Chapter 400: December 9, 1984

After returning from Aodao, Li Xin became completely idle, either playing cards with the old man at the club or going back to Xi Gong to play chess with the old man.

Whenever he returned to Xi Gong, two more children would appear by his side.

Time flies, days and months shuttle, time flows like a white colt passing through a gap. Looking back on the past, it seems as if everything happened just yesterday.

Regarding the Hong Kong Island issue, the Sino‑British two countries, after two stages, underwent a total of twenty‑seven rounds of talks, finally determining the return date.

The first stage ran from September 1982 to June 1983, with both sides holding thirteen rounds of talks.

During this stage, the Sino‑British negotiations mainly revolved around sovereignty and governance issues of Hong Kong Island, with the British side attempting to retain control over Hong Kong Island by exchanging sovereignty for governance, but the Chinese side firmly rejected this proposal.

The second stage ran from July 1983 to September 1984, with both sides holding fourteen rounds of talks.

After earlier fierce debates, in the fourteenth round of talks in April 1984, the Sino‑British sides had a fierce argument over whether Chinese troops should be stationed in Hong Kong Island.

Finally, on August 1, 1984, the Sino‑British sides reached an agreement outline and main clauses: Hong Kong Island would return to China on July 1, 1997, and John Bull promised to return the administration of Hong Kong Island.

On December 19, 1984, the Sino‑British two countries formally signed the "Joint Declaration on the Hong Kong Island Issue".

According to the declaration, China decided to resume exercising sovereignty over Hong Kong Island on July 1, 1997, and Britain would return Hong Kong Island to China on that day.

Villa No. 6 on the Peak.

After more than a year of reconstruction, it became habitable two months ago!

Li Xin finished watching the news, turned off the TV; although he had long known the result, he still felt inexplicably excited.

However, Li Xin also knew that the era of great turmoil in Hong Kong Island's public security had arrived, because with the return date settled, foreigners were frantically making money, paying no attention to anything else.

This caused a chaotic situation: gangs were restless, and mainlanders flooded in in droves, even more frenzied than in previous years.

After sitting a while, feeling a prick under his butt, he suddenly shouted loudly: "Jianguo, Jianguo, where the hell did you go?"

Jianguo sat on the nearby sofa, raising his hand and saying aggrievedly: "Boss, I haven't moved at all here."

"Go to the kitchen, slice a few plates of braised beef, take some peanuts, grab a few more bottles of white liquor—I want a drink."

A Bu saw Jianguo about to rise, pressed him back down, and said: "Let me go; I know what the boss likes to eat."

Li Xin glared at Jianguo, then praised A Bu: "A Bu is thoughtful; besides that pants‑crotch matter, what else can you think of?"

Jianguo saw the boss acting like a lunatic today, didn't dare to retort, and was terrified he'd go crazy and clean him up.

Over the past year or so, Li Xin rarely appeared in formal settings on Hong Kong Island; if one had to say he made any big move, it was merely acquiring a bank—Huo's Bank.

As for Huo Zhaotang, where did he go?

Unable to tolerate the stimulation, he is now recuperating in Qing Shan, and I heard that when he's free he still organizes meetings for fellow patients.

Xu Boat King personally brought his son to pay a visit; they were sincere enough that, in the course of chatting, the matter was just brushed aside!

He is not mentally ill, there is no actual conflict, and he will not lash out at random.

Li Xin took the white liquor from A Bu's hand, opened the cap, and drank directly from the bottle.

Exhaling a mouthful of alcohol, he clamped a slice of beef between his teeth and chewed.

"Great!"

At that moment, Da Chun walked in from outside and said to Li Xin: "Boss, Young Master Huo has come to pay a visit."

Li Xin set down the liquor bottle and told Da Chun: "Please come in!"

Study.

Li Xin and Young Master Huo sat opposite each other; Li Xin poured him a cup of tea.

Then he asked: "Young Master Huo, may I ask what brings you here today?"

Young Master Huo picked up the teacup, took a sip, set it down, then smiled and said: "Mr. Li, just call me A Ting."

"This time, acting on my father's orders, I come to inquire: next year he plans to organize Hong Kong's notables to return to our hometown for a visit; will you attend?"

Young Master Huo's cultivation is indeed excellent; compared to Li Xin, who is much younger, he speaks politely without the slightest negligence.

Li Xin waved his hand: "Just call me A Xin; you don't need to use that character."

"I will attend, definitely; my hometown has erected a sign for a national enterprise at my company's gate, so I ought to do what a businessman should do."

"I know many people have reservations, but I do not; please tell Mr. Huo that I will not only attend myself, but also lead a team to go, making the scene more lively."

Young Master Huo clasped his fists in salute: "A Xin, your righteousness is appreciated; the Huo family is grateful."

Young Master Huo is not wrong; they indeed owe him gratitude, because this visit was organized by Mr. Huo, and for various reasons many people have refused him.

No. 33 Sha Xuan Road.

This castle‑style building began construction in 1930, covers an area of 3,000 square meters, with the main floor area of 500 square meters.

The Huo family mansion boasts an unbeatable sea view, overlooking the Dong Bo Lia Strait and Lantau Island, occupying a highly advantageous geographical position that fits the pattern of "backing the mountain, facing the sea, sitting north, facing south."

Mr. Huo, his hair thinning, looked at his eldest son and asked: "That kid A Xin agreed so readily? He even said he'd bring a team to bolster the occasion for me."

Young Master Huo nodded: "Exactly such a father, he answered very readily."

Mr. Huo pinched his chin and sighed: "It's just letting that money‑stringer pick up a bargain—such an outstanding young man became his son‑in‑law; heaven really is blind!"

Young Master Huo held back a laugh, knowing his father bore a deep grudge against He Shu.

He Shu, when he first asked Father to join, promised to take most of the profits for charitable work, but to this day we have seen no action from He Shu.

Young Master Huo chimed in: "Father, A Xin is indeed outstanding, mild‑mannered in his dealings; today is our first meeting, and he let me call him A Xin."

"It's clear he still respects you; otherwise he couldn't be so affable with me. Earlier, Xu Boat King personally brought Xu Young Master to apologize in person."

Mr. Huo nodded, smiling: "I've heard that A Xin could rise from the grassroots; how could he be as gentle on the surface as he appears?"

"In the jianghu, dragons and snakes mix; if he lacked some means, he would have been devoured long ago and wouldn't have today's achievements."

"His VCD factory—do you know how much profit it made this year?"

Young Master Huo shook his head.

Mr. Huo pointed at the desk with his finger and said: "This year's sales volume is close to six million units."

"Because he has formed an industrial chain, aside from the crystal cores, everything can be produced in‑house; the cost is around one thousand, while his factory price is five thousand, yielding a profit of four thousand per unit—calculate how much money that is."

"Two hundred forty billion?"

Young Master Huo exclaimed, "Even robbing a bank isn't this fast!"

If you add the Red Letter Group, his cash reserves—calling him the cash king of Gangdao wouldn't be an exaggeration at all!