Chapter 039: Master Huo's Astonishment, the Whole Hong Kong Sings the National Anthem

The hillside villas, the most expensive area in Hong Kong City, had soared to 150,000 per square meter as early as 1993.
To buy property here, one needed a recommendation from an insider and proof of assets worth over one hundred million.
Thus, those who lived here were either wealthy or noble.
At two in the afternoon, a black sedan, still flecked with mud, drove into the hillside villa area and parked in front of Villa No. 88.
The butler, who had been waiting, approached, opened the car door, and smiled slightly, “Sir, please follow me.”
He led the guest into the villa, entering a side hall.
A reddish-brown carpet covered the floor, a beautifully crafted tea set rested on the table, filling the air with the fragrance of tea.
“I apologize, Mr. Zhang, the young master has been called into an urgent teleconference. May I ask you to wait a moment?”
“I understand. Go ahead with your duties, you don’t need to attend to me here.”
“Very well.”
“One moment,” Zhang Tianfeng pointed to the magazines on the table, “May I look through these periodicals?”
“Of course, they are prepared for guests. If you need anything else, please let me know.”
Zhang Tianfeng leafed through them, finding that most focused on sports.
He looked up, “Could you help me find some material on the internet developments in Western countries? Preferably coverage on Silicon Valley.”
“Certainly, please wait. I’ll fetch them right away.”
Soon, Zhang Tianfeng received the information he sought. The periodicals collected by the Huo family contained far more valuable news than anything he could buy in the market.
The front page headline was about the Mosaic browser from Netscape, blazing through the Western world.
“This is a pivotal moment accelerating the internet’s development—I nearly forgot about this!”
Muttering to himself, Zhang Tianfeng took out his paper and pen and began copying down the information.
He was so absorbed that he didn’t notice the footsteps outside.
Huo Zhigui, the eldest young master of the Huo family, was the very person whose invitation had brought Zhang Tianfeng here.
“The guest is inside, sir. He requested quite a few periodicals on technology and electronics,” the butler reported.
“Thank you, Uncle Liu. Please brew two cups of tea for us.”
The butler nodded and withdrew. Huo Zhigui pushed open the door and immediately saw Zhang Tianfeng fully engrossed in his task.
He quietly approached, standing behind Zhang Tianfeng, and discovered that this special guest had excellent English comprehension, translating as he copied. Only some of the annotations baffled him.
What was meant by a perfect internet ecosystem? Why pay attention to new materials? Was he planning to buy foreign stocks?
Zhang Tianfeng remained oblivious to the newcomer behind him; the periodicals brimmed with information—the Mosaic browser’s popularity, the progress of internet infrastructure, and advances in Western electronic technology.
The more he copied, the more excited he became, spending nearly an hour before finishing.

Just as he set down his pen and stretched, he noticed Huo Zhicheng sitting across from him. “Forgive me, I got utterly lost in my writing.”
“No worries, I just arrived myself,” replied Huo, the young master. “I hope you don’t mind my bold invitation, Mr. Zhang.”
“To be invited by the Huo family is an honor,” Zhang Tianfeng straightened up and asked, “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Not exactly. I was simply stirred by what you said at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.”
“It’s what every son of China should do, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but to openly wager against the analysts of the Stock Exchange—only you had the courage.”
“Tonight I have meetings and cannot drink, so I’ll toast you with tea instead. Next time, let us share a drink together!”
“I’ll remember your invitation, young master. If you don’t seek me out, I’ll have to come find you,” Zhang Tianfeng said with a smile.
Huo Zhigui laughed heartily and nodded, “Mr. Zhang, what brings you to Hong Kong City?”
“To make money, of course—buying Hong Kong stocks, as you’ve seen.”
As he chatted with Huo Zhigui, Zhang Tianfeng felt no pressure.
If anything, it was admiration and excitement.
After all, to meet face-to-face with someone he had revered in his previous life was a unique experience.
“I overheard you translating English originals. Are you an English major?”
“No, I only graduated from middle school. I just read a lot of English books, and gradually learned. The book I read most is ‘Selected Works of Mao.’”
“I love it too!” Huo Zhigui’s interest was piqued. “I’ve read it nearly ten times, and each time brings new insights.”
“Indeed, the treasures left by the Chairman are not easily uncovered; one must read and reflect often,” Zhang Tianfeng replied.
He wasn’t exaggerating. He genuinely loved ‘Selected Works of Mao’ and had gleaned a principle from it, applying it to himself.
When starting something, one must set a clear goal. The path to the goal may be winding, or even diverge from initial expectations, but as long as the goal is reached, and nothing impedes it, that is enough.
Hearing this, Huo Zhigui laughed, “Excellent. That’s the very lesson I learned the third time I repeated my studies.”
“If I may ask, what do you do in the mainland now?”
“At present, I run a late-night eatery, am entering the human resources market, and soon will move into industry.”
Huo Zhigui started with industry, from foreign factories to Hong Kong City, and then to the recently transformed mainland.
They discussed how consortia drove state-owned enterprise reform, examined the prospects and areas needing change in the domestic market, and compared Shenzhen and Hong Kong City.
Not until the sun set did their conversation end.
Huo Zhigui escorted Zhang Tianfeng to his car. “Mr. Zhang, it was a pleasure speaking with you. Until next time.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Huo. I’ll take my leave, and thank you again.”
“You’re too kind. Farewell.”

After seeing Zhang Tianfeng off, Huo Zhigui walked straight into the depths of the corridor and opened the red wooden door.
Behind the door was a garden; standing at its edge, he could overlook the cityscape of Hong Kong.
“Dad, the guest has left.”
“I saw. This young man is not simple,” the elder Huo said, placing a slip of paper on the table.
Huo Zhigui walked over and was stunned as he read it.
‘The actions of the Huo family are admirable. Having benefited from your information, I owe you something in return.’
‘Boldly offering a strategy, which may help resolve your urgent troubles.’
The remaining suggestions, though not all applicable, were incisive and actionable.
If the Huo family implemented them, their adversaries would have no recourse.
Carefully collecting the note, Huo Zhigui asked, “Dad, should we investigate his background?”
“No need. Let’s just regard him as a patriotic young man.”
“And the content on the note…”
“Send it up and see. The turning point has arrived; there’s no rush.”
Huo Zhigui nodded and withdrew quietly.
Meanwhile, a wave of patriotic fervor, fueled by Hong Kong City’s media, swept across the city.
“Did you hear? Those big fellows who sang the national anthem in the trading hall won the lottery today!”
“No one believes that.”
“Believe it or not, I’m going myself—sing the national anthem, then get rich!”
“Hold on, brother. If you get rich, take me with you. But why sing the national anthem?”
Now, every stockholder in Hong Kong City regarded Zhang Tianfeng as the government’s man, sent to rescue the market.
One Hong Kong City newspaper, eager for sales, falsely claimed they had found Zhang Tianfeng’s residence and learned from his neighbors that he had spent the two-day market break singing the national anthem.
To catch the public eye, as long as the story’s essence remained, the more bizarre, the more people believed it.
Stockholders were already aware of the anthem-singing in the trading hall; when they saw the report, they believed it immediately, without much doubt.
Thus, everywhere in Hong Kong City people sang the national anthem, and the vendors selling anthem tapes made a fortune!