Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 208: Ginger is still spicier when old

Larry arranged to meet Mr. Eastman on Monday morning so they could visit Mr. Porter at Paine Weber Securities.

But Larry wasn't going to wait patiently until Monday; he had to make arrangements with Mr. Porter privately first!
Larry had originally planned to go that night, but Logan insisted on keeping his opera tickets and kept pleading with Larry to go the next day.

Ultimately, Larry compromised.

Larry glanced at Logan's overjoyed expression and reassured himself, "Oh well, one more night won't make a difference!"

The three of them sat down in the Metropolitan Opera House, and inevitably received some disapproving looks because of their attire.

Larry chuckled wryly, guessing he was probably the first person in American history to wear jeans to an opera.

Fortunately, the Metropolitan Opera House is located in an area where the newly rich live, so there aren't many rules yet.

Larry disliked opera, partly because he feared the culture shock would be too great and he wouldn't be used to it; on the other hand, it also stemmed from his secret contempt for the entertainment of the time, feeling that the opera of this era was just the kind of dull music played by fat women in his previous life.

However, when the curtain rose on "The Pirates of Penzance," he was unexpectedly drawn to the vibrant performance on stage.

It has been proven that any entertainment project that is popular in any era must have something special about it; otherwise, it would not receive the triple combo of collection, likes, and coins from the audience.

"The Pirates of Penzance" tells the story of a group of cheerful and humorous pirates, and the plot is naturally quite absurd. The male protagonist was born on February 29th and has only celebrated five birthdays since turning 21.

But what's most amazing is the real skill of the Broadway singers and dancers at this moment.

When the general in the play appeared, he sang a section of "I Am a Model of Modern Major Generals," with long passages of lyrics that were all fast-paced rap-like, demonstrating the performer's unparalleled command of dialogue and his consistently professional stage presence.

Larry was also amazed by the dance performance in the show. The dancers not only had solid singing skills, but their dancing techniques were also superb. They sometimes danced light and lively steps in unison, and sometimes performed difficult lifts and spins, with each movement precise and elegant.

Larry was surprisingly impressed after watching this light opera, thinking to himself that the lower the resolution, the better the effect.

Any form of entertainment that relies on genuine talent must have something special about it.

At the end of the performance, Larry stood up and applauded along with the entire audience; this time, it was a heartfelt appreciative applause.

As he walked out of the theater, gazing at Broadway before its neon lights, he couldn't help but remark, "Sometimes, letting go of prejudices and embracing humor from different eras can bring unexpected joy."

On Sunday morning, Larry went straight to his and Mr. Porter's two properties on Fifth Avenue and 34th Street.

Just as Larry had expected, Mr. Porter, dressed in a white shirt and dark coat, stood in front of the two four-story brick buildings, overseeing the near-finalization of the renovation work.

Previously, the red brick exterior walls of those two buildings were severely weathered, the internal wooden structure was corroded by damp water stains, and the cast iron water pipes were also covered in rust.

But after a renovation project personally designed and supervised by Mr. Porter, the two buildings have been completely transformed.

Mr. Potter replaced some of the most corroded wooden structures with steel, cleaned and grouted the red bricks on the exterior walls, and installed carved window frames in a colonial revival style.

For the interior renovations, Mr. Porter requested that the workers lay antique-style parquet flooring, renovate the ventilation shafts, and install brass gas lamps and a new flush toilet.

In addition, both buildings have basements, which were originally a haven for rats due to dampness and water seepage. However, after Mr. Potter's waterproofing renovation, the basements were transformed into temperature-controlled wine cellars.

The French restaurant in Larry's building immediately decided to rent two basement wine cellars for an extra $1200 per month.

In addition, after the interior renovation, Mr. Potter specially made bay windows covered with black wood panels, added a new glass skylight, and installed new glazed tiles in the bathroom and kitchen.

This led to a direct upgrade in the status of the two properties, with rents increasing by 20% to 40%, and a constant stream of people coming to rent them.

When speaking to Larry, Mr. Porter proudly said that the rent from these apartments in the two buildings alone would bring each of them an extra $6700 in rental income per year.

Larry sincerely admired Mr. Potter's masterpiece.

Mr. Porter has many strengths, but the two most fundamental and outstanding are his unparalleled diligence and his meticulously cultivated and extensive network of contacts.

After touring the repair work, Mr. Porter turned to Larry and asked what brought him here today.

Larry quickly explained Mr. Eastman's camera financing plan to Mr. Porter...

Mr. Porter frowned after listening and asked, "...Larry, I don't understand this. Do you really think this kind of small camera can become a big money-making project in the future?"

Larry couldn't suppress a smile. He certainly couldn't use Kodak's future as an excuse, but fortunately, even "innovative technology" could quickly generate profits these days, so the profit model was readily available, requiring no further explanation. "Mr. Porter, what's amazing about this thing isn't the technology itself, but that it creates a completely new demand, unlike any other existing product!"

Larry used his thumb and forefinger to form a frame around the two properties, then superimposed Mr. Potter onto the houses before continuing.
"For example, right now, you're standing at the entrance of the property renovation project after two weeks of hard work. You've transformed two properties that looked like they were being eaten away by termites into brand new houses like this. Don't you feel like taking a picture to record it?"

Mr. Potter said casually, "I can call a professional photographer!"

“A professional photographer charges $3 for a home visit, and another $2 for each photo printed. If this thing costs $25, printing a photo costs $1, and you can take photos anytime you want,” Larry said with a laugh.

“Hmm… if you put it that way, I’m somewhat tempted,” Mr. Potter said thoughtfully.

"But that's not all! What if the camera costs five dollars and the photos cost 25 cents each?"

Mr. Porter was jolted awake, suddenly understanding what Larry meant by "creating demand." He turned to Larry and said,

"Then the potential customer base for these small cameras in the United States will expand tenfold, tenfold, even dozens of times! Even workers earning $5 a week can save up enough to buy one if they really want it!"

Larry smiled again and prompted, "The problem is that these cameras aren't just available in the US, but also in Europe, Asia, and anywhere in the world that needs one..."

Mr. Porter thought quietly for about ten seconds, then said to Larry in a deep voice, "Okay! I approve of the technology, but I also need to meet this person. If there are no problems, I'll take care of it."

Larry nodded and asked, "Are you planning to conduct an initial public offering of shares?"

Mr. Potter smiled and shook his head.
"Larry, this is New York. If something this good really happens, raise the money privately and leave the benefits to the big shots. Private equity can not only make you money easily, but it can also expand your network. Oh, and remember, when something good comes along, the first people you should think of are the ones who can help you in the future. That's what makes you a Wall Street person."

Larry pondered for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

Mr. Potter stared blankly at the two buildings in the distance, unconsciously imitating Larry by crossing his index finger and thumb to make a viewfinder shape, imagining how he would record this scene if he had a small camera.

After finishing his story, Larry was about to leave, but his gaze immediately fell on the five shops lining the street. He turned around and asked,

"Mr. Potter, that South African colonist you mentioned last time... did he really sign the contract without any precautions? What do you plan to do?"

Mr. Porter had previously told Larry that he had a way to get Larry a high rent while also getting him into trouble, but it would require Larry's full authorization.

Larry, of course, trusted Mr. Porter's abilities and immediately handed over all the authority to him.

But Larry still didn't know what Mr. Porter was planning to do, because it was hard to explain over the phone, and Mr. Porter sounded sullen, as if he was angry with Cecil Rhodes.

Upon hearing Larry's account, Mr. Potter's eyes sharpened again, and he frowned with a sigh, saying...
"Larry, you just need to enjoy your profits. But dealing with him is none of your business. Because this Rhodes offended my closest friend, once I find out the truth, I will do everything in my power to teach him a lesson!"

Larry was taken aback. It seemed that Mr. Potter harbored deep hostility towards Rhodes. Larry had never seen such deep hostility on Mr. Potter's face before.

"Could you tell me what happened? Of course, if it's inconvenient for you, I don't mind, because I'm just curious," Larry asked.

Mr. Porter glanced at a tall building in the distance and said calmly, "Larry, do you know why I have slightly better connections and can mobilize people far beyond my capabilities at crucial moments?"

"You say……"

“It’s because I know a principle: the ultimate goal of networking is not to acquire resources, but to weave a network for mutual growth.” Mr. Porter finished speaking, still staring at the building.

Larry was deeply moved by Mr. Porter's words, thinking about how Mr. Porter had helped him and also recalling what the other party had just mentioned about private equity financing—this was about leaving the benefits to those who could help him in the future.

But who could possibly be worthy of Mr. Potter's such shared hatred?

Larry was curious and was about to ask again when he suddenly realized something...

Larry immediately followed Mr. Potter's gaze and spotted the most prominent sign on the tall building.

That's a brand that every American knows well—Tiffany.

“I understand, Mr. Potter, so you intend to have that colony chief…” Larry asked, looking at Mr. Potter.

Mr. Potter withdrew his gaze, his expression serious, but his tone powerful, "I will ruin his reputation and ensure he never again sets foot on the New World!"

　I'll post two 8-word chapters today, and two more 2-word transitional chapters tomorrow, followed by the main chapters. I was on the train tonight, so my typing speed was slow (but slow typing has its advantages—fewer typos).

　　
　
(End of this chapter)