Chapter 255: From the God of Wealth to a Financial Emperor! Lu Qingshan

The restaurant has a massive round table three meters in diameter, made from a single block of golden nanmu wood, worth a million Hong Kong dollars alone. The table is laden with all kinds of delicacies, each dish meticulously crafted, full of color, aroma, and taste. Abalone, sea cucumber, bird's nest, shark fin, as well as Beijing roast duck, white‑cut chicken, steamed grouper—each dish is extremely pricey.

In the center of the table sits a 1947 Lafite, the first vintage after World II, bearing special commemorative significance. Beside it are several bottles of Maotai, each a twenty‑year‑old treasure. All the tableware is pure silver, engraved with exquisite dragon‑phoenix patterns.

Lu Qingshan is placed in the seat of honor, something that would have been impossible before. Who among those present is not a billionaire tycoon? Who is not a figure who dominates Hong Kong Island? Li Fuying is a Hong Kong Island real‑estate magnate, Bao Chenggang is a shipping king, He Zhiqiang is a manufacturing giant; each person's status is enough to make countless people look up to them.

But today they willingly let a man in his twenties sit in the seat of honor, because they know that without Lu Qingshan there would be no victory today; without Lu Qingshan they would still have to swallow their pride before the British.

"Come, come, come, the first drink tonight, we toast Brother Lu Qingshan!" Li Fuying lifts his glass, his voice trembling with a mix of excitement and gratitude, "Without Brother Lu Qingshan there would be no victory for us! Without Brother Lu Qingshan the Chinese would still have to swallow their pride! This glass is to the Chinese hero! To the Chinese pride! To the legendary figure who changed Hong Kong Island's history!"

"To the Chinese hero!" everyone shouts in unison, their voices booming, echoing through the entire villa. That heartfelt cry makes blood boil.

Lu Qingshan stands, raises his glass, scans the room, looking at the faces full of expectation and gratitude: "Uncle and elder gentlemen, this victory is not only due to my own strength, but also to everyone's trust and support. This glass I toast to all of you, to the unity of the Chinese! To the wisdom of the Chinese! To the indomitable spirit of the Chinese!"

His voice grows stronger, full of contagion: "From today onward, the Chinese are no longer the weak ones to be bullied! We will let the whole world know that the Chinese can also command the financial market! We will prove with concrete actions that the era of the Chinese has arrived!"

"Alright! Long live the Chinese! Long live Lu Qingshan!" Thunderous applause erupts, unending.

After three rounds of wine and five rounds of dishes, everyone's emotions reach a climax. Li Fuying stands, excitedly saying: "Brother Qing Shan, on behalf of all members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, I formally invite you to become our Chairman! The sole one—I, this old man, will no longer serve as Honorary Chairman! From now on, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce looks to you for guidance!"

The proposal instantly gains unanimous approval. Bao Chenggang slaps the table excitedly: "Yes! Brother Qing Shan is our guide!"

He Zhiqiang also shouts: "We are willing to follow Brother Qing Shan, fighting for the rise of the Chinese!"

The conversation naturally turns to the future. Bao Chenggang puts down his chopsticks, his expression turning serious as he looks earnestly at Lu Qingshan: "Brother Qing Shan, we all want to hear your next plan. Although Wilson was defeated, the foundation of the Yingzi Group remains. They certainly will not give up easily. I heard Taigu Group has already begun contacting other Yingzi Consortia, preparing to retaliate against us."

He Zhiqiang also nods, his excitement gradually replaced by worry: "Indeed, although Taigu Group suffered heavy losses, they have been operating on Hong Kong Island for centuries, their network of relationships is deeply rooted. Wilson, that old fox, will never concede lightly. I fear they will use other means to deal with us."

Li Zhaolong further expresses his concern directly: "I heard HSBC convened an emergency board today to discuss how to respond to this shock. Standard Chartered, and the Yingzi insurance company are also re‑evaluating their cooperation with Chinese enterprises. Some banks are even considering tightening their lending policies toward Chinese firms."

Guo Dongying clenches his fist, a determined light flashing in his eyes: "Qing Shan, whatever your plan, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce will fully support you! Even if we have to cross mountains of knives and seas of fire, we will follow you! This time our Chinese can finally hold our heads high, all thanks to your wise leadership!"

He Dehua also declares excitedly: "Yes! We old fellows have lived most of our lives and have never felt such pride! Brother Qing Shan, you are our backbone; whatever you say we will do!"

Lu Qingshan puts down his glass, a flash of brilliance crossing his eyes. He scans the room, looking at the expectant faces, already having a clear plan in mind. Their expectations and trust make him feel a heavy responsibility, yet also strengthen his resolve.

"Everyone, let me ask you a question first." Lu Qingshan's voice is calm yet powerful, each word like magic, making everyone hold their breath, "How do we intend to spend the money we earned this time?"

The question leaves everyone stunned. Li Fuying asks in confusion: "Qing Shan, what do you mean? Isn't it just to put it in a bank and earn interest?"

Bao Chenggang also looks puzzled: "Brother Qing Shan, a hundred billion Hong Kong dollars—that amount could last us several lifetimes. How else could we spend it?"

Lu Qingshan stands, walks to the huge floor‑to‑ceiling window, gazing at the dazzling nightscape of Hong Kong Island. The skyscrapers glitter in the night, Victoria Harbour's waters sparkle, the whole island looks like a brilliant pearl. But in Lu Qingshan's eyes, it is not only scenery—it is a massive chessboard.

"Money left in a bank is just a number; only by investing can it become real power." Lu Qingshan's voice reverberates through the spacious restaurant, each word clear and forceful, "We earned a total of one hundred billion Hong Kong dollars this time; if used wisely, this sum could completely reshape Hong Kong Island's layout. Not just the financial landscape, but the entire island's power structure!"

He turns, ambition blazing in his eyes, a brilliance that shocks everyone present: "My plan is simple—use this money to build a genuine Financial Empire belonging to the Chinese on Hong Kong Island! We will not only dominate the stock market, but also bloom across banking, insurance, and real‑estate sectors! We will let Chinese power seep into every corner of Hong Kong Island's economy!"

"Financial Empire?" Bao Chenggang's eyes widen, forgetting to set down his glass.

"Exactly!" Lu Qingshan nods, his voice growing even more resolute, "Wilson was defeated, but HSBC, Standard Chartered and these Yingzi financial institutions are still here. They control Hong Kong Island's financial lifeline, the currency issuance rights, and the credit allocation rights. As long as they remain, we Chinese can never truly turn the tide!"

His words leave everyone shocked; each person can feel the enormous ambition hidden in Lu Qingshan's speech.

Lu Qingshan continues: "What we must do is establish our own bank, our own insurance company, our own investment firm! Our future should not be limited to this tiny speck of Hong Kong Island! We will use Chinese wisdom and capital to build a complete cross‑national international financial ecosystem!"

He Zhiqiang stands up, voice trembling: "Qing Shan, are you saying we should confront the Yingzi Group head‑on? Is that… possible? They have been operating on Hong Kong Island for centuries!"

"It's not competition, it's replacement!" Lu Qingshan's words thunder like a drum, shocking everyone.

The restaurant falls silent; everyone is left speechless by Lu Qingshan's words. The young man's ambition is far beyond anyone's imagination. They thought defeating Wilson was a monumental victory, but they did not expect that, in Lu Qingshan's mind, it is only the beginning!