We're building a super chaebol in Hong Kong

"I heard that Mr. Li Jiacheng visited you in Singapore last month and personally invited you to join Cheung Kong Holdings?" Su Cheng asked, feigning ignorance.

Originally, Su Cheng didn't plan to mention this, because wouldn't that be blatantly telling McLeish that Su Cheng was investigating him!

However, he suddenly wanted to see McLeish's opinion of Li Jiacheng, so he asked.

"Mr. Su knows about this too?" McLeish was somewhat surprised.

Although this matter wasn't kept secret, and even reached his boss, it happened in Singapore. Su Cheng is from Hong Kong, yet he knows about it. Clearly, Su Cheng investigated him, otherwise he wouldn't know.

In McLeish's heart, his respect for Su Cheng couldn't help but diminish slightly. A little carelessness could easily create a rift between the two.

This is human nature. Being secretly investigated, anyone would feel unhappy after finding out.

Su Cheng naturally considered this before bringing it up. The reason he said it was because he wasn't afraid of McLeish having opinions about him.

"Mr. McLeish, you should be able to guess some of the reasons why I came to find you. We Chinese have a saying: 'Preparation prevents failure.' It means that no matter what you do, if you prepare beforehand, you will succeed, otherwise you will fail.

Mr. McLeish is a talent, and I respect you very much. The reason I investigated you was also a last resort.

The reason I know you met with Mr. Li Jiacheng is because I specifically investigated you before coming to Singapore. This was to complete the matter with more certainty. If Mr. McLeish has any dissatisfaction, I apologize to you here first."

Su Cheng directly and frankly stated that he had investigated McLeish beforehand.

This statement dispelled any feelings of blame in McLeish's heart.

After all, Su Cheng had made it very clear that investigating beforehand to achieve a goal was a very normal thing!

Just like when he was the president of a multinational corporation, when the company was engaged in commercial warfare with other companies, or when the company planned to acquire a certain enterprise, it was necessary to investigate the other party's situation clearly in advance, so as to be more confident in defeating the opponent or taking them down.

And Su Cheng's open and honest disclosure of the investigation was already considered giving him a lot of face.

Thinking of this, McLeish stopped dwelling on the matter.

"It's okay, investigate if you want. I don't have anything to hide. If Mr. Su is so open and honest about investigating me, it would make me seem petty if I still had any dissatisfaction," McLeish said magnanimously after drinking a cup of red tea that Su Cheng had poured for him.

"I wonder, Mr. McLeish, after meeting with Mr. Li Jiacheng, what is your impression of his character?" Su Cheng changed the subject, becoming curious.

At the same time, he personally poured another cup of tea for McLeish.

McLeish also tapped the table lightly with his index and middle fingers, like a real expert. It could be seen that although McLeish was British, he might have been influenced by Singapore's rich Chinese culture due to working in Singapore, and his understanding of Chinese culture was not shallow.

In traditional Chinese tea table etiquette, knocking on the table after tea is poured is a way of expressing gratitude and respect when the host pours tea for the guest. Depending on the identity of the tea pourer, such as an elder, peer, junior, or younger generation, the guest will use different gestures to lightly tap the table to show gratitude.

For example, when an elder pours tea for you, you usually tap the table three times with all five fingers together to show respect and gratitude to the elder; if it is a peer, like Su Cheng and McLeish now, although Su Cheng's position is much higher than McLeish's, there is no conflict of interest between the two, so naturally they are peers, and McLeish tapping the table lightly with his index and middle fingers is very correct; and when a junior pours tea for you, you can tap the table lightly with your index finger or middle finger to show appreciation and respect for the junior.

"As everyone knows, Mr. Li's Cheung Kong Holdings is a partner of our Haw Par Corporation. We have several cooperative projects in Singapore's real estate development, which are not secrets. Because of this, my relationship with him can be considered as ordinary friends who can chat. We have discussed business matters many times, and I am not very willing to talk about privately evaluating others, as it is disrespectful to others.

But now, not only Hutchison Whampoa, but also many of Li Ka-shing's opportunities have been intercepted by Su Cheng in advance.

For example, Wharf. If Su Cheng hadn't intervened in Wharf's affairs, then Li Ka-shing would not have gotten Wharf in the end. Not only would it have made Li Ka-shing owe a big favor, but it would also have been equivalent to making HSBC owe a big favor. After Su Cheng intervened, Li Ka-shing's opportunities disappeared.

Having lost these opportunities that were enough for him to take off, Su Cheng didn't know whether Li Ka-shing could dig up more opportunities, but Su Cheng also knew that it wouldn't be surprising if someone like Li Ka-shing seized the opportunity again one day.

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"Since you are so optimistic about Mr. Li's future, why did you refuse when he invited you to join his Cheung Kong Holdings?" Su Cheng continued to ask with a smile.

"It's very simple. This matter was too sudden. I had never considered it before. It is undeniable that Cheung Kong Holdings is stronger than Haw Par Corporation. If I went to Cheung Kong Holdings, it would indeed be moving upwards. Mr. Li's sincerity is indeed sufficient, promising that if I switched to Cheung Kong Holdings, not only would I be the president of Cheung Kong Holdings, but my salary would also be much higher than being the president of Haw Par Corporation.

But I was not prepared at all for switching jobs, and I didn't have time to carefully consider whether there would be any risks to my future career development if I switched to Cheung Kong Holdings, so I directly refused. Moreover, the boss of Haw Par Corporation has shown me appreciation and trusts me very much. I can't just switch jobs like that," McLeish said truthfully.

People go to high places, and water flows to low places. It is human nature, but McLeish was able to withstand the temptation, which is indeed considered to be a strong heart.

In his previous life, if Su Cheng encountered a better job in the workplace, he would definitely switch jobs without hesitation. Perhaps everyone's pursuits are different.

Of course, Su Cheng also knew that if he hadn't intervened, McLeish would eventually have been persuaded by Li Ka-shing. (End of this chapter)