money player

A few minutes later, in the private room by the window, Mori Taikichiro sat upright like a pine tree.

He was nearly forty-seven years old, thin and frail, wearing a dark gray custom-made suit that was pressed perfectly, with the collar neatly trimmed and without any unnecessary embellishments.

His back was ramrod straight, his posture upright and dignified, neither leaning nor slouching. His face was thin and refined, his eyebrows and eyes light and distant, exuding the calm, self-possessed, and unworldly scholarly air of a schoolteacher.

Xian Yaowen picked up the rough porcelain teapot, his wrist steady, and slowly poured hot tea for Mori Taijiro. The tea steamed, wisps of heat rising from it, blurring the small distance between the two.

He put down the teapot, leaned forward slightly, and said with a serious and earnest look in his eyes: "Professor, I have known of your name since I took office as a strategic advisor for Matsunaga Construction at the beginning of this year, and I have been paying attention to you silently."

Matsunaga Construction believed that the Japanese economy would take off, and that land in city centers and suburbs would appreciate in value in the near future—no, more accurately, skyrocket.

I have this insight, the professor has this insight, and even the Chinese who came to Japan to seek their fortune have this insight.

In Edogawa and Ota, in those neglected, low-lying areas that others looked down upon, they acquired idle farmland, old samurai houses, and bankrupt small landowners' residences piece by piece. This approach minimized financial pressure, kept them inconspicuous, and made them less likely to be intercepted.

After acquiring the land, they simply level it, divide it into plots, and sell the plots to Chinese or local people who build their own wooden houses, making a profit from the price difference. Alternatively, they can choose a slightly better location, build a simple two-story wooden shack apartment, and rent it out to workers and office workers, ensuring a stable monthly cash flow.

Yesterday, I invited their leaders to dinner and proposed a collaboration to establish Songqing Construction, dedicated to developing underdeveloped and niche markets. Everything is ready now, except for a visionary president.

He spoke solemnly, enunciating each word clearly: "I have come to sincerely invite the professor to assume the position of president of Songqing Construction Company."

Mori Taikichiro did not reply immediately, but his eyelashes drooped slightly, his gaze falling on the tea leaves floating in the cup. He was always cautious by nature, always thinking things through carefully before making any promises.

After a moment, he slowly raised his eyes, his voice low and his pace even, gentle and polite, yet with an unyielding self-control in his bones, "Lord Takano's high regard and great favor are undeserved, and I am deeply grateful."

He raised his hand and gently picked up the teacup, taking a small sip. His fingertips moved with refined restraint, without a trace of a businessman's eagerness: "I have spent half my life between the podium and the desk, doing scholarship and teaching. I am used to a quiet and simple life. I am not good at the social interactions, dealings, and entanglements of fame and fortune in the business world, and I have no intention of getting involved."

Sin Yiu-man had anticipated his refusal, and immediately raised his hand slightly, his expression becoming even more earnest: "Professor, please don't be so modest. I'm inviting you to be the president of the association not so that you can attend banquets and social events every day and pursue business. I only need your vision to make long-term plans for Songqing Construction and control the direction of development. As for social obligations, my deputy will take care of that for you."

Upon hearing this, Mori Taikichiro pursed his lips slightly, shook his head gently, his expression remaining calm, yet his stance was clear: "In the business world, profit comes first. Once you are in a high position, you can no longer act as you please. I am by nature reserved and modest, I dislike rash expansion, and I do not wish to get involved in factional disputes."

He looked up at the street scene outside the window, his gaze sweeping over the simple wooden houses along the street and the passersby who came and went to make a living. His voice became a little deeper, carrying the inherent perseverance and ideals of a scholar: "When it comes to building houses, I have always believed in one thing: they must be sturdy, stable, and able to protect the common people. I agree with this principle and am willing to offer my opinions."

"But to ask me to stand in the position of president, to be in the vortex of the business world, to deal with all sorts of personal relationships and power struggles, is really against my nature, and I'm also afraid of letting down Mr. Takano's high expectations."

Looking at his calm and indifferent expression, Xian Yaowen could tell that it wasn't a feigned refusal, but rather that he genuinely had no desire for power or profit.

He really wanted to curse him out. In this childish game of becoming the world's richest man, the guy who surpassed Gates and became the world's richest man for two consecutive years was now acting all high and mighty. Unfortunately, he had never paid much attention to real estate tycoons and was completely clueless about Mori Taikichiro's life story. He had no idea when this guy had stopped being so aloof.

He sighed softly, his eyes filled with regret: "I knew long ago that you, Professor, were a man of noble character who did not care about worldly fame. But in the current chaotic situation, there are too few people with knowledge, principles, and long-term vision. I really don't want to miss out on someone like you."

He softened his tone, leaving room for maneuver, and adopted a humble demeanor: "Today I will not force the professor to give an immediate answer. You just need to calm down and think it over slowly. The position of president of Songqing Construction will always be reserved for you. Whenever you come to a conclusion, this will be valid."

Mori Taikichiro bowed slightly, his demeanor measured and his expression calm: "Thank you for your kind words, Lord Takano. I will remember this kindness."

If Song Qing ever encounters any difficulties in land assessment, building construction, or planning, I am willing to offer my advice and assistance as a friend, doing my bit in the process.

As for the heavy responsibility of becoming president, I really dare not accept it.

Upon hearing this, Xian Yaowen smiled faintly, leaned back a few feet, his expression calm and composed, his tone gentle yet measured: "It is a great fortune for Song Qing and me to have the professor advise us privately as a friend."

Since the professor has made up his mind, I will no longer insist on a position or title. I only hope to receive his insightful advice from him in the future and work together to await the rise of the Japanese real estate market.

When the pleasantries were over, the meal was finished, and everyone had left, Sin Yiu-man remained seated without moving.

He took out Mori Taikichiro's resume again, turned to the list of land holdings under his name, and carefully analyzed and judged each item with a deep gaze.

Once he sets his sights on someone, he's determined to have them. If gentle persuasion fails, then he'll have to find another way, manipulating the situation step by step to force them into his trap.

After sitting for a few minutes and having made up his mind, he left.

Having signed a contract with Bao Jinju, Victor didn't need to handle it personally. He had already partnered with renowned lawyer Mitsui Tatsuji to establish the Tokyo branch of Mitsui Victor, responsible for legal matters in Japan.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

He arrived at the men's and women's shirt section of the Matsuya Ginza flagship store and saw that the Guiguzi brand occupied most of the area, which made him quite happy. Then he noticed that the Good Luck brand also occupied a large space, which made him even happier.

When he reached the corner and picked up a few shirts, his mood plummeted.

Look at the edges, the stitching, and the buttons—definitely made in Hong Kong. This is stealing business! Don't we, the Yamato people, have any self-respect? The mighty Great Eastern Empire, can't we even make a decent shirt?
Damn it, let's boycott Hong Kong goods, starting with me.

He whispered in Xie Tingyun's ear, "Contact the people in Tokyo for the MLM company and have them investigate how the Hong Kong-made shirts came in. If they were smuggled, find out which port they landed at."

"Ok."

After ending the conversation, he examined the shirt in his hand from all angles, but he couldn't see any label or tell which manufacturer made it.

He hadn't paid attention to Hong Kong's garment factories for a while and had become a bit out of touch. Going back six months, he could not only tell the craftsmanship of Hong Kong-made products, but also identify which specific manufacturer produced them.

Japan does not produce cotton domestically, and after the war, the cotton supply was entirely controlled by the United States. Previously, the United States had imposed export quota controls on Japan, strictly limiting the supply.

Most of Japan's textile enterprises were destroyed in the war, and their postwar production capacity was slow to recover, remaining in a state of constant shortage. Adding to the problem, there was also a shortage of cotton raw materials, with US quota restrictions acting like a shackle, effectively cutting off the supply of raw materials.

As a result, the shortage of production capacity and raw material shortages offset each other, forming a fragile and strange balance—to produce more, there was no cotton; to produce less, the equipment was idle. The two sides were mutually restraining, and neither side could easily break the deadlock.

For the past few years, Japan has been short of fabric, resulting in a shortage of clothing on the market, which naturally led to high demand.

American cotton has always been more expensive than Indian cotton, and the labor costs in Japan are much higher than in Hong Kong, which makes the overall cost of Hong Kong-made shirts as low as 60-70% lower than that of Japanese-made shirts.

In the first three months of this year, international cotton prices soared due to speculative capital. Good Luck and its OEM Guiguzi shirts seized the opportunity to penetrate the Japanese market, with major department stores vying to stock them. They had no worries about sales, only about insufficient supply and high demand.

By the end of March, cotton prices had plummeted. As new cotton entered the market in July and August, the United States took the opportunity to cancel cotton export quotas, and a massive amount of American cotton flooded the global market, causing cotton prices to fall to rock bottom.

Previously, Toyo Garment Industry had been constrained by cotton quotas and limited production capacity. Now, with the sudden opening up of raw material supply and a significant drop in production costs, the overwhelming cost advantage of Hong Kong-made products has been greatly weakened.

Daiwa Garments immediately increased its production capacity, and the proportion of self-produced products under the Guiguzi brand continued to rise.

At a time when lucrative orders were returning to Japan and Hong Kong-made products could only be downgraded to "good quality and low price" orders, he was quite averse to other Hong Kong-made products coming in to disrupt the market, as the profits were already dwindling.

After browsing the shirt section, Sin Yiu-man went to the toy section and bought a tin toy B-26 Marauder bomber sold by Bandai.

three o'clock.

He walked into the Café de Saint Paul, went straight to the seat that Ryunosuke Akutagawa had sat in for more than ten years, ordered a cup of dark roast Brazilian black coffee that Akutagawa loved, and borrowed a copy of Akutagawa's "Night-Blooming Jasmine" from the coffee girl.

His fingertips traced the pages, and he turned directly to the short story "Christ in Nanjing".

He intended to capitalize on the popularity of "Rashomon" by adapting the novel into a film.

He didn't particularly favor this piece of writing; what truly caught his attention was the hidden yet glaring core element of the story—syphilis.

Yes, he wants to insert advertisements again to pave the way for Elizabeth Hospital to enter Japan.

As he finished reading a page and raised his hand to turn the page, a familiar figure suddenly flashed past him out of the corner of his eye.

He instinctively turned his head and saw that it was indeed an old acquaintance—Masako Yamaguchi. She was wearing a café uniform with an apron over it, the pockets of which were bulging as if she were carrying a lot of things.

Sin Yiu-man took out a ten-yen bill and gently placed it on the table, then raised his hand and beckoned to her. Masako Yamaguchi immediately strode over, her eyes sparkling with a bright and lively smile.

"I'm so happy to see you again."

The greeting sounded strangely familiar, vaguely echoing the tone he'd heard in the Tokyo hot springs. After a moment's thought, Xian Yaowen spoke softly to her, "Give me a Bauhinia flower."

"Hay."

Masako Yamaguchi responded in a low voice, and under the cover of moving the coffee cup, she quickly pulled a cigarette from her apron pocket, skillfully hid it under the cup holder, and then casually picked up the ten-yen bill from the table.

Xian Yaowen saw this and chuckled softly, "What time do you get off work?"

"Ten o'clock."

"I'll pick you up and take you out for a late-night snack."

"Hay."

Overjoyed, Masako Yamaguchi bowed slightly and then turned and left quietly.

Reunited with the person she had been longing for, and even invited to a late-night dinner, she couldn't hide her joy. Her steps were lighter than before, and her heart was filled with an indescribable shyness and anticipation.

Xian Yaowen found it strange that he would run into this girl every time he came to Tokyo, a city so big. Since it was a fateful encounter, he decided not to resist it. If he couldn't avoid it, he would just try to get closer.

After reading two more pages, a fragrant breeze wafted into his nose. He looked up and saw Jessica Clark standing opposite him.

"sit."

Jessica sat down opposite him, and with a flick of her pinky, the cigarette from under the cup holder came into her hand. "Adam, you don't smoke, so why did you buy a Loosey cigarette?"

"I produced it."

Upon hearing this, Jessica twirled her cigarette and glanced at the label. "Is it good?"

"You can give it a try."

Jessica lit a cigarette, took a small drag, and the smoke slowly drifted from her lips. "Not bad."

Sin Yiu-man nodded slightly. "Did you go to Bandaiya this morning?"

"uh-huh."

"What are your thoughts?"

"Worth investing in."

What do you think Bandaiya's valuation is?

"1.5 billion yen."

"What is the current state of Bandai-ya?"

"The B-26 Marauder bomber is selling very well. Bandai's production capacity is insufficient, and orders are booked until the middle of next year. They are in dire need of funds to expand production."

"The character of Naoharu Yamashina?"

“He is assertive, controlling, miserly, and pragmatic; he doesn’t want others to interfere with his decisions.”

"Is it best not to get involved in the day-to-day management of Bandaiya?"

"I think so."

Sin Yiu-man picked up his coffee cup, took a slow sip, and turned to look at the street scene outside the window. After a moment, he looked away and said calmly, "Negotiations tomorrow morning?"

"nine thirty."

“I’ll find an Allied officer to drive you, and a Yakuza to accompany you. You need to make Yamashina Naoharu understand that we can easily replicate a Bandaiya in Tokyo.”

"By agreeing to our investment, he can obtain the funds needed for expansion, distribution channels beyond Japan, and a mature overseas distribution network."

"So, how should I quote a price?"

"45 million yen, 4500% of the shares, plus a one-year interest-free loan of US$20, no interference in daily operations, and the right to participate in major matters."

"Would he agree to a valuation cut of 5000 million yen?"

"They'll agree. Don't forget you have another bargaining chip."

"Authorized production?"

"uh-huh."

Jessica shrugged. "I'll prepare properly tonight."

"Are you still in contact with Brad?"

"I haven't been in contact with him since he went to Brazil."

"You have a new boyfriend?"

“No.” Jessica shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about it anytime soon. I plan to focus all my energy on work. I’ve been staying at hotels for the past two days. Do you have any recommendations?”

"Tempura, eel rice, and tonkatsu are things you're more likely to accept. You can also try nigiri sushi and yakitori. As for other things..." Sin Yiu-man shrugged. "I don't know if you can handle them. You can wander around here at night; there are quite a few restaurants that stay open until late."

Aren't you going to invite me to dinner?

"It might not work; I've made plans with my wife."

Jessica smiled slyly. "Which one? Matsuda?"

"No."

How many wives do you have here?

"secret."

"Does Cen know?"

"You have too many questions."

"what."

It was five o'clock at dusk.

The rain slanted down, and Nagumo Keiko, dressed in a black dress with gold-embroidered sleeves, stood beside the stone lantern in the courtyard. In her hand, she held a brownish-brown snake-eye umbrella, its thirty-six bamboo ribs supporting tung oil-coated paper, the gold-threaded snake-eye pattern in the center of the umbrella's surface appearing and disappearing in the rain and mist.

The night rain was slightly cool, and she stood quietly, waiting for that figure she hadn't seen for so long.

Suddenly, she heard the screeching of car brakes, and in an instant, a black umbrella with a bat pattern slowly approached her. Under the eaves stood the man she had been longing for day and night.

A gentle smile immediately spread across Nagumo Keiko's face as she slowly stepped forward to greet her, softly saying, "You're back. You must be tired from traveling in the rainy night."

Xian Yaowen closed his umbrella, stepped sideways and quietly walked under it. His gaze fell on her gentle and beautiful features, and his tone was gentle yet tender, "Why are you waiting outside on a rainy day?"

With her eyes lowered and a faint smile on her lips, Keiko Nagumo spoke softly and gently, "I was worried that you might forget the way home."

“I won’t forget.” Sin Yiu-man ran his index finger along her lips. “Is dinner ready?”

"Not yet, the hot water is ready."

Are you hungry?

"Hai~"

Her jade-like legs were like natural thieves, silently stealing away the fleeting years and robbing men of their hearts and lives. The only backlash she could suffer was a faint bruise between her knees.

Sin Yiu-man didn't like to show off his abilities. He stopped moving knowingly, and before anyone knew it, he and Nagumo Keiko were standing in front of the stove. He was making cuts on the sea bream, and she was gently wiping the dirt off the matsutake mushrooms with a dry cloth.

"Asahi Natto Honpo has been acquired, and Takanashi Natto and Dainagon Honpo are currently being acquired."

"Where are the soybeans from to make the highest quality natto?"

"Manchurian soybeans are made with gold. Natto made with gold is long and stringy, exceeding 4 feet in length. It is sticky, has a distinct sweet aftertaste, and a pure fermented aroma."

"What about American beans?"

"The strands are short, less than a foot long, with weak stickiness, no aftertaste, a mixed fermented aroma, and a slight musty smell." After wiping the matsutake mushrooms, Nangumo Keiko picked up a knife and peeled off the hard skin at the base.

Sin Yiu-man grabbed a handful of fine salt and sprinkled it evenly on both sides of the sea bream fillet, then casually set it aside to marinate. He then took a piece of kelp and carefully wiped away the surface dust and sand with a dry cloth.

Are Northeast soybeans more expensive than American soybeans on the black market?

“Domestic soybeans are the most expensive, followed by Mancangjin soybeans, and American soybeans are the cheapest.” Nagumo Keiko took a clay pot, filled it with some water, and soaked the kelp that Xian Yaowen had cleaned in the pot.

"The information I received is that the purchase price of soybeans in Northeast China is $27-36 per ton, which is equivalent to $80-90 per ton for barter trade with the Soviet Union, lower than the international price."

"Can we get a price of $90?"

“We can negotiate a lower price if we pay in foreign currency.” Xian Yaowen stopped what he was doing. “It’s just that the Japanese have been eating natto made from soybeans from Northeast China for so many years that they can tell what kind of soybeans it is made from just by tasting it. If it’s smuggled in, we can’t hide it.”

Keiko Nagumo thought for a moment and said, "Contact the Left Wing Trading Company, import a portion through official channels, and then announce to the public that there has been a breakthrough in natto production technology. We can now produce the same quality as before with a full warehouse of gold-coated American soybeans."

Xian Yaowen nodded slightly, "That's a solution, but the production process must be authentic, otherwise it won't stand up to scrutiny."

"I'll talk to Saito Kozo tomorrow."

Sin Yiu-man took a piece of beef and sliced ​​it thinly. As he sliced, he said, "Natto is not a necessity and will not affect people's livelihoods, but it is indispensable to many people, making it perfect for monopolistic practices."

Daiwa Natto Holdings comprises three independent, competing natto companies. Starting in Tokyo, they expanded nationwide, squeezing out local natto shops and ultimately controlling the national natto market.

Keiko Nagumo nodded. "At what stage will we begin recruiting shareholders?"

"After the three-party structure is established."

Keiko Nagumo cut off a piece of tender bluefin tuna and held it to Sin Yiu-man's lips with her slender hand. "Anata, eat."

Xian Yaowen lowered his head slightly, opened his mouth to take a piece of fish, tasted it for a moment, and said lightly, "The taste is so-so."

"Is it just average?" Keiko Nagumo asked in surprise. "This is top-grade bluefin tuna caught in Shimane."

"Isn't the best bluefin bream the ones that migrate through winter in Oma, Aomori?"

“It’s not fishing season yet.” Keiko Nagumo paused. “Anata, once the San Francisco contract officially takes effect, I think the MacArthur line will be abolished. What do you think about Uyato Trading Company starting to develop deep-sea fishing now?”

"How should it be laid out?"

Keiko Nagumo organized her thoughts and then said, "Stockpile longline and tuna fishing gear; organize ocean-going routes, fishing ground charts, and hydrological data; recruit ocean-going captains, engine room operators, and veteran fishermen, and reorganize the fleet's manpower."

Establish fishing supply bases, ice factories, and canning plants in Hakodate, Yokohama, and Kyushu; acquire old fishing boats for refurbishment, reinforcement, extended range, and installation of simple refrigeration systems.

"And then what, form your own deep-sea fishing fleet?"

"No, I plan to sell or lease it, or bring in technology shareholders to receive dividends regularly."

Xian Yaowen nodded slightly. "Your idea is good, but there is one thing to note. Before the war, Japan was a top fishing power in the world, with many fishing boats, advanced technology, and sufficient funds. They regarded the entire sea area around the Korean Peninsula as their traditional core fishing area."

The abolition of the MacArthur Line is a crisis for South Korea. South Korea is worried about the loss of its fishing resources, and it wants to assert its sovereignty and stabilize its domestic affairs. Therefore, it absolutely does not want to see Japanese fishing boats enter the waters around the Korean Peninsula again.

If I were Syngman Rhee, I would definitely redraw a Syngman Rhee line before the MacArthur line was abolished.

Ok……

Let me think... Syngman Rhee is currently focused on constitutional amendments and seeking re-election, caught up in internal power struggles, and has no time for external affairs. The regular session of the South Korean National Assembly is scheduled for December 20th; it's unlikely that a single session will be sufficient to pass constitutional amendments, and an extraordinary session will be necessary..."

He paused, then continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, the Syngman Rhee line will emerge in December of this year or January of next year, and will be announced to the public on the day the meeting is held."

"Used to divert attention from internal conflicts?"

"Yes."

Keiko Nagumo lowered her gaze slightly, her delicate brows furrowing as if she were pondering to herself, "Things don't seem to be as wonderful as I thought."

"The earth is round, and all the seas and oceans are connected. If the west is blocked, turn to the east. There are ways out everywhere, from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Gulf of Alaska in the North Pacific to the Marshall Islands and the Caroline Islands in the Central Pacific, and then to the coast of Peru and Chile in the South American waters."

Your idea is good, it just needs some tweaking.

Increased costs of fuel, labor, and time; a potential halving of production capacity; and a possible disruption of the supply chain—you must take all of these impacts into account. (End of Chapter)