money player

"Jiacheng, Miss Li."

"Yaowen".

"Please come in, please come in."

Xian Yaowen led Zhuang Jiacheng and Li Mingyue inside, without mentioning that Li's father, Li Jing'an, would also be coming over later.

When Zhuang's mother and Zhuang Jiacheng fell into hardship, Li Jing'an was willing to help them, but strongly opposed Li Mingyue and Zhuang Jiacheng dating. Her reason was straightforward and stubborn: they were not a good match.

"Yaowen, I heard from Manager Xiao that the orders for plastic flowers from the United States have doubled."

"When did you hear that?"

"The day before yesterday."

“I haven’t received any relevant reports yet.” Xian Yaowen paused briefly, then looked up at Zhuang Jiacheng. “What are your thoughts?”

Is the market size for artificial flowers in the United States large?

"It can only be said that it has great potential. At present, the mainstream artificial flower market is still paper flowers and silk flowers, and the overall market size is probably between five million and eight million US dollars."

"What about Europe?"

Xian Yaowen paused, his gaze revealing a hint of understanding: "You plan to personally explore the European market?"

"We do have this plan." Zhuang Jiacheng nodded calmly, "The sudden surge in American orders shows that the plastic flower business is viable and we shouldn't stick to the old ways."

Paper flowers and silk flowers are prone to fading due to moisture, while plastic flowers are durable, attractive, and inexpensive. Given the high cost of living in Europe, they are likely to find a market.

I want to go there myself to find out the local preferences, market conditions, and distribution channels.

Sin Yiu-man nodded slightly. "It's a good idea. You can give it a try. Have you decided which country to go to first?"

Jinji Trading currently only exclusively undertakes plastic flower orders from Joseph Markowitz Company in the United States. It has neither expanded its cooperation with other customers in the United States, nor has it ever ventured into or developed the European market.

The reason for the inaction is that several issues have held us back:

Firstly, the technology for making plastic flowers is still immature, resulting in poor texture, stiffness, and easy cracking, making it impossible to produce soft, realistic petals.

If the product is not mature, vigorously expanding the market would be a thankless task.

Secondly, plastic flowers are classified as light industrial decorative products, and European tariffs can eat up most of the profits. Furthermore, luxury consumption is not encouraged, and customs clearance costs are quite high.

Third, there is a complete lack of distribution channels. European local florists and department stores have closed supply chains, reject unfamiliar new products from the Far East, and there are no sample exhibitions or industry exhibitions.

Fourth, the small market size leads to excessively high logistics costs. Plastic flowers are delicate, and their packaging and transportation conditions are even more demanding than those for glass products.

Fifth, and most importantly, is the bias in European consumer aesthetics.

The deep-rooted notion among the upper and middle classes is that plastic equals cheap industrial products, low-end goods, and is not suitable for formal occasions. Home decorations, banquets, weddings, and high-end florists reject plastic materials.

This concept is hard to break, and the market needs to be cultivated slowly. However, plastic flowers do not have a high technical threshold and are unlikely to form brands. Once all kinds of flowers bloom, they will most likely fall into the most disgusting price war. The possibility of pioneers reaching the top is far less than becoming stepping stones.

In conclusion, being one step ahead or becoming a pioneer is not very meaningful.

“Starting in the UK is the safest option, and I plan to explore London first.”

“I own properties in London and Paris, and I also have cars. Feel free to use them if you come. If you need a local guide, no problem, I can introduce you to reliable people.”

"Yaowen, you have businesses in both London and Paris?"

"It's just some scattered business being done there, nothing to mention."

Zhuang Jiacheng didn't believe Xian Yaowen's words at all. If it were just a small business, Xian Yaowen wouldn't be away from home all year round. Xian Yaowen's level of achievement was clearly beyond Zhuang Jiacheng's reach. The path to success that Zhuang Jiacheng dared to imagine was merely the starting point that Xian Yaowen had already taken.

"Yaowen, you go ahead and get busy. Mingyue and I will look around."

"it is good."

……

"Adam".

"William, it's been a long time."

"Adam, let's talk about what happened last time."

“William, my conditions will not change. If you can accept them, we can continue our discussion.”

“I can accept it.”

"OK, get the money ready, let's move on."

……

"Brother Hong."

"Yaowen".

Why did you come alone?

"Jenny is throwing a tantrum."

"why?"

"Ugh!"

"Oh, for that person."

“Hmm.” Hong Yingdong looked melancholy. “I went to see her last night, and Yanni smelled her perfume when I got home.”

"Didn't your sister-in-law already know you had a white moonlight?"

"What white moonlight?"

"White Rose".

Hong Yingdong shook his head. "I still don't understand."

"lover."

Hong Yingdong understood and said helplessly, "She's not my lover, and it just so happens that Yanni has a temper."

"learn."

Hong Yingdong said sourly, "Yaowen, I envy you."

“There’s nothing to envy. Fortune and misfortune are always intertwined. If you have all the good fortune in the world, you’ll naturally have to pay the price in other areas.” Xian Yaowen put his arm around Hong Yingdong’s shoulder and said with an ambiguous look, “I heard you’ve gotten so big that you can sign bills at Ritz Garden. You’re a big spender. To thank you for your patronage, I’ll give you two bottles of good wine and two girls.”

Tell me, what kind of person do you want?

“I’m not interested in that kind of woman,” Hong Yingdong said solemnly.

"Hahaha." Sin Yiu-man laughed loudly, teasing, "Keep pretending, keep acting all serious. Should I call someone over so they can expose you right there?"

Hong Yingdong said irritably, "Stop teasing me. Don't you know what kind of person I am? It's fine to play along in those romantic settings, but I have no interest in messy affairs."

"Alright, I'll give you some face. Are you buying land lately?"

"I bought a few small plots of land."

"Good."

"I don't quite understand Jinwu Real Estate's approach. You should be able to easily come up with a few million, so why do you need to raise funds?"

"The timing is wrong; we lack all the right factors: favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious relationships."

"Then why not wait and see for two years?"

"We can't wait. Good land is limited. If we don't enter the fray now, we might not be able to get it later, and even if we do, we'll have to pay an exorbitant price."

"Using someone else's chicken to lay eggs?"

"No, but pretty much the same."

Give me some advice.

After a moment's thought, Sin Yiu-man said, "Do what you can, and find a balance between your capital and expectations of currency devaluation."

Hong Yingdong was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't keep my money in the bank."

"Can you spare one million?"

"can."

"Lend it to me, 15% annual interest, or I'll manage it for you, and we'll split the profits 50/50."

Will it break even?

Xian Yaowen chuckled and said, "I can guarantee the principal, but I won't share the profits from high-risk operations with you. If you want high returns, you have to take on high risks. It's fair."

"In the worst-case scenario, how much will we lose? Will we lose everything?"

"No, I'll cut my losses if I lose 30%."

"I'd like to try and have the money delivered tonight?"

"No rush, it takes time to finalize the contract."

"We don't need a contract between us."

“Even close brothers should keep clear accounts; business is business. When the funds are redeemed, I will provide you with a report explaining where your money has been.”

"it is good."

……

Not many wedding invitations were sent out, but the influx of uninvited guests was overwhelming. Almost all the prominent Chinese police officers in the force came, including Yao Mu, Liu Fu, Lu Dingtang, Shi Lirong, Situ Zhiren, Li Minyou, Han Sen, Lan Gang, and Lu Le...

The police station alone added four tables.

An extra table was added to the Western-style dining table, and five or six chief inspectors, two superintendents, and one chief superintendent arrived.

Then, more Chinese police officers came over, offering red envelopes just to get some exposure.

All guests are welcome. Since everyone has come, it would be wrong for the Xian family not to be able to drink the wedding wine, so we can only add another table.

Fortunately, we had prepared in advance and were fairly well-prepared, so we were able to handle it. However, a new worry has arisen: those who came today may not come to next month's event, and with this comparison, Xu Wanyi might have some reservations.

Quite a few people from the film industry were also there, including those from Friendship Film Company and other companies. Xia Meng, who recently rose to fame, came, not as a celebrity, but as Lin Baocheng's girlfriend.

I had heard before that Lin Baocheng was pursuing Xia Meng, but I didn't expect their relationship to develop so quickly, to the point where they could even use the guise of family to exchange favors.

Lan Yingying arrived, not because she wanted to, but because her "new boyfriend" wanted to. Because of the generous red envelope, Xian Yaowen chatted with him for a few minutes.

The renowned detective Ng Man-tat also made an appearance, and his impromptu, nonsensical comedy earned Tsao Ta-hua a significant increase in his salary.

Many people have come.

The welcoming work ended at six o'clock, and it was time to start the banquet, but the banquet could not be started at all.

The dealer in Pai Gow had a strange streak, sometimes winning big and sometimes losing big, with luck alternating between the two, attracting a lot of people. A table was surrounded by nine layers of people, and the shouts were deafening.

Mahjong is similar. Every guest is screened, so there are no cheaters sneaking in to beg for food. There is a basic foundation of trust, so it is very easy to find a partner. There is no shortage of players, only four plus N. As soon as a seat becomes available, someone will immediately fill in.

Some will gamble, some will socialize; let's not rush to start the meal. First, let's serve some juice, soft drinks, char siu buns, and wonton noodles.

And so it wasn't until 9:15 that the banquet began.

Sin Yiu-man sat for a quarter of an hour and then immediately left. If he didn't leave, the banquet would become a scene of chaos, with the inevitable tricks of lighting cigarettes and making the bride drink on his behalf. There was also the "incestuous father-in-law" act, where the real father-in-law was not present, but he was the one who acted as the father-in-law, wearing a red hat, carrying an ashes rake, and having his face painted with big graffiti, forcing him to give the bride a red envelope and say auspicious words.

As the saying goes, "three days is no big deal," and the more a commotion they cause, the more auspicious it is for the husband. As long as it's not vulgar, the bride has to put up with it. Moreover, it's the eldest brother; no one will go easy on him. They'll definitely have their fun with him.

If you don't run now, when will you?

He went to bed early in Building 5 and had a high-quality intimate encounter with Cai Jinman.

When he woke up again, he was lying in a room at the Peninsula Hotel, with Pauline Gao Dai's long leg draped lazily over him, sleeping peacefully.

He gently moved away, removing the restraints from his body, and lowered his head to place a soft kiss on her smooth forehead. Then he gazed at her sleeping face with quiet contemplation.

Fifty hours was the countdown to their separation. She understood, and he understood. Afterward, it was unlikely that the two would end up in bed together again. Their brief romantic relationship would be over, leaving only a mutually beneficial partnership.

A moment later, his kiss landed gently again, from her smooth forehead to her upturned nose, then slowly brushing across her delicate cheeks, and finally lightly covering her lips.

The kiss deepened, tracing a path down the jawline to the long neck and delicate collarbone, tender and lingering with every step.

She woke up.

"One more time?"

There was no answer; my mouth was too busy.

At the agreed time, he enjoyed morning tea with Qi Dezun in a private room at Shanjinlou Restaurant.

In just half an hour, a cooperation agreement was reached. Jin Fugui Holdings contacted Philip Cassidy and other minority shareholders to acquire no less than 20% of the shares and hand over the relevant decision-making power to Qi Dezun.

In addition, negotiations with Madden and his son will result in a slight transfer of some of the absolute power held by Defeng to Qidezun.

In addition, he gave Qi Dezun a suggestion: to separate the real estate-related assets from other assets and inject them into an independent subsidiary to facilitate future operations.

Without the mainland market, the value of foreign firms was greatly reduced. If it weren't for the fact that most of the prime land was in the hands of foreign firms, he would have no interest in investing in any of them.

After hearing this, he went to the Qingshan Hotel on Qingshan Road.

The Qingshan Hotel was originally an asset of Li Caifa, which he acquired along with the Lizhi Garden. Due to its poor location and limited potential, he had never been involved in its operation. Two months ago, the hotel was sold to an automobile club, and the business strategy was changed.

The Qingshan Hotel changed its name to Dashao Hotel and established a rule: it will not accept customers over the age of 35, and will not accept single customers who are not members of the car club.

With a name like "Da Shao Hotel," its main target customers are naturally wealthy young men and their female companions, and its profit points extend outwards from "racing".

Sin Yiu-man stood on the second-floor corridor of the hotel, gazing down into the distance. Large puddles of muddy water had accumulated at the bottom of the valley, forming depressions that resembled lakes but weren't quite lakes. Two old sampans were stranded on the shallow shore, quietly moored in the twilight, exuding a sense of desolation and loneliness.

In one of the cabins, a man and a woman were doing their morning exercise.

Jiang Manyun, the hotel manager who came from Shanghai, stood beside Xian Yaowen. She was thirty-eight years old and had worked for many years as the deputy director of the housekeeping department at the Shanghai International Hotel.

After watching for a while, just as he was about to blow bubbles, Sin Yiu-man turned his gaze to the swimming pool. It was still early, but there were already six or seven men and women in the pool, kissing each other as if no one else was around, and the man who couldn't find a partner was rubbing against someone else's.

"Manager Jiang, what's going on?"

"There was a match last night, and many guests stayed overnight."

"Where's the woman? Did the guest bring her himself?"

"The two are free-rising sparrows."

"Next time they appear, investigate their background. If they're just prostitutes, we'll let it go. But if they're just trying to make money, we'll have to provide a medical report."

"Ok."

"I'm going down for a couple of laps, then I'll go taste the food and get ready."

"Yes."

Sin Yiu-man went down the stairs and headed straight for the open-air parking lot.

Upon entering the venue, one is greeted by a neat and orderly array of sports cars, their streamlined bodies gleaming with a cool sheen under the light.

The strong smell of gasoline, the rich aroma of engine oil, and the faint acrid smell of burning tires mingled and intertwined in the air, all rushing into my nostrils.

He walked straight to a flashy red sports car, past various brands of sports cars, and it was his car, and his model, the one and only "Aston Martin-Adam" in the world.

He walked to the car door, grabbed the door handle, and lifted it up, causing the door to rotate and rise.

This is a scissor door design that shouldn't exist in the current climate; it's unique and won't appear on other cars for a long time. It's not that it's technically difficult, but rather that there's no market demand.

He got into the driver's seat, pulled the door lock behind him, and gently pressed the red electric start button with his fingertips.

Instantly, the engine roared, and he whistled at Xie Tingyun, "Sweetheart, come on up, I'll show you how to drive an Adam with one hand."

Xie Tingyun chuckled and said, "Are you flirting with me?"

Sin Yiu-man slowly took out his sunglasses from his pocket and put them on. His slender fingers gently pressed the frames down, revealing a playful smile in his eyes. His tone was lazy yet arrogant: "That's right, sweetheart, the woman in the world who understands me best and knows me best."

Xie Tingyun rolled her eyes in annoyance, but couldn't help but purse her lips slightly. She reached out and opened the passenger door, got in, and slammed the door shut behind her.

These days there's no electronic fuel injection, only carburetors. He couldn't bear to mess with his beloved car, so he had to leave it idling.

I'll just have a quick chat with Xie Tingyun. (End of Chapter)