bookbashuk Chapter 622 Capital Games
Chapter 622 Capital Games
When Fatty Lin said that, I came to my senses and realized that what I had said earlier was a bit tactless.
"Helen, think about it, Zhang Piaopiao is a terrible person. Is it worth ruining yourself for such a scumbag?"
Fatty Lin was still trying to smooth things over.
"Let's just ignore her like she's stinking dog shit. When the kids are older, we'll find an excuse to get Xiaohu and her to divorce, and that'll be the end of it. What do you say?"
"That makes sense. I was too impulsive just now!"
After being persuaded, Li Hailun calmed down.
"Sister Helen, when do you have time to come over? Thirteen and I will give you a check-up. It's not worth ruining your health!" Fatty Lin said again.
"Okay, I'll come to your place in a couple of days. I'm telling you, you'd better give me a thorough check-up!" Li Hailun said.
"My dear Helen, with our relationship, Thirteen and I will definitely satisfy you!" Fatty Lin patted his chest and assured him.
We chatted for a couple more minutes, then the call ended.
After hanging up, Fatty Lin nudged me and said, "Crazy, look at you! Helen's in a bad mood, why are you arguing with her? Even if you really let Ni'er help her cast a spell, she'll back down. No matter what, Zhang Piaopiao is her grandson's mother!"
"A mother of a grandson!" I added.
"Right, right, a mother of a grandson!" Fatty Lin laughed, nodding as he said, "Her family relationships are quite complicated; Zhang Piaopiao's two children are both brothers and uncle and nephew!"
"Their family is going to be quite a show from now on!" I said, shaking my head.
The next day, as expected, we saw the news in the newspaper that Zhang Piaopiao had given birth, and we also saw the news that Xie Xiaohu personally cut the umbilical cord for his beloved son.
Just like I said, this family's drama is far from over!
At the end of May, the Shanghai International Film Festival was about to kick off, and we were just figuring out how to have fun in Shanghai when Third Master suddenly showed up in Hong Kong.
Third Master's arrival this time was a surprise attack.
He called us after he got downstairs.
"Third Master, you should have called us in advance. Why did you have to resort to surprise attacks?" Fatty Lin complained jokingly as the three of us went downstairs to pick up Third Master.
"I hadn't planned to come, but I was worried something might go wrong, and I also wanted Thirteen to take my pulse, so I came!" Third Master said as he followed us upstairs.
After going upstairs, before discussing any business, I first took Third Master's pulse.
"There's nothing wrong, you're much better now, Third Master. I'll adjust your prescription. Come back in a month, and I'll adjust it again then, and you should be fine!"
After taking his pulse, I said with a smile.
"That's good!"
Third Master let out a breath, glanced at us, and said, "You did something really big the other day, forcing the Kerry and Xunsha families to bow their heads!"
"Third Master, you've heard about this too?" I was a little surprised.
"That kid from the Li family gave you all a good talking-to when he got back to the capital, how could I not know?" Third Master said with a smile.
I believe Li Donglin praised us, but I don't believe his widespread propaganda.
The Kerry and Sunsa families are also deeply rooted in mainland China and have good relations with many people.
They are different from the Li family and the other families; these two major families are willing to relinquish their interests.
Because of this, they are quite good at gaining favor with some bosses.
Therefore, I have my doubts about whether the news of killing Dunzhu came from Li Donglin and reached the Third Master's attention, or from the Kerry and Xunsha families.
I think it's more likely that we'll get the information from the latter.
A few years later, the two families were united by marriage, which proved that my suspicions at the time were correct.
"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Fatty Lin deliberately put on a reserved yet smug look.
"All you do is be humble!"
Third Master smiled, pointed at Fatty Lin, thought for a moment, and said, "I came here today because I was afraid you wouldn't understand the Wang brothers' true intentions, so I'm here to analyze it for you!"
"Third Master, what is it?"
Upon hearing him say that, my brother and I became serious.
"Starting from the beginning of the year, with the help of the Liu family, the Wang brothers began to build a cross-regional capital network, and the Shanghai Film Festival became their showcase!"
Third Master started with an opening remark and introduced a new term: cross-regional capital network.
"Third Master, I don't quite understand!" I said.
"Don't rush, I'll take it apart for you one by one!" Third Master said.
"Okay!" Fatty Lin and I exchanged a glance and nodded at the same time, while Long Nier sat quietly to the side, holding a notebook, ready to take notes at any time.
Little Ba didn't make a fuss. It lay quietly in its nest, squinting its little eyes, seemingly sleeping, but its little ears were already perked up.
"Don't you guys think that the entertainment industry in Hong Kong in May is incredibly lively, like oil being poured on a raging fire?" Third Master glanced at us, didn't explain, but asked a question first.
The news in the industry is always compiled by Long Nier, and my brother and I both looked to Nier for updates.
"The 'Lam Man 2' dominates the monthly box office; Chan To-chai announces he will invest in low-budget independent films; TVB corruption case continues with inquiries; the Lam family member announces he will divide his film and television shares; Lee Yuet-chi and her husband, Chiang Lin-hang, attend a charity dinner at the racecourse!"
Long Nier recounted several well-known events in the Hong Kong entertainment industry this month, as if she knew them by heart.
Third Master chuckled and said, "To outsiders, these are box office competitions, celebrity social interactions, and industry scandals, but to insiders, they are a battleground for capital."
"Third Master, what do you mean?" Fatty Lin asked.
"How so?"
Third Master took a sip of tea and said, "Film and television projects have ample cash flow and a great deal of room for manipulating production accounts. Low-cost, niche films and co-productions are the most suitable for splitting off offshore funds and packaging gray funds accumulated from foreign trade and real estate into investment returns."
"Horse racing parties, private yacht parties, and movie celebration banquets are ostensibly for social gatherings, but in reality, they are for major capital groups to share profits and finalize cross-border transfer channels."
"The Wang brothers understand better than anyone else that the leverage available in the mainland's legitimate market is limited and regulations are tightening. If they want to rapidly expand their capital base, they must take advantage of Hong Kong's relaxed capital environment."
"In late May, they frequently traveled between the two sides of the strait, ostensibly to discuss co-productions and artist management, but their real purpose was to forge alliances and cooperation with Hong Kong tycoons."
"The Hong Kong side provides offshore accounts and overseas connections for protection, while the Wang family controls mainland market channels and capital resources. Both sides get what they need, firmly locking in a community of shared interests."
Third Master counted on his fingers, withdrawing one finger after each point he made.
To be honest, without Third Master's analysis, we really wouldn't have been able to figure out the ins and outs of this.
All we know is that there's something fishy going on here, but we don't know what that fishy thing is.
Moreover, judging from Third Master's words, Chen Daozai's so-called investment in low-budget films is not entirely pure in its intentions; there are also capital behind him with ulterior motives.