At this moment, Li Jiacheng finally realized why Bao Yugang had placed such high praise on Lin Haoran's formidable financial strength.
The quantity of Wharf Holdings shares that could attract a business tycoon like Bao Yugang must be extraordinary.
Given that the current stock price of Wharf had soared to over 70 HKD per share, even a scale of one million shares would be worth more than 70 million HKD.
And considering the scale of the transaction reached between Lin Haoran and Bao Yugang, it was clearly far beyond that, likely exceeding a million shares by a wide margin.
Therefore, Li Jiacheng deduced that the capital flow currently controlled by Lin Haoran reached at least hundreds of millions of HKD, and might even far exceed his estimate.
This young man's wealth was far more staggering than it appeared on the surface.
With such a massive amount of capital, combined with Lin Haoran's strategic positioning—having already secured a significant number of Qingzhou Refractories shares—everything suddenly made sense.
Li Jiacheng felt a secret sense of relief in his heart; had it not been for Bao Yugang's willingness to act as a mediator, he might have already been embroiled in a fierce takeover battle with Lin Haoran.
From the current situation, Lin Haoran not only possessed abundant funds but also controlled a large number of shares, clearly holding the upper hand in a takeover war.
While Li Jiacheng was a man of considerable strength, he had ultimately entered the fray too late to bridge this gap in a short period.
Although he could attempt to acquire shares from shareholders, it did not guarantee he could fully take over Qingzhou Refractories; he rarely engaged in matters where he lacked certainty.
While Li Jiacheng felt regret over missing out on a potential stock like Qingzhou Refractories, he also knew that on this land of Hong Kong, there were many British-funded enterprises and plenty of opportunities remained.
He did not pin all his hopes on a single target, instead maintaining a flexible and versatile investment strategy.
Thus, despite his regret, he had not lost too much on Qingzhou Refractories, and there would still be opportunities to exert his influence in future projects.
The reason Li Jiacheng had achieved his current glorious success was largely due to the cautious attitude he had consistently upheld.
This caution was not only the cornerstone of his business success but also the key to avoiding risks and moving forward steadily.
Li Jiacheng understood the ebbs and flows of the business world and never easily ventured into domains where he lacked certainty.
In his business philosophy, there was one ironclad rule: "Never engage in loss-making business."
Since the 1950s, he had used this principle as his guide, ensuring his company turned a profit every year without ever suffering a loss.
The secret behind this was his deep deliberation and thorough preparation for every business decision.
In major actions, such as acquiring American or British enterprises, Li Jiacheng demonstrated extraordinary patience and strategy.
He never rushed for quick success; instead, he chose to gradually accumulate sufficient shareholdings in secret or engage in in-depth communication and negotiation with the opposing major shareholders. Only when all conditions were ripe would he strike decisively, achieving his takeover goals in a single blow.
This steady, step-by-step approach not only allowed Li Jiacheng to avoid unnecessary risks but also earned him the reputation of a "cautious sage" in the business world.
"Mr. Lin, you should have sensed my intention in inviting you to meet today. What I most urgently want to know is how you knew that our Cheung Kong Holdings was secretly planning an acquisition of Qingzhou Refractories?" Li Jiacheng's words revealed a degree of sincerity and directness.
This was his primary purpose for coming today.
He understood that on this business battlefield, the mastery of information often determined victory or defeat.
Although he was full of curiosity regarding how Lin Haoran had built his business step by step, Li Jiacheng chose restraint, refusing to let that curiosity affect the focus of the current conversation.
He understood that everyone has their own growth trajectory and secrets; some stories are not meant to be easily uncovered by outsiders, and respect and boundaries were equally important.
Last night, Li Jiacheng had tossed and turned until late into the night, his mind constantly replaying various possibilities as he tried to solve the mystery of how the other party had learned of their covert operations regarding Qingzhou Refractories' stock acquisition.
This doubt had weighed on his heart like a massive stone, and it was not until today's meeting that he finally had the chance to face this puzzle directly, hoping to find an answer.
"Perhaps it is hard for you to believe, Mr. Li, but when the trading volume of Qingzhou Refractories' stock suddenly surged within just two or three days, I keenly sensed that another person with immense financial power, much like myself, had set their sights on Qingzhou Refractories.
Subsequently, I conducted an in-depth study of recent business merger and acquisition cases. Through detailed comparative analysis, I ruled out potential competitors one by one, and finally, my focus landed on you, Mr. Li Jiacheng!
Although Qingzhou Refractories has a long history, it has not received widespread attention for a long time.
In the eyes of British-funded enterprises, it might not be that dazzling, and few companies have expressed an interest in acquiring it.
Therefore, I speculated that this move was more likely the work of a Chinese-funded enterprise.
Furthermore, using the method of elimination, I found that in your past acquisition cases—such as the merger of Yonggao Company and the quiet accumulation of Wharf Holdings shares—you consistently demonstrated a clear strategy: targeting companies whose market value was far below their actual value, most of which had foreign backgrounds.
Coupled with the fact that you have just sold your Wharf Holdings shares to Uncle Bao and are holding a large amount of cash, you would certainly be looking for other suitable targets for acquisition at this time.
Regarding the situation of Qingzhou Refractories, you naturally know it far better than I do.
It not only possesses a solid business foundation but also owns 800,000 square feet of prime waterfront land in Hung Hom. Based on current land prices, its value far exceeds 500 million HKD, and that is without even accounting for the potential value added by its complete industrial chain.
Clearly, the stock price of Qingzhou Refractories is severely undervalued.
Based on all these conditions, I firmly believe that the person most likely to be interested in and take action on Qingzhou Refractories is you, Mr. Li Jiacheng.
Of course, my judgment was not absolute; therefore, sending Uncle Bao as a mediator was actually a form of testing. I did not expect that this test would actually reveal the answer and confirm my suspicion—that the person who suddenly intervened in Qingzhou Refractories is indeed you, Mr. Li!" Lin Haoran explained with sincerity and confidence.
What Lin Haoran was actually basing his reasoning on was his profound memory of the historical trajectory from his previous life, but he naturally could not reveal his ability to foresee the future.
Thus, he could only begin to talk nonsense with apparent logic, skillfully weaving a series of seemingly reasoned deductions in hopes of resonating with Li Jiacheng.
As for whether the other party believed him, that was entirely up to Li Jiacheng's own judgment.
After listening to Lin Haoran's clear and insightful analysis, Li Jiacheng could not help but nod slightly. The heavy worry in his heart seemed to be brushed away by a breeze, lightening significantly.
Moreover, once he knew Lin Haoran's identity, he actually believed that his trusted subordinates could absolutely not be bribed by Lin Haoran.
Lin Haoran was not one of his people, and to continue questioning him would be impolite, so Li Jiacheng did not press further.
(End of Chapter)