Chapter 406: Hong Kong tycoon invests?

The next morning, all employees of LanHai Daily Chemical Factory were mobilized.

"Sweep the floor clean! Polish the windows! You there, hang that 'Welcome to our fellow citizens of Hong Kong' banner straight!" Huo Wenxuan shouted enthusiastically, holding a megaphone.

Su Yue then locked herself in her office.

On the table in front of him were all the public reports about the Lin Group over the past few years, as well as all the information about Lin Zhihong, the head of the group.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Since we're going to talk, we need to take the initiative.

Haikou Port.

The sound of the steam whistle made people tremble.

A pure white luxury cruise ship, flying the Union Jack, slowly docked.

The massive ship, like a moving hill, cast a large shadow on the dock, making the fishing boats moored next to it look like insignificant bathtubs.

Red banners had long been unfurled on the shore, and drums and gongs resounded.

The provincial leaders, dressed in sharp Zhongshan suits, stood in a row.

Su Yue stood at the end of the line, wearing a neatly tailored beige suit skirt, her hair pulled back low, looking capable and detached from worldly affairs.

Huo Wenxuan stood beside her, constantly tugging at his tie, his forehead covered in sweat, whether from the heat or nervousness, it was hard to tell.

"Stop pulling, or you'll strangle me." Su Yue looked straight ahead, her voice low.

“That’s the ‘Victoria’! The ship alone is worth that much!” Huo Wenxuan held up five fingers and shook them, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “If we can squeeze a little bit out of these people’s fingers, the pharmaceutical factory’s equipment will be complete.”

Su Yue didn't reply. She stared at the gangway that was slowly being lowered.

The gangway landed.

A group of people in suits came down.

The man walking at the front was around sixty years old.

He was dressed in a well-tailored dark gray three-piece suit, leaning on a walking stick, his hair was neatly combed, all silver, yet he looked energetic.

Lin Zhihong. The head of the Lin Group in Hong Kong, he controls half of Hong Kong's shipping routes and is a powerful figure whose every move shakes the ground.

Provincial leaders immediately went up to greet him, shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries, creating a warm atmosphere.

Lin Zhihong wore a smile, polite and attentive, yet exuding a sense of detachment typical of someone accustomed to a position of power. He shook hands with everyone with just the right amount of pressure, neither arrogant nor overly familiar.

Until he walked up to Su Yue.

Lin Zhihong stopped in his tracks.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

Just as the provincial leaders were about to make their introductions, Lin Zhihong waved his hand, his eyes, which had seen it all, fell on Su Yue, and he looked her up and down.

"This must be Factory Director Su Yue, right?" Lin Zhihong's voice was deep and resonant, with a hint of Hong Kong accent. "Indeed, seeing is believing."

Su Yue extended her hand, neither humble nor arrogant: "Mr. Lin, you flatter me. I have long admired your name."

Their hands clasped together. Lin Zhihong's palms were dry and strong; unlike with others, he didn't let go after a brief touch, but lingered for two seconds longer.

“After Shiman went back, she mentioned you a lot.” Lin Zhihong smiled, his wrinkles piling up, but instead of being kind, he looked like an eagle sizing up its prey. “She said that during her time on Hainan Island, thanks to Director Su’s ‘care,’ she learned a lot of things that she couldn’t have learned in Hong Kong.”

The word "take care" was emphasized.

Huo Wenxuan shuddered. Lin Shiman was thoroughly humiliated by Su Yue before slinking away; why did this sound like she was here for revenge?

Su Yue remained unfazed, her smile widening even further: "Miss Lin is being too kind. It's just a matter of mutual learning. I've also witnessed the grandeur of Hong Kong's elite families through Miss Lin."

That's how you kick the ball back. Lin Shiman's arrogant and domineering attitude back then was indeed quite "charming".

Lin Zhihong gave her a deep look, released her hand, and said meaningfully, "Young man, you are a force to be reckoned with."

The welcome dinner was held at the provincial guesthouse.

It was called a guesthouse, but it was really just a large auditorium.

The round table was covered with a bright red plastic tablecloth. Although the dishes were a carefully prepared seafood feast, they seemed somewhat shabby in the eyes of the worldly-wise Hong Kong businessmen.

Su Yue sat at a table in the corner, poking at the shrimp in her plate with her chopsticks.

Lin Zhihong was surrounded by provincial leaders at the main table.

But he didn't sit still. After toasting everyone, he actually picked up his wine glass and walked straight over to Su Yue's table.

Huo Wenxuan, who had been talking at length, immediately shut up and stood up abruptly.

"Director Su, do you mind if I share a table with you?" Lin Zhihong didn't wait for Su Yue's reply and sat down in the empty seat next to her, even leaning his walking stick against the edge of the table.

This immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Mr. Lin, please make yourself at home." Su Yue put down her chopsticks, picked up the wine bottle next to her, and poured him a glass. "Although the wine at the guesthouse can't compare to the Lafite in Hong Kong, it has its own unique flavor."

Lin Zhihong picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and instead of commenting on the wine, pointed at Huo Wenxuan: "This must be Deputy Factory Director Huo, right? I heard you're the one running the sales channels for Blue Ocean Daily Chemical Factory? You're quite accomplished at such a young age."

Huo Wenxuan was flattered and straightened his back: "Mr. Lin, you flatter me. I'm just running around aimlessly, trying to make a living."

"You're too modest." Lin Zhihong put down his wine glass and tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "I've seen your reports. In just two years, you've grown from a small factory on the verge of bankruptcy to your current scale, and even sold your products in Southeast Asia. This isn't something you can achieve by just running around aimlessly."

He suddenly turned to look at Su Yue: "Director Su, let's not beat around the bush. I'm here not only for inspection, but also with sincerity."

"Oh?" Su Yue raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what Mr. Lin means by sincerity?"

“I’m very interested in your bacteriophage project,” Lin Zhihong said in a low voice, his shrewd businessman’s wit finally showing. “And that sea buckthorn repair frost. I know you’re short of money and equipment right now. As long as you agree, the Lin Group can invest. I can provide you with all the equipment, technical personnel, and even international sales channels.”

Huo Wenxuan's breathing quickened instantly. Wasn't this just a godsend?

Su Yue remained calm. There are no free lunches in life, only traps.

"What are the conditions?" Su Yue asked.

"Great." Lin Zhihong nodded approvingly. "I want 51% of the shares of Blue Ocean Chemical Factory. In addition, the core patents for bacteriophage and sea buckthorn cream must be transferred to the Lin Group's subsidiary registered in Gangcheng."

"Hiss—" Huo Wenxuan gasped.

This isn't cooperation, it's annexation! They're even trying to uproot the core technology!

Su Yue's smile faded. She picked up her teacup and gently blew away the floating tea leaves: "Mr. Lin, I'm afraid this won't do."

"Not enough?" Lin Zhihong held up two fingers. "Two million US dollars. That's enough for you to buy half a county on Hainan Island."

In an era when even those with ten thousand yuan are rare, two million US dollars is simply an astronomical figure.

Those around who were listening were dumbfounded.