bookbashuk Page 783
Page 783
Left with no other option, Ye Han immediately sought out Ye Deli and He Hongshen. Unfortunately, the two were also unable to support such a massive funding requirement, and the bidding process remained stalled with no progress.
Just when everyone was at their wits' end and had no other choice, He Hongshen, relying on his extensive network of contacts accumulated over the years, lobbied around and finally succeeded in winning over Huo Yingdong and He Yuzhu.
Thus, two major camps quietly formed in Macau's gambling industry.
One side is led by "Ghost King" Yip Hon. Yip Hon has been deeply involved in the field of gambling for many years and has become famous in the Macau gambling world with his superb gambling skills.
His cousin, Yip Tak Lee, was under his command. Yip Tak Lee was quick-witted, good at socializing, and had a wide network of connections in the business world.
There is also Ye Beihai, a ruthless man with considerable prestige in the martial arts world;
And Gao Hailin, who is an expert in all aspects of casino operation and a master of casino management.
The other side was led by Stanley Ho, who came from a prominent family and possessed extraordinary business acumen and powerful social resources.
The team also includes patriotic businessman Henry Fok, who not only had great wealth but also a strong sense of patriotism and held a pivotal position in Hong Kong's business community.
Although He Yuzhu is relatively low-key, he has keen insight into the financial field and can always provide the team with accurate financial strategies at critical moments.
The former has the advantage in numbers, and its members each have their own strengths and cooperate well;
The latter has stronger overall strength, and with its profound background, abundant funds and outstanding business acumen, it has demonstrated a formidable competitiveness in Macau's gambling industry.
After a round of drinks and conversation, everyone sat around the sandalwood table and listened to Ye Han slowly recount his past.
It turns out that Yip Hon had failed in his two previous bids for the license, and he had already tasted the bitterness of defeat twice.
But things are different now. This time, his expression was full of confidence, and he exuded an aura of determination.
The root cause was the arrival of the new Governor of Macau, Marcello Márquez.
When Ma Jishi first arrived in Macau, after conducting in-depth research, he keenly realized that the local gold business was firmly controlled by a few conglomerates, forming an ironclad monopoly. The government's profits from it were meager, barely a fraction of what it was worth.
In contrast, although the gambling industry is controversial among the public, it can bring a steady stream of substantial fiscal revenue to the government, filling the Macao government's coffers with each transaction.
Therefore, Ma Jishi set his sights on the gambling licenses without hesitation, scheming how to gain more benefits from them and add a brilliant chapter to his political achievements in Macau.
According to the official announcement, the reserve price for this gaming license, after complex calculations, is approximately HK$300 million.
In Yip Hon's view, all signs seemed tailor-made for him. This time, he was fully confident that he could break through the shadows of the past, successfully obtain the license, and start a new chapter in his gambling career.
The focus of the discussion quickly shifted to the crucial matter of forming a new company.
Inside the meeting room, everyone freely expressed their opinions, creating a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.
After several rounds of intense discussions and weighing various factors, everyone unanimously decided to name the new company "Macau City Entertainment Company".
Huo Yingdong, He Hongshen, Ye Deli and Ye Han, several influential figures in the business world, became the main investors.
Just when everyone thought the fundraising was settled, Ho Yu-chu unexpectedly stepped forward and offered to generously lend HK$100 million.
This move surprised and impressed everyone present. As a result, the new company successfully raised a total of 400 million yuan, laying a solid economic foundation for its subsequent operation and development.
It is worth mentioning that today's meeting is only in the initial discussion stage.
With three full days left until the bid deadline, everyone maintained a cautious and composed attitude and did not rush to complete the task.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the conference room was both serious and filled with barely suppressed anticipation.
The only things that have been confirmed so far are the key decision to jointly bid and the new company's impressive and ambitious name – Aocheng Entertainment Company.
The name of the new company, once proposed, sparked a brief but heated discussion in the conference room. Everyone agreed that the name signified the company's determination to explore new areas of Macau's entertainment industry.
As for the specific funding plan, it involves a delicate balance of interests from all parties, and remains unresolved, like a tangled mess of threads.
Each company representative had their own agenda on this issue. Some advocated contributing based on their past influence in the industry, while others suggested determining the proportion based on the amount of funds available at hand.
Regarding whether to use 400 million as the bid amount, the parties have not reached a consensus based on their own assessment of project risks, consideration of expected returns, and existing cash reserves.
Quiet discussions and heated debates could be heard from time to time in the conference room. Different viewpoints collided in the air, but no conclusion could be reached that satisfied everyone. This problem was like a heavy stone weighing on everyone's hearts, causing the meeting to temporarily reach a stalemate.
The meeting lasted from daytime until evening, as the sunlight gradually dimmed and the lights in the conference room came on.
He Hongshen sat at the head of the long table. His brows relaxed slightly, and he gently rubbed his temples. Then he looked at his watch, and the hour hand had quietly pointed to six o'clock in the evening.
He stood up, placed his hands on the table, calmly surveyed the room, cleared his throat, and announced in a loud voice to the crowd:
"That's all for today, everyone. You've all worked hard. It's been a long day of intense discussions, and everyone's been on edge. Now it's time to relax a bit. Take a short break, and we'll have lunch together in half an hour. We can chat while we eat."
As soon as he finished speaking, the once quiet and serious conference room, where you could hear a pin drop, instantly became like a calm lake with a pebble thrown in, causing a slight ripple.
The pens that everyone had been diligently taking notes with all stopped, the pens leaving marks of varying lengths on the paper.
Immediately afterwards, everyone began to methodically tidy up the documents spread out on the table, and the notebooks filled with dense handwriting were closed one by one.
The tension on their faces gradually eased, like ice and snow melting under the warm spring sun, filled with anticipation for the relaxed dining time to come.
The creaking of chairs against the floor and the hushed whispers among colleagues intertwined to create a unique melody, instantly dispelling the previously oppressive atmosphere.
He Yuzhu dragged his heavy, exhausted body, which felt like it was filled with lead, and slowly walked into the room.
He turned around and gently closed the door, a movement that seemed to use all his strength, as if he had completely shut out all the noise and disturbances from the outside world.
He let out a long sigh of relief and slumped onto the sofa, his body seemingly swallowed up by its softness, sinking deep into it, trying to alleviate the weariness accumulated from a long day's work with this moment of rest.
He raised his right hand, vigorously rubbing his throbbing temples with his thumb and forefinger, then slowly closed his eyes, immersing himself completely in this rare tranquility.
However, this tranquility did not last long. A short while later, a crisp and rapid knocking sound, like a sharp lightning bolt, instantly shattered the silence in the room.
He Yuzhu frowned subconsciously, a hint of displeasure flashing across his relaxed face, as this rare moment of rest had been abruptly interrupted.
But soon, his brow relaxed again, and he thought to himself that in such a special occasion, the person knocking so urgently must have something extremely important to do. He quickly got up, his steps slightly hurried, and walked briskly to the door, reaching out to open it.
Outside the door stood Huo Yingdong, dressed in a sharp suit, looking radiant and beaming. "Let's go, Brother Zhu!"
With a broad smile, Huo Yingdong warmly extended his hand and gently patted He Yuzhu's shoulder, his voice carrying an undeniable warmth.
"Dinner has already begun, and everyone is waiting in the private room for your arrival, our distinguished guest!"
As he spoke, he turned to the side, stretched out his arm, palm up, and made a "please" gesture. His smile grew even brighter, and his eyes were full of sincerity and expectation, as if the banquet only had meaning because of He Yuzhu's arrival.
He Yuzhu nodded slightly, then followed closely behind Fok Ying-tung as they walked together through the hotel's spacious and bright corridor.
Along both sides of the corridor, there are exquisite paintings created by famous artists, some showcasing the magnificence of mountains and rivers, others depicting the charm of figures, each one worthy of pausing to admire.
The carpet beneath my feet is from a foreign land. It is not only soft and comfortable to the touch, but also absorbs the sound of my footsteps, making them almost inaudible.
Before long, the two arrived at the extremely luxurious private room inside the hotel.
Henry Fok gently pushed open the door, and in an instant, a warm and lively atmosphere rushed in.
He Yuzhu looked up and saw that the private room was already filled with elites from all walks of life.
The private room was decorated with the utmost luxury. The crystal chandelier overhead resembled twinkling stars in the night sky, radiating a dazzling light that evenly illuminated everyone's faces.
At this gathering, in addition to several important figures who hold significant positions in the business and political circles, Fok Ying-tung also enthusiastically introduced Ho Yu-chu to each of them.
He first introduced the Ho brothers, Ho Yin and Ho Tim, who are highly influential in Macau's business community. The two men exuded composure and magnanimity in their every move, and their words revealed their profound insights into the industry.
Then, Fok Ying-tung pointed to an elder with an extraordinary demeanor and introduced him to Yu Yu-chu, saying that this was the renowned Yu Bei-hai.
The private room was filled with celebrities, who chatted in small groups.
They shared recent business opportunities or discussed current events, sparking insightful discussions.
The atmosphere was incredibly lively, with laughter and cheers echoing throughout, like a harmonious and beautiful melody.
On the court, Ho Yin and Fok Ying-tung displayed their agility, exchanging blows and sweating profusely, their perfect teamwork showcasing their deep friendship.
He Yuzhu arrived at the appointment and was warmly greeted by He Xian and Huo Yingdong upon his arrival. The three sat down and engaged in a friendly conversation that flowed like a gentle stream.
During the conversation, He Yuzhu seemed to be gently pulled by the threads of fate, and unexpectedly heard about He Xian's generation in the family genealogy, which suddenly stirred up a storm in his heart.
It turns out that He Xian is actually his elder brother according to seniority! Previously, He Hongshen was not Chinese, and when doing business, everyone focused on cooperation and interests, and the matter of family lineage was never mentioned.
At this moment, upon learning of this unexpected blood relationship, He Yuzhu felt his blood surging with joy, his excitement like a bursting dam, impossible to suppress.
His eyes widened, his face instantly lighting up with a mixture of surprise and joy. His voice was filled with excitement and delight as he blurted out:
"I never imagined that you would be my brother in this vast world. It is an honor to know and recognize you!"
"Haha, I never expected to run into my cousin here in Haojiang. This is truly a wonderful thing!"
Chapter 557: Same race
He Xian laughed heartily as he strode forward, his eyes filled with undisguised warmth. His expression was as if the person before him was not a stranger he was meeting for the first time, but a long-lost relative he had missed day and night. Now that they were reunited, all his unspoken words were expressed in his beaming smile.
If the other party is just an ordinary citizen, in this vast sea of people, it is highly likely that no one will care about that kinship.
After all, there are countless people in the world with the same surname and clan, but very few will actually take the initiative to recognize each other.
Only when both parties occupy a fairly high position in society and stand firmly at a similar level in life can they achieve equal dialogue, appreciate each other, and cherish one another.
The news of He Yuzhu recognizing his brothers He Tian and He Xian caused a stir in the entertainment circle, leaving many people speechless with surprise.
However, after everyone calmed down and thought it over carefully, it became clear that although He Yuzhu had only been in the business world for a short time, he had already successfully become a director of Liu Chuang Hing Bank through his own hard work. He owned two high-end office buildings in a prime location in Sheung Wan, and looking further ahead, there were more than twenty industrial buildings under construction. The scale was grand and the momentum was extraordinary. Such strong strength should not be underestimated.
Furthermore, his lathe and radio businesses were also thriving, with sales soaring and his reputation growing in the industry. He gradually emerged as a prominent figure and established a firm foothold in the market.
It makes perfect sense, upon closer examination, that such an outstanding and powerful individual would recognize the He brothers, who are renowned in the business world; everything seems to make perfect sense.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed after the family reunion, and the aroma of tea rising from the tea table added a touch of elegance to the warm ambiance.
He Tian sat upright in the chair, his slender fingers gently holding the teacup. He slowly lifted it to his lips and took a small sip.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if savoring the rich flavor of the tea, or perhaps considering how to begin speaking.