Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 82 Grass Team
Zheng Yi then shook Qian Qiwen's hand and said, "Qiwen, I don't have many people around me who can help me, and I'm really, really busy. And you know me. After all, my strengths are technology and design, not daily management."

"When I go to Penang in the future, I will be too busy to take care of everything. You will be my housekeeper. When I'm away, you will represent me. You will have to worry about the entire government affairs of Penang and the operation of more than a dozen projects. You will have to worry about it. Thank you for your hard work."

Qian Qiwen said, "Since you trust me, I can't contain my joy. I'm just a prostitute, but I've accomplished something so great, and even left my name in history. This is clearly a blessing in three lifetimes. Even if I die of exhaustion, isn't it what I deserve?"

Zheng Yi nodded and said to Wu Wenhao, "Xiaohao, you're not an outsider anymore. Master has taken you in for two years, but he hasn't taught you anything properly. Most of the time, he's just let you learn on your own. Alas, you're actually a promising young talent, smart and studious. Now... what a pity."

Wu Wenhao naturally said quickly, "Master, please don't say that. Being able to follow you is a blessing that our Wu family can't achieve in several lifetimes. Even if I only learn the basics from you, I don't know how many people will envy me."

Zheng Yi directly ordered: "The petrochemical project in Penang is about to be built. It is a truly large project. The steel and iron used alone will almost consume all the furnaces in Penang Steel.
I will naturally draw the design, but I can't always monitor the construction. There will be many foreigners on the construction site, and they are likely to be well-known.
While I'm gone, you'll be in charge of this project. Ask me if you have any questions, and learn about the petrochemical production process. I'll teach you the real skills as your master."

"Ah? Me, the supervisor? Such a big project."

"You're my senior apprentice. In Penang, you represent me. You're just a supervisor. I don't ask you to do any construction. Just watch them follow the blueprints. You've been with me for so long, you should understand most of the blueprints. If you don't understand, just ask me."

"Uh-huh."

Wu Wenhao nodded repeatedly, feeling quite excited for a moment.

Of course, besides being excited, I am also mostly confused.

I didn't understand how I went from being an apprentice learning technology to becoming a supervisor of a large project with real power in almost the blink of an eye.

He is close to Zheng Yi and of course knows that this is a 30 million US dollar project.

Thirty million US dollars, even the Nanjing government can’t come up with such a huge sum of money, right?
If he can supervise such a large project, doesn't that make him the same as the former Minister of Works?
In fact, not only was he confused, but Zheng Yi was also confused.

After all, he is still a technician at heart. Even if he was prepared for a change, it happened too quickly.

From an employee to a boss, and now he is about to take over Penang, with one foot halfway into the political power, it has only been two years.

Not to mention that Wu Wenhao was not ready, how could Zheng Yi himself be ready to take over Penang?

He developed too fast, and many things were done in a rush.

Now that he is taking over Penang, it would be almost like he is doing things with his eyes closed.

"As for you, Xiaolin, you also have a mission. How well you can accomplish it depends on your luck."

"Master, you command."

"Mr. Kiichiro Toyoda of Japan will be visiting Kuala Lumpur in a while. I will meet him in person and I will be in charge of the business negotiations. However, as for future cooperation... you will still be the one to handle it.
I said frankly that my goal was to buy as many textile machines as possible from them, as well as their textile technology. I also hoped that some experienced engineers would stay with me.

"Well, as long as he sells enough textile machines, we can agree to any conditions they offer. But there is one thing: we don't have the money. We need to borrow the money from a Japanese bank. We need Mr. Toyota to help us borrow it. Do you understand?
"In five years, I won't have a cent of this money, and I won't pay it back. Do you understand what I mean?" Lin Shaoliang thought for a moment and said, "Then, Master, after five years, are you... going to pay it back?"

Zheng Yi laughed when he heard this. "You're very smart. Penang is now manufacturing guns and cannons. In five years, it will be enough to arm a complete police force. I already have an army, so why should I pay him back?"

"From now on, for the next five years, although you are my apprentice, please take the trouble to go to Japan on my behalf."

"Besides Toyota, what other companies can cooperate with us? We also welcome these Japanese to invest in Penang, whether it's factories, banks, trade, or cultural exchanges. Isn't Sino-Japanese friendship a truce? Please be a traitor and attract as much investment as possible in Penang."

“As I said before, as long as they don’t give cash, we can agree to any conditions. We don’t have money to give to the Japanese, but if the Japanese give us money, the more the better. We also welcome all Japanese to come and live in Penang.”

"I can even designate a concession area for the Japanese in Penang, allowing them to live there and ensuring that no one invades them. I can even grant them certain tax exemptions."

In fact, it won't take five years at all.

It is now 1933, or at the latest 1937, when we can legitimately confiscate all Japanese investments and refuse to repay any debts.

Anyway, he is not afraid of completely offending Japan.

If everything goes according to history, the Japanese would have attacked us in 42.

Since a falling out is inevitable, why not do yourself some good now while it lasts?

Lin Shaoliang smiled bitterly in his heart. He knew that this was a test for himself, and this job would definitely not be easy.

Regardless of whether Zheng Yi will cheat the Japanese in five years, at least within the next five years, he will inevitably be branded as a traitor, and it is very likely that it will not be just a simple scolding. I am afraid that he will have to bear tremendous pressure in many things.

Although China and Japan have reached a ceasefire, the relationship between China and Japan...

The Chinese in Southeast Asia basically have dual citizenship, so even though many people have never returned to their motherland, they still consider themselves Chinese.

At this time, buying Japanese products will be criticized no matter how you look at it.

After all, he was a disciple picked up from outside, so Lin Shaoliang was skeptical about the story of Mazu's dream.

However, for Lin Shaoliang, what choice did he have? Not to mention being a fake traitor for a few years, even if he became a real traitor, as long as he could cling to Mr. Zheng's leg, what was wrong with that?

"Master has ordered me to do this, and I will do it for you no matter what."

(End of this chapter)