Chapter 25: Successful Investment And Cooperation For The Domestic Alkali Plant Brand
“Excuse me, Boss Fan, how much more money do you need to invest in the Ammonia Sulfate Plant?”
After Zhou Wenhua was received by Boss Fan into the hotel guest room,
Zhou Wenhua also unceremoniously and straightforwardly inquired.
“Ah! I still need more than 3 million, up to around 5 million!”
“Because a lot of equipment needs to be purchased from foreigners, and now the most headache-inducing thing for us is that we want to prepare to purchase the new process from Germany—the Cha’an method patent, but Germany is secretly colluding with Japan, not only selling at sky-high prices, but also proposing humiliating conditions like ‘cannot sell in any place in Northern China, especially in the Northeast they have occupied.'”
“So we are also trying to invest funds to research our own latest method of manufacturing Ammonia Sulfate, which is also alkali!”
“Although in 1925 our factory launched the ‘Red Triangle’ spring cocoons, which won the gold medal at the Philadelphia World’s Fair in America, bringing glory to the nation, and my good friend Hou Debang has reached proficiency in researching the Solvay process that monopolized the world alkali production industry for over 70 years, and is also preparing to publish a book on alkali production《, or pure soda ash manufacturing》 next year!”
“But now we want to go further and launch a new alkali production technology, which is still in the exploration stage!”
“And the reason we need so much money is mainly to purchase expensive equipment and production lines from foreigners, as well as to build factory buildings; manual labor is not very expensive!”
“Although our factory’s employee welfare is a little higher than outside!”
Boss Fan, who had just poured tea and handed it to Zhou Wenhua,
after being stunned by his straightforward, direct-to-the-point inquiry, quickly came back to his senses and honestly confessed.
Actually, for Zhou Wenhua being so young and straight to the point, he had no psychological preparation at all,
Originally he was prepared, after pouring the tea and giving it to Zhou Wenhua,
to first inquire about the current situation of Zhou Wenhua’s father.
And also thinking about how to explain to Zhou Wenhua what alkali is, its uses, the vast market space it has, and its money-making potential and other topics,
Who knew that before he could even open his mouth, the other party very straightforwardly asked how much investment money was needed.
“Alright! I’ll first give you 3.8 million as the first installment of investment funds, and the subsequent money, I’ll invest another 3 million in batches!”
“What do you think?”
After hearing how much more money Boss Fan still lacked,
Zhou Wenhua also agreed without hesitation.
Without even blinking, looking just like a rich second generation who was wealthy and had money to burn.
“What!”
“But Mr. Zhou, do you know what alkali is?”
“And its market potential, market prospects? And whether it can make money?”
“I haven’t even told you about these things yet? Do you know them?”
“You’re just agreeing so readily to invest so much money in me?”
“Don’t you trust me just like that? This is our first meeting, although I have cooperated with your father several times, but that was with your father, not you!”
“Moreover, investment has risks, what if it loses money?”
“This is almost 7 million in investment funds!”
“Not something ordinary people can have; even banks wouldn’t lend it out rashly, and such a large investment fund would require multiple banks to jointly invest to have this much money! A single bank probably wouldn’t have this much money or take such a big risk to invest!”
Faced with Zhou Wenhua’s so rapid decision to make such a huge investment, as if he didn’t even need to think about it,
Boss Fan was immediately shocked into speechlessness, his face full of incredulity,
But soon, he anxiously exclaimed.
Suddenly raising a series of puzzled questions, sincerely giving risk suggestions for Zhou Wenhua’s investment.
“Hahaha! I absolutely trust you, Boss Fan!”
“Because with a good boss like you who saves the nation through industry, our domestic people have the first domestically produced refined salt company, able to eat such good refined salt like the foreigners’ at cheap prices!”
“And without having to be choked by foreigners and sold at high prices!”
“This is a beneficial thing for the nation and the people, so now that you want to establish an alkali factory, I am willing to strongly support it!”
“Because alkali is not only a necessity in people’s lives, but also an indispensable raw material for metallurgy, petroleum, machinery, textiles, papermaking, glass and many other industries, known as the ‘mother of industry’.”
“Moreover, soda ash, whose chemical name is sodium carbonate, commonly known as soda, is an important chemical product, widely used in manufacturing glass, soap, pulp, detergents, and refining petroleum, so alkali is a very important chemical product for people’s lives!”
“And my ambition is not just one alkali factory; I also hope through my investment to let our domestic industry have a truly self-owned fertilizer factory, that is, to hope to research and develop sulfuric acid, liquid ammonia, and Ammonia Sulfate（, which is fertilizer）, all completely, and moreover to research and develop the world’s best quality and technology products!”
“To set an example for our national brands on the path of saving the nation through industry!”
“When the nation is weak and backward, it will suffer poverty and beatings!”
“Just like now, various foreign powers, even the Japanese people, have imposed technology and equipment blockades on our country!”
“So this is also for me to contribute a little power to the path of saving the nation through industry and revitalizing our China!”
“Whether we can ultimately successfully research and develop the best quality sulfuric acid, liquid ammonia, and Ammonia Sulfate（, which is fertilizer）, all completely, will depend on you and high-level personnel like Hou Debang, Chen Diaofu, Zhang Kezhong, and Xie Weijie, as well as core technical personnel to overcome!”
“And I am only responsible for providing you with research and development funds, and funds to establish new factories!”
“To realize the grand wish of saving the nation through industry, wholeheartedly ‘turning salt into alkali’.”
“I hope I can see you achieve using salt to produce alkali, using coal to refine coke!”
“Especially our domestically produced first fertilizer factory, which even more needs to rely on your technical and research capabilities!”
Looking at Boss Fan who was nervous and anxious in his reaction,
After Zhou Wenhua listened to the other’s words,
he responded with a smile, completely unconcerned.
“Ah! This”
Facing Zhou Wenhua’s reply that was completely beyond his expectations,
Boss Fan was once again dumbfounded.
For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond to the other,
And he felt that Zhou Wenhua seemed to know quite a lot!
For example, about their background, and about chemical products like sulfuric acid, liquid ammonia, and Ammonia Sulfate（, which is fertilizer）, the knowledge and understanding were more than he had imagined.
“However, my personal suggestion is that your new factory must establish two: one in Tianjin there continuing as an auxiliary factory to consolidate the foundation for development, and the other main factory best established in the rear area, like the Sichuan region!”
“The reason is that I feel the Japanese Army is ambitious and one day they will definitely launch another full-scale major war; by that time, I worry that the factory here in Beiping will be very dangerous, with Beiping’s current troop strength and the inferior level of weaponry, I don’t think they can hold fast to Beiping!”
“Especially after facing the Japanese Army’s massive attack, in the situation of combined sea, land, and air attack operations!”
“I’m afraid Tianjin and Beiping will both fall!”
“I’ll provide the money to establish the factories!”
Just as Boss Fan was shocked and delighted by Zhou Wenhua’s so readily investment,
Zhou Wenhua added.
“Alright!”
“I’ll listen to you!”
For Zhou Wenhua’s supplementary agreement suggestion, Boss Fan, who had calmed some of his inner joy, also agreed without hesitation.
You know, in these past few days, after being rejected for cooperation by foreign companies from Britain and Germany to jointly establish a new factory, he had also begged many people and many banks, but no one was willing to invest millions at once for him,
Because the risk was too great, and there were really too few people who understood the market prospects and potential of Ammonia Sulfate（, which is fertilizer）!
But now Zhou Wenhua not only agreed very readily, without him needing to say much, but also exceeded the investment amount he hadn’t even dreamed of,
He really didn’t want to lose such a wealthy financial backer.
So he couldn’t care less about discussing with Zhou Wenhua why he was not optimistic about the National Revolutionary Army Troops holding fast to Beiping and Tianjin.
And also about the Japanese Army occupying these two places.
“Then happy cooperation! When we go out for lunch, I’ll give you the check!”
Zhou Wenhua extended his right hand, said in a mild tone with a smile.
“Good! Happy cooperation!”
“Thank you, Mr. Zhou!”
“Also please pass on my thanks and greetings to your father!”
“Of course, if you are willing, I can also visit your father today!”
Boss Fan was also once again excitedly shaking hands with Zhou Wenhua.
“Thank you for your kindness; he can now only lie in bed, unable even to speak for too long, so next time there’s a chance, visit my father again!”
“Now let’s go out to find a place to eat, draft the contract, and proceed with the joint-stock signing!”
Zhou Wenhua shook his head politely declining Boss Fan’s visit to his father Zhou Jiawei, and changed the topic.
“Alright! Let’s do as you say!”
Boss Fan also responded readily.
Immediately after, the two of them left the hotel, got into Zhou Wenhua’s car convoy, and went to the foreign concession to find a restaurant for eating and signing the contract.
In the car, Boss Fan’s heart still couldn’t calm down for a long time.
Because the joy brought to him by Zhou Wenhua’s investment was one of delighted surprise after another.
It also finally allowed him to take the first step in saving the nation through industry, establishing a domestically produced alkali plant brand of his own.
So on the journey to the meal, Boss Fan, amid delighted surprise, was also extremely grateful to this young teenage boss Zhou Wenhua for his investment and shareholding.
