Weekend.

Deep Water Bay Golf Course, affiliated to the 'Royal Hong Kong Golf Club', was established in 1889 (15th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty). The club was initially located in Happy Valley, but later moved to Deep Water Bay to build a nine-hole golf course, and in 1911 settled in Fanling with an 18-hole course. As Governor of Hong Kong from 1930 to 1935, Belle loved golf and horseback riding, so she built a holiday villa near the famous Fanling Course.

Lin Zhichao occasionally comes to Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay to check the property situation here, since he robbed Li Jiacheng and the charter boat king, he naturally wants to snatch it away along with the Feng Shui Treasure House No. 79 in Deep Water Bay; As for the Bao Mansion at No. 78 Deep Water Bay, Lin Zhichao felt that it didn't seem to be very good feng shui, so he didn't dare to start; On the contrary, the Xu family's Deep Water Bay No. 80 cannot be missed if there is an opportunity.

The reason why he was greedy for two deep-water bay residences was because Lin Zhichao wanted to marry a bungalow, and naturally he would leave a feng shui treasure house for the bungalow.

In later generations, the mansions in Deep Water Bay that cost billions were only a few hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars at this time, but considering various factors (economic development, public security environment), Lin Zhichao planned to seek acquisition in the mid-fifties. The owners of these properties are mostly British military officers, and they are just passers-by in Hong Kong, so they naturally sell them when they give money.

Lin Zhichao walked into the Deep Water Bay Golf Course, and under the leadership of the staff, he and Sandas completed the convergence. In order to go to the appointment this time, Lin Zhichao deliberately understood the rules of golf simply, so he saved time, and after the coach simply taught him, he had already started a fight with Sundash.

Of course, making waves is not the goal, talking is the goal.

After Sandas threw a shot, he said, "How are you going to take out a loan?" ”

Lin Zhichao knew that Sandas decided to get involved, so he said: "Loan 500,000 US dollars, use the charterparty in our hands as a credit guarantee, and mortgage the 'Gold and Silver' to HSBC." Because it was my first time working together, I didn't want to get too much, but I wanted to work with HSBC once. ”

After finishing speaking, he also swung a shot, and it didn't miss, on the contrary, it looked good.

Sandas observed Lin Zhichao and found that this young man was very commendable, knowing that he was going to this appointment, and he specially understood the rules of golf; In this way, time is wasted and the two can communicate more smoothly.

Subsequently, Sandas and Lin Zhichao concentrated on playing the first hole, and naturally Sandas won completely, winning Lin Zhichao by four strokes, but Lin Zhichao could barely be regarded as an entry.

"With a loan of $500,000, do you want to continue to buy a boat?"

"Yes, I would like to buy another ship for the opening of a fixed route between Hong Kong and Yokohama. This year, Yokohama began to be rebuilt, and this route was an opportunity for me. ”

After the war, Yokohama remained a U.S. military base and was not rebuilt; According to a survey by Global Shipping, Yokohama has already started reconstruction in the first half of the year, but now there is no fixed route from Hong Kong to Yokohama, which is an opportunity.

Japan is short of resources, and in the process of developing its economy, it is indispensable to import resources from overseas, and Hong Kong is one of the trade transit points.

Sandas couldn't help but marvel in his heart, Lin Zhichao's information was so fast, although he didn't know what the specific situation was in Yokohama, but just by rebuilding and not having a fixed route, he felt that it was promising.

However, if it is a loan of only 500,000 US dollars, he believes that Lin Zhichao's strength will not be so troublesome.

So, Sandas asked, "The contract for your three ships is to be completed at the beginning of next year (1951), what are you going to do next?" ”

Lin Zhichao immediately said: "According to the current shipping situation, the price and business growth at the end of the year is inevitable, so I plan to seek a long-term contract of 2~3 years, and it is naturally better to sign for five years." Although the renewal of such a long-term contract was much cheaper than the one-way contract at that time, the price was much higher than now. Therefore, I wanted to take advantage of the long-term contract at that time, continue to ask HSBC for loans, and immediately buy a large number of cargo ships to expand my fleet. ”

Sandas stopped and said, "These are just speculations, I won't comment on them yet." But for the $500,000 loan right now, I can act as an agent for you, and next Tuesday, you come to my office and I'll take you to meet Charlie, the project manager. ”

Lin Zhichao nodded and said, "Thank you, I believe this is a win-win situation!" ”

Win-win is Lin Zhichao's attitude.

As for currying favor, that's completely unnecessary.

Throughout the morning, the two of them had a lot of fun, and Sandas did not forget to teach Lin Zhichao his skills.

A new week begins.

With Sundash's recommendation, Global Shipping finally received a $500,000 loan from HSBC.

The loan was not easy to come by, and in the end, it was only through Sandas interceding with Charlie, the project manager, that HSBC finally made an exception. Of course, the hard power of global shipping and Lin Zhichao is the foundation of everything, otherwise it would be in vain to talk about it.

Back at Global Shipping, Lin Zhichao recruited Feng Yongfa and said: "HSBC has promised a loan, and you can immediately ask the Global Maritime Academy to recruit another batch of trainees, almost 20 is enough." ”

Feng Yongfa immediately said happily: "Okay, I'll arrange it immediately!" ”

This is a very happy thing, although it is only a $500,000 loan, it is less than a quarter of the more than $2 million assets of Global Shipping; But the meaning is obviously different, because it means that Global Shipping has made contact with HSBC.

After a while, Gao Qiqiang also came to Lin Zhichao's office.

"I want to open up a fixed route between Hong Kong and Yokohama, and you personally take people to Yokohama for investigation and preparation, and report to me if there is any situation."

Gao Qiqiang understood that the boss had obtained a loan commitment from HSBC, so the company had a ship to open up this fixed route.

"Okay, I'll leave as soon as possible."

Lin Zhichao was worried that Gao Qiqiang would not understand the importance of this route, so he said: "Yokohama will be rebuilt from this year, and the materials needed are very huge, so we opened up this route, it can be said that the time and place are favorable, and you must do a good job of preparations." ”

Gao Qiqiang nodded seriously and said, "Well, I will definitely not disappoint the boss." ”

Although he has not yet made an on-site visit, he is so confident that Gao Qiqiang also feels that this matter is true. Japan is a narrow country with few resources, and once a certain place is rebuilt, the materials needed are massive, so it cannot bypass Hong Kong as a trading port.

Next, Lin Zhichao arranged his executives one after another, and soon the entire global shipping was running at a higher speed. Even Lin Zhichao has already decided that he is ready to leave for London and seek to buy a ship again.

Before that, he could call Willis and ask him to prepare the information, after all, Lin Zhichao would only stay in London for less than a week.

Evening.

Lin and Tang families had dinner at the Hong Kong Hotel (Pedder Street).

This hotel is actually the first five-star hotel in Hong Kong, and it was also the tallest building in Hong Kong (6 floors) when it was built.

"Next week, I have to go to London and buy a ship of about 10,000 tons."

Tang Caiying's eyes lit up, and then she said, "I want to go too!" ”

Then, I was a little embarrassed.

Song Qiaoling immediately said: "What are you going to do, Zhichao is running around the ship, do you still take you to play!" ”

Tang Caiying didn't say anything for a while, her eyes just stared at Lin Zhichao, as if she was saying-look at it.

Lin Zhichao went to London this time and went on a date with Audrey Hepburn, so he really couldn't take her.

So he adopted a roundabout tactic, promising that next year's trip to Europe would be over.

Subsequently, Tang Zhongyuan asked: "Global Shipping has obtained new funds so quickly?" ”

Lin Zhichao nodded and said that he had obtained a loan from HSBC.

Tang Zhongyuan suddenly looked at Lin Zhichao in disbelief, and then said happily: "Okay! If you have the help of the bank, your shipping industry can be said to be rising. ”

Lin Zhichao said modestly: "It's just a bank loan that is very difficult to achieve, and everything is unknown in the future." Overall, though, it's a good start. ”

Anyway, Tang Zhongyuan understands that Lin Zhichao must have a great future in the shipping industry.

On the way back from the dinner, Tang Caiying said unhappily: "Brother Zhichao, why didn't you mention the matter of taking me to London, don't you want to take me there?" ”

Lin Zhichao explained: "I'm running around, I'm really afraid that you will make a mistake!" And this time it's going to go back quickly, I really don't have time to play with you. ”

After speaking, he didn't forget to comfort the little girl.

Tang Caiying suddenly laughed, and then said: "Look at you nervous, I'm not willful, if you don't go, you won't go!" ”

In late July, Lin Zhichao arranged for Cheung Kong to take out 1.5 million Hong Kong dollars of working capital, and then import copper and aluminum alloys from the United States. For the sake of safety, we have specially communicated with the supplier.

Fortunately, Hong Kong is not currently listed as a free trade zone, so you can obtain these raw materials by simply explaining the use. But Lin Zhichao knows that the trade ban will become more and more stringent, and it is estimated that after November, Hong Kong will be strictly controlled.

At this time, the atmosphere in Hong Kong can already be seen, the opposite side is rushing to buy various substances, and the port is unusually busy; The other side also knows that a stricter trade blockade will come soon, so the foreign exchange in hand must be spent as soon as possible and all exchanged for supplies.

In this way, it is natural that Hong Kong's shipowners can also receive high freight routes. There is a shortage of sea vessels in the mainland, so shipping relies on leasing in Hong Kong, resulting in rising coastal shipping prices. For example, the goods from Shanghai to Beihai (Xiguang) once reached 150 Hong Kong dollars per ton in the previous life; It is even more expensive to transport to the north, after all, it is a heavy place for US warships, and it can reach 750 Hong Kong dollars a meal.

All supplies need sea vessels, and there are only a few ocean-going ships on the other side, and almost all of them rely on entrusting others to charter ships.

Of course, these prices are volatile, but overall, shipping costs are definitely skyrocketing. There is such a saying in Hong Kong, in the battle of the peninsula, if there is a ship, it is the money printing machine.

After arranging the affairs of Changjiang Industrial, Lin Zhichao said goodbye to his family and flew towards London. The six- or seven-day round-trip flight made Lin Zhichao a little painful, but the jet civil aircraft technology is not yet mature, and the Boeing 707 is estimated to be put into operation until the end of the 50s.

Although the voyage is long, the thought of dating Audrey Hepburn is obviously in a good mood. Of course, his purpose is still to buy ships, and to add a ship is to increase a lot of profits.

When Lin Zhichao arrived in London, Hepburn came to the airport to greet him, and the two wanted to hug each other, but tacitly stopped the idea. At this moment, Lin Zhichao has already felt the pressure that the two need to face, if Hepburn becomes famous, the relationship between the two will definitely come to an abrupt end.

Fortunately, Lin Zhichao is a very chic man and does not have too many fetters.

Sitting in the taxi, Hepburn opened his mouth and said, "Lin, why did you come to London again so quickly?" ”

Between the words, the two seemed to have a little more strangeness, and Hepburn's tone had some seriousness, which reminded Lin Zhichao of the last scene of "Roman Holiday".

Just when Lin Zhichao was distracted, Hepburn suddenly grabbed his arm and laughed again.

"What, are you scared?"

Lin Zhichao turned out to be a prank, and then responded with a smile: "No! It's just that for a while, I feel that you have the temperament of an aristocracy! ”

Audrey Hepburn was originally a descendant of the nobility, of course, there are too many such descendants of the European aristocracy.

plays very noblely, in fact, even if she wins the Oscar, she can still only be an actor, and she is an actress.

If Lin Zhichao is not married, it can be said that marrying her identity is more than enough, even if the news is released by the media at that time, with Lin Zhichao's identity as the 'Oriental Ship King' (a fleet of hundreds of thousands of tons), there will never be much criticism.

Of course, taking a concubine is something else, I am afraid that I will be scolded by the whole world immediately. Of course, if it's just a scandal with a lover, it's another matter, such as Monroe's scandal, what is true or false.

Hepburn said happily: "Really? ”

Lin Zhichao nodded, then took out a camera from his bag and said: "On this trip to London, in addition to buying a boat, I hope to travel to London with Miss Hepburn for the rest of the time, and use this camera to take pictures of this time as a souvenir." ”

Hepburn nodded, and then snuggled up to Lin Zhichao's shoulder.

When the two returned to the rented place, Hepburn really didn't let his mother move in, presumably worried.

However, Lin Zhichao didn't care too much, but the two hugged each other, and then began to throw themselves into it crazily.

At this time, he felt that the unattainable 'Her Royal Highness the Princess' was not remarkable, she was very poor, her work was not very smooth, she had a need, and she liked talented men.

"Lin, if you marry me now, I will definitely promise you!"

coldly, Hepburn suddenly burst out with such a sentence, which frightened Lin Zhichao almost to the point of collapse.

"Audrey, life is always involuntary, isn't it?"

When Hepburn heard this, he was slightly disappointed at first, and then turned into more active, and the two showed strong affection hotly.

Afterwards.

Hepburn didn't want to lift his eyelids and lay in Lin Zhichao's arms.

"Audrey, you will become the most beautiful superstar in Hollywood, stick to your dreams, and I will support you behind you!"

"Aren't you worried that one day the pressure will be all on you?"

Hepburn raised his eyelids and asked a question. The scene of the two of them at the airport today felt the distance from their skin color.

Lin Zhichao smiled confidently: "No! I'm never stressed because I'm just getting started. ”

Audrey Hepburn remembered Lin Zhichao's dream, and then said closely: "Yes, my Mr. Boat King!" ”

The two chatted close to each other, and then fell asleep.

Following.

As soon as Willis saw Lin Zhichao, he said happily: "Lin, I have all the cargo ship information you need?" Subsequently, a lot of information was taken out.

At this time, he seemed to have believed Lin Zhichao's words, this young man must be a great figure in the shipping industry in the future. Because of this, he wants to have a good relationship between the two.

Lin Zhichao said while flipping through the information of the ship: "Willis, does the price of second-hand ships in London fluctuate?" ”

The price of second-hand ships in Europe and the United States will definitely rise in the past few years, of course, it must only rise slightly, for example, in his previous life, Bao Yugang bought a 28-year-old 8,700-ton cargo ship in 1955 at a price of 200,000 pounds (the price of a Hong Kong intermediary is 220,000 pounds, and he bought it directly from the London shipping company). In this way, it can be inferred that second-hand ships will increase by about 30~40% in the future.

There is only one real reason, the global economy has been recovering since World War II, and the demand for ships has gradually increased.

Willis said, "There is no obvious sign yet, don't worry! ”

Lin Zhichao nodded, and then soon two favorite ship prints came into view.

Generally speaking, the construction period, the construction of the shipyard, and the parameters of the ship are all factors that need to be considered at first sight, and Lin Zhichao is no longer what it used to be, and he already knows a lot about cargo ships.

As for parameter fraud, shipbrokers and shipping companies will not do this, because when signing the contract, these are all lawyers' court testimony.

Subsequently, Lin Zhichao selected a 7,800-ton 18-year-old freighter for $450,000 (£160,000). The price of the ship depends not only on the tonnage, but also on the year and operation of the freighter.

Lin Zhichao does not like to buy ships that are too old, which will affect the credibility of global shipping and be said to be a good ship. Of course, if the world drops pies, and someone sells him a batch of old cargo ships super cheaply, Lin Zhichao will take it without saying a word.

Compared to making money, face is nothing!

"Do I need to pay in installments?" Willis said enthusiastically.

Installments are also subject to interest, but the interest is lower. And Lin Zhichao is undoubtedly a powerful businessman with a very good reputation.

"No, it's in full, you can pay it all at any time!" Lin Zhichao said resolutely.

Pay in installments, he only likes to use this trick when building new ships in the future, and he now prefers to take out a loan with the bank.

“OK！ But I'm curious, did you get a loan from the bank? Willis asked a question.

"Yes, there is a bank that is willing to give me a little loan so that I can add a freighter." Lin Zhichao said.

Although he didn't say which bank it was, Willis also admired Lin Zhichao, his strength itself is strong, and now there are banks willing to provide loans; It seems that I need to take this friend more seriously and strive to make a long-term partnership.

Later, when he heard that Lin Zhichao was going to play with Hepburn in London for a few days, Willis immediately enthusiastically gave his car to Lin Zhichao, and equipped a company employee as a driver, with warm and thoughtful service.

Lin Zhichao did not refuse this kindness, as if they were entertaining overseas merchants, and the same was true.

Five days later.

Lin Zhichao was about to take a plane back to Hong Kong, but it was still Audrey Hepburn who came to the airport to see him off, this time the two had no scruples at the airport, hugged each other, and kissed.

It can be seen that in the past few days, Lin Zhichao's hard work has still had a great effect.

After saying a love talk, the two reluctantly separated, and Lin Zhichao boarded the plane. The next time we meet, I'm afraid I'll have to wait a lot of time.

Sitting on the plane, Lin Zhichao couldn't help but take out a thick envelope, which contained photos taken.

He showed a hint of a smile, these photos will be treasured, there is Audrey Hepburn's naughty and lively appearance, there is also Audrey Hepburn's X-sense and charming appearance, and Audrey Hepburn's noble and temperamental appearance.

In short, the two had a very happy time during this time.

(End of chapter)