Chapter 21: How about Uncle Bao gives you a little test?

On September 9th, Hong Kong was still embraced by a warm atmosphere, making it the perfect season for swimming in the azure waves.

The Deep Water Bay villa area, acting as a secluded paradise, boasted a stretch of untouched, pristine natural beach.

This precious stretch of sea, like a secret realm, was not open to the public but served as a private playground exclusively for the distinguished residents of the villa area.

Here, privilege was not merely a symbol of status, but meant the ability to enjoy this tranquility and beauty bestowed by nature all to oneself.

Residents could take leisurely strolls on the soft sand at dawn or sunset, or plunge into the crystal-clear waters to fully enjoy the coolness and exhilaration brought by the sea.

Such a lifestyle was undoubtedly a unique happiness and comfort reserved for the privileged class.

At this moment, Lin Haoran had just leisurely emerged from the blue waters, his body still carrying a hint of the sea's saltiness and coolness.

He casually put on his sunglasses and reclined comfortably on a beach chair, letting the sea breeze brush against him with a refreshing touch, his face radiating a smile of satisfaction and relaxation.

Beside him, the Lin family's young Filipino domestic worker—a graceful woman of Chinese-Filipino descent—approached with a gentle demeanor to hand an iced Coke to the tranquil Lin Haoran.

He took the Coke and lightly popped the cap. With a soft "pssh" sound, a crisp burst of carbonation rushed into his mouth along with the chill, bringing an indescribable sense of refreshment, as if even the summer heat had been swept away by this coolness.

Nearby, Li Weiguo and Li Weidong were clearly captivated by this unprecedented luxury.

They had perhaps never imagined they would have the opportunity to stand upon such a private and beautiful beach, enjoying the leisure time that only the privileged class could possess.

Since there were no urgent work matters at hand, Lin Haoran chose to stay leisurely within the Deep Water Bay villa area to enjoy this rare peace and leisure.

As for the Huafeng Cement Plant, he had temporarily chosen to let go, believing that the original management team could maintain stability without his excessive involvement.

Lin Yi and the other three had already been reassigned from the Huafeng Cement Plant according to his father's arrangements.

Lin Haoran did not pay much attention to their subsequent whereabouts; those few were merely turncoats loyal to Lin Haoning and were not worth his mental energy.

In the morning, Lin Haoran had already called Yang Changdao of Yumin Finance Company.

The feedback from that side was that the expedited approval was already in progress; if all went well, the funds would arrive tomorrow.

Upon hearing this news, Lin Haoran was naturally relieved.

Once the fifty million Hong Kong dollars arrived, he would be able to truly show his capabilities.

Even against Li Jia Cheng, he dared to compete!

While Lin Haoran sat with his eyes closed, enjoying the sea breeze, an elderly man approached him at some unknown time.

"Young man, whose child are you? You look somewhat familiar," a hearty and kind greeting reached Lin Haoran's ears.

Lin Haoran slowly opened his eyes, and the sight before him caused him to pause slightly.

He saw an elderly man dressed in simple beach shorts standing beside him with a smile. That familiar face instantly triggered his memory—this was none other than the famous "Ship King," Pao Yu-kang!

Following behind the Ship King was a stern-looking bodyguard wearing sunglasses, adding an extraordinary aura to this business tycoon.

"Hello, Uncle Pao. I am Lin Wan'an's youngest son, Lin Haoran," Lin Haoran said, rising to greet him.

He knew that Pao Yu-kang was not only a legendary figure in the business world but also a respected elder, so his attitude was extremely humble and polite.

Upon hearing this, a warm smile bloomed on Pao Yu-kang's face. He responded kindly, "Oh, so it's the boy from the Lin family. No wonder you look so familiar."

Although there were not many residents in the Deep Water Bay villa area, every household was either wealthy or powerful. Although they did not socialize often, they were neighbors who saw each other frequently.

As the head of the Wan'an Group, although Lin Wan'an could not compare to a figure like Pao Yu-kang, he was by no means an unknown name; thus, Pao Yu-kang was quite familiar with him.

The Lin family had established themselves early on and had settled in the Deep Water Bay villa area over a decade ago.

Pao Yu-kang also lay on a nearby beach chair, enjoying the sea breeze, and began to chat with Lin Haoran.

Lin Haoran had not expected that while swimming at the beach, he would encounter a renowned business tycoon like the Ship King.

"Haoran, looking at you, I assume you are still pursuing further studies?" the Ship King asked with a smile.

"Uncle Pao, you flatter me. Actually, I have just successfully graduated from the London Business School and returned to Hong Kong two months ago," Lin Haoran explained, shaking his head with a smile.

"Oh? A top student from London Business School? Then how about Uncle Pao tests you a little?" The Ship King asked with sudden interest.

"Uncle Pao, please, feel free to ask," Lin Haoran responded confidently.

"You should know about my becoming a major shareholder of Wharf Holdings, right? Why do you think I wanted to acquire Wharf's shares?" The Ship King's interest grew even stronger.

"Uncle Pao built your empire through the shipping industry, and today you are the famous 'World Ship King.' The reason you would intervene in land-based businesses and target an old British-funded enterprise like Wharf, I suspect, is because you foresee a downturn in the shipping industry. Therefore, you are shifting your investment strategy from the sea to the land," Lin Haoran answered simply.

"Why do you hold a pessimistic view of the future of the shipping industry?" The Ship King's interest deepened upon hearing this.

"Coming from a business family, I have been filled with intense curiosity and passion for the commercial world since childhood. This obsession naturally makes me eager to understand various business dynamics, market trends, and the shifting tides within the industry.

I have previously conducted an in-depth analysis of the current state of the global economy. In recent years, the global economy has been hovering under the shadow of recession or experiencing a slow recovery. This situation has directly suppressed the prosperity of international trade, thereby weakening the fundamental demand for shipping services.

Uncle Pao, do you still remember the global oil crisis of 1973? Today, the Persian region is experiencing the turmoil of the Islamic Revolution. Since August, nationwide strikes and demonstrations have brought the country's functions to a near standstill. As a key major oil exporter, if the internal conflicts in Persia escalate into a civil war, it is highly likely to cause an interruption in oil exports, which is no different from planting the seeds for a second oil crisis.

Once an oil crisis recurs, oil prices will inevitably soar, and the global economy will face immense pressure, falling into a deeper recession. This will not only indirectly drive up the operating costs of the shipping industry but also further compress the profit margins of shipping companies, making their operations even more difficult.

Furthermore, looking back at the golden age of the shipping industry in the sixties, a massive influx of blind capital led to the serious consequence of overcapacity in shipbuilding. To this day, this excess capacity is difficult to utilize effectively amidst weak market demand, causing a severe imbalance between supply and demand.

This imbalance directly intensifies the cutthroat competition in the freight market. To seize market share, shipping companies are forced to engage in price wars, which undoubtedly adds insult to injury and further deteriorates the operating environment of the shipping industry.

Taking all these multiple factors into account, I cautiously predict that the global shipping industry is about to enter a long period of depression," Lin Haoran said in a calm yet insightful tone.

"Haoran, your insights are truly unique and profound. I didn't expect that at such a young age, you would already possess such a broad vision and keen insight. Lin Wan'an has truly raised a fine son; your future will surely be limitless!" The Ship King praised him incessantly, his eyes filled with admiration for Lin Haoran.

At that moment, an assistant ran up hurriedly to Pao Yu-kang's side and reported in a low voice, "President Pao, there is an urgent call from home for you. Please take it as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Pao Yu-kang showed a look of helplessness and said to Lin Haoran with a wry smile, "Sigh, I thought I could enjoy a rare moment of leisure and the comfort of the sea breeze, but I still can't find any peace. Haoran, I must take my leave first. When you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit my home, and we shall have a proper chat."

Although their conversation was not long, Lin Haoran's unique insights and steady temperament had left a deep impression on Pao Yu-kang.

"Take care, Uncle Pao," Lin Haoran said, rising to see him off.

"Young Master, who was that old man? He seemed quite distinguished," Li Weiguo couldn't help but ask once Pao Yu-kang had walked away.

"Him? The famous World Ship King," Lin Haoran replied with a smile.