Chapter 252: 251, Buy A Cocktail And Make A Friend, Future Thinking: Offshore Financial Center
“Alright.”
Fang Wen hung up the telephone and immediately instructed his subordinates: “Distinguished guests will arrive this afternoon. You two come with me to pick them up at the airport.”
John Harvey and Lin Shuiwang did not know who the distinguished guest they were picking up was, so Lin Shuiwang immediately asked.
“General Manager, who is it?”
“People from the Rockefeller family and the Whitney family.”
Lin Shuiwang, who had been in the United States for over a year, was very clear about the power of these two families, and John Harvey was even more so.
That people from these two families would take the initiative to come to San Francisco to find Fang Wen left the two of them incredulous.
Fang Wen did not explain this, but continued to make arrangements.
“After picking them up from the airport, I need to discuss the matter of that Nether Ship with them. Arrange a quiet and comfortable place.”
Lin Shuiwang made a suggestion: “How about going to Chinatown?”
San Francisco is a Chinese gathering place, with a very prosperous street that is the origin of Chinatowns everywhere.
Fang Wen had been to San Francisco once but had never been to Chinatown, so this was a good chance to see what the largest overseas Chinese gathering place of this era looked like.
He agreed.
At 2 p.m., Fang Wen and his group set off, driving to San Francisco Municipal Airport（San Francisco Municipal Airport）.
When they arrived at the airport, the guests’ airplane had not yet arrived.
Taking this opportunity, Fang Wen toured the airport.
In the future, this airport would be the U.S. endpoint for takeoffs and landings on the trans-Pacific Asia-America route shared by Taishan Airlines and Pan American Airways.
Unlike Pan American Airways, for Taishan Airlines to take off and land here, it would need to obtain landing rights and commercial aviation operation rights.
He talked with Lin Shuiwang and instructed him to handle this matter.
An hour later, at 3 p.m., an airplane landed at the airport.
This airplane was a Douglas D.32 passenger aircraft, but there was no airline company mark on the fuselage, so it was likely a modified private airplane.
Fang Wen led the group over to wait. Soon, several well-dressed men and women got off the airplane, along with Pan Am’s president.
Fang Wen only knew Pan Am’s president among them, and the other knew him too, so the president made the introductions.
“Fang Wen, the legendary pilot from the East, owner of Asia-Europe International Airline Company, and also holds controlling shares in Taishan International.”
“John Ivan Rockefeller, director of Standard Oil.”
“Elizabeth Catherine Rockefeller, owner of the New York Metropolitan Gallery.”
“Connor Alexander Whitney, banker.”
“Alison Grace Whitney, his wife.”
After the introductions, Fang Wen had some understanding of the four guests.
Rockefeller cousins, Whitney family couple.
Along with their six attendants.
Fang Wen smiled and shook hands with them: “I’m glad you could come. Let’s go to a quiet place to talk.”
Immediately after, Pan Am’s president took the airplane and left, while the rest of the group got into the cars arranged by Fang Wen and headed to Chinatown.
Half an hour later, the convoy drove into San Francisco Chinatown.
（1930s San Francisco Chinatown）
The streets here were very spacious, wide enough for three cars to drive side by side.
Both sides were full of various shops, thick with commercial atmosphere.
The people walking on the streets were not all Chinese people; many San Francisco citizens and out-of-town tourists of different skin colors also came here to shop and sightsee.
Fang Wen looked at the clean streets and the shops decorated with Eastern atmosphere, as if he had returned to Shanghai’s Shili Yangchang.
The car drove for a while and stopped beside a three-story building.
Lin Shuiwang said: “This is the Forbidden City Nightclub, the best nightclub in Chinatown.”
“It’s not time yet. Isn’t it inappropriate to go there now?” Fang Wen asked puzzled.
“General Manager, didn’t you say you wanted a grand setup? I’ve booked the entire Forbidden City Nightclub. Tonight, the whole nightclub will serve only us.”
So that’s how it was. This kind of opening was not bad either. Fang Wen got out of the car and walked into the Forbidden City Nightclub with the four guests.
This nightclub with an Eastern-style name was completely Western-style inside.
From the waiters to the dancing girls, all were dressed in Western style.
Of course, before the entertainment activities, business had to be discussed first.
Fang Wen and the four began their discussion in the nightclub.
The five sat on the sofa, while Lin Shuiwang, Harvey, and the four guests’ attendants rested on the other side.
The waiter came over to ask.
“Sirs, ladies, what would you like to drink?”
The four were all interested in alcohol, but their tastes differed.
“Get me a Sidecar.”
“I want a Monkey Gland.”
“Bloody Mary”
“Martini”
Fang Wen had not heard of the cocktail names they mentioned until the last one, when he understood ‘Martini’.
It seemed these four all liked cocktails, so Fang Wen followed suit: “I’ll have a Gin Fizz.”
His Gin Fizz was a very ordinary cocktail that he had drunk in Europe, with gin as the base, plus soda water and lemon juice, refreshing in taste and acceptable to most people.
But the next second, the waiter said apologetically: “Sorry, our bartender is new. He only knows how to make ordinary cocktails, and he doesn’t know half of the ones you mentioned.”
John Ivan Rockefeller was immediately displeased: “If he can’t even mix cocktails, what kind of bartender is he?”
The waiter could only continue explaining. “Sorry, he really just started and is learning from the cocktail book.”
“Can I see the cocktail book? I want to learn mixology.” Fang Wen said.
His words relieved the waiter, who hurriedly fetched the cocktail book from the bar.
The cocktail book is an essential introductory book for American bar bartenders. As the country that invented cocktails, in America, if a bartender couldn’t mix the styles in the cocktail book, he would be mocked by customers.
Therefore, John Ivan Rockefeller’s earlier words were not exactly bullying with power.
Fang Wen looked at the cocktail book, which detailed recipes and techniques.
He felt this was not difficult; with his current spiritual power state, he could definitely do it.
He then got up voluntarily, went behind the bar, had the bartender cooperate by taking out various base liquors and ingredients, and began making them according to the steps and techniques in the cocktail book.
This process mainly required dexterity and carefulness, with control over the timing to quickly melt the ice cubes and blend the base liquor and ingredients.
For the current Fang Wen, it was already too simple.
And while making them, Fang Wen also gained a kind of learning pleasure similar to mastering alchemy.
Sidecar（Sidecar） uses 1.5 ounces of Cognac brandy, 0.5 ounces of Cointreau orange liqueur, 0.5 ounces of lemon juice. Put all ingredients into a shaker, add ice and shake until cooled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Monkey Gland（Monkey Gland） is a mishmash of gin, fresh orange juice, homemade pomegranate syrup, and absinthe; one could imagine the complex flavors without tasting it.
Bloody Mary（Bloody Mary） looks fierce but is actually a sweet cocktail: a combination of vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings, with a sweet and sour taste.
Martini（Martini）: with vodka as the base, plus absinthe and olives, a cocktail favored by men.
The drinks were ready, and the waiter served them on a tray. The four guests picked up their cocktail glasses and tasted them.
After taking a sip, John Ivan Rockefeller raised his glass in surprise: “This is exactly the same as what I had on Broadway in New York.”
His cousin Elizabeth Catherine Rockefeller agreed. “Yes, the familiar taste.”
Connor Alexander Whitney looked at Fang Wen, who was walking over with his cocktail glass: “Mr. Fang, is this really your first time mixology?”
His wife Alison Grace Whitney also said: “I’m very curious. This taste doesn’t seem like a beginner made it.”
Fang Wen smiled and responded: “This is like chemistry. As long as the proportions are accurate and the operation technique is precise, the result will be the same.”
What he didn’t say was that mixing cocktails was much simpler than making bullets and configuring explosives. For someone who had mastered those two skills proficiently, cocktails certainly wouldn’t stump him.
But this performance once again proved the newspaper reports about him.
The magical Eastern pilot, possessing enchanting magic, succeeding in every field.
This also made the four guests’ attitudes a bit better.
Fang Wen sat down and got straight to the point.
“Regarding the Caribbean pirates’ treasure ship, I’m not 100% certain, but based on the current evidence, it seems very likely.”
As he spoke, he beckoned, and a middle-aged man in a white suit wearing glasses came over.
Fang Wen introduced: “This is Hal Suarez, professor of oceanography at San Francisco State University, who has a lot of research on sailboats and the Age of Discovery. He will explain.”
Professor Suarez eagerly took out the photographs and placed them on the table.
“These photos were taken by Mr. Fang flying low in an airplane. I’ve checked a lot of information and can confirm it’s a galleon modified by Caribbean pirates in the 17th century, but which pirate crew it belongs to requires boarding for study.”
The four picked up the photos and examined them carefully.
Connor Alexander Whitney asked a crucial question.
“How could a 17th-century pirate ship go around South America to the West Coast of the United States? Under the conditions of that time, I think it was simply impossible.”
Professor Suarez immediately refuted: “Caribbean pirates were very adventurous. They dared to cross the Atlantic Ocean to plunder East India Company ships and triangular slave ships, so they certainly dared to sail around South America. Moreover, such a voyage is not impossible. Look at this map.”
Professor Suarez took out a map showing new discoveries in navigation over the years, ocean currents.
On the east side of South America is the downward Brazil Current, and on the west side is the upward Peru Current. Except for the complex ocean current area from California to Colombia, the entire sea voyage is feasible.
John Ivan Rockefeller nodded and analyzed along the lines: “So, Caribbean pirates of that era could indeed transport treasure from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean. No wonder treasure hunters haven’t found those treasures all these years.”
The other three were also excited.
Elizabeth Catherine Rockefeller was the first to state her position.
“I’ve always dreamed of participating in a real exploration activity. I’m in for this expedition, and I want to film the entire process to exhibit in my gallery.”
John Ivan Rockefeller also raised his glass: “I’m in.”
The Whitney couple also raised their glasses: “Us too.”
Even Professor Suarez excitedly asked for a bottle of beer and raised it.
Everyone was waiting for Fang Wen’s response, as this expedition could only succeed with his agreement.
For this, Fang Wen smiled: “I’m also very willing to go on this adventure with you, but now I’m facing a problem that must be resolved first. Professor Suarez, please step aside for now. Others, please also step aside.”
“Alright.” Professor Suarez put down his beer bottle and left.
Then Lin Shuiwang, John Harvey, and the other attendants temporarily left.
Only then did Fang Wen speak: “I’d like to ask everyone your views on wealth and tax revenue.”
The topic suddenly turned to a very professional direction, leaving the four a bit confused.
Fang Wen continued: “Corporate income tax takes up a large portion of profits. If I have a way to mitigate this tax impact, would you like to hear it?”
This topic attracted the four more than the expedition; they now really wanted to know if Fang Wen had operability in this area.
During the discussion, Fang Wen explained his drafted thoughts over the past two days to the four scions of financial magnate families.
Large companies reduce tax burdens through tax planning and may also lobby the government to promote tax policies favorable to themselves. In addition, with changes in the global economic situation and the development of international trade, large companies may also face cross-border tax issues and double taxation challenges.
The two families were in this situation.
But this situation could also be resolved.
For example, by establishing a branch company in a zero-tariff Pacific island country, tariffs on importing raw materials or production equipment can be exempted, thereby lowering production costs and indirectly reducing tax burdens.
At the same time, through entrepôt trade via zero-tariff countries, there is more operability, which can lower trade costs, improve trade efficiency, and promote international trade development.
After hearing Fang Wen’s words, the four were tempted; this kind of asset maneuvering method was very beneficial to them.
But Fang Wen was not finished; a greater temptation appeared.
Fang Wen looked at the four and said lightly: “You shouldn’t be unfamiliar with《the Sherman Antitrust Act》. Standard Oil was split into 37 companies because of it. For this kind of situation, I have a way to help you resolve it.”
The four sat up straight.
Fang Wen continued: “The key lies in the equity structure. Your current equity structure is simple, linear from top to bottom, clear at a glance. Thus, those who want to deal with you can strike at this linear equity structure and directly destroy the original business empire. But if we transform this linear structure into a more complex equity structure, they will have no way to proceed.”
His suggestion was to establish the parent company in a tax-free country, so the parent company would have no corporate income tax, capital gains tax, or other taxes, saving the company a lot of tax costs.
And such tax-free countries have very little binding on companies, or even none, as long as basic international financial regulations are not violated.
At the same time, the parent company can make it look not like a monopoly enterprise through layer upon layer of complex equity structures.
This is the future Cayman offshore finance center model, loved by global capital in the future.
And now, it also has a market.
The four guests developed a strong interest in this model and immediately asked for details.
When they heard that the independence steps on the Marshall side had already been completed, they became even more interested.
At this point, Fang Wen summarized aptly: “This matter benefits us all. If your two families are willing to participate, Taishan Group is willing to share some of the interests to jointly operate this interesting little country. But you can’t get it for free; you must help me deal with the Japanese.”
This request was negligible compared to the offshore finance center Fang Wen described.
John Ivan Rockefeller and Connor Alexander Whitney immediately got up and left, using the nightclub manager’s office telephone to explain the situation to their family elders.
After a while, the two returned one after another with replies.
Both sides’ opinions were unified; they were willing to join the Marshall plan and operate it jointly.
And they were willing to step in to resolve Marshall’s current difficulties.
But the specific operations for the tax-free country and offshore finance center would need to proceed slowly.
This reply made Fang Wen happy. His requirements for Marshall were not high; as long as this could plant a nail in Japan-U.S. relations, interests and such were unimportant.
Therefore, he gladly accepted their reply.
After the three parties reached a verbal agreement, the relationship changed.
From the initial expedition group, they became collaborators.
As a result, the four scions of financial magnate families became equals with Fang Wen in status, and they let loose to start entertaining.
San Francisco Chinatown’s Forbidden City Nightclub immediately became lively.
（1930s San Francisco Chinatown Forbidden City Nightclub photo）
