Chapter 416: The Big Shots' Meeting

This choice has many advantages: higher success rates, faster speeds, and less competition. The Keswick family is not opposed to selling, and the price will be lower.

Moreover, many of these small companies are quite valuable. After screening, he found that some of these small companies owned valuable land. Thus, he decided to take bold action.

Recently, he acquired several companies, with their factories and land totaling five plots. These plots had considerable potential value but were purchased at a low price, which naturally made him feel pleased.

Unfortunately, his already limited liquid funds were running low.

Thinking about this, Li Jiacheng wanted to know how much money was left in the company. Although he had a rough idea, he wasn't sure of the exact amount, so he asked his subordinate:

"Does the company still have thirty million in liquid funds?"

"Chairman, I just checked, and there are only 25.3 million left."

The manager replied respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Li Jiacheng furrowed his brows and felt a bit frustrated.

Liquid funds are the lifeblood of a company, especially for a real estate firm.

Generally, real estate companies have substantial liquid funds.

However, with only 25.3 million left, it's too little for Cheung Kong Holdings and poses a risk.

Li Jiacheng's first thought was that this money should not be touched! But with the rare opportunity at hand, should he really just watch other big shots continue to indulge?

Li Jiacheng was unwilling to accept this!

However, considering that Cheung Kong Holdings had been continuously targeted recently, Li Jiacheng was hesitant to use the funds.

Thinking about these troubling matters, Li Jiacheng's mood soured. He asked the manager:

"What about the situation?"

The manager, who was well-informed as he had been following the matter closely, reported: "Chairman, the situation has worsened. All companies under Hutchison Whampoa that have collaborated with us have encountered problems. Although cooperation hasn't been terminated, deliveries and payments are delayed until the last minute, causing us significant trouble."

"The competition aspect is even worse; our company's business has been deliberately targeted by Hutchison Whampoa, and progress is not smooth."

"Is Hutchison Whampoa only targeting us? Is there any targeting of others?"

"Not yet discovered!"

Li Jiacheng frowned deeply, lost in thought.

"Hutchison Whampoa…"

"This must be deliberate trouble-making. All companies under them are like this. It must be Qi Dezun's order. Has he discovered something?"

"It shouldn't be. I've hidden things so deeply. Besides the discovered stock purchases, what could have caused such a big reaction from Qi Dezun?"

"Could it really have been exposed?"

Li Jiacheng was filled with doubt and his gaze flickered.

"Ring ring ring!"

At this moment, the urgent phone ringing jolted Li Jiacheng out of his reverie.

He frowned slightly, looked at the phone number, and his frown deepened. He had a bad premonition because he was familiar with this number.

"Hello, this is Li Jiacheng!"

"Mr. Li, it's Qi Dezun!"

"Mr. Qi Dezun, good morning. I didn't expect to receive your call. It's an honor!"

Li Jiacheng spoke with a beaming smile into the phone, his tone extremely warm.

"…"

As Qi Dezun continued speaking, Li Jiacheng's smile gradually faded, becoming serious.

"Alright, I will arrive on time. See you then!"

"Click!"

The standing manager saw Li Jiacheng's somber expression and felt an oppressive atmosphere. At that moment, Li Jiacheng's voice came through: "Alright, you can go now. I have something else to handle!"

"Yes!"

Watching the subordinate leave the office, Li Jiacheng's face turned grave. His brows were tightly furrowed, the lines on his forehead deep enough to pinch a mosquito.

"It seems he really has discovered something. Are the recent actions a warning? Is he planning to confront me this afternoon?"

"With Qi Dezun's skill, he must be fully prepared. I'm indeed caught off guard, ha~"

Li Jiacheng shook his head and smiled wryly, feeling quite unpleasant.

"The initiative has been lost. I must prepare for the worst!"

"First, let me check how many stocks I've acquired… Sigh…"

With that thought, Li Jiacheng sighed deeply, stood up, and left the office.

---

At three o'clock in the afternoon, in a luxurious hotel suite, Li Jiacheng and a subordinate sat opposite Qi Dezun and his team.

Qi Dezun had a calm expression, but the two people behind him looked at Li Jiacheng with hostile eyes.

Li Jiacheng's heart skipped a beat but he chose to ignore it. He smiled at Qi Dezun and asked, "Mr. Qi Dezun, what can I do for you this afternoon?"

Qi Dezun stared deeply at Li Jiacheng and countered, "Mr. Li, with your intelligence, you should know why we're here."

Li Jiacheng shook his head with a smile, not intending to reveal anything himself. A smart businessman would seize even the smallest opportunity.

So he still held out some hope, albeit faint.

Li Jiacheng pretended to be puzzled and said, "Mr. Qi Dezun, I'm truly sorry, but I don't know why you're looking for me."

Seeing Li Jiacheng's desperate attempt to evade, Qi Dezun calmly looked at him for a few seconds, smiled, and decided to confront him directly without wasting time on pretenses.

"Present it!"

Qi Dezun said calmly. Then one of the people next to him took out a document and pushed it toward Li Jiacheng.

Seeing Li Jiacheng look at him with some confusion, Qi Dezun said, "Mr. Li, please take a look at these documents."

Li Jiacheng nodded, opened the folder, and pulled out the document. However, upon seeing the title on the cover, his heart skipped a beat.

Taking a deep breath, Li Jiacheng slowly opened the document. Upon seeing the first page, his expression changed slightly before he regained his composure. He read through it with a blank face, but his flickering eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

Li Jiacheng was indeed unsettled because this document shattered his last shred of hope.

He sighed inwardly, gently put down the document, and looked up to meet Qi Dezun's deep gaze.

He smiled and asked with curiosity, "Mr. Qi Dezun, what does it mean for you to show me this?"

"Mr. Li, I must say, you're very bold! In my opinion, even Zheng Yutong doesn't compare to you!"

Qi Dezun said calmly, offering Li Jiacheng a compliment.

"Too kind!"

Li Jiacheng responded with a faint smile.

"If it weren't for the troubles with the Jardine Matheson Group, we wouldn't have investigated. By the time I discovered it, you might have been in dire straits!"

Qi Dezun said, his eyes becoming sharp, and he snorted coldly.

"How could that be? I'm not as capable as Xia Sheng. I simply saw potential in Hutchison Whampoa and had some spare money, so I decided to invest!"

Li Jiacheng said with a friendly smile, not intending to admit anything.

Doing something is one thing; admitting it is another. Although both parties were aware of many things, sometimes certain things couldn't be admitted!

"Investment? Mr. Li, you're joking!"

"You've seen the document. It's surprising that Mr. Li's investment method is so unique, having started buying our company's stocks six months ago through secret purchases. Haha!"

Qi Dezun sneered, his eyes sharp as knives, staring fiercely at Li Jiacheng.