Chapter 813: The Three Major Families of Hong Kong
The 'Xiangsheng' is the most extravagant and luxurious cruise ship under the name of Shipping Tycoon Bao Xingsheng. Its construction cost was approximately 2.8 billion HKD. It is said that the operation and maintenance of such a ship alone cost over 200 million HKD annually. Even on a global scale, it is an absolute top-tier existence and the most impressive trump card of the Bao Family.
The entire ship is adorned with gilded lighting and features an expansive deck. The interior not only houses banquet halls, viewing terraces, and VIP suites but also includes a complete light-luxury commercial district gathering the world's top luxury brands. Simultaneously, bars, clubs, and leisure entertainment areas are all available. The overall decor carries the elegant style of a Hong Kong wealthy family; at a glance, it doesn't look like a cruise ship about to depart, but rather a top-tier integrated luxury city-state floating on the sea.
Every corner here fully displays the profound heritage of an established Hong Kong aristocratic family.
Upon entering the lobby, there is even a special sightseeing elevator in the very center. Sitting inside, Xiao He can easily admire the magnificent interior decorations and the layout of facilities through the transparent glass. As the elevator ascends floor by floor, the surroundings become brighter and more opulent, highlighting the leap in social class and presenting the disparities between different worlds.
The distinction between different grades and treatments is taken for granted here.
Only now, because the ship hasn't departed yet, many guests who have boarded are either taking photos near the deck or starting to socialize in this new setting. Thus, the hierarchical zones divided by floors are not yet obvious, and the central commercial area is relatively quiet. Only the shop staff wait neatly at the entrances of the beautiful store lobbies with smiles on their faces, ready at any moment to receive their guests.
A few floors higher are the rest areas and accommodations for basic guests. This section is even quieter, and as one continues upward, the original transparent glass is replaced by frosted glass. The bustling prosperity of the classes gradually becomes blurred yet remains shimmering, giving rise to infinite imagination.
Xiao He retracted his gaze with lingering interest, unable to help but marvel once more at the high-end design of this place.
Soon, they reached their corresponding floor.
As the doors opened, the first thing to greet them was a restrained, low-key subtle fragrance, followed by rows of reception staff bowing respectfully.
They wore standardized, uniform smiles and were dressed in elegant light blue uniforms that looked like a sailor's style on the sea. However, it wasn't the forced look of current internet-famous styles; rather, it was a high-end visual effect that gave off a valiant and heroic feeling. Their bows were perfectly synchronized. As the leading receptionist walked toward Xiao He, their face was filled with warmth.
It was only then that Xiao He realized this floor was the actual venue for the cruise gala.
Those who can enter this floor are either rich or noble, and they also require a higher-level invitation.
If Xiao He had only followed his original company business invitation, he actually wouldn't have been able to get in.
This time, it was all thanks to the invitation that Shipping Tycoon Bao Xingsheng had personally handed to him last time.
Even Liu Rulan, who was with him, was stopped outside; only he himself could enter.
As for the environment inside, it could only be described as decadent.
Xiao He politely declined the receptionist's offer to lead the way and walked toward the central front hall on his own.
Not only was the entire gala hall magnificently decorated, but even the ocean view from this floor was several times more beautiful than the one seen from the deck earlier.
There were fewer guests here, and it was quieter, though there were many waiters moving about. From time to time, he could hear people nearby conversing in foreign languages.
Xiao He took a lap but didn't find his target, nor did he see any familiar faces to strike up a conversation with.
On the contrary, people gradually began to notice his presence.
For some reason, these people only watched from a distance, as if scrutinizing this unfamiliar face from a superior position.
Only one person, who had been sitting quietly in a corner, had eyes that brightened slightly upon seeing Xiao He.
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Naturally, Xiao He hadn't come this time without any preparation.
For this event, he had even specifically crammed information about the current major figures in Hong Kong.
Among those who must be specifically mentioned are the three great families primarily leading this event.
They are the Bao Family, The Dong Family, and the He Family.
The situation of the Bao Family was basically clear. The current person in power is Shipping Tycoon Bao Xingsheng. His family owns numerous industries, but their primary founding enterprise is Hongyu Ocean Shipping, which is the most geographically advantageous industry in Hong Kong—cross-border shipping and overseas freight. This has foundations both domestically and abroad, making them a very stable industrial giant.
Bao Xingsheng is superstitious and very philandering. His first wife gave birth to six children at once, while the number of sasaeng children—both hidden and public—is countless. It is said he does this to produce a son most capable of inheriting the Bao Family's future estate. Furthermore, for almost every birth, he consults a master for a divination to check the child's natal chart before deciding whether the child stays or goes.
Such practices are actually not uncommon in great families, but only Bao Xingsheng is the most superstitious and high-profile. Consequently, every issue regarding his descendants becomes a topic of great interest for the Hong Kong media and paparazzi. It wasn't until the official authorities gradually tightened control over cultural public opinion in recent years that matters concerning Bao Xingsheng's children finally calmed down, with people only occasionally bringing up old stories without causing much of a stir.
But the internet has a memory.
At the very least, Xiao He had used some means to dig up many old scandals about the Bao Family, especially from a certain forum known as 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.' Many things circulating there were of unknown authenticity, but one could indeed catch glimpses of some appalling stories.
After all, the fact that the authorities stepped in to heavily rectify Feng Shui and metaphysics was itself because most of the people involved were doing superstitious things that were incredibly malicious and lacked scientific basis. They were purely lunatics and perverts, completely violating morals and laws while trampling on others' human rights and lives.
Feng Shui and metaphysics themselves [N O V E L I G H T] might not be wrong, but when people use them as blades and tools to destabilize social order, they naturally must be sanctioned.
So later, Bao Xingsheng became more peaceful. His recent media appearances have been very kind, and he occasionally caters to public tastes by showing a side of a loving father.
However, so far, his eldest child has just passed thirty, while most of the other children are hovering around ten to twenty years old. There are four or five around the same age as Xiao He—a time when they can strive for a career but are also easily led astray.
Xiao He guessed that the 'culprit' of the family misfortune Bao Xingsheng mentioned to Daoist Hu last time should be among these children.
As for the remaining Dong Family and He Family, one focuses on real estate and the other on finance. Both are established Hong Kong families in traditional industry tracks, possessing wealth codes and networks of influence accumulated since the last century. They are deeply rooted in Hong Kong, and any one of them is a massive capital group.
The same goes for these two families; when it comes to family personnel and the secrets behind them, they are basically on par with the Bao Family. Each has its own chaos that cannot be explained clearly in a short time.
What particularly caught Xiao He's attention was that The Dong Family used to be on good terms with the wealthiest family, the Chen Family.
The Dong Family is currently a unique family.
Their current head is a man of little capability. The only good thing is that his mother, before her death, arranged a strong-willed wife for him. Moreover, the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was excellent. Thus, after the elder Mrs. Dong passed away, the current situation of The Dong Family is basically managed by Madam Dong, while the Head of the Dong Family only needs to enjoy himself.
So, this effectively means the female lead is running The Dong Family. Furthermore, tracing Madam Dong's identity back, she was a collateral branch of the Chen Family. Therefore, her ability to gain a firm foothold in Hong Kong back then might have been aided by the Chen Family. The two families also had subsequent intermarriages to strengthen their relationship.
However, after the Chen Family ran into trouble, The Dong Family quickly cut all ties to protect themselves.
On the other hand, Madam Dong, who holds great power, was not affected at all. To this day, she remains the person in power in The Dong Family—even though her surname isn't actually Dong.
Based on this alone, Xiao He knew she was definitely not a simple character.
And an even more noteworthy point is that this cruise gala was actually first proposed by this Madam Dong.
Without her suggestion and promotion, this banquet might not have happened.
But what is she after?