Chapter 987: War...it may be coming

On hearing the news, Norman Shiyawai, who had been a little sleepy, could not have been more awake.

His face was grave as he asked his youngest son, Boris Shiyawai, 'Boris, where did you hear this news? Are you sure it's true?'

Boris Shiawei rarely saw his father look so serious, and he remembered being scolded by his father when he was young, so he couldn't help but shrink his neck.

He swallowed, gathered his courage, nodded firmly, and said, 'Father, this news is correct. Song Zhiming told me personally, and I even confirmed it with him several times. He swore on his chest that it was true.'

Norman Schiawai unconsciously clenched his fists and his face was as gloomy as water.

The more this kind of time, the calmer he becomes.

He pulled his son onto the sofa and sat him down.

Boris Schiawai was prepared to go out and party tonight, but he hurried back because he realised how important this matter was to the family.

But judging by his father's performance, it seemed that he had underestimated the importance of this matter.

While feeling relieved, he subconsciously slowed his breathing, afraid of affecting his father's thinking.

Just then, Norman Shiyahuai, who had been thinking for a while, said to his youngest son Boris, 'Boris, why did Song Zhiming tell you this, and tell me the whole process again.'

Boris Shiyahuai did not delay, and directly told him about what happened tonight.

'Father, tonight a group of us were partying outside, and Song Zhiming was there too. He is naturally arrogant and vain, and after getting drunk tonight, he blurted out the whole thing. He said that a few days ago, after he went home, he heard his father talking about this with his second brother, Song Zhicheng. He then asked the doorman to make sure Xia Yu had come to his house, so he was sure the news was correct... He also told me to be sure to thank him.'

After hearing his youngest son's account, Norman Shi Yahuai's last bit of hope vanished.

Although his youngest son said that Song Zhiming had only said it because he was drunk,

he had lived in Hong Kong for most of his life and knew some Chinese proverbs.

As the saying goes, drunkenness brings forth the truth, and Song Zhiming had spoken in great detail, so it didn't sound like a lie at all.

Norman Shiawai, who was increasingly feeling a sense of crisis, quickly began to think of various possible scenarios and the reasons behind them.

The first thing that came to mind was the deal with Bao Yugang that had concluded just two days ago.

'Could this be a trap?'

Norman Shiawai carefully calculated the shareholdings controlled by the group. Whether it was Hong Kong Airport Ground Services, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company or the most important Cathay Pacific Airways, the group's cumulative shareholding ratio was already below 51%!

It's a good thing that Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company is a listed company, and the shareholding ratio is very close to 51%, so it's still safe.

I'm afraid of the unlisted Cathay Pacific Airways and Hong Kong Airport Ground Services!

The more he thought about it, the more Norman Siyahuai's unease grew.

He quickly picked up the phone and called his nephew Wade Siyahuai.

The phone didn't connect for half a minute, but Norman Schiawayi didn't hesitate to order Wade Schiawayi at the other end of the line: 'Wade, you need to drop everything and come to me as fast as you can!'

Wade Schiawayi, who was planning to discuss the mysteries of life with his wife, had to leave his devastated wife and get dressed and go out.

Five minutes later...

Wade Schiawai ran in panting, a little surprised to find his cousin Boris Schiawai there too. He nodded to him and then asked Norman Schiawai, who looked unhappy, 'Uncle, what's going on?'

Norman Schiawai didn't answer, but asked directly, 'Wade, when you went to the Song family a few days ago to confirm Cathay Pacific's shareholding, did you ask Song Bo if anyone had recently bought shares from him?'

Wade Shiyahuai frowned and thought for a moment, then shook his head firmly and said, 'I didn't ask that question, and Song Bo didn't volunteer that information to me either. He just told me that they still had the shares, and then produced the share certificate at my request.'

After saying this, he immediately asked, 'Uncle, did the Song family sell the shares?'

Norman Shi Yahui shook his head slightly.

Just as Wade Shi Yahui let out a sigh of relief, Norman Shi Yahui's next words made him sit on pins and needles, and he almost jumped in shock.

'It hasn't been sold yet, but it has been confirmed that before we approached Song Bo, Xia Yu had already approached him in advance to buy his stake in Cathay Pacific!'

Wade Shiyahuai suppressed his inner shock. His quick mind immediately came up with more thoughts. His face turned very ugly. He looked straight at his uncle Norman Shiyahuai and said, 'Uncle, could it be that Bao Yugang bought the shares from us to help Xia Yu?'

'It's possible!' Norman Schiawai nodded with a grave face.

After thinking about the previous negotiation process with Bao Yugang, Wade Schiawai suddenly felt that something was wrong. Although Bao Yugang's performance at the time was very natural, when he was about to delay for a few days, Bao Yugang found an excuse to prevent him from delaying.

Both he and his uncle were worried that they would lose their stake in Dongfeng Airlines, so they finally agreed to the deal.

Bao Yugang's initial target was Xiangjiang Airport Ground Services, and he wanted to acquire more than 14% of the company. Could the target be the company's stake in Cathay Pacific?

And yet he took the initiative to give away the Cathay Pacific stake?

Upon thinking of this, Wade Shiyahuai's palms began to sweat uncontrollably, and he felt remorseful.

He told his nephew about his speculation.

After hearing his nephew's words, Norman Schiavoni's face turned even more unpleasant, but he had to admit that his nephew's guess was very reasonable.

'Uncle, Xia Yu has even approached the Song family, who are closely related to us. We have to prepare for the worst. Hong Kong Airport Ground Services may well have changed hands. As for Cathay Pacific Airways, I'm worried about HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank, as well as the Song family. A few days ago, the Song family did not sell their shares, but now, two days have passed, I'm worried...'

Wade Shiyahuai did not continue, but the meaning was clear, and Norman Shiyahuai naturally understood.

Instead of continuing, he took action and immediately picked up the phone and dialed the number of the company in London, England.

It was just after 10 pm Hong Kong time, and it was still about 3 pm in London.

His call connected after a while, and he immediately asked, 'Sark, has HSBC Holdings given any news yet?'

Sark was the managing director of the British Swire Group. Two days ago Norman Shiawei had arranged for him to go to HSBC Holdings to try to acquire a stake in Cathay Pacific Airways.

Shen Bi had promised him, but there had been no news yet. He could only rely on his subordinates.

'...'

'Not yet? You must do this as soon as possible. You must determine as quickly as possible whether Cathay Pacific Airways' shares are still in HSBC Holdings. If so, buy at least 5% of the shares, even if it means paying a premium. Do you understand?'

'...'

After hanging up the phone, Norman Shi Yawai frowned and pondered.

Wade Shi Yawai asked, 'Uncle, next we go to Standard Chartered Bank to see Giles Liddle and the Song family's Song Bo overnight?'

'It's now 10:12. Song Bo and Giles Liddle are most likely asleep. Should we go now?'

Norman Shi Yawai hesitated for a long time, and in the end reason prevailed.

'Forget it, it's so late now, I don't believe Xia Yu will go to them tonight. If he doesn't, then we can get up early tomorrow and contact them first.'

'If the shares of the two families have already been bought, then it's useless to go tonight. The only chance is at HSBC.'

Wade Shiyahuai nodded with a grave face, without saying a word.

For a while, the living room became quiet, and a heavy atmosphere filled the air.

Boris Shiawai, who had been a little drunk after drinking wine, had long since sobered up from the barrage of conversation between his father and cousin.

He just couldn't find a way to interject, and dared not do so.

But now, the solemn atmosphere seemed very oppressive, and it made him feel very uncomfortable.

Moreover, he had always been an outsider, and he didn't understand the situation, so his thoughts were not bound.

After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly asked, 'Father, Cathay Pacific is a Hong Kong company, so why is the shareholding in the hands of HSBC Holdings in the UK? Why would HSBC go to all this trouble?'

Norman and Wade Schiavi both woke up, and they both looked at Boris Schiavi at the same time.

Facing the gaze of his father and cousin, Boris Schiavi looked embarrassed, thinking that he had said something wrong.

Wade Schiaway, who knew more about the situation, looked away from his cousin and towards his uncle, asking suspiciously, 'Uncle, I've considered this before. HSBC has never done anything like this before, so why would they transfer the shares this time?'

'Did it really transfer? Or did Shen Bo lie to us?'

Norman Schiaway's eyebrows were knitted together, and his right hand, resting on the armrest of the sofa, subconsciously gripped tighter.

At this special time, he was no longer sure if what Shen Bo had said was the truth.

Moreover!

Shen Yi seemed a little strange at the time, and he talked a lot...

Seeing his uncle Norman Shiyahuai's grave expression and long silence, Wade Shiyahuai was shocked, and his heart continued to sink.

He opened his mouth, and finally sighed.

He didn't continue to ask, because at this time, his uncle should be more aware of the seriousness of the situation than he was.

He had already begun to prepare for the worst.

If HSBC really sold its shares...

If Standard Chartered also sold its shares...

If the Song family...

The combined shareholding of the three families reached 49%!

If you add the 5% that he transferred to Bao Yugang a few days ago...

At this thought, Wade Shiyahuai shuddered and goosebumps rose all over his body.

He prayed secretly, 'God bless, I hope this is just my own conjecture!'

After a long while, Norman Schiawai said solemnly, 'Wade, go to bed early tonight, rest up, and get up at six o'clock tomorrow. You find Gars Liddle, and I'll find Song Bo!'

'The most important thing is to make sure that there has been no change in the shareholding!'

'If there is, buy back the five percent first! You do it directly!'

Wade Schiawai nodded solemnly and replied defiantly, 'Okay, Uncle, I'll wait for him to go out in front of his house tomorrow!'

'Well, you go and get some rest!'

'Okay, uncle, you get some rest too, I'll go back first.'

After saying this, Wade Shiyahuai left the living room.

Norman Shiyahuai looked at his youngest son Boris, who was sitting quietly, and said with a smile of praise, 'Boris, you did well tonight.'

Boris Shiyahuai let out a sigh of relief. Although he was very happy, he still humbly said, 'Father, this is what I should do.'

Norman Schiaway smiled and nodded, once again encouraging his younger son before telling him to go to bed early.

After his son left, Norman Schiaway picked up the phone and made a series of calls, all to his capable subordinates and clan members in important positions.

His goal was to be on high alert from tomorrow onwards and to closely examine the company's assets to identify unstable factors and risks.

After making all the calls, Norman Shiyawei, with a heavy heart, got up and went to the window, looking out at the dark night sky through the glass.

After a long time, he said softly:

"War...may be coming...'