Chapter 169: 168, Future Thinking: Commercial Center Recruitment, Opening Upper-level Connections
The Las Vegas banquet ended.
Among the 13 casinos currently holding licenses.
Two are interested in participating in the airplane activity, and five are willing to sell their casinos.
The two casinos willing to participate in the airplane activity can wait for now.
What Fang Wen needs to do now is buy casinos and build an airport.
The average selling price of the casinos is $50,000, which is not expensive, even a great bargain.
The total acquisition price adds up to $340,000, which includes five legal licenses as well as the land, buildings, and all other assets.
The reason it’s so cheap is that Las Vegas in 1933 hadn’t taken off yet.
At this time, Las Vegas had a resident population of less than 10,000.
There were just a few streets, and the casinos all operated under club signs.
Fang Wen did not immediately sign any purchase agreements with these casinos, but instead negotiated with the mayor to reach an airport construction plan.
Once both sides had agreed, he had Indiana contact a prominent New York barrister and ask him to come to Las Vegas.
A day later, John Harvey flew to Los Angeles and then took a train to Las Vegas.
John Harvey, arriving travel-worn, discussed matters with Fang Wen in a bar near the inn where they were staying.
After hearing Fang Wen’s plan, John Harvey, as his private lawyer, gave straightforward advice.
“Fang, your actions are too risky. Las Vegas doesn’t lack transportation channels; it’s not as bad as you think. You can take the train or drive a car. Even someone with my wealth might not be willing to take an expensive flight here to spend money. Your free tickets will be hard to succeed with.”
Fang Wen smiled.
People of this era haven’t experienced epochal changes, so many of their ideas are taken for granted.
Las Vegas is positioned as a den of extravagance, a place where people come to spend money and enjoy themselves.
It’s not just simply sitting down at the gambling tables.
The reason people aren’t willing to travel from afar to spend is that everyone feels it’s not worth it.
If he does it right and makes it the best consumption venue in the nation, customers will naturally come in droves.
He knew what to do but didn’t share these business secrets with John Harvey.
Instead, he discussed the purpose of asking him to come this time.
“I want you to help me establish a casino company, then draft the contracts for purchasing the five casinos, and sign the airport construction agreement with the Las Vegas city hall. Also, take me to visit the circuit court judge here in Nevada; I have some things I want to communicate.”
John Harvey nodded: “No problem, we’ll handle the Las Vegas matters first, then go to Carson City.”
“Good, now let’s talk about the interests.” Fang Wen took out a small leather suitcase and a piece of paper.
To better bind a trustworthy lawyer, Fang Wen made an offer, and only if the other accepted could he consider him a member of his inner circle.
Under John Harvey’s inquiring gaze, he explained:
“The suitcase contains $50,000, your one-year employment fee. This paper is the casino company equity transfer agreement I’ve drafted; you’ll receive 5% of the dividends. If you agree, we’re on the same side.”
These represented long-term benefits.
Even for John Harvey, it was quite good.
But accepting these terms meant being deeply tied to Fang Wen.
After thinking for a while, John Harvey extended his hand: “Deal.”
With John Harvey’s joining, the legal issues were resolved smoothly.
The contracts he drafted avoided various legal loopholes, providing legitimate protection for the transactions.
Subsequently, the newly established Taishan Casino Company and Taishan Airport Company each signed six contracts.
With the signing of the six contracts, ownership of the five casinos belonged to Fang Wen, and the mayor approved a flat area north of Las Vegas for Fang Wen to use for airport construction.
Afterward, a Las Vegas construction company took on the airport construction order and began building the airport according to the design blueprints.
And those five casinos all closed for renovation. Zhao Jiu, who was very familiar with casino operations, needed to replace the staff with a group he trusted to manage the five casinos together.
The people he wanted had set off from Shanghai by ship more than half a month ago and had now arrived in San Francisco.
This group of passengers disembarked in San Francisco, were loaded onto a bus, and transported directly to Las Vegas.
They were people from Zhao Jiu’s Fugui Casino, along with helpers recruited from Shanghai.
These people were fierce dragons crossing the river, with no roots in the United States; to make it big, they could only follow Zhao Jiu.
In addition to this group, a batch of Chinese people was recruited from Los Angeles Chinatown to serve as dealers, waiters, chefs, and so on.
It could be said that after reopening following the renovation, the casino company became an enterprise mainly run by Chinese people.
But this still wasn’t enough; Las Vegas’s natural customer flow was still very low, and sitting around waiting for customers wasn’t what Fang Wen wanted.
He recalled memories of the future, trying to organize them for use in current operations.
First: Of course, luxurious casinos. Las Vegas casinos are not only grand in scale but also luxuriously decorated, offering a variety of gambling games to meet the demands of different tourists.
Second: Comprehensive entertainment. Besides gambling, the casinos are equipped with restaurants, bars, hotels, shopping centers, and other facilities, providing tourists with a one-stop consumption experience.
Third: Entertainment theme paradise: These facilities provide mini yet stimulating vacation experiences, allowing tourists to enjoy fun without stepping to the gambling tables.
Fourth: Premium service. Las Vegas casinos provide high-quality service, including professional dealers, attentive customer service personnel, and a comfortable gambling environment.
Fifth: Safety assurance. The casinos have strict security measures to ensure the personal and property safety of tourists, providing a worry-free playing environment.
After drafting these five points, Fang Wen used them as the casino company’s development plan and discussed them with others.
In the inn, Fang Wen, Lin Shuiwang, Zhao Jiu, Indiana, and John Harvey gathered together.
Fang Wen took out the casino company plan and read it out point by point.
The other four had different reactions.
Lin Shuiwang unconditionally trusted Fang Wen: “I knew the general manager had a plan in mind. See, here it is.”
Zhao Jiu remained silent, pondering the five-point plan.
John Harvey, who often dealt with business people, saw the opportunities: “If we implement these plans, it should attract a lot of guests.”
Indiana didn’t object this time, just raising one question: “These investments will require a lot of money, right?”
His question was what the others were thinking; so many investments and plans would require massive manpower, material resources, and financial resources to achieve.
It would not only take a lot of money but also a lot of energy to manage.
It could be said that just thinking about it was daunting.
But their thinking could never keep up with Fang Wen’s.
Fang Wen smiled and replied: “Why do it all ourselves? We can do investment promotion, let others join our projects.”
“What! What investment promotion?” Zhao Jiu, who had been silent, asked.
Fang Wen explained:
“There’s an old saying: ‘A man’s greed is like a snake swallowing an elephant; do things according to your capabilities.’ I’m an airline company owner, with my main energy on the airline company; I can’t spend too much here. So, I don’t want much profit—just the Las Vegas airport and casino business revenue. The other profits can be left for others to earn.”
He explained it twice in Chinese and English, describing the future commercial center investment promotion model.
To make it clearer, he picked up a few cups and placed them on the table.
“The current situation is, the land is mine; I just want casino income and airport operation income. The rest—like restaurants, bars, hotels, shopping venues, entertainment theme paradise, etc.—can be handed over to others to operate; we just collect rent and management fees.”
His words opened up a new world.
John Harvey asked: “What if no one is willing to operate the shops and facilities in your plan?”
“I’ll waive their rent for the first year; do you think anyone will come?” Fang Wen countered.
John Harvey nodded: “People will come, but without tourists, they won’t last long.”
“That’s what I’ll handle next. Now, let’s assign work tasks: Zhao Jiu, you stay in Las Vegas to watch over things and supervise the construction on both the airport and casino sides according to the plan. Lin Shuiwang, you go to Los Angeles Chinatown for investment promotion; say the first year’s rent and management fees are fully waived. Indiana, John Harvey, and I will work on the upper-level connections and figure out how to handle airplane customer acquisition.”
Fang Wen assigned and noted down everyone’s tasks, ending the meeting.
There’s a huge mindset gap between modern people and those from the Republic of China era.
For Fang Wen, these were opportunities.
He would use future short-term, quick capital operation methods to accelerate commercial activity.
Lin Shuiwang took the train to Los Angeles Chinatown for investment promotion as instructed.
He simply set up a stage on the Los Angeles Chinatown streets and invited Boss Yu from Baoyuan Apothecary to vouch on stage.
Boss Yu didn’t have the reservations Fang Wen expected about casino business; on the contrary, he was very willing to help.
He went on stage and said: “Neighbors, I’m old Yu; I’ve been in Chinatown since I was young, and everyone knows me. The person setting up the stage today was sent by my childhood friend Kuang Shanming’s son-in-law. The Kuang Family left from here, and everyone should know about their business in South Asia; that’s why I dare to vouch for him on stage.”
After he finished, Lin Shuiwang said loudly: “Our general manager has bought five casinos in Las Vegas for joint operation. He said arranging restaurants, bars, hotels, shopping venues, amusement parks, and such in his own casinos is too cumbersome and hard to manage, so he’s handing them over to outsiders to operate. If anyone’s interested, come talk to me.”
After he spoke, everyone buzzed with discussion.
“It’s a good opportunity. I’ve heard the Los Angeles government plans to demolish Chinatown here and relocate us elsewhere. Better to go to Las Vegas.”
“Yeah. We’ve lived here for decades, and now the authorities want us, forcing us to move again. I don’t want more hassle. If Kuang Family’s son-in-law is legit, we can try Las Vegas.”
Hearing the discussions below, Lin Shuiwang was secretly pleased.
He then asked: “Are they really demolishing here?”
Someone immediately responded: “It’s confirmed; Los Angeles city hall wants to build a union station, forcing us to relocate to the Broadway Street area.”
Broadway Street was in Long Beach, equivalent to moving from the urban area to the seaside suburbs, as remote as it gets.
Lin Shuiwang showed an indignant expression.
“Why go there? Better to come to Las Vegas. The five casinos our general manager bought are bigger than current Chinatown. Plus, the general manager said no rent or management fees for those going this year.”
People were already dissatisfied about the impending Chinatown demolition, and Lin Shuiwang fanned the flames.
More crucially, a year of free rent was too tempting.
Immediately, several people on the spot demanded to go to Las Vegas to check it out, and neighbors rushed off to spread the word, with the news instantly spreading through Chinatown.
They formed groups the next day and took the train to Las Vegas.
They saw the scene of major construction underway.
Though they didn’t know if business would boom here, with free rent and management fees, many Chinese were willing to give it a try.
Soon, several signed lease agreements and began preparing to open shops.
Fang Wen’s investment promotion plan progressed smoothly, but the customer source problem remained unsolved.
He wasn’t anxious; things had to be done step by step, without rushing.
Now, he, Indiana, and John Harvey had arrived in Carson City.
Though it was the capital of Nevada, the population was only a few tens of thousands.
The entire city was full of western characteristics, mostly low-rise buildings, mainly wood structures.
Driving through such a city in a car gave a very relaxed feeling.
Fang Wen’s purposes this time were two: to visit a very influential state senator, and to go to the Nevada federal district court.
The car passed an intersection, and John Harvey said: “Left side, his office is right there.”
Fang Wen parked the car, and the three walked up the steps into the state senator’s office.
He entered carrying a suitcase and came out empty-handed.
The matter was settled.
Afterward, the three got in the car and continued driving.
John Harvey explained the next plan: “That one should go to the Ninth Circuit Court next year; she’s the best judicial support I can find, but we can’t use direct methods with her.”
Fang Wen nodded: “I understand; we’ll cooperate as you said and give her a good impression.”
The car arrived at the district court. Indiana stayed in the car waiting, while Fang Wen and John Harvey went to the office.
There, John Harvey chatted cordially with her; it turned out his father and she had been colleagues.
After some pleasantries, Fang Wen was introduced.
The other party was somewhat wary of this visitor from the East.
Fang Wen smiled: “I just want some fair legal protection to safeguard me when I’m treated unfairly. Also, for this visit, there’s another matter: I want to establish a charitable foundation in your name to help those in need, especially people who have to enter prison for breaking the law but require aid, and their families.”
These words touched the judge’s soft spot.
He had presided over countless cases and seen all the warmth and coldness of human nature; he had once had compassion.
Establishing a charitable foundation in his name to help those he wanted to help would indeed be very meaningful.
He showed a knowing smile, shook hands with Fang Wen, and invited: “Please come sit; I’m very interested in your charitable foundation. By the way, what industry are you in?”
“I’ve established a casino company in Las Vegas; it’s a legitimate enterprise complying with Nevada law, and charity is something I’ve always wanted to do.” Fang Wen smiled in reply.
“As long as it’s a legitimate enterprise, it will receive legal protection.”
Fang Wen got the commitment he wanted.
