"How much do you want? Last time you asked Wanqing's Dad for a capital increase, didn't Wanqing already send you two million?" Song Tianyao said with an expression that said, "I already guessed that, it's not worth getting angry about."
He'd gotten used to how annoyed this guy was; nothing good ever came of it whenever they met. With so much going on, Song Tianyao was too lazy to even scold Scribe Hui. Besides, although this guy was impulsive, he was incredibly careful when it came to money in business.
The Scribe Hui, took two steps back towards the door and boldly said, "It's not enough. The new factory is only just getting started, and the money is already gone."
"Do you think I haven't had time to check your accounts lately, so you've been spending all your money on chasing girls? You opened a garment factory to produce uniforms for over ten thousand Britain soldiers stationed in Hong Kong, investing a total of five million, and your factory is barely even started?" Song Tianyao felt he was about to lose his temper, glaring at his Scribe Hui: "If you didn't have money, how could you afford to keep such beautiful women by your side? I can't even afford to keep them, damn it!"
"I didn't... really..." Scribe Hui had probably been scolded by Song Tianyao for too long and was not used to it. He was still trying to explain himself. In the past, he would never have argued and would have just lowered his head and played dead.
Wei Meixian, the secretary of Scribe Hui and whose English Helen, couldn't stand Song Tianyao's words and coldly said, "Mr. Song, Mr. Gao's lack of money isn't because he's keeping women. It's because Tianming Garment has secured a five-year uniform order from thirty-two US military bases of varying sizes in Okinawa, Guam, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hawaii, Thailand, and other locations. The annual order value is Hong Kong dollars 67 million. To complete the uniform order for these thirty-two US military bases on time, we need to recruit six hundred senior tailors, over three hundred other workers, purchase five hundred garment machines, and build three factories. The total investment required is at least Hong Kong dollars 9 million. If we fail to complete the order, forget about picking up women; he might even..."
"No way, I'll take it! Heaven is truly unreasonable, Scribe Hui, your luck is off the charts! You became the clothing tycoon of Hong Kong so easily?" Song Tianyao stared wide-eyed at Scribe Hui and said, "I'll give you twelve million, nine million for business, and the remaining three million for picking up girls! You can even have all the beautiful women in Hong Kong bear your children! But first, transfer Tianming Company to my woman's name, I need to use it."
After saying this, Song Tianyao turned to look at Michael Sandberg, his gaze sharp as a hawk. "My Tianming Company currently holds five-year uniform orders from thirty-two US military bases, and with the previous loan paid off, we have a 30 million framing business. Is that enough to get this newly appointed HSBC tycoon to stand up for me?"
Chapter 414 Sincerity
Michael Sandberg's serious face was like a calm lake tossed with a pebble; the smile lines gradually spread from the corners of his mouth to his entire face. He stood up, shook hands with Song Tianyao, and uttered HSBC's advertising slogan that often appeared in English newspapers. "HSBC is honored to be a part of the founding history of every great company."
In the Government House, Governor Grantham sat in Conference Room Three of his official residence, dressed in a meticulously tailored, dark grey suit from London. His gray hair was combed back, not a single strand out of place, even his sideburns were neatly trimmed. He sat at the head of the conference table, his gaze fixed intently on a guest seated beside him: Brooke Bernacchi, one of only two King's Counsel in Hong Kong, an elected member of the Urban Council, and chairman of the Hong Kong Reform Club, a civil society political Bernacchi.
Bernacchi was one of the few people in Hong Kong who gave Governor Grantham a headache. It wasn't that this King's Counsel had too much power or a formidable background, but rather that this 30-year-old Britain's Counsel was a staunch supporter of the so-called "Hong Kong autonomy" policy of the previous Governor Sir Young. After taking office as Governor of Hong Kong and abandoning Young's plan, Bernacchi considered Grantham a traditional and conservative slave owner, while Young was the only hope for Hong Kong's revival. He repeatedly criticized Alexander Graham's stubbornness and dictatorship in public.
"Mr. Bernacchi, I don't have time to discuss Urban Council affairs with you today. If you want to ask me about things like drinking water and public facilities, you might as well bother Henry at the Colonial Secretary." Grantham didn't even bother to have the Government House's butler bring this young rascal a cup of tea. "Or, let's get straight to the point."
Bernacchi spoke and reacted very quickly, "This is the attitude that a dictator inadvertently displays. You are the one in power in this city, yet you don't allow other people living in this city to ask you about even the things they need most? Isn't that dictatorship?"
"No, if I were truly a dictator, you would have been hanged the first time you questioned me in front of over 30,000 people about hindering Hong Kong's development," Grantham said. "I need you to know that you are sitting here speaking to me face-to-face not because you are an Urban Council, not because you are the chairman of the Hong Kong Reform Club, not even because you are Britain, but because you are Britain's King's Counsel. That is the only label I use to identify you every time I agree to meet you."
"The Police Force arrested my good friend, Mr. Lin Xiaohe, and when his wife and lawyer rushed to the Police Station, they found that he could not be vouched for. When I went to the Hong Kong Police Force to inquire about the situation, the answer I received was no reply," Bernacchi said with a smile.
He was dissatisfied with Grantham's governing philosophy in Hong Kong, so he stood against Grantham. Moreover, his wife was a close friend of Lin Xiaohe's wife, Lu Yanqun. Lu Yanqun asked him to help find out where Lin Xiaohe had been taken by the police. Normally, Bernacchi wouldn't need to see Grantham for such a matter, but he felt that this was another opportunity to make a deeper impression on Grantham. Therefore, he chose to use his status Britain's King's Counsel to formally request an audience with the Governor of Hong Kong, rather than asking his friends working in other government departments.
"Is this something you, an Urban Council councilor or a top lawyer, should be concerned with? If you were a good friend of Mr. Lin, you could defend him in court and perhaps reduce the commission he owes you," Grantham said to Bernacchi. "The police have their reasons for taking him away."