Hong Kong Storm: The King of Jobs

Chapter 438, Section 19: In business, you have to follow the rules!

(Thanks to the boy who loves reading historical novels for his support! Thank you so much for your great support!)

After finishing her sentence, Chi Mengli turned her gaze to the television screen. Jack Cheng's skills were still as elegant as ever. This future international kung fu superstar certainly didn't know that he would become an irreplaceable symbol of Hong Kong.

Dao Yousheng looked at the videotape's packaging box, which was coated with waterproof spray paint and Jack Cheng's movie poster was printed on it, with the four big characters "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" shining brightly.

The workmanship is excellent, it's really great!

The cost price is ten dollars per book. It can be sold to street vendors (those who hang out with gangs) for fifteen dollars per book. It can be sold for twenty dollars. After deducting the commission, the gang can make at least six dollars.

Even in small movie theaters now, a seat in the back row costs six yuan, while the first five rows require a crab ticket. Unless you're crazy, very few people go to the movies alone. Two movie tickets would cost a crocodile (20 yuan).

Buy a videotape, take it home, and watch it whenever you want. After you're done, your relatives and close friends can borrow it to watch as well.

This isn't even the biggest sales channel. These guys are gangsters; their fear of the law is like their fear of toilet paper.

Erotic films, films with nudity, that's the real money-maker. These young geeks and perverts have an insatiable desire for beautiful women's bodies. Getting them to open their wallets to buy a videotape is effortless.

Thinking of this, Dao Yousheng chuckled lewdly and handed the videotape cover to Su Long.

Chi Mengli knew perfectly well what Dao Yousheng, that good-for-nothing, was laughing at. He first poured a glass of wine for Acong, then, holding the glass, said to Dao Yousheng, "I've made a hundred erotic films with very little clothing, all directed by Director Li."

"There are also two hundred erotic films featuring nudity. Most of these restricted films are Japanese pink films, all big-budget productions with exquisite visuals and super hot action!"

"I've already bought the copyrights. The videotapes will still cost ten yuan each, but they have to be sold together with some videotapes that don't sell well!"

"As for how much money you make, that's none of my business."

The dishes served at the peace banquet are not too particular, but there must be a poached chicken, a large round table with twelve dishes, two bottles of Lafite, and four bottles of XO.

Chi Mengli picked up a piece of poached chicken, dipped it in some sauce, and put it in her mouth. The piece of meat swirled in her mouth, and she spat out a few chicken bones into the bone plate, urging everyone to eat more vegetables.

"What a load of rubbish! Ten yuan a book, what kind of gimmick is that?"

"Now, if you work in a factory and screw in screws, you can't earn the equivalent of five women's heads in an hour. You have to work for four hours to exchange for a videotape."

The boss's eyes were glued to the TV screen, clearly tempted, but he pretended to be uninterested, his purpose being simple: to drive down the price.

Dao Yousheng remained silent. Since the big boss originally wanted to be a cannon emplacement, let him be. In any case, the task assigned by his father-in-law had already been completed.

The money-making opportunity that Handsome Sheng has opened up is clearly a good business. If the big boss can bring down the purchase price, it will benefit everyone.

“There are over 100,000 people in Tuen Mun. Although you didn’t manage to make it all the same, you have your territory in every lucrative place.”

“VCRs are too expensive now and it will take time to become widespread, but you can set up video arcades or small private cinemas. One ticket can get you two women, and you can open one next to an elementary or junior high school.”

“We all come from public housing estates, so we know what kind of scoundrels these kids are like in school. As soon as the video arcades open, these kids will definitely come to our door and give us money.”

"We'll show regular movies in the regular theaters and erotic films in the VIP theaters. You can decide the ticket prices yourselves. Do you expect me to lecture you endlessly?"

"Gentlemen, you are all incredibly resourceful. Selling only in Hong Kong won't be very profitable. You can sell to Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Hawaii, Japan, and South Korea."

"If you want an English version, I'll customize an English version for you big shots. If you want a Korean version, the factory will customize a Korean version for you big shots. It's a legal business, we pay taxes normally, and we can pass through customs openly and legitimately!"

"I can issue authorization letters for free. As long as it doesn't violate the laws of the sales location, everyone can make money legally."

"Eat vegetables!"

The ideas for video arcades can't be kept secret, so why not just share them from the start?

You can't do business by controlling both upstream and downstream; if you want to be a major player, you can't get involved in retail.

Video arcades can be opened, but casual sales are absolutely prohibited. Even the street vendor business in Shanghai Street and Temple Street must be handed over to show that they will not overstep their bounds.

Chi Meng-Li plans to hand over the videotape business in Yau Ma Tei to the pastor.

Quick-Punch Jack also helped secure the distribution channels in Japan. Yazaku was indeed wealthy and powerful, and he initially ordered 200,000 customized Japanese videotapes.

We hired a Japanese language major from the University of Hong Kong to add professional subtitles, and the company is also recruiting broadcasting talent from various countries to re-dub the film to better suit different markets.

Two hundred thousand copies is an order of two million Hong Kong dollars, and with shipping costs, it amounts to two million one hundred and fifty thousand Hong Kong dollars.

After the contract was signed, Yazaku's legitimate company paid 80% of the advance payment, and Chi Mengli also wrote a check on the spot to give Quick-Punch Jack a reward of 200,000.

Although Jack Cheng was a huge star in Hong Kong, the Yazaku filmmakers from Japan loved his movies the most, and they ordered 300,000 copies of just "Drunken Master" and "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow".

According to Quick-Punch Jack, Yazaku transported these videotapes back to Edo and then distributed them to various regional direct units, during which time the price increased fivefold.

Dao Yousheng saw the business opportunities here. His father was the king of the New Territories. He had his eye on all the department stores in Tin Shui Wai, Fanling, Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, and Tsing Yi.

Open a few videotape shops in these department stores, sell videotapes and music tapes together, and you're guaranteed to make a fortune. You don't even need to share profits with your henchmen; just hire shop assistants to sell them.

He's guaranteed no one will cause him trouble at the department store his dad watches over.

“Brother Sheng, Ah Jun is right. Those who come out to make a living are poor at midnight and rich at dawn. They don’t have any cash on hand. If you want to buy black rice, I’m willing to pay fifteen yuan per kilogram.”

Dao Yousheng had too much money in his hands that he couldn't deposit in the bank. Even if he died, he couldn't exchange all the money by relying on his henchmen to do it.

Xinji also had underground banks and loan shark companies, but they couldn't pose a threat to the money exchange.

In Haojiang, there's a "mud coin hall" (or "mud coin hall"). No matter how difficult it is to process banknotes, once they enter the mud coin hall, they vanish without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

Moreover, the water house is located in the Cayman Islands, Hawaii has two community banks, there are money exchange shops in Chinatown, and Singapore also has legal financial companies.

No matter how much money it is, it can be washed clean without any problems.

"Brother Sheng, the banknotes in your crotch are too hot for me to accept."

"We've become friends through a misunderstanding, so I'll give you three a discounted price of nine yuan a book. I also guarantee that the shady characters in the water room won't cross the line in your territories."

"This is a clearance sale, a huge discount! You'll never see anything like this again!"

"If my boss knew that I was giving the three of you a discount, he would definitely call me a bone-eating dragon and a spendthrift!" Seeing that both the big boss and fellow Daoist Sheng said it was too expensive, Chi Mengli also took the initiative to lower the price by one dollar.

"Haha. Sheng Ge Ba Bi!"

"Nine dollars it is! I want ten thousand copies of Director Lee's erotic films, twenty thousand copies of Jack Cheng's 'Drunken Master' and 'Snake in the Eagle', and the remaining thirty thousand copies are all Bruce Lee's kung fu films!"

Daoyousheng ordered 60,000 videotapes in one go. He has old connections in Tainan and can test the waters first. If they don't sell well, he can still sell the 500,000+ NTD worth of goods himself.

The big boss Yuan, who was eating red grouper, saw that his fellow Daoist Sheng had also placed an order. He knew that the price couldn't be lowered. He cursed in his heart, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Since Brother Sheng has agreed, I have nothing to say."

"Like Brother Sheng, I need 60,000 videotapes first to test the waters. But this batch needs to be a special edition, all in Thai. How long will it take to deliver?"

The gangster had deep roots in Bangkok. After the police pointed their guns at him, the bastard immediately took a speedboat to Bangkok, where he eventually died on the street.

Chi Mengli knew what was going on and immediately nodded, replying, "If it's just Thai subtitles, it will take a week. If it needs Thai dubbing, then it will take a month."

"For a movie with hundreds of characters, even a month isn't enough time to dub from beginning to end."

"Brother Jun, please be understanding!"

"However, there are rules for doing things the right way. Since the two big shots can't issue credit certificates from HSBC or Standard Chartered, I will follow my own rules. After signing the contract, I will take 80% of the goods on the spot."

"Once the goods are delivered to you, counted, and signed, you will need to pay me another 10%."

"As for the remaining 10%, pay it off in three months as a deposit. I'll refund you the exact amount of each defective tape. Is that reasonable?"

Payment in advance is the rule in Hong Kong. Because so many customers have absconded, factory owners in Hong Kong nowadays won't even ask for materials to start production unless they receive 60% to 80% of the prepayment.

Instead of trusting the credibility of gangsters, you might as well believe you are Qin Shi Huang.

Chi Mengli had to make it clear from the outset: no money, no goods.

"Don't worry! Nobody dares to stand you up, Brother Sheng!"

“When I sign the papers at the law firm, I will give the check to you, Brother Sheng.”

"I've had a poor appetite lately and can't eat these greasy dishes. They look disgusting. I'll treat you to hot pot another day, Brother Sheng."

With everything settled, Dao Yousheng lost interest in continuing the conversation. He stood up, glanced at Su Long sitting next to him, and seeing that the old scoundrel was about to sit down, he said goodbye and left.

After Dao Yousheng left, the Boss Yuan, who was soaking wet, was unwilling to sit down. Without even saying goodbye, he turned around and left, leaving only Su Long, an outsider, at the table.

"Uncle Long has something to say?"

"You're not also interested in erotic films, are you?!"

Chi Mengli made a joke to lighten the mood, then picked up the wine bottle and poured Su Long a glass of wine.

"I'm getting old! I don't like watching movies, and I especially don't like watching erotic films."

Su Long picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, coughed, and then continued, "I run a martial arts school."

"No! You are the head coach of the new team. Someone once told me that someone who can fight may not be able to teach, but someone who can teach definitely can't fight!"

In fact, while Su Long was observing Chi Mengli, Chi Mengli was also observing Su Long. The moment he saw Su Long, he concluded that Su Long was all show and no substance.

However, a good coach is not necessarily a good boxer. Su Long was hired by the new team as head coach, so he must have his own training plan.

"Hehe! Brother Sheng is too modest. Brother Sheng, you have mastered the strengths of many schools. Even if a master were to practice for another hundred years, he would not be your match. My unorthodox methods are only good for fooling a novice like me."

The handsome guy was blunt, but this loser had the confidence to say it. Su Long didn't get angry. He just said politely for a moment, and then said, "In eighteen days, it will be time to register for the boxer's bar."

"Unrestricted combat, Brother Sheng has a good plan."

“As an old man, I also want to get a piece of the pie. My boxing gym has recently trained a few promising young talents who are ready to compete.”

"Brother Sheng, you draw the way out for me, Su Long, and I won't haggle!"

Su Long has no territory, only a run-down boxing gym, so he certainly can't sell videotapes. He's already old and a big shot in the underworld; he can't afford to lose face selling miracle pills at a street stall.

Since he teaches boxing, he still needs to find a job in the boxing world.

"Haha! No problem!"

"Since Uncle Long has spoken, even if I'm unwilling, I have to nod in agreement."

The point of running the boxer's bar is to be in charge. Chi Mengli never intended to monopolize the water room. Since he chose to be in charge, he had to prioritize the overall situation. He would support whoever had the ability and wouldn't care which gang was behind the boxers.

But boxers have to pay an entrance fee to fight, and although Su Long is the head coach, he may not have much money in his pocket.

You can hitch a ride, but you can't expect to get something for nothing.

"However! Uncle Long, you are a big shot in the underworld, you know the rules, every industry has its regulations, and these regulations are like an umbrella, sheltering us good-for-nothings from the wind and rain."

“Uncle Long, if you want to get involved, you definitely want to keep going, whether it's setting up a new boxing gym or a new sports agency.”

“I’ll give you a spot, Uncle Long. You can recruit as many people as you want from now on. The agency or gym that gets the spot can recommend five people to enter the knockout stage for each competition.”

"In the preliminary rounds before the knockout stage, fifteen boxers can be recommended to participate."

"But the quota for the new boxing gym and management company is 200,000 per year, and the quota for those with large boats is 500,000, with a deposit of 500,000!"

"As for the boxers' publicity and promotion, we will take care of that."

"I'm currently talking to my boss about increasing this year's prize money to one million and awarding a world champion belt."

"Uncle Long, I hope that the boxer you train can earn this million-dollar prize."

"Even if you don't become the world champion, all boxers will still get paid. You get one point for every fight you complete, and even if you lose every fight, you'll still get points and money!"

(End of this chapter)