Lin Zhichao's Ford second-hand car slowly stopped at No. 6 Wing Kit Street, Central.
Looking out at the building through the window, you can see the mahogany exterior wall and door plaque, as well as the "Lu Yu Tea Room" sign with large golden characters. This is the place where businessmen gather - Lu Yu Tea Room.
Lu Yu Teahouse is divided into three floors. Outside the gate on the first floor, there will be Indian guards with white cloth turbans. Speaking of this, there is a story: Most of the people who come to Lu Yu Teahouse to drink tea are celebrities. The famous screenwriter Nanhai Thirteen who was already crazy at that time Lang (a famous young screenwriter in the 1930s, who wrote more than a hundred scripts in his life) often came to Lu Yu Teahouse to look for the famous Cantonese opera actor Xue Juexian. In order not to disturb other distinguished guests, the boss had to hire someone to guard the door, and this was how he started It set a precedent for asking Indians to guard the doors of Hong Kong teahouses.
Lu Yu Teahouse is a time-honored teahouse in Hong Kong. The owner of this teahouse came to Hong Kong from Shanghai in the 1930s to open this teahouse. Therefore, the decoration of this tea room still maintains the old-fashioned style of Shanghai in the 1930s, with fine rosewood seats, large mahogany screens, yellowed calligraphy and painting scrolls hanging on the walls, and waiters in old-fashioned Tang suits. Together with the 'eldest sister', the long-robed pianist who tunes the piano, and the Cantonese opera actress with light make-up who is always ready to take the stage for the guests, the tea guests who enter the door instantly feel like they have traveled back to the glamorous and glamorous city.
Lin Zhichao opened the door and walked out towards Lu Yu Teahouse. The Indian guard immediately smiled and opened the door.
There are many Indians in Hong Kong, and they are all servants brought by the British. The Chinese also like to use Indians to guard the doors. It seems to be a rule. Even the entrance of the Peninsula Hotel is Indian wearing a turban.
The driver and bodyguard Xue Junshan went to park the car. He was accustomed to his boss's style because the boss said that he had no enemies and there was no need to be overly protective for the time being.
This is not the first time for Lin Zhichao to come to Lu Yu Tea House. After all, for a businessman like him, the ones he visits most frequently in recent years (and in the future) are Lu Yu Tea House, Jincheng Tea House, Deyun Tea House, Gaosheng Tea House, Lianxiang Tea House, Datong Restaurant, etc.
These places usually gather people from the financial and business circles who come to Hong Kong for development. Everyone gathers to whisper and discuss current affairs. Many friendships are made on such occasions, and then we meet to do business and cooperate.
A middle-aged waiter quickly came to Lin Zhichao, bowed and said, "Lin Sheng, you are here!"
He may have only served Lin Zhichao once, but he remembered this young man deeply in his mind. This was his basic professional skill.
Lin Zhichao nodded and said, "A-Liang, take me to Mr. Jian!"
A Liang was also surprised. He didn't expect Lin Zhichao to remember him. He suddenly felt that it was normal for this young man to succeed.
Don't look at A Liang, he is still a waiter in middle age, but these teahouse waiters in this era are not something ordinary people can do. If he were in later generations, he would at least be a business manager.
Li Chaoren once worked as a waiter in a small teahouse and accidentally spilled tea on a guest. He was frightened at that time, because in this era, guests are likely to yell at you, but the boss will not sympathize with you and will decisively remove you. Expelled.
The waiters at Lu Yu Teahouse are more discerning and flexible. Of course, they also have a wide network of contacts; just like Lin Zhichao back then, while they were working, they might also be doing some intermediary business, and the boss didn't care about you too much. , as long as you don’t affect your business.
"Please come this way. Mr. Jian has already booked a private room, and there is a guest accompanying him!"
"Um"
Walking into a private room, inside were Hong Kong bank leader Jian Dongpu and Chaozhou businessman Liao Baoshan.
"Brothers Jian and Liao have been kept waiting for a long time!" Lin Zhichao said politely.
Jian Dongpu smiled and said: "We have just arrived, please sit down quickly!"
Liao Baoshan also smiled broadly and said as kindly as possible: "Brother Jian, Zhichao just defeated me. It seems that you really know how to recognize people."
Jian Dongpu showed a trace of satisfaction on his face and said: "He has always been a icon in the real estate industry and the leader who has changed the real estate landscape in Hong Kong. It is normal to defeat him. But since your business is so vast, it naturally doesn't matter if you attack everywhere."
Liao Baoshan said to Lin Zhichao who was sitting down: "Brother, we met in a hurry last time. Although we are opponents, I want to be friends with you, so I ask Brother Jian to help you. Please forgive me for any abruptness!"
Lin Zhichao hurriedly said modestly: "Brother Liao is joking, it's my honor that you can think highly of me. You are a senior in the business world, you support me, it's too late for me to be happy."
After everyone was polite, they sat down to drink tea. There was no show, after all, the three of them were talking about something.
Although he was very polite to Liao Baoshan, Lin Zhichao did not introduce him as a confidant, but simply as a friend.
And Liao Baoshan took the initiative to ask someone to make an appointment with him, just to get some real estate knowledge. After all, he used to do real estate, which was to buy low-rise buildings and then release them to collect rent.
This time he saw that Lin Zhichao was having a good time, so he immediately invited two friends and planned to take over the Ho Tung family's territory for development; but he did not expect that Lin Zhichao would take it over with nothing.
Although he was defeated, Lin Zhichao obviously already had a backing, so he simply took the initiative to get to know him and ask for some real estate-related knowledge.
During this period, Jian Dongpu was also very happy to join the discussion.
Lin Zhichao answered all questions without hesitation and did not skimp on his knowledge.
However, although Hong Kong real estate developers all know about 'strata sales' and 'off-plan sales', they are obviously not as good at it as Lin Zhichao, so Liao Baoshan asked for advice a lot.
"I really don't know if I don't ask for advice. We just learned a little bit. I am a master in the real estate industry!"
"Brother, I'm very proud of you. In fact, as long as you do one or two projects, you will become familiar with this knowledge."
"With your guidance, I can naturally get started faster."
Lin Zhichao smiled and changed direction and said: "Now the real estate business is profitable, but after all, the land price is high and the profit is not high. I heard that my brother set up a bank account. Could it be that he is speculating in gold? It is a very profitable business."
It is rude to come and not reciprocate!
Seeing that this topic was brought up, Liao Baoshan immediately became more talkative and talked about the excitement of gold speculation in a high-profile manner.
In fact, he was a person with this kind of personality. As far as Lin Zhichao knew, Liao Baoshan also announced in a high-profile manner that his family fortune was HK$100 million in the early 1960s. However, he did not expect that shortly after the announcement, there was a run on Liao Chong Hing Bank, and Liao Baoshan He was so frightened that his liver and gallbladder ruptured, and finally his blood vessels burst and he died. Fortunately, his two sons were already in college and they were called back in time to take over. After that, they disposed of many properties cheaply and finally avoided bank bankruptcy.
Lin Zhichao echoed: "It's really wonderful! This gold speculation depends on the rise and fall of gold prices in Shanghai and Guangdong Province, as well as the war situation in the mainland, and more importantly, how much gold can be imported by Hong Kong banks from Macau."
Liao Baoshan opened his eyes wide and said in surprise: "Brother, you are really good. You can understand these key points. How about one day, I will take you to gain knowledge."
Lin Zhichao immediately showed a very interested expression and said: "Thank you, brother! To be honest, I am just a person who has never seen the world. It would be good to open my eyes."
Lin Zhichao is not worried about Liao Baoshan framing him. After all, if he speculates in gold, let alone Liao Baoshan, even He Shanheng of Hang Seng Bank may not be his opponent.
As the saying goes, only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win every battle. Lin Zhichao knows a lot:
First of all, he knows that the price of gold in the next three years will probably rise from 200 or 300 yuan to 600 or 700 yuan per tael, which means that he knows about important events and will not take orders when the price is above 600 yuan.
Secondly, as far as he knew, starting from the second quarter of 1948, the price of gold in the mainland began to soar. Later, in September, Old Man Jiang began to issue gold yuan coupons and search for private gold; and at the end of 1948, the "gold smuggling" incident broke out, and the gold yuan coupons Massive depreciation... Events such as this also have a great impact on Hong Kong gold and can be used as a reference.
Finally, Lin Zhichao also knew that Hang Seng Bank almost controlled the "gold speculation in Hong Kong's gold and silver market" from 1948 to 1949, because Hang Seng Bank cooperated with Omen Lobo, He Xian and others to import large quantities of gold from South Africa and Europe. The gold was then smuggled to Hong Kong. One import can even be as high as two to thirty thousand taels. Just imagine that with so much cheap gold in hand, if you don't ask your financiers in the capital to take over, who will take over?
Chaozhou businessmen are so crazy about speculating in gold. They directly install shortwave waves on the "gold smuggling ships" at sea, and then set up radio stations in Hong Kong. Through this information, they can get the information before many others.
Therefore, during the three-year "Golden War", the people of Guangdong Province were bleeding the people of Shanghai. As soon as these bankers from the capital city arrived in Hong Kong, they were bloodletted by the people from Guangdong Province, and some even lost their entire fortune.
Probably because of this, the financial circles in Hong Kong were all from Guangdong Province, while the original financiers from the financial city were rarely from the financial world.
At this time, Jian Dongpu said: "You two have learned from each other, but gold speculation is risky, Zhichao, you have to be careful."
He felt that Lin Zhichao was good in real estate, not to mention that Lin Zhichao now owed a lot of money to Bank of East Asia.
Lin Zhichao immediately said seriously: "Don't worry, Mr. Jian, my favorite is playing it safe."
Jian Dongpu nodded, very satisfied with Lin Zhichao's attitude.
The three of them had a meal and then dispersed.
After Liao Baoshan got into his car, he showed a strange smile.
"He's just young and energetic. It's not that easy to speculate in gold. Since he is willing to join the industry, it doesn't hurt to take him with him."
"It depends on his luck, how long he can lose that little money!"
Liao Baoshan didn't think Lin Zhichao was his real friend. Although he took the initiative to invite him this time, he just wanted to ask for some real estate knowledge and to see how much Jian Dongpu liked Lin Zhichao.
He was also resentful about the loss of land this time, but Lin Zhichao already had a backer. Since Lin Zhichao wants to speculate in gold, there is no reason why Liao Baoshan should not join him in the industry. He believes that Lin Zhichao is young and energetic, and may not always have such good luck. It is normal for him to lose all his wealth in gold speculation.
