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From the luxurious and elegant decoration inside the cabin to the rational layout of various functional areas, every detail has been repeatedly considered and meticulously planned.
After the renovation was completed, the brand new ship was docked steadily at a nearby pier, instantly attracting the attention of countless people and soon became the "gambling ship" that the people of Haojing talked about with relish.
Here, gamblers can enjoy exciting gambling games and admire the charming sea view during the voyage. This novel and unique experience has attracted many gamblers who are looking for fresh excitement.
After this series of drastic reforms and innovative measures, He Hongshen's casino business flourished, quickly stood out in the industry, and reached its peak.
The casino's accounts were laid out clearly before us, with daily net profits easily exceeding 10, a remarkable achievement.
It's important to understand that the cost of obtaining a gambling license is as high as 200 million each year, which is undoubtedly a heavy burden.
However, even after deducting this high cost, they can still steadily earn a substantial profit of over 100 million yuan every year.
Such astonishing profit data is like ironclad evidence, strongly proving that the casino business is indeed a highly profitable one.
He Yuzhu leaned over and carefully examined the account. A bright light flashed in his eyes, and a gratified smile appeared on his face. He said with heartfelt emotion: "Not bad! I didn't expect this casino business to be so profitable!"
The tone was full of surprise and admiration, as if a hidden treasure had been discovered.
Huo Yingdong stood quietly beside him, his posture upright, his eyes deep and far-reaching. He asked softly and thoughtfully, "Don't you regret your decision?"
This question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, breaking the momentary tranquility and causing He Yuzhu to fall into a brief contemplation.
Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu answered without hesitation, "Why would I regret it? There are countless profitable businesses in this world, as numerous as the stars in the sky!"
"Take me for example, the real estate project in Tuen Mun is about to be completed and put on the market. From planning to construction, everything has been going smoothly."
"Furthermore, I've already purchased a large new plot of land in Shatin. It has an excellent location, convenient transportation, and huge development potential. I'm planning to develop a large-scale real estate project and make a significant contribution to Hong Kong's real estate scene!"
After speaking, He Yuzhu paused for a moment, picked up his teacup, took a sip, adjusted his tone, and then asked, "What have you considered? Do you plan to continue investing in casinos, or explore other business opportunities? With your vision and ability, you can carve out a niche in any field."
Huo Yingdong sighed slightly, a hint of helplessness on his face, and slowly said, "I actually don't want to continue investing in casinos. The casino business may seem lucrative, but it actually carries many risks. I also want to change my mind."
"But He Hongshen and his friends were too enthusiastic. They came to my house many times to persuade me, hosted banquets, and talked about future plans. It was hard to refuse their kindness."
Hearing this, He Yuzhu understood and nodded slightly, then stopped asking questions. After all, everyone has their own difficulties and considerations.
He knew clearly in his mind that this matter was undoubtedly a critical fork in Huo Yingdong's life. Every step was like walking on thin ice, and it was absolutely not something he could take over and easily make the final decision for Huo Yingdong.
At that time, Huo Yingdong devoted himself to the real estate industry. With his unique vision and courage, he rode the wind and waves in this field and achieved great success wherever he went, which is a legend in the industry.
The industries under his name have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, and his business empire continues to expand. The outside world praises him for his unparalleled success and bright future.
However, behind this seemingly smooth sailing, there were actually turbulent undercurrents. The "invisible hand" of the authorities had been quietly extended since Huo Yingdong came to prominence, exerting pressure from behind the scenes and making subtle moves.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this was just the calm before the storm. Based on past situations, a stronger and more aggressive storm of suppression was engulfed in dark clouds and was rapidly sweeping towards Huo Yingdong, leaving him with no escape.
As expected, in a prosperous area of Kowloon, with full of enthusiasm and ambition, Huo Yingdong personally supervised the construction of a magnificent building, which he carefully named "Star House".
From every stroke on the initial drawing, every line is infused with his profound consideration of architectural aesthetics and practical functions.
During the construction phase, he worked tirelessly, rushing to the construction site every day, keeping a close eye on the progress of the project. He devoted a lot of his time and energy to every detail, from the selection of building materials to the operating specifications of the workers, and only wanted to create a landmark building and leave a strong mark in the real estate industry.
Chapter 678
With the ultimate pursuit of architectural art and long-term considerations for business layout, he spared no expense, traveled around the world, and finally sincerely invited the top designers with great reputation in the industry.
During the long process of preparation and carving, they studied day and night, and carefully crafted every line of the building, every spatial structure, even the orientation of each window and the texture of each brick and stone, determined to create a unique and groundbreaking landmark building.
After countless days and nights of intense construction, the building finally stands proudly. Its exterior is imposing, its flowing lines like a vibrant movement. Caressed by sunlight, the glass curtain walls refract a captivating glow, showcasing the unique charm and technological sophistication of modern architecture.
Walking inside, you will find a different world. The high-speed elevator is smooth and fast, and you can reach any floor in the blink of an eye.
The intelligent office system is fully equipped, from smart access control to automated office equipment, providing unprecedented convenient experience for the companies that have settled in.
After careful consideration, he rented this building, which was the result of countless efforts, to Zhongyi Company, a strong company with deep Chinese capital background.
In his opinion, this is undoubtedly a win-win move, which can not only make full use of the building and maximize its value, but also help China Arts Company expand its business territory.
However, he never expected that this normal business cooperation would be like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing a thousand waves and arousing strong concern and extreme dissatisfaction from the British and American authorities.
Then, a series of strange events beyond common sense followed.
Early in the morning, when the tenants came to the office as usual and prepared to start their day's work, they were surprised to find that the phone on the desk seemed to be out of order, and there was only a dead busy tone in the receiver.
No matter how many times I called, I dialed the number again and again, tried various methods, and even changed multiple phones, but I still couldn't get through to any number from the outside world. It was as if the entire building was instantly isolated in a silent world.
Maintenance personnel have carried out comprehensive inspections of the telephone system with professional equipment on many occasions, meticulously checking everything from line laying to switch settings, from indoor extensions to outdoor base stations, leaving no corner where problems might occur.
But no matter how carefully they checked, the problem was like playing hide-and-seek, and it never showed up.
This situation was like a heavy blow to Xingguang Bank's rental business.
Many potential tenants were originally excited to inspect Starlight Building, but once they heard that the telephone problem had not been resolved, they became frightened and stopped moving in, fearing that their office communications would be affected.
Starlight Tower has always been a popular choice in the office market for its excellent geographical location, surrounded by transportation hubs, and strong business atmosphere. In addition, it has excellent building quality, a grand exterior, and a well-planned interior space.
But now, the telephone problem is like a lingering dark cloud that continues to loom, making it difficult to rent out each floor smoothly, and the company has fallen into a dilemma and extremely embarrassing business predicament.
At this critical moment when Star Bank was in a deadlock, Hongkong Land Group, with its keen insight in the business field, accurately captured this business opportunity.
They acted swiftly, proactively approaching Fok Ying-tung and solemnly proposing to acquire Star House for HK$3750 million.
At first glance, this offer seems quite tempting compared to Starlight Travel's total investment of 3000 million.
After all, on paper, Fok Ying-tung could steadily earn a profit of HK$750 million from this investment, which would seem like a good return for any investor.
However, when we deeply analyze the real estate market conditions at the time, take into account comprehensive factors such as the location, building specifications, and potential commercial value of Starlight House, and make a detailed comparison with the market transaction prices of commercial properties of similar locations and of the same size during the same period, we will be surprised to find that the acquisition price offered by the Hong Kong Land Development Company is actually far lower than the market value of Starlight House, and is far from fully reflecting its true commercial potential.
Faced with the acquisition proposal from the Hong Kong Land Development, Ho Ying-tung stood alone in front of the office window, gazing at the Star Building outside the window, which had been the fruit of his countless efforts, with a frown on his face, and fell into deep thought.
Since he started working on the Starlight Bank project, he has been toiling day and night, investing countless time and energy, and large sums of money have been poured into it like water.
This building is not just a cold structure, it also carries his grand business ideals and embodies his many beautiful expectations for the future.
However, the situation at that time was turbulent and complex, and continuing to hold Starlight Bank would undoubtedly mean facing more unpredictable risks and challenges.
Market uncertainty and changes in policy direction are all quietly sounding the alarm.
In the days that followed, Huo Yingdong repeatedly weighed the pros and cons, carefully considered every detail, and engaged in a fierce ideological struggle deep in his heart.
Finally, on a quiet night, after long and careful consideration, he made the painful decision to sell Star House to Hutchison Whampoa.
The streets of Hong Kong Island are as prosperous as a dream.
Neon lights interweave into a brilliant sea of light, and the hustle and bustle of traffic plays a never-ending city symphony.
Huo Yingdong stood upright on the street. The well-tailored suit he wore looked like a piece of armor specially tailored for him, making him look even more imposing and showcasing the style of a business elite.
There was a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, and in that smile, there was the shrewdness and decisiveness unique to a businessman. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he could see through all business opportunities.
At this moment, he turned slightly to He Yuzhu beside him and said in an extremely calm and sincere tone, "Old He, the seller of this building is simply asking for an exorbitant price, a whopping HK$500 million right off the bat. As you know, I've recently invested a huge amount of money in several other major projects, and my cash flow is stretched too thin. I'm really short on cash right now. So, you were the first person I thought of, Old He. Are you interested in joining forces with me to take over this building? We can split the costs and profits equally, each contributing HK$250 million, sharing the risks and profits. It's a very worthwhile deal."
"In this way, the risks can be shared and the future huge profits can be shared together. What do you think?" The other party's voice was steady and full of temptation, like a mysterious key that seemed to open a door to endless wealth.
When He Yuzhu heard this, two flames of surprise suddenly ignited in his eyes. The light was so bright that it seemed to penetrate everything around it, illuminating the slightly dim tea room with a dazzling glow.
He didn't even hesitate for a second and blurted out, "Of course!"
As soon as he said this, he felt that his response was a little too hasty, but the excitement surging in his heart at this moment was really hard to suppress.
For him, who has been struggling in the turbulent business world for many years and has great investment vision, this is simply a huge pie that God has specially dropped for him.
He thought to himself, what a joke. As long as it involves a sure-fire way to make money, like acquiring real estate, let alone a mere HK$250 million, he would sell everything he owned and take out all the savings he had painstakingly accumulated over the years without hesitation.
In He Yuzhu's opinion, real estate is like a treasure hidden deep in the years, with unlimited potential.
Looking back at the development of Hong Kong Island over the years, he saw that the city was like a vibrant giant, constantly expanding outward, with skyscrapers springing up like mushrooms after rain.
The population continues to pour in like a tide, and the demand for real estate such as housing and shops is increasing day by day.
In his eyes, every inch of land is like a piece of unpolished jade, which will bloom with amazing value in time.
This has led to the demand for land and real estate, like a deep, endless, and never-filled bottomless pit, showing an ever-increasing trend.
With his keen intuition gained from years of experience in the business world, He Yuzhu firmly believes that no matter how the real estate market's prices fluctuate like a roller coaster in the coming decades, as long as the time dimension is extended, this field will always have huge potential in the long run.
As long as the seller is willing to sell, he will buy it without hesitation with unquestionable courage and determination, just like a person who sees bread during a long period of hunger.
After all, in the long years of the past, real estate seemed to be blessed by a mysterious power. Countless times, when people were off guard, it was as if it was cast with magic, achieving substantial appreciation and bringing rich returns to visionary investors.
Hearing He Yuzhu's crisp and decisive answer, Huo Yingdong was stunned for a moment, then he couldn't help laughing. His laughter was hearty and contagious, echoing throughout the room.
After laughing, he couldn't hide his joy and said happily, "That's great! If you don't agree, I'm afraid I'll have to go through a lot of trouble to find other suitable partners in this vast business world. These days, finding a like-minded partner who has unwavering confidence in real estate investment and strong financial resources is almost impossible."
However, Lin Wanting, who was standing aside, felt as if a basin of cold water was poured over her head. She was soaked all over and her heart was filled with panic and surprise.
She was wearing a perfectly tailored professional suit. The straight lines outlined her neat figure, and every fold seemed carefully designed, highlighting her capable qualities.
The pair of high heels on her feet had a soft sheen on the uppers, and the heels were slender yet stable, like carefully crafted works of art. Every step she took made a crisp and rhythmic sound, further highlighting the temperament of a workplace elite that she exuded.
At this moment, her eyes, which were originally bright and sharp, were now shrouded in deep doubt, just like a pool of calm water that was suddenly thrown into a huge rock, causing layers of chaotic ripples.
Her eyes moved back and forth between her boss and the slightly old building in front of her, with a myriad of thoughts running through her mind.
Just now downstairs, I only glanced at the building briefly and got a vague impression of it. The boss seemed to be under a spell, and without hesitation, he easily nodded and agreed to take out HK$250 million to cooperate with Fok Ying-tung to purchase this property.
Lin Wanting really couldn't understand what the boss saw in this place. She couldn't help but wonder in her heart, could there be some unknown hidden meaning in it?
You should know that this is an old building that was built in 1924, a veritable antique.
It stands quietly in a corner of the city. From the outside, it still retains some of its former grandeur, such as the carved window lattices with European style, and the slightly mottled but still tall Roman columns, as if telling of its former glory.
But after nearly a hundred years of ruthless baptism, large areas of paint on the walls have peeled off, exposing the uneven bricks and stones.
Maybe the interior has already become dilapidated, like an old man in his twilight years.