Chapter 155: Find Someone
Sha Shun can solve the delivery problem, which means much less trouble for Gu Yansheng.
Sha Shun is still reliable. Purely from the perspective of an arms dealer, he is a competent person.
As long as the goods can be delivered, Gu Yansheng decided to protect him more in the future.
For example, he must make the Japanese target all his business in Chinese Territory more heavily. Only then will Sha Shun wholeheartedly do his black market business.
Back at Shanghai West Police Station, Lu Bowen had also arrived, dressed in a sharp suit, bringing several subordinates and two Germans, quite like a boss inspecting industry.
Accompanying big boss Lu on a tour of Shanghai West, they circled several factories, and the matter of opening factories was basically settled.
The other factories had no issues, but they encountered a bit of an awkward situation when looking for a cotton mill.
They were viewing an idle factory when the neighboring one happened to be a cotton mill too. The boss heard they were there to open a factory and knew Lu Bowen was the main person, so he immediately pulled Lu Bowen aside to chat.
Forget spending hundreds of thousands to open a factory. Lu Bowen just needed to go with him to handle the documents, and the factory would be sold to him for ten thousand silver dollars, including all equipment and workers in the factory, just ten thousand silver dollars, ready to start production upon takeover.
Wang Rusong’s face turned green at that moment. Wasn’t this sabotaging them?
Selling such a large factory for ten thousand silver dollars, so eagerly, afraid the sucker would run away—who would still dare spend hundreds of thousands of silver dollars to open a factory here? Wouldn’t that clearly scream there’s a trap?
And if they really took it over, the taxes wouldn’t change, so big boss Lu would have come for nothing.
Luckily, they were people found by Director Gu, very reliable.
After negotiating the price, they got it for 5000 silver dollars.
“Then let’s handle both factories together. 5000 silver dollars isn’t much money, right?” Gu Yansheng said with a cheerful smile.
Lu Bowen also smiled cheerfully: “I’ve been in business, but I’ve never picked up a bargain like this. Since the boss is eager to sell, I’ll do him the favor.”
So a ready-made cotton mill was acquired. After signing the contract and completing registration, the boss showed no distress, his face lit up with relief, truly as if a weight had been lifted, and he walked away carefree.
“See how miserable it is.”
Since they were already there, the group decided to go into the cotton mill and properly ask around.
They found the person in charge and asked about the situation.
The person in charge was a master craftsman, even wearing glasses.
Seeing it was the new owner, the person in charge had nothing to hide and explained everything in detail.
“Cotton mills used to make good money, but now first, Japanese enterprises forcibly acquired forty percent, saying it’s to support the army and must be handed over. Fine, but taxes have risen to fifteen percent.
Second, Japanese enterprises set up a cotton control committee, saying we can’t buy cotton from Central China privately; we all have to buy from them, and they calculate our profits to death.
The current situation is, our cost to produce one piece of cotton yarn is 45 dollars, plus tax, it has to sell for 53 dollars just to break even on materials.
That doesn’t even include food, daily expenses, storage fees, machine wear and tear— it has to sell for 60 just to break even for the factory.
But last year’s cotton yarn prices, you know, were a mess. We couldn’t make money, even had to lose money, and that was winter. Now the weather is warming up, the inventory cotton yarn isn’t even fully sold, all of it loses money.
Now rice is even more expensive, living costs are higher, so new owner, sigh, you should have inquired clearly before taking over. It’s too late now; the Japanese won’t allow factories to close.”
Lu the big sucker smiled, “Don’t say it like that. Since I dared to take it, I naturally have plans for the factory. Don’t worry, at least you’ll have enough to eat.”
“Haven’t eaten our fill in a while.” The person in charge said aggrievedly.
“Mr. Gu will help you solve it.” Lu Bowen raised his hand: “Know him? Director Gu of the city government judicial department. With him here, your rice is secured.”
Gu Yansheng ignored him and asked curiously: “You just said cotton yarn prices were a mess, but if I remember correctly, last year’s cotton yarn futures prices peaked at over 130 dollars. Doesn’t that relate to you?”
The person in charge shook his head: “I don’t understand futures, but Director Gu, what’s the use of peaking at some price? Cotton yarn isn’t produced in a day; it’s day by day. When winter prices are high, it still needs summer.
In past years, summer prices couldn’t reach 50, but now costs are 60, plus losses all winter this year, in this kind of year—do you think there’s hope for summer?”
Gu Yansheng understood and nodded, “I just heard your old boss say full capacity can produce 800 packs, right?”
“You provide enough food, hire more people, run two shifts day and night, fourteen or fifteen hundred packs is fine!”
The old person in charge said: “Now there’s no choice; producing one pack loses money on one pack, so we only produce what the Japanese require. The boss is just preserving his life; otherwise, the Japanese would beat people, and he couldn’t escape with his whole family.”
“Before the Japanese came, what was the cost price of cotton yarn?” Lu Bowen asked.
“38 dollars.” The person in charge knew clearly.
“What if prices rise?”
“Can’t sell. Before, it could sell nationwide. You don’t know how bustling Shanghai cotton mills were; merchants from all over came to Shanghai to procure, bidding up prices.
Now the Japanese blocked the shipping routes and made it controlled supplies. No one comes; we can only sell in Shanghai. But with so many cotton mills in Shanghai, how do we sell?”
“Director Gu, a word in private.”
Mainly avoiding Wang Rusong.
“Can it be solved?” Lu Bowen looked at Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng thought and said, “It can be solved, but it needs some time. After all, it’s controlled supplies; dumping it all out would definitely draw Japanese complaints. But once the Nanjing Government is established, it becomes an internal government matter, and there’s a way. I can find a big shot to take the heat and give him some dry shares.”
Lu Bowen’s eyes lit up, “If you think it’s feasible, why not have me take over all the cotton mills in Shanghai West? Overall price increase?
I calculated: if full capacity reaches fourteen hundred packs as he said, price up ten dollars is fourteen thousand silver dollars a month; up thirty is forty-two thousand.
If we take ten, up thirty, sell nationwide, that’s over four hundred thousand silver dollars a month, five million a year—not counting premiums for out-of-town sales, over a million US dollars a year.”
Factories are so cheap now; it’s a great time to help people unload.
“Fine, you go take them over, but don’t register all under your name—too conspicuous, bad face for the Japanese. Put them under your subordinates’ names, one or two each.”
Indeed a good time; too early wouldn’t work, too late and others would snatch them. Just before the Nanjing puppet government is established is perfect.
“Alright, then I’ll take them all. Shanghai West isn’t enough; can find more in Zhabei.”
“Let He Yun handle Zhabei. Talk around Shanghai West is enough; you still need to go out.”
“Okay, okay.”
Gu Yansheng and Lu Bowen continued touring. With Gu Yansheng along, in one day they settled two flour mills, one repair shop, one cotton mill plus another cotton mill site.
Perfectly, the cotton mill’s person in charge could be useful, discussing equipment orders with foreign engineers, at least to check things.
Then Lu Bowen returned home to instruct He Yun and set off directly to scout the grain routes in Southern Anhui.
With He Yun switched in, Gu Yansheng continued touring with her.
He Yun was familiar with flour mills, the cotton mill now had someone, but the automobile repair shop still lacked a master craftsman substantial enough for the factory.
Find Gu Zhuxuan, the North Jiangsu Tycoon. A man who started with a rickshaw business surely knows something about car repairs.
Made a telephone call to Gu Zhuxuan.
Gu Zhuxuan was surprised, “Haven’t arrived yet? I sent him to the police station to find you. Ma Shiqi, my grandmaster’s disciple. He knows a bit of everything; just ask him for people.”
“Might already be here. I’m out now; will head back to the police station later. That’s it for now.”
Gu Zhuxuan had indeed said he’d send a subordinate; he himself feared alerting Huang Jinrong right away on his turf.
Gu Yansheng drove back to the police station; Ma Shiqi had indeed arrived.
Ma Shiqi—Gu Yansheng had met him once before, when Gu Zhuxuan’s wife spent thirty big yellow croakers to hire him to rescue Gu Zhuxuan, in the restaurant private room. About thirty, refined and scholarly.
Legal advisor for the newspaper company, a colleague.
Invited to the neighboring tea house for tea.
Gu Yansheng smiled: “I heard you’re in charge of legal at the newspaper company—colleagues, interesting. How’d you get tangled with the Jiangbei Gang? Who’s fronting whom?”
Ma Shiqi smiled faintly: “Actually, it started out of necessity. I was unknown in the concession, not really a lawyer, just a handyman. So I provided legal answers for such newspaper companies, took an advisor title. Later by chance met boss Gu, so I provided legal services for him too.”
“But I heard you’re good at flipping gold and silver jewelry on the black market?” Gu Yansheng had good memory; back when Gu Zhuxuan introduced subordinates from prison, he’d mentioned their traits.
Ma Shiqi nodded: “The newspaper loves inquiring about odd things, and I’m in legal, so I contact a lot, know a lot of people naturally.”
Gu Yansheng nodded, “Knowing lots of people is good. A friend is opening factories; I need you to find reliable workers for me: car mechanics for the cotton mill, textile experts, machine repairers. Later Shanghai West work will need car transport, cotton yarn for cover. The importance of several master craftsmen is obvious. Understand?”
Ma Shiqi got it instantly, “Need skilled and tight-lipped, crucially no informing to the Japanese.”
Gu Yansheng nodded.
Ma Shiqi agreed immediately, “Fine, Director Gu, leave it to me. I guarantee it’ll be arranged properly.”
“Good, tea.” Gu Yansheng raised his hand and drank tea himself.
Gu Zhuxuan’s people were good, never mentioned difficulties—made them very easy to use, tempting to poach.
Say poach, poach.
“Interested in working for me?”
Ma Shiqi nearly choked on his tea, staring wide-eyed at Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng smiled, “Not poaching you from your boss, just extra work. I need a secretary; you’re just doing an advisor’s empty job, right? I’ll arrange a secretary position for you at the judicial department. Interested?”
“Never thought of that.” Ma Shiqi smiled, thought, blinked and said: “I heard Director Gu you went from scholar to official. I should learn from you; you’re a figure I admire. I’m not a proper lawyer, but I truly like law.”
“Settled then. I’ll call the department now; go to personnel to handle documents when free. Crucially, get that license back; otherwise, you can’t speak with authority to officials.”
Shanghai West will definitely have plenty going on; can’t have Gu Yansheng running everything himself—no time, and too undignified. Hiring someone to run legs is necessary.
