Chapter 624: 608 Mr. Li: I, too, share wealth with the people! Reporter: You?

What does it mean for public opinion to be like fire?

That is exactly what Hong Kong is like right now.

Following the midday reports on ATV and TVB regarding Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's press conference, all of Hong Kong was plunged into a public discourse as volatile as fire cooking oil.

"Mr. Li shouldn't be selling the port!"

"The port doesn't just belong to Mr. Li; it belongs to us too. He enjoyed the dividends of Hong Kong's development, so he shouldn't just pull up his pants and walk away!"

"That's right, he can't take all the dividends and just leave whenever he wants."

"How is this any different from picking up a bowl to eat and putting it down to curse your mother?"

90% of all Hong Kong citizens are wage earners, the impoverished, the beasts of burden...

Meanwhile, another group of people, relying on Hong Kong's dividends, have become tycoons, living in grand villas with endless wealth and beauties.

This disparity between rich and poor has long left many citizens deeply dissatisfied.

Moreover, as the wealth of capitalists increases, it becomes harder for citizens to earn money, and the wealth hierarchy becomes increasingly rigid.

But now, Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan wants to build a new port and open up share subscription channels so that ordinary citizens can become shareholders.

In this way, the status of the citizens undergoes a fundamental transformation; they are no longer just the exploited.

When the port generates profits through excellent operations, citizen shareholders can benefit from it, receiving cash dividends and tangibly increasing their personal wealth.

Not only that, as the port company continues to grow and develop, the stock price rises, and the assets of the citizen shareholders appreciate.

In this way, ordinary citizens can participate in the development process of the city's core industries, share in the fruits of economic development, and gradually narrow the gap with high-income groups.

From another perspective, this allows Hong Kong's economic development achievements to more fairly benefit every person who works hard to live.

Therefore...

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's "Million Shareholder Plan" immediately made all citizens feel what it means to "stand on the side of the people"!

Moved!

Grateful!

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu is on a completely different level from those other tycoons!

And Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's words, "Some people only see money in their eyes; but in my eyes, there is always the future of the Hong Kong citizens," have become a sentiment passed from mouth to mouth and praised by countless citizens.

As for Mr. Li?

No one sympathizes with him anymore.

The cover of the *Oriental Daily News* wrote: "Sympathize with a capitalist? May I ask, do you even have the qualifications?"

Many citizens deeply agreed with this statement.

We live bitter lives, bearing heavy life pressures under high prices and high housing costs, living in cramped spaces, rushing about for a living, yet finding it hard to accumulate wealth.

You want us to sympathize with Mr. Li, who has a net worth of tens of billions?

I'm not an idiot!

Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.

In a top-tier luxury ward.

Li Da said angrily: "Dad, that Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu is bullying us too much! This is daylight robbery. Not only is it robbery, but he's also doing it from the moral high ground!"

Li Er: "That's right, this Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu is truly detestable!"

Li Da: "Dad, he wants to force us to sell our terminal company, but we refuse to sell!"

Li Er: "That's right, absolutely do not sell to him!"

The two sons kept cursing Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu,

while on the hospital bed,

Mr. Li didn't show much anger; instead, his expression had calmed down.

The old but still resilient Mr. Li knew that the situation was beyond saving.

Public opinion was controlled by Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

The hearts of the people were controlled by Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

The Li family, this time, was completely and utterly standing on the opposite side of all Hong Kong citizens.

"Sell it!"

Mr. Li said.

"Dad!!" *2

Li Da and Li Er both changed color, becoming anxious.

"Doesn't that mean we're admitting defeat?"

"How can we sell it?"

Mr. Li's gaze was calm: "We have lost, we have lost completely and thoroughly..."

"In the business world, if you lose, you have to admit it. It's because our strength wasn't enough, and we were treated like fish on a chopping block."

"Losing this time isn't important. Even if we lose a few billion, so what?"

"We still have thirty or forty billion in assets."

"With this money, we still have many ways to earn even more."

"Although we lost this time, we have also learned valuable experience from Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: being kind to others, uniting the hearts of the people, manipulating public opinion... as long as we master this, we can also be invincible!"

Mr. Li's words were full of peace and wisdom, gradually smoothing out the anger in the hearts of Li Da and Li Er.

Li Da: "Understood, Dad!"

Li Er: "Dad, I'll listen to you!"

Mr. Li was gratified: "As long as you grow, losing a little bit is nothing."

Li Da: "Dad, we can no longer stay in Hong Kong, so where should we go?"

Mr. Li said without hesitation: "Britain... The United States, Canada, and Australia won't recognize us. Only Britain—we are, after all, British subjects; going to Britain, we can also gain their recognition."

Li Da and Li Er nodded.

Li Er asked again: "Then what about the port? Do we really have to sell it to Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu at a low price?"

Mr. Li sneered: "This Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu has caused my Li family to lose tens of billions time and time again... This time, he shouldn't even think about getting a bargain!"

Li Da: "Dad, what are you thinking?"

A glint flashed in Mr. Li's eyes: "Hold a press conference tomorrow. You go, Ah Ju... do this and that..."

He gave Li Da secret instructions.

After hearing them, Li Da slapped his thigh in excitement: "Dad, your plan is brilliant!"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, aren't you very 'selfless and impartial'?

I'll show you selfless and impartial!

Soon,

all television stations and newspaper reporters in Hong Kong received calls from the Cheung Kong Group.

The calls stated that the Cheung Kong Group would hold a press conference tomorrow to announce a major decision.

Major television stations and newspapers were stirred up by these calls.

"Is Mr. Li planning a counterattack?"

"There are too many melons to eat; I can't finish them, I really can't finish them!"

Every newspaper office was plunged into an excited state of distress—they were too busy!

A new day,

a little after 9:00 AM.

Cheung Kong Group, conference hall.

The scene was packed with people, cameras, and microphones.

Reporters from ATV, TVB, the *Oriental Daily News*, *Ming Pao*, the *South China Morning Post*, and others had already set up their equipment, waiting for the Li family's major statement.

10:00 AM,

Tap, tap, tap~~~

Li Da, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, walked onto the podium with a solemn expression.

Click, click, click~~~

Flashbulbs flickered incessantly.

"Media friends, citizens of Hong Kong—"

Li Da looked around the room, his voice steady and powerful,

and began his eloquent opening remarks,

"Since the Li Group took root in Hong Kong, we have always shared weal and woe with this land and its more than 5 million citizens, our bloodlines intertwined!"

"We know deeply that the prosperity of Hong Kong is not the work of one person, but a miracle forged by the sweat of every hardworking citizen. Dock workers, taxi drivers, tea restaurant staff, office white-collar workers... it is the struggle of millions of ordinary people that has held up the brilliance of this Pearl of the Orient!"

All reporters: "???"

This familiar flavor...

It's too five-star!

If Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu said this, it would seem incredibly credible.

But coming from the mouth of you Li family members...

What are you Li family members worth!

Li Da swept his gaze over the reporters below the stage, his tone growing increasingly sincere:

"The Li family has never forgotten—our wealth originates from society, and it should be returned to society even more!"

"Over the past few decades, we have invested in infrastructure, founded schools, and donated to medical care, always holding 'taken from the people, used for the people' as our creed. And today—"

"The Li Foundation gives out over a hundred million in funds every year to do all kinds of charity..."

He suddenly raised his voice, his right hand clenched into a fist, lightly striking the podium:

"We prove with our actions that the bond between the Li family and the citizens of Xiangdao is more precious than money!"

The entire venue was silent, and the reporters recorded rapidly.

"Now!"

"I announce a major decision by the Li family!"

Li Da announced loudly:

"In the negotiations with JPMorgan Chase last month, our asking price was 45 billion Hong Kong dollars, while the price given by JPMorgan Chase was 39 billion Hong Kong dollars."

"And now!"

"The Li family is willing to transfer the HIT International Container Terminals company to the Five Star Group at the price of 39 billion Hong Kong dollars, which is a reduction of 6 billion Hong Kong dollars!"

There was an immediate uproar below the stage.

A reporter exclaimed: "Directly 6 billion Hong Kong dollars less?"

"My god, what a grand gesture!"

Li Da raised his hand to signal for quiet and continued:

"But there is one condition—"

His voice rose!

"The Five Star Group must agree to distribute 40% of the shares to the citizens of Xiangdao!"

"We don't care about earning 6 billion Hong Kong dollars less; what we care about is—"

His voice trembled, as if suppressing surging emotions:

"Every citizen can become an owner of the port! Every ordinary citizen can share in the fruits of economic development! This is the true 'shared prosperity with the people'!"

Finally, Li Da raised his fist high and shouted as if taking an oath:

"The Li Group will always stand on the side of the citizens of Xiangdao!"

Click, click, click~~~

The sound of shutters rang out like a rainstorm, and the flashes froze Li Da's impassioned figure on the front page headlines.

In a corner below the stage, a reporter whispered to a colleague: "Tsk, this rhetoric... I'm afraid Boss Li didn't just sign up for the Five Star Group's public relations training course overnight, did he?"

The reporter opposite nodded: "Indeed, the flavor is too authentic."

"This Boss Li is truly insidious; he wants to roast Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan over a fire."

"That's right, it's clearly moral kidnapping... Everyone in Xiangdao knows this Li family is stingy, and now that he's suddenly so generous, it's clearly a trap."

"This plan must have been thought up by Boss Li; it can be called cunning!"

"Next, it depends on how Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan responds."

The reporters became excited one by one.

During this period, performance is going to soar!

……

……

On the top floor of Central Plaza,

Secretary Wu Wu Lianqian quickly reported the news from the press conference scene to Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

"A price reduction of 6 billion Hong Kong dollars? Letting citizens own 40% of the shares?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was stunned for a moment.

He laughed.

It goes without saying that this must be a plan thought up by Boss Li.

"Heh... still unable to escape his capitalist greed and stinginess."

"He thinks that increasing it from 30% to 40% will make me feel distressed..."

"But he doesn't know that I don't care at all about 30% or 40%, or even 50%..."

Wu Wu Lianqian smiled: "Then how should we respond?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu smiled: "Tell Asia Television to reserve 10 minutes for me at noon. I will personally connect with Boss Li then. He wants to lower the price? I'd like to see how much he can lower it!"

Wu Wu Lianqian: "Okay!"

(End of this chapter)