Zhang Hongcheng and Hu Yu had already formulated a plan by collecting information long before arriving at the port.
Zhang Hongcheng’s previous series of outrageous actions in Hong Kong Island were just out of his own interest.
The two agreed to implement this big plan in the last few days of Zhang Hongcheng and his wife's internship.
In fact, many private collectors have offered high prices to buy the ancient painting in Fatty Hu's hand. The reason why he locked onto the old man in front of him was just because he and Zhang Hongcheng took a fancy to a collection in the old man's hand.
The fat man endured his wife's harassment and pretended to state his conditions.
"Fifty-five million, plus a Western figure painting that Mr. Zhen collected ten years ago."
Mr. Zhen was slightly stunned.
The old man's mind was racing. There weren't many Western works in his collection at this price point, and there didn't seem to be anything particularly remarkable.
The group came to the old man's collection of Western paintings. Seeing the fat man choose the Western painting with shining eyes, Old Zhen frowned even more.
Because the small portrait of a noble couple from the 16th century that the fat man chose is only worth more than one million Hong Kong dollars on the market now, and it will definitely not exceed two million.
It is not even as expensive as many works by modern painters.
You have to know that apart from some historical bonus, the level of this painting is really hard to describe.
"Self-portraits of the first Earl of Taylor and his wife?"
Mr. Zhen's real offer could actually fluctuate up by one or two million. Fifty-five million plus this painting would be no problem at all.
But he was a little curious why the fat man chose this painting.
"Many years ago, the Earl Taylor family was a very prestigious family in Hong Kong Island. They offered a reward of eight to nine million pounds for the return of this painting."
Mr. Zhen stared at the fat man's eyes curiously.
"Before his death, the 21st Earl of Taylor had raised the bounty to 12 million pounds."
"But the two Earls of Taylor who succeeded him were not up to the task. They squandered the family fortune in 1997 and 2008. I heard that his descendants have now become street thugs, and even their earldoms have been revoked by the royal family."
"The first Earl Taylor's painting skills were only slightly better than those of an average person. This painting is still worth one or two million, but that's just because of the Taylor family's former glory."
"So, Boss Hu, what do you want this painting for?"
Faced with the old man's curiosity, the fat man shamelessly hugged his wife.
"Don't you realize that we are somewhat similar to the couple in the painting?"
That’s right, the first Earl Taylor was also a fat man, but as for other similarities, Mr. Zhen is sorry, he really can’t find any.
So the fat guy in front of me is talking nonsense.
But other people's secrets belong to other people. Mr. Zhen was very open-minded about this point, and the transaction was finally reached happily.
Xiao He, who received a large sum of money to invest, immediately got busy, not caring at all why the small bedside oil painting her husband bought was left with only a pitiful frame the next day.
For those wealthy people in Hong Kong who participated in the mainland reception, the political significance of attending such a meeting far outweighs the economic significance.
Although the mainland has announced its opening up, no one can understand the economic prospects now. For them, investing is nothing more than a gambler's mentality and emotions.
The 1970s and 1980s were the era of the rise of Chinese businessmen in Hong Kong. It was precisely because of the mainland's tough stance that the British gradually lost confidence in the future of Hong Kong, which gave Chinese businessmen the opportunity to rise.
Since last year, Jardine Matheson, representing British capital, and Chinese businessmen have started a fierce battle.
After winning over HSBC, which wanted to replace Jardine Matheson, the Chinese businessmen had sufficient funds, but they urgently needed a background to counter the authority of the Hong Kong government.
Chinese businessmen and mainlanders hit it off immediately.
The war lasted for more than a year, with the Li family and the Bao family fighting fiercely with the Jardine Matheson Group in the acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa.
By the time Zhang Hongcheng was about to finish his internship, the Li family was about to take over Hutchison, one of the four major British banks, from HSBC and transfer their shares in Wharf Holdings to the Bao family.
At this point, the Pao family and the Jardine Matheson Group both hold a 20% stake in Wharf Holdings.
If history does not change, the acquisition war between the two sides will become increasingly fierce starting from the beginning of next year.
After seeing the Bao family, which should have run out of funds, repeatedly invest in acquisitions, the wealthy Jardine Matheson finally panicked and withdrew - they thought that some mysterious force had intervened.
The battle at Hutchison Whampoa completely destroyed the confidence of the British financial groups in Hong Kong.
In fact, they didn’t know that if Jardine Matheson had held on for another half month...
Today is the second internal reception held by the Economic Group in October, and it is also the last reception that Zhang Hongcheng and the other two will attend while staying in Hong Kong Island.
Many wealthy people from Hong Kong Island attended the reception.
Their main purpose of coming here is to help the economic group and use the background of the economic group to show British capital.
Several wealthy people did not appear in the hall, but gathered in a VIP room to discuss the recent increasingly fierce acquisition war.
For them, this acquisition battle concerns the future of the family, because they have no chance to start over after failure. However, it is different for British capital, as their opponents have a much higher tolerance for error than them.
Zhang Hongcheng and his wife had nothing to do because they were arranged to rest in a small room at the back of the hall near the kitchen - they were not allowed to enter the hall or go near the gate.
I don’t know who bypassed the strict order given by the two team leaders, forbidding any staff member to meet, talk, or pass items or messages to the couple during the meeting!
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