Chapter 68: Targeting the Shares in Li Jiacheng's Hands
"Mr. Lin, if you have time someday, you are very welcome to visit my humble home. As neighbors, it's truly necessary for us to communicate and get to know each other better," Li Jiacheng said warmly.
Despite Lin Haoran's young age, after their earlier conversation, Li Jiacheng not only felt no sense of superiority but actually valued him more highly, already developing a genuine desire to form a connection.
Such is the way of the world — true strength always commands respect.
"I am truly honored to receive such a gracious invitation from you, Mr. Li," Lin Haoran replied politely.
As a series of exquisite dishes were served one after another, the two of them naturally steered their conversation toward discussions of business insights and industry trends.
Lin Haoran's unique perspectives, sharp commercial intuition, and precise grasp of industry developments left Li Jiacheng deeply impressed.
"By the way, Mr. Li, may I ask how many Qingzhou Cement shares you currently hold? I would like to acquire them," Lin Haoran said, smoothly transitioning to the main purpose of the meeting. "To express my sincerity, I am willing to offer HK$6 per share, ensuring you will not suffer any loss. What do you think about this offer?"
Although Li Jiacheng had already expressed his intention to abandon further acquisitions of Qingzhou Cement, Lin Haoran knew that as long as those shares remained in Li Jiacheng's hands, uncertainty persisted.
Thus, he hoped that by making this offer, he could both strengthen his control over Qingzhou Cement and eliminate any lingering ambitions Li Jiacheng might have — allowing Lin Haoran to proceed with greater peace of mind.
Li Jiacheng's average purchase price should have been just a bit above HK$5, so offering HK$6 per share was already a show of considerable goodwill.
In acquisitions, paying a premium is necessary — otherwise, why would anyone sell to you? This is the harsh reality of business.
Even with Bao Yugang's transaction, Li Jiacheng had earned about HK$60 million in profit.
Friendship was one thing; profit was another — two entirely separate matters.
What Lin Haoran didn't expect was that Li Jiacheng agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"I currently hold about 3.91 million shares of Qingzhou Cement. Mr. Lin, if you need them, I would be happy to transfer these shares to you," Li Jiacheng said with a smile.
For him, ever since losing the opportunity to acquire Qingzhou Cement, these shares had lost their former luster.
Selling at HK$6 per share would easily net him a handsome profit. Although the amount was but a drop in the bucket for him, it was still a worthwhile transaction.
Moreover, he found himself genuinely admiring Lin Haoran.
He believed Lin Haoran not only had a unique mind but also immense potential, destined for remarkable achievements in the future.
Given that even Mr. Bao Yugang held Lin Haoran in such high esteem, why should he, Li Jiacheng, look down on him?
At present, while Li Jiacheng had not yet reached the heights of his future glory, he already harbored extraordinary ambitions.
In the business world, Bao Yugang — the world-renowned "King of Shipping" and the recognized wealthiest Chinese businessman — stood as a peak he had to look up to, a formidable barrier to overcome.
It was only later, with the gradual acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa — aided by Bao Yugang and Shen Bi's support — that he managed to surpass Bao Yugang and become the new wealthiest Chinese businessman.
Hearing Li Jiacheng's confirmation, Lin Haoran felt a wave of joy surge within him, though outwardly he remained calm, showing no signs of excitement.
Every evening, after the market closed, Su Zhixue and his Huanyu Investment trading team conducted detailed analyses of the day's trading volume and market dynamics, precisely calculating their own share acquisitions while also estimating those of their competitors.
According to Huanyu's carefully prepared estimates, Li Jiacheng's team was thought to hold around 4 million shares.
Now that Li Jiacheng had officially disclosed his holdings, the number almost perfectly matched Su Zhixue's projections, confirming the team's outstanding analytical precision.
Of course, given that the stock market is an open and complex environment, it was normal for a few scattered individual investors to participate occasionally.
Thus, even with such impressive accuracy, Su Zhixue's team's estimates remained well-reasoned approximations based on available information, never expected to be 100% precise.
Nonetheless, being this close to the actual figure was proof enough of the team's exceptional ability and seamless coordination.
At this moment, Lin Haoran was deeply satisfied with his team's performance.
3.91 million shares — that represented 7.8% of Qingzhou Cement's total equity.
Lin Haoran silently congratulated himself. He understood that if given more time, even though his side had already gained a significant lead in share accumulation, Li Jiacheng could have easily overtaken them by buying from other shareholders.
It was precisely this potential threat that had pushed Lin Haoran to hasten his deal with Bao Yugang — because he knew that the slightest hesitation could have placed Qingzhou Cement's future ownership in doubt.
Fortunately, everything had worked out perfectly.
"Mr. Li, I cannot thank you enough. If convenient, I would like to personally visit your company tomorrow to complete this important transaction. Would that be acceptable?" Lin Haoran asked, his inner excitement carefully masked by a calm, composed exterior.
He was already calculating that once he secured the 3.91 million shares from Li Jiacheng, his stake in Qingzhou Cement would officially surpass the 30% threshold.
That figure would not only bring him one step closer to becoming the true master of Qingzhou Cement — Hong Kong's largest cement producer — but also represent a fundamental leap in his own standing within the business world, surpassing the foundation built by his father, Lin Wanan.
The thought stirred an overwhelming sense of excitement and pride in Lin Haoran's heart.
Qingzhou Cement — a colossal entity worth twice as much as Wanan Group — was about to become a key piece in Lin Haoran's budding commercial empire.
"Of course, Mr. Lin. I will be waiting for you at the company tomorrow. This has been a most enjoyable dinner. I hope next time I will have the chance to host and treat you properly," Li Jiacheng said with a smile.
"Mr. Li, it is a true honor to be acquainted with a titan of the business world like you. I sincerely thank you for your willingness to transfer your Qingzhou Cement shares, allowing me a better opportunity to firmly control the company," Lin Haoran said solemnly.
He understood that, in this arena of competition and collaboration, his current strength and influence were still far from enough.
Thus, he had to tread carefully and avoid offending industry giants like Bao Yugang and Li Jiacheng.
If you act arrogantly and make enemies before you even rise, you will never get the chance to rise — only a fool would do that.
Respect must be shown where it is due. Only when his financial power and influence equaled or exceeded these titans would it be acceptable for him to act with greater freedom, even casually crossing his legs before them if he pleased.
For now, by winning their respect while maximizing his own gains, he had laid a solid foundation for his future development — a perfect beginning to his ambitious journey.
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