Chapter 61: The Taipan of HSBC, Michael Sandberg, is Alarmed

Over this period, under Su Zhixue’s leadership, the team had achieved remarkable success, completing every task exceptionally well. Consequently, he earned a promotion and a salary increase—an accolade well deserved and the best acknowledgment of his hard work.

“Thank you, President Lin. Your trust and support are my driving force; I will never let you down!” Su Zhixue could hardly conceal his excitement, his gratitude toward Lin Haoran overflowing.

Reflecting back to just over a month ago, Su Zhixue was merely an ordinary trader under the Wan’an Group, burdened by the heavy weight of life. Especially when his son fell seriously ill and faced exorbitant medical bills, he felt utterly helpless.

Yet Lin Haoran’s timely intervention was like a beacon in the darkness. Not only did he help ensure the successful surgery for Su’s son, but he also brought a turning point to Su’s life, gradually steering it back on track.

Given the current circumstances, Su Zhixue was full of confidence, estimating that within the coming year, he would be able to repay the generous loan of 200,000 Hong Kong dollars that Lin Haoran had extended to him. This kindness was etched deeply in his heart and transformed into his motivation to work diligently.

“Keep up the good work—I believe you can do even better!” Lin Haoran gently patted Su Zhixue on the shoulder without saying more.

Just past ten in the morning, Lin Haoran received another call from Bao Yugang. Bao informed him that the funds from the transfer of the Wharf Holdings shares had already been deposited into Lin’s Huifeng Bank account and were available for verification at any time.

Over a hundred million Hong Kong dollars was no small sum.

Upon receiving this news, Lin Haoran couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. Since Bao had confirmed the funds had arrived, it was certain. Nevertheless, he planned to head out at noon to check personally, especially since the Huifeng Bank headquarters was nearby at Hengfeng Building in Central.

With the trading team fully committed to acquiring shares of Qingzhou Yingni, and with Li Ka-shing’s camp having agreed to abandon their acquisition plans for Qingzhou Yingni, their team’s rate of acquisition had indeed improved significantly.

Under Su Zhixue’s meticulous planning and leadership, the Qingzhou Yingni stock market seemed instantly revitalized; the volume of orders surged, and market activity rose notably.

Without interference from Li Ka-shing’s team, their trading moved with much smoother precision.

Given this momentum, today’s operations involving Qingzhou Yingni shares would undoubtedly yield substantial volume.

Though from today onward, Lin Haoran no longer had any connection with Wharf Holdings’ stock, he still maintained a certain level of attention toward it.

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The stock market for Wharf Holdings remained bustling throughout the morning, with frequent transactions.

However, the market generally anticipated that Bao Yugang and Jardine Matheson had no intention of pushing the share price beyond 75 Hong Kong dollars, instead maintaining it near that level. As a result, the price steadily hovered in the seventy-something range.

Sell orders continued to flood in; for many ordinary investors already holding Wharf Holdings shares, a price above seventy Hong Kong dollars was considered high, deterring further purchases.

With little sign of further gains, many chose to take profits, selling their shares en masse.

Before long, the morning trading session came to a close.

In the afternoon, Lin Haoran quickly grabbed a simple meal at the company, then, accompanied by two bodyguards, left the office building and headed to the Huifeng Bank headquarters, also located in the bustling Central district.

Standing before the base of the Huifeng Bank headquarters, Lin looked up at the building—a structure neither ostentatious nor diminutive but rich with history.

Built in October 1935, it stood thirteen stories tall, reaching 70 meters, the third-generation landmark of Huifeng Bank. Amid the myriad skyscrapers of Central, it was unobtrusive yet exuded a quiet dignity and solemnity.

Though its exterior was modest, the Huifeng Bank headquarters held an unshakable position in the financial world. It was not only a leader in Hong Kong’s financial sector but also a symbol carrying the dreams and honors of countless financiers.

In front of the building, two majestic bronze lion statues stood proudly—not merely decorations but symbols of Huifeng Bank’s guardianship of wealth and steadfast progress, revered as the “Treasures of the Bank.”

Lin Haoran walked directly into the bank lobby. It was likely lunchtime, as there were few customers inside and only two service windows were open.

“Could you please check my account balance for me?” Approaching one of the empty counters, he handed over his golden bank card with a smile.

The history of Hong Kong bank cards traced back to the 1970s, when Hong Kong was emerging as Asia’s financial hub.

As a leader in Hong Kong’s financial industry, Huifeng Bank naturally promoted bank card usage among its high-end clientele.

The female teller’s eyes flickered with a hint of respect upon seeing the golden card, and her demeanor instantly became more courteous and respectful.

“Certainly, sir, please hold on a moment.”

After a few minutes, the teller returned with an apologetic smile.

“Apologies, sir, due to my access limitations, I am unable to view your account balance directly. However, I have arranged for a senior relationship manager to assist you.”

“That's fine, no rush,” Lin Haoran replied warmly, maintaining his composed demeanor.

Soon, a middle-aged woman dressed in a sharp female suit approached him briskly.

“Mr. Lin, hello! I’m Huang Yulan, a senior relationship manager at Huifeng Bank. It’s a pleasure to serve you. Please follow me to the VIP office for a detailed discussion.”

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Entering the elegantly appointed VIP area on the first floor, Huang Yulan’s service was noticeably more attentive and meticulous than that of the regular tellers.

Her tone was gentle, her manners impeccable, making Lin Haoran feel an unprecedented sense of comfort and respect.

At last, Lin Haoran confirmed his balance: the over 110 million Hong Kong dollars from Bao Yugang had indeed been credited.

With the funds now in place, Lin Haoran felt reassured.

Just as he was preparing to leave the bank, stepping outside with his bodyguards, Huang Yulan, having just ended an urgent phone call, hurried out of the office and quickly caught up to him.

“Mr. Lin, please wait a moment,” her voice carried a polite urgency.

Lin Haoran paused and turned, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face.

“Manager Huang, is there something else I can assist with?”

“Mr. Lin, the bank’s chairman, Mr. Shen Bi, wishes to have the opportunity to meet and speak with you. May I ask if you could spare some time?”

She explained that she had just received direct instructions from Mr. Shen Bi to extend this invitation.

This unexpected request caught Lin Haoran somewhat off guard.

“Mr. Shen Bi?” Lin repeated softly, a subtle stir in his heart.

He quickly realized that his recent actions had been reported. For a financial institution, an account deposit exceeding one hundred million Hong Kong dollars instantly marked him as a top-tier client. Moreover, the source of funds was tied to the reputable Hong Kong tycoon Bao Yugang, ensuring a clean background.

With this in mind, Lin Haoran’s understanding deepened.

As chairman of Huifeng Bank, Mr. Shen Bi was naturally curious and attentive toward such a client with vast funds and strong connections, and was keen to establish a relationship.

Hence, the invitation for a meeting was entirely reasonable.

(End of chapter)