Siheyuan's Journey Through the Ages

Chapter 138: Taking advantage of others’ misfortune

"It's the last month. If you don't pay me back, Mr. Cai, don't blame me for being rude. Just wait and see."

The office door suddenly opened and an angry man rushed out. When he saw Ma Qing and others standing in front of the door, he stopped, turned around, spat, and walked away.

Ma Qing looked at Wang Cheng, but Wang Cheng didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he leaned close to Ma Qing's ear and said, "This is better. It's easier to bargain."

Ma Qing remained noncommittal. After so many years of experience, he no longer cared about these superficial information. Who knew if he was just acting for himself?

The bald middle-aged man in the room, called "Mr. Cai", also saw Wang Cheng and Ma Qing through the open door.

The embarrassment on Boss Cai's face flashed away, and he quickly walked out from his desk, saying as he walked, "Boss Wang, I'm sorry for not welcoming you in person. This must be Boss Ma, nice to meet you. I didn't expect Boss Ma to be so young..."

Ma Qing and others entered the house and sat down after being warmly welcomed by Boss Cai.

While asking for tea, Boss Cai said politely, "This place is really shabby, how about we go out and find a teahouse to talk?"

"You're welcome, Boss Cai, let's get down to business." Ma Qing felt that he had seen everything he needed to see, and there was no need to waste time. "I heard from Brother Wang that you were planning to sell this toy factory, so I came to take a look. The factory looks pretty good and the area is large enough. I wonder if this factory is rented or..."

Boss Cai's momentum was even weaker: "We rent the factory, but the machines in our factory are 64% new. I ordered these American machines at the end of 65, and they were shipped to Hong Kong in 1. We have only used them for more than a year, and they are almost as good as new ones."

Ma Qing couldn't help but feel deeply sympathetic towards Boss Cai. What's the difference between this and joining the National Army in 49?

"Boss Cai, how much do you plan to transfer this factory for? Just tell me a number."

"One hundred thousand, oh, eighty thousand. I'm in urgent need of money. You just saw it. I have nothing to hide." Boss Cai looked like he was ready to give it his all.

"Boss Cai, your factory is definitely not making money. Everyone knows this in the current market environment. The only valuable things in your factory are those machines. How about this? Make a list of your machines and I'll take them away to study."

Ma Qing actually didn't want to talk anymore. The tricks played by Boss Cai were not worth mentioning. The price of these machines was only 7 to 8 yuan even if they were new, let alone second-hand ones. Moreover, given the current situation in Hong Kong, it was simply nonsense.

"No problem, no problem, it's my duty." Boss Cai was already prepared for Ma Qing to bargain, but he didn't expect Ma Qing not to accept it.

After a meaningless conversation, Ma Qing and three others came out of the factory. When they passed by a garbage dump, Ma Qing simply threw away all the information given by Boss Cai.

"What are you doing..." Wang Cheng asked in confusion when he saw Ma Qing's action.

"Get in the car first, we'll talk while we go." Ma Qing urged Wang Cheng to get in the car.

"Go to Kwai Tsing District," Ma Qing told Quan Ping An. On the way from Kwun Tong to Kwai Tsing, Ma Qing did not speak, and Wang Cheng hesitated several times to speak.

The car finally drove to the road next to Xiahuashan in Kwai Tsing District. Several people got off the car. Ma Qing looked at the whole picture of Kwai Tsing District at the foot of the mountain, stretched his waist, and was about to speak: "Brother Wang..."

"Mr. Ma, you can just call me Chengzi. You must have misunderstood. I didn't know you were so capable, so I introduced this factory to you. I also didn't know that Boss Cai would do such a thing. It's really none of my business." Wang Cheng's voice trembled a little.

"You must have misunderstood something. I'm not a gangster." Ma Qing looked at the cliff by the road. "You don't think I brought you here to push you off, do you?"

"No, no." Wang Cheng thought to himself, you brought me here without saying a word, who knows what you were going to do.

Ma Qing laughed in his heart. Wang Cheng was too timid. "Brother Wang, I don't care what the truth is about Boss Cai, but his asking price is too high. I'm a college student at Hong Kong Technical College. Don't I know the price of these machines? You underestimate me."

Ma Qing pointed to the Kwai Tsing District in the distance, his eyes shining, "Brother Wang, I know you have a lot of connections in the Industrial Association. You must know which factories are no longer in business and are looking for buyers. Look at this Kwai Tsing District, there are so many factories waiting for me to take over, you understand what I mean."

"You mean you want to acquire a large factory with land and factory buildings, right?" Wang Cheng didn't expect such a benefit to come suddenly, and asked excitedly.

"Yes, I have a budget of 30 to 50 Hong Kong dollars. Can you help me find a factory with a relatively large piece of land that makes plastic products? If you succeed, I will give you a commission of 2 cents."

"No problem, Mr. Ma, leave this to me. I, Wang Cheng, will tell you nothing else, but I am well-informed."

"Hurry up, I'll give you two weeks. If I can't find it, I'll have to ask for help from someone else." Ma Qing actually planned to look for a few more channels. He couldn't just rely on one thing to do all the work.

"One week. I guarantee that Mr. Ma will be satisfied within one week." Wang Cheng patted his chest and made a promise. Too many factories have closed down in the past two years, and even more are half-dying.

"In addition, I am also interested in those machines that were ordered in 64 but arrived in Hong Kong in 65. After all, I bought the factory and I will definitely expand the business, so I have to buy machines. It is better to buy ready-made ones than to order new ones. I think there should be a lot of such machines." Ma Qing stated his second requirement.

Wang Cheng's mind raced, and he immediately understood Ma Qing's plan. He was trying to take advantage of someone's misfortune and buy the goods at a low price. "No problem, this situation is actually very common. There are many small business owners on the verge of bankruptcy. Some of their machines are unopened and are still gathering dust."

Ma Qing nodded with satisfaction. The advantage of a time traveler is that he can see the general trend of future development clearly. If he doesn't do this, he will be unworthy of his identity. "That's it, I hope you won't let me down."

Ma Qing looked at the vast terrain of Kwai Tsing District, pointed to a few places and said, "Do you see those places? The factories you find for me should be in these places, where you can see the sea. I believe in Feng Shui. Water represents wealth and it will bring me prosperity."

Of course Ma Qing doesn't believe in feng shui, but if industrial land can be converted into residential land in the future where you can see the sea, it will become a sea view apartment, and that would be a lot of money.

Although it is difficult to convert industrial land into residential land, in Ma Qing's plan, it is very feasible. If those real estate developers can do it, why can't a time traveler like himself do it?

(End of this chapter)