Li Ka-shing said quietly, "Superintendent Li Wenbin once analyzed it for me. He said that someone used my name to pocket the HK$1 billion and then deliberately let Zhang Shiqiang go, which is why Zhang Shiqiang hates me so much. Mr. Shen, do you think his analysis is correct?"
Shen Dong smiled and said, "Superintendent Li has a wealth of experience in handling these types of cases, so his analysis should be correct. It's just a pity that Superintendent Li couldn't find any evidence to recover that HK$1 billion for you."
Li Ka-shing praised, "That person really has some clever methods."
Shen Dong said, "You are too modest. He is far inferior to you, for example, he is not hard-hearted enough. Think about it, if this person had made a move before Mr. Li Zekai was released, you would probably be burying your son now."
Li Ka-shing's expression changed, and he nodded, saying, "In that case, I really should thank him."
Shen Dong chuckled and said, "Indeed, I should thank you. Sir Li, these matters are in the past, and there's no point in discussing them further. You invited me for tea today, presumably to discuss the building materials, right?"
Li Ka-shing said, “That’s right. Mr. Shen, I heard that the price you offered is even lower than our cost price. If this continues, I certainly won’t be able to sell the goods, and you will probably suffer huge losses as well. This is a lose-lose situation, which a wise person would not do.”
Shen Dong smiled and said, "Sir Li, what do you want?"
Li Ka-shing said: "Cooperative pricing."
Shen Dong smiled and said, "Impossible. The reason I was able to establish the Hong Kong Island Real Estate Association and become its president is that I can import building materials from the mainland at a lower price than you. The so-called cooperative pricing is poison to me. Once I swallow it, I, Shen Dong, will immediately be back to square one. Sir Li, you are trying to harm me."
Li Ka-shing frowned and said, "Businessmen are driven by profit. You must have paid a huge price to secure the exclusive import rights for building materials from the mainland. But in the end, you didn't make any money. Don't you think that's a pity?"
Shen Dong said, “Since ancient times, people have always talked about fame and fortune. Fame always comes before fortune. Why is that? Because reputation is more important than profit. Sir Li, I can tell you clearly that the price of the building materials I sell will definitely be lower than yours. Even if I end up giving them away for free, I will still continue to do it. I may lose some money in the short term, but in the long run, I will definitely make a profit.”
A glint of light flashed in Li Ka-shing's eyes as he said, "So you're determined to go against us?"
Shen Dong said, "It is your four major families who are against all of us. Sir Li, the situation has developed to this point, and I have no way out but to go all the way. Even if I hit a wall, I cannot turn back."
Li Ka-shing took a sip of tea, then suddenly laughed and said, "In all these years, you are the first person who has dared to provoke us."
Shen Dong shook his head and said, "This is a challenge, not a provocation, and I believe that more and more people will dare to challenge you."
Li Ka-shing said, "You can't win."
Shen Dong said, "I'm not confident I can beat you, but I'm absolutely confident I won't lose."
Li Ka-shing gave him a deep look and said, "I underestimated you back then. Have some tea."
Shen Dong knew he was seeing his guest off, so he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Thank you for the tea, goodbye."
After saying that, Shen Dong got up and walked outside.
Upon reaching the door, Shen Dong suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked, "Sir Li, have you ever considered joining our Hong Kong Island Real Estate Association?"
Li Ka-shing was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and said, "What do you think?"
Shen Dong laughed and said, "Alright, I was just being too unrealistic."
In the afternoon, Li Ka-shing lowered the price of building materials by another 20%, but unfortunately, no one was interested.
Li Ka-shing had no choice but to contact the other side to stop shipping sand and cement into the port and instead divert them to other countries in Southeast Asia.
The Li family has a very large real estate business, with projects not only in Hong Kong Island but also in other Southeast Asian countries.
Together with the other three families, they could barely consume all the building materials.
"Li Ka-shing is no longer selling sand and cement?" Shen Dong asked.
Tang Peijun nodded and said, "That's right. They've already put up signs saying it's all for their own use. The remaining building materials have all been diverted to Southeast Asian countries."
Shen Dong laughed heartily and said, "It seems we've won this round."
Tang Peijun said, "But in doing this, we have completely offended Li Ka-shing."
Shen Dong said, "He offended us to death a long time ago. Damn it, he dared to use building materials to block me, so he has to bear the price of being blocked back by us."
Tang Peijun asked, "Brother Dong, now that Li Ka-shing has withdrawn, we practically have a monopoly on building materials in Hong Kong. How do you think we should set the prices?"
Shen Dong replied without hesitation, "One ton of cement costs 380 Hong Kong dollars, and one ton of sand costs 65 Hong Kong dollars. We said that these building materials are cheaper than Li Ka-shing's, so we must keep our word."
Tang Peijun sighed and said, "In this way, our profits will be much less."
Shen Dong said magnanimously, "There's no better deal than trading 20 to 30 million a year for huge influence in the industry."
Tang Peijun nodded and said, "That's true. As long as we control the building materials for the entire Hong Kong Island, everyone will respect us."
Shen Dong said, "Commercial monopolies can indeed bring huge profits, but they will also be targeted by the government and competitors. Once operational problems arise, they will immediately fall from heaven to hell. Therefore, I have always believed that cooperation and win-win is the main theme of future business. The more companies that eat with us and cooperate with us, the more stable we will be and the more we will win the future."
Tang Peijun praised, "Brother Dong is brilliant."
Shen Dong said, "Old Tang, pass on the word: from now on, the prices of our building materials will be set at HK$380 and HK$65. Unless prices rise in the mainland, our prices will never change."
Tang Peijun said, "Okay."
Soon, everyone knew the price of Shen Dong's building materials.
All the CEOs who joined the Hong Kong Island Real Estate Association were overjoyed and called Chen Dong one by one to express their gratitude.
"Mr. Zhang, we're all friends, so please don't be so polite."
......
"Mr. Li, rest assured, this price will remain basically unchanged for the next five years. Of course, if prices rise inland, there's nothing I can do, but the increase shouldn't exceed 20%."
......
"Haha, Mr. Wang, please don't scare me. I'm not some living Buddha."
......
"Mr. He, why are you crying? It's not that serious."
......
Shen Dong's actions earned him everyone's respect. At that moment, he truly became a leading figure in Hong Kong's real estate industry, standing shoulder to shoulder with the other four major families.
Upon learning of the price announced by Shen Dong, Li Ka-shing exclaimed, "This young man is truly remarkable."
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