In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 1029 Ministers Greet Tanglou from the Airport, Returning to the Tanglou!

After the plane came to a complete stop, the gangway was slowly lowered.

Lin Haoran straightened his suit and was about to get up and get off the plane when Bao Yugang gently pulled his arm.

"Haoran, don't rush down." Bao Yugang glanced out the porthole, his tone tinged with surprise. "It seems there are British government officials waiting for us outside."

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran followed Bao Yugang's gaze.

On the tarmac, a row of official vehicles adorned with the British flag stood, with several formally dressed staff members standing beside them. A middle-aged man in a suit was holding two bouquets of flowers, clearly waiting for someone.

Behind these government officials were several reporters, whose cameras, video cameras, and microphones were very conspicuous.

Although Lin Haoran did not deliberately inform the British authorities about his arrival, the plane needed to apply for a flight route, so the news of his arrival in the UK naturally could not be kept from the British government.

“That’s the British Secretary of State for Business and Trade. I’ve met with him privately a few times, but Haoran, they’re obviously here for you this time. I come to Britain several times a year, so they wouldn’t give me this kind of reception. It seems the British government is taking your visit very seriously,” Bao Yugang said in surprise.

Lin Haoran remained silent for a moment, his mind racing.

His original intention for this trip to the UK was simply to keep a low profile, inspect his businesses in Europe, and perhaps find an opportunity to acquire one or two globally renowned car brands from this poorly managed automotive giant.

But now that the British government knows he is coming and has made such a show of it, deliberately avoiding him would seem inappropriate.

Why not go with the flow and see what they're really up to?

Of course, Lin Haoran wasn't particularly excited about such a spectacle.

When he went to the mainland, the scene was much more grand than it is now. In comparison, the British welcoming ceremony in his eyes was really nothing.

But in Bao Yugang's eyes, this kind of setup was indeed very grand, especially for a businessman.

"Uncle Bao, what do you think I should do?" Lin Haoran asked.

"Just deal with it as you see fit," Bao Yugang said. "With your current status and position, you're no longer at the point where you need to be mindful of others' opinions. If they invite you, go; if they want to talk, just listen. Say what you should say and don't say what you shouldn't. Just keep your own judgment."

Lin Haoran nodded; Bao Yugang's words gave him peace of mind.

"Let's go down together then," Lin Haoran said.

As he spoke, he and Bao Yugang walked out of the cabin door one after the other and down the gangway.

When Lin Haoran appeared at the top of the gangway, the Minister of Commerce and Trade who was waiting on the tarmac immediately came forward with a warm and polite smile on his face.

He strode forward, shook hands with Bao Yugang, presented him with a bouquet of flowers, and said with a beaming smile, "Sir Bao, welcome back to London! His Excellency the Prime Minister was very pleased to learn that you have also come."

Bao Yugang responded with a smile: "Minister Lawrence is too kind. I came here on Haoran's behalf this time, riding on his private plane."

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade chuckled, then turned to Lin Haoran and presented him with another bouquet of flowers: "Mr. Lin, welcome to London! I am Lawrence, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and I welcome you on behalf of the Prime Minister's Office. We are delighted to hear of your visit."

Although Lin Haoran had previously received the CBE (Order of the British Empire), he had not been granted a noble title.

Bao Yugang, on the other hand, is indeed an official British knight. In 1976, he was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, which is a knighthood in the British honors system.

Therefore, you can tell from the way they address Bao Yugang that they really consider him one of their own.

However, given his current status, whether or not he has a knighthood is no longer important.

His wealth and influence far exceed the weight that any title can bestow.

Lin Haoran accepted the flowers and shook hands with the other party with a smile: "Minister Lawrence, you are too kind. This was just a private trip for me. I did not expect to disturb the government. I am really sorry."

“Mr. Lin is one of our most important partners in the UK, and we will naturally give you a grand welcome.”

Minister Lawrence smiled and said, "His Excellency the Prime Minister is very pleased to hear of your arrival and would like to invite you and Sir John Bowie to a small dinner tonight at 10 Downing Street. Would that be convenient for you, Mr. Lin?"

Lin Haoran glanced at Bao Yugang beside him, and Bao Yugang nodded slightly.

Lin Haoran withdrew his gaze and smiled at Minister Lawrence, "Then I shall gladly accept your invitation. Thank you for your invitation, Prime Minister."

“Excellent!” Minister Lawrence’s smile widened. “Please come with me, Mr. Lin and Sir John Bowe. We have arranged transportation for you both. If you haven’t arranged accommodation yet, we can do so for you.”

"I plan to go to Chinatown first to visit my elders," Lin Haoran said after thinking for a moment.

Back when he was in England, Tang Kun, a friend of his father Lin Wan'an, helped him a lot.

Now that he has come to London again, as a junior, he should naturally pay a visit to the elder who has provided him with a lot of help.

“I’m not in a hurry either, let’s go to Chinatown together first!” Bao Yugang said with a smile.

“Alright, then I’ll see you off,” Minister Lawrence nodded and said.

The two got into the middle limousine together, with Minister Lawrence sitting opposite them.

Once the car door closed, the noise outside was instantly shut out.

The car slowly drove out of Heathrow Airport and headed towards central London along the road.

Minister Lawrence, sitting opposite him, smiled and said, "Mr. Lin, besides your private trip, do you have any special plans for your visit to London? If there is anything you need the British government's assistance with, please don't hesitate to ask."

Lin Haoran's heart skipped a beat. Minister Lawrence's words were both a polite remark and a test.

He thought for a moment and smiled, “To be honest, the main reason I came here this time is to inspect my businesses in the UK and see if there are any good investment opportunities. As a native of Hong Kong, I am very optimistic about the development prospects of the UK.”

Lin Haoran smiled and uttered this sentence, which was both appropriate and impeccable.

He didn't mention Leyland Group or any car brands, but kept the conversation on the macro level of "investment opportunities," thus avoiding revealing his true intentions and making the other party feel that he was deliberately avoiding the topic.

After all, since Bao Yugang from the Leland Group indicated that his involvement would make things go more smoothly, Lin Haoran himself didn't need to reveal his true intentions prematurely.

It would be much safer to let Bao Yugang use his political and business connections to explore the path first, rather than for him to speak directly.

What he needs to do now is to maintain an attitude of "willing to invest but not in a hurry to act," neither rejecting the other party's enthusiasm nor making any substantive promises.

Minister Lawrence was clearly surprised by the answer, but quickly regained his composure with a smile: "Mr. Lin's insight is truly admirable."

Although the UK has undergone economic adjustments in recent years, our foundation remains solid, especially in the fields of finance, technology and high-end manufacturing, where we still maintain a leading global advantage.

If Mr. Lin is interested, I can arrange some related field trips.

"No need for Minister Lawrence, I have a professional investment team that will analyze investment opportunities in various industries in the UK for me," Lin Haoran said with a smile, declining the offer. "This trip is mainly for private purposes, and I don't want to disturb the work of too many government departments."

Minister Lawrence's smile remained unchanged, but a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes. He had originally intended to use this opportunity to guide Lin Haoran's investment focus towards areas the British government wanted him to pay attention to, such as infrastructure, energy, and fintech.

But Lin Haoran clearly had no intention of following his lead.

In recent years, the British economy has been sluggish due to the combined effects of the global economic recession and domestic industrial restructuring.

Despite the Thatcher government's implementation of a series of privatization and reform measures, the economic recovery remained slow.

In this context, the British government is eager to attract international capital to boost the economy and create jobs.

Lin Haoran, as Hong Kong's richest man and a globally renowned Chinese tycoon, naturally became their primary target for recruitment.

After about half an hour's drive, the car finally arrived in Chinatown.

Finally, the car came to a smooth stop in front of the tenement building.

Many Chinese people curiously gathered around to watch the official vehicles with the British flag flying over their front ends from a distance.

While government vehicles occasionally pass through London's Chinatown, it's rare to see a motorcade like this, adorned with the British flag and personally escorted by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Some Chinese people passing by stopped and whispered among themselves, speculating about who the important person was in the car.

Looking out the car window at the familiar streets and shop signs, Lin Haoran felt a surge of warmth and familiarity.

He had visited this tenement building countless times in his memory, especially during the years he studied in England.

Three years ago, when he came to the UK again, he had already established a certain position in the business world and was invited to visit as part of a group of top Hong Kong entrepreneurs.

However, the difference between him then and him now is still very, very large.

If back then he was just a top regional businessman with some influence only in Hong Kong, he is now a top global billionaire with influence spanning three continents: Europe, America, and Asia.

In just three years, the changes have been earth-shattering.

He opened the car door and stepped onto the familiar cobblestone streets of Chinatown, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

Bao Yugang also got out of the car, but Minister Lawrence did not get out; he had said he wouldn't get out while still in the car.

After waving goodbye to Minister Lawrence and watching the car drive away, Lin Haoran looked up at the restaurant, which was full of ancient Chinese charm.

The building's exterior features blue bricks and gray tiles, inlaid with many round wooden structures, and each floor is adorned with large, bright red lanterns bearing the character 'Tang'.

"Is Mr. Tang Kun your elder?" Bao Yugang asked, somewhat surprised.

"Uncle Bao knows my Uncle Tang too? He is indeed my elder, a close friend of my father, and has a very good relationship with my Lin family," Lin Haoran asked with some surprise.

“The Chinese business community isn’t very big to begin with, and given my frequent travel between the UK and Hong Kong, I naturally know some influential Chinese businessmen here. Mr. Tang Kun is the vice president of the British Chinese Chamber of Commerce, so I naturally know him, and we even have a certain relationship. I’ve been to this Tang Lou several times, and the Ningbo cuisine here is very authentic!” Bao Yugang praised.

"That's such a coincidence," Lin Haoran said with a smile. "Since Uncle Bao and Uncle Tang are old acquaintances, that's even better. Let's go upstairs and have a seat together."

As soon as the two entered the Tang Building, they saw Tang Kun coming down the wooden stairs from the second floor, clearly having already heard the news.

"Haoran, you're coming to London, why didn't you tell Uncle Tang beforehand so I could prepare?" The voice came from the stairs before the person even arrived.

Lin Haoran quickly stepped forward to help the other man, and said with a smile, "Uncle Tang, I came here on important business. As soon as I got off the plane, I came here to visit you."

Tang Kun is two or three years older than Lin Wan'an, and is about 67 or 68 years old.

Compared to three years ago, Lin Haoran seemed to have aged considerably. He had more gray hair at his temples and deeper wrinkles on his face, but he was still in good spirits, with bright eyes and a youthful energy that refused to grow old.

"Good, very good!" Tang Kun patted Lin Haoran's hand. "He's just getting old, and his legs aren't as nimble as before, but he's in good health. He can eat and sleep well, so don't worry."

As he spoke, he looked at Bao Yugang, extended his right hand warmly, and said with a smile, "Mr. Bao's visit is truly an honor to our humble abode!"

Bao Yugang shook hands with Tang Kun and said with a smile, "Mr. Tang, you're too kind!"

"Let's go up to the private room on the third floor. We can sit down and talk things over slowly. There are too many people and too many eyes in the lobby." Tang Kun said, leading the two upstairs.

Li Weidong, Li Weiguo, Liu Xiaoli, and others also went upstairs.

The private rooms on the third floor were quieter and more elegant than the main hall on the first floor. Sunlight streamed in through the carved wooden windows, casting dappled shadows on the mahogany table.

Tang Kun gestured for the two to sit down and personally poured them hot tea: "Haoran, I just heard from A-Jian that Minister Lawrence personally escorted you here?"

Ah Jian is the security manager of the tenement building, and Lin Haoran also knows him.

"Yes, when I arrived in London, Minister Lawrence personally picked me up at the airport and brought me here," Lin Haoran nodded and said.

"Brother Wan'an has truly raised a fine son!" Tang Kun couldn't help but exclaim.

When he saw Lin Haoran again three years ago, he was already very surprised to learn of Lin Haoran's achievements.

At that time, he felt that his good friend Lin Wan'an finally had a successor.

But three years later, Tang Kun realized that his idea was completely wrong.

In recent years, Lin Haoran's photos have frequently appeared in British newspapers and magazines, making him one of the most dazzling names in the global business world of this era.

His photos frequently appeared in the pages of The Times, the Financial Times, and The Economist, with headlines always accompanied by exclamation marks.

For example, the Hong Kong Rich List initially estimated Lin Haoran's personal wealth at HK$678 billion; he achieved legendary status during the US stock market crash; and he acquired MGM.

Some time ago, I heard that Lin Haoran bought 45 buildings in Manhattan, which caused quite a stir in the UK.

Tang Kun remembered that when he saw that news, he couldn't help but flip through the newspaper several times to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

The sheer scale of 45 commercial buildings in the heart of Manhattan goes beyond what can be simply described as "doing business."

These days, even when they come to the UK, the British Secretary of State for Business and Trade personally goes to the airport to greet them. This is no longer the treatment given to ordinary businessmen; it is a privilege at the level of a head of state.

Looking at the young man before him, Tang Kun felt both gratified and moved.

I'm relieved that my old friend's son has made something of himself.

It's amazing how fast time flies. The naive young man who used to freeload meals in tenement buildings while studying in England has now grown into a global giant that even the British government has to take seriously. (End of Chapter)