Chapter 40: One Hundred Million in Debt, Under Immense Pressure

"My dear nephew, what a rare guest you are. To visit again so soon—what brings you here this time?" He Shanheng asked in a gentle, elder-like tone.

Lin Haoran sat down calmly and replied with a smile, "Uncle He, the purpose of my visit today is the same as the last: I am looking to secure a loan from you."

Hearing this, He Shanheng raised an eyebrow and said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Oh? Don't tell me you intend to use stocks as collateral again?"

Lin Haoran laughed heartily, "Uncle He, you are truly perceptive! That is exactly right; I do indeed intend to use stocks as collateral for a loan this time."

With that, he pulled 2.5 million Green Island Cement stock certificates directly from his briefcase and handed them to He Shanheng.

"Uncle He, I would like to use these shares as collateral to borrow another 15 million Hong Kong dollars from Hang Seng Bank. What do you think?" Lin Haoran continued.

Although 2.5 million shares were not quite worth 15 million Hong Kong dollars at current market prices, the gap was narrow enough that, given Lin Haoran's background, he could still secure the loan.

He Shanheng took the stock certificates, his eyes scanning the documents as his brow gradually furrowed.

He set the papers down and spoke earnestly to Lin Haoran, "My nephew, given my long-standing friendship with your father, I am not against considering a 15 million dollar loan based on these shares. However, as your elder, I have a duty to warn you: the stock market is treacherous and risks are everywhere. You must tread carefully.

I suspect you used your previous loan to purchase more Green Island Cement shares, which is how you acquired these. This kind of leveraged investment carries even greater risk. While Green Island Cement has potential, it currently lacks significant market interest. It will not be easy to see a sharp, short-term rise. Once the repayment deadline arrives, you will be forced to sell these shares to raise capital. Flooding the market with such a large volume of stock could trigger violent price fluctuations or even a market collapse.

Therefore, I truly hope you will think calmly and not act impulsively. Investment is not child's play; every step requires careful deliberation. I hope you will reconsider this decision to avoid unnecessary losses."

He Shanheng and Lin Haoran’s father, Lin Wan’an, had been close for many years. Naturally, he could not stand by and watch his friend’s son walk toward a potential disaster.

Though he had a thousand words of warning in his heart, he remembered his promise to Lin Haoran—not to disclose these loans to Lin Wan'an—so he suppressed the urge to call him.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle He. However, I have my own considerations and plans. Regardless of the outcome, Hang Seng Bank will not lose out, will it?" Lin Haoran said with a smile.

He Shanheng sighed, his eyes full of complex emotions. "My nephew, I understand you have your own ideas, but I must remind you that every decision requires caution. I do not doubt your ability, but I hope you will fully assess the risks to ensure everything stays within your control."

"Uncle He, please rest assured. With this 15 million dollar loan, I will certainly not fall into a cycle of revolving debt. I know the importance of credit and responsibility, and I understand your concerns.

In truth, even if Hang Seng Bank did not approve this loan, there are other financial institutions in the market willing to support me. But considering our families' deep friendship and the professionalism and stability of Hang Seng Bank, I hoped to secure these funds through you," Lin Haoran explained sincerely.

He Shanheng nodded slightly, his expression softening.

He sighed again and said, "My nephew, since you have spoken so plainly, I will say no more. I have given my advice; the final investment decision rests with you. Remember, whether you profit or lose, it is all part of life's experience, and you must learn from it. I will approve this loan; I hope you use it wisely to achieve your goals."

"Uncle He, thank you very much for your trust and support. This has been a pleasant cooperation, just like the last. I hope you will continue to keep this secret and not tell my father. Please," Lin Haoran said earnestly.

He Shanheng nodded. "Rest assured, my nephew. Since I gave you my word, I will keep it. I will keep your secret from your father. But remember, whatever you decide, think it through carefully to ensure every step is steady."

Compared to last time, the process was much faster and more efficient.

Since all conditions followed the previous loan agreement, He Shanheng, as Chairman of Hang Seng Bank, exercised his authority to expedite the approval, and the 15 million Hong Kong dollar loan proceeded quickly.

Both parties signed the contract immediately, and He Shanheng instructed the finance department to transfer the funds to Lin Haoran’s account. The procedures were concise and clear.

With the loan successfully secured, a heavy weight was lifted from Lin Haoran's heart. He expressed his sincere gratitude to He Shanheng and left the Hang Seng Bank headquarters in high spirits, ready to dive into his next phase of planning.

With the 15 million Hong Kong dollars now in his account, Lin Haoran's available capital rose to over 31 million, providing a massive boost to his investment plans.

However, this gain came at a heavy price—his total debt had climbed to 95 million Hong Kong dollars. Including interest, he was now over 100 million in debt.

Facing a debt of 100 million Hong Kong dollars, Lin Haoran felt an unprecedented pressure, like a massive mountain resting on his shoulders.

Yet, he was not crushed by this weight; instead, he drew motivation from it.

Everything was part of his carefully crafted blueprint—the challenge he had to endure to achieve his greater goals.

If this were leaked, many would undoubtedly view Lin Haoran as a reckless gambler.

After all, starting with the Huafeng Cement Factory, which had a market value of only 10 million Hong Kong dollars, he had accumulated nearly 100 million in debt through mortgage loans in just over a month.

In the eyes of many, such a move was undoubtedly extreme, perhaps even insane.

After leaving the headquarters of Hang Seng Bank, Lin Haoran did not return to his office. Instead, he drove to a nearby branch of HSBC.

His purpose was to cash the 5 million Hong Kong dollar check provided by his second and third sisters and deposit it into the bank account linked to his stock holdings.

At HSBC, Lin Haoran was received warmly by a senior manager.

The entire exchange and deposit process went exceptionally smoothly. Thanks to the manager's professionalism and efficiency, he completed all procedures in just half an hour.