50s: Starting with a storage ring

Chapter 409 A Unique Welcome Ceremony

When he entered Lao Han's temporary office, he surprised Lao Han.

"What are you doing here?" Before Old Han could finish asking, he saw a large jar flying towards him. He quickly caught it and realized it was a jar of Tieguanyin tea.

Sun Zhiwei tossed the tea leaves aside and slumped onto the sofa: "I had no choice but to come. This time, Liu Linhai's ship came fully loaded with fertilizer."

"I was the one who came up with this idea in the first place, how could I not come and take a look?"

"What's the point of you coming to look? Hey, you're storing this tea in a tin can, where did you get it?"

"They were made in Hong Kong. I don't have any quota in mainland China, so I can only get some from Hong Kong and bring them over."

"Not bad, not bad, this should last for two months. Is there any more?"

"No, shouldn't your focus be on the mission?"

"What's there to worry about? The agent has already found a buyer, and the first prepayment has been deposited into their account. They're just waiting for the ship to arrive at port for delivery."

"Huh? You mean, all the fertilizer we haven't even received yet has already sold out?"

Sun Zhiwei was shocked. He had been prepared to cover the losses for this batch of goods and had been busy for several days to raise the money. Now he was being told that it was no longer needed?

"Or what? Our stuff is so cheap, of course it'll sell well. Our comrades are all very patient; do you think the world will stop turning without you?"

"No, no, aren't they worried about tariffs?"

"Tariffs? Ah, I see. You probably haven't noticed, but we've already signed a Trade Relations Agreement with Old M, granting each other 'most-favored-nation' status."

The problem you were worried about no longer exists.

"I see, then there's no problem. However, did you notice the obstruction from the three major chemical companies in the US that I mentioned in my suggestion?"

"I know, so we're not planning to take advantage of this for long. We're just looking for a quick and easy win. Don't worry, the higher-ups have made preparations."

"That's good. Making a quick buck is good enough. Are you in charge of this fertilizer trading line now?"

"Yes, that's why I know so clearly."

"Then let me give you a heads-up: I've raised 2000 million. If there are any problems with sales, I can cover the last wave."

"2000 million? US dollars?"

"Yes, I just borrowed it from a California bank."

"Zhiwei, don't do anything reckless. You'll be using this identity for several more years, so don't get yourself into trouble."

"Don't worry, it won't happen. I'm prepared."

"Okay, thank you in advance. I'll contact you to cover for me if there are any problems here."

"Yes, don't worry, that's why I came here. I won't go anywhere until I get Liu Linhai off the ship."

Sun Zhiwei revealed his trump card to Lao Han, which can be considered as covering for him.

In case the chemical company is shameless and tries some new tricks that delay fertilizer sales, Lao Han has $2000 million in hand, so he can calmly deal with any emergencies.

There was no need to rush the fertilizer issue. Now that he was here, he should naturally participate in the work of the embassy. So, in the following days, he began to help Lao Han at the embassy's temporary residence.

He was busy for several days, inviting a prominent Chinese figure and communicating with Seattle municipal authorities. He only finished most of the work on the 19th, when Ambassador Mu arrived at his residence in Seattle.

That same afternoon, news came from the city that the "Liulin" was spotted sailing from the Cape Frattler lookout at the mouth of the Juan Fudeca Strait.

Cape Flatley is more than 200 kilometers away from Seattle by sea, and the journey is expected to take more than ten hours.

Upon receiving the information, dozens of Seattle Port officials, including pilots, customs officers, officials from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Coast Guard, and the Immigration Bureau, were dispatched.

The agent, Lex Brothers Shipping, funded the charter of a plane and arrived 65 kilometers ahead of time to be the first to board the ship at the Port of Angelis pilot station.

Then, taking advantage of the last stretch of waterway before arrival at port, during the few hours of sailing, entry and exit procedures were completed in advance for the ship and all crew members.

So that they could disembark and participate in the celebrations as soon as they arrived at the Port of Seattle.

This friendly and special arrangement has never occurred before at the Port of Seattle, demonstrating the importance that Seattle officials attach to this maiden voyage.

On the morning of the 20th, flags fluttered in the breeze at Seattle Pier 91. Not far from the pier, the Willow Grove was slowly entering the harbor.

The 13th District Coast Guard of Country M dispatched a ship to greet them. The patrol boat "Don Moha" led the way, while the fireboat "Jack Brandon" sprayed water jets with more than ten water cannons. A helicopter from the aerial media circled above the ship to take pictures.

At the dock, Ambassador Mu, senior White House officials, business people, patriotic overseas Chinese, and more than 300 others welcomed the arrival of the Liulin Hai.

In the center of the pier, there is a banner written in both Chinese and English that reads, “Wishing the Liulin Hai a successful maiden voyage to Seattle, USA.”

After the Liulinhai successfully docked, Captain Bei Hanting led all the crew members off the ship to participate in the welcoming ceremony.

The maiden voyage of the "Liulinhai" caused a huge sensation in Seattle and even throughout the United States, with major media outlets giving it prominent coverage.

The New York Times vividly described the scene: "After a 30-year hiatus, China's first cargo ship docked at the Port of Seattle, a military band played a welcoming tune, and politicians waited in the biting cold for this historic moment."

While politicians were celebrating at the hotel, some of the crew began unloading cargo at the dock.

It was only then that Sun Zhiwei realized that this bulk carrier, which was rated as 3 tons, was actually carrying 4 tons of fertilizer.

Only then did he recall the resume of the old Captain Beihanting.

This old captain is also a prominent figure in the domestic maritime industry. His specialty is organizing his crew to meticulously plan the loading of cargo ships.

This time, the 3-ton cargo ship was 25% overloaded, so carrying 4 tons of fertilizer was nothing special. His own record was 50% overloaded at the Port of Hamburg, transporting a complete set of chemical equipment.

The entire 4 tons of fertilizer was quickly unloaded from the Liulinhai and then quietly transported to farms all over the world by a convoy sent by the agent, Lex Brothers Shipping Company.

Under the cover of a grand maiden voyage ceremony, they completed the entire transaction without making a sound.

This time, 4 tons of fertilizer were transshipped domestically. The purchase price was $500 per ton, and the wholesale price to Lex Brothers Shipping Company was $1200 per ton, resulting in a profit of $700 per ton.

The total profit from this shipment of fertilizer reached an astonishing $2800 million, a truly phenomenal success.

But Sun Zhiwei knew that Lex Brothers Shipping Company was making even more money than them.

The current retail price of fertilizer in Country M is $3700 per ton. If they sell it at a price lower than the market price, they can earn three times as much as we do.

(End of this chapter)