Chapter 188: Thunderous Means

As the apple of the He Family's eye, He Tian'er's initial dream was not business, but art; at nineteen years of age, she wanted to be a star.

Recently, the news of Hongxing Film acquiring the Jiahe Circuit and buying the Diamond Hill Studio has been making a huge stir.

Upon learning that Hongxing Film was Chen Jiajun's property, He Tian'er insisted that Chen Jiajun give her a bit part.

"Boss." Ceng Ziwei brought over the film's lead actress, Zhu Baoyi: "Miss Zhu, this is our Hongxing Film's Boss, Mr. Chen Jiajun. It was he who personally selected you to serve as the lead actress."

"Hello, Miss Zhu."

Chen Jiajun wore sunglasses and nodded slightly with an expressionless face, though his eyes beneath the sunglasses brightened.

Zhu Baoyi took Chen Jiajun's hand, feeling somewhat uneasy: "Thank you for your appreciation, Mr. Chen."

Zhu Baoyi was from Taiwan; her father passed away when she was young. When she was ten, she followed her mother to the United States, debuted as a model before she was even an adult, and joined the film and television industry shortly thereafter.

To keep the film as authentic as possible, Chen Jiajun tracked her down and invited her to develop her career in Hong Kong.

Once Zhu Baoyi heard that the boss of a large company in Hong Kong was interested in her, she immediately threw herself into Hongxing's embrace.

Before coming, Zhu Baoyi had specifically inquired about Hongxing Film and its boss behind the scenes, knowing that Chen Jiajun was the Hongxing Dragon Head of Hong Kong.

"Just call me Brother Jun," Chen Jiajun nodded.

He looked at Ceng Ziwei: "A Wei, as the first female star signed to our company, Zhu Baoyi must be well protected. Don't let others bully her, understand?"

"I understand, Boss," Ceng Ziwei immediately said solemnly. He naturally knew the original intention behind Chen Jiajun starting a film and television company—wasn't it just to play with female stars...

The two chatted for a few moments, and the director, Wu Yusen, asked Zhu Baoyi to go for a screen test. Ceng Ziwei took out a cigarette and offered it to Chen Jiajun: "Boss, have a smoke?"

"Speak your mind," Chen Jiajun saw that the little fatty had something on his mind.

"Mai Jia took Shitian and transferred over to follow Lei Juekun of the Golden Princess Circuit to form New Arts City. He asked me to give you a heads-up," Ceng Ziwei explained.

"I know."

Chen Jiajun nodded, though he sighed inwardly.

It seems history has returned to its original track after all; Mai Jia ended up following Lei Juekun.

The only difference from his past life was that the Yicheng Seven Freaks had already been broken up by him, and Mai Jia only took Shitian with him.

Who exactly is Lei Juekun?

The boss of Kowloon Motor Bus and Kowloon Development, a second-generation wealthy heir in Hong Kong.

When Lei Juekun founded the Golden Princess Circuit, he initially had no intention of participating in film production; it was only later, through a twist of fate, that he decided to film them himself.

Mai Jia, who had originally been doing well at Arts City Company, was kicked out of Hongxing Film by Chen Jiajun. Naturally, he was unwilling to remain under Chen Jiajun; to him, having no say meant living under someone else's roof.

It was better to simply found New Arts City with Lei Juekun of the Golden Princess Circuit. Shitian was a good friend of Mai Jia and also the second-largest shareholder of Arts City Company; when Mai Jia withdrew from the company, he followed his friend.

As for Huang Baiming, he did not have many shares in Arts City Company, so after selling his equity to Mai Jia, he chose to stay at Hongxing Film.

Perhaps Mai Jia felt that with Lei Juekun shielding him, Chen Jiajun would not overstep his boundaries.

Originally, Chen Jiajun indeed did not want to overstep; it was none of his business who Mai Jia transferred to, but it just had to be Lei Juekun of the Golden Princess Circuit.

Chen Jiajun had long had his eye on the Golden Princess Circuit.

In the current Hong Kong cinema market, Shaw Brothers has 18 cinemas, the Hong Hing Cinema has 19, and after Lei Juekun acquired the Lisheng Cinema Circuit, he had a total of 18 cinemas.

As Chen Jiajun, who was determined to become a tycoon in the Hong Kong film and television industry, he could naturally handle a second-generation rich kid like Lei Juekun with ease.

Making a phone call to Lei Juekun, Chen Jiajun announced his identity: "Boss Lei, I am Chen Jiajun of Hongxing Film."

"Dalao Jun, I have long admired your name."

"Sorry, Mai Jia and Shitian came to me on their own; I was just helping out."

Facing Dalao Jun, Lei Juekun's tone was extremely humble.

Because he knew Dalao Jun's power.

Chen Jiajun smiled and said: "It is their honor that Mai Jia and Shitian could be noticed by Boss Lei..."

Pausing, Chen Jiajun continued: "I called to ask if you have any thoughts of selling the Golden Princess Circuit?"

"I'm sorry, not for the time being. However, if your films want to be screened at the Golden Princess Circuit, you are more than welcome, and I will certainly provide the most favorable terms."

Lei Juekun knew Chen Jiajun's power, but he was not afraid of Chen Jiajun.

The reason was simple: as the boss of Kowloon Motor Bus and Kowloon Development, he also had quite a few triads under his command eating from his plate.

Running a bus company without triad power behind it makes it very easy to be robbed on minibus routes.

In the movie 【Young and Dangerous】, Ji Ge, Han Bin, and people from other triads fought until they were bloodied over the struggle for minibus routes.

"That's good," Chen Jiajun smiled broadly.

In the afternoon, at the Chen Family Zhuangyuan.

Sima Xiang, Huang Shitong, Zhan Peizhong, Chen Zhan, and other members of the Landlord Association were secretly brought to the Chen Family Zhuangyuan under the escort of young demon slaves.

Arriving at the top-floor reception hall, a handsome man was leisurely brewing tea.

Sima Xiang immediately smelled it; this was the scent of top-tier Pu'er tea.

"Mr. Chen."

"Boss."

Everyone addressed him one after another.

"Sit."

Chen Jiajun made a gesture of invitation. Zhan Peizhong and the others did not stand on ceremony with Dalao Jun and automatically opened the cigar box.

Setting out several handmade tea cups and arranging the tea set, Chen Jiajun lifted the teapot to pour water, then waved his hand and said: "Please, tea."

After some banter, Chen Jiajun flicked his cigar ash and said: "I called everyone here today specifically for the acquisition of Kowloon Motor Bus."

"KMB's current stock price is 14 dollars, with 158 million shares, a market value of 1.48 billion. Boss, if we want to acquire it, we need ample funds. Should we withdraw a portion from the Japan stock market?"

Zhan Peizhong immediately began analyzing it for Chen Jiajun. As someone who often frequented the stock market, he naturally understood the situation of this company, KMB.

Sima Xiang, however, asked: "Mr. Chen, why do you want to acquire KMB?"

Sima Xiang knew that Dalao Jun definitely did not have his eye on KMB as a company; KMB's annual profit was nearly one or two hundred million Hong Kong dollars, but one or two hundred million Hong Kong dollars was just a drop in the bucket for Chen Jiajun.

Dalao Jun even has a considerable amount of land in his hands, but it remains undeveloped to this day.

There is no need for Dalao Jun to acquire Kowloon Wharf just for its land; that would truly be an act of buying the casket and returning the pearl.

Moreover, Kowloon Wharf has a very significant background; its Founder, Deng Zhaojian, was among the first batch of Chinese Justices of the Peace in Hong Kong and is also the chairman of Po Leung Kuk.

What kind of organization is the Hong Kong Po Leung Kuk?

It is one of the most prestigious charitable organizations in Hong Kong. Deng Zhaojian, who is able to serve as the chairman of Po Leung Kuk, holds shares in many large groups in Hong Kong. Not only does he have connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world, but he has also been awarded a CBE-level knighthood by the British royal family.

He himself has donated money crazily in Hong Kong, and there are over 40 things in society named after him, including charitable funds, hospitals, schools, playgrounds, and so on.

"I want to give the major shareholder and General Manager of Kowloon Wharf, Lei Juekun, a warning."

Acquiring Kowloon Wharf is not just for a warning or for the land; more importantly, in Chen Jiajun's view, Kowloon Wharf is still a very good media carrier.

"As for the source of the acquisition funds, Hongxing Finance Company will lend a sum to Guojun Group, and this acquisition case shall be carried out in the name of Guojun Group."

Hongxing Finance Company has absorbed a total of over 500 million Hong Kong dollars in funds; lending it to Guojun Group is equivalent to moving money from the left hand to the right hand.

Huang Shitong put down his teacup and said: "How will we explain this to Sir Deng Zhaojian?"

"I will visit Sir Deng in person," Chen Jiajun set the tone.

Sima Xiang took out paper and a pen to calculate and said: "Mr. Chen, do you intend to acquire everything, or just a portion? Is the matter urgent?"

"The faster, the better. I have a total of 500 million in funds; you may spend it all, but you must project the momentum of acquiring all the shares," Chen Jiajun replied after pondering for a moment.

Chen Jiajun nodded, then picked up the playing cards and said: "Alright, this matter is settled for now; everyone, let's play cards."

Sima Xiang, Huang Shitong, Zhan Peizhong, Chen Zhan, and the others lived up to their reputations as gold-medal brokers. The next day, they mobilized their own resources to acquire 10 million shares of Kowloon Wharf on the secondary market, bringing Guojun Group's shareholding ratio to 9.45% at an average acquisition price of 1 dollar.

And the primary market price had also quietly risen to 11 dollars.

Immediately following this, Zhan Peizhong, as the representative of Guojun Group, brazenly announced the use of 400 million Hong Kong dollars to acquire Kowloon Wharf at a maximum price not exceeding 14.2 dollars per share.

After the news spread, the market response was extremely intense.

Kowloon Wharf General Manager Lei Juekun never expected that Chen Jiajun would not play by the rules.

Although the film and television industry is something Lei Juekun values—otherwise he would not have acquired the Lisheng Cinema Circuit and made a major push into the film and television industry—

but with his home base about to be stolen, what else is there for him to play with?

Feng Bingzhong, as a shareholder of Kowloon Wharf and one of the financiers behind the Golden Princess Circuit, was also pacing back and forth anxiously: "A Kun, why don't we give Dalao Jun a call, sell him the Golden Princess Circuit, and have him give up on acquiring Kowloon Wharf Group?"

"As a Big Water Pipe with a net worth of several billion, how could Dalao Jun possibly give up rashly once he has set his sights on Kowloon Wharf?" Lei Juekun immediately vetoed it: "Call a board meeting immediately."

Kowloon Wharf board meeting.

Although Deng Zhaojian is in good health, he is, after all, nearly eighty years old, so he was inevitably a beat slow in his reaction speed. By the time these Elders of Kowloon Wharf had gathered, the latest battle report had already arrived from the stock exchange: the shares of Kowloon Wharf held by Guojun Group were approaching twenty percent.

Lei Juekun gasped: "Dalao Jun's actions are this fast?"

Deng Zhaojian mused: "There must be an expert advising Guojun Group behind the scenes, and they have been planning this for a long time."

Lei Juekun hurriedly urged: "Never mind whether there is an expert behind Guojun Group for now; our top priority is to stabilize the morale of the people..."

After Kowloon Wharf held a meeting to study this acquisition action, they later appealed to shareholders to temporarily ignore this acquisition action until Kowloon Wharf completes its asset valuation report.

At noon, Kowloon Wharf issued another statement: The Kowloon board of directors notifies shareholders to consider carefully, estimating that the net value of Kowloon Wharf should be 25.2 dollars per share, and is considering establishing a subsidiary listed company, with a decision to be made by the end of the year.

Kowloon Wharf also stated in the statement: According to the patent rights provisions issued under the Public Omnibus Ordinance, if the company's buses have sufficient premises for construction, repair, maintenance, and parking, the company may sell the property, but without the consent of the Financial Secretary, the property may not be developed for purposes unrelated to bus services, and the Financial Secretary will not unreasonably refuse consent.

When Chen Jiajun saw this statement, he smiled at Zhan Peizhong and said: "Azhong, it seems Lei Juekun is getting desperate. Azhong, how many shares have we acquired?"

"We have currently acquired 30 million shares, with a shareholding ratio of 28.36%. Lei Juekun's shareholding ratio in Kowloon Wharf Group is 26%," Zhan Peizhong said with a beaming smile.

"Continue the acquisition, spend until the money is gone," Chen Jiajun continued to instruct.

"Very well, Boss," Zhan Peizhong nodded and immediately picked up the telephone.

In the afternoon, securities industry figures believed that the acquisition action launched by Guojun Group was a healthy one, and it was expected that Guojun Group's acquisition of Kowloon Wharf Group was for the purpose of hoarding land.

And with this acquisition action by Guojun Group, the real estate development market would set off a climax.

The Securities Supervisory Commission discussed the incident regarding Guojun Group's acquisition of Kowloon Wharf equity. Deputy Commissioner Miao Lesi stated that the acquisition proposed by Guojun Group this time was completely legal, so the commission would not issue any statement.

Moreover, Miao Lesi also stated that Guojun Group had already notified the Securities Supervisory Commission before the stock market opened.

That day, the highest price for Kowloon Wharf was 15 dollars, and the closing price was 14.2 dollars, an increase of 3 dollars and 90 cents from the previous day.

Guojun Group's Zhan Peizhong announced that the funds for this acquisition action reached 500 million and 410 dollars, and the number of shares acquired was still being calculated.

On that day, other stocks were also stimulated; the Hang Seng Index rose 43.96 points, and the turnover of the four Hong Kong stock exchanges reached 1.054 billion.

"A Jun, the acquisition of Kowloon Wharf Group has caused a huge stir. You should visit Sir Deng in person; don't damage the harmony."

That evening, Huo Yingnan called Chen Jiajun; he was an old acquaintance of Sir Deng and some of the old fogies at Kowloon Wharf.

When all is said and done, the founding family is an unavoidable hurdle in the acquisition of Kowloon Wharf.

Following Huo Yingnan's suggestion, Chen Jiajun made a special trip to visit Deng Zhaojian.

Deng Zhaojian is Ahong Kong Justice of the Peace, and Chen Jiajun is also Ahong Kong Justice of the Peace.

Deng Zhaojian is an entrepreneur, and Chen Jiajun is also an entrepreneur; moreover, the strength of Guojun Group, Hongxing Group, and Guojun Clothing is not something that Deng Zhaojian's business empire can compare to.

Deng Zhaojian is a philanthropist, and Chen Jiajun is also a philanthropist.

The only difference between the two sides is that Deng Zhaojian is a knight.

Furthermore, Deng Zhaojian is known in Hong Kong as the last aristocrat, and he has very good relations with the Queen of England, Princess Diana, and high-level officials in the country.

Given all these comparisons, Chen Jiajun appearing in person gave enough face to this old senior, Deng Zhaojian.

When Chen Jiajun left Diamond Hill Studio, many Reporters waiting there swarmed over, and even the Mercedes-Benz motorcade could not move an inch:

"Mr. Chen, may I ask at what price you intend to exit after sniping at Kowloon Wharf Group?"

"Mr. Chen, there are rumors that you and Kowloon Wharf Boss Lei Juekun have had a dispute over competing for cinema circuits; is there any truth to this?"

"Mr. Chen, could you spare a few minutes of your time?"

Stock investors familiar with Chen Jiajun's past operations all know that Dalao Jun's sniping battles are very sharp, and he always manages to bite off a large piece of meat from the other party when exiting. For example, in the sniping battles against Jianing Group, Jiulongcang Jituan, and Hutchison Whampoa, Dalao Jun timed his moves perfectly and struck at the vital points, all of which yielded huge profits.

Therefore, many stock investors, including Reporters, were speculating that the sniping god—Dalao Jun, after a year of silence, was launching a lightning war with his Sword Finger pointed at Kowloon Wharf, with the goal of biting off a piece of meat from the major shareholders of Kowloon Wharf Group before exiting.

Therefore, today, stock investors frantically bought Kowloon Wharf Group stocks on the market, and the stock price rose from the opening price to 18 dollars, with the market value of Kowloon Wharf Group jumping from 1 billion to 2 billion.

Chen Jiajun sat in the back row of the 6.2-meter-long Mercedes-Benz Pullman, able only to respond to these reporters with a smile.

Immediately following, dozens of young demon slaves walked out from the film set, pulling up a barricade to let Big Brother leave first.

(End of this chapter)