Chapter 1068: Chelsea FC (Part 2)

It was about 11am.

Xia Yu was still working in his office at the Bright Foundation headquarters when George Berkeley returned with his men.

Seeing George Berkeley's relaxed expression, Xia Yu said with a faint smile, 'George, how did the negotiations go?'

George Berkeley nodded, walked over to the chair in front of Xia Yu's desk and sat down, reporting the situation to Xia Yu.

'Boss, the negotiations were just so-so,'

'This is the government's plan: the newly established telecommunications company will have a capital injection of 500 million pounds, and investors will inject capital into the company according to their shareholdings, and the government will not profit from it.

'Therefore, the threshold for investing in the new telecommunications company is not just capital, but other conditions as well.'

'At first, the government offered to give us 10% of the equity in the newly established telecommunications company, but the condition was that we needed to invest more than 3 billion pounds in the UK within one year. The Ministry of Commerce would supervise the implementation of this clause, which would also be written into the contract. If this target was not met, we would be in breach of contract and the government would take back 5% of the equity without compensation.'

'After initial negotiations, the investment amount within one year was reduced to 2 billion pounds. After feeling the difficulty of the negotiations, I temporarily suspended the negotiations and came back to seek your instructions.'

Xia Yu snorted, obviously dissatisfied with the attitude of the British government.

There was no doubt that today's negotiators must have received instructions from Margaret Thatcher above.

In his opinion, today's negotiations were a test.

But Xia Yu would not be naive enough to fall for it.

The 5 billion pounds investment he proposed to Margaret Thatcher was for the stability of Hong Kong, not for this new second telecommunications company, which was just a bonus.

Margaret Thatcher wanted to use the second telecommunications company to entrap part of his investment, so that when it came time to discuss the stability of Hong Kong, his bargaining chips would be reduced. Either the negotiations would fail, or Margaret Thatcher would take the opportunity to make other demands.

After thinking for a long time with his eyes closed, Xia Yu reopened them and looked at George Berkeley, decisively ordering, 'George, you continue to negotiate with them. You can be more assertive. It is the British government that is begging us to invest. Our bottom line is a ratio of one to ten.'

'Let us invest in the second telecommunications company. The amount of money we invest in the UK within one year will be multiplied by ten times.'

'They can make a proviso that if the investment doesn't reach the target, half of the shares will be taken back. But we also need to make it clear that the investment period is not fixed. Even if no investment is made in the first eleven months, as long as the investment target is met in the twelfth month, the British Ministry of Commerce cannot intervene.'

The new telecommunications company will have a registered capital of 500 million pounds. If the British government wants them to invest 2 billion pounds according to Xia Yu's bottom line, they will have to give up 40% of the shares of the new telecommunications company.

With such fluctuating conditions proposed, the initiative is in Xia Yu's hands, and it depends on how much equity the British government is willing to give them.

And the investment time has become more relaxed. Xia Yu also took into account the fact that the Falklands War would take place just six months later. He could completely refrain from investing much other than in the new telecommunications company, and wait until after he had finished negotiating with the British government about the stability of Hong Kong.

By then, even if the contract had already been signed, as long as the funds had not been secured, the British government would definitely be more cautious, and Xia Yu would be able to gain more negotiating leverage.

George Berkeley smiled and nodded after hearing this, saying, 'Yes, boss! I understand what to do.'

Xia Yu smiled and nodded, and then said, 'George, you can also involve Cable & Wireless, which, after all, is 49% owned by the government, and it can provide technical support. If the second telecommunications company wants to compete, it absolutely cannot do without technology.'

'Okay!' George Berkeley answered again.

...

While George Berkeley was busy with the second telecommunications company, Xia Yu spent the afternoon looking at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Group and some other companies.

The day passed in this way.

In the evening, Henry, who was on holiday, came home from school and threw a party at their London home, to which Xia Yu was also invited.

That evening, many of Henry's classmates came, and apart from Xia Yu and Elena, there were only a few others at the party.

The group celebrated until midnight, and as it was so late, Xia Yu simply stayed the night, alone, of course.

Early the next morning, Xia Yu got up early and practiced Tai Chi in the fresh air of the garden.

Although London is located in the northern temperate zone and it is now November and winter, England is surrounded by the ocean and is influenced by the North Atlantic Current, so it has a temperate oceanic climate and the winters are not cold.

As November approaches, the temperature in London ranges from 5°C to 10°C, and when it is hot, the temperature can even reach 20°C during the day.

Thanks to Xia Yu's regular Tai Chi practice, he is strong and has a very strong immune system. Therefore, he is only wearing a light sweatshirt, and the white mist formed by the hot breath exhaled between his shouts and cries creates a strong sense of contrast.

'Xia Yu, put on your jacket quickly, don't catch a cold,'

Just as Xia Yu was standing with his fist closed, Elena, who had appeared quietly watching from the side at an unknown time, walked over holding a jacket, her voice soft with concern.

Feeling a weight on his shoulders, a thick jacket was added to his body.

Looking at the beautiful face close at hand, Xia Yu gave a warm smile, and he grabbed Elena's jade hands, but felt a chill.

Xia Yu was stunned, and then he woke up, and he must have been standing outside with the jacket, which caused his hands to not be warm.

Xia Yu's heart warmed, and subconsciously he took hold of both of Elena's hands, then placed them in front of him in a pair, breathing hot air into them.

Watching Xia Yu earnestly warming his hands, feeling the warmth from his palms, Elena's face blossomed into an even more beautiful smile.

Usually steady and domineering, Xia Yu suddenly revealed such a tender side, making her feel more and more that Xia Yu exuded an unparalleled charm.

Unconsciously, Xia Yu's head also lifted up, and his gentle gaze looked at Elena. Elena's eyes twinkled, and her long, curled eyelashes trembled slightly.

'Oh, I'm sorry, I seem to have seen something I shouldn't.'

Just then, Henry's voice sounded from a distance, waking up Xia Yu and Elena, who were warming up their emotions and wanting to get closer.

Seeing Elena withdraw her hand in some panic, Xia Yu felt great regret. Looking at Henry not far away with some helplessness, he could only see Henry's back walking back.

It seemed that this was really just an accident.

Xia Yu shrugged his shoulders and gave Elena a regretful smile.

Elena's pretty face turned slightly red as she said softly, 'Xia Yu, let's go in and have breakfast.'

'Okay!'

Xia Yu responded, walking into the villa side by side with Elena.

While eating breakfast, Xia Yu felt a little amused looking at Henry, who was winking and smirking. Then he couldn't help but laugh when he saw Henry become obedient in an instant after being scolded by the calmer Elena.

Ignoring Henry's innocent and depressed gaze,

Xia Yu's attention was attracted by the blue jersey he was wearing.

A circular team emblem on the chest, with a golden star and football pattern on the upper half of the blue ringed background, and CHELSEAFOOTBALLCLUB embroidered on the lower half. In the middle of the blue ring is a lion standing on two feet, holding a golden scepter.

This is the most famous team emblem of Chelsea FC!

Xia Yu took a sip of milk and swallowed his bread, inquiring, 'Henry, are you a Chelsea fan?'

Henry perked up at the mention of Chelsea, nodded and said with a beaming face, 'Of course, I'm a big Chelsea fan.'

Just as Henry finished speaking, Elena suddenly said something that made Henry's face fall.

'You've only been a big fan for less than a year!'

'Sis~'

Henry, who had been so proud, suddenly slumped his face, looked at Elena with resentment, and called her "sister" in a drawn-out tone.

The tone of her voice was full of resentment, like a young wife who has been bullied.

Xia Yu laughed silently, then said, 'Elena, time is just one way to prove whether you are a loyal fan. I don't think Henry would lie about this.'

Xia Yu's support and recognition gave Henry a mental boost, and he gave his sister a smug look.

Elena laughed lightly, shook her head, glanced at Xia Yu, and then continued eating breakfast with a smile.

'So Henry, are you going to the football match today? Is there any important match?'

Facing Xia Yu's inquiry, Henry put down the bread and started talking enthusiastically: 'Yes, at 10 o'clock this morning, at Chelsea's home stadium, Stamford Bridge, Liverpool will challenge Chelsea. I've already booked tickets and I've arranged with some classmates to go together and cheer for Chelsea!'

'There, you will see the grand scene of the Blues defeating the Reds.'

'Xia Yu, do you want to go together and watch?'

'I think that if you watch, you will definitely become a Chelsea fan just like me...'