What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 229 General-Purpose Fishing Boats
Q: How can we solve the problem of fishermen being disturbed during their work?
The answer was: Rather than being passively disturbed, it is better to take the initiative.

Tang Wen couldn't possibly cover the entire ocean by working himself to death, but there are plenty of fishermen.

Why not allow fishermen to sail on warships as well?
Even if they're using the most downgraded, youthful version of the boats, they're still not something ordinary fishing boats and patrol boats can easily stage an accident for.

It's like when Yuta Uchimura's two fishing boats were being chased by the Fisheries Administration 302, because they couldn't outrun the other side even with water cannons.

Tang Wen's current 1000-ton general-purpose fishing boat has a very high speed: 15 knots is a very luxurious number for a fishing boat, and each additional knot significantly increases the cost.

Even ordinary patrol boats only reach speeds of 12 to 18 knots, rarely exceeding 20 knots.

Equipped with a water cannon, it's practically invincible; taking on two opponents at once should be a piece of cake.

Of course, if the price is still several million, fishermen still can't afford it, but if Tang Wen wants to popularize it, he can't sell it.

He racked his brains and called Hu Li to discuss it together, staying up all night to research one thing: sharing fishing boats.

……

Grand Bay Hotel.

"Rent a boat?"

The boat captains had barely sat down when they were handed out freshly printed, still-warm advertisements with particularly sensational content on the cover:

[Own a 1,000-ton fishing boat for only 390,000!]

Chen Haifu's eyes nearly popped out when he saw the headline: 39 yuan! Even a major overhaul of a thousand-ton ship costs more than that.

He quickly flipped to the next page and saw the contents of the charter agreement:

In response to the fishermen's desire for the open ocean and the shortage of existing vessels, our company is launching the following preferential charter programs and special vessel types:
The 'Dongjiang' type 1100-ton large ocean-going fishing vessel has the following dimensions: length...width...height...

The rental regulations are as follows:
1. Dongjiang-type fishing vessels are offered the following charter agreements: -
6-month trial rental for 49 (limited-time offer this month: 39)
1-year short-term rental: 99 (limited-time offer this month: 69)
3-year long-term lease: 299 million (limited-time special offer this month: 179 million)
2. "Monthly Protection" warranty service (0.99 million/month, free for users this month for 1 year):
-
If you purchase monthly insurance continuously during the trial period, when the boat you rented suffers damage, such as paint peeling, barnacles on the hull, or other issues requiring maintenance, you can take the boat to Tai Wan to enjoy free maintenance services.
3. "Safe Fishing" Safety Guarantee (0.99 million/month, free for 1 year for users this month):
-
If you encounter a conflict with other patrol boats and face danger, call the 04338 rescue hotline. Gaijin will dispatch the nearest warships and aircraft to protect you.
4. Accidental collision insurance (0.99 million/month, free for 1 year for users this month):
-
If your vessel is damaged or sinks due to a collision with an illegal vessel within the boundaries of your Exclusive Economic Zone, our company will provide free repairs and replacement with a new vessel for insured customers.
5. The right to interpret the above content belongs to this company.

"I*!"

Chen Haifu rubbed his eyes in disbelief, turned to the last page, which contained a printed sketch of the Dongjiang-type fishing boat and its introduction.

And there's even a bonus on the back of the last page:

[Old Ship Recycling & New Ship Promotion Benefits:]
-
Used ship recycling: Gaijin Company recycles used ships at a rate of 5000 yuan/ton based on net weight. New customers enjoy an additional subsidy of 10 yuan for their first purchase.
-
Referral Bonus: Receive a 5 RMB discount coupon for each new customer you refer (can be used cumulatively)

My goodness!

That Dongjiang-type fishing boat is worth at least 15 million, but according to this contract, the average price for renting it for three years is only 600,000!

Although a fishing boat can be used for 15 to 20 years, purchasing a boat is a huge financial burden, and you have to make loan repayments every month.

Renting is different. It costs 179 million for three years. You can break even in less than a year, and the rest is pure profit.

There's also a monthly insurance service costing 9900 yuan, which includes repairs if it breaks, replacements if it gets damaged, and even the ability to call in people—no, I mean, planes and warships to help!
This is not doing business; this is giving alms to all living beings!
Beside him, Huang Dongfu looked utterly horrified.

He thought that buying the Fudong for a few million was a great bargain, but who knew that Tang Wen could actually come up with this kind of charter contract!
He can say with certainty that anyone who isn't a fool would absolutely make a killing by renting a boat at this price; just setting it up there is guaranteed to make money!

You know, the bigger the ship, the more expensive the maintenance and repair. But Tang Wen actually managed to include that in the price, and it only costs 1 yuan a month, which is practically free!
Normally, Fudong Fisheries' financial resources would be limited to operating one thousand-ton fishing boat, but looking at this contract, they dare to bring in two more!
Suddenly, the sound of gasping for breath filled the air, making Tang Wen feel a bit short of oxygen.

"Xiao Tang, are you serious?!"

Chen Yonggui couldn't hold back any longer. In his opinion, if they really did that, they would lose so much money that they would have to sell their underwear.

"Of course, but don't worry, when it comes to business, I might earn a little less, but I definitely won't lose money."

"Boat rental is a long-term business, and prices will definitely go up in the future, so there are only special offers in the early stages, and they might stop at any time." Tang Wen reassured them on the surface, but in his heart, he was thinking that making money was not important; he only wanted to see bloodshed.

When the fisheries administration came to issue a license to Gai Jin's boat last time, he asked about the approximately one thousand registered deep-sea fishing vessels nationwide.

If they were all replaced with gunboats, wouldn't that add a million tons of naval tonnage?

Chen Haifu suddenly asked:
"How many of these ships can be rented out?"

Boats are not cars, so you can't carry dozens or hundreds of them in just a few days.

The others also realized that there were probably only a few available for rent.

"Since we're all on the same side, I'll tell you the truth:"

However, Tang Wen dropped a bombshell:
"The promotional activities will continue until the end of the Spring Festival. By February 1, 1997, Gaikin can provide at least 50 boats!"

"Not five, but fifty, and all of them will be delivered to the client by February 1st at the latest!"

The two shipyards in Gaijin can build one ship at a time at LV1, and 15 ships can be built at the same time when the LV2 shipyard is fully operational. As of February, 50 ships is a very conservative number. Any more than that would scare them.

The room erupted in an uproar; the number had truly shocked them!

Chen Haifu's breathing immediately quickened, and he shouted without hesitation:
"I want to rent for three years, and I'll buy monthly insurance, safe fishing insurance, and collision insurance!"

"Okay, Hu Li, let's settle the accounts!"

Tang Wen slammed his hand on the table, and Hu Li, who was next to him, quickly pressed the calculator button:
"The rent for three years is 179 million, plus one year of free security, and the remaining two years are 712,800, for a total of 2,502,800!"

Tang Wen: "A flat price of 248 million. I wish Boss Chen great success with his second boat!"

Chen Haifu had two compensation payments and wasn't short of money, so he rented the place for three years.

Others couldn't sit still either, and someone immediately joined in shouting:

"I'll also rent it for three years, but I have a 150-ton ship, which is only 130 tons of pure iron. Can I give it to Boss Tang as payment?"

To be honest, the buyback price Tang Wen offered wasn't high, it was even quite low, but he felt a little guilty and hoped Tang Wen could minimize his losses.

Hu Li quickly did the math: "Even with the initial discount and the additional 10 yuan off, we still need to pay an extra 175.28 yuan!"

"Okay, I'll transfer the money right away!"

Seeing that someone actually followed made the rest of the group even more envious.

"Can I rent it for a year?"

"I'll rent it for three years too!"

"..."

In the blink of an eye, two more ship owners made their offers, while others who didn't have the money quickly went out to make phone calls, not wanting to miss this great opportunity.

Tang Wen sat in the main seat, a smirk playing on his lips.

The cost of building a Dongjiang-type fishing boat is just over 60 yuan, even without providing the materials yourself, and you can recoup the cost with a year's rental income.

As for repairs? Just send the people off the ship and put them in the port for half a day, and they'll be brand new and perfectly straight again.

He couldn't believe that such a good deal wouldn't tempt anyone; even those who weren't planning on changing ships would be incredibly interested.

What would it be like if all fishermen in the country could use fishing boats from the Dongjiang River?
If hundreds of substantial coastal defense ships were deployed everywhere, what would fishermen have to fear?
Not just coastal waters, we can go to the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans!
(End of this chapter)