Chapter 186: The Li Family

The night was deep, and Li Fuying's villa on the hillside was brightly lit, the entire building shining in the darkness like a resplendent palace.

The spacious dining hall featured a million‑dollar Italian handcrafted oak table already laden with exquisite dishes.

Champagne from France waited silently in an ice bucket, each crystal goblet worth a small fortune.

Baccarat crystal chandeliers cast warm light, and every thread of the Persian carpet whispered luxury.

Lu Qingshan had just exchanged brief pleasantries with Li Fuying and Wang Qiting in the living room when the butler respectfully approached and reported softly, "Mr. Li, the other distinguished guests have arrived."

"Very well, invite them to dine," Li Fuying said with a satisfied smile, and when she turned to Lu Qingshan a sharp gleam flashed in her eyes, "Mr. Lu, tonight I have specially invited several top friends from Hong Kong Island's business community to meet you. They are all insiders of the Chinese circle, absolutely no outsiders."

Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow slightly, keenly catching the deeper meaning in Li Fuying's words.

It seemed the weight of tonight's meal was far heavier than expected; this was meant to thrust him into the highest echelons of Hong Kong Island's Chinese business world.

Soon, the dining hall buzzed with activity.

Lu Qingshan watched the guests arrive one after another, each dressed in suit and leather, bearing an extraordinary bearing, their gestures exuding the authority of long‑held high positions.

From their manners and the way they addressed each other, Lu Qingshan keenly sensed that these people's identities were anything but ordinary.

"Everyone, allow me to introduce," Li Fuying stood beside the table, her voice loud and a touch excited, "This is the recent legend of Hong Kong Island's financial sector—Mr. Lu Qingshan! The stock‑market god who raked in HK$135 million in four days!"

A silver‑haired yet vigorous elder stepped forward first, eyes full of admiration, "Mr. Lu, I have long heard of your fame! I am Guo Dongying of New Hongji. Your god‑like maneuvers these past days have truly opened our eyes. I have been in business for thirty years and have never seen such a prodigious market sense!"

Immediately after, a cultured middle‑aged man rushed over excitedly, "I am Li Jiasheng of Faction, Mr. Lu, greetings! I heard you netted over a hundred million in four days; such investment insight is like a deity walking among us! We who toil in industry for a year may not earn as much as you did in four days!"

Lu Qingshan's heartbeat accelerated a few beats instantly, his blood boiling.

Guo Dongying, Li Jiasheng!

These names rang like thunder in his memories of a past life, each a later legend of Hong Kong Island—and the world—of commerce, super‑rich magnates worth hundreds of billions.

And now, as top magnates whose very footstep shakes Hong Kong Island three times, they voluntarily came to shake his hand, and with such respect!

"You're flattering me; I'm just lucky."

Lu Qingshan strained to keep a calm exterior, but inside the shock surged like a tsunami.

"Luck? Ha!" Guo Dongying laughed heartily, "Mr. Lu, four days of precise timing—where's the luck in that! That's real great wisdom!"

The others also gathered around to introduce themselves.

"Mr. Lu, I am Li Zhaolong of Heng Ji Zhaoye! Your name is now known throughout Hong Kong Island!"

"I am Bao Chenggang of Chinese Capital Group, Mr. Lu; you are now the pride of our Chinese community!"

"I am He Zhiqiang of Trust Virtue Group, Mr. Lu; meeting you is a three‑life blessing!"

Each name alone could make future business school students bow in reverence; each person's net worth is an astronomical figure!

Lu Qingjun stood in the corner, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg, his eyes bulging out.

Although he didn't fully grasp each person's exact identity, the atmosphere and everyone's attitude toward his second brother made it clear that the guests were Hong Kong Island's most elite super‑magnates!

Oh my God! His second brother actually got these big shots to come forward and shake hands!

This is more surreal than a dream!

Ye Ning was even more stunned, like a chicken turned to stone, as if struck by lightning.

As a financial‑industry practitioner, she was intimately familiar with these business legends' names.

She usually read their news in newspapers carefully, studying their investment philosophies as if they were scripture.

Now to dine at the same table with them felt like an ordinary person suddenly sharing a meal with the Emperor!

"Mr. Lu, please take the seat!" Li Fuying pointed to the chair at the head of the long table, her tone especially respectful, "Only you are worthy of this seat!"

"This… doesn't seem quite appropriate?" Lu Qingshan, though inwardly delighted, still pretended modesty on the surface.

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!" Guo Dongying clapped excitedly, "Mr. Lu, you are now the stock god of Hong Kong Island's financial sector! If you don't sit here, who will? We who work in industry are mere elementary students before the market!"

Li Jiasheng also nodded repeatedly, "Exactly! With your investment caliber, not even sitting at the head—having us stand beside you for a meal is an honor! We all wish to learn the secrets of wealth from you!"

Bao Chenggang went further, "Mr. Lu, the money you made in four days exceeds what all of us here earn in an entire month combined! You are our God of Wealth!"

The other business magnates also echoed, their sincerity moving everyone.

Lu Qingshan stopped declining, strode toward the head seat and sat down.

At that moment, his emotions were immensely complex.

In his previous life he had been a street vendor, laboring for a few dozen dollars a day, never dreaming that one day he could sit as an equal with these business titans, let alone earn their respect!

The wine and dishes were quickly served.

The banquet followed the full Manchu‑Han style, each course a masterpiece by a three‑star Michelin chef.

Australian lobster, Japanese wagyu, French foie gras, Italian white truffle—every world‑class ingredient was present.

Just this single table of dishes would be enough for an ordinary person to eat for a lifetime.

"Mr. Lu, let us toast you first!" Li Fuying lifted a costly crystal goblet filled with 1947 Lafite, "Thank you for the shock you've brought to Hong Kong Island's financial sector!"

The others also rose, their gestures of raising glasses filled with sincere respect.

"Thank you all for your generosity!" Lu Qingshan raised his glass in return, the red wine sliding down, sweet and mellow.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, the atmosphere gradually warmed.

"Mr. Lu," Bao Chenggang set down his diamond‑inlaid chopsticks, his eyes eager with curiosity, "Your assessment of the Hong Kong Island stock market is frighteningly accurate; we all want to know, how long do you think this downturn will continue?"

The moment the question was asked, the table fell silent, even the sound of breathing audible.

Everyone's gaze focused on Lu Qingshan like spotlights, eyes full of anticipation and tension.

The answer's worth was priceless to them, possibly deciding their future fortunes!

Lu Qingshan slowly set down his tea cup, his gaze deep as he scanned the assembled guests.

Each person held their breath, as if awaiting a divine decree.

"All of you are senior figures in Hong Kong Island's business world, with far richer experience than I have," Lu Qingshan's voice was measured, each word clear and forceful, "But since you wish to hear my view, I'll dare to say a few words."

He paused, heightening the tension.

Then his voice turned unusually solemn: "I believe this downturn has only just begun."

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

"This… how could this be possible!"

Several people shouted almost in unison, and some were so frightened that the wine glasses in their hands nearly fell.

Li Zhaolong's complexion turned deathly pale in an instant: "Mr. Lu, the Hang Seng Index has already dropped to 1,397 points, a decline of over 15% in three days. Do you still think it will keep falling? This is already a historic plunge!"

"It's not that it might keep falling," Lu Qingshan said, his tone unusually firm, each word hammering the crowd's hearts, "It will certainly keep falling, and the drop will far exceed everyone's imagination!"

The atmosphere at the table instantly became suffocatingly tense.

Everyone present had massive investments in the Hong Kong Island stock market, ranging from tens of millions to several hundred million.

If Lu Qingshan's prediction comes true, their losses will be astronomical, possibly even causing severe injury!

"Mr. Lu," Guo Dongying's voice trembled slightly, "could you please analyze in detail? What is the basis of your judgment? We… we need to know the specifics!"

He Zhiqiang also asked eagerly, "Yes, Mr. Lu! Since you can foresee this decline, you must have some special source of information, right?"

Lu Qingshan looked at these future business legends, and a strange feeling rose within him.

Memories from his past life told him that the 1981 stock crash would be the most devastating in Hong Kong Island's financial history, with the Hang Seng Index falling to just over 1,100 points and a total decline exceeding 34%.

Countless investors will be wiped out in this financial tsunami!

"Everyone," Lu Qingshan began slowly, his voice as cold as ice water, "do you think the current Hong Kong Island stock market is healthy? The Hang Seng Index surged from 1,000 points to over 1,700 points in just a few months; that rise itself is a massive Bubble! When market sentiment completely collapses, the craziness of the previous rise will translate into a brutal fall."

Bao Cheng already began sweating on his forehead: "But Mr. Lu, the fundamentals of Hong Kong Island aren't that bad. Although the news of the handover does cause some market concern, it shouldn't lead to the kind of catastrophic collapse you describe, right?"

"Fundamentals?" Lu Qingshan smiled lightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "Everyone, the stock market never operates entirely on fundamentals. Once panic spreads, any rational analysis becomes useless! Today's Hong Kong Island investors are like a flock of sheep perched on a cliff edge; a single gust of wind will send them all tumbling down."

Li Jiasheng nodded thoughtfully, his complexion growing increasingly serious: "Mr. Lu's words do make sense. Lately, panic in the market has been intense, and many big players are quietly reducing positions. Any slight movement will trigger an avalanche‑like sell‑off."

"Therefore," Lu Qingshan surveyed everyone, his voice like a revelation, "I advise you either to cut positions heavily in advance to hedge, or, like me, to trade contrarily and profit from the disaster!"

The table fell into a death‑like silence.

Everyone was intensely contemplating Lu Qingshan's words, cold sweat forming in their palms.

If it is truly as he says, this will be an unprecedented financial catastrophe!

Wang Qiting suddenly spoke, his voice a bit hoarse: "Mr. Lu, when will you close your positions?"

The question instantly made everyone's hearts rise to their throats.

They were eager to know Lu Qingshan's specific trading plan, as it determined whether they still had a chance to follow this stock god and profit!

Lu Qingshan smiled mysteriously, a hint of unfathomable light flashing in his eyes: "It's still early. The real show has only just begun. When the Hang Seng Index falls below 1,200 points, we'll discuss closing positions."

"What? 1,200 points?!"

Everyone was so shocked by the number that they could not speak.

If it really drops to 1,200 points, that would mean a total decline exceeding 30%!

This would be the most devastating stock crash in Hong Kong Island's financial history!

And Lu Qingshan, this mysterious mainland tycoon in his twenties, actually intends to earn even more wealth amid this financial tsunami!