Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 155 Looking for someone
Sassoon was able to solve the delivery problem, which saved Gu Yansheng a lot of trouble.

Sassoon was alright; from the perspective of an arms dealer alone, he was a competent man.

As long as the goods can be delivered, Gu Yansheng decided to protect him more in the future.

For example, the Japanese must target all of Sassoon's businesses in China; only then will Sassoon wholeheartedly pursue his illicit trade.

Back at the Shanghai West Police Station, Lu Bowen arrived, impeccably dressed in a suit, accompanied by several subordinates and two Germans, looking every bit like a boss inspecting a business.

After accompanying Boss Lu on a tour of western Shanghai and identifying several factory sites, the matter of opening a factory was basically settled.

Other factories didn't offer any special offers, but I encountered a bit of an awkward situation when looking for a cotton yarn factory.

They were looking at an idle factory building, and coincidentally, there was also a cotton yarn factory next door. When the owner heard that they were there to open a factory and knew that Lu Bowen was the person in charge, he immediately pulled Lu Bowen aside to chat.

He said that opening a factory would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but all Lu Bowen needed to do was go through the procedures with him, and the factory would be sold to him for 10,000 silver dollars. It would include all the equipment and workers in the factory, and he could start working as soon as he took over.

Wang Rusong's face turned green. Wasn't this just a sabotage?

They sold such a huge factory for only ten thousand silver dollars, acting like they were in a huge rush, afraid that this sucker would run away. Who would dare to spend hundreds of thousands of silver dollars to open a factory here? Wouldn't that be a clear sign that they're being scammed?
Moreover, if he really takes over, it's the same as no change in taxation. Wouldn't it be a waste for Boss Lu to come all this way?

Fortunately, it was someone Director Gu found, and he was very reliable.

After negotiating the price, I got it for 5000 yuan.

“Then let’s set up both factories together. 5000 silver dollars isn’t much money, right?” Gu Yansheng said with a smile.

Lu Bowen chuckled and said, "I've never gotten such a good deal before when I was doing business. Since the boss is in a hurry to get rid of it, I'll do him a favor."

So he got a ready-made cotton yarn factory. After signing the contract and registering, the boss felt no pain at all. A look of relief appeared on his face. He was truly relieved and left gracefully.

"Look how terrible it is."

Since they were already there, the group decided to go to the cotton mill and ask around.

I asked the person in charge about the situation.

The person in charge was an experienced worker who wore glasses.

Since the person in charge was from a new employer, there was nothing to hide, so he explained everything in detail.

"The cotton yarn mill was originally very profitable, but now it has been forcibly acquired by Japanese companies for 40% of its business, which they say is to support the military and we have to pay taxes. That's not all, the tax rate has been raised to 15%."

Secondly, Japanese companies established a cotton control committee, saying that we could not buy cotton in Central China privately and had to buy it from them, which meant they cut off our profits.

The current situation is that the cost of producing a piece of cotton yarn is 45 yuan. After tax, it has to be sold for 53 yuan to break even.

That also includes the costs of food, drink, sanitation, storage, and machine depreciation. The factory would need to sell for 60 just to break even.

But as you all know, the price of cotton yarn last year was a complete mess. We didn't make any money at all, and we even lost money. That was in winter. Now that the weather is getting warmer, we still haven't sold all the cotton yarn in stock, and we're going to lose money on everything.

Rice is expensive now, so the cost of living is even higher. Therefore, you really need to do your research before taking on this new employer. It's too late to say anything now; the Japanese won't allow the factory to close.

Lu Yuandatou chuckled, "Don't say that. Since I dared to take it on, I naturally have plans for the factory. Don't worry, at least you'll be able to eat your fill."

"I haven't had a proper meal in a while," the manager said, sounding aggrieved.

“Mr. Gu will help you solve this.” Lu Bowen waved his hand: “Do you know him? He’s Director Gu from the Municipal Government’s Judicial Office. With him here, your rice will be secured.”

Gu Yansheng ignored him and asked curiously, "You just said that the price of cotton yarn is a mess, but if I remember correctly, the highest listed price for cotton yarn futures last year was over 130 yuan. Doesn't that have anything to do with you?"

The manager shook his head: "I don't understand futures, but Director Gu, it's useless to say how much the highest price is. Cotton yarn isn't produced in a day; it has to be produced every day. It sells for a higher price in winter, but there's also summer."

In previous summers, the price never exceeded 50, but now the cost is already 60. Add to that the losses this winter, and with the current economic climate, do you think there's any hope for a summer sale?

Gu Yansheng understood and nodded. "I just heard your former employer say that you can produce 800 packs at full capacity, right?"

"You need to provide enough food, hire more people, and work day and night in two shifts. Fourteen or fifteen hundred packs are fine!"

The old manager said, "There's no other way now. We lose money on every pack we produce, so we're producing what the Japanese require. The owner is just trying to save his life. Otherwise, the Japanese will beat him up, and his whole family won't be able to escape."

"What was the cost price of cotton yarn before the Japanese came?" Lu Bowen asked.

"38 yuan." The manager knew exactly what he was talking about.

"What if the price goes up?"

"Things that don't sell well used to be sold all over the country. You have no idea how bustling the Shanghai cotton mills were back then. Merchants from all over the country came to Shanghai to buy goods, and they were selling at asking prices."

Now the Japanese have blocked the shipping lanes and turned it into a controlled commodity, so nobody's coming. We can only sell to Shanghai, but so many cotton mills are in Shanghai. How are we supposed to sell them?

"Director Gu, may I speak to you in private?"

They mainly avoided Wang Rusong.

"Can it be resolved?" Lu Bowen looked at Gu Yansheng. Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said, "It can be resolved, but it will take some time. After all, it involves controlling supplies and dumping them all out. The Japanese will definitely have objections. But once the Nanjing government is established, it will become an internal government matter, and then there will be a solution. I can find someone with a big head to take the fall and give them some shares."

Lu Bowen's eyes lit up. "If you think it's feasible, why don't I take over all the cotton yarn factories in western Shanghai and raise prices across the board?"
I did the math. If we go all out and the production capacity is 1,400 packs as he said, and the price increases by 10 yuan, that's 14,000 yuan a month. If it increases by 30 yuan, that's 42,000 yuan.

If we acquire ten properties and raise the price by thirty yuan, we can sell them all over the country, making over 400,000 yuan a month, or five million a year. This doesn't even include the premium from selling to other regions, which would amount to over a million US dollars a year.

With factories so cheap now, this is a great time to help people get out of poverty.

"Sure, you can take over, but don't register them all under your name. It's too conspicuous, and it won't look good for the Japanese. Record the names of your subordinates, one or two per person."

It was indeed a good time. If it were too early, it wouldn't have been possible; if it were too late, someone else would have taken it. The most suitable time was before the Nanjing puppet government was established.

"Okay, then I'll take it all. If the western part of Shanghai isn't enough, I can still find something in Zhabei."

"Let He Yun handle the matters in Zhabei. We can just talk about the matters in western Shanghai. You still have to go out."

"Good good."

Gu Yansheng and Lu Bowen continued their shopping. With Gu Yansheng accompanying them, they finalized the plans for two flour mills, a repair shop, a cotton yarn mill, and the site for another cotton yarn mill in one day.

It just so happens that the manager of the cotton mill can come in handy. He can accompany the foreign engineers to discuss the ordering of instruments and give them some feedback.

Then Lu Bowen returned home and instructed He Yun to set off directly to investigate the grain routes in southern Anhui.

He Yun took over, and Gu Yansheng continued shopping with her.

He Yun was very familiar with the flour mill, and now the cotton yarn factory also had staff. The only thing missing from the auto repair shop was a master mechanic who could keep the factory running smoothly.

Find Gu Zhuxuan, a tycoon from Jiangbei. He started out as a rickshaw driver and must have some knowledge of car repair.

I made a phone call to Gu Zhuxuan.

Gu Zhuxuan was still surprised, "The person hasn't arrived yet? I sent him to the police station to find you. Ma Shiqi, my advisor, he knows a little about everything. Just ask him for the person."

"They may have arrived already. I'm outside now and will be back at the police station later. That's all for now."

Gu Zhuxuan did indeed say he would send his men over, but he was afraid that coming to Huang Jinrong's territory on his own would immediately arouse Huang Jinrong's suspicion.

Gu Yansheng drove back to the police station, and Ma Shiqi had indeed arrived.

Ma Shiqi and Gu Yansheng had met once before. Gu Zhuxuan's wife had paid him thirty large yellow croakers to rescue Gu Zhuxuan. They met in a private room at a restaurant. Ma Shiqi was in his thirties and had a refined and cultured demeanor.

The legal advisor for the newspaper, a colleague.

Please go to the teahouse next door for tea.

Gu Yansheng laughed and said, "I heard you're in charge of legal affairs at the News, so you're in the same industry. That's interesting. How did you get involved with the Jiangbei Gang? Who came first and who came later?"

Ma Shiqi smiled and said, "Actually, it was out of necessity at first. I was unknown in the concession and could hardly be called a lawyer. I was just a handyman, so I provided legal advice to newspapers as an advisor. Later, by chance, I met Boss Gu and started providing legal services to him as well."

"But I heard you're good at dealing in gold and silver jewelry on the black market?" Gu Yansheng had a good memory; when Gu Zhuxuan introduced him to people in prison, she mentioned the characteristics of three of his subordinates.

Ma Shiqi nodded: "Newspapers love to ask about these strange and unusual things. I'm in charge of law, so the more I deal with them, the more people I know, and naturally I'll know them."

Gu Yansheng nodded. "It's good to know a lot of people. A friend of mine owns a factory, and I need you to help me find some reliable workers. We need people who can repair cars, people who know textiles from cotton mills, and people who can repair machines. In the future, we will need to use trucks for transportation in western Shanghai, and we will also need cotton yarn for cover. The importance of these master craftsmen is self-evident. Do you understand?"

Ma Shiqi immediately understood: "You need to be skilled, keep your mouth shut, and most importantly, you absolutely cannot inform the Japanese."

Gu Yansheng nodded.

Ma Shiqi immediately agreed, "Okay, Director Gu, just leave this to me. I guarantee I'll arrange it perfectly."

"Alright, have some tea." Gu Yansheng gestured and drank some tea himself.

Gu Zhuxuan is a good person; she never mentions any difficulties, which makes her very comfortable to work with, and everyone wants to poach her.

They pried it open without hesitation.

"Are you interested in working for me?"

Ma Shiqi nearly choked on his tea, staring wide-eyed at Gu Yansheng.

Gu Yansheng chuckled, "It's not about poaching your boss's staff, it's just about taking on an extra job. I need a secretary, and you're only holding a nominal advisory position, right? I'll arrange a secretary position for you in the judicial department. Are you interested?"

“I really hadn’t thought about that.” Ma Shiqi smiled, thought for a moment, and blinked. “I heard that you, Director Gu, are a scholar who excelled in your studies and then entered the political arena. I think I should learn from you. You are someone I admire. Although I’m not a proper lawyer, I really love the law.”

"Then it's settled. I'll call back to the office now. When you have time, go to the personnel department to complete the formalities. The key is to get that certificate back, otherwise you won't be able to speak up for the officials."

There will definitely be a lot of things happening in western Shanghai in the future, and we can't let Gu Yansheng handle everything himself. Firstly, he doesn't have the time, and secondly, it would be too embarrassing. It's necessary to hire someone to run errands.

(End of this chapter)