Chapter 347: Chapter 347: I Am Not Interested in Politics, I Am Only Interested in Making Money
**Morning**
At the Mid-Levels villa, a brand-new silver sports car gleamed in the courtyard under the morning sun. The Rolls Royce Silver Spirit, a gift for Han Yezhen, had been imported directly from the UK. Hardy had initially ordered five sports cars for each of the women in his life, and this one was brought especially for Han Yezhen.
Hardy answered a call and then led Han Yezhen outside with a smile. "Close your eyes," he instructed as they put on their pajamas.
"Is it a gift?" Han Yezhen asked, intrigued.
"Yes," Hardy confirmed.
Obediently, Han Yezhen closed her eyes. Hardy guided her to the courtyard, and when she opened her eyes, she gasped at the sight of the shiny car.
"Wow! A Rolls Royce Silver Spirit!" she exclaimed in delight.
"You know this car?" Hardy asked, surprised.
"Yes, I saw it in a magazine," Han Yezhen replied with a smile.
The Rolls Royce's iconic flying goddess logo, sleek lines, and elegant curves made it a perfect embodiment of luxury and style. Han Yezhen was thrilled with the gift.
After breakfast, the couple drove out in the sports car, accompanied by several protective vehicles. They visited the museum site, where construction was nearly complete. The underground vault was finished, and only the final decorations of the main museum remained.
"According to the current progress, the construction should be completed by April or May next year," Han Yezhen explained.
"Let's take a look at the underground vault," Hardy requested.
Under the supervision of the site manager, Hardy and Han Yezhen descended into the vault. It spanned three floors, each covering more than 5,000 square meters, with the third floor measuring 15,000 square meters.
The vault's security features were state-of-the-art for the 1940s. The enormous vault door was half a meter thick, with cylindrical locks on both sides requiring three separate keys to open. The vault walls were over one meter thick, reinforced with steel plates, and equipped with detectors that could sense burrowing or cutting, triggering alarms if the damage exceeded safe limits.
Inside the large vault were smaller vaults for separate storage. As Hardy examined the impressive facility, he thought about how much it would take to fill such a space.
Antiques, artwork, gold, and gems—there was still much to be acquired. Hardy envisioned stocking the vault with gold, setting a goal of 1,000 tons before the collapse of the Bretton Woods system. He mentally calculated that this would cost around 1.24 billion U.S. dollars.
It didn't seem too much when considering his ambitions. The Hardy Auction Company, with branches in the U.S., Italy, France, the U.K., and Hong Kong, was on its way to becoming a global player like Christie's and Sotheby's. This would not only bring profit but also the opportunity to acquire valuable antiques and artwork.
Hardy had no intention of collecting looted treasures from China, believing it was an insult to his intelligence. Instead, he planned to address this issue upon his return to Japan, convinced that financial plunder was the most brutal form of robbery.
When Hardy and Han Yezhen emerged from the vault, they were met by a messenger. "Governor Hardy, Governor Grantham requests your presence tonight for a welcome reception in your honor."
The news of Hardy's arrival in Hong Kong was widely reported. Grantham, surprised to see Hardy's name in the papers, realized the significance of the visit. Hardy was no longer just an American businessman but a British baron and Japan's economic envoy, known for his transformative economic actions in Japan.
Recognizing the importance of Hardy's new status, Grantham arranged a welcome reception to show respect.
That evening, Hardy, Han Yezhen, and Victor attended the reception at the Governor's Mansion. The guest list included many new faces: British officials, businessmen, and representatives of foreign companies. Victor, now well-acquainted with the local scene, provided insights about the guests.
The event was marked by respect and curiosity toward Hardy's impressive achievements. During the reception, one guest asked, "Governor Hardy, with your significant investments in Hong Kong, do you believe the region will remain stable despite the political situation?"
Hardy smiled and shook his head. "Who can predict these things? But it seems things are heading in a positive direction. I've heard that the British government plans to recognize the mainland's authority and establish diplomatic relations. I believe this will stabilize Hong Kong."
The guest praised Hardy's political insight, but Hardy responded modestly, "Political vision? I'm not interested in politics. I'm only interested in making money."
The guests laughed, but many suspected that Hardy's modesty masked a sharp political acumen.
The following day, Victor reported on the development of various projects. HSBC and Wells Fargo were now the top banks in Hong Kong, and 90% of the industrial zone's companies had begun construction. The list included a wide range of industries from metal processing to pharmaceuticals.
Hardy instructed Victor to establish a new fertilizer plant for urea production, anticipating strong future demand.
Huo Qingdong updated Hardy on trade with the north. Despite British and American blockades, small boats continued to transport contraband goods. The Americans had recently seized a 200-ton cargo ship, resulting in a significant loss.
Hardy advised Huo Qingdong to prioritize safety and discard cargo if necessary.
After Huo Qingdong left, Han Yezhen brought Hardy a bowl of freshly made pigeon soup. As she watched him eat, she mentioned a recent request from her second uncle, Li Chunshan, the leader of the Hong Kong Triad Society. Southeast Asian Chinese from Malaya sought assistance in Hong Kong and wanted to meet Han Yezhen. Despite her reluctance to engage in outside affairs, Han Yezhen had turned them down.
"I'm not sure why they want to see me," she said. "I didn't think much of it at the time."
Hardy connected the dots: Malaya, Hongmen, and Han Yezhen. He had a sense of what might be at play.
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