CHAPTER 746: CHAPTER 733: HENGTAI MAKES ITS MOVE

"Mr. Xu, I’ve already settled things here, and I’ve even helped you acquire the shares held by New Hongji and Hengji Real Estate. What’s the situation on your end?"

Lu Liang was in the office, calling Xu Jiayin.

He watched the surveillance video downstairs as Guo Bingsheng and Li Jiajie both refused interviews from reporters, safely leaving under the escort of security personnel.

Whether it’s selling shares of New World or repurchasing stocks within one’s own group, drafting contracts takes time.

They signed a letter of intent for cooperation and now are each back at home preparing contracts, agreeing to hold a press conference at five in the afternoon, during which it will also be announced that Xingheng is taking over Huaren Real Estate.

Hong Kong stock market’s midday break lasts only an hour, forty minutes have passed, and there are twenty minutes left before it reopens.

Lu Liang wanted to know what was happening on Old Xu’s side; he didn’t want to delay too long.

"That old guy, he’s constantly guarding against me." Xu Jiayin sighed.

He had spent over five billion dollars in the morning but had acquired less than 1% of the circulating stocks.

There were too many competing for shares, not only Lu Liang but also Zheng Jiachun, and even stray market speculators.

He asked, "How much do you have now on your side?"

Lu Liang replied, "Received 1.2% in the morning, counting previous holdings, and today’s acquisitions, it’s a total of 25.26%."

"Adding on the 0.85% our Hengtai acquired this morning, that’s a total of 26.11%."

Old Xu said in a deep voice, "We can’t wait any longer; the Zheng family originally held 38.25%, they must be over 40% by now."

"What do you plan to do?" Lu Liang asked.

If the difficulty coefficient of acquiring Huaren Real Estate is 1, then acquiring New World would be at least over 7.

Since last year, Cheung Shing’s Li family sold off some assets in the mainland and Xiangjiang, going to the United Kingdom, allowing the Zheng family to become the strongest family in Xiangjiang.

With Zhou Da Fu on one side and New World on the other, they have not only ample funds but also a sense of prudence, holding long-term stakes of over 33.4% in both groups.

Unlike the Liu, Guo, and Li families, who hold less than 30% in their own groups, hence their concern about Lu Liang initiating a takeover from the secondary market.

"I’ll prepare and head to Xiangjiang this afternoon," Old Xu narrowed his eyes, planning to change his strategy and force his way into New World’s board to confront the Zheng family head-on.

Lu Liang pondered, knowing that this was the quickest and most convenient method. He asked, "Anything you need help with?"

"Local real estate groups will surely intervene, maybe even HSBC might get involved. You might need to assist in managing these pressures," Xu Jiayin said.

Though he doesn’t want to admit it, in the capital market, he’s less handy than Lu Liang, despite being the first in real estate.

Once Hengtai Group steps into the spotlight, they will face pressure from public opinions and various forces.

Xu Jiayin might withstand the public opinions, which are nothing but criticism of ingratitude.

But the pressure from various forces, he finds he can’t endure it.

Because Lu Liang’s main business isn’t in real estate, it doesn’t pose a potential or direct competitive threat to local real estate groups.

However, Hengtai Group is different; they previously tried to enter the Xiangjiang real estate market and even founded Hengtai Health to use it as a medium for entry into the Xiangjiang market.

Competitors are true adversaries, like those currently neutral, such as Lei Family, He Family, Huo Family, Wu Family, they might step in to obstruct.

"No problem." Lu Liang agreed frankly, wanting to test if his influence really works now.

If he can’t even assist with Hengtai’s acquisition of New World Development, then what he thinks is control is a joke, indicating that these local prestigious families are yet to be educated properly.

Though Hengtai is currently cash-strapped, inevitably requires upfront funding to strengthen negotiation leverage.

But as long as the acquisition of New World Development is completed, it’s not too late to squeeze them afterward.

Matters concerning the mainland to be settled in the mainland, matters concerning Xiangjiang to be settled in Xiangjiang, until Hengtai repays the favors and funds, Lu Liang will absolutely refrain from being mixed together.

At one in the afternoon, the Hong Kong stock market opened.

Huaren Real Estate, New Hongji, Hengji Real Estate, all opened with severe stock plunges.

Funds rushed out aggressively, with a growth rate averaging 49% dropping to 23.8%, narrowly stopping the decline.

Compared to the severe plunges of the three, New World unexpectedly showcased an independent trajectory, with its stock price breaking through the 60 Hong Kong Dollar mark, reaching a market value of 163.2 billion Hong Kong Dollars.

"Seeing you all get rich is more painful than losing money for me."

"The Zheng family is really strong, what’s Lu Liang’s worth? They’re not birdsing him."

"Charge forward, Zheng family, go ahead, reforge the glory of the prestigious family, we’re duty-bound."

New World’s stockholders became the brightest presence in the entire Hong Kong stock market, with a growth of 78.25% as of now.

Though verbally supportive of the Zheng family, it’s merely sympathy for the weak, because only if the acquiring and acquired parties are evenly matched do small investors benefit from the situation.

If, like those three...

How can they make money?

But as time passed, New World Development’s circulating chips became scarcer.

Those with weak convictions had already sold off, leaving the circulating stocks mainly in the hands of a few individual investors, with the majority held by other institutions or groups.

"Ah Zheng indeed has some clout."

Aware of their situation, all the prestigious families were filled with emotions; not long ago, they mocked the Zheng family’s strategy as too conservative.

As a family that has stood the test of time in Xiangjiang, who would dare to target them? Holding so much equity seemed like a waste, better to exchange it for capital to generate wealth.

Now it seems holding long-term 33.4% of equity was necessary, at least to fend off malicious takeovers.

Even if someone wished to pursue a malicious takeover, no matter how much capital the opponent possesses, they still have a defense mechanism.

Each family tacitly understood, silently increased their shareholdings, with Hang Seng quietly returning to 25000 points, a genuine bull market imminent.

At two-thirty in the afternoon, Hengtai Group, listed on the Hong Kong stock market, suddenly surged within the real estate board.

Today, it already rose 7.83% fueled by the heat from proxy equity, but with a single announcement, a giant bullish line skyrocketed.

"Hengtai Group officially announces plans to acquire New World Development in Xiangjiang..."

"Damn, Xu Jiayin is involved too?"

"I knew it, without reason, why would Hengtai entrust Tianxing Private Equity with proxy equity management."

"Brother, since you’re so clever, you should’ve bought Hengtai’s stock, right?"

"... Let’s not talk about that, I bought Huaren Real Estate at its peak."

The announcement shook the Hong Kong stock market, with all families caught in silence.

One Lu Liang was already pressing them hard to breathe, now adding a mainland real estate magnate.

And unlike Lu Liang, whose main business is finance, which poses little direct competition.

Hengtai’s main business has always been real estate.

In the past, they consistently tried entering the Xiangjiang real estate market but were jointly intercepted outside.

Now that Lu Liang is leading Hengtai to acquire New World, they would inevitably enter the Xiangjiang market.

Should they obstruct or not?

Upon learning the news while drafting the contract, Guo Bingsheng sighed, "Actually, we should lend Ah Zheng a hand."

He decided to retract his previous remarks, Lu Liang’s ambitions are evident, wanting to sever their roots by letting Hengtai enter Xiangjiang.

"Is there any point in talking now?" Li Jiajie chuckled cynically.

Though the contract hasn’t been signed yet and they can still change their minds, but if they dared to backtrack last minute, given Lu Liang’s disposition, he would surely eradicate them completely.

Exchanging a glance, they decided against thinking further.

At least, as being the second batch under Lu Liang’s wing, Xu Jiayin might show a little grace.

Meanwhile, Yiyun Villa was the first stop for Xu Jiayin upon arriving in Xiangjiang.

"Xiao Xu, are you done pretending?"

Zheng Jiachun narrowed his eyes, having anticipated this possibility and thoroughly guarded against it.

Though he didn’t expect Xu Jiayin would dare visit Yiyun Villa.

"Can’t pretend any longer." Xu Jiayin chuckled lightly.

"Then why come here?" Zheng Jiachun asked.

"I want to pay my respects to Mr. Zheng, is that okay?"

Xu Jiayin was sincere in attitude; Zheng Jiachun remained silent as Zheng Qilong scolded, "How dare you have the face to pay respects to my grandfather?"

"Qilong, don’t be too presumptuous." Zheng Jiachun reprimanded with anger, glanced at Xu Jiayin, and said in a heavy tone, "Go ahead."

"Thank you." Gaining permission, Xu Jiayin smoothly reached the adjoining shrine, placing the fruit he brought.

He lit three sticks of incense, knelt on the mat before the table, and softly spoke, "Mr. Zheng, Hengtai needs to grow, its growth requires the Xiangjiang market, I’ll always remember your kindness."

After finishing the homage, Zheng Jiachun coldly remarked, "Now that you’ve acted, what’s the point of confessing?"

"It’s still meaningful to me." Xu Jiayin ignored the ridicule from the Zheng family, leaving Yiyun Villa heading towards the downtown.