Chapter 77: Aimco Limited?
"Dad, you've lived your whole life upholding cautious and steady principles. Though you may not stand shoulder to shoulder with the business giants, your achievements are already something countless people admire. Now, with your health gradually declining, as your son, I don't want to see you pushing yourself anymore. It's time for you to step back and focus on your health. Since you don't dare take risks in business, how about making a small wager with me? Consider it a new adventure," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
"Oh? What kind of wager?" Lin Wanan asked, intrigued and clearly touched by his son's concern.
"If I can gain controlling ownership of Qingzhou Cement and become its Chairman within the next two months, I want you to hand over Wanan Group's controlling stake to me as the wager. If I fail, I'll resign from Qingzhou Cement's vice chairmanship and turn over my 13.7% stake to you for management," Lin Haoran said confidently.
"Haoran, where does this confidence come from?" Lin Wanan asked, genuinely surprised.
"Dad, I have my plans and preparations. Now it's just a matter of whether you're willing to bet with me," Lin Haoran said, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Lin Wanan fell into deep thought.
He knew his health was deteriorating, and the matter of choosing a successor was urgent. Originally, he thought his elder son had the best chance, and Haoran had little to no hope. But now, things seemed reversed.
In other words, the successor would likely be Lin Haoran. And if he backed out now, he would be failing as a father.
After careful consideration, Lin Wanan finally spoke, "Haoran, since you have such confidence, I'll accept the wager. If I win, everything will eventually be yours anyway. But if you win, it proves you've surpassed me in business acumen and leadership, and I'll gladly hand over Wanan Group to you. I agree!"
He had already reasoned it through. If Haoran could really pull it off, it would mean he had far greater talent than himself — and thus, he would be fully capable of leading Wanan Group to even greater heights.
Such a feat would represent not just a generational succession, but an elevation of the family's legacy.
"Dad, it's a deal. No backing out!" Lin Haoran grinned, his eyes twinkling with sly excitement.
He hadn't expected his father to agree so readily. In his mind, Qingzhou Cement's controlling stake was already within his grasp.
He clearly understood the weight of the shares he controlled — and in business, strength decided everything.
Halier Centurion might have deep roots in Qingzhou Cement, but against overwhelming strength, connections and scheming would ultimately crumble.
"Haoran, don't worry. I'm a man of my word," Lin Wanan said, gazing at his son's confident face, feeling both pride and concern.
Business was like war, requiring caution every step of the way. But seeing his son's determination, he hoped Haoran would carve out a brilliant future.
What father wouldn't want to see his child surpass him?
Moreover, at over fifty, Wanan recognized that Haoran was in the prime of his life — his golden years for ambition and achievement.
Pleased with his younger son's ambition and daring, he was genuinely touched.
He wanted to ask for more details, but Lin Haoran, smiling faintly, skillfully avoided going into specifics.
Instead, he spent the rest of the evening relaxing downstairs with his mother, watching television — after all, he hadn't visited home in over half a month.
"Haoran, are you free tomorrow?" his mother asked hopefully.
"What's the matter, Mom?" Lin Haoran asked.
"I want you to accompany me to Heung Kong Tsai. You haven't visited your grandfather in a long time," she said.
"Of course, Mom. I'll go with you," Lin Haoran agreed without hesitation.
He knew from his memories that although his maternal grandfather's family wasn't wealthy, they had always treated him very well.
His grandfather lived in Heung Kong Tsai, not far from Deep Water Bay — just past the eastern edge of it.
"Good! I'll call your grandfather now to let him know we're coming," his mother said happily.
The night passed quickly.
By the next morning, Hong Kong's October air had lost its summer heat but still carried a hint of warmth.
After a hearty breakfast, Lin Haoran and his eager mother set out.
The Mercedes-Benz car pulled smoothly out of the driveway and headed west.
Although Li Weiguo had never been to Heung Kong Tsai, it was a straightforward drive from Deep Water Bay — a small, winding road, narrow and slow-going despite the short distance.
In a little over ten minutes, they entered the village where Lin Haoran's grandfather lived.
The difference between Deep Water Bay and Heung Kong Tsai was stark.
While Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay boasted luxurious mansions and opulence, Heung Kong Tsai was a modest, working-class area dotted with warehouses, factories, busy docks, small workshops, and fishermen's villages — a vivid, authentic slice of old Hong Kong life.
Lin Haoran's grandfather's house was in Wong Chuk Hang Village — a typical, unpretentious Hong Kong village.
Interestingly, just last January, Hong Kong's famous Ocean Park had opened nearby, creating an invisible divide between the upscale Deep Water Bay and the working-class Heung Kong Tsai.
Thanks to Lin Wanan's success, he had built a five-story house for Lin Haoran's grandfather.
With the booming industrial growth in Heung Kong Tsai, rental income from the property had made the family quite comfortable.
Even though his grandfather was over eighty years old, he was still energetic and in excellent health.
After lunch and a pleasant chat with his grandfather, Lin Haoran grew a bit bored and decided to head downstairs.
There, he saw his uncle hurrying by with a bag in hand.
"Uncle, where are you off to?" Lin Haoran asked with interest.
"I'm going to collect some rent from the tenants," his uncle replied with a smile.
Given their ownership of numerous properties, rent collection was a routine yet rewarding task.
"Rent collection? But isn't it the 21st today? Shouldn't rents be collected at the start of the month?" Lin Haoran asked curiously.
His uncle laughed and explained, "Usually yes, but some tenants have mid-month or end-of-month payment terms. Plus, we sometimes adjust the schedule depending on their cash flow. It's all managed properly."
Understanding now, Lin Haoran's eyes gleamed with interest. "Uncle, can I come with you? I'm a bit bored here."
"Sure! Hop on my motorcycle," his uncle said cheerfully.
But Lin Haoran pointed to his nearby Mercedes. "Let's take my car — more comfortable!"
Laughing heartily, his uncle agreed.
They first visited a small glove-making workshop nearby — just a few hundred meters away but blazing hot under the midday sun.
Thanks to their smartly arranged properties, rent collection was quite convenient.
After a smooth visit to the glove workshop, they strolled down a narrow alley toward another small factory.
As they approached, Lin Haoran's attention was caught by a sign over the doorway.
"Aimco Limited?" he muttered, pausing.
The name stirred something deep in his memory, sparking a strange sense of familiarity.
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