Reborn as a tycoon in Hong Kong

On the eve of Lin Baicheng's preparation to leave the United States and return to Hong Kong, Ned Johnson contacted Lin Baicheng and wanted to meet and chat with him.

Lin Baicheng was not in a hurry to go back to Xiangjiang, so he still had time to meet and chat with Ned Johnson. He immediately agreed and the two made an appointment for a time and place to meet.

In this meeting, except for the secretary and others who were accompanying them, there were only two people, Lin Baicheng and Ned Johnson. Ned Johnson did not bring Abigail Johnson with him.

"Mr. Allen, to be honest, I am very surprised and shocked that you can achieve such achievements at your age. Especially, you started from scratch, unlike us, who have family support."

After some polite greetings after the meeting, Ned Johnson made no secret of his emotion and surprise.

"It would be wrong to say that my current achievements are due to luck, but in addition to my own abilities, my current achievements also include some luck."

Lin Baicheng is a little humble, but not too humble. He knows that Westerners don't like this. Facing Huo Yingdong and others in Xiangjiang, as a junior, he needs to be more humble, but facing Westerners like Ned Johnson, he must show his abilities so that he will not be underestimated.

"Luck does matter a lot."

Ned Johnson nodded slightly: "Especially in the financial industry like me, in addition to grasping the interpretation of information, luck is very important. It's like you are doing a kind of agricultural product futures, but because of the weather, a super typhoon suddenly appears. Or if abnormal weather conditions lead to a poor harvest of agricultural products, then their prices will inevitably rise or fall sharply in the short term."

"This kind of weather factor is something we cannot control artificially, because the impact of this factor, whether it is making money or losing money, is purely based on luck."

"But often the sudden rise and fall caused by this kind of luck can lead to either a one-time big profit or a one-time big loss, which has a great impact on annual performance."

"That's the truth."

Lin Baicheng nodded slightly and used himself as an example: "Just like last year, a few friends and I were long gold futures. At that time, Hongsu suddenly invaded Afghanistan, causing the price of gold to skyrocket, which made me and my friends make a lot of money."

"The Red invasion of Afghanistan is something we can't influence at all. It was an unexpected event, so making money like this depends entirely on luck."

"Similarly, if someone was shorting gold futures before this, then losing money would be due to bad luck and encountering such an unexpected event."

"So, a lot of times, luck is very important, even though it's illusory."

Of course, it is impossible for Lin Baicheng to say that his money-making depends entirely on his grasp of 'history', and to blame everything on luck. At most, he would put a few cents on his face, saying that he had a little prediction and showed off his abilities a little bit. Nothing could be better.

"But apart from the factor of luck, making money still depends on ability."

Ned Johnson looked at Lin Baicheng and said: "Several companies run by Mr. Allen are developing quite well, and two of them have been listed on NASDAQ. This shows that the ability is strong and it is definitely not 'luck'. Words can explain it.”

"Mr. Johnson praised it."

Lin Baicheng just smiled when he heard this.

Ned Johnson suddenly asked: "Mr. Allen, how much do you know about Fidelity Investments?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Johnson, I only have a superficial understanding of Fidelity Investments and not much else."

Lin Baicheng only knows that Fidelity Investments is a financial services company that provides customers with services including fund management, trust and brokerage services. In addition, it is its own fund financial investment management.

The most famous one of Fidelity Investments is the Magellan Fund under Fidelity Investments. In the past ten years, except for the years of economic crisis, the fund has maintained an annualized rate of return of more than 20%.

Don't think that the annualized rate of return of 20% does not seem very high, but as long as the time is extended and calculated, the rate of return is very high, at least most funds cannot do this.

The fact that Magellan Fund has been able to do this, and has done so for more than ten years, shows the level of the fund manager and the market's trust in it.

"How about I give a brief introduction to Mr. Allen?" Ned Johnson said with a smile.

"Of course, I'm all ears."

Lin Baicheng smiled and nodded, wondering what the other party's purpose was in introducing Fidelity Investments to him.

Lin Baicheng didn't believe that Ned Johnson suddenly wanted to ask him to meet and chat, and suddenly wanted him to learn about Fidelity Investments. That was all, without any purpose. He didn't believe anything about it.

After a while, Lin Baicheng had a more detailed understanding of Fidelity Investments through Ned Johnson's introduction, but in fact it was just like that. After all, Ned Johnson didn't introduce much, and Lin Baicheng couldn't get into Fidelity Investments in depth. You have to understand this company through investment, so what you can learn is still relatively one-sided.

However, Lin Baicheng didn't want to know more about Fidelity Investments. Anyway, he couldn't become a shareholder of this company. There was no point in learning so much about other people's companies. On the contrary, it would easily lead to misunderstandings.

After introducing Fidelity Investments, Ned Johnson said: "Mr. Allen, Fidelity Investments also provides corresponding services to some enterprises. It also supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and supports each other with enterprises to grow and develop."

"What does Mr. Johnson mean?"

Lin Baicheng pretended to be confused. He didn't know what it meant. Isn't it just venture capital, the same as Sequoia Capital.

"Mr. Allen's vision and ability are beyond doubt. I believe that the companies Mr. Allen invests in will definitely develop and grow, and with the help of Fidelity Investments, Mr. Allen's companies can develop faster and become publicly listed." company."

"As for me, I hope that Fidelity Investments can cooperate with Mr. Allen and have the opportunity to invest in the companies under Mr. Allen's name."

Lin Baicheng now has solid connections in the United States and has two listed companies in the United States. Ned Johnson has come up with the idea of ​​​​letting Fidelity Investments cooperate with Lin Baicheng, mainly because he wants to get a share of Lin Baicheng's development.

"It should be an honor for me to be able to cooperate with Fidelity Investments."

Lin Baicheng's heart moved and he asked with a smile: "Mr. Johnson, I also have several companies in the United States. Which one do you have your eye on?"

"I haven't understood it in depth yet. Now, Mr. Allen, you welcome Fidelity Investments. If you don't mind, I will arrange for someone to investigate the companies under your name, Mr. Allen, to see which company is more suitable for cooperation. .”

Of course, Ned Johnson couldn't say that he now knew almost everything about the companies under Lin Baicheng's name. If he had conducted a secret investigation early on, it could easily lead to misunderstandings.

"Okay, I'll wait for news from Fidelity Investments."

Lin Baicheng smiled when he heard this.

Later, Lin Baicheng and Ned Johnson talked about other things, each talking about their views on the international situation and the U.S. economy.

"In the past few years, the domestic economy has been in very bad shape during the administration of former President Carter, which was one of the reasons why Carter was not re-elected. President Reagan made promises to voters on the economy during the election, so I believe After President Reagan takes office, he will definitely introduce some policies to stimulate the economy, so the domestic economy will develop in a good direction in the short term."

"As for the long term, that remains to be seen. The main reason is that there are too many variables."

Ned Johnson's forecast for the U.S. economy is short-term optimistic.

Lin Baicheng praised Ned Johnson's point of view, because he was now very convinced of this. In previous exchanges with Bush Sr., Bush Sr. had vaguely revealed this to him, saying that Reagan would cut taxes and introduce economic policies. Specific details It's not stated clearly.

Bush Sr. said so. The possibility of changes is not impossible, but it is relatively low.

After chatting for a long time, Lin Baicheng ended the meeting with Ned Johnson.

Back in Los Angeles, Lin Baicheng stayed for another day. After arranging everything, he got on the private plane leaving Los Angeles.

…

Sunday, January 25th.

At around three o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Baicheng's private plane landed at the airport in Xiangjiang.

As soon as he walked out of the airport, Lin Baicheng saw various media blocked by a large number of bodyguards led by Qin Lan and Chen Huixiang.

"Mr. Lin, will you join Li Sheng's 'young talent group' to visit Peking?"

"Mr. Lam, what do you think about 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong'?"

"Mr. Lin, you are the richest man in Xiangjiang and became prosperous in Xiangjiang. Is your position on the side of Xiangjiang?"

"Mr. Lin"

"..."

Although the reporters were stopped, they all took pictures in Lin Baicheng's direction and asked Lin Baicheng questions loudly, regardless of whether they could get Lin Baicheng's answers.

"This is how the same thing?"

Lin Baicheng turned to look at Qin Lan.

Qin Lan whispered: "Mr. Lin, I will report to you in detail later. Let's leave here first."

"Okay, let's go first."

After looking at the reporters who were stopped by the bodyguards and trying to squeeze in for interviews, Lin Baicheng wisely chose to leave for now. We don’t know what’s going on right now, so it’s not appropriate to make public comments, lest we fall into a trap and not even know what’s going on.

"Mr. Lin, please say a few words." "Mr. Lin" "Lin Sheng."...

Seeing that Lin Baicheng was about to leave, all the reporters were immediately anxious. Unfortunately, Qin Lan and Chen Huixiang brought many bodyguards, and they stopped all the reporters from getting closer to Lin Baicheng.

Lin Baicheng took the people away, exited the airport, and got into the extended-length Lincoln.

"Now can you tell me what happened?"

Enter the extended Lincoln, followed by Qin Lan and Chen Huixiang.

Qin Lan heard this and said: "Mr. Li Pengfei, a young leader in the business community, recently made a speech advocating that 'Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong' and let the people of Hong Kong govern Hong Kong. To this end, he is planning to unite the elites of Hong Kong's business community to form a 'young talent group' to go Peiping put forward relevant opinions with the aim of persuading the top officials of the mainland."

"I think he is overthinking."

Lin Baicheng was speechless after hearing this. He knew without thinking that Li Pengfei's plan would definitely not succeed.

"That's what you said."

The position of Lin Baicheng, the big boss, is known to all his subordinates, so it is not surprising at all that Lin Baicheng reacts this way.

"Then what does this matter have to do with me?"

Lin Baicheng asked aloud. He was not familiar with this Li Pengfei. Although they had met several times at some banquets or public events, the two of them were not even acquainted. What about Li Pengfei? Logically speaking, he had nothing to do with him.

Qin Lan said: "Mr. Lin, Li Pengfei and Li Sheng are young leaders in the Xiangjiang business community and have great influence, so his remarks have had a great impact, and he still stands on the side of the people of Xiangjiang and allows the people of Xiangjiang to govern Xiangjiang. Therefore, with the support of the public, the impact of his words will be even greater.”

"so what?"

Li Pengfei, the so-called young business leader, is actually just that in Lin Baicheng's view. In addition to his own abilities, the reason why he became a young business leader in Hong Kong is mainly due to the promotion of the Hong Kong government. His stance is biased towards the British. .

This can be seen from the fact that Li Pengfei was invited to join the Legislative Council by MacLehose in 1978. If Li Pengfei's position was biased towards the mainland, he probably would not be able to join the Legislative Council.

Li Pengfei's stance leans toward the British. His proposal of "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" seems to be based on Hong Kong's stance, but in fact it still leans toward the British.

the reason is simple.

First of all, Hong Kong is still ruled by the British, and all official institutions are controlled by the British. The so-called "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" is just a joke, and power will eventually fall into the hands of the British.

Furthermore, I have to say that now in Hong Kong, more people are actually closer to Britain than to China. Therefore, if it is really 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong', there is actually not much difference between Hong Kong and Hong Kong not returning.

Finally, it was Li Pengfei who proposed 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong', and Li Pengfei is just a so-called young business leader. If the mainland agrees, then you know, when it comes to actual negotiations, the British side will definitely push their limits and ask for an extension of the return. Deadlines, etc.

Therefore, Li Pengfei's so-called "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" seems to Lin Baicheng to have evil intentions and is clearly a British wayfinding stone.

"Mr. Lin, you are the richest man in Xiangjiang. Your influence in Xiangjiang is undoubted, especially for the younger generation. After Li Sheng made his remarks, a reporter asked whether he would invite you to participate in the delegation he sponsored, and Li Sheng said at that time that he would extend an invitation to you and said that you are also a Xiangjiang person and you will definitely consider the future of Xiangjiang from the perspective of a Xiangjiang person."

"After the relevant remarks were reported, they immediately caused a great impact and discussion."

"Your plane landed today. The media has already known about it from the airport, so a large number of media are waiting for you at the airport and want to interview you."

Qin Lan briefly explained the cause and effect.

"This damn Li Pengfei!"

After hearing this, Lin Baicheng couldn't help but lost his composure and cursed in a low voice.

Li Pengfei was causing trouble for him, Lin Baicheng. If Li Pengfei were right in front of him, he would definitely slap him in the face to let Li Pengfei know what words should not be said. He, Lin Baicheng, could not be used to offend anyone.