After the two chatted and laughed for a while, Grantham couldn't help but said:
"I heard McCall tell me that General Fang is planning to purchase land in Taiping Mountain to build a manor?"
Hearing this, Fang Lang smiled slightly and said carelessly:
“It’s true. After staying in Hong Kong City for such a long time, I discovered the development potential of Hong Kong City. If I have the opportunity in the future, I would like to visit Hong Kong City more often.
In addition, my private museum is built in Hong Kong City, which contains my favorite Chinese antiques. I will definitely come here often to play with it in the future.
Considering that it is very inconvenient for me to have no fixed residence in Hong Kong City, I plan to build my own manor in Hong Kong City. "
This idea is reasonable and reasonable, and Grantham has no reason to refuse it. In addition, the previous two people had just talked about the topic of combining Chinese and Western things. If Grantham refused on the grounds that Chinese people were not allowed to stay in Taipingshan, it would be a slap in the face.
He could only ponder for a moment, then nodded slowly and said:
"In that case, I will ask the Lands Department to select a suitable location for building a house on Victoria Peak."
Grantham's attitude did not surprise Fang Lang. He knew that this would happen sooner or later.
"Haha... then thank you very much, Governor of Hong Kong!"
After speaking, he spoke directly:
"Then I don't know where Mr. Governor is going to arrange my private museum!"
Fang Lang did not continue to hide it. Since Grantham had already made it clear on his own initiative that Financial Secretary McCall had told him that he wanted to build a house, it meant that the other party already knew that he and McCall About meeting you. There is no need for me to continue to act stupid and pretend that I don't know that Grantham has made arrangements for his museum.
Hearing Fang Lang's outspoken words, Grantham was not surprised. He smiled slightly and said directly:
"General Fang, don't you ask me why I want to help you choose a place?"
Fang Lang glanced at Grantham strangely and said with an indifferent expression:
"Hong Kong City is the territory of Mr. Governor. I originally wanted to search for it myself, just because I didn't want to trouble Mr. Governor. But yesterday I heard Secretary McCall said that the Governor has selected a place for me. Of course I will It's disrespectful.
how? Mr. Hong Kong Governor took the initiative to help me find a place to build a museum. Isn’t it because we are good friends? Is there any other reason? "
At this time, Grantham's breath was choked in his throat, and he almost couldn't breathe. Good on you, Fang Lang. In order to prevent me from having to choose the land for you, and to repay the favor of helping me deliver the message, you insisted on choosing the land yourself. You said that helping me to deliver the message was based on the friendship between the two parties.
Now that he knew that he had chosen the land for him, he said that he helped him choose it because he was a good friend of the other party. It made him unable to say anything even if he wanted to repay the favor. It was really shameless.
Compared with the other party helping him to bear the risk and sending the message to the other party, I only let him find a piece of construction land on his own site, which really cannot offset the affection. Thinking of this, he had no choice but to smile bitterly, shook his head and said:
"Okay! You're right, we are friends, and it is only natural that we help you choose a suitable place to build a museum. I also saw that you couldn't make up your mind after choosing for a long time, so I took the initiative to intervene."
Hearing this, Fang Lang chuckled, cupped his hands towards Grantham and said:
"Haha... I knew you were a good friend, Lao Ge! After all, this port city is your territory. You must understand it better than I do, and the place you choose must be better than mine!"
As soon as I heard that you helped me choose, I knew that you must have your own plan for the cultural area of your port city. Tell me, where is the place you helped me choose? "
Fang Lang's words made Grantham smile bitterly. Now not only was he helping him select the land and no favors could be left behind, the other party even directly stated that he was making plans for a cultural and art center in his port city.
In this way, the completion of his private museum has become a support for his cultural and artistic center. Instead of thanking him for helping him select the land, he should thank him for his contribution to the cultural and artistic renaissance of Hong Kong City!
It has to be said that this kid is already very slippery despite his young age.
"You are really awesome. You saw through my plan so quickly. It is exactly as you said. I am indeed planning to establish an art and cultural center in Hong Kong City. This is also the inspiration you brought to me with your idea of building a museum. .
It turns out that our port city had a city hall, which could be regarded as the cultural and artistic center of our port city. However, it was demolished in 1933 and the land was sold to HSBC Bank for its headquarters building.
Now that the war is over, the port city has also ushered in peace. It is indeed necessary for us to revive culture and art in Hong Kong City. Therefore, I plan to set up a cultural revitalization committee to build a new cultural and arts center in the port city around your private museum.
The address is chosen near Central. In addition to your private museum, we are also planning to build a history museum in the harbor city, as well as a series of building complexes such as a concert hall, a grand theater, an art gallery, and a gymnasium. what do you think? "
Hearing this, Fang Lang couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, "What a guy!" Grantham, this old boy, is very ambitious! If this plan is really followed, this place will definitely become the cultural and artistic center of the port city in the future.
"Brother Ge, you are not being honest! Why are you so kind to help me choose the land? It turns out you have bad intentions! This museum of mine is a private museum and I have never thought of opening it to the public. Yes, now you want to use my museum as a guide to develop the cultural and art center of Hong Kong City. It’s not appropriate!"
As soon as Fang Lang said this, Grantham, an old fox, couldn't help but blush slightly. Indeed, as Fang Lang said, this was the idea in his heart, and now it was directly exposed by Fang Lang. He could only laugh awkwardly to cover up his embarrassment.
"Haha...Brother Fang! I know this is a private museum. But think about it, do you need manpower to maintain the museum's collections on a regular basis?
The usual management costs of the museum are not low! In this case, it’s not cost-effective to just fund maintenance yourself! I am also thinking that I can help you reduce some of your burden!
As long as you are open to the public, you can charge tickets, and the income from these tickets can ensure the normal operation of the museum. In this case, your maintenance costs can be equalized! If you run it well, you might even get some extra income! "
Looking at Grantham's expression, Fang Lang couldn't help but feel funny. As a future soul, he certainly knew that opening up to the outside world was the best way to run a museum.
Besides, opening to the outside world does not necessarily mean being completely open to the outside world. You only need to set aside a part of the place for public exhibition, and the other places can be completely kept secret. This can not only maintain the operation of the museum, but also facilitate the interception and interception of lost cultural relics. Collect, why not?
As long as he can ensure that he has absolute ownership of this museum before the return of Hong Kong City, he will not allow any British Hong Kong government personnel to participate in the management of the museum. At that time, it will be natural to donate the entire museum to my hometown.
It's not that Fang Lang deliberately pretends to be great and selflessly returns these cultural relics to his hometown. In fact, with such a meeting gift, the benefits Fang Lang can get from his hometown will definitely not be less than the value of this museum.
Since Fang Lang had already made a plan in his heart, of course Fang Lang still told Grantham this way just to get greater benefits! After pretending to think seriously for a while, he slowly said:
"What Brother Ge said is not unreasonable, but I still have a lot of money to maintain the operation of this private museum.
But since I want to build a cultural and art center in Hong Kong City around my museum, it would be unreasonable for me not to support such a big thing. "
After saying that, he paused and looked at Grantham who was still smiling wryly across from him.
Seeing this, Ge Lianghong could not understand what Fang Lang meant. He shook his head helplessly and said:
"Okay, okay, no wonder you have achieved what you have today in such a short period of time. Your bargaining skills really make me ashamed.
I understand what you mean, so be it! The land where you build the museum will be provided free of charge by our Hong Kong government. That’s all right! "
Hearing this, Fang Lang was not happy at all, but frowned and looked at Grantham slightly suspiciously. He didn't believe that the British would have such kind intentions. Coming from a later generation, he understood a truth deeply, that is, "free things are often the most expensive."
If the land for the museum was really given away for free by the British Hong Kong government, and if another Hong Kong governor proposed to take it back in the future, I would be in trouble. He didn't believe that Grantham didn't understand this truth, so now he couldn't help but doubt that Grantham had some bad intentions.
Fang Lang's eyes were so blatant that it was impossible for Grantham to pretend not to see it. Under such gaze, Grantham felt a little uncomfortable. After coughing lightly, he explained softly:
"Brother Fang, don't worry, I have no ill intentions towards you. The reason why I offered to provide the land for free is to allow your private museum to be opened in the cultural and art center we planned;
Second, I hope you can open the museum to the public; third, thank you for helping me spread the word and contributing to the peace and stability of Hong Kong City. "
For a moment, Fang Lang couldn't tell whether the other party's words were true or false, but he would never be willing to take any unnecessary risks. Therefore, he spoke directly without any hesitation:
"Brother Ge, it's not that I don't believe you. If I really get the land for free, I don't have to worry now that you are here, but what happens after you leave! The next Hong Kong Governor may not necessarily approve of your approach.
If you really want to thank me, then you can order a larger area at a relatively favorable price. Since your brother wants to build this place into the cultural and art center of Hong Kong City, I will not deny him face. When the time comes, I will open some of the museum venues to the public.
And, in order to show support for Brother Ge, the construction of my museum can be bidd globally to find the best design plan and build it into a new landmark building in the port city. What do you think? "
Grantham obviously did not expect that Fang Lang would lift it up high and put it down gently. He was already prepared to be stabbed severely by the other party, but he did not expect that in the end the other party would agree to his proposal so easily and also strongly support his art and cultural center.
This made him feel grateful from the bottom of his heart to the young Chinese in front of him. To express his gratitude, Grantham stood up without hesitation and extended his right hand to Fang Lang.
"Thank you, brother Fang, for supporting me. You are my true friend."
Seeing this, Fang Lang also smiled slightly, stood up, shook hands with the other party, and said with a smile:
"From what Brother Ge asked me to bring to the other side, I can tell that you are truly considering the future of Hong Kong City, which I admire very much.
Therefore, I will naturally give my full support to your plan to build a port city.
If Brother Ge is really willing to treat someone from our side as a friend, please ask Brother Ge to take good care of my Chinese compatriots during the period of managing Hong Kong City. "
Hearing this, Grantham was obviously stunned. He did not expect that Fang Lang would make such a request. As a colonial official, to put it nicely, he was pastoring the British Crown.
To put it bluntly, he was the bandit leader responsible for plundering resources from the colonies for the British royal family. Asking him to pay more attention to the colonial people is obviously going against his own job.
If it was before World War II, he would have refused Fang Lang's request without hesitation, but now with the end of World War II, the British Empire's colonies around the world have become independent, and the royal family can do nothing about it and can only hold its nose and admit it.
Now Hong Kong City is able to continue to maintain its rule here through negotiations with the new mainland government. He really couldn't refuse Fang Lang's request directly.
After pondering for a moment, Grantham took a deep breath and then slowly said:
“As the governor of Hong Kong, it is my duty to help every citizen living in Hong Kong live a better life. As the Chinese are the largest group in Hong Kong, it is also my goal to make their lives better.
There are some things that I will take the initiative to do without brother Fang having to ask. "
Although Grantham did not say anything about improving the status of the Chinese in Hong Kong City, he indirectly accepted Fang Lang's request. Fang Lang had nothing to say about this.
Holding the other person's hand that hadn't let go, Fang Lang gave the old guy a hug and whispered in the other person's ear:
"Okay, I'll take note of Brother Ge's words. In the future, if you need any help from me, just ask."
After saying that, he did not forget to pat the other party hard twice on the back.
Fang Lang seemed to be bold, but in reality he was warning. Grantham could only respond with a helpless smile. He knew in his heart that the other party would definitely watch his actions. If he broke his promise, this guy would definitely find a way. Take revenge on yourself.
For a young man like Fang Lang who has achieved such achievements at such a young age, he owes him a favor, and if he doesn't repay it, the other party will not let him go easily.
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Fang Lang had no intention of staying in the Hong Kong Governor's Mansion for a long time.
"Brother Ge, I will ask someone from the Universal Group to come forward to contact you about the museum. If you have any questions at that time, you can also contact me directly.
I have to deal with some fleet matters in the past two days, so I won’t come here specifically to say goodbye to my brother. If I have the opportunity to go to Brazil, I must inform my brother, and I will personally accompany him then. "
(End of chapter)
