A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Chapter 398 Unleashing One's True Nature

Compared to his visit to British shipyards years ago, Chen Guangliang received a very warm welcome when he came to Japan to inspect shipbuilding. Almost every shipbuilding company sent their top executives to personally receive him and accompany him throughout his visit.

On this day, Chen Guangliang visited Kure City, Japan, to inspect the shipbuilding industry.

During the inspection, many people accompanied Chen Guangliang, including Xia Yongshang, the chief engineer of Wushi Shipbuilding, who took the time to introduce Chen Guangliang.

The explanation was very detailed; I doubt any other shipowner could give you that much information, let alone the chief engineer.

Prior to Chen Guangliang's inspection, it was announced that not only would they build cargo ships of 10,000 tons or more, but they might also build large oil tankers.

The Japanese shipbuilding industry was already excited, after all, Chen Guangliang's last order in Europe was worth about 1500 million US dollars.

Chen Guangliang naturally did not spread false information. There were still three years until 1956, and he would gradually consider increasing the size of the fleet.

In the shipyard, Chen Guangliang nodded and said, "Before the war, ships were mostly built piece by piece by riveting, which took months and was inefficient. Nowadays, in shipbuilding technology, welding has replaced riveting, saving steel and speeding up assembly."

Nagayoshi Shimonaga replied, “That’s right. Prefabricated modules move the work from the narrow hull to the spacious workshop, allowing more workers to work at the same time. For example, welders no longer need to work hard in the narrow cabin; they can use a crane in the workshop to adjust the angle and easily complete the ‘downward welding,’ which doubles the efficiency. Now, as long as the schedule starts, a ship can have its keel installed in as little as 8 months, and the entire ship can be launched in just 15 months.”

Less than a year and a half, that's efficient!

In reality, the Liberty ships of that era were said to be launched every 12 days, employing a prefabricated panel model with division of labor. The speed at which the United States built ships far exceeded the speed at which German merchant ships bombed and sailed to Europe.

"Japan's shipbuilding industry is developing so rapidly that I believe it will only take three years to surpass Britain and become number one in the world."

Chen Guangliang was generous with his praise, which resonated with the surrounding Japanese, who then joined in the flattery.

After more than a week of investigation, Chen Guangliang had a clear idea of ​​what to do and the next step was to prepare for the formal shipbuilding. His initial plan was to build two 1.6-ton cargo ships and one 1.8-ton oil tanker in Japan, for a total of three ships.

The largest oil tankers currently exceed 3.5 tons, so an 1.8-ton oil tanker is already considered a medium-sized oil tanker; and even in five years, it will only be considered a small oil tanker.

However, small tankers also have advantages, namely their high speed, making them very suitable for customers who urgently need oil.

. . . . . .

Yoko Tsukasa is a student in the Department of Home Economics at Kyoritsu Women's Junior College in Japan. She is 19 years old this year and is a beautiful Japanese woman with a well-defined face and a great temperament.

On this day, Kishimoto Ichiro, the head of the General Affairs Department of the Osaka Mainichi Broadcasting Station, came to her.

"Ms. Tsukasa Yoko, we hope that after you graduate, you will join the General Affairs Department of our Osaka Mainichi Broadcasting Station as a secretary!"

When Si Yezi heard this, she was surprised to learn that she had already found a job a year before graduation.

"Hey, thanks, Mr. Kishimoto. I wonder why the General Affairs Department of Osaka Mainichi Broadcasting Station is recruiting me now?"

Kishimoto Ichiro stated directly, "Because we need you to attend a social event! This event is very important; it's being held by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and they need a lady like you to accompany an important guest. This guest is very important; he will provide some assistance to the influence of the Japanese shipbuilding industry."

Si Yezi blushed, immediately realizing that the situation was very complicated, and she hesitated.

She doesn't want to go!

However, she couldn't afford to offend these important figures.

"Mr. Kishimoto, isn't this a bit inappropriate!"

“Ms. Tsukasa Yoko, you are just a student in the Department of Home Economics at Kyoritsu Women’s Junior High School in Japan. If you agree to this gathering, the General Affairs Department of the Osaka Mainichi Broadcasting Station can reserve a place for you. Moreover, this is an advertisement concerning the Japanese shipbuilding industry. This is not just a personal matter for you and me, but a matter of national importance.”

Actually, Kishimoto Ichiro was just talking nonsense, oppressing Tsukasa Yoko.

It was a high-ranking friend of his at Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan who asked him to introduce a young and beautiful girl to accompany the guests.

He didn't say much in detail, but Kishimoto Ichiro took this kind of thing to heart, that's all.

"I"

"You can't object, or you won't be able to find a job later!"

"All right"

. . . . . . .

Japanese business dealings often take place in geisha houses. This custom is considered novel, interesting, and unique by many foreign businessmen.

But this didn't work with Chen Guangliang. He never needed geishas by his side, seemingly disgusted by these women of the night. This made his Japanese clients feel awkward, since everyone else had one or two geishas by their side, except for his most distinguished guest.

Of course, Chen Guangliang still held an 'appreciative' attitude towards the geisha's performance and did not show any disdain or displeasure.

Therefore, when Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. of Japan entertained Chen Guangliang this time, they planned to find a 'clean girl' from outside to accompany him.

Just as Chen Guangliang was about to refuse, a vice president of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. of Japan whispered in his ear, "Mr. Chen, she is not a geisha here, but a student, and she is just accompanying you for dinner. You don't need to mind her!"

Seeing that the organizers had already said so, Chen Guangliang knew he couldn't keep up the act any longer. After all, he needed to build a good relationship with the Japanese shipyard to get more preferential treatment and convenience in the future.

"trouble"

"Sir, you're too kind."

At this moment, Si Yezi, who was originally feeling wronged and uneasy, relaxed immediately upon seeing Chen Guangliang's charm and handsomeness, coupled with their previous conversation.

The gathering quickly became harmonious, and everyone chatted happily!
Chen Guangliang already spoke fluent Japanese back in the 1930s, so he naturally didn't have any language barriers.

Si Yezi was also shocked during the trip. From everyone's conversation, she learned that Chen Guangliang was a "ship king" who owned dozens of ocean-going ships, one of which, an oil tanker, cost as much as 700 million US dollars.

She secretly glanced at Chen Guangliang and found that he was so young, only in his thirties, yet he was already so capable.

When she met Chen Guangliang's gaze, she quickly pretended to pour wine and serve him food.

"Miss Si Yezi, how did you get here?" Chen Guangliang asked in a low voice.

"It was arranged by the broadcasting station."

Chen Guangliang stopped there and didn't ask any further questions.

In this era, Japanese women were considered 'worthless' and 'had no status'.

Even between 1946 and 1950, Chen Guangliang witnessed countless instances where a few meals could be exchanged for a young girl's virginity. A Westerner, followed by a group of Japanese refugees, would throw out a loaf of bread, and everyone would scramble for it like mad dogs.

At that time, Global Trade had already established an office in Japan, and some of its employees found Japanese women there. Some were abandoned, while others were later brought back to Hong Kong.

Although the situation in Japan has improved and people are now basically worry-free, even receiving better treatment than workers in Hong Kong, women in Japan still have a low social status and can be sacrificed at any time.

Of course, the same is true in Hong Kong, where countless wives and daughters of refugees have embarked on a path of no return.

That evening, Chen Guangliang took good care of Si Yezi, even praising her in public and giving her a tip. Clearly, Chen Guangliang wouldn't show his lecherous side in front of his clients.

. . . . . . . .

The news that Chen Guangliang was building three ships in Japan quickly spread throughout the Far East and was even reported by the media in Europe and America.

For a time, countless people were filled with envy and jealousy.

At this time, the China Merchants Group in Taiwan was in its deepest crisis. Although it had expanded its ocean shipping routes, its ships were old and of poor performance, and its operations were mostly limited to the Taiwan-Japan route and Southeast Asian waters.

Chairman Yu Feipeng lamented, "Chen Guangliang's fleet now surpasses all the merchant ships on Taiwan. The China Merchants Steam Navigation Company has had to convene board meetings several times to build a new oil tanker, and they still can't come up with a plan or the funds. It's truly pathetic! If the Commander-in-Chief had forced Chen Guangliang to Taiwan back then, things wouldn't be like this now!"

General Manager Shi Fuchang and others immediately thought to themselves, "Is it because the Commander-in-Chief didn't want to coerce us? He was clearly smart; he severed ties with the Nationalist government after World War II."

Yu Feipeng then said to Shi Fuchang, "Currently, Taiwan is not able to help China Merchants Group raise funds, so you will have to find a way to build new ships on your own."

Wanting the horse to run but not feeding it—this is the commander-in-chief's consistent behavior.

Shi Fuchang was also helpless and simply said, "Minister Yu, even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. I really have no way to solve the funding problem, so I resign to take responsibility."

Yu Feipeng was furious and said, "You people complain about quitting the moment you encounter difficulties. You don't care about serving 'DG' wholeheartedly, you only care about your own interests. I think we're better off without people like you! I approve it!"

He is not only the chairman of the board, but also the Minister of Transportation of Taiwan.

His conflict with Chen Guangliang was public knowledge back then, so it's understandable that people feel envious and jealous now.

. . . . . .

Chen Guangliang was aware of the predicament of the Taiwan Investment Promotion Bureau, but he didn't care.

Now, let alone a small region, how many ships in a country can match the expansion speed and scale of the Global Group?

In mid-August, Chen Guangliang prepared to board his superyacht "Mei Ying" and head back to Hong Kong from the port of Osaka.

"Miss Si Yezi, you are very welcome to visit my ship!"

Si Yezi stared at the superyacht in shock, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Chen Guangliang, on the other hand, remained calm. After parting ways with Si Yezi last time, he left her his contact information and invited her to ride on the British American Superyacht.

"Is this really your personal vehicle?"

"certainly"

Afterwards, Chen Guangliang had someone show Si Yezi around, and finally Si Yezi, dressed in a kimono, arrived at the restaurant on the deck.

With her classical temperament, the appearance of a traditional Japanese beauty, and the addition of a kimono, Si Yezi impressed Chen Guangliang.

After the meal, Chen Guangliang personally led Si Yezi to visit the bedroom.

Then, he pinned Si Yezi against the wall.

"Mr. Chen, I'm not ready yet!"

"Si Yezi, you've already fallen for her."

"woohoo"

Inside the kimono, the scenery was magnificent.

Chen Guangliang didn't have much patience and gentleness with Japanese women, and at this moment, he inevitably acted quite roughly.

Si Yezi experienced a gale and torrential rain for the first time, and blood stained the sky!
. . . . . . .

"Why didn't you take my first chance?"

Chen Guangliang said, "I'm not recruiting prostitutes, so naturally I wouldn't act on it then, and I'd only be looked down upon by those old hands in the Japanese business world!"

Si Yezi then asked, "Wouldn't that make it easy to waste an opportunity?"

Chen Guangliang lifted her chin and said, "Like Jiang Taigong fishing, those who are willing will take the bait. If you come to the appointment, it won't be a waste!"

Si Yezi said nervously, "I'm afraid you'll think I'm a promiscuous woman. But the situation at the time wasn't something I could refuse. They had a lot of power, and if I didn't agree, I was worried about the safety of myself and my family!"

Chen Guangliang didn't say anything; he wouldn't bother with such trivial matters.

Si Yezi was very clever and immediately saw through Chen Guangliang's indifference. She quickly said, "Sir, please help me!"

How can I help you?

"Let me be your lover. That way, I won't be afraid of them bothering me again. I can tell they respect you!"

Chen Guangliang was taken aback. He had originally planned to stay for a few days, but once he arrived in Hong Kong, he arranged for Si Yezi to take a plane back to Japan.

Unexpectedly, another one stuck to me.

A 19-year-old girl in the prime of her life gave him her virginity; it seems that her status is not an issue.

But Chen Guangliang would never marry a Japanese woman as his fourth concubine or mistress.

It doesn't seem like it's impossible.

The truly wealthy don't have many lovers.

"Serve me well first."

"I'm not very good at serving people, but I'll definitely listen to what you say."

Sure, I'll make your life miserable.

After the British and American ships arrived in Hong Kong, Chen Guangliang arranged for Si Yezi to return to China and assigned his Japanese subordinates to help settle her in.

He considered this as something he would have as a toy when he went to Japan in the future.

It's definitely not because I've actually developed feelings for him.

However, as Chen Guangliang's first batch of children grew up, Chen Guangliang himself seemed to unleash his "natural instincts." He was "superhuman" in this respect, and if left unchecked, he would be a human killer.

Upon returning to Hong Kong, Chen Guangliang still reflected on his behavior and resolved that he could no longer be careless.

Playing around is fine, but don't even think about taking a concubine again!
(End of this chapter)