Chapter 431 Haojiang
Seeing this, Lin Huaile and his companions stopped being shy and started tasting the food.
I have to say, drinking top-quality whiskey while overlooking the beautiful scenery outside the window is indeed a unique experience.
Only a private jet can give you this feeling.
Because there was no investment in land reclamation, Macau did not have an airport at that time. If you wanted to go to Macau from Taiwan, you would usually fly to Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong Island and then take a boat to Macau.
Lin Zehao didn't need to go through all this trouble. He could just fly directly to Macau because Stanley Ho had already found a place to build a simple airport for him, so there would be no problem with short takeoffs and landings.
For the crew of the Tamron, landing at the suggested airport was no problem at all.
Because the three pilots operating the plane were all active fighter pilots that Lin Zehao had hired from Polar Bear at a high price.
As a pilot from a fighting nation, facing such a difficult flight is a piece of cake for them.
Haojiang.
Taipa Hill Country Park.
The park, which had always been open to the public, was fenced off a month ago and no outsiders were allowed to enter.
Various construction workers and machines came in and out, keeping the citizens guessing.
"What on earth is going on? It has been closed for a month, and there are people working inside 24 hours a day. What are they doing?"
"Diao, you ask me, who should I ask?"
"Who knows what the people in the Civil Affairs Department are going to do next? They are always repairing this and that, and construction is going on everywhere. When it comes to things related to people's livelihood, they start crying poor again. Everyone says they have no money. They either increase taxes or raise prices. If this continues, we ordinary people will have no way to survive."
Some elderly citizens outside the fence were talking at once and pointing continuously.
Anyway, for them who don’t have to work, chatting and gossiping every day is the most important thing.
At the same time, a jet plane with a golden dragon-shaped paint on its fuselage slowly appeared in people's sight, its speed becoming slower and slower, and the distance becoming closer and closer.
"Oh shit! Look, a plane!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present raised their heads high with uniform movements, which looked extremely shocking.
The residents of Haojiang are not crazy, and it is not the first time they have seen an airplane. The truth is that in Haojiang, you will never see an airplane landing all year round.
In the absence of an airport, 90% of people who want to come to Macau rely on shipping.
Big shots from surrounding cities might choose a helicopter.
But this was the first time they had seen a jet plane!
Could it be that the Macao government built the airport without making any noise?
After a burst of surprise, the plane landed smoothly.
The captain gave the co-pilot a thumbs-up and said, "Hala Shao!"
It is no exaggeration to say that this level of decline would be a piece of cake for him even if he drank a bottle of vodka, let alone being sober!
Moreover, this temporary runway was built very well. Not only was there no potholes, but many of the surrounding trees had been cut down, so the view was also very wide.
As the Tenglong landed, the Hutchison Whampoa, with a total of 3,000 people, also boarded the ship from Formosa Boulevard and headed to Macau in batches.
For a place like Haojiang, three thousand people are enough to control the situation.
At this moment, the entire area around Taipa Mountain has been under martial law. Citizens who were watching the excitement from the surrounding areas have also been dispersed by the police. There are police officers patrolling every street, and even a number of assault vehicles have been dispatched.
It is no exaggeration to say that when foreign dignitaries come to inspect, the intensity of the visit is basically this high.
As the plane door opened, Stanley Ho and Ho Yu-kwong immediately went up to greet them.
When Lin Zehao got off the plane, Ho Hongsen gave him a big hug. Although he was in his sixties, he looked very healthy. Most importantly, he was very energetic, much more than his peers.
"Ah Hao, you are finally here."
"Brother Hao." As the next generation successor of the Ho family chosen by Stanley Ho, Ho Yau-kwong was very polite to Lin Zehao, even respectful.
He Hongsen patted Lin Zehao on the shoulder with a very cordial tone.
If other people saw this scene, they would probably be shocked.
You know, Stanley Ho is called the King of Gambling, and it is definitely not bragging.
According to statistics, there are about thirty casinos of all sizes in Haojing, and more than fifteen of them have direct or indirect relations with the He family.
In 1961, the Portuguese government approved the development of Macau as a "permanent gaming zone" and decided to develop Macau into a low-tax area with gaming and tourism as the main economic development projects.
The 'Hotel Lisboa' and 'New Garden Casino' attracted a large number of gamblers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, America and Australia, becoming the iconic buildings of Macau.
As of 1984, percent of the Macau government's revenue came from gaming taxes.
Moreover, this proportion is still increasing.
Before the gambling license was expanded, Stanley Ho was undoubtedly the only gambling king in Macau!
What's more, the Ho family once produced the richest man in the history of Hong Kong Island, although that was only when the port was just established. That was enough to prove the family's glory and heritage.
Ho Hongsen's grandfather was a top figure in Hong Kong Island at that time. He worked as a comprador for Jardine Matheson and Sassoon, and served as a member of the Legislative Council.
His father was a comprador for Jardine Matheson & Co., a member of the Legislative Council and chairman of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and his mother was from the Sin Tak-fan family.
It is no exaggeration to say that in that era, Stanley Ho was a well-deserved aristocrat.
In front of such a real tycoon, Lin Zehao, a rising star, should not have such a big face.
Not only did he help out with his connections to build a temporary airport, he even came to greet him in person. All these things were beyond the scope of ordinary relationships. Lin Zehao smiled and said, "Sorry, Brother Jiu, something delayed me."
He Hongsen is the ninth child in the family, so people who are familiar with him usually call him Uncle Jiu or Brother Jiu.
"I know all about your achievements in Formosa in Macau. You are worthy of being called the mighty dragon. You swallowed up the Bamboo Union in one fell swoop and established your power in Formosa. That's pretty sharp."
"Let's go, get in the car first, and talk while we walk."
Several people got into a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur, while Hutchison's security personnel got into other cars. Only Luo Tianhong followed closely.
"Ah Hao, although this happened several years ago, I still want to say thank you for saving Ah Guang. Otherwise, I would have to send off the young man in the He family."
In 1981, when Lin Zehao had just taken over as the leader, Ho Yau-kwong and his wife went to Portugal to handle the affairs of the family casino, but they were targeted by local gangs. It was Ho Hongsen who used Lin Zehao's connections to resolve the matter.
At that time, Hutchison did not have much influence in Portugal. It was Lin Zehao who sent a team of 100 skilled men as quickly as possible to rescue He Youguang and his wife.
Of the one hundred people, only about forty returned in the end, which shows how tragic it was at that time.
Therefore, the main reason why Stanley Ho treated Lin Zehao so specially was because he saved the life of the next generation successor of the Ho family.
In a small sense, he saved his eldest son, and in a big sense, he saved the future of the He family.
Such a great favor is indeed heavy!
This is especially true when Lin Zehao’s status and position are so high!
"Brother Jiu, let's not talk about the past anymore. We are all from Hong Kong Island. If you encounter difficulties when you are out, since you have come to me, then I will definitely help you."
The Ho family has always been a family in Hong Kong Island, but it was not until Ho Hongsen's generation that they went to Macau to develop. When he was expelled by the Macau forces, he returned to Hong Kong Island to continue developing real estate.
"Well, you are indeed a quick-witted person, worthy of the name Weilong!"
Ho Hongsen laughed loudly towards the sky, obviously very happy.
The group chatted along the way and soon arrived at the Lisboa Hotel, which was the most representative casino in Macau in this era and also the largest casino under the Ho family.
Seen from a distance, the hotel looks like a birdcage. Someone once said from the perspective of Feng Shui that this means that every gambler who enters the hotel is like a bird in a cage.
Looking at the side of the Lisboa Hotel from the Aotai Bridge, it looks like a big ship, and the cylinder behind the "birdcage" looks like a "chimney" on the "ship".
Gamblers are saying that once guests enter the casino, it is like boarding a big ship, and their fate is controlled by the "captain".
The design of the East Block, West Block and the top of the casino: there are many small balls and some large balls, like pearls with thousands of arrows piercing the heart of Western swords, and there are many sickle-like weapons on the top floor, stabbing in all directions.
The gate is designed with a bat with bared fangs and claws, a "bat-rat hanging money", and a door shaped like a lion or tiger's mouth.
The entrance is shaped like a lion or tiger's mouth and there is a taxi stand in front of the door. When gamblers enter the casino through this door, it is like falling into the mouth of a lion or a tiger. It is easy for them to be "sent into the tiger's mouth" by the lions and tigers, which poses a psychological threat to the gamblers. Therefore, professional gamblers enter and exit through the side door.
The road leading to the gate is not an ordinary flat road, but is slightly inclined inward (it is said to symbolize "inclusion", so as to prevent the money caught by the bat rat from slipping away).
The mural design in the lobby depicts a Portuguese ship encountering a storm (some say it implies that gamblers who enter the venue will be faced with a storm; some believe that Portugal’s arrival in China was actually a colonial plunder, so their ships were “pirate ships” and those who enter would be robbed).
The entire lobby floor is decorated with Bagua patterns (some say the Bagua formation symbolizes the birth of all things, transforming hostility and attracting wealth).
The hotel lobby is magnificent and luxurious. The spacious and bright space is decorated with various crystal chandeliers and mirrored walls. The columns covered with gradient mosaics and high-end soft-padded columns and various elegant patterned floor tiles complement each other, presenting a noble and elegant style.
The lotus pond in the center of the lobby incorporates the symbolic elements of Macau, meaning "gathering water for wealth."
Going further inside, you can see a sign that says [There is no guarantee of winning in gambling, but a small bet can be enjoyable. Come and play in your spare time to keep it entertaining.]
This was written by Ye Han, one of the founders of Haojing Tourism and Entertainment Co., Ltd., in Chinese, English and Portuguese. Over time, it has become a unique cultural feature.
There seems to be a subtle special fragrance in the air, which makes people feel excited and not tired at all.
Once you enter Lisboa, there is no longer the concept of day and night. All your life necessities can be met here. Time seems to have lost its concept. As long as you have money, you can stay here forever.
Lin Zehao certainly didn't come here to play cards. After a simple tour, he entered the interior of the casino, an area that outsiders and tourists were absolutely not allowed to enter.
After entering this area, although the decoration still makes people feel luxurious, it is not as exaggerated as the areas outside. It is a low-key and connotative type.
The faint fragrance that had been lingering in the air suddenly stopped and disappeared completely.
The group arrived at the private room that had been prepared long ago, and the kitchen, having received the news, began serving the dishes.
As soon as you enter the box, your eyes will be unconsciously attracted by the carved wall panels around it. They are made of precious mahogany and are carved with European court-style patterns, including curling vines, blooming roses, and elegant angels. Every carving is meticulously detailed. Under the light, the deep and mellow color of the mahogany and the exquisite carvings complement each other, revealing a simple and gorgeous texture.
The ceiling adopts a dome-like design, as if the dome of an ancient European cathedral was moved indoors.
There is a grand mural painted on the dome, with gold and blue as the main colors. It depicts the banquet scene of the gods in ancient Greek mythology. The images of the gods are lifelike, and the surrounding cloud patterns, light and shadow and other details are handled just right.
At the edge of the dome, a circle of small wall lamps are inlaid like pearls, emitting soft and warm light, making the murals on the entire dome even more mysterious.
The floor is made of imported marble. Each piece of marble has a unique natural texture, like a landscape painting or clouds and mist. The stonemasons skillfully combine them together to form a beautiful pattern that perfectly combines the natural and artificial.
The edges of the marble are thinly outlined with silver metal strips, which echo the golden elements above, making the space more layered.
There is also a rest area on one side of the box, with a set of European-style sofas. The sofa frame is made of solid wood and covered with soft leather in dark brown. The backrest is carefully embroidered with gold thread patterns and matched with several velvet pillows of the same style, which are embellished with pearls, crystals and other elements to create various shapes.
Lin Zehao took a quick look around, sat down naturally, and started chatting with Ho Hongsen.
After about ten minutes, a table of sumptuous and luxurious dishes appeared in front of everyone.
After some courtesy, the main seat was left vacant, and Ho Hongsen and Lin Zehao sat face to face, with Ho Yau-kwong accompanying them.
(End of this chapter)
