Chapter 906
: A $15 Billion Strategy!
While the Quantum Foundation was trying to drag Lin Haoran into the mess, Hong Kong was in darkness.
Today is July 2nd, 1982.
After returning from the Kang Le Building, Lin Haoran did not go back to the Shi Xun Road Villa, but instead went to the Old Peak Road Villa.
This is the residence that Lin Haoran arranged for Guan Jiahui.
Inside the villa, Guan Jiahui nestled beside Lin Haoran as the two sat on the sofa in the living room, watching television.
It's already past nine o'clock at night.
The most eye-catching thing was Guan Jiahui's big, round belly.
That's right, she's almost due.
Guan Jiahui conceived in early October last year, but only confirmed it in December. Now, she is nine months pregnant, and her due date is in the middle of this month.
Only a warm yellow floor lamp was lit in the living room, its soft light falling on Guan Jiahui's round face.
She was wearing a loose maternity dress, leaning against Lin Haoran's shoulder, gently stroking her high, protruding belly with one hand, her face radiating tenderness and anticipation as she prepared to become a mother.
"The little guy kicked me several times today."
Guan Jiahui said softly, her tone carrying a hint of reproach, but mostly happiness.
"Especially when you called in the afternoon to say you were coming over in the evening, he started fidgeting as soon as he heard your voice."
Lin Haoran smiled, reached out and placed his hand on the back of her hand, feeling together the pulse of new life within.
"So young and already knows how to recognize people?" he said deliberately in a surprised tone. "When he comes out, I'll have to ask him properly if he really misses his dad that much."
Guan Jiahui was amused by him, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
"You're always just being cheeky."
She looked up at Lin Haoran's face, her eyes filled with affection, "You've been so busy these past few months, yet you still managed to find time to come see me. I... I'm very grateful."
Lin Haoran lowered his head and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Don't talk nonsense. You're pregnant with my child, how could I not come? It's just that I've been really busy lately." He paused, his tone tinged with apology, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Guan Jiahui naturally understood the grievances Lin Haoran was referring to.
Although she was Lin Haoran's woman, she was not his legally wedded wife; their relationship was somewhat clandestine.
His legal wife was Guo Xiaohan, the daughter of the richest family in Southeast Asia, the woman who wore a white wedding dress at the Peninsula Hotel and received the Queen's blessing.
Guan Jiahui could only quietly await the birth of her child in this secluded villa, unable to make it public, unable to publicize it, and unable to even let the outside world know of her existence.
This is her fate.
A fleeting hint of sadness crossed Guan Jiahui's eyes, but it was quickly masked by a gentle smile.
"I'm not wronged," she said softly, her fingers gently stroking Lin Haoran's palm. "Brother Haoran, I'm really not wronged. From the day I decided to be with you, I knew it would be like this."
You have your future. My family background is destined to be unworthy of you. I'm already content to be your woman and bear your children. All I can do is not cause you any trouble.
Lin Haoran's heart softened.
Guan Jiahui's understanding nature sometimes made his heart ache.
Actually, he dated Guan Jiahui first; Guan Jiahui was the first woman he dated after he transmigrated.
However, his relationship with Kwan Ka-wai was far too complicated.
Guan Jiahui's father had accumulated huge debts, leaving Guan Jiahui alone in Hong Kong while he fled to escape his debts.
It was with Lin Haoran's help that Guan Jiahui was able to escape from that predicament of being heavily in debt.
At that time, she was just an eighteen-year-old girl. Her father had run away, creditors were blocking her door, and she had nowhere else to turn but Lin Haoran.
Lin Haoran paid off her debts and arranged a place for her to live, giving her a place to settle down and make a living again.
Everything that followed fell into place naturally.
But Guan Jiahui knew in her heart that she and Lin Haoran were never equals from the beginning.
He was her benefactor, her support, and the only person she could trust in this world.
She was merely a passerby in his life, someone who could be replaced at any time.
Therefore, she never asks for more.
Being able to occupy a small corner in his heart, to be thought of by him on occasional nights, and to bear him a child is already her greatest blessing.
Unfortunately, the baby in her belly is a girl. If it were a boy, that would be so wonderful!
Guan Jiahui is not a person who favors sons over daughters, but she understands the principle that a mother's status depends on her son.
Lin Haoran is the richest man in Hong Kong and has a huge influence in the global business world, with numerous businesses.
Although she is not Lin Haoran's legally wedded wife, if she is carrying a boy, then when the child grows up, he will at least be able to secure a place in Lin Haoran's business empire.
Even if they cannot inherit the family business, they can still receive a substantial fortune, ensuring a comfortable life.
But it just so happens to be a daughter.
A daughter, after all, will eventually get married.
A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; how much she receives from her parents' home depends entirely on her father's wishes.
Guan Jiahui is not afraid that Lin Haoran will mistreat her and her daughter.
She believed that Lin Haoran was not that kind of person.
But what she worries about is the future, those unseen variables.
Lin Haoran is so young; he will have many more women and children in the future.
With more sons, the family fortune will be divided.
With more daughters, no one paid any more attention.
What will her and her youngest daughter's situation be like then?
Guan Jiahui dared not think any further.
Lin Haoran, however, didn't think about it that complicatedly.
In his view, whether they are male or female, they are all his own flesh and blood, and the continuation of his Lin Haoran bloodline.
He was never the kind of person who favored sons over daughters.
His past life experiences taught him that daughters are sometimes more considerate and grateful than sons.
He had heard countless stories of wealthy families fighting over inheritance; there were countless examples of sons turning against each other for the sake of the family fortune. On the contrary, daughters often became the bond that maintained family ties.
Moreover, with his current status and wealth, he has the ability to provide his children with the best life and the brightest future.
"Thinking nonsense again?" Lin Haoran noticed Guan Jiahui's silence and looked down at her.
Guan Jiahui shook her head and forced a smile.
"No, it's just that I'm a little worried because it's a daughter."
Lin Haoran sighed softly.
He knew what Kwan Ka-wai was worried about.
This girl always overthinks and worries too much.
For Lin Haoran, the child in Guan Jiahui's belly was his eldest daughter, so how could he not value her?
Guo Xiaohan's due date is almost two months later than Guan Jiahui's, so her due date will be in September of this year.
And it has been confirmed that the baby in Guo Xiaohan's belly is a boy.
In other words, Lin Haoran will soon have a son and a daughter.
For him, this was the best possible outcome.
The eldest son, born to the principal wife, will rightfully inherit the family business without any controversy.
His eldest daughter was born to Kwan Ka-wai. Although she was not his legitimate child, as his first child, she would still receive his love and attention.
One man and one woman, one legitimate and one illegitimate, together they make a perfect pair, forming the Chinese character for "good".
Lin Haoran secretly rejoiced, feeling that fate had been kind to him.
"Jiahui, let me tell you, in my eyes, there is no difference between daughters and sons. They are all my children, they all have my blood, and they all deserve my love and protection for a lifetime."
He paused, then reached out and gently stroked her belly.
"Moreover, this is our first child, my eldest daughter. This identity itself means a lot. When she grows up, I will personally teach her to read, teach her how to be a person, and teach her how to stand on her own two feet in this world."
She will receive the best education, the best resources, the best future, and I will even give her a portion of the family business in the future.
Guan Jiahui's tears welled up again.
This time, I felt not resentment, nor worry, but gratitude.
"Brother Haoran, thank you." She said, her voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for being so good to me and so good to our child."
Lin Haoran gently wiped away her tears.
"Fool, what are you thanking me for? You're my woman, and she's my daughter. Isn't it only right that I treat you well?"
Guan Jiahui nodded vigorously, leaning on his shoulder, feeling an unprecedented sense of happiness and security.
She never imagined that Lin Haoran would think this way.
In this era, in Hong Kong's Chinese society, the concept of valuing sons over daughters is deeply ingrained. Countless wealthy families go to great lengths to have sons, even keeping mistresses outside the marriage, all in order to have a male heir to carry on the family line.
Lin Haoran, however, said that his daughter could also inherit the family business.
This was something she had never dared to hope for.
"Brother Haoran..." Guan Jiahui choked up, not knowing what to say.
Lin Haoran gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“Silly girl, why are you crying? This is a good thing. We should be happy. When our daughter is born, I will give her the best education and the best life, and make her the happiest girl in the world.”
Guan Jiahui nodded frantically, but tears kept streaming down her face.
Those were tears of joy.
She leaned on Lin Haoran's shoulder, feeling his warm embrace, and a sense of security she had never felt before welled up inside her.
She didn't make a mistake in choosing this man.
Even if she couldn't become his legal wife, even if she could only hide in this villa, she would be willing.
The two of them nestled together like that, while the news continued to play on television.
The scene shifts to a press conference, where a middle-aged man in a suit is giving a speech.
Mexican Finance Minister Silva Elzoguez said in Mexico City today that Mexico's economic fundamentals are sound, its external debt problem is completely under control, and the government is confident and capable of repaying all maturing debts.
He urged domestic and foreign investors to maintain confidence and not be misled by market rumors…
Upon seeing this news, Lin Haoran curled his lip.
Mexico?
As expected, based on the trajectory I learned in my previous life, next month, in August 1982, due to the decline of foreign exchange reserves below the danger line, the Mexican government was forced to announce the indefinite closure of all foreign exchange markets, suspend foreign debt repayments, and convert foreign exchange deposits in domestic financial institutions into local currency because it was unable to repay the principal and interest on its maturing public foreign debt.
Private conglomerates also took the opportunity to postpone debt repayments, leading to a full-blown crisis.
Now it's already July.
In other words, the Mexican government is actually on the verge of collapse.
The Mexican Finance Minister's claims that Mexico's economic fundamentals are sound, its external debt problem is completely under control, and that the government is confident and capable of repaying all maturing debts are nothing but a dying lie.
Lin Haoran chuckled softly.
On television, the Mexican finance minister, dressed in a suit and tie, was still giving a passionate speech, saying that "the Mexican economy is full of vitality," "the foreign debt structure is reasonable," and "the government has sufficient foreign exchange reserves to cope with short-term fluctuations."
Every word was like a textbook-level official statement, and every sentence was an attempt to soothe the already taut nerves of the market.
Unfortunately, the market never believes lies.
Lin Haoran knew all too well that in the five months from February to now, Mexico's foreign exchange reserves had plummeted from over six billion US dollars to less than four billion.
Their foreign debt principal and interest due in August amount to approximately $268.3 billion.
Four billion to more than two hundred billion US dollars.
Even a primary school student could do this math.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost 10 p.m.
So Lin Haoran said to Guan Jiahui, "Go back to your bedroom and sleep. It's late. Pregnant women should rest early for the baby's sake."
Although reluctant, Guan Jiahui obediently nodded.
Lin Haoran helped her slowly stand up and carefully guided her into the bedroom.
After Guan Jiahui lay down, Lin Haoran covered her with a blanket and gently kissed her forehead.
"I'll go take care of some work first, and then I'll come back and sleep with you."
Guan Jiahui nodded slightly.
After closing the door for her, Lin Haoran walked towards the study next door.
He hadn't used this study much, since he usually spent more time at the Shi Xun Road villa.
However, it is fully equipped with international telephone, fax machine and other equipment, just in case.
Lin Haoran closed the study door and sat down in the large leather chair.
Then he picked up the phone and made a long-distance call.
The call was answered quickly.
"it's me."
"Good evening, boss." Su Zhixue's voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Well, how's the setup in Mexico going?" Lin Haoran asked.
"Boss, please rest assured. We started planning several months ago. We built positions through 37 offshore accounts. Currently, our positions in Mexican government bond CDS have exceeded one billion US dollars, and our positions in put options on European and American bank stocks have reached five hundred million US dollars."
All operations are conducted through various brokers and intermediaries, ensuring that they will not attract anyone's attention or be known to anyone. This is the operation of our Huanyu Investment Company.
Su Zhixue's voice carried a hint of confidence, but more so a sense of caution.
Lin Haoran nodded in satisfaction.
Su Zhixue was his most capable financial trader, a steady and meticulous man who never sought personal gain or acted rashly.
Lin Haoran felt very reassured entrusting him with such an important task.
To establish Oracle Semiconductor, he would need to invest a significant amount of capital, potentially billions of dollars in the long run.
He was not keen on using the profits of companies in Hong Kong, such as Hong Kong Electric Holdings and Hongkong Land Group, to invest in Oracle Semiconductor.
Therefore, he naturally couldn't miss out on a way to make money.
The impending Mexican debt crisis presents a great opportunity.
His previous refusal to cooperate with Soros was simply because he did not want to be associated with someone like Soros, nor did he want to leave any handle for others to criticize him for colluding with "financial vultures" in the future.
But not wanting to cooperate doesn't mean not wanting to make money.
A billion dollars of Mexican government bond CDS, plus five hundred million dollars of put options on European and American bank stocks—this bet is big enough.
If Mexico defaults, CDS prices will skyrocket and bank stocks will plummet, resulting in a return of at least three to five times the initial investment.
In other words, a few months later, this $1.5 billion could become $4-5 billion, or even more.
A slight smile appeared on Lin Haoran's lips.
This money is enough for him to make great strides in the semiconductor industry.
Oracle Semiconductor is a key part of his future strategy.
In his past life, he was acutely aware of the importance of the semiconductor industry. Chips are the heart of modern industry; whoever controls chips controls the future.
He wants to establish Asia's first internationally competitive semiconductor company in Hong Kong, recruit top talent from Silicon Valley, and secure a place in the global chip market.
This requires money, lots and lots of money.
Billions of dollars are just the beginning.
The Mexican crisis presented him with the perfect opportunity to raise this money.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work. After it's done, I'll give your team a generous bonus," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
He had complete confidence in Su Zhixue, after all, the other party was 100% loyal to him.
He could confidently entrust his most critical tasks to such a subordinate.
"Thank you, boss."
Su Zhixue's voice carried a hint of excitement, but he still maintained the necessary restraint.
"But boss, this is what I should do. You have given our team a platform to showcase our talents, so we should naturally do our best."
Lin Haoran smiled and didn't say anything more.
He knew Su Zhixue well; he was always low-key and pragmatic, and didn't like to say too many fancy words. But the more like this a person was, the more reliable they were in getting things done.
"By the way, do you know anything about what the Quantum Fund is up to?" Lin Haoran suddenly asked.
After all, Soros personally went to Hong Kong to seek his cooperation on the strategy for the Mexican debt crisis.
However, Lin Haoran decisively rejected Soros at the time.
"The Quantum Foundation has been making a lot of moves lately. It's said they're teaming up with some wealthy businessmen in the Middle East to make investments in Mexico. As for how much they're investing, we don't know; that's their secret," Su Zhixue replied.
"Okay, I understand. Keep an eye on Quantum Fund's moves and report to me immediately if there's any activity!" Lin Haoran said.
"Don't worry, boss, I'll keep a close eye on it!"
"Alright, I won't bother you anymore, that's all."
Goodnight, boss!
After hanging up the phone, Lin Haoran leaned back in his chair and sat for more than ten minutes before getting up and leaving the study.
The operation in Mexico is almost ready to be completed.
He had some expectations for this.
Oracle Semiconductor requires significant investment, and the profits from Mexico are a crucial source of funding for its expansion into the semiconductor industry. (End of Chapter)