1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 457 Ye Zhiming's Path to Wealth
There's no such thing as paying for a project in one lump sum, especially since the contractor is from South Korea.

Even if the pilot sites are selected in Central, HKU, CUHK, and Spring Airlines, it would take at least a month or two to complete the preliminary work.

Such a major plan, which concerns the next few decades, certainly doesn't need to be rushed.

Therefore, the money issue can be delayed as long as possible. Why bother being a nice guy and settling the debt when hundreds of millions of yuan can sit in the bank and earn interest for a few more days?

Zhai Yuan made the decision to delegate trivial matters to Tao Zongyi's team, slow down the progress on the financial side, and speed up the progress on the construction side, and Zhonggang Communications officially entered the era of large-scale infrastructure construction.

The infrastructure here is just starting out.
On the other hand, the long-planned construction project finally came to fruition at the end of the year.

Bridge Island, Pillow Island, and White Sand Island are now one island.

The Jurassic Park project, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars, has been officially announced as completed and handed over.

Civil engineering has never been a strong suit of Hong Kong construction teams. Local workers are used to building projects, and even a powerful group like Cheung Kong Holdings couldn't handle the order for a tourist park. Therefore, the entire Jurassic Park project, from blueprint design to construction planning, cannot be separated from engineers from both the United States and Japan.

As a result, during the construction period, the neighboring residents saw foreign faces coming and going from the outlying island every day, speaking incomprehensible gibberish, and all sorts of rumors began to circulate out of nowhere.

"I think we're probably going to have another war."

"Yes, I heard they're building a maritime military base."

"We need to stock up on food quickly!"

Even today, with Jurassic Park officially completed, these rumors continue to circulate.

Spanning three outlying islands and stretching over 800 meters, the Wing Dragon roller coaster has become a secret weapon in the eyes of nearby residents.

"As expected, conspiracy theories are everywhere."

On November 1, Zhai Yuan once again went up to Qiaozui Island and couldn't help but laugh when he heard the construction workers chatting.

It's a pity the company doesn't sell health supplements, otherwise they could skip the customer screening process altogether. According to news Liang Zhichao brought back from Japan, their direct selling business is booming there. They can make a dumpling out of flour and vitamin pills and sell it for 3,888 yuan. They also offer rebates for recruiting new members...

If I ever really need money, I'll just hire the handsome men and beautiful women from 91 Entertainment as spokespeople and create a whole new Amway brand.

Zhai Yuan calmed his wandering thoughts, took a deep breath of the sea breeze, and looked up to see his first tourist attraction right in front of him.

The scene before us is vastly different from what it was a year or so ago.

When Ye Zhiming officially took over the three outlying islands last year, only Sharp Island had been somewhat developed by him; the remaining two islands, Pillow Island and White Sand Island, were virtually untouched by humans.

Looking at it now, the asphalt road winds through a lush forest, and inside the towering electric fence, there are giant ferns made of plastic. Under the umbrella-like shade of the trees, you can vaguely see the scales and claws of a dinosaur model covered with silicone skin.

“Mr. Zhai, this is probably the most valuable prop I have ever made in my life.”

Huang Weiming, president of the Hong Kong Props Association under the Film Association, spoke sincerely as he accompanied Zhai Yuan and others through the electric fence. Huang Weiming pushed aside the giant plastic banana leaves in front of him, and a prehistoric behemoth with a back covered with sharp fins appeared before his eyes.

"Damn it!" Ye Zhiming, the former island owner who came with him for the visit, raised an eyebrow and subconsciously took a half step back.

The herbivorous Stegosaurus in front of me is so realistic, towering majestically, with its electronically tracked camera eyes moving slightly, adding a touch of agility, making it a true nemesis of megalophobia.

When Ye Zhiming finally reacted, he met Zhai Yuan's disdainful gaze: "Brother Ming, from now on, sit at the kids' table when you eat."

"You son of a bitch! You think I'm disgusting?"

Ye Zhiming chuckled and, to ease the awkward atmosphere, casually stepped forward and stroked the surface of the Stegosaurus model, praising it as he patted it: "Not bad, quite realistic. But these kinds of toys are only novel for a while; they're still just inanimate objects..."

Before he finished speaking, the Stegosaurus slowly turned its long neck, opened its jaw to reveal sharp teeth, and let out a low roar at Ye Zhiming.

In the surrounding jungle, several egrets fluttered out, perfectly timed with the scene.

Ye Zhiming clearly felt the dinosaur skin in his palm trembling slightly, bringing a rough touch.

He took a deep breath, forcibly swallowing back the curse, and turned to look at Zhai Yuan with feigned composure: "Ha, it can actually move, I really didn't expect that."

"The model of this medium-sized dinosaur alone cost over a million Hong Kong dollars, which is more expensive than the sports car parked on the shore. Do you think it's a sculpture?"

Zhai Yuanchong and Ye Zhiming rolled their eyes, turned off the remote control in their hands, casually tossed the remote control to Huang Weiming, and said, "Internal steel frame, high-density sponge, silicone skin, transmission equipment and control box, if I take it to Japan to make dolls without regard to cost, do you believe that in a few years young people in Japan will not even be willing to get married? This is what you call technology changing lives!"

"interesting."

Ye Zhiming grinned, took the remote control from Huang Weiming, and played with it for a while.

Dinosaur models themselves don't actually involve much high technology. The prop masters association members, led by Huang Weiming, were all employees of major toy companies in their early years. At that time, Hong Kong was the world's largest toy production center, naturally nurturing many talents. With the northward expansion of manufacturing in recent years, many unemployed toy masters have switched to making movie props. For example, Huang Weiming was the prop foreman for films like "The Thousand Faces of Dunjia," "Starship Troopers," and "The New Legend of Shushan." Zhai Yuan brought a few prop masters from Hong Kong to Japan and they were able to make "The Monster of Hiroshima." This time, the entire association and the entire industry have gathered to develop a dinosaur park, so it's no wonder that Ye Zhiming was caught off guard and stunned twice.

The newly crowned gambling king of the high seas pinched and touched this and that with the remote control, and the Stegosaurus model in front of him made various sounds, and the joints of its neck and feet swayed slightly. Although it could not move around, it was still full of oppressive atmosphere with the original primeval forest atmosphere.

"Is it fun?"

"Fun!"

“You’ve never played it before?”

"Of course not, we didn't have that kind of opportunity when we were kids."

"You haven't seen it?"

"without……"

Ye Zhiming, who was fiddling with the remote control, finally understood what was going on. He looked up and glared at Zhai Yuan with annoyance, then slammed the remote control into Zhai Yuan's hand, regaining his composed demeanor as the gambling king.

"Child's play, what haven't I seen?" Ye Zhiming added, trying to make amends. "I went to the Soviet Union recently, I saw plenty of airplanes and cannons!" Zhai Yuan laughed. "Alright, I know you're very knowledgeable, Ming-ge. Remember to take me with you next time you go to the Soviet Union to broaden your horizons."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhiming opened his mouth as if to say something, but then turned to look at Huang Weiming beside him, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

Seeing this, Zhai Yuan smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Come on, let's visit other places."

The entire Qiaozui Island has been transformed into a dinosaur park, divided into five main areas.

The park features a herbivorous dinosaur area, a Tyrannosaurus Rex restricted area, a gene laboratory, a children's playground, and a pterosaur roller coaster.

Each one was more expensive than the last, but the experience they provided far surpassed that of any children's playground in Hong Kong at the time. Slides, swings, softball, canoes, and other attractions that are available elsewhere are all available on Sharp Island. Sharp Island also offers a wide variety of unique and innovative attractions that are not available elsewhere.

"I really didn't expect that my first time riding a roller coaster would be with an old man like you."

After touring the various attractions on the island, Zhai Yuan and Ye Zhiming, led by staff, boarded a roller coaster sculpted with a pterosaur skeleton, laughing and joking as they were secured with safety ropes.

“I didn’t look down on you, little brother!” Ye Zhiming said with a smile, then added seriously, “But you really should bring Ah Qing over and spend more time with my sister. She complained to Third Sister last week that you’ve been neglecting her lately.”

Zhai Yuan laughed exaggeratedly, "Hey, are you here to interrogate me, Ming-ge?"

Ye Zhiming sighed softly, "How could I dare? Aqing is so outgoing. If she finds out that I came to confront her, she'll turn the world upside down when we get home."

Zhai Yuan smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Aqing is my daughter, I will take good care of her."

Ye Zhiming shrugged noncommittally, realizing that Zhai Yuan was still avoiding the real issue. He wanted to discuss it further, but felt it was pointless. He couldn't exactly hold a knife to Zhai Yuan's throat and force him to become his brother-in-law, could he? He had his pride too.
"Never mind, you young people can handle your own affairs."

"Alright! Old people are just as talkative as ever~"

"Damn it! Me, an old man? I've been having a threesome since last night—ah!"

After arriving at Qiaozui Island, Ye Zhiming lost his composure for the third time.

The winding roller coaster suddenly leaped up with a roar, soaring ninety degrees into the sky, then plummeted into the air in a weightless descent, racing across the sea like a giant steel dragon, stirring up a salty sea breeze, heading straight for Pillow Island Pier on the opposite shore...

……

Sharp Island is a theme park, while Pillow Island and White Sand Island are resorts with themed hotel styles.

When it came to building, it was the turn of Hong Kong's construction teams to demonstrate their strengths. With expertise in their respective fields, they had already completed the two outlying island resorts even earlier than Sharp Island. Later, dinosaur elements were added to embellish the resorts, and by then they were ready to open for business at any time.

However, it's not time to officially open for business yet. The movie "Jurassic Park" has not been filmed yet, and all the promotional activities are still in preparation.

Based solely on the purchasing power of Hong Kong, it's impossible for such a large project to recoup its costs in the foreseeable future.
Once it opens for business, it will inevitably attract the attention of the world, just as movies need box office revenue, and tourism needs even more so.

The roller coaster that circled the island slowly landed.

Inside the carriage, Ye Zhiming untied his safety rope, staggered down, his face grim, and muttered curses under his breath.

"Damn it! Paying money to play this heart-pounding game? I'm almost fifty years old, you idiot! You're so stupid! How could you go so fast? Luckily, I don't have a heart condition!"

Zhai Yuan jumped down lightly as if nothing had happened, laughing as he put his arm around Ye Zhiming's shoulder.

Judging from the other party's reaction, my expensively built roller coaster was definitely worth the money.

Even the gambling king on the high seas was so frightened that he was speechless. If this continues, won't he be irresistible to all those thrill-seeking young people?

Walking on the soft grass, passing through a huge glass dome, you can hear soft music coming from the bar in the visitor reception hall with dinosaur skulls hanging from it. In the open-air fountain dug from the sea, two plesiosaurs sit and lie, gently patting their wide, flat feet. Water jets emerge intermittently from the plesiosaurs' mouths and nostrils in rhythm with the music, making the use of the theme elements to the fullest.

Zhai Yuan and Ye Zhiming did not go to the villa hotel to rest, but instead stepped across the courtyard into the bar.

"Here, have a drink to calm your nerves first. I never thought you were so timid."

I sat down at the bar counter, which resembled a volcanic rock sculpture.
Zhai Yuan called the bartender to get a horse-head rat, filled a glass, and pushed it in front of Ye Zhiming.

"I even use Lafite for mouthwash! It's 82!"

Having just recovered a bit, Ye Zhiming put on an act again, muttering, "Youngsters don't know the world. Go ask Chen Jiale and the others. Whenever the Natural Choice encountered pirates on the high seas, wasn't it always me personally setting up the cannons and directing the operation? Me, a coward? Go for it!"

"Yes, yes, we know you're awesome now."

Zhai Yuan chuckled and shook his head. Ye Zhiming, who had lived a life of danger, had a personality that was completely different from the other capitalists and politicians he had met during this period. He didn't need to pretend to be refined, which suited Zhai Yuan's taste better.

He waved his hand, signaling the bartender to move aside.
Once there were no outsiders around, Zhai Yuan took out a pack of Double Happiness cigarettes, flicked out two, put them in his mouth, lit them, and then gave one to Ye Zhiming.

Taking a deep breath, Zhai Yuan exhaled a puff of smoke, raised his chin at Ye Zhiming, and said, "You wanted to talk about the Soviet Union back on Qiaozui Island, now that there are no outsiders here, go ahead and say it~"

"The Soviet Union has a big business deal!"

Ye Zhiming took the cigarette and said with great interest, "I'm not kidding you. If you do well, you can earn more than ten times more in a year than you would on a gambling ship. Ah Yuan, don't think you're the only one making money this way!"

"Damn it!" Zhai Yuan rolled his eyes at him, tapping the table impatiently, "Stop pretending to be fish, shrimp, and crabs, get to the point!"

Ye Zhiming chuckled, took two deep drags on his cigarette, which glowed crimson, and his eyes shone with a brilliance even brighter than the cigarette butt. He forcefully uttered two words: "Weapons!"

Zhai Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this and looked up at him.

Ye Zhiming's smile deepened, and he said excitedly, "I've been to the Soviet Union many times this year, and Xuemei has been to many places. It turns out that those Soviet friends I met on the gambling ship are all big shots with powerful connections. Now that major powers are ceasing hostilities and disarming, large quantities of Soviet weapons are sitting in warehouses, getting moldy and rusty, filling dozens of cargo holds of all sizes. In short, as long as you can afford it, you can have someone cover for you even if you move everything. Once the goods are in hand, they'll be shipped from the sea to the vicinity of Panama, and then transferred to other shipping routes to be sold to third-world countries..."

Ye Zhiming became more and more excited as he spoke, and took a few more puffs of his cigarette. In the rising smoke, he winked at Zhai Yuan: "We're all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. I'll give you a share this time. How about it, are you interested?"

(End of this chapter)