money player

Ring ring ring—

The telephone rang crisply.

A slender, fair arm slowly emerged from the soft blankets, lazily reaching the bedside table. It picked up the receiver, still drowsy from just waking up, and softly replied, "Hello."

A moment later, the woman in bed called out towards the door, "Master, they're looking for you at home."

In the living room, Xian Yaowen picked up the receiver and held it to his ear, his tone calm and composed: "It's me."

The reply came from the other end of the phone: "Sir, the second son of the Xu family wants to meet with you."

"Understood." Xian Yaowen responded indifferently, casually hanging up the receiver, his gaze slowly returning to Lin Xingliang's face on the other end. "Go on."

"Based on news from New York and customer order feedback, we can predict that the Ivy League style will be popular next year. The suits are Sack Suit (unstructured loose-fitting suits), and the fabrics used are flannel, serge, and seersucker, all of which are standard fabrics that are easy to mass-produce."

Single-breasted design with three buttons for multiple uses; no bust darts, no shoulder pads, and a natural shoulder line; single back vent; loose-fitting cut, not tight, with a high tolerance for pattern errors.

Its main characteristics are softness, looseness, thinness, and simplicity. It does not require high-end processes such as full linen lining and is naturally suitable for standardized production lines.

The supply channels for fabric and buttons have been confirmed, and there will be no supply shortages once production begins. Our representatives in Hong Kong have already started contacting J.Press's experienced craftspeople and sales staff; we are ready to poach talent at any time.

"What about the colors and patterns?"

"The colors are navy blue and charcoal gray, and the patterns are fine checks and houndstooth."

Sin Yiu-man nodded. "How much does it differ in cost from J.Press?"

"65%."

"Make a sample, send it to the customer and potential customers, and then design the production capacity after confirming the first batch of orders."

"clear."

"continue."

Lin Xingliang pulled out a few design drafts from a stack of documents and spread them on the coffee table. “The characteristics of the Ivy shirt are a fixed button collar, loose straight cut, standard six-size grading, solid color, fine stripes, small checks, no complicated embroidery, and no irregular cuts.”

The process is very simple: cut the pieces, sew the placket, attach the buttons, attach the collar, make buttonholes, and iron.

There are only three types of fabrics: chambray, oxford cloth, and fine checkered poplin. For the first two, Zhongnan, Sanguang, and Dalong can all produce in bulk. I've already spoken with them, and as long as orders are stable, all three are willing to cooperate with us to increase production capacity.

The three companies can also produce fine checkered poplin, priced 20% lower than in the US, but production is more difficult, and upgrading production lines requires huge investments. Therefore, the three companies have not been very enthusiastic about the process.

Sin Yiu-man chuckled and said, "Want a bigger contract?"

That's what I mean.

"Put aside the fine checkered poplin for now. Send someone to visit Brooks Brothers, Arrow, and Van Heusen to try and secure as many OEM orders as possible."

Do I need to register a new company to represent me?

Sin Yiu-man waved his hand, "There's no need for that. China Garment Manufacturing is already the world's largest shirt manufacturer. It attracts attention. As long as the goods are shipped from Hong Kong, people will associate them with us. We can't hide it."

Lin Xingliang frowned and said, "I'm worried that the OEM contract will be required to include a clause 'not allowed to operate our own brand,' and that our own LVY shirt brand will be applied for under the name of an independent subsidiary in the United States?"

Sin Yiu-man smiled faintly and said, "Let's do it this way."

"The second young lady sent a telegram saying that the parrot has bypassed the patent for self-tying ties and applied for a patent for hook ties. I want to negotiate with 'One In Hand Tie Co.' with the patent and share the patent, but they want to give us half of their sales to manufacture."

"Demand trends?"

“It is projected that by next year, one out of every five ties sold on the market will be a hook tie,” Lin Xingliang said, slowly unfolding several prepared documents and pushing them in front of Xian Yaowen. “These are sales data obtained from major department stores in the United States, and the trend is crystal clear.”

Xian Yaowen picked up the documents and looked them over carefully. "Have we discussed the metal hooks?"

"We've discussed it. There are no production difficulties. Any hardware factory can produce it, and production capacity can be adjusted very flexibly."

"Very good, do it your way."

After discussing Ivy League style, the two talked about next year's women's fashion trends, setting the core theme as "Elegance Returns, Hourglass Reigns Supreme":
Shirt dresses, sleeveless fitted dresses, sun skirts, full skirts, and poodle skirts will become mainstream, while short jackets, knitted cardigans, and high-waisted trousers will also become popular.

The menswear collection will focus on a rebellious trend, with a rock style set to make a strong debut.

Girls' clothing follows a sweet and lively style:
A poodle-themed dress paired with a white shirt and knitted vest, along with saddle shoes, is a classic campus outfit; for everyday casual wear, high-waisted jeans or capri pants paired with a short top are the mainstream; a puff-sleeved dress paired with round-toe leather shoes exudes a sweet and romantic atmosphere.

After discussing fashion trends, Qu Ruiyun hurriedly arrived, and the three of them immediately changed the subject to sweaters.

Next, they discussed Yunshang Society and Fuxing, planning to take over half of the Hong Kong tailor market within the next six months.

Liao established a light-asset subsidiary, Persian Star, which specializes in producing simple Arabic robes through piecemeal outsourcing, gradually taking over the Middle Eastern clothing market.

The timeline for establishing Yellow River Socks Industry is as follows: the first sock must be produced on the production line before the end of June next year.

The company is investing in China Garment Manufacturing and gradually establishing a global production chain and sales network.

The meeting discussed the China Garment and Textile Research Institute's plans to transform China Garment from labor-intensive OEM manufacturing to capital- and technology-intensive, high-value-added manufacturing. It also outlined a strategy to "drive costs down" in preparation for the relocation of OEM factories.

One high, one low, walking on two legs.

Our conversation led to afternoon tea time, so we hurried over to the villa on Blue Pond Road.

Fei Baoshu had already prepared an exquisite afternoon tea, with a full range of teas, including mellow Ceylon black tea and rare Taiping Houkui tea.

She stood among a clump of begonias, bending down to sow sweet peas.

Xian Yaowen walked slowly behind her and asked softly, "Did I disturb you?"

Fei Baoshu took off his rubber gloves, slowly turned around, and a serene and gentle smile appeared between his brows and eyes, exuding a sense of ease and comfort from an early retirement and a life free from worries about food and clothing.

"The flowers in the yard will bloom even more profusely next spring."

Sin Yiu-man whispered, "Hug me."

Upon hearing this, Fei Baoshu stepped forward slowly and nestled gracefully into his arms. "Master, your face is covered in dust."

"Working non-stop."

"From when?"

"Last night."

"I feel sorry for you, sir. I don't want it anymore. Please rest."

"October is a great time to visit Tokyo. The autumn air is cool and comfortable, the leaves are just beginning to turn red, hot springs are in full swing, and festivals are in abundance. Let's book a plane ticket and go to Tokyo together."

I can spare half a day to go to Hakone with you, to soak in hot springs and eat kaiseki cuisine. Oh, and they have black eggs there; they have a very unique flavor.

Fei Baoshu looked up curiously: "Are they eggs with naturally black shells?"

"It's not naturally black; the eggs are cooked in hot spring water, and the minerals react chemically to turn them black."

She hesitated softly, "Would it cause trouble for the master if I went along?"

Sin Yiu-man said in a deep voice, "No."

Upon hearing this, Fei Baoshu's arms around his waist tightened slightly as she nestled comfortably in his embrace.

The quiet moment the two were cuddling together didn't last long, because the sound of a car could be heard outside the door—Michelle, whom they had arranged to meet, had arrived as promised.

Fei Baoshu gently broke free from his embrace, turned and walked into the house, while Xian Yaowen moved to the outdoor table and sat down, his fingertips casually stroking the rim of his glass, waiting for Michelle.

Michelle's car came to a smooth stop in front of the villa. She opened the car door, walked straight over, and sat down in the chair opposite Xian Yaowen, looking at him calmly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Dean Group, Jinji Trading Company".

Michelle raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on her lips, her tone a mix of amusement and certainty: "Finally, you've decided to put the most tempting piece of meat on the table?"

Do you have any money left?

"Don't doubt my ability to raise funds."

"The Dean Group has four shareholders: Grace, 30%; Judy, 10%; Erin Jomondley, 9.99%; and me, 50.01%. Princess Margaret has reached an agreement to invest. Judy and Erin will be coming over later to discuss the targeted capital increase."

Why increase capital?

"Investing in Jinji Trading Company".

"Target amount?"

"500 million pounds."

"I'll invest first, then we'll dilute the shares together and bring in Margaret?"

"uh-huh."

"Dean's valuation?"

Fifteen million pounds.

"I want to see the evaluation criteria."

“No.” Sin Yiu-man tapped his temple. “The plans that are already in progress and about to be implemented can increase cash flow to over twenty million pounds. Please note that I said cash flow, and also, the plans do not require your assistance.”

Michelle smiled upon hearing this, but a hint of inquiry lingered in her eyes. She chuckled softly, "Profits can be made as soon as you invest. The terms are too generous, Adam. This isn't like you."

Sin Yiu-man shrugged. "Consider it an early wedding gift for you."

“That’s not the real answer.” Michel slowly pulled a cigarette pack from his bag, lit one, and exhaled a smoke ring. He looked up at Sin Yiu-man, his eyes sharp and steady. “Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really want.”

Sin Yiu-man parted his thin lips slightly and uttered only three words: "Insider".

Michelle's eyes narrowed, and she immediately realized what he meant, asking directly, "You want to join the HSBC board of directors?"

Xian Yaowen responded casually with a "Hmm".

Michelle retorted almost without hesitation, her tone firm: "The timing is wrong."

“I know.” Sin Yiu-man shrugged slightly, his tone knowing, but then suddenly changed the subject, “I’m not talking about now. You have a fiancé, don’t you?”

Michelle raised an eyebrow, her tone tinged with a hint of helpless mockery: "You know perfectly well why I'm asking this."

A hint of a smile flashed across Xian Yaowen's eyes. "You don't want a marriage alliance."

Upon hearing this, Michelle did not speak immediately. She merely raised her eyes, giving him a "go on" look, while casually holding a cigarette between her fingers, waiting for him to continue.

“It’s time for our friendship to be elevated from business partners to all-round allies.” Sin Yiu-man’s tone was calm, and he looked at her sincerely. “I hope you can gain true freedom, at least the freedom to choose your own partner, without being bound by family-arranged marriages.”

“Adam, we’ve been friends for a long time, and to be honest, I have some feelings for you too, but…” Michelle paused, a hint of hesitation and melancholy flashing in her eyes, her unspoken words concealing a secret.

Xian Yaowen waved his hand gently, interrupting her, his tone revealing a clear understanding: "No need to say anything, I understand. What you want has never been a casual companionship, but a partner who is absolutely loyal to you and has no ulterior motives."

"Completely correct."

“Michelle, you’ve chosen a difficult path.” Xian Yaowen looked at her, his tone carrying a slight sigh, but without any intention of dissuading her.

Michelle smiled faintly, gently extinguishing her cigarette with her fingertips. Her tone was calm yet carried an undeniable firmness: "No matter how difficult the path is, it's the one I chose. Rather than marrying a stranger who has no feelings for me and only cares about interests, I'd rather stay true to myself. Even if it's a little lonely, I'll find peace."

“OK.” Sin Yiu-man stared into Michelle’s eyes. “Adam, and Adam, the representative of Golden Seasons Trading Company, both want to become insiders.”

"You have big ambitions for the Golden Season Trading Company, a conglomerate?"

"Yes."

Michelle picked up her teacup, her fingertips gently tracing the warm rim, and lowered her gaze for a moment before asking, "How many shares can you give me?"

“25%.” Xian Yaowen leaned back slightly, his tone as calm as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary: “Of that, you only have the right to receive 15.01% of the profits. All other related rights will be exercised by me on your behalf for a period of twenty years.”

Michelle paused, a knowing glint in her eyes, and asked with a certainty, "So, the Dean Group is just a stepping stone for you?"

Sin Yiu-man gave a faint smile, his eyes deep and his tone revealing a hint of clarity and nonchalance: "To be precise, all the businesses I currently hold could become stepping stones for my future at any time. Life is unpredictable, so we have to take it one step at a time. Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?"

Michelle took a sip of her black tea, put down her cup, and looked at him calmly, her tone both composed and shrewd: "The conditions aren't harsh, but they're not exactly generous either."

She paused for a moment, her fingertips lightly touching the rim of her glass, as if weighing the pros and cons: "I can agree, but there's one thing you must promise me: within the twenty-year period, you cannot arbitrarily dilute my shares."

“I can promise that as long as Dean has the power to speak, there will absolutely be no dilution of your shares.”

“Deal.” Michel put down his teacup and readily agreed, then sighed softly and muttered to himself, “Five million pounds, that’s no small sum.”

"I believe you have a way."

Michelle's eyes flickered, and she asked casually, "Where do you plan to invest the three million seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds?"

“The United States,” Sin Yiu-man answered succinctly.

Michelle nodded and smiled: "Looking forward to the next collaboration."

Sin Yiu-man picked up his teacup and nodded slightly in acknowledgment, "You will always be my number one fundraising target."

"Thank you, you are someone I can trust. Chung Hwa Garment, Friendship Company, and Prince Enterprise all have promising prospects."

Sin Yiu-man took a sip of tea, then put down the cup. "I won't let you down. They'll be here in about twenty minutes. I'd like to leave for a bit. Are you alright on your own?"

"Aha~" Michelle joked, "Is time so precious?"

What do you think?

Before Michelle could respond, Sin Yiu-man had already gotten up and walked into the house.

Fei Baoshu stood upright before a rosewood carved table, on which a clear copper basin held chrysanthemums, maple branches, and slender bamboo picked from the garden. He held a small pair of silver-handled scissors between his fingertips, wearing semi-transparent white gloves, his movements slow and graceful.

First, I picked a perfectly blooming golden chrysanthemum, slightly raised my arm, and carefully compared it to the curve of the blue-and-white porcelain vase. My gaze fell on the branch, and after a moment of focus, I gently snapped the silver scissors in place, the oblique blade cutting along the grain of the wood, without breaking the veins or damaging the bark, leaving a clean and crisp cut.

With her eyes lowered, she patiently pruned away the extraneous branches and yellowing leaves, leaving only the most elegant main stem and the blooming flower heads. After each cut, she would gently shake the flower stem to let the veins unfold, and then casually place them aside to arrange them in order of height, angle, and density.

Not greedy for extravagance, nor seeking overflow, but choosing only three golden chrysanthemums as the main branches, two red maples to set off the autumn, and a few slender bamboos to add charm. The pruning is very particular, with the tall branches reaching proudly into the sky, the low branches gently bowing inward, and the side branches casually slanting out, leaving enough space and blank space to create an artistic conception.

Xian Yaowen stood quietly a step behind her, watching her finish cutting all the flowers. Her fingertips gently brushed the chrysanthemum petals, wiping away the fallen petals from her lapel, her demeanor calm and serene. Then she bent down and carefully placed the flower branches one by one into the porcelain vase, adjusting the angle with her fingertips, creating a natural and harmonious arrangement without any competition.

A delicate chrysanthemum fragrance filled the room, blending into the warm autumn sunlight.

She quietly took a half step back, nestling into his embrace, gazing intently at the autumn colors in the vase, her brows relaxed. "Why did you come in, sir? Aren't you keeping the guest company?"

“Friend, no need for formalities. The guests haven’t arrived yet, so I’ll keep you company.” Xian Yaowen gently wrapped his arms around Fei Baoshu from behind, his chin resting softly on her shoulder, and teased her in a gentle voice, “How’s your luck with the lottery lately?”

Fei Baoshu sighed with frustration: "Don't even mention it. We win two games and lose one. When we win, we only win a few dozen, but when we lose, we lose hundreds. All of our grocery money for this month has been used up. For a whole week, we haven't been able to afford to buy any meat at home."

"That's terrible." Xian Yaowen gently stroked her lower abdomen with his palm and teased with a low laugh, "It seems to have really shrunk. Why don't you continue the injections for another two months and see if it will shrink back completely."

"Hmph, I'm washing my hands of gambling from this day forward, and I'll never play cards again!"

Sin Yiu-man's smile deepened: "I can believe you if you say you'll never eat again, but I don't believe you for a second if you say you'll never gamble."

Fei Baoshu stomped her foot lightly in anger, then turned her head and glared at him coquettishly: "You're just making fun of me. I'm serious. I will never play cards again."

"Okay, okay, I'm serious, I'm serious. We'll call today 'from now on,' tomorrow 'I never said,' and the day after tomorrow 'If the dog doesn't hit me, I will...'"

Fei Baoshu turned around, playfully punched him with a pout, and muttered softly, "Master is so annoying."

Xian Yaowen took her wrist and gently led her to the sofa to sit down. His free hand slowly stroked the back of her head, and he leaned down to kiss her tenderly.

After the kiss, the two did not separate immediately. Xian Yaowen gently stroked Fei Baoshu's hair with his fingertips, kissing him tenderly and lingeringly, the teasing from before gone, leaving only a heart full of doting affection.

When they separated, their breaths were still slightly ragged. Fei Baoshu's cheeks were flushed. She leaned gently on his shoulder, her fingertips unconsciously twisting his sleeve, and muttered softly, "It's all your fault. You made fun of me and bullied me."

Xian Yaowen chuckled softly, his arms tightly encircling her waist, his chin resting on the crown of her head, his voice gentle and husky: "It was my fault, I should be punished."

Fei Baoshu's eyes lit up. "How should we punish them?"

"I'm being punished by being unable to get out of bed."

Fei Baoshu chuckled and said, "I'm not that amazing."

The two of them snuggled together on the sofa, chatting idly.

Sin Yiu-man would occasionally pinch her cheek, listen to her complain about the bad luck of playing cards, and coax her with various little surprises. The autumn sun outside the window shone through the gauze curtains, casting long shadows of the two of them, filled with a subtle and comforting warmth.

A quarter of an hour passed in a flash, and Sin Yiu-man slowly walked back to the garden.

Michelle was leaning against a wicker chair, flipping through a pocket book. The cover, with its simple red background and white lettering, was clean and simple. Without even looking at the title, Sin Yiu-man recognized it as "Daughter of Time".

He sat down, gestured for the servant to make more tea, turned to Michelle, and casually asked, "You like reading mystery novels?"

Michelle closed the book, casually placed it face down on the stone table, and replied indifferently, "I wouldn't say I like it, but quite a few clients are reading it."

"It was rated as a respectable book, and its main readership was idle ladies who drank afternoon tea."

"30% of my clients are wealthy women. Is 84 Charing Cross yours?"

Why do you ask that?

"In-app advertising that is ubiquitous."

Sin Yiu-man nodded slightly and readily admitted, "You guessed right, it was indeed me who voted."

"The development momentum is very fast."

"It's just that they caught a few best-selling books."

Michelle looked up at him, her tone carrying a hint of genuine admiration: "Very good. It seems like you can accomplish anything with ease."

“I am Adam.”

Michelle chuckled. "Yes, you're Adam. There's a Perga café in the East End, isn't there?"

"That's right, to give unknown writers a place to eat."

Why the name Perga? Does it mean "scumbag" or "idiot"?

"Ha." Sin Yiu-man couldn't help but chuckle. "I neither deny nor admit it."

“A perverse sense of humor.” Michelle paused briefly, then asked, “Publishers must have very low profit margins, right?”

"So thin it's pitiful."

"Then why bother applying to publishing houses if it's just a hobby?"

"No, I'm making arrangements for film and television copyrights in advance."

Michelle gave Sin Yiu-man a resentful look, her tone tinged with reproach: "Why isn't it a subsidiary of Friendship Films?"

"The London branch office, Ode Montague, and the Paris branch office, Ode Delilleu, were both negotiated at the cost of my innocence. Boss, I've paid enough."

"The price?" Michelle raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with a playful sarcasm. "Didn't you offer yourself up willingly?"

“Being proactive is my work ethic.” Sin Yiu-man then changed the subject, “For this year’s Christmas Bonus, can I write myself a check for HK$100,000?”

“You can open two,” Michelle said slowly, a smile hidden in her eyes.

Sin Yiu-man's eyes lit up, and he immediately gave a thumbs up, exclaiming excitedly, "Boss, you're in great spirits!"

Michelle's lips curled into a sly smile. "Give me one."

"I won't approve it."

The two of them teased each other with coughs until Judy and Erin arrived.

When discussing the sale of shares, neither Judy nor Erin expressed any objection.

With his shareholding reduced to 25.01%, Xian Yaowen lost absolute control, making it easier for other shareholders to jointly check and balance him, and preventing him from frequently engaging in unilateral approval or veto maneuvers. Moreover, Grace's shareholding is higher than his, and Eileen is her ally; theoretically, Grace could replace him as chairman at any time.

Then, we discussed targeted capital increase and equity investment in Jinji Commercial Bank.

The former easily reached a consensus: an additional £500 million in capital would be injected according to shareholding ratios. Sin Yiu-man would have to contribute £125.05 million, leaving £249.95 million from the sale of shares.

As for the shareholding, Dean's side has only reached a consensus. They still need to send a business letter to Jinji Trading Company and arrange a time for the first meeting to reach an agreement before they can move forward.

This matter is unlikely to be rushed because the most crucial valuation is not easy to reach a consensus on. Sin Yiu-man is caught in the middle and cannot speak up. If he values ​​the company too high or too low, he will offend one of the shareholders. The valuation can only be determined by the other shareholders of Kam Kwai Commercial.

After the other three left, he immediately started working on a valuation model—he didn't participate in the specific scoring and numerical calculations, but he provided formulas and standards so that other shareholders would understand how to calculate the value of each business segment.

I went to Li Zhiqing's place for dinner. Besides visiting him, I also explained to this benefactor's mother where the money had gone, what it had been used for, and what it was going to be used for.

After fooling Li Zhiqing, it was Zhou Ruoyun's turn.

Pregnant women are often a little irritable, which is perfectly normal. Zhou Ruoyun is a good person; her temper doesn't change much. She just tends to overthink things, so it's very important to comfort and help her.

Zhou Ruoyun hummed the tender and melodious verses again and again, while the passionate and flushed chorus was quietly reserved for Su Lizhen.

At 9:00 AM, I drove to the Hong Kong manufacturing group, picking up some food for the research institute staff who were still working overtime. Immediately afterwards, I convened an impromptu meeting with Hu Xiaoqing and Yuan Jifa to specifically discuss the follow-up marketing and promotion of several products: electric fans, wattage heaters, electric kettles, and coffee makers.

After an hour and a half of meeting, they moved to Shanghai Street to meet Liu Rongju for a late-night snack and to inquire about the situation in North Korea from this good friend and most beloved person of the North Korean people.

I didn't eat much, but I indulged in a bottle of beer, leaving half a bottle to raise sharks, thus bringing a perfect end to a busy day.

As the sun rose again, he took Wang Xiamin out for breakfast, trying his best to balance the somewhat messy meal, before taking Fei Baoshu's hand and boarding the flight for their long journey. (End of Chapter)