money player

What should the company focus on next?

"In preparation for Christmas and New Year's stocking up, Jinji Trading Company introduced us to an order for 2000 tons of walnuts and premium walnut kernels. The order is scattered across multiple countries in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and the transportation is a bit troublesome. Wanbang's ships are all available on the scheduled departure date, and we are urgently contacting other shipping companies to consolidate the order."

"Can this be resolved?"

"It's not a big problem. We've partnered with Flying Freight as a backup. If there are any issues with shipping, we can use air freight for smaller orders."

After a moment of contemplation, Xian Yaowen said, "Don't be too optimistic. If the United States decides to launch a winter offensive, all its cargo planes will fly to South Korea to earn US dollars."

"Let's develop a contingency plan: charter a ship to transport the walnuts from Europe to Marseille first, then move them by land. I have a stake in a freight company in France that can offer favorable land transport options."

Situ Yongxiao was overjoyed and said, "That's great! Because of cost-cutting measures, I haven't dared to use many of the overly expensive solutions."

Sin Yiu-man picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea. “Costs need to be calculated, but when costs and reputation conflict, as long as there is a sliver of hope to maintain reputation, costs no longer matter. We should do everything we can to maintain our reputation, rather than focusing on begging customers for forgiveness.”

Of course, this statement is based on the premise that the cost is within our acceptable range.

"clear."

"You continue."

"We've received orders for peanuts, persimmons, red dates, and longans for the Lunar New Year. These are all small orders scattered across various locations, from nearby Singapore and Siam to as far away as Tanzania and Madagascar. Africa is too far away, and the orders aren't very large, so I'm considering whether to turn them down."

"Have you paid the deposit?"

"not yet."

"Calculate a price based on the empty calculation, don't add profit, just add a small service fee, and ask the African customer if they can accept it. If they can, accept the order."

Sin Yiu-man put down his teacup and said slowly, "A taste of home carries the nostalgia of home. Sweet dried fruit should have a human touch, bringing the taste of home to those who are far away."

When it comes to dried fruits, peanuts are the most common, regardless of whether it's in the north or south. However, peanuts are too ordinary and don't have many selling points to explore, so they don't fetch a high price.

Next are red dates, dried persimmons, and melon seeds.

Excluding dried persimmons, some people may never have eaten them in their entire lives.

Sunflower seeds are out of the question. The most suitable land in the world for growing sunflowers is in Ukraine. Many areas in the United States and Canada are also suitable for growing sunflowers. Land in both countries is not expensive. If we want to sell sunflower seeds in the future, we can set up our own sunflower farm.

When it comes to carrying the weight of nostalgia, red dates are the most suitable.

Jujube trees are widely planted in the North China Plain, Loess Plateau, and Northwest oases, while they are mostly cultivated sporadically in the Yangtze River basin and areas to the south.

For northerners, red dates are a staple food, while for southerners they are an imported supplementary ingredient, used in small quantities and infrequently in daily diets. However, in terms of etiquette and culture, their emotional value and sense of ritual far exceed that of the north.

Those who wander overseas can be divided into four categories: those from Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and others. The composition of the others is too complex to be considered.

Red dates are generally not used in everyday meals in Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces; they are only used during major festivals and weddings.

Don't have high hopes for the sales of red dates, but red dates are very suitable for sweet dried fruits to express human touch.

Register a jujube brand, hire a 4A design firm to design several sets of outer packaging, one set is specially given to the first client to discuss cooperation, and another set is given to the old client. Regardless of whether the cooperation continues, every client must receive a set of jujubes for every festival that requires them.

Report this to Lu Yansu. Treat this matter as a major event. We don't expect it to be handled like a child eagerly anticipating New Year's money, but we also can't let it become a mere formality.

Situ Yongxiao nodded thoughtfully.

Sin Yiu-man put on a warm smile and switched to his usual demeanor, "Is what I asked for ready?"

“They’ve prepared three sacks right outside.”

Sin Yiu-man nodded and chuckled, "Put it in the car. I'll take it to Taipei tomorrow to test the officers."

Hearing this, Cen Peipei, who was talking to Situ Yongli, turned around and asked, "Master, what kind of test are you going to bring?"

"Xiangfu peanuts and Fenzhou walnuts are both good products."

Cen Peipei rolled her eyes at Xian Yaowen. "Are we having dinner here?"

“I have an appointment.” Xian Yaowen waved to Cen Peipei, then said to Huo Zhixian, “Miss Huo, we should go.”

After saying that, Sin Yiu-man walked up behind Cen Pei-pei, leaned down and kissed her on the forehead, then whispered, "After dinner, I'm going to Lantang Road to talk to Shu-chuan. I need to be home by 9:30."

"Ah."

"gone."

After bidding farewell to everyone, Sin Yiu-man led Fok Chi-han to the Litchi Garden.

On the beach, a table was set up in a sheltered spot by the rocks, and not far from the table was a bonfire where an experienced chef was roasting a suckling pig.

Sin Yiu-man and Fok Chi-han strolled around the corner of the reef, where they could see the beach volleyball court.

Litchi Garden tentatively launched a beach volleyball program in conjunction with the swimming pool, using sports and fitness as a gimmick, but in reality it was just about finding a few hot girls to show off their bodies. And sure enough, since the project started, the swimming pool's business has taken off.

Not only that, the entire business of Ritz Garden was boosted, the fire was lit, and the desire to go to the nightclub was also aroused. Before going out, you have to eat first. So, in the afternoon, you go to Ritz Garden, swim, eat, play a few rounds of billiards or go to the cigar room to smoke a cigar, and then go to the nightclub, where the dancers will encourage you to buy more dance tickets and drinks.

After drinking to excess, Liu Rongju's boatman appeared just in time. Together with the dancers, he encouraged the customers to bet on the octagonal boxing match. If they won, everyone who saw it would get a share and a reward. If they lost, it was considered bad luck, and they would have to have a "good luck charm" to either get the dancers an extra job or the chicken stall's groomsman get a fare.

Ritz Garden has allowed grooms from excellent brothels to solicit customers when the nightclub is about to close. The official explanation is that it's a mutual help between friendly businesses, but in reality, customers enjoy "friendly business prices" while Ritz Garden receives a referral fee.

Zhang Li keenly sensed that the number of extravagant and wasteful patrons was shrinking and that this trend was irreversible in the short term. Therefore, he launched more considerate service packages for these patrons, aiming to ensure they had a great time and spent a larger proportion of their money at Litchi Garden.

To put it bluntly, it means seeing that the chicken is showing signs of wilting, and while it's still a chicken, quickly killing it to get its eggs.

It's easy to go from extravagance to frugality. If you don't manage your money wisely, you'll eventually squander it all. A few days earlier or later doesn't make much difference. The sooner you die, the sooner you'll be reborn. If you squander it all quickly, you can even snag a good spot in the squatter area. When the Sin family is distributing meat, you can shamelessly say, "I used to be a regular customer at Ritz Garden. I like big chunks of meat."

Xian Yaowen draped his suit jacket over Huo Zhixian, rolled up his shirt sleeves, tugged at his armband, and took two bottles of Coke from Xie Tingyun, one ice-cold and one warm.

The pool offers warm Coke for female guests, priced at twice the price of iced Coke, specifically designed to rip off male guests who want to act like gentlemen.

Wen Kele was handed to Huo Zhixian. "It's warm, it'll warm your stomach and dispel the cold."

"Thank you." Huo Zhixian clasped her hands together, glancing at the bottle in her hands. "Can cola cure a cold?"

"It can only relieve physical discomfort; its effect is not much different from drinking plain water. Do you know the story behind Coca-Cola?"

What's the story behind it?

"Pharmacist John Pemberton, who was wounded in the Civil War and became addicted to morphine, thought of developing a non-alcoholic health alternative. He initially developed Pemberton French Coca, but after the Atlanta Prohibition Act came into effect, he removed the alcohol and changed it to a non-alcoholic formula of syrup and carbonated water, which was the earliest Coca-Cola formula."

Sin Yiu-man shook the bottle in his hand. "What we're drinking now is cola with cocaine removed. It's basically unrelated to medicine; it's just a simple beverage."

"How do you know so much about this? Did you specifically look into it?"

"Your Huo family is a shareholder of Tai Hing Company, which is why you are able to gain a foothold in Macau. There are all kinds of British people in Hong Kong: shareholders of foreign firms, senior civil servants, gold miners. For the Chinese, not all British are untouchable. Rich families face rich families, poor families face poor families. Even poor British people have to curry favor with wealthy Chinese merchants."

The Coca-Cola Company holds a position in the United States equivalent to Tai Hing Company in Macau or Tai Hong Company in Hong Kong; becoming its shareholder signifies a prestigious status in the US.

"Are you a Coca-Cola shareholder?"

“Yes.” A gust of wind blew by, and Xian Yaowen adjusted Huo Zhixian’s suit jacket. As Huo Zhixian’s face flushed with embarrassment, he said softly, “Actually, ever since I left your house, I’ve been thinking about a question: what exactly does your father see in me that makes him willing to let you marry me as a concubine? Now I have a clue.”

"What?" Huo Zhixian asked curiously.

"Does your father want to leave Macau?" Seeing the change in Huo Zhixian's expression, Xian Yaowen then asked, "To America?"

"How...how did you know?"

Xian Yaowen smiled faintly, "I just found out; you told me."

Huo Zhixian was slightly taken aback, her gaze lingering on Xian Yaowen's face. "Are you testing me?"

Sin Yiu-man nodded slightly, "Yes."

Huo Zhixian turned her head to the side, avoiding Xian Yaowen's gaze, "My father didn't tell me."

"what?"

"The marriage alliance you're guessing."

"Mr. Huo probably wants me to figure it out myself. If I figure it out, then this is how it is. If I don't, then I'm not good enough for his daughter."

Huo Zhixian brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and turned her face back. "I had a very pleasant chat with Madam Xian just now."

"Ah."

"Rumors are circulating that Mr. Xian values ​​this lady the most."

"The rumors are true. Peipei is my second wife. I took a liking to her and forced her to come back to me."

"Rob?"

"Establish the relationship in a rather domineering way, and then start dating."

"In what way?"

"These are sweet memories between Peipei and me. They're private, and I can't tell you unless Peipei tells you on her own initiative."

"Oh." Huo Zhixian paused. "Do you...do you have other women outside?"

"Yes, and there will be new ones. You can take the rumors about women seriously. I am very lustful and I want any woman I like, but I am not the kind of woman who can't walk on a woman's feet. I have no desire to have any woman, and I will never force anyone. I always adhere to the principle of mutual consent."

"You just said you would forcibly seize it."

"I misspoke. It wasn't the kind of forceful robbery you think it is. To be more accurate, it was a more oppressive approach, like asking you to make a decision right now."

Huo Zhixian nodded gently, "I understand."

"I have a plan and would like to invite you to participate."

"A business plan?"

"It's a funding program, would you like to hear about it?"

"Ah."

“I plan to sponsor impoverished students in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to pursue their studies, mainly secondary school students, and to subsidize their tuition fees from secondary school to university. If they pursue postgraduate or doctoral studies, I will continue to subsidize their tuition fees and part of their living expenses.”

"You want to cultivate scholars?"

Sin Yiu-man smiled. "I'm glad you grasped the key point right away. So, are you interested?"

"Yes." Huo Zhixian nodded with a smile.

Sin Yiu-man grabbed Fok Chi-han's arm through his suit jacket and led her further into the beach.

Even through her clothes, Huo Zhixian could still feel it; her face was burning hot and her heart was beating fast.

As he walked, Sin Yiu-man's hand naturally moved down to his elbow. His foot stepped into the half-dry, half-wet sand, slowly sinking into a footprint and stopping there. His hand slid down and gripped his wrist, which was not obstructed by his suit jacket.

"Zhixian, I want to expand the funding program, learn from the Four Lords of the Warring States, and recruit thousands of retainers with diverse talents, including even petty thieves and scoundrels."

"Thousands?" Huo Zhixian ignored the strange feeling on her wrist and began to ponder intently. "With so many people, wouldn't the investment need to exceed ten million?"

"Ten million is not enough. The plan needs to be implemented over a long period of time. As time goes by, the invested funds will accumulate and could reach hundreds of millions or even a billion."

"Mr. Xian, do you have that much money?"

"Call me Mr. or Yaowen."

"Xian... Yao, Yaowen."

"Hmm." Xian Yaowen's hand slid down again and grasped Huo Zhixian's soft hand. "I don't have that much money, but the plan is to start small and grow big, not to invest all at once. A few tens of thousands of yuan is enough to get started. How much pocket money have you saved?"

"One, more than ten thousand."

"Eleven thousand or nineteen thousand?"

"A little over sixteen thousand."

Sin Yiu-man released Fok Chi-han's soft hand, took out a checkbook and pen from his suit pocket, quickly wrote a check for HK$20,000, tore it off and placed it in Fok Chi-han's palm, "I'll put in HK$20,000, you put in HK$6,000, and we'll each have half of this plan."

"I, I..." Huo Zhixian glanced at the number on the check and stammered, "No, we'll take shares according to our investment ratio."

Xian Yaowen gently kneaded Huo Zhixian's soft hand again, "Whether it's now or in the future, our investment and shareholding ratio will be as I say. This way, you've taken advantage of me, so you should put in more effort. You'll be in charge of this plan, okay?"

Huo Zhixian's eyes widened in disbelief: "I'm in charge?"

"Yes, you're in charge."

"No, no," Huo Zhixian waved her hands repeatedly. "I can't do it."

Xian Yaowen and Huo Zhixian stood facing each other. He gently placed his hands on her small shoulders and stared into her eyes. "Zhixian, believe me, you can do it."

The intense heat emanating from Xian Yaowen's eyes burned into Huo Zhixian's heart, slowly, slowly melting it. She lowered her eyes and whispered, "I'll listen to you."

Sin Yiu-man lightly pecked Fok Chi-han's forehead, then her crescent-shaped eyebrows. The auspicious mole hidden beneath her eyebrows was revealed by his licking, revealing the hidden gem within her brows. It was like the finishing touch on a painting, a blessing for good fortune.

With his left thumb stroking Huo Zhixian's eyebrows, Xian Yaowen said with a faint smile, "I was wondering before, when I pinched you, I clearly stuck a lucky star on your face, how could it have disappeared? Turns out you hid it here."

Huo Zhixian lowered her head and said shyly, "What did you mean by pinching me?"

"My English name is Adam, Adam from the Garden of Eden."

Huo Zhixian blushed even more, "My mother and I are Buddhists."

“It’s alright. Nuwa and I are in the same profession and often exchange work experiences in private. I also have a past with Gautama Sutthana. He often comes to my house for meals and has even asked me for parenting advice.”

Huo Zhixian raised her head and glanced at her, "Don't blaspheme the name of Buddha's father."

"Ok."

Xian Yaowen took a step back, creating some distance between himself and Huo Zhixian, and took her hand as they strolled along the beach.

"Can I call you Ah Xian?"

"Ah."

Do you enjoy reading novels in the Mandarin Duck and Butterfly School?

"I don't really like it. I prefer reading serialized love stories in the newspaper, um... preferably written by female authors."

"A female perspective?"

"Ah."

"What kind of movies do you prefer, those that are sweet from beginning to end, or those with a bumpy love story?"

"I don't like things that are too sweet."

"Is it a bit bumpy?"

"It's not just bumpy, it's full of twists and turns. The male and female protagonists missed several years because of some misunderstandings. In the end, the misunderstandings were resolved and the two got together smoothly."

"Oh, is that so? Would you like to hear a love story I made up on the spot?"

"Impromptu?"

“Yes, I’ll start making this up now.” Sin Yiu-man pretended to think. “The male lead is named Huo Tingchuan, the third young master of the world-class Huo family in Macau. The second male lead is named Fu Sijiu, the second young master of the world-class Fu family in Hong Kong. The female lead is named Shen Nanzhi, and the second female lead is named Shen Xingli. They are the real and fake daughters of the Shen family, one of the four major families in Hong Kong.”

Huo Zhixian said with a smile, "Top family, real or fake heiress, sounds pretty good, hurry up and make it up."

"Wait, give me half a minute."

"Mmm." (End of Chapter)