Chapter 274: Scheming Old Fox (Part 1+2)

"Old Master Wu, this thing is good, but unfortunately, it's too hot to handle!"

"Moreover, I really never thought of getting involved in the TV industry. Even if you gave it to me, it wouldn't be of any use!"

Xia Yu placed the envelope containing the equity transfer agreement on the table, speaking with a face full of regret.

Since he now has money, this 10% equity is insignificant. When he eventually acquires Li's TV station, he will certainly inject capital. If the Wu family insists on holding onto this equity, Xia Yu can always issue additional shares to dilute their stake. He has plenty of ways to deal with the Wu family!

Moreover, acquiring the TV station is still a secret. Even after acquiring it, Xia Yu will need to keep it hidden for a while before taking any action. Naturally, he doesn't want others to know, especially the Wu family, with whom he has grievances!

Therefore, Xia Yu's refusal really made Wu Chengde frown, becoming suspicious that he might have misjudged the situation.

"Could it be that he doesn't want to acquire Li's TV station?"

Wu Chengde scrutinized Xia Yu's expression and found that he was genuinely rejecting the offer, not just putting on an act. This attitude made Wu Chengde uncertain.

"Or is he dissatisfied with the price I offered?"

"He shouldn't be a fool; he should understand the nature of this negotiation. Now that he seems calm and collected, could it be that he has a backup plan?"

Wu Chengde suddenly thought about Xia Yu arriving so late and Wu Hongyi not finding him at first. This might be because Xia Yu had done something earlier in the day, which led to his unexpected attitude now.

"Damn it, it's too late to investigate now."

Wu Chengde frowned, feeling it was somewhat tricky due to insufficient information, making it difficult to gauge the situation.

Not only was Wu Chengde frowning, but even his butler, Ah Fu, and Wu Hongyi on the other side could not help but frown. Others sensed the awkward atmosphere and stopped eating, quietly observing.

Wu Hongyi's gaze shifted between Xia Yu and his grandfather, occasionally glancing at the envelope on the table. He was curious about what was inside the envelope and why Xia Yu seemed dissatisfied.

Unfortunately, he couldn't intervene, so he could only hope for a good outcome.

"I've done quite a bit of preparation. Since that's the case, let's bring it out!"

Wu Chengde thought to himself, making up his mind.

With that, Wu Chengde laughed heartily, breaking the increasingly tense atmosphere into fragments.

"Mr. Xia, our family's business in Britain, in London, hasn't ventured into the TV industry, so this 10% stake is of no use to us. Consider it a meeting gift."

Before Xia Yu could refuse again, Wu Chengde continued, "I've heard that besides being a media tycoon, you are also a renowned stock market genius in Hong Kong. Your strength in the financial industry is top-notch. I'm sure you'll be interested in this."

"Ah Fu, show Mr. Xia the documents."

Wu Chengde instructed his butler, Ah Fu.

"Alright!"

Butler Ah Fu responded softly and then took out two envelopes from another compartment of his bag and handed them to Xia Yu.

"Mr. Xia, please take a look!"

Xia Yu took the envelopes, glanced at Wu Chengde and Butler Ah Fu, then lowered his gaze to the envelopes, revealing a smile as he opened them.

The first document made Xia Yu's pupils contract slightly upon seeing the name: "Ehe Insurance"!

Xia Yu was well aware of Ehe Insurance, one of the core enterprises of the Ehe Consortium, which was already listed in Hong Kong with a total market value of around 500 million HKD.

A market value of 500 million is already quite high, especially given that the market has been in a downturn for the past two years. If a few more years pass, Ehe Insurance could easily reach a market value in the tens of billions.

Looking further, Xia Yu saw that the document detailed a 6% equity stake and a transfer price of 30 million HKD. His mind quickly became active.

30 million HKD is exactly at par value, with no premium.

Normally, to acquire such a large amount of stock in the open market, one would need at least 40 million HKD, not to mention the difficulty in actually acquiring it. After all, Ehe Insurance is one of the financial backbones of the Ehe Consortium.

"I didn't expect Old Man Wu to have shares in Ehe Insurance. It seems that not only Wu Hongyi but also Wu Chengde has been eyeing the Ehe Consortium. Otherwise, he wouldn't be secretly acquiring Ehe Insurance shares. After all, one is in Hong Kong, and the other is in London—there's no need for it!"

"But what does he mean by wanting to sell this to me now?"

Xia Yu pondered.

"Old Master Wu, you've amazed me twice in such a short time. Truly impressive, but unfortunately, I don't have that much money!"

Xia Yu remarked with a mix of feigned and genuine sentiment.

"Ha ha, Mr. Xia, don't rush. Take a look at the second document."

Seeing Xia Yu's expression, Wu Chengde laughed heartily, feeling much more relaxed, as if he had regained some face.

Xia Yu squinted, carefully observing Wu Chengde's expression for a moment before quietly nodding and opening the second document.

"It's actually a loan agreement?"

Xia Yu was somewhat surprised and continued to read, becoming increasingly astonished.

This loan agreement was quite interesting; it was also an incomplete contract. The loan amount was 30 million HKD, with the collateral being the 6% equity in Ehe Insurance, and the lending bank was Wu's Hua Merchants Bank. The loan was interest-free for three years, and if repayment was not made after three years, Hua Merchants Bank had the right to terminate the contract and seize the collateral.

The borrower's name was left blank, clearly intended for Xia Yu to sign.

At this point, Xia Yu understood that these two documents were binding together; signing one without the other would be ineffective.

Xia Yu's face unconsciously showed a look of astonishment. This time, his surprise was genuine, with no pretense.

He hadn't expected Wu Chengde to have such a move. To give him 6% of Ehe Insurance shares and solve the financial problem as well—just signing was all that was required.

It was beyond his expectations!

"Mr. Xia, are you satisfied?"

Wu Chengde asked with a smile.

Xia Yu shook his head slightly and smiled, not speaking.

Satisfied?

It's okay, I guess.

The offer was indeed tempting, but he was also aware that there was definitely a scheme behind it!

However, after glancing at the equity transfer agreement again, Xia Yu made up his mind to take it!

He planned to achieve a grand slam in the financial industry. He already had securities and funds, and futures could be handled by Jiuding Securities. What was missing was a major bank and a top insurance company.

Banks could be dealt with later; Xia Yu had his plans.

But entering the insurance industry was indeed a bit tricky.

However, if he acquired this 6% stake in Ehe Insurance, the scope for operation would be greatly expanded!

Moreover, Ehe Insurance was one of the core enterprises of the Ehe Consortium, which was very important. Since he had a grudge against the Ehe Consortium, he was ready to go back and fight with them. Now, if he could take over something from the enemy, perhaps he could find an opportunity to seize Ehe Insurance?

Thinking of this possibility, Xia Yu's heart heated up but then quickly returned to calm.

A grudge against the Ehe Consortium?

At this moment, Xia Yu had a sudden inspiration and considered a possibility.

Could it be that Wu Chengde's scheme was in this?

Offering him 6% of Ehe Insurance shares, and then clearing the grudge between him and the Wu family.

Given Xia Yu's character, once he had this 6% stake in Ehe Insurance, he might indeed be tempted. After all, he already had a grudge against the Caswick family, and the hatred would only deepen.

Adding in the Wu family's entanglement with Ehe Consortium and historical issues, Wu Chengde's strategy seemed to be using Xia Yu as a pawn.

The more Xia Yu thought about it, the more he felt this possibility.

"Indeed a sugar-coated bullet!"

Xia Yu murmured to himself.

But with this thought, Xia Yu felt more at ease. Even if Wu Chengde used him as a pawn, he was still in the game. After all, even if Wu Chengde didn't offer the bait, he would inevitably continue his fight with the Ehe Consortium!

In that case, this was an unexpected gain.

He decided to take the sugar-coated bait first and see how things would unfold. If Wu Chengde tried to take advantage of him or scheme against him, he would fight back then!

"Old Master Wu, you've gone to such lengths. If I don't agree, that would be too ungrateful…"

Xia Yu said with a smile.

However, he did not explicitly say that the grudge had been resolved.

But after hearing Xia Yu's words, Wu Chengde laughed heartily, believing that Xia Yu had agreed to clear the enmity with the Wu family.

Wu Hongyi also smiled, finally feeling relieved, thinking that the enmity between Xia Yu and the Wu family had been resolved.

Wu Hongyi also smiled, finally feeling relieved, thinking that the enmity between Xia Yu and the Wu family had been resolved. As for Wu Honglin, the Wu family would handle the matter internally.

Wu Hongyi's concern was not for Wu Honglin himself, but to resolve the conflict between Xia Yu and the Wu family. After all, Wu Hongyi, as one of the heirs of the Wu family, was naturally implicated in the family's affairs. With the enmity between the Wu family and Xia Yu resolved, he no longer had to be caught in the middle. This was beneficial for both him and the Wu family, so he was naturally pleased.

"Mr. Xia, please!"

At this moment, Butler A Fu took out a pen and handed it to Xia Yu, and Wu Chengde spoke.

Xia Yu nodded slightly, took the pen, and signed all three documents. Then he took out the other copy of the loan contract and handed it back to Butler A Fu, who immediately received it and kept it.

Subsequently, Xia Yu also put away the three documents and packed them up.

Seeing Xia Yu finish organizing everything, Wu Chengde raised his glass and said with a smile, "Haha! Come, Mr. Xia, from now on, you are our Huashang Bank's partner! I wish us a happy cooperation!"

Seeing that Wu Chengde had found a reason to celebrate, Xia Yu smiled and raised his glass in response.

The atmosphere then became very pleasant, and before they knew it, the table was in disarray.

When it was time to leave, Wu Chengde, after chatting with Xia Yu for a few more words, was the first to leave. Butler A Fu stayed behind, and both Xia Yu and Wu Hongyi were a bit puzzled.

At this moment, Butler A Fu stopped Wu Hongyi and took out two more document envelopes from his bag, handing them over with a kind expression. "Second Young Master, these are for you from the Old Master. They originally belonged to your father and were kept by the Old Master for you. Now that you've grown up, it's time for you to have them."

"The Old Master asked me to tell you that you've made a good friend. Make sure to seek his advice often and don't let him down! Don't disgrace your father's name!"

"I'll be leaving now!"

Butler A Fu handed the documents to the stunned Wu Hongyi, patted his shoulder, and then smiled at Xia Yu before heading outside.

Wu Hongyi, coming to his senses, immediately opened the two envelopes. Upon seeing what was inside, he was stunned and exclaimed, "How could it be this?"

Xia Yu turned his head upon hearing the exclamation and was also surprised when he saw the contents.

It turned out to be 10% of the shares of Yi He Insurance and 15% of the shares of Huashang Bank, all given to Wu Hongyi!

Seeing Wu Hongyi's stunned face, Xia Yu quickly went to the window and looked downstairs. He saw Wu Chengde looking up, their eyes met, and Wu Chengde gave a meaningful smile.

"Too much of a scheme! This old fox!"

Xia Yu cursed inwardly, feeling his impression of Wu Chengde diminish further.

He had been cautious for so long, only to still fall into a trap. But anyone would have fallen into it given the lack of information.

Xia Yu wondered why Wu Chengde would be so kind as to offer 6% of Yi He Insurance's shares and even go through the trouble of having Huashang Bank provide a loan to buy the shares, without considering that Xia Yu might see through the candy-coated bullet and turn it back.

If he had known Wu Chengde's scheme earlier, Xia Yu would have squeezed out even more!

Seeing the shares allocated to Wu Hongyi

Seeing the shares allocated to Wu Hongyi, Xia Yu couldn't help but feel that the old fox, Wu Chengde, had truly played his hand well.

Wu Hongyi stared at the documents, still in shock. He had been completely unaware of this arrangement and was taken aback by the generosity—or rather, the strategic maneuvering—of his grandfather. These shares represented significant stakes in both Yi He Insurance and Huashang Bank, a move that effectively solidified Wu Hongyi's position within the family and provided him with substantial financial leverage.

"Thank you, Mr. Xia," Wu Hongyi said, trying to mask his astonishment and maintain his composure. "I'll make sure to manage these shares well."

Xia Yu, who had seen Wu Chengde's cunning in action, responded with a smile, "You're welcome, Second Young Master Wu. Let's continue to work together."

After exchanging pleasantries, Xia Yu left, contemplating the implications of this latest development. Wu Chengde's actions were clearly aimed at securing a foothold within Xia Yu's future plans, using Wu Hongyi as an additional leverage point. It was a calculated move, showing the depth of strategy and influence Wu Chengde wielded.

As Xia Yu drove away, he reflected on the balance of power and influence in the business world. The complexity of alliances and enmities, as well as the manipulation behind seemingly generous offers, were all part of the high-stakes game he was now deeply involved in.

Xia Yu knew he had to stay vigilant and continue to plan his next steps carefully. Wu Chengde had made his move, and now it was up to Xia Yu to navigate this new phase with strategic foresight and adaptability.