Chapter 950
The Meeting of Two Legendary Bankers
Before we knew it, it was January 20th.
At 9:00 a.m., at Kai Tak International Airport, a Hawker Beechcraft mid-size long-range luxury private jet was quietly parked on a tarmac.
At this moment, Lin Haoran, along with Liu Xiaoli, Li Weidong, Li Weiguo, and others, appeared here discreetly.
He Shanheng and his assistant were already waiting here. As for his negotiation team, they had already left for New York, USA three days ago to prepare for the acquisition negotiations.
A cold front from Siberia swept across the Pearl River Delta, making even Hong Kong bitterly cold at this moment.
Lin Haoran saw He Shanheng standing by the airplane steps from afar, wearing a dark gray cashmere coat and a plaid scarf, looking very energetic.
The 82-year-old man stood straight in the cold morning wind, showing no sign of shivering, but rather exuding a spirited air of someone about to embark on a journey.
"Uncle He, you've come so early." Lin Haoran walked over quickly and shook hands with He Shanheng.
"Not early, not early." He Shanheng waved his hand with a smile, his gaze falling on the Hawker Beechcraft mid-size long-range luxury business jet.
Lin Haoran purchased this private jet two or three years ago. He rarely travels far from home, so the jet has always been used by the core executives of his various groups when they go on business trips, which can be considered a kind of benefit.
For this trip to the United States, Lin Haoran had the plane brought back in advance specifically for this trip.
"Uncle He, let's go up, it's cold outside." Lin Haoran supported He Shanheng's arm, and the two climbed the gangway one after the other.
Hot tea and snacks were already prepared in the cabin, and the heating was on just the right level, creating a stark contrast to the cold outside.
Liu Xiaoli took off her coat, revealing a well-tailored dark suit underneath, and found a seat near Lin Haoran.
The two brothers, Li Weidong and Li Weiguo, sat in the back row, quietly flipping through magazines and occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones.
These two bodyguards have been with Lin Haoran for many years, traveling from the mainland to Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong to the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Singapore and other places. They are already used to this life of a frequent flyer.
As the plane taxied, accelerated, and took off, Kai Tak Airport outside the window gradually shrank, and the entire panorama of Victoria Harbour unfolded in the morning light.
Lin Haoran lay half-reclined on the large leather chair and chatted with He Shanheng for half an hour before they closed their eyes to rest.
After nearly twenty hours of flight, including a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska, the group finally landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport on the evening of December 20th, New York time.
The moment I stepped out of the cabin, a dry, crisp, cold air hit me, a stark contrast to the damp cold of Hong Kong.
Lin Haoran took a deep breath, wrapped his coat tighter, and quickly walked down the gangway.
On the tarmac, two black Lincoln sedans had been waiting for a long time. Li Guowei stood next to the first car, wearing a dark blue suit, his hair neatly combed, exuding the competence and confidence of a Wall Street elite.
Beside Li Guowei was another person, John Reid, vice president of Citibank and the future head of Citibank.
As for Su Zhixue, he is currently in Buenos Aires, Argentina, so he did not come to pick him up at the airport.
John Reed's appearance was both unexpected and understandable to Lin Haoran.
After all, John Reed knew he was coming.
Given his alliance with John Reed, it wasn't considered overstepping his bounds for Reed to personally come and pick him up; on the contrary, it showed great sincerity.
Lin Haoran strode forward, smiling and extending his hand: "John, it's been a long time. I'm so sorry to have you come all this way."
John Reed grasped his hand and smiled, “Lin, you’ve finally come all this way to New York, how could I not come? It’s been 10 months since we last met, and I have so many questions I’d like to ask you.”
The last time the two met was indeed ten months ago, when John Reed personally went to Hong Kong for Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan's wedding.
“Boss, Uncle He, welcome to New York.” Li Guowei stepped forward, shook hands with Lin Haoran, and then turned to He Shanheng. The two looked at each other, and He Shanheng’s eyes were slightly red.
"Guowei, it's been a long time." He Shanheng's voice was a little hoarse as he reached out and patted Li Guowei on the shoulder.
"Uncle He, you must have had a long journey?" Li Guowei took He Shanheng's suitcase, his tone respectful and natural, as if he had returned to the time when they worked together at Hengsheng Bank a few years ago.
At that time, He Shanheng was the chairman and Li Guowei was the general manager. The two worked together seamlessly and managed Hengsheng Bank very well.
"It's alright, it's alright. Haoran's plane is comfortable, much better than flying first class." He Shanheng smiled, the redness in his eyes quickly subsided, and he regained his usual composure.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, John Reed stepped aside and gestured for them to get in: "Lin, get in the car first. It's cold outside. The hotel has been arranged. Get some rest tonight, and we'll talk more tomorrow."
Lin Haoran nodded and bent down to get into the car.
He Shanheng and Li Guowei got into the same car, while Liu Xiaoli, Li Weidong, and Li Weiguo got into the car behind them.
The car slowly drove off the tarmac and headed towards Manhattan along Airport Boulevard.
An hour later, the car finally stopped near the Citibank headquarters building, at the same Marriott Hotel where we had stayed last time.
To be honest, for Lin Haoran, this hotel is not as comfortable as his Peninsula Hotel or Mandarin Oriental Hotel, but it has the advantage of a superior location.
The Citibank headquarters is right outside the door, and it's not far from Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has been expanding, but currently it mainly focuses on Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and mainland China. Although it has plans to enter Europe and the United States, these plans have not yet been implemented.
After all, expansion takes time.
If he expands his luxury hotel brands here in the future, such as the Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, or Raffles, then he can stay at his own hotels directly.
These brands have good international recognition and reputation, but acquiring land to build hotels in a place like New York where land is extremely valuable, or acquiring existing properties for renovation, is not something that can be done overnight.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has this plan, but is not in a hurry.
After having a welcome dinner with Lin Haoran and the others, John Reed left first.
After helping Lin Haoran, He Shanheng, and the others with their check-in procedures, Li Guowei tactfully took his leave: "Boss, Uncle He, you should get some rest. I'll come pick you up at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Lin Haoran nodded and pushed open the door to enter the room.
The suite wasn't large, but it was decorated exquisitely and warmly.
A large bed was covered with snow-white sheets and a down comforter, and a bouquet of flowers and two bottles of mineral water were placed on the bedside table.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the night view of Lower Manhattan is fully visible. The old buildings that look somewhat dilapidated during the day appear more historically significant under the lights.
Liu Xiaoli helped Lin Haoran pack his luggage, and then took out his pajamas and slippers from the suitcase and neatly placed them by the bed.
She did these things very lightly and skillfully, as if she had done them countless times.
Despite the fatigue of the journey and the presence of beautiful women beside him, Lin Haoran had no romantic thoughts.
After a quick wash, he lay down on the bed.
Liu Xiaoli took a hot shower, then changed into loose pajamas, climbed into bed, and massaged Lin Haoran, making him feel very relaxed.
Before he knew it, Lin Haoran had fallen asleep.
When I woke up, it was already past seven in the morning.
Perhaps because he is still young, he is much better at adjusting to time zones than older people like He Shanheng. He wakes up feeling refreshed and has no drowsy or tired feeling at all.
Liu Xiaoli was still fast asleep, so Lin Haoran didn't wake her. He got up quietly, washed up quickly, and then called the front desk to have breakfast brought up.
While waiting for breakfast, Liu Xiaoli woke up.
She yawned and said, "Good morning, boss."
"Okay, go wash up. Breakfast will be here soon," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
Liu Xiaoli responded and went into the bathroom wrapped in her pajamas.
The sound of rushing water filled the air as Lin Haoran sat by the window, watching the gradually bustling streets of Manhattan outside. When breakfast was served, Liu Xiaoli had just finished washing up, changed into clean clothes, and carried a faint, uniquely feminine fragrance.
She sat down opposite Lin Haoran, picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and looked at Lin Haoran's face, as if waiting for him to speak.
"I'm going to Citibank headquarters this morning," Lin Haoran said while eating toast. "You can just come with me."
Liu Xiaoli nodded without asking any further questions.
She already had a basic understanding of English, and during her time in Hong Kong, she not only taught herself Cantonese but also improved her English, so going out on her own was no problem at all.
However, since it was her first time in the United States and she was unfamiliar with the place, Lin Haoran naturally wouldn't let her wander around alone.
Having them by your side is the safest arrangement.
After breakfast, Lin Haoran changed his clothes and straightened his tie in front of the mirror.
Wearing a dark gray suit, a white shirt, and a dark red tie, he looked capable and composed.
He glanced at himself in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction, and turned to leave.
He knocked on the door of the suite next door, where He Shanheng was already waiting.
Li Weidong and Li Weiguo on the opposite side were already prepared.
The 82-year-old man was dressed in a navy blue suit with a silver-gray tie. His hair was neatly combed, and he exuded the elegance and composure of an old-fashioned banker.
Seeing Lin Haoran, he smiled and said, "Haoran, you look great today."
“Uncle He, you look very energetic today. Let’s go, Li Guowei should have arrived by now,” Lin Haoran replied with a smile.
The two went downstairs, and sure enough, Li Guowei was already waiting in the lobby.
“Boss, during your stay in New York, I’ve arranged a Mercedes-Benz armored car for you. The driver is a senior driver from Citibank, very familiar with the roads in New York, so you can rest assured about your safety.” Li Guowei gestured to the side, his tone respectful and natural.
Lin Haoran glanced at the two black Mercedes-Benz sedans parked in front of the hotel. The car body lines were sharp, and the windows were much thicker than those of ordinary cars, obviously having undergone special modifications.
He nodded without saying anything more.
Li Guowei is always meticulous in his work.
In fact, the hotel is very close to the Citibank headquarters, only a dozen meters away. The two buildings are basically next to each other, so there is no need for a car. Li Guowei prepared a car for him, naturally for him to use when going to other places.
“Uncle He, why don’t you go and meet with Walter Riston, the chairman of Citibank, first, and then deal with the acquisition by Carole McKinty and McKinsey & Company? You’re both bankers, so you’ll definitely have a lot in common,” Lin Haoran said with a smile.
“Okay, I’d also like to meet this legendary banker.” He Shanheng nodded with a smile, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
Walter Riston's position in the banking industry was equivalent to that of Ho Sin-hang in Hong Kong's banking industry; both were godfather-like figures.
Although the two had never met, their names had appeared in each other's resumes.
Instead of getting into a car, the group walked across the road toward the Citibank headquarters building.
Li Guowei, He Shanheng, Liu Xiaoli, Li Weidong, Li Weiguo and others followed closely behind.
Lin Haoran was quite familiar with the Citibank headquarters building, after all, he was an executive director of Citibank and one of its owners, and he had been there many times.
"Mr. Lin, welcome home!" To Lin Haoran's surprise, Citibank Chairman Walter Riston was actually waiting for him in the lobby of the building.
This banker, who was over sixty years old, was dressed in a well-tailored dark gray suit. His hair was gray but neatly combed. He had a thin face and sharp eyes, and his whole demeanor exuded the dignity and composure of an old-fashioned banker.
His smile wasn't as enthusiastic as John Reed's, but rather a refined politeness and respect honed over many years.
Lin Haoran quickly stepped forward and extended his hand: "Mr. Walter, why did you come down here in person? You're too kind."
Walter Riston grasped his hand and smiled, “Mr. Lin, you are a great benefactor to Citibank. If it weren’t for the advice you gave John, we would have suffered heavy losses this year, and we wouldn’t have the profits we have now. It’s rare for you to come to New York, how could I not personally welcome you?”
His voice wasn't loud, but his tone was sincere, and he gripped Lin Haoran's hand with a firmer grip.
Citigroup's previous investment strategy was flawed, leading to significant losses for the group.
If it weren't for John Reed's Foresight Capital following Lin Haoran's advice and making early investments in US stocks, not only would they have recouped all of Citigroup's losses, but they would have made a considerable amount of extra profit. Citigroup's management would probably be in for a headache when they release their financial report next year.
“We’re all family, no need to stand on ceremony. Come, Mr. Walter, let me introduce you. This is Mr. He Shanheng, Chairman of Hengsheng Group. You are both bankers, so you should have a lot in common.” Lin Haoran stepped aside to make room for He Shanheng.
He Shanheng stepped forward, smiling and extending his hand: "Mr. Walter, I have long admired your name. Citibank is a benchmark in the global banking industry, and I have always respected your management philosophy."
Walter Riston grasped He Shanheng's hand, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment, as if trying to discern something from the 82-year-old man.
A few seconds later, he smiled, a smile that was more sincere and warmer than when he had faced Lin Haoran: "Mr. He, I have long heard of the reputation of Hengsheng Bank in Hong Kong."
You served as chairman of Hang Seng Bank for decades, transforming a small community bank into one of Hong Kong's leading financial institutions, and even creating the renowned Hang Seng Index. I've long admired your expertise!
As chairman of Citibank, Walter Riston is a true world-class banker.
He Shanheng is now only one step away from becoming a world-class banker: expanding the global influence of Hengsheng Group.
This step is both difficult and easy.
The difficulty lies in the fact that Hengsheng Group does not have a strong political background and is not backed by the British or American governments. When it expands overseas, it will inevitably encounter various overt and covert obstacles.
The easy thing is that He Shanheng has Lin Haoran as his boss, so money is not a problem. He can gradually build connections and open up the market little by little.
Walter Riston's words were not entirely polite.
Hong Kong is one of the world's three major financial centers, and the Hang Seng Index, as one of the core benchmarks of Hong Kong's financial market, has long been recognized by international investors, its influence extending beyond Hong Kong itself.
Walter Riston, as chairman of Citibank, was certainly aware of these circumstances.
His politeness towards He Shanheng was not only due to Lin Haoran's influence, but also because Hengsheng Group itself possessed sufficient strength and potential to warrant serious attention from Citibank.
The fact that a Chinese-owned bank could create a widely recognized benchmark index in Hong Kong's financial market, which was dominated by British capital, is itself proof of its strength.
Moreover, in the past two years, after Lin Haoran took over Hengsheng Group, he carried out a crushing acquisition and reorganization of the Hong Kong financial market. His financial strength is extremely strong. Although it is far from comparable to Citibank, it is entirely possible for the assets under his management to rank around 10th in the world.
These are all documented in dedicated research reports within Citibank.
As the chairman of Citigroup, Walter Riston was certainly aware of these figures.
One of the reasons Citibank acquired Haifeng Bank was to prevent Lin Haoran from revitalizing Haifeng Bank and threatening Citibank's position in New York State, thus eliminating competition.
Hearing what the other person said, He Shanheng couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
He worked his way up in Hong Kong's banking industry for decades, rising from a junior employee at Heng Sheng Bank to chairman, and from a small community bank to one of Hong Kong's top financial institutions, all thanks to his steady, step-by-step accumulation of experience.
But on the international stage, his name is far less well-known than Walter Riston's.
This isn't a problem of ability; it's a problem of the platform.
With the current financial strength of Hengsheng Group, he believes that given a few more years, he will definitely be able to become a world-class banker like Walter Riston, instead of just a regional banker as he is now.
At his age, nothing excites him more than realizing his lifelong dream.
“Mr. Walter, you flatter me.” He Shanheng smiled modestly. “Hengsheng Group is where it is today thanks to Haoran’s support. Without his funding and strategic vision, I would still be stuck in Hong Kong.”
“Mr. He, let’s have a proper chat another day. Regarding your group’s desire to acquire Carole McKinty and McKinsey & Company, Citibank will definitely give its full support.” Walter Riston’s words were firm and sincere.
It was as if a clear signal was being sent to He Shanheng: Citibank was not only Lin Haoran's ally, but also an ally of Hengsheng Group. (End of Chapter)