Year: I had a good time when I was young

Chapter 790 Nephew and Neon Business Started

As a man of the future, Chu Xiangqian knows that the antitrust investigation will not have much impact on IBM. But for investors, being deeply involved in the antitrust investigation means that it is very likely to be broken up into more than a dozen companies like Rockefeller did back then.

The market's confidence in IBM will definitely experience a long period of decline.

Just like the antitrust investigation against Microsoft in 00, which not only caused Microsoft’s stock price to plummet, but was also the beginning of a stock market crash.

Of course, the stock market crash was not caused by the investigation of Microsoft, but the possibility of Microsoft being split up has indeed caused a lack of market confidence.

This created a chain reaction.

But Chu Xiangqian knew that IBM was fine, but it still made IBM feel disgusted for many years.

If Chu Xiangqian remembers correctly, this investigation into IBM seemed to have lasted until 83.

But the real threat to IBM only lasted for one or two years.

Moreover, after one or two years, the stock value has skyrocketed several times within a few years.

By 67, IBM's market value reached $1950 billion, making it the company with the highest market value in the United States that year.

The investigation has never been concluded, but other competitors have been lobbying the Women's Association to use the investigation to slow down IBM's development.

For Chu Xiangqian, those one or two years were a good opportunity to buy quietly.

After buying the shares, don't worry about how IBM develops, just wait for it to appreciate in value.

Considering IBM's history of dominating the world's market value for nearly 67 years from 83 to 20, 1% of the shares would be worth two or three billion US dollars.

If we could buy 4.9%, these shares alone would be worth tens of billions of dollars.

However, it is not easy to buy so many shares from the market, but if the antitrust investigation begins, the shares will be bought.

Even if you only bought 1% and waited until 67, you would have made several times the profit.

Moreover, the company is large enough that investing $1 million when market confidence is low will have little impact on the market and IBM's stock price.

There may be many shareholders who think that this is IBM's own rescue of the market and those who lack confidence will definitely take the opportunity to sell their shares.

Texas Instruments shares are also worth buying, but Chu Xiangqian knows in his heart that Hong Kong Island and Bank of East Asia are his base.

Just because he doesn't have to worry about being suppressed, Chu Xiangqian will not stop investing in Hong Kong Island.
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It took 4 days to thoroughly inspect and receive the 25 victory wheels.

Chu Xiangqian instructed Zheng Shufen to load the newly received 2000 cattle, 4000 sheep, 1 sika deer and 2 tons of salmon and king salmon from Donglongzhou onto a ship and ship them to Neon.

He then returned to the capital to visit his three daughters-in-law and Chu Jingrong, and signed a coal purchase contract with his superiors.

Two months ago, after Chu Xiangqian, J.P. Morgan Jr., and McDonald of the Royal Bank signed a contract to exchange horses for the Victory Wheel, Chu Xiangqian reported this to them through Qian Guotai.

When the higher-ups got the news, they were ecstatic.

Not only can he pay off the huge debt owed to Chu Xiangqian, but in the future he can also earn foreign exchange by exporting coal through Chu Xiangqian's company in Hong Kong Island.

So as soon as the news reached the country, the higher-ups quickly sent people to start preparing coal.

Not only at the Tianjin Port, a freight train route was quickly built at a remote dock in just one month.

Specialized docks and open-air warehouses were also expanded.

After Chu Xiangqian's fleet arrived in Tianjin, the loading speed was much faster.

After some research, the higher-ups also specially added a dedicated coal train line in Nanning.

Dozens of trainloads of coal were stored in the warehouse, waiting for Chu Xiangqian to return to Hong Kong Island from abroad, and then the coal would be transported to Chai Wan Pier.

This was just a cover-up. Although Chu Xiangqian earned less, he quickly accepted the arrangement.

Not only is it very close to Chai Wan Wharf by sea from Nanfang, it is also easy to avoid inspection and pretend that the coal is shipped from Southeast Asia.

If Chu Xiangqian's international shipping company's ship went to the Nanfang Wharf to transport coal, the Hong Kong Coast Guard would not check it at all.

At the same time, Chu Xiangqian also planned to import a batch of iron ore from the mainland.

After all, the iron ore in the novice village has to be taken out more often, which will always attract attention from the outside world.

Hong Kong Island is different from Brazil. There are too many forces and people eyeing Hong Kong Island. If we don’t cover it up, it will inevitably be discovered.

Now with the iron ore from the mainland as a cover, even if someone notices that the amount of iron ore coming in and out of Chai Wan Terminal is wrong, they will not doubt that the iron ore appeared out of thin air.

Iron ore from the mainland can also be sold to the Japanese, but the profit is very low, after all, the quality of iron ore from the mainland is indeed poor.

Chu Xiangqian sent someone to talk to Neon, and fortunately, the iron ore with 70% content is almost equivalent to a top-quality ore with a stone skin and iron lumps.

Such high-grade ore is naturally scarce worldwide.

It is not uncommon in the world to sell high-quality products together with some low-quality goods.

So Neon only hesitated for a few days before agreeing to purchase 10 tons of iron ore with an iron content of 7%, and an additional 10 tons of ore with an iron content of only about 35%.

But the purchase price of the latter was kept very low.

Fortunately, China is also aware of the poor quality of its iron ore and has basically not exported it before.

Without buyers, the price is naturally cheap.

So much so that Chu Xiangqian calculated that after deducting all costs, there was still a profit of about 5% when exporting to Neon.

This is enough for Chu Xiangqian. He can make money and the mainland can also earn foreign exchange. Even if the business makes less money, it is better than export subsidies.
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When Chu Xiangqian returned to the capital, he was naturally complained by Xue Jinglan, Gangsheng and Feifei.

We had agreed that we would only be away for one month, but it’s already mid-July from the beginning of May.

Little Chu Jingrong has grown from a cradle to the age where he can crawl around on the bed.

Moreover, this kid could actually recognize Chu Xiangqian, his biological father. He stared at Chu Xiangqian blankly for five or six seconds, and suddenly smiled brightly.

It stretched out a pair of chubby little hands and waved at Chu Xiangqian. When Chu Xiangqian picked up the little thing, it not only didn't cry, but also giggled.

Chu Xiangqian was so happy that he kissed the little guy on the face more than a dozen times.

In the next two days, Chu Xiangqian knocked down Xue Jinglan, Gangsheng and Feifei, who had not seen him for more than two months, twice.

The three daughters-in-law ate their fill, and naturally most of the resentment in their hearts dissipated.

After seeing the diamond necklace and ring that Chu Xiangqian gave her, the remaining resentment disappeared without a trace.

Even Ehime received a pair of 2 carat small diamond earrings.

Fortunately, Xue Jinglan, Gangsheng and Feifei did not show off the diamond jewelry they won this time. Aiyuan would definitely say that Chu Xiangqian forgot about his sister after he got a wife.

As for Second Aunt, giving her a gold necklace would be more appropriate and more in line with Second Aunt's wishes.

Even the brothers Aiguo and Aimin, Chu Xiangqian gave two gold necklaces through his second uncle and third uncle.

Then he gave them his wives He Yushui and Qin Jinru.

There were also gifts for the master, his mistress, Yixiantian, Lao Jiang, the second uncle, the third uncle, Ailin and Aiqiu.

Many of them were specially prepared by Margaret, who then instructed Chu Xiangqian to give them to the relatives.

Chu Xiangqian knew Margaret's thoughts. She was pregnant with Chu Xiangqian's child. As a mother, she certainly hoped to gain the approval of the Chu family elders and Chu Xiangqian's master and mistress. At the very least, she had to let the elders know that there was a descendant of the Chu family in London.

Otherwise, if his children want to inherit Chu Xiangqian’s assets in Europe and the United States in the future, they will definitely encounter a lot of trouble.
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After staying at home peacefully for two days, Chu Xiangqian was taken into the palace by his second uncle Xue Jianguo who came to visit him in person.

However, although the general direction of the coal and iron ore business has been determined, there are still many details that need to be discussed.

Moreover, while the superiors wanted to make money, they were even more afraid of affecting Chu Xiangqian's safety outside.

Chu Xiangqian did not take advantage of the fact that his shipping company had obtained the tacit approval of the garrisons of the Magnesium and British countries and obtained privileges in the East Asian seas.

So the higher-ups have more things to consider.

After a day of secret talks, Chu Xiangqian combined his actual situation and actually discovered quite a few omissions.

Therefore, the enthusiasm for participation increased instantly, and the discussion lasted for three days.

After he left the palace, he did not rush home.

Instead, he took his second uncle Xue Jianguo's car and took Zhang Haiyang out of the city to Tianjin.

In a military camp, we saw more than 300 soldiers.

These people are all veterans who are familiar with maritime affairs and have been on ships for at least three years.

After this emergency retirement, Chu Xiangqian was satisfied with them. They would be taken south to join the Global International Shipping Company as sailors, second and third shipowners.

Once they have visited the island countries several times and passed the inspection, Chu Xiangqian will directly appoint some people as captains.

To put it bluntly, Chu Xiangqian doesn't trust foreigners.

But he also knew that even his own people might not be immune to problems.

That's why we thought of adding sand to the shipping company, with some foreign crew members and some Chinese crew members, it would be more difficult for anyone to cause trouble.

As for wanting to keep the news of purchasing coal and iron ore from the Celestial Empire, Chu Xiangqian had never even dreamed of it.

This matter cannot be kept secret, and Chu Xiangqian is not afraid of someone telling on him.

Even during the early 50s and the special period of ten years, China's foreign trade never stopped.

The export of coal and iron ore is not considered a banned item.

But the relationship is not strong enough, and exporting to Japan and South Korea is basically a luxury.

On the contrary, the exit to Nanyang has always been there.

The process of meeting Soldier No. 200 was very smooth. To put it bluntly, Chu Xiangqian only determined the general situation of these people through secret observation.

Even the captain of the team had never met the big boss Chu Xiangqian before Chu Xiangqian decided to take him in.

In a day or two we will head south to Hong Kong Island.

Chu Xiangqian returned to Beijing from Tianjin and had planned to go back to Hong Kong Island early, but before he could open his mouth, his third uncle who was having dinner with him said that Qin Jingru's due date was still half a month away.

Chu Xiangqian calculated silently and found out that Qin Jingru had been pregnant for more than two months just a few days after his eldest son Chu Jingrong was born.

It is now July of 63, and the due date is indeed not far away.

Then he realized that his third uncle must have wanted Qin Jingru to be admitted to Union Hospital when he said this to him.

After all, this baby is the first child of the third generation of their third room, and the second child of the third generation of the old Chu family. It cannot be overemphasized how much importance they attach to it.

Besides, Chu Xiangqian has connections and money. Whether it is his third uncle or the future second uncle and second aunt, they must know that their daughter-in-law can give birth to a child in Union Hospital like Xue Jinglan.

Thinking of this, Chu Xiangqian smiled and nodded, "This is a good thing." Then he looked at Tao Jie beside him and asked her to call her acquaintances at Union Hospital.

Qin Jingru will move into a single room tomorrow, and just like Xue Jinglan did last year, we will hire a nurse to take care of her every day.

However, Chu Xiangqian does not plan to donate any more money before his nephew or niece is born.

After all, she is your brother's sister-in-law, not your wife.

It's impossible, and there's no need to treat her the same as Xue Jinglan.

But after the child is born, if it is a boy, I will also donate 10 Hong Kong dollars to the hospital.

If it's a girl, halve it.

It’s not that Chu Xiangqian favors boys over girls, but people of that era generally favor boys over girls.

If Qin Jingru gave birth to a niece for me and also donated 10 Hong Kong dollars, I guarantee that someone would gossip about me.

But if they only donated 5, the outside world would only feel sorry for Ai Min and Jing Ru.
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Since his future nephew or niece is about to be born, Chu Xiangqian decided to stay in the capital for the time being in order not to worry his third uncle, Aimin and Aiyuan.

The Chu family was relieved, but their superiors were a little depressed.

Everything is ready, just waiting for Chu Xiangqian to return to Hong Kong Island to take charge and make a fortune.

Now that Chu Xiangqian had stopped like this, many of the dozen or so people who knew about this became anxious.

However, seeing that Chu Xiangqian cared so much about his family, the superiors were actually quite relieved.

At least Chu Xiangqian couldn't do it. He even gave up his family for the sake of business and career.

However, Chu Xiangqian did not return to Hong Kong Island, but the coal from Nanfang began to be transported to Chai Wan Pier.

After receiving a call from Zheng Shufen, Chu Xiangqian simply let Zheng Shufen take care of it.

The first batch of coal was transported by 26 ships.

The Victory ships produced in the mid-40s had a full load of 1.4 tons, while those produced in the early 50s had reached 1.6 tons.

Moreover, after the victory of World War II, some military equipment was removed, and the Victory ship had a greater load capacity and a much larger cargo space.

But Chu Xiangqian did not fully load the ship, but it still reached 1.5 tons per ship.

Of the remaining four ships, two are refrigerated ships and two are ships specifically used to carry cattle and sheep.

Before the ship set off, Chu Xiangqian knew that after this trip, the members of the Hong Kong Poker Club, Philips, Norton, Philip Bing, and the bosses of the Neon garrison would be dissatisfied.

He also deliberately made these people understand that it was impossible to transport coal from Hong Kong Island three times a month.
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Half a month later, when Qin Jingru successfully gave birth to a baby boy weighing 6 jin, the fleet had already arrived in Neon safely.

After unloading the coal, they are waiting to be loaded with Japanese export goods, unloaded via South Korea and Taiwan, and then return to Hong Kong Island.

This trip earned $58.5 in coal alone.

Adding an additional freight of $0.5 per ton, the shipping company earned $19.5.

But the $19.5 belongs to the shipping company, and Chu Xiangqian cannot share the money with others.

If 30 ships were to transport coal together, each trip would cost $67.5, plus an additional $22.5 in freight.

But it takes at least 20 days to go back and forth. In order to avoid returning to Hong Kong Island empty, it is necessary to wait for the cargo to be loaded before returning to Hong Kong Island. A round trip may take a month.

This made Ge Bai, Hader, Philips, Norton, and even the garrison leaders in the Philippines and Neon Magnesium very dissatisfied.

(End of this chapter)