Sail across the sea

Chapter 507 Following Gao Fan's Instructions

After leaving Toad Street, the two groups separated and went their separate ways back home.

Xu Dan, filled with questions, walked for a while before finally asking Gao Fan, "Gao Fan, why were you and Bob talking about criminal law just now? Weren't you discussing investment?"

Gao Fan laughed and said, "I just wanted to remind Bob that the most profitable businesses are all written in the criminal code."

"Oh!" Xu Dan was stunned for a moment before she understood, and then she laughed. After laughing, she asked, "Then what do you mean by 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'?"

“I told him that when doing business in China, he should abide by Chinese rules and not try to challenge them.”

"However, I've heard that many places have very lenient policies when attracting foreign investment. Does this mean that foreign businesses don't have to follow the rules?"

“Ordinary foreign businessmen might have this misconception, but Bob is a very clear-headed person, and he understands what I mean. The Chinese government will offer various preferential policies to foreign businesses, but it will absolutely not allow them to challenge the bottom line.”

“So that’s what it means…” Xu Dan nodded, then complained, “Why do you guys talk like that? It’s exhausting to listen to.”

Gao Fan shrugged: "There's nothing I can do. Bob is just that kind of person. He can't stand not being witty. What can I do?"

Meanwhile, in the taxi on the way to the hotel, Tan Jianjun, after holding back for a long time, finally asked Bob for advice:

"Mr. Bob, what did Mr. Gao mean when he asked you if capital has national borders?"

Bob was already slightly tipsy. He leaned back on the back seat of the taxi and lazily asked, "So, do you think capital has national borders?"

Tan Jianjun thought for a moment and found it difficult to answer. Cross-border investment doesn't mean capital has no borders; isn't the Hatch Group's money essentially American money?
Local governments are crying out to attract foreign investment. If capital had no borders, wouldn't it have already flowed into China?
But why did Gao Fan ask Bob such a simple question, and why did Bob give a negative answer?
Bob didn't expect his lackey to understand the problem. He asked, "For example, Hatch Group has an investment in China that can make a lot of money, but it will harm American interests. Do you think it should be invested?"

"This... shouldn't be the case?" Tan Jianjun stammered.

He couldn't explain why he answered that way; it seemed that this was the kind of education he had received since childhood.

Bob smiled slightly: "If that's how you think, then you're not a qualified investor. An investor is only responsible for the returns on their investments, not for which country's interests are harmed. Whether it's China or the United States, it has nothing to do with the Hatch Group, because capital knows no borders."

Tan Jianjun gasped.

He worked as Bob's lackey, and many people around him called him a traitor, but he didn't care at all. He felt that others were just jealous of him, and if the same opportunity fell into their laps, they would have flocked to it just as much.

These days, patriotism isn't a popular topic of conversation among ordinary people anymore. When young people get together, they mostly grumble and complain, saying things like, "I love my country, but does the country even love me?"

However, in Tan Jianjun's view, it's perfectly natural for him not to love China, since China is poor. But Bob should love his country, because the country he loves is America!

How could anyone on Earth not love America?

However, Bob clearly told him that he wasn't patriotic, nor was the Hatch Group; they were investors and had no nationalities. Tan Jianjun felt his values ​​were becoming somewhat confused.

"So, what does Mr. Gao mean by asking you this question?" Tan Jianjun asked nervously.

Bob sighed and said, "Tan, actually not all capitalists are without national boundaries. Gao Fan is a capitalist with national boundaries. He is a fanatical patriot."

"He asked me this question to warn me that the Hatch Group can invest in China, but absolutely not at the expense of China's interests. Since the Hatch Group has chosen China, it must put China's interests first, and when China's interests conflict with those of the United States, the Hatch Group must stand on China's side."

"Mr. Gao is really..."

Tan Jianjun didn't know what to say. He didn't even know whether Bob admired Gao Fan or was complaining about him.

"Tan, do you think Gao Fan's idea is correct?"

"I think that since capital has no borders, the choice between harming China's interests or harming the United States' interests should be based on the returns, right?"

Tan Jianjun answered cautiously. He knew this was a potentially disastrous question, but he couldn't afford not to answer it.

Fortunately, the two of them communicated in English as soon as they got in the car, so there was no need to worry that the driver would understand their answer.

“That’s why Gao Fan emphasizes the ‘Chinese Century’,” Bob said. “He’s reminding me that, in the long run, it’s better to bet on China than on America.”

"In an isolated investment, we can indeed choose to harm Chinese interests or American interests. But if we harm Chinese interests, we risk being excluded from the Chinese market and losing that market forever."

"If China does indeed maintain high growth for 30 years, as Gao Fan says, and then maintain its leading position on the world stage for 100 years, then it would be a huge mistake to be at odds with this market."

Tan Jianjun was dumbfounded. He never expected that these two, while drinking and boasting, would actually exchange so many witty remarks. And it seemed that his American boss had really been persuaded by Gao Fan.

“Tan, I’ve told you before, never consider being Gao Fan’s enemy.” Bob opened his eyes, stared at Tan Jianjun who had turned around from the passenger seat, and said sternly, “From now on, the work of the China office must prioritize China’s national interests. Only in this way can we ensure that the group’s interests in China are not harmed.”

"If you don't know what the consequences of something will be, then go and ask Gao Fan for advice, and then do as Gao Fan instructs."

“But what if Gao Fan doesn’t care about the group’s interests and makes the group make sacrifices?” Tan Jianjun blurted out.

There was no way around it; Bob's instructions were just too terrifying. Tan Jianjun even suspected that Gao Fan had put a white umbrella and a red umbrella in the wine. Bob was clearly a bit confused.

Bob shook his head and said firmly, "No, I know Gao Fan very well. He's a man who knows his limits. You see, China hasn't become the world's leading power yet, and Gao Fan still needs the help of the Hatch Group. Under these circumstances, he wouldn't betray the interests of the Hatch Group."

(End of this chapter)