Chapter 224: A Story That May Trigger a Financial Tsunami!

"What I want to say is that I would like to tell everyone a story first."

Lu Qingshan's voice echoed through the hall; he did not rush to state his stance, but chose an unexpected opening.

The tense atmosphere in the hall instantly peaked. Everyone held their breath, awaiting the story that could change everything.

Zhang Wenhua's fingers clenched the recorder, thinking to himself: What on earth is Lu Qingshan up to? Telling a story first? Who has the mind to listen to a story at a time like this!

"Long ago, there was a farmer who owned a fertile piece of land," Lu Qingshan said, his voice calm and powerful, his gaze slowly sweeping the hall, each person feeling his unhurried aura. "This land has been passed down through generations, the foundation of the farmer's family ancestors."

Li Ming frowned, vaguely sensing that this story was unusual.

"One day, a band of powerful outsiders came from afar, armed with guns and cannons, beat the farmer and seized the land," Lu Qingshan continued, his voice still calm, yet each word struck the audience like a hammer. "The farmer was badly wounded and could only watch helplessly as his land was taken over."

Williams of the Imperial Governor's Office's complexion shifted slightly; he began to sense the story's peculiarity.

"The powerful and the farmer agreed that the land would be used by them for a hundred years. The farmer, unable to fight back, could only consent," Lu Qingshan paused, his gaze scanning the room, "After occupying the land, the powerful cultivated it, harvested for many years, and claimed it was to help the farmer develop the land."

Murmurs began to ripple through the hall as people realized the story might not be simple.

Williams's complexion grew pale, his hand clenched into a fist under the table. The implication of the story was too obvious!

"People are even gradually forgetting that this fertile land was blatantly seized by the powerful from the farmer," Lu Qingshan's voice grew steadier, a hint of chill flashing in his eyes. "The powerful not only harvested abundantly year after year, but also used the land as a springboard to sell drugs to the farmer, stealing more of the farmer family's profits."

The representatives of the Chinese capital family exchanged puzzled looks; they fully grasped the story's true meaning. This is not some allegory—it is clearly speaking of Hong Kong Island's history!

Director Chen of Hengji Fortune broke into a cold sweat, realizing that today's press conference had far exceeded their expectations.

"Thus, the powerful plundered decades of the farmer family's wealth through trade arbitrage," Lu Qingshan said with a calm force, "Gold and silver poured continuously from the farmer's treasury into the powerful's pockets. The powerful grew richer while the farmer's family grew poorer."

The representatives of Yingzi Group turned pale. Mr. Smith's hand clenched into a fist, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Wilson of Taigu Group's complexion turned a steely blue; they clearly knew what the story was alluding to.

"But among the farmer's descendants there have always been the awakened ones; through independent, relentless cultivation they have gradually risen and become strong," Lu Qingshan's voice suddenly rose, "They are no longer the weak prey to be slaughtered at will."

Ye Ning's heart hammered; she never expected the boss to open like this. This was no mere market analysis—it was a political proclamation!

"They have always remembered the seized land, waiting almost a hundred years," Lu Qingshan's voice sharpened, a thrilling glint in his eyes. "By now, under the powerful's decades of management, the farmer's land has become renowned premium ground—skyscrapers towering, traffic bustling, unparalleled prosperity."

Williams's breathing grew rapid; he could feel the story's massive impact. He recalled the recent UK Government negotiations with Beijing, a foreboding premonition rising within him.

"The farmer's descendants have declared that the hundred years are nearly up and they will reclaim the land," Lu Qingshan's voice rang through the hall, each word a gem, "It is a matter of natural justice."

The air in the hall almost solidified. Reporters frantically recorded every word, knowing this would be the most important press conference in Hong Kong Island's history.

"The powerful claim that under their management the land became so fertile, even demanding the farmer's family thank them, saying that because of the land the farmer's family gained wealth from trading with the powerful," Lu Qingshan said with obvious sarcasm, "The powerful say that without them the land would never have prospered."

Mr. Smith's complexion turned deathly pale; he knew this was a jab at the UK Government's stance.

"The powerful even threatened that if the farmer dared to reclaim the land, they would destroy everything on it, leaving the farmer's family with nothing," Lu Qingshan's voice grew colder, "They say that without the powerful, the farmer's family cannot manage the land at all."

The assistant at the Imperial Governor's Office whispered to Williams, "Sir, Lu Qingshan is too dangerous. He's inciting…"

Williams waved his hand to stop him, his complexion now at its worst.

Lu Qingshan paused, his gaze scanning the room, his voice suddenly as icy as a midwinter night: "The powerful don't want to give back. Everyone, is this right?"

The hall fell deathly silent, a pin could be heard dropping. Everyone understood what the story meant, yet no one dared to respond.

Lu Qingjun clenched his fist in the audience, his eyes full of admiration for his brother. Such spirit, such daring, truly set one's blood boiling!

"The land belongs to the farmer's family, without doubt," Lu Qingshan's voice grew firmer, each word hammer‑like. "It is the ancestral inheritance, not a charity bestowed by the powerful."

The representatives of the Chinese capital family wore complex expressions, both shocked by Lu Qingshan's courage and worried about the repercussions of such a stance.

"The farmer's descendants are no longer a family easily bullied," Lu Qingshan said with undeniable authority, "They have the ability to protect their land and the resolve to reclaim everything that belongs to them."

Williams's complexion was as pale as paper, his hand clenched into a fist under the table, his knuckles white. He knew that these words sent back to London would inevitably cause a massive uproar.

"If the powerful persist, the farmer's family would rather smash every jar and bottle on the land than allow a hundred‑year occupation to continue," Lu Qingshan said with unquestionable resolve, a thrilling glint in his eyes. "Such humiliation must not go on any longer."

Ye Ning felt her heart about to burst from her chest. The boss was declaring to the world the China Government's resolve to reclaim Hong Kong Island!

"It will inevitably force the invading powerful to pay a greater price," Lu Qingshan's voice carried a chill, like a judgment from the deepest hell. "I believe that even the powerful would feel the sting of such a cost."

Those words made every representative of Yingzi Group present feel deep Fear. It was not a threat, but a prophecy!

The atmosphere in the hall reached the utmost tension. Everyone could feel the impending storm.