their relationship.

If Li Yi didn’t intervene in this matter, not only would others question his capabilities, but it would also become difficult for him to make genuine, influential friends on Hong Kong Island in the future.

Therefore, Li Yi could not back down—nor would he dare to.

When a tiger spares a rabbit, that’s compassion and kindness; when a lamb takes a step back and invites the wolf in, that’s stupidity!

The strong have the right to step back, but for the weak, taking a step back may cost them their lives.

If you lack the power to strike like thunder, don’t pretend to have the heart of a Bodhisattva!

On Hong Kong Island, facing the powerful British-owned conglomerates and the forces behind them, in such a treacherous and ever-changing international environment, Li Yi is undoubtedly the underdog.

So, even though this matter may seem minor, he must stand his ground to the very end!

Although he currently lacks the strength to take on the entire British-owned conglomerate single-handedly, it doesn’t matter—dealing with a few rotten planks sticking their heads out is no problem at all.

It was time to let these foreigners see Li Yi’s iron fist!

With that in mind, he immediately dialed the company number.

“Ring… ring…”

The call was answered quickly, and Lan Xinyi’s voice came through the receiver: “Lan Xinyi from Starry Sky Company. Who’s this?”

“It’s me, Li Yi. What’s the current price of gold?”

Although Lan Xinyi was a bit puzzled that her boss was still concerned about the price of gold at this hour, as a professional investment advisor, she replied immediately: “The international gold price has risen to $420 per ounce…”

“What about the local price in Hong Kong?”

“3,800 Hong Kong dollars per tael!”

Li Yi was momentarily taken aback by the unit of measurement “tael,” but he quickly did a mental conversion. That meant the current price of gold in Hong Kong was 76 Hong Kong dollars per gram, slightly higher than the international price.

With that in mind, Li Yi asked immediately, “How much capital does the company have on hand right now?”

“About 180 million!”

“Starting tomorrow, use that money to immediately buy up physical gold on the market!” Li Yi ordered.

“Boss, do you mean we should go to gold shops to buy gold?”

“Yes, and not just on Hong Kong Island—go to Macau next door as well. I want you to use up every last cent in the company’s accounts within two days. Can you do that?”

“We can! But gold prices have already reached $420 per ounce, and retail prices are usually 8% to 10% higher than the international price. Buying at such high prices—won’t that…”

“No, don’t worry about it. Just go ahead and buy as much as you can. Leave the rest to me!” Li Yi said with absolute confidence.

“Yes!”

……….

“Mr. Li… you… you’re here!”

“I came as soon as I heard the news. What exactly happened?” Li Yi asked in a grave tone.

“I’m not entirely sure of the details either. All I know is that ever since you returned to the mainland, our relationship with Ma Biao has become strained. There have been several clashes between the two sides, but they were all stopped by Brother Jiang.”

Li Yi had heard Old Huang mention this so-called “Brother Jiang” before. He was the nominal leader of the Green Dragon Society, a ruthless figure in his youth who wielded significant influence around the Wan Chai Pier.

However, due to his advanced age, he had largely stepped back from managing the Green Dragon Society’s internal affairs in recent years.

At that moment, Tie Ying spoke again: “Three days ago, Brother Jiang’s men came to inform us that he was hosting a banquet at the pier that evening to mediate between us and Ma Biao.”

“Since the message came from Brother Jiang’s men, we didn’t think much of it. But when we got there, we realized we’d been tricked—Brother Jiang’s men weren’t there at all. The place was swarming with Ma Biao’s men!”

“Huang Sheng had intended to negotiate with Ma Biao, but he never expected that guy had no intention of negotiating at all. He came at us with everything he had right from the start, so a fight broke out…”

“How bad are our losses?” Li Yi asked again.

“Huang Sheng was slashed several times and hasn’t woken up yet. Brother Biao is dead, Ah Bin is critically injured, I’m crippled, and countless other brothers have been killed or wounded…”

Hearing this, Li Yi couldn’t help but clench his fists.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure justice is served for everyone…”

Just as he spoke, a rush of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside.

Immediately afterward, several people rushed into Iron Eagle’s room, led by none other than Li Futiao.

Upon seeing Li Yi, Li Futiao immediately said, “Brother Li Yi, I’m truly sorry. I failed to look after Old Huang…”

“Old Li, this has little to do with you—Old Huang was just careless!”

Li Yi asked Li Fu to keep an eye on Huang Lixing, simply asking him to lend a hand when the time came.

Just as was the case now: Huang Lixing had found himself in danger, and the fact that he was able to take them in at the last minute was enough.

As for the rest, Li Yi didn’t have any grand expectations.

After all, Huang Lixing wasn’t a child, and Li Futiao couldn’t possibly keep watching over him like an adult watches over a child.

Li Futiao nodded and said, “Brother Li Yi, you’ve probably already checked on Old Huang, right?”

“I have.”

“Then let’s go upstairs and talk. This is a very complicated matter,” Li Futiao said.

“Alright!”

Soon, the group arrived at the study on the second floor.

After they had taken their seats—host and guests in their respective places—Li Futiao began, “My men have been investigating this matter for the past few days. We’ve discovered that it’s not as simple as the rumors suggest—an internal feud within the organization. Someone is deliberately instigating Ma Biao of the Blue Dragon Society from behind the scenes, urging him to kill Old Huang!”

“Have you identified who it is?” Li Yi asked in a low voice.

“It was likely done by someone from the Yingzi Group, but we don’t have any evidence…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi said coldly, “The police may require evidence to do their job, but we don’t need it. We just need to find the target!”

“If that’s the case, the people from the Yingzi Group are the prime suspects!” Li Fu remarked.

“That’s pretty much what I expected. After all, the entire Hong Kong Island now knows the relationship between Old Huang and you and me. Given the Li family’s influence here, no one would dare touch Old Huang unless an outside force intervened!”

Li Yi continued, “And there aren’t many forces capable of making Ma Biao fearless of our retaliation and willing to wade into this mess. The only ones with both the capability and the motive are the Governor’s Office and the British-owned conglomerate behind them.”

Li Futiao nodded and said, “That’s right. My people discovered during their investigation that Ma Biao has been in frequent contact with members of the British-funded groups recently.”

“Especially Lai Jiuying from the British-funded group—he met secretly with Ma Biao. Right after they met, Ma Biao moved against Old Huang!”

“Oh, so this Li Jiuying is likely the advance agent sent by the British-funded group?” Li Yi said in a low voice.

“It’s obvious, but they’re being very discreet—we can’t find any evidence to pin on them!” Li Futiao said.

However, Li Yi replied calmly, “Why do we need evidence? There’s no point in reasoning with people like this. It’s enough just to know who this scoundrel is!”

Just as Li Yi had said before, whether it’s evidence or leverage, those are things only the authorities care about.

As for people like them, they’ve always focused solely on results!

“Brother Li Yi, I’ve been in touch with some people these past few days. I plan to teach Ma Biao a lesson. What do you think…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi shook his head and said, “No need. Ma Biao is just a lowly lackey. Even if we sank him to the bottom of the sea to feed the fish, it wouldn’t be worth it. Don’t dirty your hands over a nobody like that!”

“Are you really going to let that bastard off the hook just like that?” Li Fu Tiao frowned.

“Hah, how could that be? Without thunderous measures, how could I dare to have a heart of compassion!”

Then Li Yi said coldly, “I’ll have those Westerners at Yingzi Group personally chop off Ma Biao’s head as an apology to us!”

Li Futiao and Li Yunbao, standing beside him, were both stunned. To have the British-funded conglomerate personally deal with Ma Biao—was that even possible?

It wasn’t that a lackey like Ma Biao was particularly important in the eyes of the British-funded conglomerate led by Jardine Matheson.

In fact, everyone knew that Ma Biao was nothing more than a dog kept by the British-funded conglomerate—a dog bred specifically to bite people.

They say even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. If others aren’t allowed to lay a hand on it, how could the master possibly kill his own dog himself?

Not to mention, if word of this got out, who would ever want to be their dog again!

“Brother Li Yi, what do you plan to do?”

“Old Li, help me look into what kind of businesses that Li guy is mainly involved in…”

Before he could finish, Li Yunbao cut in: “No need to look it up. I’ve handled lawsuits for companies under Li Jiuying’s umbrella before. I know he’s mainly in the jewelry and finance industries. The second-largest jewelry chain on Hong Kong Island is his family’s business, and he’s also a major shareholder in Hang Lung Bank!”

Hearing this, the corners of Li Yi’s mouth turned up slightly, and he said, “Gold, finance—what a coincidence. Those happen to be our areas of expertise!”

He continued, “Whether this has anything to do with that Li guy or not, just based on his frequent contact with that scumbag Ma Biao, we’ll make him the first to go!”

“Brother Li Yi, is there anything you need me to do?”

Li Futiao’s meaning was clear: the Li family had no intention of staying out of this.

On one hand, he wanted to use this matter to show Li Yi that he, Li Fuzhao, and the entire Li family were trustworthy allies—not just the kind of friends who only show up for feasts and drinks.

On the other hand, the British-owned conglomerate had gone way too far. Knowing full well that Old Huang and he were on friendly terms, they’d gone after Old Huang with such ferocity without so much as a heads-up—clearly showing they didn’t give a damn about the Li family.

After all, the Li family was a well-known and respected clan on Hong Kong Island. Being treated with such disregard made Li Futao quite angry.

Li Yi smiled and said, “Dealing with a few small-time thugs doesn’t require Old Li to get involved, but if you want to play around with a bank, you’re welcome to give it a try!”

“A bank… are you talking about Hang Lung Bank?”

“That’s right!”

“You’re going to take on Hang Lung Bank?”

“Isn’t that guy surnamed Lai a major shareholder of Hang Lung Bank? Tell me, if I were to drive Hang Lung Bank into bankruptcy, wouldn’t that bastard explode right on the spot?” Li Yi said with a smirk.

“Whoa!”

Hearing this, the Li family—father and son—both sucked in a sharp breath.

Henglong Bank was one of the top five banks on Hong Kong Island, with assets of at least ten billion. How could such a massive bank possibly go bankrupt?

But seeing the confident look on Li Yi’s face, and recalling all his past feats, the Li family father and son fell instantly silent…

………

Yuanhua Tower. Star International Investment Company!

In the cramped and cramped conference room, several executives from Star International Investment had gathered, including Investment Department Manager Lan Xinyi and Deputy Manager Cai Bingyan; as well as Finance Director Zhao Xinlan, Deputy Director He Tiansheng, and others such as Lan Xinming, Lan Xinyi, and Li Yunbao.

However, the lively banter of earlier had vanished from the room; everyone’s expressions were now grim.

“Ahem. I think we all understand the situation now. Huang Sheng is seriously injured, and Li Sheng is on the mainland and currently unreachable. We are indeed in great danger right now. Let’s all discuss what we should do!” Lan Xinyi said in a grave tone.

No sooner had she finished speaking than Li Yunbao interjected, “According to intelligence obtained by the Li family, rumors are circulating in the underworld that they intend to target not only Brother Huang but also everyone present here. Everyone must be extremely careful when going out!”

Everyone’s hearts sank!

Everyone knew Li Yunbao’s standing and the Li family’s influence in Hong Kong. If he was saying this, it meant there was definitely something to it.

Moreover, the “people” he referred to were mostly thugs and gangsters from criminal syndicates—individuals with no moral boundaries. For an ordinary person to be targeted by them was an extremely dangerous situation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but Mr. Li has been good to me. Now that the company is facing difficulties and danger, I will stand by Mr. Li’s side no matter what. I hope you will do the same!”

Lan Xinyi then added, “We don’t understand the ways of the underworld, and we can’t be of much help to Mr. Huang either. So all we can do is continue to safeguard the company and contact Mr. Li as soon as possible, asking him to return and take charge of the situation!”

Lan Xinming immediately replied, “I will always stand by Mr. Li!”

Cai Bingyan chimed in, “Mr. Li has shown me great kindness. No matter what those people are up to, I will never betray him!”

Zhao Xinlan added solemnly, “The loyalty of every single one of us here to the company is beyond question. And with Mr. Li’s people guarding the company, nothing should go wrong in the short term!”

“It’s just that those people have no scruples whatsoever. I’m a bit worried they might try to harm the people close to us…”

At those words, everyone fell silent.

Seeing this, Li Yunbao immediately said, “Everyone, please rest assured. The Li family has already taken action. We’re warning those bastards while also trying to contact Mr. Li. We should…”

Before he could finish, a commotion erupted outside, accompanied by the cheers of company employees.

Before Lan Xinyi, Li Yunbao, and the others could react, the conference room door was pushed open.

Then, under the delighted gazes of the crowd, Li Yi strode in, accompanied by several bodyguards dressed in black.

Seeing this, everyone instinctively stood up!

Seeing that all the company executives were present, Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief; clearly, the other side hadn’t had time to take action against the company yet.

“Sit down!”

As he spoke, Li Yi found a chair next to Li Yunbao and sat down.

“Yunbao, where is Old Huang now? How is he doing?”

Li Yunbao replied immediately, “He’s at our Li family home. He’s had surgery, but his condition isn’t good—he hasn’t woken up yet!”

Li Yi didn’t press for further details. Instead, he looked at Lan Xinyi and asked, “Has the company been significantly affected these past few days?”

“There hasn’t been much impact so far, but Legal Counsel Li just mentioned that rumors have already been spread on the streets about plans to take action against our company’s management!” Lan Xinyi replied.

“Hmph, they’ve got some nerve,” Li Yi said coldly.

“Mr. Li, we’ve all just made our stance clear—we’re willing to stand by the company through thick and thin…”

Before Lan Xinyi could finish, Li Yi cut her off: “They’re just a bunch of low-life thugs. They don’t have the capability to push us to that point!”

Li Yi then turned to Lan Xinming and said, “Xinming, go find a hotel right away. Until this is resolved, all employees and management must stay at the hotel—just to be on the safe side!”

“Alright, I’ll go take care of it right away!”

Li Yi nodded, then turned to Li Yunbao and said, “Take me to see Old Huang now. We’ll deal with the rest later!”

“Got it!”

After that, Li Yi, Li Yunbao, and the others left Star Investment together…

………

In the heart of Hong Kong Island, a convoy was speeding down the road leading to the Li family estate.

The convoy belonged to Li Yunbao. Ever since he’d been kidnapped last time, Li Futao had arranged for several personal bodyguards to ensure his safety.

Inside the car, Li Yi looked at Li Yunbao, who seemed much calmer now, and asked, “How did Old Huang get injured? What exactly happened?”

“According to my intelligence, there was an internal conflict within the Blue Dragon Society. Brother Huang was ambushed by Ma Biao, another chapter leader of the Blue Dragon Society, and his men. He was stabbed seven times before finally breaking free under the desperate protection of his henchmen!” Li Yunbao replied.

Upon hearing this, Li Yi’s first reaction was disbelief.

Li Yi knew a little about the situation within the Qinglong Society. Although Ma Biao and Old Huang were both nominally chapter leaders of the Qinglong Society, in reality, they operated independently and did not take orders from the society’s president.

So, while the Green Dragon Society was nominally a second-rate gang, in reality it was more like a loose alliance held together by shared interests.

Li Yi was also aware of the animosity between Ma Biao and Old Huang, but since their forces were evenly matched and they were entangled in complex financial dealings, under normal circumstances, Ma Biao would never have gone so far as to kill Old Huang.

Unless he was absolutely certain he could absorb Lao Huang’s men and territory—or unless someone behind the scenes was instigating this…

However, Li Yunbao clearly wasn’t in the loop on this matter, so Li Yi didn’t press further. He decided to check on Old Huang first, then have a talk with Li Futiao—he should know more!

The car drove through the city and soon arrived at the Li family’s grand estate!

Finally, in a guest room at the back of the estate, Li Yi met Huang Lixing.

Old Huang looked particularly pitiful and disheveled at that moment.

His entire body was wrapped in bandages, making him look like a white mummy.

In addition, he was hooked up to various medical devices; an IV drip was attached to his arm, and an unknown liquid was flowing drop by drop from a glass bottle into his body.

Looking at Old Huang before him, Li Yi felt as if a ball of fire were burning in his heart.

Since his rebirth, he felt he had grown indifferent to many things and rarely got angry with anyone.

But this incident had crossed his line. No matter who was pulling the strings behind the scenes, he would make them pay dearly.

At that moment, Li Yi turned to the Li family’s personal physician and asked, “How is the patient doing? Is he out of danger?”

“Based on the current situation, his condition has stabilized. As long as the wound doesn’t get infected, there shouldn’t be any major issues!”

“When will he wake up?”

“Well… that depends on his individual condition. If his will to live is strong, he might wake up today, but…”

Although the doctor didn’t finish his sentence, Li Yi understood exactly what he meant.

“Alright, I’m counting on you to take care of the patient. If Old Huang pulls through this, we’ll be sure to thank you properly later!”

“Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to ensure Mr. Huang’s safety…”

After visiting Old Huang, Li Yi heard that several of Old Huang’s trusted lieutenants were also recuperating at the Li residence, so he immediately asked Li Yunbao to take him over to see them.

When he arrived at the next room, to his surprise, he saw Tie Ying.

His condition was even worse than Old Huang’s—not only was his entire body wrapped in bandages, but he was missing an arm.

However, the one thing that set him slightly better off than Old Huang was that Tie Ying was conscious at that moment.

When Tie Ying saw that it was Li Yi who had entered, he was so overcome with emotion that tears immediately welled up in his eyes…

………

September 1. Tuesday. Sunny!

Today was Jiang Xue’s first day of college, a very meaningful day for her.

So, the girl got up early this morning.

Li Yi heard the rustling sounds of her getting dressed and opened his eyes.

Glancing at his watch, he saw it was almost seven o’clock, so he immediately climbed out of bed.

He quickly got dressed, told his wife not to bother making breakfast, and then hurried out the door.

By then, most of the breakfast stalls outside had already opened for business. Since regulations in this area were relaxed last year, the number of street vendors and food stalls had increased significantly.

Especially in the old neighborhood where they lived now, you could see breakfast stalls of all sizes at nearly every alleyway entrance.

Arriving at a small stall selling large meat buns, Li Yi ordered a dozen or so before heading back home.

Just as Li Yi returned with the breakfast, he saw his wife and mother-in-law, Ye Lingyun, packing things up inside—mostly the child’s belongings.

That’s right—last night, his mother-in-law hadn’t returned to the Jiang family’s ancestral home but had stayed at Li Yi’s place instead.

On one hand, the mother and daughter wanted to go to school together; for Ye Lingyun, being able to accompany her daughter to school was a source of happiness and pride.

On the other hand, they needed to complete the after-school care registration for Yun Rui and Yun Jin today, and Jiang Xue, being a student, couldn’t handle it alone—her mother-in-law had to step in.

After a quick breakfast, the group got ready and headed out.

Li Yi first dropped Juanzi off at the entrance of Beijing No. 4 High School, then headed straight for Beijing University.

Upon arriving at the school entrance, Li Yi had intended to walk Jiang Xue and the children inside, but his mother-in-law stopped him.

Li Yi didn’t insist. After watching them walk into the school, he returned home with Zhang Ziqiang and began packing his own luggage.

Just after 10 a.m., not long after Li Yi had finished packing, the home phone rang.

“Hello, this is Li Yi. Who’s calling?”

“Comrade Li Yi, this is Zhou Rui. This afternoon, the Beijing Military District has a flight heading to Guangzhou. We’ve already made arrangements for you—you can go to the Beijing Military District right now to wait!”

Hearing this, Li Yi immediately replied gratefully, “Director Zhou, thank you so much!”

“You’re welcome!”

Zhou Rui then added, “Also, after the higher-ups were informed of the situation, they’ve assigned three additional security personnel to ensure your safety. They’ll be traveling with you to Hong Kong!”

“Alright, I understand!”

“They’ll meet up with you at the military region shortly!”

“Alright…”

After hanging up, Li Yi immediately packed some light luggage and his ID documents, then set off with Zhang Ziqiang straight for the Beijing Military District…

…….

Yangcheng Military District Air Force Base!

After stepping off the plane, Li Yi had barely taken a few steps forward when he couldn’t help but vomit.

He had thought that getting seasick during the stormy flight back from Hong Kong last time was bad enough, but he never imagined that riding in a military plane would be even worse than seasickness.

You have to admit, the military pilots were truly amazing—they flew that Ilyushin passenger jet like a fighter jet. Even someone like Li Yi, who flew every day, couldn’t handle it.

What made it even harder for Li Yi to bear was that out of the dozen or so people on the plane, he seemed to be the only one feeling unwell; everyone else appeared to be just fine.

So he was the only wimp on board?

That’s not so much painful as it is deeply humiliating!

Zhang Ziqiang and the few new special security personnel couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Li Yi. He looked so big and strong, with great physical fitness—how could he be getting so sick on a plane?

Seeing that Li Yi had mostly finished vomiting, Zhang Ziqiang immediately handed him a water bottle.

Li Yi didn’t hesitate—he rinsed his mouth, took a couple of sips, and finally managed to suppress that wave of nausea.

Just as he was recovering, he heard the sound of car engines approaching from the distance.

Immediately afterward, two jeeps roared up and came to a smooth stop in front of Li Yi and his group.

The doors opened, and a middle-aged man in military uniform stepped out.

Upon reaching Li Yi and his group, he first saluted, then said, “Comrade Li Yi, we have been ordered to escort you to the port. Please get in the car!”

“Thank you!”

After that, Li Yi and his party of five got right into the vehicles and headed straight for Lotus Port.

At Lotus Port, the passenger ferry bound for Hong Kong Island had been waiting for them for quite some time.

As soon as Li Yi and his group boarded, the ferry set sail immediately!

The distance from Lotus Port to Hong Kong Island was only 60 nautical miles, and the ship reached the pier here in just an hour and a half.

After disembarking, Li Yi didn’t go straight to the Qinglong Society headquarters to find Huang Lixing. Instead, he hailed two taxis and headed straight for Starry Sky Company.

For one thing, he didn’t know the current situation at the Blue Dragon Society; going there recklessly might be like walking into the lion’s den.

On the other hand, he’d received word that Old Huang was seriously injured and hanging by a thread.

Logically speaking, he shouldn’t be at the Green Dragon Society right now; he was most likely in a hospital receiving treatment, so going to the Wan Chai Pier would be pointless.

The taxis soon arrived at Yuanhua Tower!

The moment he stepped out, he sensed that something was amiss.

First of all, there were two rows of men in uniform standing at the entrance of the building. There were at least a dozen of them, lined up on either side of the Yuanhua Building’s main gate, and everyone entering the building was being questioned by them.

Although Li Yi didn’t know which faction these men belonged to, his keen intuition told him they were likely connected to his Starry Sky Company.

After all, the current situation was already far from peaceful, and the sudden appearance of such a group of strangers downstairs at the company was bound to arouse his suspicion.

Just as Li Yi was deep in thought, Zhang Ziqiang suddenly signaled to the other security personnel. They quickly positioned themselves around Li Yi, forming a protective circle around him.

Then Zhang Ziqiang whispered to Li Yi, “There’s something wrong with that car across the street—the people inside are watching us!”

Li Yi instinctively looked across the street and indeed saw a van parked in front of a shop on the opposite side.

Although they were dozens of meters away, Li Yi could still see through the window that the people inside were watching them intently.

“Brother Yi, those people across the street must be tailing us. We’ve already caught their attention. What should we do now?” Zhang Ziqiang asked in a low voice.

“Ignore them. Let’s go upstairs!”

With that, Li Yi led the group toward Yuanhua Tower!

Just as they approached the building’s entrance, a burly man at the gate stopped them: “Excuse me, sir, but you need to register to enter Yuanhua Tower!”

Li Yi gave him a careful look and said, “I need to register just to go back to my own company? Who gave you the authority to do this?”

“Sir, property management here has been taken over by our Far East Association. Please cooperate…”

“Far East Association? Are you Old Li’s men?”

“Who exactly is ‘Old Li’ you’re referring to?”

The burly man in charge was taken aback by Li Yi’s words. There were very few people on the entire island of Hong Kong who dared to refer to their boss as “Old Li.”

“I am Li Yi. If you’re one of Old Li’s men, you must have heard of me!” Li Yi said calmly.

A flicker of astonishment crossed the burly man’s eyes, and he immediately replied, “Hello, Mr. Li. I am Zhou Yinglong, leader of the Third Security Team of the Far East Society. I am here to protect your company on the orders of our Young Master!”

“Thanks for your hard work, guys. Where’s your boss right now?”

“At the office!”

“Alright, I’ll go up and find him first!”

“I’ll show you the way!”

With that, Team Leader Zhou led Li Yi and the others into Yuanhua Tower…

……..

Old Huang was seriously injured and hanging by a thread!

Upon receiving this news, Li Yi was completely thrown off balance.

Old Huang was now his business partner and his representative in Hong Kong; if anything happened to him, it would undoubtedly have a significant impact on Starry Sky Company.

More importantly, Li Yi had always considered Old Huang a friend. Now that his friend was in trouble, he was naturally deeply concerned.

“Director Zhou, do you know what happened? How did Old Huang get injured out of the blue?” Li Yi asked, looking at Zhou Rui.

It was Zhou Rui who had brought the news of Old Huang’s injury; according to him, Yang Qian had relayed the information from Hong Kong Island an hour ago.

Originally, Li Yi had some reservations about Yang Qian joining Starry Sky, but now he felt that every cloud has a silver lining.

With her there, he could find out about any urgent news from Hong Kong the moment it happened.

Unlike last time, when a message had passed through eight hundred hands before he was dragged out of bed in the middle of the night to return a call—that was pure torture.

“I’m not entirely sure of the specifics yet. After all, Comrade Yang Qian’s primary task is to keep an eye on that money; everything else is just a side job!”

But Zhou Rui changed the subject and added, “Don’t worry, though. I’ve already sent someone to investigate, and I expect we’ll have news soon.”

“Do me a favor!” Li Yi suddenly said.

“Go ahead!”

“Originally, I planned to have my brother-in-law round up some of his retired comrades-in-arms to set up a security firm in Hong Kong to support the investment company’s growth. But since those guys are scattered all over the place, it’d be too slow to rely on my brother-in-law alone to track them down…”

Before he could finish, Zhou Rui said in a deep voice, “You want to contact those people through our channels?”

“Right. Or, to put it more directly, you could select a group of officers and soldiers about to retire from the military and have them go with my brother-in-law to Hong Kong Island!” Li Yi said.

“But what about these people? What’s their connection to the state?”

“It doesn’t matter. They’re just going through normal retirement and reemployment procedures. On the surface, they have absolutely no connection to the state, but as for how you arrange things for them behind the scenes—well, that’s not my concern!”

Hearing this, Zhou Rui immediately understood Li Yi’s plan.

“Aren’t you worried these people might cause you trouble?”

“What trouble? I’m just hiring them to work at the security company, paying them a monthly salary. All they need to do is perform their duties diligently. As for what they do outside of work, what does that have to do with our security company?”

Zhou Rui thought it over carefully, then said, “I’ll talk to your brother-in-law first, then help him get in touch with his comrades. As for the rest, I’ll need to report to my superiors before I can give you an answer!”

“No problem, but you have to move fast!”

“Alright!”

“Also, I plan to head to Hong Kong as soon as possible. Please help me make the arrangements—it’ll take too long if I try to handle it myself!”

Li Yi continued, “I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something fishy about Old Huang’s situation this time. The other side is likely targeting Starry Sky Company!”

“Alright, when do you plan to leave?”

“Preferably tomorrow!” Li Yi said.

“Alright, I’ll get in touch with you once everything’s arranged!”

“Alright…”

……

After seeing Zhou Rui off, Li Yi fell deep in thought.

In fact, even before returning this time, he had anticipated that things wouldn’t be peaceful on Hong Kong Island, especially regarding Old Huang—there was a high likelihood of danger.

That was why, before he left, he had sought out Li Futao and asked him to keep an eye on Old Huang.

The reason Li Yi had come to this conclusion was mainly because he knew full well that although his previous trip to Hong Kong had seemed to be a resounding success, it had actually threatened the interests of far too many people there.

Take the British-owned conglomerates, for instance, or the Governor’s Office and their lackeys.

After all, when he shorted the Hang Seng Index, he was essentially plundering the money of those very powers.

They say cutting off someone’s livelihood is like killing their parents; now that he was directly fleecing these people, it was no longer a matter of merely killing their parents.

That’s why Li Yi didn’t dare to go all out while he was in Hong Kong; he pulled back when the Hang Seng Index hit 1,200 points.

At the same time, he spared no effort to befriend the Li family and other powerful Chinese-owned conglomerates, pulling them onto his side—all to make those British-owned companies that had suffered silent losses think twice.

Some even whispered behind his back that he was a civilian representative sent from the mainland, and he didn’t deny it—he simply wanted to give himself an extra layer of protection.

And his actions certainly paid off; at the very least, everything remained peaceful and uneventful during his time on Hong Kong Island.

But once he left, that was a different story.

Those people might not dare to lay a finger on him, but they might not hesitate to go after Old Huang.

After all, everyone on Hong Kong Island now knew that Old Huang was his closest confidant and one of the two sole shareholders of Starry Sky Company.

Taking Old Huang down would be a direct slap in the face to Li Yi, and could even throw Starry Sky Company into chaos.

Most importantly, Old Huang’s business not only operated in a gray area but was also tied to organized crime. No matter how well such a person might be doing, there are always vulnerabilities, making him relatively easy to deal with.

That’s why Li Yi was so eager to send his brother-in-law and the others over—after all, as long as they possessed a force that others feared, no one would dare to mess with him.

But what Li Yi hadn’t anticipated was that those bastards would strike less than two weeks after his return—they really couldn’t wait!

In Li Yi’s view, these people were declaring war on him!

With a knife already pressed against his throat, how could he possibly hold back?

He had come back hoping to live a few days of peace, but since some people weren’t having it, Li Yi wasn’t going to let them get away with it.

Immediately, Li Yi ordered his men to summon all the executives at the TV factory, including the beaten-up plant manager.

Li Yi held a brief meeting with them, instructing them to follow his arrangements: those responsible for production should focus on production, those handling loans should secure the loans, those building distribution channels should establish them, and those serving as “mascots” should continue in that role.

In short, the tasks had been clearly communicated to everyone—and anyone who failed to complete them would have to answer to him when he returned!

After settling these matters, Li Yi left the TV factory with Zhang Ziqiang.

Since this had happened so suddenly, he still had a lot of matters to take care of, such as Jiang Xue and the children.

Jiang Xue was supposed to go back to school tomorrow, and his mother-in-law was planning to return to work at the university, so Li Yi had originally intended to bring Yunrui and Yunjin to the TV factory to look after them.

Not to mention the factory-run daycare center—he could even leave them in his office.

After all, there were plenty of female employees at the office; he could easily find someone to watch them for a while.

But now that he had to go to Hong Kong and his older sister hadn’t arrived yet, Li Yi had no choice but to come up with another plan.

Besides, he still needed to let Jiang Xue know about his trip to Hong Kong Island.

When Li Yi got home, Jiang Xue and his mother-in-law were both there. The two were chatting in the bedroom while watching the two children roll around and play on the kang.

Seeing Li Yi push the door open, Jiang Xue asked in surprise, “Why are you back so early today?”

“Aren’t you supposed to go to school for a class meeting later? I was planning to drive you there!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“No need, I’ll just take the bus,” Jiang Xue replied.

“Taking the bus is such a hassle. Let me drive you!”

Ye Lingyun was quite pleased to see how much Li Yi doted on her daughter.

But realizing her son-in-law was quite busy, she immediately said, “Xiao Yi, you should let Xue’er go on her own. You can drive her once or twice, but you can’t do it every day—you have your own things to take care of!”

“Mom, it’s no big deal. I’ll give her a ride whenever I have time!”

After that, not wanting to dwell on the matter, Li Yi added, “Xue’er, there’s something else I’d like to talk to you about!”

“What is it?”

“I have to go to Hong Kong tomorrow. Why don’t we drop Yunrui and Yunjin off at the old family home first, so Grandpa can look after them for a couple of days?” Li Yi said.

“Why do you suddenly have to go to Hong Kong out of the blue?” Jiang Xue asked in surprise.

“Something came up at the company, and I need to go handle it!”

“Alright, then go take care of that first. Don’t worry about the kids. Mom and I just talked it over—if you’re busy, we’ll take them to the school’s daycare and have the staff there look after them!” Jiang Xue said.

“Will that work?”

Ye Lingyun immediately chimed in, “It should be fine. Most of the teachers’ children at the school are looked after by the daycare staff!”

“That’ll work, then. We’ll bring them back once my older sister arrives in a little while!”

“Alright!”

Then, Li Yi glanced at his watch—it was already five o’clock, and there was only an hour left before the class meeting was set to begin.

He immediately told Jiang Xue to get changed, then took her straight to Beijing University!