Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 335 Nick's Request

"Mr. Li, may I ask what's going on?"

"Mr. Li, is the Starliner bound for London?" the reporters asked in unison.

Although mainland media and Phoenix TV reported on the Starliner incident, these reporters were still somewhat skeptical.

The main problem is that some media reports in mainland China in previous years were too alarming, claiming yields of tens of thousands of kilograms per mu (a Chinese unit of area, approximately 0.165 acres). This must be a granary!

Moreover, the manufacturing technologies for jet aircraft and propeller aircraft like the Panda are completely different.

So it's hard for people to believe, but when the Starliner comes to Hong Kong Island, it's different; you can see it with your own eyes.

“Yes, the Xinghui passenger plane, which our Baisheng Company commissioned Chang’an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant to produce, has already obtained a special European airworthiness certificate and is going to London to apply for European flight permits and airworthiness certificates,” Li Song said.

Li Song said that the Xinghui passenger plane was manufactured by Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant on behalf of Baisheng Company, which was to pave the way for future aircraft sales.

Selling airplanes directly to the mainland is quite difficult; selling them from Hong Kong Island might be a bit easier.

But that's only the best part. Li Song is also ready to cause trouble. I may not sell, but I'll make your other sellers and buyers suffer.

How do we do this?

Same old rule, price reduction!

If prices are reduced by 15% or even 30%, should aircraft sellers follow suit?
Consequently, profits decrease.

Do you have any objections if we don't talk to the customer?
Even if a customer reluctantly buys a ticket, they might feel bad if they think about the difference between the two sides the next time they fly on a plane.
Although most private jets are used by wealthy Europeans to avoid taxes, the wealthy are the most shrewd at budgeting.

Li Song never thought he would occupy a large market share internationally, because many people abroad couldn't accept it!

Yes, even though Li Song is now a writer and a wealthy man, many Westerners still can't accept that you are better than him.

In some America states, they only recognize white people; it doesn't work for anyone else.

"Mr. Li, what is the price of the StarShines passenger plane?" someone asked.

"We don't have any plans to list this on the stock market yet. Actually, the main reason for designing and manufacturing the Star Shine passenger jet is to facilitate my own commute," Li Song said.

"Ah..." The reporters' eyes widened. Was a small jet airliner designed and built just for their own commuting?

"Do you think I'm not worthy?" Li Song shrugged, asked rhetorically, and then left.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Li."

"Mr. Li!" the reporters called out in unison.

However, Li Song has already connected with Nick.

In the car, Nick said, "Mr. Li, the Little Book's boat association is too stingy and doesn't want to donate two million US dollars."

"Then you can contact other yacht manufacturers in your country."

“Although I know that your domestic yacht manufacturers will most likely not agree, you should at least make a gesture,” Li Song said.

Nick nodded: "We are also preparing to do that. In addition, we conducted an internal survey and have only received 30% of the feedback so far. Of those 30%, about 5% are interested in crowdfunding a yacht."

"Of course, there are also some issues involved, namely price and design scheme. I think this is also a factor. Moreover, prices in Amerinda have recently risen, leading to currency devaluation, so many people want to buy things to hedge against risk."

People in Europe and America like to use credit cards mainly because inflation was so severe in the past that savings were a joke.

第一次世界大战期间，1914-1918年，美元兑换黄金的汇率从1914年的220美元/盎司跌到了1918年的40美元/盎司。

In addition, during World War II, the price dropped from $25 per ounce in 1940 to $35 per ounce in 1945.

Moreover, in the early days, silver currency depreciated 70% of the time along with industrialization, and the gold and silver standard was changed to the gold standard at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.

That's why Westerners don't like to save money—because financiers and bankers sit in their offices and manipulate exchange rates, reaping the wealth you've worked so hard to accumulate.

Just like the price of $40 per ounce in 1918 and $25 per ounce in 1940, the fluctuations were so large that ordinary people had no way to hedge against the risk.

Of course, this also happened in mainland China. Due to excessive money printing, prices soared, and people frantically bought up supplies everywhere.

"Aren't your domestic yacht manufacturers responding?" Li Song asked.

“Of course, the Yachting Association is also lobbying those congressmen to impose high tariffs on the products of the small country. The semiconductor industry is also reportedly pushing for a series of tariff measures. Last year, the financial reports of several of our Aramco semiconductor companies were quite bad,” Nick continued.

Li Song knew this. At that time, the storage technology of the small computer almost bankrupted America's semiconductor company. The famous Intel was still competing with the small computer in the field of semiconductor storage.

Then Aramco pushed for tariffs, which allowed its domestic semiconductor companies to survive. Later, in order to counterbalance Japan's semiconductor companies, Aramco's semiconductor companies supported Samsung.

Intel only began to focus its main efforts on chips in 1985.

During this period, there were many companies capable of manufacturing chips; Motorola and Nokia were able to manufacture their own processors.

"The development of Japan is indeed very rapid." Japan is actually a hardworking nation at its core, and it has a strong sense of crisis.

Post-war reconstruction certainly relied on the technical and financial support from the US, but it also depended on the efforts of the entire Japanese nation, unlike some major South Asian countries that simply couldn't be rebuilt.

Of course, at this time, Japan's national self-confidence and other aspects were at their peak. The country created astonishing wealth, surpassing even the United States, which was riding on its head, in both science and technology and manufacturing.

He even clamored to buy Amei and become her owner.

However, after the Plaza Accord, the wealth that the Japanese had worked so hard for over decades was taken by the US. It was only then that the Japanese realized that it was impossible to get rid of the US, so they began to emigrate on a large scale, with the largest number of Japanese emigrants coming from a certain country in South America.

Moreover, Japan is very good at manipulating international affairs. Toshiba provided the precision CNC machine tools to the US market, partly to allow its own products to penetrate the US market, and partly to enhance the US's fighting power and counterbalance the US.

Later, as the mainland gradually rose to prominence, the Japanese used this tactic again, trying to provoke a conflict between the US and the mainland.

Because if the US and mainland China were to fight, regardless of who wins or loses, the small country could profit.

Of course, the small countries surrounding mainland China also have this idea, and in fact, they are doing it.

They all want to provoke various disputes between Aramco and the mainland so that they can profit from them. Some countries have just received benefits from the mainland, then they turn around and sell out the mainland, and then go to curry favor with Aramco.

"Mr. Li, I wonder if it's possible to crowdfund a car?" Nick nodded when he heard Li Song mention the notebook, and then asked.

"Of course I can, but I can't afford to lose money this time." Li Song actually didn't want to crowdfund the car.

Because cars have a wide appeal, a lower price for this item would impact BMW's global marketing efforts.

"We're making things like high-end cars, and our crowdfunding club targets high-value customers," Nick continued.

“That’s possible, but you should go back and do some research to see what the clients need.” After hearing Nick’s explanation, Li Song decided to let Nick go back and do some research. “Okay!” Nick breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Li Song hadn’t refused.

Before Nick arrived, the club's management had discussed how to increase the number of members in the crowdfunding club.

Airplanes and yachts have too small an audience; the wealthy class in America accounts for about 30%.

So what kind of product can leverage this wealthy class?
Of course, it's cars, because America is a nation on wheels, so Nick came here to persuade Li Song to crowdfund mid-to-high-end cars.

This will cause the club's membership to grow explosively.

Of course, the club did consider looking for other companies, but other brands wouldn't risk their own business, whether it's Aramco or mid-to-high-end European brands.

Nick originally wanted to persuade him directly, but Li Song had just said that he didn't want to lose money, which meant he didn't want to do it.

Nick couldn't be too definitive about it.

For mid-to-high-end brands, Li Song could consider crowdfunding. In any case, he's been trying to make as much money as possible from Amer International and expand his influence as much as possible in recent years.

Use the money you earn now to rapidly expand your manufacturing industry.

In fact, Li Song was very confident that he could design a car that Amei would like, because the second-hand platform had detailed statistics on the aesthetic style of Amei and her peers in different eras!
For example, back in 1981, engineers on used car platforms could easily find out which mid-to-high-end models had the highest sales volume with a simple search.

However, the necessary procedures still need to be followed!
This is something that can't be agreed to all at once. Li Song certainly knew that the crowdfunding club wanted to use this to further expand its influence.

Because in the West, these clubs will have a lot of influence in the future, just like labor unions there.

Li Song dropped Nick off at the hotel and then left. The two of them would talk about these things in the car, not at the hotel.

"boss!!"

"I want to ride in a private jet too!!" That evening, after seeing the TV report, Arlene clung to Li Song's arm and said coquettishly.

"Of course, no problem. The plane will arrive the day after tomorrow, and I'll take you up for a ride then!"

"Once the plane gets its airworthiness certificate and flight permit, I'll set up a private plane on Hong Kong Island, and then I can go wherever I want!" Eighteen-year-old Ah Lin is not only beautiful, but also has a great figure and long legs.

The key thing is that being with Li Song has also made her more playful, and she often plays role-playing games.

Recently, Arlene has enjoyed playing the boss-subordinate game with Li Song.

Moreover, sometimes when Li Song went to the TV station, A Lin would deliberately act silly and loudly call Li Song "boss".

This is mainly due to Arlene's change in mindset; Arlene now wants to cling to Li Song, this big, thick thigh!
Of course, many times Arlene regretted that she shouldn't have rejected Li Song back then, otherwise she would be Mrs. Li now.

Because Li Song's influence is growing globally.

The greater the influence, the lower the chance of something going wrong!

So now Arlene can only try her best to impress Li Song.

Women are born knowing how to be charming and coquettish!

It's just that women only act coquettishly in front of people they like.

"thank you boss!"

"Boss, you're so kind!" Arlene said and then kissed him.

There's no need to know anything about private jets, because the TV stations have already explained it very clearly when they broadcast it.

A business jet costs around three million US dollars.

Three million US dollars, fifteen to sixteen million Hong Kong dollars!
Moreover, this only covers the cost of purchasing the aircraft. The aircraft also requires maintenance and upkeep, as well as the cost of pilots, flight attendants, and so on.

"Boss, do you want to hire a pretty flight attendant?" Arlene whispered as she slipped one hand inside Li Song's clothes.

"One isn't enough; we need at least two."

"You are so bad!"

"So, do you like it or not?"

"I love it!!" Arlene was incredibly excited at the thought of being able to travel abroad by private jet in the future.

Li Song chuckled. Although A-Lin was a bit materialistic, she had the means to be so; she was a typical vixen.

Monday, March 30, 1981!

Li Song, along with Nick, bodyguards, Ah Lin, Tian Jiahui, Chen Jiahao, and related staff, are at the airport on Hong Kong Island.

This was the first time Arlene had appeared beside Li Song, and Tian Jiahui naturally knew it.

However, to avoid being recognized, Arlene wore a trench coat, a hat, sunglasses, and a scarf.

There are a lot of paparazzi outside the airport!
Furthermore, some paparazzi were positioned directly opposite the airport to prevent them from taking photos from above.

The current airport on Hong Kong Island was built on reclaimed land in the middle of the sea.

"They're here!!" said the bodyguard next to Li Song.

Following the direction the bodyguard pointed, Li Song saw a white business jet landing!

Xinghui Technology has obtained a special airworthiness certificate and applied for a flight route, so landing will not be a problem.

As for the Phoenix TV interview, we'll talk about that tomorrow.

The main reason is that I brought Arlene here today; it's inconvenient for the TV station staff to come!
The Starliner came to a stop at its designated parking position under the guidance of staff.

These procedures were completed well in advance!
The pilots' visas were already prepared!
After completing the customs procedures, Li Song arrived at the plane's parking area next to the aircraft, which was not far from where he and the others were waiting.

"Boss!!" The two pilots greeted Li Song immediately upon seeing him.

"Thank you for your hard work!" Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant also sent two technicians!
The two technicians will arrive in London first, accompanied by personnel from Parkson and Anjie Security.

Parkson had already found a professional company in London, and the technical staff just needed to go there to work with these people!
"It's not hard work!" These two pilots are retired air force pilots.

"Wow!!" Arlene was already drooling just looking at the exterior of the private jet. When she got inside, she found that it was decorated in a pure European style, with the entire interior in off-white. Off-white makes the space look more refreshing, and she couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"Oh my god, it's so beautiful!" Nick exclaimed. It was originally a simple European style, completely different from the ostentatious style he had imagined!
(End of this chapter)