money player

"Convert fishing boats into deep-sea refrigerated vessels?"

“I don’t know much about fishing boats. You should ask a professional about this.” After cutting the beef, Xian Yaowen slowly wiped the knife clean, picked up a pumpkin and peeled it slowly. His tone was calm and confident. “Whenever an industry changes, there will be a painful period. And this period of turmoil and reshuffling is precisely the best time to make huge profits through speculation.”

"Can we place an order for a new ship and wait to resell it at a higher price?"

"Everything at the moment is speculation and may not come true. Even if it does come true, it will not be easy to seize the best opportunity. Remember to act within your means, leave yourself room for maneuver, and do not gamble everything."

"I'll do my research first, and then talk to the bank in a few days."

How is your relationship with the bank?

A hint of disgust flashed across Nagumo Keiko's brows, her expression slightly furrowed, and her tone carried a touch of resistance, "Some of the demands are quite perverse and unacceptable."

"There must be a bottom line; we cannot compromise all the time."

"Anata, what's your bottom line?"

"Some people are less knowledgeable and more naive. They lack a proper understanding of the situation they are about to face and always think that they can get through it by just enduring it. Little do they know that when they actually face it, they are very likely to lose their psychological balance."

Do not deceive them; tell them the truth, offer a sufficient price, and do not force them if they disagree.

"Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai?"

"There was no coercion, only enticement."

Steamed sea bream and matsutake mushrooms, sukiyaki, tempura, cream-braised scallops, bluefin sashimi, a pickled platter, a bowl of miso soup, a bowl of Akita Komachi white rice, and a cup of genmaicha (brown rice tea) – this was the dinner for Sin Yiu-man and his partner.

The courtyard was filled with the refreshing autumn air, neither too cold nor too dry.

The dining table was set up next to the bluestone terrace, surrounded by neatly trimmed low shrubs and thin bamboo fences, with fallen maple leaves and withered grass covering the corners of the wall.

There was no bustling city noise or traffic; all that could be heard were the chirping of insects in autumn. Nearby, under the roots of stone lanterns and in the thickets of reeds, the chirping of crickets was clear, melodious, and lingering, the delicate sound of bells swaying softly in the evening breeze.

On the distant pine branches, the chirping of pine insects, delicate and bright as silk, intermittently evoked the tranquility of the autumn night. On the ground, between the grass and the cracks in the stones, the chirping of crickets, low and rhythmic, steady and long, provided a backdrop.

From time to time, a few notes of a golden pipa would emerge from the shadows of the bamboo fence, crisp and short, like fingertips lightly tapping a copper plate.

A few frogs croaked softly from the corner of the pond, their low croaks only making the courtyard seem even more tranquil. The evening breeze rustled through the osmanthus tree branches, carrying a faint floral fragrance, the dampness of the grass, and the chirping of insects, swirling around the food table.

"I'm going to Kyokaori's place for measurements tomorrow."

"Making clothes?"

"And a haori."

Have you booked a time?

"No."

"I'll pick you up from your office when I have time."

"Hai~"

"I'll try to schedule it for 3 pm. After we finish visiting Kyokaori, we can come back early and I'll accompany you for a walk in Rikugien Garden."

"Then tomorrow night... will you still be staying here?" Nagumo Keiko's eyes lit up, her tone filled with surprise and anticipation.

“Yes.” Sin Yiu-man nodded. “I’m going out tonight.”

"You have an appointment with Mr. Charlotte?"

"Ah."

"Anata, don't drink too much."

"No, not at all." Xian Yaowen picked up a few slices of beef, chewed and swallowed, and said, "What books have you been reading lately?"

"Were the reprints of Yosano Akiko's translations of 'The Tale of Genji' and 'The History of Humanity' arranged by Anata?"

"Genji craze, just trying to ride the wave. What do you think of the Genji craze?"

"After the defeat, militaristic values ​​collapsed, and the Japanese urgently needed to rediscover who they were and what their unique culture was. The pathos, elegance, subtlety, sense of the four seasons, aristocratic forbearance, and capricious fate in The Tale of Genji perfectly represent the pure Japanese spirit."

"That's what the newspapers say. What's your own version?"

"After the defeat, the status of the Chinese fell and their property was lost. Only classical education and aesthetics could maintain their dignity. Reading Genji was the last vestige of dignity."

"In terms of aesthetics, the Japanese appreciate the pathos of things, the yūgen, and the wabi-sabi; they like the beauty of imperfection, the beauty of the moment, and the beauty of decay; they love the scenery of the four seasons, falling flowers and autumn leaves, and the chirping of insects on rainy nights. They do not pursue perfection, but prefer a cool and subtle style."

In terms of personality, they are restrained, patient, introverted, respectful of etiquette, and mindful of boundaries; they do not show their emotions, do not speak directly about love, and do not scream when they are sad.

In life and in relationships, they value tranquility, elegance, and serenity, and cherish proper conduct, respectable family background, and subtle concern, avoiding ostentation and intensity.

The core of this culture is a reverence for impermanence; prosperity will eventually fade, and everything that reaches its peak must decline. It is about accepting fate and bearing it with gentleness.

Keiko Nagumo paused for a moment, then said, "It's a bit one-sided; it only summarizes the good aspects."

"Keep the bad side to yourself."

"I want to hear it."

"Let's talk about it another day. The atmosphere is nice right now, and I don't want to ruin it."

"It sounds awful?"

"It sounds awful."

"I watched 'Li Xianglan,' and the male protagonist was based on Anata?"

"Half of it, the other half is artistic embellishment."

"The actress failed to capture Anata's essence."

"Actually, he acted very well, and the audience really liked the temperament he exuded."

"Really? I don't really like Yoshiko Yamaguchi's acting. Her portrayal of Li Xianglan isn't like the Li Xianglan I imagined." As soon as she finished speaking, Keiko Nagumo couldn't help but laugh out loud. "That's a bit strange."

“I don’t know what kind of Li Xianglan you imagine, but Yoshiko Yamaguchi really didn’t play Li Xianglan well. She was in charge of the project, and she consciously only showed the good side of Li Xianglan and covered up the bad side, so it was not realistic.”

What was the real Li Xianglan like?

"I haven't had any experience with it, so I don't know."

"Never had this experience before?"

"The person I contacted was Yoshiko Yamaguchi, not Li Xianglan."

"Isn't Li Xianglan Yamaguchi Yoshiko?"

"I don't think so. I think Li Xianglan is just a mask played by Yoshiko Yamaguchi, not her true self."

"Isn't Takano Teikichi Sin Yiu-man?"

"No." Xian Yaowen silently added to his mind, "Xian Yaowen is not me either."

"Anata, can I sleep with Sin Yiu-man tonight?"

"As you wish."

Keiko Nagumo smiled gently, picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea. "The golden age of special orders will soon be over. The previously surged production capacity needs to be converted to civilian exports. I plan to establish the Usato Trading Company, which will mainly engage in trade agency and trade consulting."

"Your idea is good. Japan will immediately regain its sovereignty and return to the international system. Following the normal steps, Japan will regain its trade sovereignty, join the IMF, open up global settlement channels, and the EU will gradually transfer import and export management rights. Then it will join COCOM, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry will launch an export promotion policy, which will probably include export tax rebates, priority allocation of foreign exchange, and low-interest loans."

Historically, every late-developing industrialized country has followed a path from imitation and inferior products to a quality revolution, and then to becoming a global benchmark.

The first step is to produce inferior imitations. It took Britain sixty years, Germany twenty years, and the United States forty years. How long will it take Japan to catch up?
There are three assignments to copy from, so it probably won't take too long, but we'll definitely have to go.

'Made in Japan' will soon become a shameful label; "Made in Japan" will be synonymous with counterfeit and inferior quality, leading to various scandals and widespread condemnation in Western newspapers.

"Is Anata so certain that products made in Japan are of poor quality?"

"Yes."

"why?"

"The logic of survival".

Xian Yaowen gently put down his chopsticks, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "You're in a completely unfamiliar city, and you meet two men at the same time. One is a neighbor you've known since childhood, and the other is a complete stranger. If you had to choose one to travel with, who would you choose?"

Without hesitation, Keiko Nagumo replied softly, "Of course, we're neighbors."

Sin Yiu-man lowered his gaze slightly and slowly continued, "Let's assume another situation: this stranger happens to be exactly what you want, enough to make you fall in love at first sight."

Nagumo Keiko frowned slightly, her tone hesitant and deliberate: "This issue is too complicated. I must consider safety first; I can't just act on my feelings..."

“Don’t overthink it,” Sin Yiu-man interrupted her, his tone calm and firm. “Just consider it from two dimensions: familiarity and appearance.”

Huizi remained silent for a moment, her ears turning slightly red, and she answered softly, biting her lip, "Then... I choose the stranger."

"Toyo Manufacturing is like a stranger, an ordinary stranger. When customers are choosing products, why do they choose Toyo Manufacturing instead of choosing products they are familiar with?"
The answer is naturally that there are compelling reasons to choose Japanese manufacturing. What are those reasons?
Japanese manufacturing will only come up with one reason, and the only one it can offer—cheap.

By dumping goods at low prices and squeezing out the low- and mid-range markets of Britain, Germany, and the United States, Japan's foreign trade rose to prominence through the most ruthless means, and it was destined to become its core tactic.

All countries that have achieved industrialization in the past have followed this path, and Japan is no exception.

Keiko Nagumo listened quietly, a thoughtful look on her face. Her fingertips gently twirled the hem of her clothes. After a long while, she spoke softly, "How cheap can Japanese-made products be?"

"Made in Japan has several advantages. First, the yen is severely undervalued. For the same industrial product, the yen is naturally more than 30% cheaper than the US dollar when converted to US dollars."

Secondly, people are not treated as human beings. A large number of surplus rural laborers have flooded into cities, and workers' wages are only one-fifth of those in Europe and the United States. Overtime is common, labor unions are weak, and labor protection is inadequate. The labor costs of manufacturing have crushed those of Britain, the United States, and Germany.

Third, there is the dependence on imported raw materials and the cost reduction through economies of scale. Japan lacks resources and imports cotton, steel, rubber, and crude oil from around the world at low prices. Small and medium-sized enterprises cluster together for production, and batch OEM production reduces the cost per unit.

Fourthly, there is government encouragement, which is the revitalization policy I just mentioned regarding the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

This fifth point is related to Matsunaga Nobuhiro's planned scheme..."

"Special order loan?"

Sin Yiu-man pointed to the sukiyaki pot, "The special order is sukiyaki. The beef was eaten by the big trading companies, and the tofu, konjac noodles, and shiitake mushrooms were eaten by us. The owners of large and medium-sized enterprises can only eat chrysanthemum greens and scallions. The workers smelled the tempting aroma, but only got a little bit of broth."

What did small business owners get out of it?
The profits on the books were very substantial, but in reality, there were no profits. As soon as orders stopped, cash flow problems immediately arose, and then everything collapsed.

They are like hot air balloons floating in the air; to avoid falling and dying, they have to keep blowing hot air. To survive, they'll do anything.

Keiko Nagumo bowed slightly. "Anata, I understand. Umado Trading needs to find small businesses to cooperate with so that the order prices can be driven down very low."

"There's an old Chinese saying: 'To be a prostitute and also to have a virtuous image.' The requirements for partners in the Uchido Trading Company are high, such as the production environment and worker treatment. They force factories to put on a show for you through orders, and you, being very ignorant, are easily deceived."

Why act?

"Toyo Manufacturing will eventually launch a quality revolution. Every revolution has its victims. Only the fittest will survive and move forward. If you don't want to be a victim, you must maintain a good corporate image."

The stable trade only seeks high-quality goods at low prices; it doesn't require understanding how costs are reduced.

"Hay."

The two chatted casually, about all sorts of things, jumping from topic to topic, occasionally exchanging a few flirtatious remarks. It was just a typical dinner chat between a young couple.

After dinner, we washed the dishes together, went for a walk outside, and talked about literature and movie plots.

Around 9 o'clock, Sin Yiu-man arrived at the Ginza Lion Beer House.

This place was requisitioned by the Allied forces and is only open to the US military; Japanese people are prohibited from entering.

Of course, the ban on Japanese people was not strictly enforced. Not only were the waitresses Japanese, but even if Japanese people wanted to go in, they could still find ways to do so.

He took out his military pay coupons and showed them to the military police on guard at the door. Then, he stepped into the dimly lit beer house. The warm light inside was dazzling, and the glass curtain wall reflected the flowing light. The walls were painted with Western murals with a rich style.

His gaze swept calmly over the guests, and after a brief look, he quickly recognized Zhang Ailing, who stood out from the noisy surroundings, in a quiet corner.

He strode over, bent down, and gently covered her lips with his without saying a word.

A cool breeze suddenly swept over her, and Zhang Ailing's body stiffened. Her fingers tightened around the glass, and a look of surprise flashed across her eyes, followed by a hint of panic.

She instinctively turned her head to avoid him, but he gently pressed her shoulder down, and she couldn't break free. The surrounding noise, the clinking of glasses, and the laughter of the guests seemed to fade away in an instant, as if separated by a hazy barrier.

All that remained was the warmth of their breaths, so close yet so unexpected, and a sudden, assertive yet restrained intimacy.

A moment later, Xian Yaowen stepped back slightly, his gaze fixed on her reddened lips, his voice low and husky: "Great writer, long time no see." (End of Chapter)