Chapter 411: This is a really big game of chess.
"Magnificent, truly magnificent!"
Lin Feng held a family dinner, inviting a few close individuals: Liang Kun's family, his own brothers, Chicken, and of course, Chiang Tin-Yeung, plus another Second Marshal of Hung Hing, Big D.
Chiang Tin-Yeung exclaimed with emotion:
"Only now do I see Ah Feng's methods; they are truly astonishing."
Lin Feng smiled and waved his hand:
"It's nothing worth mentioning."
Big D was utterly confused:
"Mr. Chiang, Ah Feng, what are you two talking about?"
"Why don't I understand?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung laughed:
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand; the most important thing is that you know Ah Feng's plan succeeded."
"We're going to make a fortune!"
Big D was stunned:
"Making another fortune?"
"What kind of fortune?"
"Oh, in this day and age, not losing money is equivalent to making money!"
Chiang Tin-Yeung asked, puzzled:
"Hung Hing's development is in full swing; everyone is making money."
"Just like Benny, he practically lives in his Mainland now."
"I heard he's even gotten plump."
Big D said, distressed:
"What else could it be?"
"It's still about HSBC."
"Today, after getting Brother Kun's notice, I rushed to HSBC to withdraw money. Good heavens, even though I had already sent out the notice, many brothers were still turned away."
"I wonder if we'll be able to withdraw money tomorrow."
Liang Kun glanced at Lin Feng.
"You should ask Ah Feng about this."
Lin Feng shrugged:
"I'm guessing that those who couldn't withdraw money today will most likely be able to within the next week."
Big D was especially shocked:
"What? It'll take another week?"
Liang Kun laughed and scolded:
"It's good enough if you can withdraw it at all; it's much better than it turning into cold numbers."
Lin Feng explained:
"HSBC's current situation is very frustrating."
"They're not without money; they have money."
Big D frowned:
"Then why can't we withdraw money when we try?"
Lin Feng said casually:
"Simple, because they don't have enough cash!"
"Do you think HSBC is a joke?"
"They have a lot of money on their books."
"As long as it's not a cash withdrawal, even if you transfer funds to another bank, they can handle it for you."
Big D was startled:
"If that's the case, then they're not afraid of a run at all."
Lin Feng shook his head:
"Who told you that?"
"A bank's most important businesses are two: one is attracting deposits, and the other is issuing loans."
"If they only issue loans and don't attract deposits, what kind of bank are they called? Why not just call them a loan company?"
"The emergence of a bank run indicates that citizens don't trust HSBC."
"They are no longer willing to deposit their money with HSBC."
"Do you understand what this means?"
Big D suddenly understood.
"If that's the case, then I can tell my brothers not to worry about their deposits."
"Just tell them to open an account at another bank and transfer their money there, wouldn't that work?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung shook his head:
"No!"
"You have to tell your brothers to withdraw the money, cash!"
Big D was even more confused:
"Why?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung said speechlessly:
"Don't you know by now who orchestrated the run on HSBC?"
Big D's scalp tingled:
"What? The run on HSBC was orchestrated by someone?"
"Which formidable figure is so ruthless?"
"He even dares to scheme against HSBC?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung looked at Liang Kun with a puzzled expression, thinking, why doesn't this Big D understand anything?
Liang Kun burst out laughing, pointing at Lin Feng:
"That formidable figure is right here!"
Big D was startled:
"Ah Feng, you orchestrated this run?"
"Why?"
Lin Feng said with unusual calm:
"I didn't like Mr. Shen, so naturally, I had to scheme against him."
"To be honest with you, all the Triads we're friendly with, like Sun Luen Shing, Wo Luen Shing, Wo Hing Shing, Fuk Yee... anyone who has deposits in HSBC, I want them to withdraw cash."
"For transfers, they have money."
"For cash, they absolutely cannot produce that much."
Big D was stunned, suddenly feeling a sense of inferiority.
He realized the huge gap between himself and Lin Feng.
The things Lin Feng thought about and said were completely beyond his comprehension.
They were practically people from two different worlds.
Liang Kun patted Big D:
"Is it hard to understand what Ah Feng is saying?"
Big D nodded.
"Do you feel that Ah Feng and we are not from the same world?"
Big D still nodded.
"Do you feel that Ah Feng's demeanor and actions far surpass ours?"
Big D nodded vigorously.
Liang Kun sighed:
"Feeling sad?"
Big D honestly said:
"A little!"
"How can such a person be involved in the underworld? Isn't this a waste of talent?"
Liang Kun strongly agreed:
"Don't feel inferior, and don't feel uncomfortable."
"My thoughts are the same as yours."
Big D immediately felt better:
"Haha, so Brother Kun, you think so too."
Chiang Tin-Yeung's mouth twitched slightly. He suddenly realized that Big D was indeed a wonderfully straightforward person.
So what if Liang Kun is like you?
Liang Kun raised him from a young age; he's more than a blood brother. Can you compare to that?
Chiang Tin-Yeung secretly sighed, Big D's luck was really damn good.
For such a person to have survived so many years in the underworld without being played to death, his luck was truly extraordinary.
Isn't Wo Luen Shing famous for producing old foxes?
How did Big D survive?
Oh, right, Liang Kun helped Big D out, so that's fine.
Chiang Tin-Yeung understood Big D's personality and immediately knew how to get along with him, so he spoke:
"Big D, don't let Brother Kun discourage you."
"He hasn't told you the most important thing yet."
Big D was full of questions:
"What most important thing?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung smiled:
"We're rich, we're making a huge fortune!"
Big D suddenly perked up. If it was anything else, he wouldn't understand or grasp the situation, but if it was about making money, he loved it the most.
"Mr. Chiang, tell me, quickly tell me."
Big Ds Wife looked at her man, speechless for a moment, too embarrassed to face anyone, her face flushed.
Shui Ling sat beside her and laughed:
"Big D is truly honest and simple."
Big Ds Wife gave a silent, bitter smile. She guessed only Dragon Head's Sister-in-law would evaluate Big D like that.
Who in the underworld didn't know her man was fierce and overbearing, with a fiery temper?
Yet he was evaluated as honest and simple.
Big Ds Wife didn't know whether Shui Ling was teasing or being sarcastic.
Shui Ling said earnestly:
"Don't overthink it, I truly think Big D is honest and simple."
"You know Ah Kun's background; he particularly dislikes people who scheme behind others' backs."
"He detests such people."
"Conversely, someone like Big D is worth getting along with."
Big Ds Wife suddenly understood. She wouldn't believe anything else.
But once the Dragon Head's background was mentioned, she naturally had to believe it.
Liang Kun's experiences naturally made him appreciate straightforward guys like Big D.
No other reason, Big D's personality was to say what he thought, and you could see right through him.
Even if he wanted to do something bad, it was written all over his face.
You couldn't help but be convinced.
Big Ds Wife finally relaxed.
Over there, Big D was very curious:
"Brother Kun, how did we get rich?"
Liang Kun shrugged:
"Didn't Ah Feng start a project, and didn't you invest money?"
"Don't you care about the investment results at all?"
Big D was very practical:
"Ah Feng's investment vision far surpasses mine. If he were to explain it to me in detail, it would purely be a waste of breath; I wouldn't understand it at all."
As he said this, his face was full of frankness.
Big Ds Wife couldn't help but say:
"You don't understand Ah Feng's investment, and you're proud of it?"
"What's there to be proud of?"
Big D said as a matter of course:
"Having such an investment expert manage my wealth is a blessing I couldn't ask for more."
"Look at how big the underworld is, how many big bosses there are. Besides our Hung Hing bosses, which other few people did Ah Feng help get rich?"
"It's always the same few, isn't it?"
"I don't understand, but I don't cause trouble. Isn't it just better to sit back and wait for the money?"
Big Ds Wife had nothing to say.
Chiang Tin-Yeung gave a thumbs-up and praised:
"Big D lives clearly, great wisdom appearing foolish!"
Big D looked around, puzzled, and cautiously asked for confirmation:
"Mr. Chiang, the word you used, you're praising me, right?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung nodded repeatedly:
"I'm praising you."
Big D immediately became happy:
"That's good, let's have a drink!"
Chiang Tin-Yeung secretly shook his head. This guy was not great wisdom appearing foolish; he was clearly a simpleton with good fortune!
He was just lucky to have met Liang Kun; otherwise, he would have been played to death by Wo Luen Shing's old foxes long ago!
According to his deduction, Big D would either have been used as a blade for external conquests or as a whetstone, used by Wo Luen Shing's old foxes to train young foxes.
Don't ever think that a fox only uses its brain and won't resort to action.
That would be too naive.
A true fox can do anything.
Chiang Tin-Yeung was such a figure; after only two encounters with Big D, he had already analyzed Big D's fate quite thoroughly.
It's a good thing he was in Hung Hing; otherwise, Big D would have died eight hundred times over.
Big D put down his wine glass and asked excitedly:
"Ah Feng, Brother Kun and Mr. Chiang both said we've struck it rich. Did your investment pay off?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"The current returns are decent, but it's not time for the final returns yet, so it's hard to say!"
Big D immediately got excited:
"How much are the returns now?"
Lin Feng thought for a moment and said:
"Doubling shouldn't be a problem."
Big D was stunned:
"Doubling?!"
Lin Feng looked at him strangely:
"What? Not satisfied?"
Big D hastily shook his head:
"How could I not be satisfied?"
"Absolutely satisfied."
"Ah Feng, I have to thank you for leading us to wealth."
Lin Feng smiled and raised his glass:
"Doing business requires investment. I have big projects, and you have surplus funds; it's a perfect match."
"This is a win-win cooperation."
Big D felt extremely comfortable hearing this:
"Ah Feng, you really know how to talk. You're clearly leading us to wealth, but you make it sound like we're helping you."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Big D wasn't very bright, but he was very eager to learn. Remembering the earlier conversation, he couldn't help but ask:
"Mr. Chiang, what did you just say about 'wonderful' and 'playing a big game'?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung looked surprised:
"You don't know?"
Big D shook his head:
"I don't know!"
"If I really knew, I wouldn't need to ask you."
Liang Kun also asked:
"Mr. Chiang, what exactly is this big game?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung was even more astonished:
"I can understand Big D not knowing, but you don't know either?"
Liang Kun said nonchalantly:
"Is it strange that I don't know?"
Chiang Tin-Yeung said speechlessly:
"Ah Feng's project is so big, and you don't even inquire about it?"
Liang Kun sighed:
"It's precisely because I don't know that I invest with confidence."
Chiang Tin-Yeung was completely puzzled:
"No, you don't even know Ah Feng's project, yet you dare to invest so heavily?"
"As far as I know, your investment this time isn't any less than mine. It seems you've put in all your life savings, haven't you?"
Liang Kun looked particularly resentful and said something Chiang Tin-Yeung didn't understand:
"If only I hadn't known about Ah Feng's projects before, how great would that be? Otherwise, my net worth would definitely be more than this by now."
Lin Feng burst into laughter:
"Boss, you've understood!"
Everyone was confused!
Chiang Tin-Yeung looked at the two brothers, completely bewildered:
"No, what you two are saying, why don't I understand it?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Actually, there's nothing to not understand, but it's more interesting if the Boss explains it."
Liang Kun laughed and cursed:
"What's more interesting if I explain it? You just want to see me make a fool of myself."
"Your taste is quite bad."
He was also open-minded and explained to everyone,
"The relationship between Ah Feng and me is unusual compared to others."
Everyone nodded.
This was a universally acknowledged fact in the Triad. Liang Kun and Lin Feng were one; if you wanted to deal with one, you had to be prepared to deal with both.
"Whenever Ah Feng had a project, he would always call me."
"It's just that his projects are too bold and too outlandish."
"Take the most recent one, for example: the water station business that caused the entire Triad to fight to the death was something he mentioned casually."
Big D was very excited:
"Ah Feng's water station is simply brilliant. The entire Triad has gone crazy for it."
"However, if I weren't in Hung Hing, I would also go crazy for this water station."
"A water station can not only earn back the franchise fee in the first month, but also leave an extra hundred thousand or so."
"After the first month, it can steadily earn three to four hundred thousand clean money every month."
"And it doesn't even involve any risks."
"The only risk is the envy of other Triads."
"Ah Feng is amazing!"
Axe Jun sighed inwardly. Indeed, the Boss he followed was truly impressive. Who would have thought that simply selling water could drive the entire Triad insane?
Axe Jun was young and hadn't experienced the Lui Lok era.
But even then, when Lui Lok was carving out territories for the Four Great Families, it couldn't have been this crazy, could it?
After all, that was drug trafficking. Even with the protection of Lui Lok and others, how much could be trafficked?
Water stations were completely different.
Hong Kong suffered from a severe shortage of water resources, and the taste was quite bad, so much so that high-end drinking water in Hong Kong was distilled water.
How could one drink that?
After Lin Feng brought back natural mineral water from his Mainland, it naturally swept everything away.
And he didn't even go for the high-end market; it was a dimensionality reduction attack.
Now, this mineral water had become an essential product that could demonstrate quality of life. How could it not sweep the market?
Liang Kun's mouth twitched, and he sighed:
"Ah Feng told me about this project a long time ago. He often said that given Hong Kong's geographical conditions and its massive population, even selling water could make one a multi-millionaire."
Big D nodded vigorously:
"Ah Feng is right."
Liang Kun couldn't help but look at him and ask:
"Selling water can make one a multi-millionaire, do you believe that?"
Big D said without hesitation:
"I wouldn't believe it if others said it, but I believe it if Ah Feng says it."
Liang Kun looked at him for a long time, then said to Chiang Tin-Yeung:
"Mr. Chiang, you're right."
Chiang Tin-Yeung smiled:
"I think I understand what you mean. You mean that, based on your experience, you couldn't understand Ah Feng's various investments, so you didn't follow him and invest at all?"
Liang Kun nodded:
"Exactly!"
"His previous investments, he would always call me."
"Some I understood, so I invested."
"Some I didn't quite understand, so I just threw in a little money to show support."
"Some I didn't understand at all, so I didn't invest any money."
"Now I regret it terribly."
"Ah Feng's investments have never failed."
"How much money have I lost out on?"
Liang Kun immediately looked deeply aggrieved.
Lin Feng was very principled. Even though their relationship was unusual, and even though Liang Kun explicitly said he didn't need his shares,
After every investment, he would always leave a small portion of shares for Liang Kun.
Of course, these shares could only be used for dividends, but with Lin Feng's businesses, accumulated, they were enough to make Liang Kun live comfortably.
Just like the VCD project, the annual dividends alone could ensure Liang Kun didn't worry about money.
However, what was Liang Kun's motto?
When you're in the Triad, making money is paramount.
Earning less was no different from losing money.
Furthermore, he was still Lin Feng's Boss, and having to rely on dividends from his subordinate to live a good life, his pride couldn't quite handle it.
So, even though those dividends had accumulated to a massive sum over the past three years, Liang Kun hadn't touched them.
Lin Feng didn't mind. If Liang Kun didn't use them, they could just accumulate. Anyway, with this money, even if Liang Kun went bankrupt, he wouldn't be afraid.
Chiang Tin-Yeung comforted him:
"Everyone has their own familiar areas. When you encounter something unfamiliar, something you're unsure about, then don't invest."
"Making money isn't easy; no one wants to throw their money into the water, right?"
Liang Kun sighed:
"Mr. Chiang understands me."
"That's a profound truth."
"But it doesn't apply to Ah Feng."
Big D scratched his head, puzzled:
"Ah Feng is so good at investing, why not just follow him blindly?"
Liang Kun glared at him:
"It's fine for you to say that now, but before, when Ah Feng first started investing, who would dare to believe his judgment was so good?"
Big D was speechless.
Indeed, when a newcomer succeeds, older, more experienced people often feel he's just acting on luck.
Once is a fluke, two or three times is also a fluke.
Ten or eight times, that's no longer a fluke; that's a certainty.
Yet, Lin Feng was only seventeen when he started doing business, and even now, he's only twenty.
This was quite absurd.
As the saying goes, 'a smooth chin makes a bad bargain.'
Who would dare entrust such a large sum of money to a young man?
Wouldn't that be irresponsible with one's own money?
Liang Kun sighed:
"Everyone actually has the spirit of wanting to be a teacher, especially given my unusual relationship with Ah Feng. When something happened, I always wanted to give advice."
"Later, I realized, where did Ah Feng need my advice?"
"So, for his big projects, I simply stopped presumptuously asking!"
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Chapter 412 A Vivid Lesson
Once Liang Kun said that, everyone immediately lost the desire to inquire further.
Even Liang Kun, who was so close to Lin Feng, had no desire to invest after hearing Lin Feng's plan. If it were them, after learning the details of the project, how would they dare to invest with Lin Feng?
But if they didn't follow the investment, how could they share such a large sum of money?
So, not asking about this project was the solution.
Most people who enter the Triad don't have much education.
This isn't an insult, but a statement of fact.
Lin Feng entering the Triad at seven years old was an exception.
Most people who enter the Triad are not old, mostly after twelve or thirteen.
That is to say, they started getting involved in the Triad after primary school, fifth or sixth grade.
Kids of that age are the most fearless; they'll do whatever they're told.
Most of the older generation of Triad members started out at this age.
For them, what 'childhood'? They had no childhood.
The older generation of Hung Hing Hall Masters, like Baji and Brother Jin, were all like this.
Ting Hau-Hai, the Dragon Head of the Chung Ching Society, whom Lin Feng led in eliminating, was also like this.
Ting Hai was irresponsible; after he fled, Ting Hau-Hai had to support his four younger brothers, so he could only enter the Triad.
His goal was only one: to survive himself and to ensure his brothers survived.
If someone gave him a few steamed buns, he would dare to do anything.
It would be a miracle to have an education in such an environment.
Society naturally taught them various principles of conduct, but unfortunately, some things were advanced knowledge for them.
The simplest of these was investment.
This is knowledge that cannot be mastered without professional instruction.
Of course, sometimes such knowledge isn't necessary; as long as one has money, they can hire professionals to do such things.
However, most of these Triad bosses simply don't have such foresight.
Triad members shed blood in the streets, living one day at a time, never having thought of such ideas.
In a precarious life, asking them to make long-term plans for three to five years later—wasn't that nonsense?
Even after becoming a Triad boss, they still lacked this investment awareness.
The late former Dragon Head of Tung Sing, Ah Bun, who was the shortest-lived Tung Sing Dragon Head, was an absolute exception.
This guy had excellent investment vision and was also the big financial backer of Tung Sing, but unfortunately, he misjudged people, underestimated Crow and his two companions, and lost his own life.
It's not easy for Triad members to rise through investment and achieve class ascension.
The Hung Hing guys were lucky; every time Lin Feng invested, he never hogged it all, always bringing them along.
These guys, dressed like nouveau riche, truly benefited from the dividends Lin Feng brought.
When you're in the Triad, foresight is paramount.
With Liang Kun's example, they naturally didn't want to know what Lin Feng's specific investment project was.
They weren't Chiang Tin-Yeung, who dared to invest even knowing Lin Feng's specific project.
They would most likely be like Liang Kun, too scared to invest.
It was a clear choice—if they didn't understand Lin Feng's investment project, they could just lie back and make money; otherwise, they would fear losing money and refuse to invest.
There was no need to even discuss which option to choose.
So, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning such matters.
Although Chiang Tin-Yeung was one of only two Second Marshals in Hung Hing, he truly didn't know much about Hung Hing's current situation.
Chiang Tin-Sung was his elder brother, so he had to avoid suspicion.
Furthermore, his focus was also in Siam, so he didn't pay attention to matters in Hong Kong.
It was only when Chiang Tin-Sung was assassinated and Liang Kun actively wanted him to take the position that Chiang Tin-Yeung became interested.
At the time, he just felt that Liang Kun had great ambition, which was why he deliberately befriended him.
He never expected that this act of kindness would bring him an unimaginable fortune, completely exceeding his expectations.
Now, seeing the demeanor of the main figures in Liang Kun and Lin Feng's faction, he secretly nodded.
"Ah Kun's control is so strong."
"Whether intentionally or not, he has downplayed everyone's prying into Ah Feng's big project."
"It reduces the risk of exposure."
Chiang Tin-Yeung was very satisfied.
However, he then thought,
"With Ah Feng's discernment, daring to announce his plan in this setting means he isn't worried about anyone leaking it."
"These two complement each other perfectly."
"Amazing!"
Big D asked enthusiastically:
"Ah Feng, how long will our plan last? And what's the probable return?"
Lin Feng looked at Big D in surprise:
"Are you really short on money?"
Big D shook his head:
"Thanks to you, all my current projects are progressing well, and my daily cash income is enough for expenses with a large surplus left over."
Lin Feng nodded slightly:
"Big D, if you're short on money, you can tell me directly, and I'll settle your share of the profits for you."
Big D hurriedly waved his hand:
"Ah Feng, you misunderstood me."
"I'm really not in a hurry."
"I just want to know, how much profit can I expect?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Since you're all interested, I'll tell you."
"Our project is actually very simple."
"This is a preliminary project for Hung Hing Group's transformation."
Ah?!
Everyone was stunned.
Chicken couldn't help but ask:
"Brother Feng, hasn't our Group's transformation been ongoing?"
Lin Feng nodded:
"Yes, it's been ongoing."
"If there were no external intervention, it would take at least eight years for us to successfully transform."
"Convenience stores, water stations, film companies, and all the Group's convenience stores."
"We need to build a reputation, to let it ferment, and that all takes time."
"These times are very, very long."
"At least seven or eight years."
"But we all know, Hong Kong will be returning soon."
"The earlier we complete our transformation before the return, the better."
"No one knows if the Mainland will settle accounts."
At this point, he reminded everyone,
"The Mainland's system is completely different from here."
"If you make mistakes in a certain position, you will be held accountable!"
"If we want to live well, we must avoid being held accountable."
"Naturally, the sooner we transform, the better."
"Thus, we must find an extremely large vessel, especially a legitimate one, to house our entire Group."
"That is, a backdoor listing."
Everyone looked at each other, feeling puzzled.
Big D wondered:
"Is there such a big shell?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Yes, there is!"
Big D's eyes widened:
"No way, what kind of company can accommodate so many of us?"
Hung Hing now implicitly held the title of Hong Kong's number one Triad, with its Hong Kong headquarters alone having grown to 50,000 members.
Providing jobs for 50,000 people was the goal of Hung Hing's Hall of Brotherhood.
Big D couldn't imagine what kind of company could accommodate so many people.
Lin Feng smiled:
"Isn't Tycoon Group already available?"
Hiss!
Everyone gasped.
Big D was especially shocked:
"Ah Feng, weren't you just trying to scheme against HSBC? How did you also set your sights on Tycoon Group?"
Lin Feng said in surprise:
"I've always been targeting Tycoon Group!"
Big D was terrified:
"Tycoon Group is already a behemoth, and you still provoke HSBC?"
Big D was completely numb.
No wonder Liang Kun said he didn't dare to listen to Lin Feng's specific project; if it were him, hearing that the project involved these two behemoths, he wouldn't dare to invest either!
What decent person would be so crazy?
Lin Feng corrected:
"No, no, no!"
"I first want to cripple HSBC, and then incidentally swallow Tycoon Group."
"The relationship between these two is quite complex, much tighter than we imagine."
"If you hit one, you must hit both."
"Otherwise, you absolutely won't be able to kill them."
Big D was completely incredulous:
"So, did you succeed?"
Lin Feng shrugged:
"It's going well. Just now, my project team told me that today's profits are very substantial."
Big D couldn't help but ask:
"How substantial?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Thirty times the profit, what do you say?"
Hiss!
Big D gasped.
Hiss!!
Everyone collectively gasped.
Big D's eyes turned the color of a big yellow ox:
"Thirty times?!"
Lin Feng said bluntly:
"This isn't the final profit; it depends on the progress."
"Perhaps it will be very high, or perhaps very low."
"In any case, doubling is absolutely no problem."
Big D raised his hand.
Liang Kun laughed and scolded:
"Big D, this is a family dinner, not the Hall of Brotherhood. Why are you raising your hand?"
Big D said solemnly:
"Let me state first, I'm not trying to withdraw my investment, I just want to know..."
"With such high returns, why continue?"
Everyone looked at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng calmly replied,
"My goal is to devour Tycoon Group and cripple HSBC."
"After devouring Tycoon Group, everyone here will complete a class transition."
"After crippling HSBC, we will establish our prestige in Hong Kong's business circle."
"It's killing two birds with one stone."
"This is our strategic goal; in comparison, making money is secondary."
Big D said blankly,
"Why don't I understand?"
Big Ds Wife's face flushed again.
Her man really made her feel very embarrassed.
Shuiling comforted her,
"Sister-in-law, you don't have to worry, more than half of the people here don't understand."
Big Ds Wife looked up and, sure enough, these Hall Masters and bigwigs all had bewildered expressions.
Liang Kun sighed,
"I already told you not to inquire about Ah Feng's plan, why did you still inquire?"
Big D was terribly wronged,
"I didn't inquire on purpose."
Chiang Tin-Yeung gave a thumbs up,
"Ah Feng, your foresight is quite long-term. There are no more than a handful of people in the Triad with your breadth of mind."
"Truly impressive!"
Liang Kun said smugly,
"Mr. Chiang, you're exaggerating."
"In the entire Triad, there are definitely no more than three people with Ah Feng's vision."
"I certainly don't!"
Chiang Tin-Yeung was stunned, then burst into laughter.
Big D sincerely asked,
"What exactly does Ah Feng mean?"
Lin Feng thought for a moment before saying,
"This project of mine, making money is incidental; the primary goal is to turn all of you into big shot gentlemen of high society."
"After this project is over, we will all become central figures in the media."
"Remember to pay attention to your words and actions then."
Big D was bewildered.
Everyone else was also bewildered.
"We will become central figures in the media? Become superior people?"
Everyone asked in unison.
Especially Big D, whose voice was the loudest.
Lin Feng said strangely,
"As board members of Tycoon Group, if you're not superior people, what are you?"
Hiss!
The collective gasps today were more than in the past year combined.
Big D still found it hard to believe,
"Tycoon Group is a giant; can we really take it down?"
Liang Kun shrugged,
"It sounds like a fantasy, but I trust Ah Feng."
Ever since the water station incident, Liang Kun decided that when it came to investments, he could unconditionally trust his younger brother.
If selling water could make him a millionaire, what else couldn't Lin Feng do?
Nothing, right?
Big D still found it hard to believe,
"High society figures?"
"Me?!"
Lin Feng said honestly,
"If your current identity were disregarded, you certainly wouldn't be considered a high society figure."
Big D nodded repeatedly,
"I'm just a headline figure in tabloids, or if not, in the legal section."
"How can I possibly be a media headline?"
Lin Feng was speechless.
Big D was so honest that it left him at a loss for words.
Chicken chuckled,
"What Big D said is also what I'm thinking. I'm just a Young and Dangerous member, how could I become the focus of the media?"
"It's too hard to believe."
Lin Feng glared at him,
"Individually, none of you are qualified."
"However, being in Hung Hing, relying on the large platform of Hung Hing, it's naturally not a problem."
"With the blessing of this status, you will be figures of high society."
The two were utterly bewildered,
"Really?"
Lin Feng sighed,
"Why do you think I want to cripple HSBC?"
"I'm now eager for HSBC to mobilize all sorts of funds to counterattack."
"The fiercer their counterattack, the greater my gains."
"This way, not only will it weaken any potential support HSBC might give to Tycoon, but we can also secure a position within HSBC."
"Let me answer Big D's earlier question."
"If this plan were purely for making money, we should have stopped at thirty times the profit."
"However, that won't do."
"This money is too hot to handle; easy to get, hard to spend."
"If we just make a quick buck and leave, it's easy to leave behind resentment, and even easier for HSBC to recover and deal with us."
"The run on the bank can be said to have caused HSBC a serious credibility crisis."
"As the old saying goes, cutting off someone's financial path is like killing their parents."
"We are all from the Triad, so we naturally know how serious such hatred is."
Everyone's expression changed.
Lin Feng continued,
"When I do things, I prefer to do them once and for all."
"It's best to nip it in the bud; if you don't, it will grow back with the spring breeze."
"Unfortunately, no matter how much I want to completely wipe out HSBC, it's an impossible task."
"HSBC's background is too complex; it cannot be severed."
"Now, the only option is to cripple and hurt them once and for all."
"Let them know that we are not to be trifled with."
"This is just like our Triad's external expansion."
"Expansion is not the goal; being able to stand firm is the most important goal."
"Other Triads, seeing how fierce our firepower is, would find it not worth the cost to eliminate us."
"They will naturally allow our firepower to establish a foothold."
"Of course, as our territory expands, making money and recruiting followers are natural consequences."
"Business warfare is the same."
"My goal this time is to seize Tycoon Group and let HSBC and various potential enemies know that we are not someone they can afford to provoke."
"Those who are sensible can only be our friends, not our enemies."
Big D suddenly understood and even complained,
"Ah Feng, if you had said so earlier, wouldn't I have understood?"
"Next time, don't be so vague when explaining things."
Lin Feng rolled his eyes hard. Good heavens, you don't understand when I'm serious, but you understand immediately when I say these things, right?
Big Ds Wife felt so embarrassed.
Big D was overjoyed,
"So, does that mean after this battle, we'll have successfully established ourselves in the business world?"
Lin Feng shrugged,
"Naturally."
"We will take over all of Tycoon Group's businesses."
"Any brothers from the Triad who want to work at Tycoon Group can be given priority consideration."
Big D was a little worried,
"Will the people at Tycoon Group truly be loyal?"
Lin Feng let out a fierce laugh.
Big D said shamefully,
"I was stupid. We're just transitioning; we won't abandon our old businesses."
Everyone burst into laughter.
That's right, Tycoon Group will become Hung Hing's in the future, but Hung Hing is not necessarily Tycoon Group.
If any shortsighted fellow wanted to jump ship with Tycoon Group's secrets, do you think Hung Hing Society is just for show?
Big D was inexplicably worried,
"I'm uneducated. What if I say the wrong thing if the media interviews me?"
Liang Kun casually said,
"If you don't understand, just learn!"
"You're a rich man; hiring a tutor isn't that difficult."
Big D exclaimed,
"I still need to hire a tutor?"
Liang Kun shrugged,
"If you don't hire one, nothing will happen anyway; it's not my embarrassment."
Lin Feng laughed,
"It's just that you also know, our Hung Hing cares about its reputation. If you disgrace our Hung Hing, even if you are Second Marshal, the directors of the company will have reservations about you."
Big D gritted his teeth,
"You two really are something! I'll just hire one then!"
"I'll hire one when I get back!"
Big Ds Wife quickly said,
"Dragon Head, please rest assured, I will definitely find the best tutor for Mr. Lui."
Liang Kun said seriously,
"I trust Sister-in-law."
This wasn't just Liang Kun's feeling; the main figures of Hung Hing all felt the same way.
Compared to Big D, Big Ds Wife was more reliable!
So everyone ate and drank together, then said their goodbyes one by one.
After everyone had left, only Lin Feng's subordinates remained.
Axe Jun sighed,
"Boss, the game you're playing is truly brilliant."
Lin Feng was surprised,
"What game?"
Axe Jun said,
"I mean calculating Tycoon Group and HSBC for the sake of the Triad."
Lin Feng was speechless, and after a moment, said,
"Don't talk nonsense."
"What for the company, calculating Tycoon Group and HSBC... I'm not that noble."
Axe Jun's eyes widened,
"Is that not it?"
Lin Feng pouted and said,
"I'm not that noble."
"I did calculate HSBC, and I do want to acquire Tycoon Group."
"But not for the company."
"My eighth brother has a grudge against Tycoon, so I hate the house and everyone in it, that's all."