vrcanaries Chapter 557 Dinner
Chapter 557 Dinner
After the introduction, everyone walked out of the hall. A brand new luxury car was already waiting there, its body shining in the sunlight.
The car door opened automatically, and He Yuzhu and his group walked in one after another. The leather seats in the car were soft and comfortable, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.
The car started smoothly and drove towards the International Hotel.
After arrival, the hotel staff welcomed them warmly with smiles on their faces, and quickly arranged two spacious, bright, beautifully decorated and comfortable guest rooms for He Yuzhu and others. The rooms were fully equipped, from soft beds to complete toiletries, all of which demonstrated the high quality of the hotel.
He Yuzhu and his companions put down their luggage, took a short rest, and relieved their fatigue from the journey.
Afterwards, everyone came to the conference room at the agreed time, dressed neatly and with serious expressions, ready to discuss important matters concerning the future direction.
In the conference room, everyone sat around an oval conference table. Warm yellow light poured down, but it failed to dispel the tense atmosphere in the air.
People were talking to each other, and the atmosphere became more heated. He Yuzhu, wearing a low-key dark suit, sat quietly in the corner, without touching a page of the meeting document in front of him.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at the entire room seemingly casually, but in fact his eyes were sharp and he did not miss any details.
After a while, he realized with his years of experience in the business world that the scene had been divided into two camps:
One side looked determined and its words were full of defense of the existing rules; the other side looked anxious and tried to open up a gap for new changes.
Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents are surging.
The bidding plan was initiated by gambling king Yip Hon, who was well-known in the Macau gambling industry, like a dazzling star, and his legendary story was passed on by word of mouth in the streets and alleys.
However, the reality is quite cruel. Despite his fame, the funds he has are very limited.
In order to raise the required amount for the bid, he first brought in Ye Beihai and Gao Hailin.
The three of them scraped together the money from all over and worked very hard, but compared to the high bid amount, the money they collected was still just a drop in the bucket and the gap was far from enough.
In desperation, Ye Han immediately approached Ye Deli and He Hongshen. Unfortunately, the two were unable to support such a huge funding demand, and the bidding was still hanging in the air with no progress.
Just when everyone was in a state of panic and at a loss, at the critical moment, He Hongshen, relying on the extensive network of contacts he had accumulated over the years, ran around to mediate and finally succeeded in winning over Huo Yingdong and He Yuzhu.
In this way, two major camps in Macau's gambling industry were quietly formed.
One side is headed by Ye Han, also known as the Ghost King. Ye Han has been deeply involved in the field of gambling for many years and is well-known in the Macau gambling world for his superb gambling skills.
Among his subordinates are his cousin Yip Deli, who is quick-witted, sociable, and well connected in the business world;
There is also Ye Beihai, who is ruthless and has great prestige in the underworld;
And Gao Hailin, who is proficient in all aspects of casino operations and is an expert in casino management.
The other side was led by Stanley Ho, who came from a prominent family and possessed extraordinary business acumen and strong social resources.
The team also includes the patriotic businessman Henry Fok, who is not only financially strong but also has a lofty patriotic sentiment and plays an important role in the Hong Kong business community;
Although He Yuzhu is relatively low-key, he has a keen insight in the financial field and can always provide the team with precise financial strategies at critical moments.
The former has the advantage in numbers, with each member having their own strengths and working in harmony;
The latter has stronger overall strength and, with its deep background, abundant capital and outstanding business acumen, has demonstrated competitiveness in Macau's gambling industry that cannot be underestimated.
After a round of conversation, everyone sat around the sandalwood table and listened to Ye Han slowly telling the story of the past.
It turned out that Ye Han had failed in his two previous bids for gambling licenses, and he had tasted the bitter taste of failure twice.
But today is different from the past. This time his expression is full of confidence, and he exudes an aura of determination to win.
The root cause of this is that Macau welcomed the new Governor of Macau, Ma Jishi.
When Ma Jishi first arrived in Macao, he keenly realized after in-depth research that the local gold business was firmly controlled by a few tycoons, forming an iron monopoly. The government's profit was meager, but a small fraction that was better than nothing.
On the other hand, although the gambling industry is controversial among the public, it can actually bring in a steady stream of considerable financial revenue for the government, and every penny of revenue enriches the Macau government's coffers.
Therefore, Ma Jishi set his sights on the gambling license without hesitation, thinking about how to gain more benefits from it so as to add a highlight to his political achievements in Macau.
According to official news, the minimum price of the gambling license is approximately 300 million Hong Kong dollars after complex conversion.
In Ye Han's view, all signs were tailor-made for him. This time he was fully confident that he could break through the haze of the past, successfully obtain the license, and start a new chapter in the gambling industry.
The focus of discussion quickly shifted to the crucial issue of forming a new company.
In the conference room, everyone expressed their opinions and the atmosphere was very lively.
After several rounds of intense discussions and after weighing many factors, everyone unanimously decided to name the new company "Aocheng Entertainment Company".
Fok Ying-tung, Ho Hung-shen, Yip Delin and Yip Hon, influential figures in the business world, became the main shareholders.
Just when everyone thought that the fund-raising had been settled, He Yuzhu unexpectedly stepped forward and expressed his willingness to generously lend HK$100 million.
This move surprised and impressed everyone present. As a result, the new company successfully raised a total of 400 million yuan in funds, laying a solid economic foundation for its subsequent operations and development.
It is worth mentioning that today's meeting is only in the preliminary discussion stage.
There are still three full days left before the bid deadline. The ample time allows everyone to maintain a cautious and calm attitude and not rush for success.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the conference room was both serious and filled with a sense of irrepressible anticipation.
The only things that have been confirmed so far are the key decision of joint bidding and the name of the new company, Australia City Entertainment Company, which sounds very loud and ambitious.
Once the name of the new company was proposed, it sparked a brief heated discussion in the conference room. Everyone believed that the name implied the determination to open up new areas of Macau's entertainment industry.
As for the specific investment plan, it is still unresolved like a tangled thread, as it involves a careful balancing of the interests of all parties.
Representatives of various companies have their own calculations on this issue. Some advocate investing according to past influence in the industry, while others propose to determine the proportion based on the amount of funds available.
As for whether to use 400 million as the bid amount, the parties have not reached a consensus based on their own assessment of project risks, consideration of expected returns, existing financial reserves and other factors.
From time to time, there were whispered discussions and heated debates in the conference room. Different opinions collided in the air, but there was still no conclusion that satisfied everyone. This problem was like a heavy stone, weighing on everyone's hearts, causing the progress of the meeting to temporarily come to a standstill.
The meeting lasted from day to evening. As the daylight gradually faded, the lights in the conference room came on.
He Hongshen sat at the head of the long table. His brows relaxed slightly. He raised his hand and gently rubbed his temple. Then he raised his wrist to look at his watch. The hour hand had quietly pointed to six o'clock in the evening.
He stood up, placed his hands on the table, looked around calmly, cleared his throat, and announced to everyone in a loud voice:
"That's all for today. Thank you for your hard work. We've been having a very intense discussion all day and everyone is on edge. Let's relax now. Take a short break and have dinner together in half an hour. We can talk while we eat."
As soon as he finished speaking, the conference room, which had been so quiet and serious that you could hear a pin drop, suddenly became a little commotion, like a stone being thrown into a calm lake.
Everyone's pens, which were originally focused on recording, stopped one after another, and the pen tips drew a long or short pause on the paper.
Then, everyone began to put away the documents spread out on the table in an orderly manner, and those notebooks filled with dense handwriting were closed one by one.
The tense expressions on their faces gradually relaxed, like ice and snow melting under the warm spring sun, and they were full of anticipation for the relaxing meal time that was about to come.
The squeaking sound of the chairs rubbing against the ground and the whispered words between colleagues interweave into a different kind of music, which instantly dissipates the originally depressing atmosphere.
He Yuzhu slowly walked into the room, dragging his exhausted body that felt as heavy as if it were filled with lead.
He turned around and gently closed the door. That action seemed to have used up all his strength, as if all the noise and disturbance from the outside world were tightly isolated outside the door.
He let out a long sigh and slumped down on the sofa, feeling relieved. His whole body seemed to be instantly swallowed up by the softness of the sofa and he sank deeply into it, trying to use this moment of rest to relieve the fatigue accumulated from a whole day of running around.
He raised his right hand, rubbed his swollen and aching temple vigorously with his thumb and index finger, then slowly closed his eyes and immersed himself in this rare tranquility.
However, this tranquility did not last long. After a while, a crisp and rapid knock on the door, like a sharp flash of lightning, instantly broke the silence in the room.
He Yuzhu frowned subconsciously, and a hint of displeasure flashed across his originally relaxed face. After all, this rare moment of rest was abruptly interrupted.
But soon, his frown relaxed again, and he thought to himself that in such a special occasion, someone who knocked on the door so urgently must have something extremely urgent. He quickly stood up, walked to the door in a hurry, and stretched out his hand to open it.
Outside the door, Huo Yingdong was standing there in a neat suit, looking radiant and smiling. "Let's go, Brother Zhu!"
Huo Yingdong smiled warmly, extended his hand enthusiastically, and gently patted He Yuzhu's shoulder, with a warmth in his voice that could not be refused.
"Dinner has already started. Everyone is waiting in the box, just waiting for you, the distinguished guest, to come!"
As he spoke, he turned sideways, stretched out his arms, palms facing up, and made a "please" gesture. The smile on his face became brighter and his eyes were full of sincerity and expectation, as if this dinner had truly gained meaning because of He Yuzhu's arrival.
He Yuzhu nodded slightly, then followed closely in the footsteps of Ho Ying-tung and walked through the spacious and bright corridor of the hotel together.
On both sides of the corridor, there are exquisite paintings carefully created by famous artists, some showing the magnificence of mountains and rivers, some depicting the charm of people. Each one makes people stop and appreciate it.
The thick carpet under your feet is from an exotic land. It is not only soft and comfortable to the touch, but when you walk on it, the sound of your footsteps seems to be quietly absorbed, making it almost inaudible.
Soon, the two arrived at an extremely luxurious box in the hotel.
Ho Ying-Tong gently pushed open the door, and in an instant, a surge of warmth and liveliness rushed towards him.
He Yuzhu looked up and saw that the box was already filled with elites from all walks of life.
The decoration of the box is extremely luxurious. The crystal chandelier above is like the twinkling stars in the night sky, emitting bright and dazzling light, and evenly casting soft light on everyone's faces.
In addition to several important figures in the business and political circles who attended the gathering, Ho Ying-tung was also very enthusiastic in introducing them to Ho Yu-chu one by one.
He first introduced the brothers Ho Yin and Ho Tim, who are quite influential in Macau's business community. Their every move showed calmness and dignity, and their words revealed their deep insight into the industry.
Afterwards, Ho Ying-tung pointed to an elder with extraordinary temperament and introduced him to He Yuzhu, saying that this person was the famous Yu Beihai.
The entire box was filled with celebrities, who were gathered in groups of two or three, chatting with each other.
They either share recent business opportunities or discuss current affairs, with sparks of wisdom sparking between their words.
The atmosphere was extremely warm, with laughter and joy continuing one after another, like a harmonious and beautiful piece of music.
On the court, Ho Yin and Ho Ying-Tong were in agile posture, playing back and forth, sweating, with a tacit understanding and showing their close friendship.
Ho Yu-chu came to keep the appointment, and as soon as he showed up, he was warmly greeted by Ho Yin and Ho Ying-tung. The three of them sat around and a cordial conversation unfolded like a gurgling stream.
During the conversation, He Yuzhu seemed to be gently pulled by the thread of fate. He unexpectedly heard Ho Yin's seniority in the family tree, and his heart was suddenly filled with shock.
It turns out that Ho Yin is actually his elder brother in terms of seniority! Previously, Ho Hung Shen was not Chinese, and when doing business, everyone focused on profit cooperation, and the family lineage was never mentioned.
At this moment, knowing this unexpected blood relationship, He Yuzhu felt that the blood in his body was rushing with joy, and his excitement was like a flood that broke through the dam and was difficult to suppress.
His eyes widened, a look of surprise and joy instantly blossomed on his face, his tone was full of excitement and joy, and he blurted out:
"I never thought that in this vast world, you would be my brother. It is such an honor to meet you!"
"Haha, I didn't expect to meet a brother from the same clan unexpectedly in this place, Haojiang. This is really a great joy!"