"Chen Feng, since you could come up with the idea of using a fake Hong Kong government entity to trick Avil, you should also have a way to slowly ensnare him..." Director Huang asked tentatively.
"There are ways, but I'll need your subtle help, Director Huang."
"Avil looks down on China and bullies Chinese people. You're standing up for them, so I'll definitely help you with this." Director Huang said excitedly.
"Avil is British, so he definitely likes attending high-society gatherings. As the Director of the Hong Kong Financial Development Agency, you should have a way to get into them. My idea is, you attend these gatherings and deliberately spread news about the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute. The essence is, the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute might be selling a piece of land at a low price soon. The condition is that it won't be sold to property developers, because this land transfer isn't for building houses; it's a commercial attempt at Hong Kong's wetland protection and development. Spread this news, and Avil will definitely fall for it immediately..." Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, Avil is a British businessman, a master of cunning. Is he that easily fooled?" Director Huang asked tentatively.
"Avil is indeed hard to fool, so this relies on your acting skills. You need to spread the news about the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute without making Avil feel like it's being intentionally told to him. Once Avil believes he heard the inside scoop accidentally, he'll definitely be hooked. What's most precious in Hong Kong? What can make the most money? Land." Chen Feng continued to explain patiently.
"That makes sense. Hong Kong's land prices are second only to New York's. Every inch is precious, and that's no exaggeration. Don't worry, although my talent in the officialdom isn't as high as yours, acting is my forte. In this day and age, it's impossible to get by in the officialdom without acting skills. Officials need to act, but in truth, the officialdom needs acting even more. For example, if the officialdom wants to implement a new policy but fears public opposition, what do they do? They deliberately make the old policy stricter. This way, the public can't stand the excessively strict old policy and clamor for a new one. Or, if an officialdom policy's sole purpose is to make money, the officialdom will issue all sorts of sentimental documents, claiming everything is for the public. The result is that the public, confused, pushes all the blame for the policy's repercussions onto businessmen, absolving the officialdom completely. China's real estate is a typical example. To this day, most Chinese people believe that China's real estate was driven up by businessmen, and all the money was earned by them. In reality, the reason for persistently high housing prices in China is the officialdom's implementation of the land industry policy. Frankly speaking, the Chinese officialdom hasn't found a strong pillar industry and can only rely on real estate as a pillar industry. From this perspective, the Chinese officialdom still has a long way to go. Developing China by draining the public's lifelong savings is not a viable method. America's richest person is a tech professional. China's richest people are real estate developers or internet entrepreneurs. The gap between the two countries is obvious." Director Huang mused.
Chen Feng didn't respond further. Director Huang's comments on the acting skills of the Chinese officialdom were too sensitive for a deep discussion.
The two continued to chat about the details of how to use the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute to trick Avil, and Director Huang began to act.
Chen Feng wasn't idle either; he spent money to hire several highly intelligent scammers to set up the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute. To be honest, these people were truly intelligent. In a week, the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute they set up looked more like a legitimate official institution than a real one.
Things proceeded according to Chen Feng's plan, and Avil indeed fell into the trap. Seven days later, Avil approached the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute.
"Director Wang, I heard the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute has big moves recently?" Avil asked directly in the office.
"Sir, this is confidential decision-making by the officialdom, and I cannot disclose it at this time." The scammer Wang Hong, following Chen Feng's script, performed with ease.
"Isn't the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute just an institution for land alienation? What's so confidential about it?" Avil was taken aback. He had initially doubted whether the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute was a real official institution. From Director Wang's indifferent attitude, it was a hundred percent an official institution. Because this is how the Chinese officialdom always is. They always have the expression of someone owing them a million dollars.
"If it were ordinary land alienation, it wouldn't be a secret. After all, our goal is to fully develop Hong Kong's land. However, the land being alienated by the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute this time is a piece of marine wetland land with strong policy implications. It's not for developing real estate, so for now, we have to keep it confidential to avoid agitating so many developers in Hong Kong." Wang Hong said with a serious air.
"Indeed, you are worthy of being influential figures in the officialdom. Your thinking is thorough. However, I don't think there's a need to keep it confidential from me. I'm not a property developer; I'm in the yacht business. I think I can develop the land your institute is alienating, as long as it doesn't affect Hong Kong's wetland policy." Avil explained earnestly.
"Mr. Avil, what you're saying makes sense, but I still can't tell you about this land project." Wang Hong played hard to get. One had to admit that Chen Feng, a seemingly upright official, was even more skillful at deception than these professional scammers. He had a firm grasp on the psychology of those who were greedy for advantage. Simply put, it was playing hard to get. The more you wanted to deceive someone, the more you acted like you couldn't cooperate with them, and the more they would believe you. Conversely, if you agreed to a financial collaboration immediately, they might become suspicious.
"Why?" Avil asked curiously.
"Mr. Avil, seeing that you're genuinely interested in taking on this land project, I won't hide anything from you. This land alienation project by the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute involves a very large investment, and it might deplete all your liquid funds. This is very dangerous, so I've decided it would be better to find some big players to cooperate with," Wang Hong explained earnestly.
"Money is not a problem. I'll find ways to gather the project funds," Avil said anxiously.
"Mr. Avil, since you're so sincere, I won't hold back. Actually, the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute wants to establish a wetland protection area with this land. Within the protection area, there will be no high-rise buildings, only golf courses, entirely with grass. This way, it protects the wetland scenery and allows everyone to make money. Also, according to Hong Kong's financial regulations, the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute will not collect payments directly. If you truly wish to invest, you can choose a third-party institution to make the payment. However, for the convenience of transfers for the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute, I strongly recommend you choose the British Walton Financial Company." Wang Hong deliberately emphasized the word "British." In fact, British Walton Financial Company was also an empty shell company established by Chen Feng. The reason for this convoluted arrangement was to further dispel Avil's doubts. As a global financial center, Hong Kong's financial regulations are more advanced than those in mainland China. Mainland China's financial regulations often have many loopholes. For example, a small cashier in the officialdom can embezzle hundreds of millions. Who would believe it if they hadn't seen her sentenced? Modern Hong Kong financial regulations, having absorbed Western financial practices, incorporate third-party financial companies. Therefore, it's entirely possible to use a third-party financial company to manipulate things.
Upon hearing Wang Hong speak so seriously, Avil became completely convinced of the official institutional identity of the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute.
"Director Wang, how much is the initial deposit?" Avil asked excitedly.
"One-third of the total project investment will be deposited initially. Another third will be deposited when the project reaches the mid-stage, and the final third will be deposited upon completion and acceptance," Wang Hong continued his performance.
"How about this, Director Wang, I'll deposit two-thirds of the funds initially, to avoid any trouble. What do you think?" Avil said, feigning calmness. In reality, he already had a suspicion. If Director Wang agreed to this plan, there might be something fishy about the Hong Kong Land Resources Deep Research and Development Institute.