money player

Tsuruya is a very common store name in Japan. Stores named Tsuruya run all kinds of business.

There is a Japanese restaurant called Tsuruya in the alley of Hengyang Road. It is not big, but it does good business.

The owner of Hewu is Luo Qiukeng, who is nominally Taiwanese but actually from Bao'an. He is the captain of the plainclothes detective team of the 5th Independent Battalion of the Yangcheng Pacification Office under the former Peaceful National Construction Army, stationed in Shajing and Songgang, Bao'an.

At that time, the Japanese troops in Bao'an basically did not go to the countryside. The collection of grain, protection fees, and bullying of the villagers were all done by the Peaceful National Construction Army, the Security Corps, or the Imperial Army. The plainclothes detective team had a slightly better reputation because they belonged to the front-line troops. Their main task was to infiltrate and kill members of the Dongjiang Column, so they did not have much time to cause trouble for the common people.

The Baoan Luo family is a local tyrant with great strength. Naturally, the vision of its leader is not too bad. He prepared for a rainy day early on and put his eggs in different baskets. Almost all the well-known forces have people from the Luo family to join. Luo Qiukeng was unlucky as he drew the lottery number for the Peaceful National Construction Army.

Because he had the mission of protecting a large family, Luo Qiukeng worked very hard and was commended by the Japanese many times in the beginning. But after October 1944, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Japanese were doomed, so Luo Qiukeng began to look for a way to survive - he pretended to be a Taiwanese soldier and came to Taipei.

He was not alone on his way to Taipei, as he had a companion, Hayato Hanada, who was a second lieutenant in the 23st Company, 229th Infantry Regiment, under the 1rd Army of the South China Expeditionary Army and was a conscripted soldier in the later stages of the war.

The Japanese devils can be classified into the early and late stages of the war. Those in the early stages are mostly veterans who have been trained for many years, have high combat skills, and are very confident. They think they are superior to others and regard their opponents as lower creatures, and they do all kinds of evil.

In the later stages of the war, due to unfavorable circumstances, too many replacement soldiers were added, most of whom were greenhorns. They had experienced a transition from enjoying the benefits brought by the war to tightening their belts to maintain the war. Although they were blinded by false propaganda, they still knew how many grains of rice they had in their bowls. Moreover, if they were really invincible as advertised, why would they be forced to go to the battlefield?

Therefore, most of the forced conscripts were pessimistic. When they arrived at their posts and learned about the real situation and saw the atrocities committed by the old soldiers, they became even more frightened. They had to worry about one thing - if Japan was defeated, would they and their families be retaliated against in the same way?

It was precisely because of this concern, and the fact that there were many sober veterans among the veterans, that some of the Japanese soldiers became more restrained in the later stages of the war, which led to some incredible things happening.

For example, the Japanese in North China sold their motorboats to the New Fourth Army, and the New Fourth Army used the boats to collect anti-Japanese war taxes from Japanese merchants. Another example is the tacit battles that took place in various places, such as mopping-up news and attacking bunkers, which could all be bought with money. When the gunshots rang out, the Japanese would throw down some weapons and run away, giving some teams the illusion of recovery.

For example, after the Japanese's logistics were paralyzed, some of them would go to the landlords' homes to work as long-term or short-term laborers. They worked very hard and did not have high requirements for food, as long as they could eat enough.

Hayato Hanada was a rogue among the Japanese devils. He would avoid combat missions whenever possible and try to extort money from the half-bandit, half-gang organization "Hei Gu Ren" that had defected to the Japanese devils. By October 1944, his thoughts coincided with Luo Qiukeng's, and thus, a puppet soldier who had committed many crimes and a Japanese devil who had not committed many crimes became fellow wanderers in the same world.

After dinner, most of the guests at Tsuruya had left, and Luo Qiukeng brought some side dishes from the kitchen to treat Hanada Hayato.

After a glass of wine, Luo Qiukeng said, "Do you still remember Xian Yaowen?"

"Who?"

"Yama Fumio."

"That middle school student, Ma no Ko?"

"Yes."

"Why mention him?"

Luo Qiukeng said with a serious face: "I met him today."

"In Taipei?"

Luo Qiukeng did not answer.

Hanada Hayato realized that he had said something nonsense, so he changed the subject and said, "Why is he in Taipei?"

"I don't know. When I saw him, he was walking into Fanzi's shop."

"Akira-kun, Yamamoto Fumio knows us. What should we do if we meet him?" Hanada Hayato said worriedly.

"Don't worry too much about our identities being exposed. Xian Yaowen's current identity should not be simple. He has bodyguards and a car. Perhaps we have a chance to cooperate with him."

Luo Qiukeng concealed the speculation that he had linked Xian Yaowen with Xian Yaowen, a Hong Kong tycoon who had come to Taiwan with huge amounts of money to invest, because he had his own selfish motives.

Since Taiwan began to implement a wartime system in 1937, some necessities were rationed and in short supply. The originally small-scale black market developed in full swing, and not only local businessmen but also Japanese businessmen participated in it.

However, at that time, there were fewer supplies on the black market that came from smuggling. After 1945, some Japanese businessmen stayed for various reasons. As their floating assets were confiscated and they were not allowed to do business (they could not stand in the open, but could hold shares secretly), many Japanese businessmen relied on their advantage as the source of goods in Japan and entered the smuggling industry.

When they first came to Taipei, Luo Qiukeng and Hanada Hayato could not speak fluent Hokkien and did not dare to have much contact with local people. Instead, they had more contact with foreigners studying in Taiwan. As time went by, they came into contact with Japanese smuggling merchants. They first provided cover for the Japanese merchants as "natives" and then set up their own business after they figured out the ins and outs of the matter.

In a few years, the two of them became powerful smugglers by virtue of their status. Luo Qiukeng now has money, two women, and a pair of children. He knows that smuggling cannot last long, so he has already planned to clean up his name.

"I'm here to introduce Taiwan's customs and culture." Xian Yaowen put his arm around Fei Baoshu's waist. "How's your luck today?"

"Not very good, we didn't make several big brands." Fei Baoshu hugged Xian Yaowen's neck, "Business is pretty good. An enamel from the Yongzheng period could have sold for five or six thousand dollars a few years ago, but I bought it for two hundred dollars. An old pit glass bracelet from Qiu Tianbao sold for one hundred dollars, and there were a lot of small things, so I spent 17,000 Taiwan dollars."

"The price is quite good, and I can make a lot of money if I sell it immediately in Hong Kong."

"Also, I met a big stock-selling client today. He has over 50,000 shares worth of stock, and we agreed to trade tomorrow."

"Eh." Xian Yaowen was surprised: "You dared to buy so many stocks at the beginning, you must be knowledgeable, why would you sell them to you?"

"As a general's wife, I may not understand."

"Who is it?"

Fei Baoshu shook his head. "I don't know. The general's wife sat in the car and didn't show up. A servant came to talk to her. She was very secretive. The stock might not have come from a legitimate source."

"Did you see the license plate?"

"The license plate has been removed."

"interesting."

If you don't want to expose yourself, you can just stay out of the conversation. Let your servants come out to talk while you follow them. Removing the license plate makes it even more obvious. This seems a bit lame no matter how you look at it. Maybe this transaction is just a test. The mouse is pulling the shovel, and the big guy is behind.

"After the transaction is completed tomorrow, leave a message to the other party. We can give cash, gold, or deposit the money in a bank designated by the other party."

"Master, are you saying this is just a test?"

Xian Yaowen nodded, "It's very likely that many merchants in Shanghai were treated as traitors and their properties were confiscated, right?"

"Yes, quite a few."

"That's right. No matter when, it's always a lucrative job to confiscate property. It's good enough if you can hand over the change. Confiscating property and extorting money have probably made a lot of people rich. It's understandable that this kind of person doesn't deserve the wealth, so it's understandable that he doesn't know about stocks."

"Can we trade?" Fei Baoshu asked with a hint of worry.

"can."

"I'm just afraid of being implicated. Sister said that many people have been caught recently."

Xian Yaowen rested his chin on Fei Baoshu's small shoulder, "John Donne once said, 'Anyone's death is my loss, because I am a member of the human race, so don't ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for you.

This saying is very appropriate when applied to the government's officialdom. How many people have clean butts? If you sound the death knell for others today, your own death knell will also be sounded tomorrow. If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. For their own sake, no one will kill. They will leave a way out when doing things. Sparing others' lives is sparing your own life. "

“What if you meet someone who is different?”

"When a white lotus seed falls into a stinky ditch, it has no choice but to compromise and force itself to grow into an eichhornia crassipes, otherwise it will rot before it even sprouts. The shit in the dung tank is either very smelly or a little smelly, there is no shit that doesn't smell."

“There’s always good.”

"Of course, but that kind of person can't climb up, so it's not within our scope of concern."

Fei Baoshu sighed and said, "Is there still a pure land in this world?"

"Where does an absolutely pure land without demons and ghosts come from? Where does the incense of the gods come from? The eldest son of the Dragon King inherited his father's business, the second son sells umbrellas, the third son sells water wheels, and there is a bastard who sells rain charms. It rains quickly and safely, and it stops raining safely."

"Master, your words make me feel so powerless."

"It is said that Mazu and Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East China Sea, had a love affair. In a few days, I will become the Dragon King. I grant you the title of umbrella merchant."

Fei Baoshu chuckled and said, "Is there such a legend?"

“Yes, but it’s not widely circulated.”

"Even if there is, what does it have to do with you, Master?"

"You'll know in a few days." Xian Yaowen stood up holding Fei Baoshu, "It's night, take a rest."

"Soup..." Fei Baoshu felt the rush of time and pointed at the soup bowl, "I haven't finished the soup yet."

"No need to drink anymore. Let's go to bed early and eat this piece of ginger." Xian Yaowen quickened his pace and carried Fei Baoshu into the bathroom.

While helping Xian Yaowen undress, Fei Baoshu said, "Eating ginger at night is like arsenic. Master, please take care of yourself."

"Don't worry, my vegetable garden is full of purple placenta. When they bear fruit in the fall, they will be good for your health."

"This autumn, Master can only harvest one, right?"

"Not that early. Early winter is best."

Fei Baoshu said quietly, "I really want to give birth to a child for you."

Xian Yaowen hugged Fei Baoshu and said, "Don't let your imagination run wild. Even if we don't have children, I will stay with you till the end of your life and let others envy you like a withered flower."

"Hate it, who is the fallen flower and willow."

"I'm."

……

Saturday.

Prince Enterprise is unique in Taipei in that it implements a two-day weekend system. Employees who receive overtime pay can enjoy family day at home, while executives who do not receive overtime pay disappear for no reason, while those who have to work overtime voluntarily.

The company is just starting out and everyone is busy.

In the morning, Valerie interviewed Yuan De, who listened to her advice, and accepted him as an ordinary clerk in Prince Trade.

Xian Yaowen typed a proposal at home for a while, and arrived at the office of Prince Enterprise at around ten o'clock. He sat opposite Valerie, and they each sat on a typewriter, typing out business letters.

The first phase of international camphor procurement this year has passed. According to past practice, there will be a second phase in July. Prince Trading is preparing to compete for and develop camphor customers.

One was made to Bayer of Germany, from which we have been purchasing for more than 50 years. Although we knew that the other party had already been familiar with the business and there was no need to find an intermediary to increase the cost, we still hoped for the best. After all, it would not take much time to write a business letter.

One call was made to Merck in the United States. They need camphor to make analgesic ointment. The previous procurement method was to transit through Hong Kong, so we can try to get it.

One call is to Ciba of Switzerland. They need camphor to synthesize antimalarial drugs. Their previous procurement method was also transit through Hong Kong, so we can strive for it.

One call was made to Glaxo in the UK, who needed camphor to synthesize pediatric cough syrup, same as above.

Takeda Pharmaceutical, Daitoyo Pharmaceutical, Watsons, Tiger Brand, etc., all pharmaceutical companies that need camphor come with one.

After Valerie finished typing one, she asked while pulling out the paper, "Do you need to send a business letter to the plastic and gunpowder companies?"

"No, the rise of DuPont synthetic camphor will quickly eat up these two markets. We have developed customers now, but we can only do one or two orders at most. The cost and purity advantages of synthetic camphor are too great, and natural camphor can't compete at all."

“What about the Indian market?”

"You can try, but I'm not optimistic. India has enough camphor to supply the domestic market."

Valerie smiled slyly, "Boss, you forgot there is another business."

Xian Yaowen chuckled, "Are you talking about the white scam?"

"Yes." Valerie nodded. "It's camphor pretending to be natural ambergris."

Xian Yaowen glanced at Valerie and said, "If you only think about selling camphor, I will call you a fool. How much camphor is needed in a year to pretend to be ambergris?

If you're thinking of getting into the business of counterfeit ambergris, I'd say you're being a little short-sighted.

Last year, the world's demand for natural ambergris was about 1500 pounds. Calculated at a maximum price of $15 per gram, the market size is around $1000 million. How big do you think the market size for fake ambergris is?
Have $100 million?

How much can we eat?

How much will it cost to take over this market? "

Valerie spread her hands. "Just pretend I didn't say anything."

Xian Yaowen looked down at the paper on the typewriter, his fingers tapping the keyboard, "It's better to have an idea than to have no idea. I'll give you a reward. Let's go on vacation to the south in a few days."

Valerie pouted, "I'll be heading south on a business trip soon."

Xian Yaowen smiled evilly and said, "What a coincidence."

"Is it a coincidence?"

"should be."

"Really?"

"Okay, I did it on purpose." Xian Yaowen looked up and said, "Don't be angry. I'll give you a real reward. The Great Britain Festival has begun. I'll sponsor your parents to travel around Great Britain."

"Really?" Valerie exclaimed.

"uh-huh."

Valerie rushed to Xian Yaowen, held his head, and kissed him on the forehead, "Thank God, thank you boss."

Xian Yaowen laughed and said, "Why are you so excited?"

"Because my parents have had this plan for a long time, but they have not taken action due to budget reasons."

"Well, wish them a good time for me."

"I'll pass it on." After another kiss, Valerie returned to her seat.

The two men finished the business letter for camphor and then discussed canned pineapples and salt.

The biggest customer that canned pineapples can attract is the US military welfare agency, but they can only get some scraps, such as the four bases with fewer troops stationed in the Philippines, Guam, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. They are not qualified to get the big fat meat like South Korea, which is the Kuomintang's meal.

The rest is just some odds and ends, allowing People's Retail to get involved and explore the supply of goods in the global retail network in advance.

The largest salt sales area is Japan, where customers are food processing and chemical companies. If we do well, we can get sales of about 1.5 tons. We can also try to purchase military supplies for the US military base in Okinawa, which is about 0.2 tons a year. The impurities in the raw salt in the mainland are high, so we need to import some refined salt. We can try to get 0.5 tons. (End of this chapter)