He was Ji Dongpu's son-in-law and Fang Pingshan the nine Big Brothers of Bank of East Asia. Although Bank of East Asia was jointly founded by the Fang Family, Lai Family, Ji Family, Huang Family, Zhou Family and other families, each of these wealthy merchants had their own businesses. Only Ji Dongpu came from a banking family and was most skilled in banking. Therefore, he was appointed as the general manager of Bank of East Asia to manage the banking business. As Bank of East Asia built a global business network in the 1920s and even became the Shanghai Banking Corporation's note-issuing bank, it was practically China person's HSBC. Under such a promising prospect, the dozen or so directors of Bank of East Asia naturally had other ideas. When they first invested in Bank of East Asia, they only thought about receiving dividends. But when Bank of East Asia became a financial behemoth, they all had the idea of personally controlling this behemoth. As a result, an undercurrent of factionalism and preparation for usurpation of power emerged among the senior management of Bank of East Asia.
In this situation, he became Ji Dongpu's son-in-law, forming a marriage alliance between the Ji and Fang families. Together with other directors who sided with the Ji Family and Fang Families, he eliminated other people who wanted to force him out of the bank and stabilized the situation at Bank of East Asia.
Although Fang Bingfen only held the title of director of the Bank of East Asia at this time and did not take over the bank's affairs, he was not an incompetent rich kid. On the contrary, he was nineteen years old when Fang Pingshan passed away. In the first year of taking over the family business, he made full use of the advantage of the Bank of East Asia's strong financial backing to sweep the Hong Kong seafood industry. He owned 70% of the seafood business in Hong Kong. Fang 'Fang Family Zhaofeng Trading Company had sales of Hong Kong dollars 230 million that year, which was the highest in Hong Kong. At the age of nineteen, Fang Bingfen was known as the King of Seafood, the King of Dried Seafood, the King of Winter Mushrooms, and so on.
Today, the Fang Family's businesses span various sectors in Hong Kong, including real estate, commerce, trade, transportation, banking, insurance, media, and even food and beverage.
The Lin Family's wealth may seem immense to others, but compared to the low-profile Fang Family, it pales in comparison.
"Ah Ze, I already know about your family's situation. How about this? The stock price is frighteningly high right now, and it's a bit difficult for Bank of East Asia to lend you HK Hong Kong dollars 100 million. The Hong Kong economy has been sluggish lately, and banks aren't doing as well as they used to. I think it would be better to have Kenny step in and acquire the shares held by Jardine. Kenny's business is currently flush with cash and in good shape; he's not short of money. No matter how much that young man surnamed Song offers, he won't sell. This way, the Lin Family won't have to worry about borrowing money anymore, and Bank of East Asia won't be under too much strain." Ji Dongpu said to Lin Xiaoze beside him after taking a walk in his garden.
Kenny is the English name of his son-in-law, Fang Bingfen.
Lin Xiaoze laughed and said to Ji Dongpu, "Of course, no problem. I trust Kenny with the stocks, but..."
He stopped mid-sentence, and Ji Dongpu waited two seconds. When Lin Xiaoze didn't continue, he slowly turned around. "I know this kind of thing needs to be discussed clearly with your brother, but don't think that what I just said was a plan to ultimately hand over the shares in Jardine to A-Jie, leading to him fighting for the Lin Family's inheritance. I just don't want to see the Lin Family take risks. I'm in the banking business, and I've seen too many businessmen end up bankrupt. That young man surnamed Song is taking risks to snowball his fortune, hoping the Lin Family will follow his strategy. But he's different from the Lin Family. If he loses, he'll only be disgraced, but the Lin Family's business is much larger. If he's constantly led by the nose and takes risks to survive, there will be bound to be mistakes. That young man is worthless, but the Lin Family is different. If given the opportunity, many unscrupulous people will take advantage of the situation."
Perhaps due to his advanced age, after speaking so much in one breath, the white-haired Chinese Bank tycoon took a couple of breaths, leaning on his cane, and said:
"I've spent my whole life in the banking business, so I know that sometimes banks can be more ruthless than wild beasts when they're intimidating people. Don't give them a chance."
"Uncle, thank you for teaching me." Lin Xiaoze sincerely thanked Ji Dongpu.
The old man's words were very straightforward to Lin Xiaoze, yet they were worth his deep thought. He frankly told him that it was not feasible to borrow money from the Bank of East Asia, but his son-in-law, Fang Bingfen, could buy the shares held by Jardine Matheson. Of course, there were risks involved. The risk was that these shares might end up in the hands of Lin Xiaojie, the seventh son-in-law of Ji Dongpu. Perhaps many years later, the new head of the Lin Family would be Lin Xiaojie, who would be supported by the Ji Family. However, this was still safer than having the Lin Family's assets mortgaged to the bank.
"I'll go back and discuss it with everyone. There shouldn't be any problems." Lin Xiaoze lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Ji Dongpu and Fang Bingfen behind him. "I'll have to trouble you, Kenny, then."
Fang Bingfen smiled at Lin Xiaoze and said gently, "It's no trouble at all. I have high hopes for the Lin Family's future, and besides, I'm only helping to hold it for a short period of time."
For some reason, Lin Xiaoze always felt that Fang Bingfen's smile concealed some other intentions.
It was late at night when they came out after having tea at the Ji family's house. The driver drove down the mountain road, and Lin Xiaozhe sat in the back seat, thinking about Ji Dongpu's words. The stocks were indeed safer in Fang Bingfen's hands than in Yihe's. At least Fang Bingfen and Ji Dongpu wouldn't sell the stocks to Song Tianyao. After all, there was still a marriage alliance to maintain the kinship between the families. The only thing to consider was what to do if the stocks were eventually handed over to Lin Xiaojie.
Just as they were passing a bend, a car with blinding headlights came from the bottom of the mountain. It seemed unable to brake in time and crashed straight into the side of Lin Xiaoze's car, which was turning sideways at the bend!
Lin Xiaoze's car was knocked off the mountain road and rolled down a slope more than ten meters high!
After the car rolled three or four times, it finally landed on the mountain road below. The driver reacted very quickly, struggling to climb out of the car with his face covered in blood. He staggered to the back door, pulled open the deformed door, Lin Xiaoze had been unconscious from the impact and rolling, out of the back seat to check his injuries.
Meanwhile, the car that caused the accident calmly turned around from the road above and drove down the mountain, seemingly not intending to let them leave alive!