Chapter 73: Xia Yu’s Delight

HSBC Securities! Like its parent company HSBC Bank, it is a dominant force in the industry, a giant in the Hong Kong stock market. 

How could Wu Chengtai dare to oppose HSBC Securities? The financial power alone could crush him, dragging him through the dirt. If HSBC Securities was determined to act, even a worthless stock could be manipulated beyond recognition, and no one could do anything about it. After all, HSBC is the emperor of Hong Kong's financial industry, backed by Britain's prominent families; even the governor of Hong Kong would have little influence in such matters.

Wu Chengtai never expected that his adversary would be HSBC Securities. If he had known it was HSBC Securities, he would have cut his losses long ago, writing off the initial investment of over ten million. He wouldn't have continued suppressing the stock price and battling HSBC Securities.

He wouldn't have been foolish enough to challenge a giant like this.

The news from his subordinates came too late!

Wu Chengtai couldn't understand. His plan was meticulous. To increase the chances of success, he had minimized the planning time, intending to resolve everything today. With only two days, including yesterday, he had thought it was manageable.

Based on past experience, even if HSBC Securities had intentions, they wouldn't have made a decision so quickly. Why was it so decisive this time?

"Boss, I've learned that while the funds are coming from HSBC Securities, they are divided into two groups. One group includes the owner of the **Jiu Ding Daily**, and the other group is led by Liu Tianci, the General Manager of HSBC Securities' Kowloon branch," the informant reported.

"How is that possible? How could HSBC Securities side with him? Impossible!" Wu Chengtai was incredulous, and Ma Chengkun, shocked, blurted out.

Liu Tianci, the General Manager of HSBC Securities' Kowloon branch, was a significant figure, one of the top executives in HSBC Securities and a middle manager in HSBC Bank. How could he ally with Xia Yu and target Tian Wu Securities? This was completely unexpected for Ma Chengkun!

Xia Yu, the owner of **Jiu Ding Daily**, had only been established for a few days. Even if he earned a million, it was hard to believe he could have such a strong connection with Liu Tianci.

Ma Chengkun never imagined how close Liu Tianci and Xia Yu were. He was too late with the information, thinking Xia Yu was just a cat but finding out he had already become a tiger. Calculating against Xia Yu was a mistake that only served to deliver meat into Xia Yu's mouth.

Wu Chengtai, who had been in the stock market for over ten years, understood Liu Tianci and HSBC Securities' influence very well. He quickly realized the intelligence was incorrect.

He stared fiercely at Ma Chengkun, his eyes bloodshot, grinding his teeth, "Ma Chengkun, you've betrayed me!"

Wu Chengtai's tone was filled with unwillingness!

Ma Chengkun, equally distressed, responded harshly. His mind was chaotic, and he didn't care about Wu Chengtai's status. He shouted, "I want to know what's going on too! I've lost ten million and risked the **Oriental Daily**. Why would I betray you?"

Hearing Ma Chengkun's anger, Wu Chengtai fell silent.

Indeed, as Ma Chengkun said, his losses were not any less, and it wasn't in his interest to betray Wu Chengtai. With things as they were, there was no point in further conflict with Ma Chengkun.

But Wu Chengtai was unwilling to accept it!

He had invested so much effort into this plan, believing it was foolproof and would earn tens of millions. He had hoped to acquire Da Fa Real Estate, secure his position as the head of his family, and enhance the reputation of Tian Wu Securities. Now, he faced total defeat: over ten million lost, Ma Chengkun's ten million lost, and the upcoming losses from short-selling bets.

Moreover, this failure was a serious blow to his reputation. His allies would undoubtedly criticize him, and his position as head of the family would become unstable. All these were the consequences of his failure!

The contrast was too stark!

Without comparison, there would be no harm. The psychological damage caused by such a large gap was immense!

At this moment, Wu Chengtai just wanted to find a corner to calm down; the blow was too severe!

Similarly, Ma Chengkun was in a bad situation.

They were both suffering greatly, and they deserved it!

The space fell into silence, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

...

Compared to Wu Chengtai and Ma Chengkun's despair, Xia Yu and Liu Tianci were jubilant.

At HSBC Securities, Xia Yu continued to arrange for more shares to be bought. As long as there were stocks for sale, they would be bought up, continually pushing Da Fa Real Estate's stock price higher. Other institutions cooperated with Xia Yu's actions, as their interests aligned.

With Da Fa Real Estate's stock price rising again and continuing to climb, shareholders who held Da Fa Real Estate stocks felt relieved. They were unwilling to sell their stocks during the price rise. Having survived the toughest times, why would they sell now?

Those who had sold their Da Fa Real Estate stocks in uncertainty now felt bitter. Some even slapped themselves in regret, cursing their lack of conviction and faith in Xia Yu and the **Jiu Ding Daily**. 

But most refused to admit their fault, and naturally, they needed a scapegoat. The **Oriental Daily** became the target. They blamed the **Oriental Daily** for spreading bearish rumors about Da Fa Real Estate, which had led them to sell their stocks.

"Damn the **Oriental Daily**! It caused me to lose everything. If I ever buy their paper again, I'm a dog!"

"The **Oriental Daily** is a bunch of bastards, %$&^@…"

...

Once one person started cursing, others found their outlet for frustration and joined in, filling the Kowloon Exchange with a wave of angry shouts.

Others resolved never to trust the **Oriental Daily**'s news again, with some even deciding not to buy it at all in the future.

Hearing the outside clamor, Ma Chengkun's face turned pale. He felt a chill inside, imagining the severe blow to the **Oriental Daily**'s reputation, authority, and sales after today.

Building a reputation is incredibly difficult, but destroying it only requires one mistake!

...

Seeing that the sell orders for Da Fa Real Estate were almost gone, and buy orders were increasing, Xia Yu's smile grew wider.

After calculating the stock quantities in all his accounts, Xia Yu was even more delighted.

All accounts combined held 30% of the shares. If Da Fa Real Estate's stock price returned to a market value of sixty million, Xia Yu's 30% share would be worth eighteen million.

But these shares were acquired at a low price, almost as if they were delivered by Tian Wu Securities. The 30% stake cost around five million.

Now that Da Fa Real Estate's stock price had risen, the market value climbed back to around twenty-five million. This 30% stake was now worth seven and a half million, giving Xia Yu a floating profit of two and a half million.

And this was not the end!

As long as Da Fa Real Estate proves its financial stability, with so much bullish momentum from Xia Yu's side, the stock could climb back to sixty million in market value and possibly even rebound beyond that.

Even if it only recovers to sixty million, Xia Yu's 30% stake would yield a floating profit of thirteen million—an enormous gain!

This was just the financial result. Considering the impact on the **Jiu Ding Daily** from yesterday and today, as soon as the news of Da Fa Real Estate's success spreads, the **Jiu Ding Daily** will shine even more and its authority will increase.

Having survived this trial, the **Jiu Ding Daily** has undergone a baptism, bringing many benefits, such as increased confidence and pride among its employees.

Xia Yu's gains were substantial, and it was no wonder he was so pleased.