Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1556 Core Interests (Second update, please subscribe)

This day, London Airport.

A VC10 passenger plane from Asia welcomed his guests. When the guests boarded the plane, the flight attendants greeted them with smiles. In addition to the flight attendants' smiles, there were even red banners hanging in the cabin.

The banner reads in English:

“Welcome the advanced youth from all over the world!”

Hoch from the Netherlands took a look at the banner, then smiled and started chatting with some acquaintances, introducing the land to those who had not yet been there.

"This is my seventh trip there. Believe me, they are a very enthusiastic group of comrades. You will definitely feel their enthusiasm when you get there."

There was constant singing along the way, and the passionate songs such as "The Internationale" kept echoing in the cabin, and it seemed that everyone was very excited.

Of course not everyone was on board. In addition to these special passengers from all over Europe, there were also some normal ticket-buying guests on the plane.

"I must be crazy."

Nelson looked at the people around him cautiously. As a businessman, he knew that he was the kind of capitalist who deserved to be hanged.

In the eyes of these people, he is that kind of person.

He didn't even dare to reveal his identity. When others asked him, he just said:

"I'm visiting relatives in Hong Kong Island."

Well, the plane will first land at Kai Tak Airport on Hong Kong Island.

The singing continued along the way, and Nelson was very nervous.

He was terrified and regretted why he was greedy for a bargain, but the ticket price difference was only 20 pounds.

But why?
Why would you want to take advantage of this? If they know your identity,
Will they build a gallows for you on the plane?

Finally, after the plane arrived at Kai Tak Airport, Nelson breathed a sigh of relief. The moment the cabin door opened and he walked down the escalator, Nelson even had the urge to escape.

"God help them not finding out I'm a businessman."

It was not until he walked out of customs that Nelson finally relaxed. Now the plane had nothing to do with him anymore.

Nelson, still in shock, told the driver directly after getting in the taxi:

"To the Pacific Hotel."

Pacific Hotel is the most luxurious hotel in Hong Kong Island. It is a SEA hotel chain located on the shores of Victoria Harbour and is also the first skyscraper in Hong Kong Island.

After arriving at the Pacific Hotel, Nelson checked in. As a businessman, he certainly did not come here for travel. Like many businessmen, he came to Hong Kong Island for the bargains here.

Plastic silk flowers, toys, shoes, hats and other small items are all Hong Kong Island's advantageous industries. The products produced in Hong Kong Island are low-priced and very competitive in the market. Moreover, as a British colony, it also enjoys the advantages of the Imperial Preference System - it can export goods to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries with almost zero tariffs.

This is also the biggest advantage of Hong Kong Island, but Nelson came here not only for the cheap goods produced in Hong Kong Island.

“… not just products made in Hong Kong, but also products made in the mainland, can enter Hong Kong Island with zero tariffs, and then be repackaged as made in Hong Kong and exported to the UK and Commonwealth countries.”

While dining in the hotel restaurant, Nelson chatted with Charlie who came to greet him about the industrial advantages of the place.

"So I believe that with your advantages and Hong Kong Island's free port status, the future development here is limitless."

Charlie looked at his friend and asked:

"So you've decided?"

"Yes, I have made up my mind. I believe the future here is limitless. Since I have missed Chang'an, I will not miss Hong Kong Island again.

This place is different from any other place, and it is backed by a country of hundreds of millions of people.”

Nelson said after taking a sip of red wine.

"The market, the market of the future is extremely vast."

"But first you have to go inside my friend."

Charlie smiled and said:

"There are many people in Hong Kong who want to do business with the North, but not everyone has the opportunity. There are business rules here, and they will only do business with businessmen they recognize."

While Charlie was speaking, he cast his gaze towards the next table, where a middle-aged man was having dinner with a beautiful but very conservatively dressed lady. Looking at them, Charlie said.

"Just like him, that gentleman is a businessman they recognize."

"Really?"

The gentleman Nelson was looking at said curiously.

“How did he get recognition?”

“Because it’s backed by another market.”

Charlie explained in a low voice:
"To a certain extent, that gentleman is not just a businessman. He is a representative of Chang'an, or at least a representative of Chang'an's large enterprises. He purchases hundreds of millions of goods every year, of course, most of them are local specialties.
You know, like Hong Kong Island, many people come from the north, so they need local specialties from the north.

That is, we buy local specialties from the north, and then the north exports industrial products.”

Listening to Charlie's explanation, Nelson said:
"Oh, I get it now. He's basically an agent."

"Yes, he is a very big agent." Charlie glanced at the gentleman and said:
“Sometimes, they are not just businessmen, but may also play other roles.”

Indeed, the role played by Song Guoqiang as a company manager is complex. When talking about business, he is a businessman, but when talking about things, who is he?
Facing the lady in front of him, Song Guoqiang said while enjoying his steak:
"We have sufficient evidence to prove that you provided them with weapons. The evidence is in the photos. Madam, I hope you can really face this. You know, we always want to be friends with you."

The lady who was eating steak looked up at Song Guoqiang in front of her. Since he replaced Li Hongji a few years ago, they had only had a few contacts at work. Overall, the evaluation of him was that he was a person who could be dealt with, but unlike Li Hongji, he handled many issues in a more sharp way.

Like now.

The aggressive tone carried a tone that brooked no room for rebuttal.

"As friends? I think we have always been friends and relatives. It is you who have been willing to follow American imperialism without any independent opinions. You are full of prejudice and even hostility towards us. If you can change your position..."

Facing the lady's rebuttal, Song Guoqiang took a sip of red wine and said:

"You know, the issue I'm discussing with you now is this..."

Pointing at the photo on the table, Song Guoqiang said:
"Madam, no matter how serious the differences between our positions are, we should respect each other and respect each other's core interests. East Africa is our core interest area. We can't make any concessions and we won't tolerate others interfering in East African affairs."

While cutting the steak with a dinner knife, Song Guoqiang said:
"Whether they are Soviets or other people, I believe, out of personal feelings, that it is necessary to facilitate a peaceful resolution of this matter through dialogue before things get worse."

When mentioning these, Song Guoqiang seemed to be having an ordinary conversation.

"Core interest areas? Do you mean playing the role of accomplice of the British colonizers?"

The lady sneered and responded directly:

"Your so-called core interests are to exploit the local people, plunder local resources, kill and plunder. The crimes you have committed there are simply too numerous to list!"

Facing the accusation, Song Guoqiang thought for a moment and said:

"What we did is our business!"

"Wherever there is oppression, there is resistance. It is precisely because of your actions in the local area that you have reversed the resistance of the local people. Their resistance is just."

After giving this righteous answer, the lady looked at Song Guoqiang in front of her and stared at him with no fear.

"So, you will continue to support them?"

"No, we never interfere in other countries' internal affairs. Maybe they use weapons made by us, but Mr. Song, you should know that there are many countries in the world that support justice. Justice will prevail and good will prevail over evil. This is the truth of the world!"

In response to this answer, Song Guoqiang said:

"You have to understand, we are not America."

"You also have to understand that we are not the Soviet Union!"

After the lady finished speaking, everyone fell into silence, and they all understood what each other meant.

After a moment of silence, Song Guoqiang said:

"You know this is likely to lead to something unpleasant."

The lady asked directly:
"Is this a threat?"

Song Guoqiang shook his head and continued to enjoy his lunch. After a while, he said:
"You know what? Whether it's Moscow or anywhere else, they all know that we never threaten anyone."

He grinned as he said this. Although he didn't explain anything, everyone knew what he meant - we don't threaten, we only speak with actions!

The Soviets understood this a long time ago, which is why we have the peaceful coexistence we have today.

"This is your most naked side - using all kinds of excuses to carry out aggression!"

Faced with the accusations, Song Guoqiang did not make any excuses, but picked up his glass and said.

“This red wine is good, it is produced from grapes grown in the highlands of Irian Island. Now, in the high mountain plantations in Irian, some fruits and crops that are not common in tropical regions are already being grown.

Then, we will use cold chain container ships to transport them to the mainland. You know, we have special fast container ships with a speed of more than 26 knots. It only takes two and a half days to deliver all kinds of fruits to the mainland. Sometimes, we can even use airplanes to transport them by air. "

While drinking red wine, Song Guoqiang lamented the changes in logistics technology.

"Can you imagine? We can airfreight the required products from thousands of kilometers away to our home country, and put them on supermarket shelves within a few hours, so that people can eat the freshest fruits right away."

The lady frowned, not understanding what he was saying, and just snorted coldly.

"You are the only ones who would be proud of such a life of extravagance and debauchery."

"Yes, we are proud of this. Everything we do is for the people's lives. We can do anything to make their lives better!"

Song Guoqiang nodded and said:

"This also means that we will never make any concessions on our core interests. Nor will we tolerate anyone who infringes on our interests."

After that, Song Guoqiang continued to enjoy his dinner, eating steak and sipping red wine, as if he was talking about something insignificant. The expression of the lady sitting opposite him changed from time to time.

After a while, she spoke.

"You are shooting yourself in the foot. You will pay the price for your actions."

Faced with the warning, Song Guoqiang smiled and took a sip of red wine.

"The wine is good, you should try it."

(End of this chapter)