Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 782

To be fair, this amount of money is just a drop in the ocean for all of us here; it's really nothing.

Imagine if you could acquire a prime piece of land in Haojiang with excellent location and complete amenities, and invest in real estate development. As high-rise buildings rise and houses flood the market, the profits would far exceed those from casinos and gold trading—several times higher!

He Yuzhu nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face, deeply agreeing with this insight.

For a long time, he devoted himself to the industrial building project, and with his unique vision and unremitting efforts, he has established a firm foothold in this field.

However, the ever-changing market conditions led him to turn his attention to the residential sector early on, astutely recognizing the substantial profits it held.

However, previously limited by a lack of funds and limited personal connections, despite their eagerness to try, they were always constrained by reality and found it difficult to take the crucial step into the residential sector.

"Two or three million a year is really not much in our industry."

He Yuzhu shook his head slightly, his face showing a hint of emotion. His tone contained both agreement and a touch of helplessness regarding the complex situation in the industry. He then echoed the sentiment.

With a solemn expression, Fok Ying-tung slowly said:

"In the early years, those foreign firms coveted the lucrative gambling business, attempting to get a share of the profits, and even brazenly participated in the bidding. However, they underestimated the depth of this quagmire and were meticulously plotted against behind the scenes."

In their first auction, their deposit was inexplicably frozen, and the funds couldn't be secured at the crucial moment, causing them to fail. In their second, they finally won the bid, but on the eve of signing, their partner suddenly changed their mind, causing the plan to fall through. After suffering several major losses, they finally woke up and completely abandoned the idea of ​​getting involved in the gambling business.

"A foreign firm actually got ripped off? This is unbelievable!"

He Yuzhu's eyes widened instantly, his curiosity burning like dry tinder doused with hot oil, and his whole body involuntarily leaned forward.

"It's not just being scammed, it's a devastating loss!"

Huo Yingdong sighed heavily, and then recounted in detail the cause and effect of the foreign firm being swindled.

That was a period in the business world that still evokes sighs of regret.

Back then, renowned Hong Kong trading companies such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Swire, upon hearing about the bidding for casino licenses in Macau, eagerly flocked to Macau to participate in the bidding, harboring great ambitions and expectations for the new market.

However, the local government of Hougang set a high threshold for bidding – each bid required a huge deposit of up to 100 million patacas.

These trading companies primarily used British pounds and Hong Kong dollars in their daily operations in Hong Kong. Faced with such a huge demand for Portuguese patacas, they simply couldn't come up with the funds and had no choice but to exchange them at the market.

Under normal circumstances, the exchange rate was stable at 1 Hong Kong dollar to 9 Portuguese patacas, but Tai Fung Bank took advantage of the situation and offered an exchange rate as low as 1 to 7.

Although the foreign firms were unwilling, they were eager to bid and had no choice but to accept these extremely unreasonable exchange conditions.

After finally completing the bidding process, the result was like a bucket of cold water being poured on them. The Macao government did not let them win the bid and returned the 100 million patacas deposit in full.

But the matter did not end there; the trading companies then faced the problem of exchanging Portuguese patacas back into Hong Kong dollars.

At this moment, the exchange rate market suddenly changed, and the Portuguese peso depreciated sharply, with the exchange rate plummeting to 1 to 13.

This back-and-forth resulted in huge losses for the foreign firms in terms of exchange rates, leaving them with nothing.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the business community. Upon hearing the news, businessmen were all filled with lingering fear and hesitated to do business in Macau.

Since then, for a long time, no one dared to easily compete with local business groups for territory, and the business landscape of Macau quietly changed as a result.

He Yuzhu stared in shock, his mouth agape, unable to close it for a long time.

He could hardly believe that a foreign firm that was usually so wealthy, shrewd, and capable of manipulating the market would suffer such a huge setback in the casino business and be cheated so miserably.

It's well known that the casino industry is rife with undercurrents and shady dealings.

Take, for example, the bid for the casino license by Ye Han and Wu Hailin back then. The price they offered was far beyond what most people expected, but they still failed to win the bid. This shows how deep the water was behind it all. And now, the fate of the foreign firm has given He Yuzhu an even deeper understanding of this complex situation.

He Yuzhu frowned slightly, his face full of doubt, and couldn't help but ask:

“In the land of Macau, the bidding for gaming licenses has always been unpredictable, and so many powerful conglomerates have failed in the past.”

Even with a high bid, winning the bid is not guaranteed in this complex and unpredictable situation.

I really don't understand why you insisted on getting involved this time. Do you think that as long as you offer a high enough price and throw in a lot of money, you can win this project without any doubt?

With a solemn expression, Fok Ying-tung slowly began to explain:

"The smooth progress of this bidding process is truly thanks to Mr. [Name]'s extensive network and skillful maneuvering."

Mr. He has the ancestry of four countries and grew up in a multicultural environment, which made him feel at ease and unhindered when integrating into Western social circles.

As you all know, Mr. Fu is now quite old and his energy is not what it used to be. Some foreigners with deep-rooted interests in Macau are seizing the opportunity to replace the casino operators in order to maximize their own profits.

Henry Fok paused briefly, glanced around, and continued:

"But Fu Laorong had been operating in Macau for many years and was backed by powerful foreign forces. Neither side would give way, and they eventually elected their own agents, thus beginning this thrilling contest."

The rules for this competition for the gambling license were simple to the point of being brutal: the winner was determined solely by the highest bidder. Whoever could offer the highest price would win the license, which symbolized enormous wealth and supreme power.

With such tempting profits before him, how could Ye Han not be tempted? Naturally, he coveted this lucrative prize, determined to obtain it.

To understand why Fok Ying-tung got involved in this dispute, we have to go back to a charity football match with special significance.

Huo Yingdong has had a burning passion for football since childhood, and that love for the green field has long been deeply imprinted in his life.

Some time ago, a charity football match was held in the Macau area to raise funds for the Police Department. The news of this event sparked a great deal of interest from all walks of life. Huo Yingdong, at the sincere invitation of his longtime friend He Xian, decided to participate without hesitation.

At that time, Ho Yu-chu was preoccupied with many affairs and had never been interested in football. After much deliberation, he chose to generously donate 2 yuan to express his feelings, without setting foot on the land of Macau. Fok Ying-tung, full of anticipation, went to Macau with his wife.

On the day of the match, the sun shone brightly on the green field, and the men ran freely on the field, sweating profusely. Every pass and every shot was accompanied by cheers and shouts from the audience.

Meanwhile, the ladies gathered at Yu Beihai's magnificent mansion and began a leisurely game of mahjong.

Yu Beihai's ancestral home is in mainland China. In his early years, he left his hometown to make his way in Hong Kong. With his extraordinary courage and wisdom, he gained a foothold in the complex environment.

He was addicted to gambling and had been immersed in the world of gambling for many years. At the same time, with his excellent social skills, he built an extremely extensive network of contacts. He was well-connected in both legitimate business circles and the turbulent underworld, making him a highly influential figure.

He Shen's wife was also in the mahjong game. There seems to be a natural affinity between women. She chatted happily with Huo Yingdong's wife and they quickly became friends. Their laughter echoed in the rooms of the mansion.

After each day's competition, Huo Yingdong would go to Yu Beihai's residence to pick up his wife in the evening. Over time, he and He Shen would often meet.

Initially, the two exchanged only polite greetings. As they met more often, their conversations became richer, ranging from everyday weather to their life experiences. The distance between them gradually narrowed, and they became more familiar with each other.

One day, He Shen, with a smile on his face, earnestly invited Huo Yingdong to participate in the upcoming gambling license auction, his eyes revealing his importance and anticipation for the event.

In their subsequent conversation, the two chatted enthusiastically about their business experiences, sharing their ups and downs and insights in the business world.

Considering He Yuzhu's needs in business development, Huo Yingdong enthusiastically introduced He Yuzhu to He Shen.

With Huo Yingdong's help, He Yuzhu successfully purchased the new industrial building he had long desired from He Shen, adding an important piece to his business empire. As the two were talking, the ship slowly approached the Haojiang Wharf.

A gentle sea breeze stirred the hair of the people. He Shen, his face beaming with a smile that seemed to dispel all gloom, led a group of well-dressed and capable-looking people to greet them quickly.

Their steps were synchronized, demonstrating their professionalism and well-trained nature. "A warm welcome to everyone in Haojiang! You must have had a long journey!"

He Shen extended his right hand warmly, his voice loud and sincere, as if he were welcoming a long-lost friend, his eyes revealing his joy and anticipation for everyone's arrival.

"Mr. He, you're too kind,"

Henry Fok quickly bowed in response, his face displaying just the right amount of humility and sincerity.

"We are deeply grateful for your kind hospitality and kindness."

After exchanging pleasantries, He Shen turned slightly to the side, his face beaming with smiles, and introduced the person beside him to He Yuzhu, his words filled with respect:

"This is Mr. Yu Beihai, a very prominent figure in the business world of Macau. Many industries have flourished under his strategic planning, making him a true giant in the Macau business community."

As he spoke, he respectfully pointed to a distinguished middle-aged man who was dressed in a well-tailored suit and whose eyes revealed shrewdness and composure.

Immediately afterwards, He Shen's hand moved to a handsome gentleman, his voice unconsciously rising a few decibels, full of admiration:

"This is the famous new gambling king, Mr. Yip Hon, who has been a master gambler in the gambling world, and his superb gambling skills and legendary experience are a topic of great interest in Macau and the entire gambling industry."

He Shen then introduced a group of celebrities who have a great influence in Macau, including Yip Tak Lee and Ko Hoi Lam.

Everyone nodded to He Yuzhu, showing great politeness. However, Gao Hailin, standing in the crowd, merely nodded slightly, his words carrying a hint of indifference, offering only a few perfunctory replies.

He Yuzhu keenly sensed this slight anomaly, but being an open-minded person, he did not take Gao Hailin's attitude to heart and continued to smile and politely respond to everyone.

Chapter 556 Dinner

After the introductions, everyone stepped out of the hall, where a brand-new luxury car was already waiting, its body gleaming in the sunlight.

The car doors opened automatically, and He Yuzhu and his entourage filed in. The leather seats inside were soft and comfortable, and the air was filled with a faint sandalwood scent.

The car started smoothly and drove towards the international hotel.

Upon arrival, the hotel staff greeted them with smiles and quickly arranged two spacious, bright, and beautifully decorated comfortable rooms for He Yuzhu and his party. The rooms were fully equipped, from the soft beds to the complete toiletries, all of which reflected the hotel's high quality.

He Yuzhu and his group put down their luggage, rested for a while, and relieved their fatigue from the journey.

Afterwards, everyone arrived at the meeting room at the agreed time, dressed neatly and with serious expressions, ready to discuss important matters concerning the future.

Inside the conference room, people sat in a circle around an oval conference table. Warm yellow lights shone down, but they failed to dispel the tense atmosphere in the air.

People whispered amongst themselves, their words laced with intense emotion, making the atmosphere increasingly heated. He Yuzhu, dressed in a low-key dark suit, sat quietly in the corner, the meeting documents in front of him untouched.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly casually scanning the entire room, but in reality, his eyes were sharp, not missing a single detail.

Before long, drawing on his years of experience navigating the business world, he astutely realized that the scene had already split into two camps:

One side appeared resolute, their words filled with a defense of the existing rules; the other side, on the other hand, looked anxious, trying to create an opening for new changes.

Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents are surging.

This bidding project was initiated by casino tycoon Yip Hon. Yip Hon is a renowned figure in Macau's gambling industry, a dazzling superstar whose legendary story is told by word of mouth throughout the city.

However, reality proved quite harsh; despite his fame, he had very limited funds.

In order to raise the amount required for the bid, he first pulled in Ye Beihai and Gao Hailin.

The three of them scraped together the money from various sources, putting in tremendous effort, but the amount they managed to raise was still a drop in the ocean compared to the high bid amount, a far cry from what they could possibly achieve.