Chapter 466

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Mao Li had never received a promise of a bank loan on the bank's own initiative.

As a proud business owner, Mao Li earned money through his own intelligence and sweat, bore the salaries of hundreds of workers and meager benefits as best he could, and paid taxes exceeding his own profits after failing to evade them by every means possible. But when people spoke of Mao Li, they always linked him with "exploitation" and "the rich," as if without Mao Li's existence, workers could earn more wages, as if without Mao Li's existence, non-business owners could each become rich...

Mao Li trembled his lips and said softly: "I can bear at most 12% interest."

12% was more than twice the normal loan interest rate. If going by the saying from sixty years ago, even the evil usury started at 10%. But as a second-tier business owner, he was satisfied with usury.

Gao Qiu was surprised, touched his face, and said with a smile: "I said I'd loan to you, of course at the normal interest rate, 6%, neither high nor low, how about it?"

He had long received Chen Yi's instruction to expand the capital of these West River Association members.

"Thank you." Mao Li hesitated only a moment; the president of Jiangning Bank still carried quite some prestige.

"Don't mention it." Gao Qiu laughed heartily, sent Mao Li into the elevator, then went to welcome other business owners.

Not many people received loan promises, but it undoubtedly increased the intensity of the bidding.

Mao Li marked a "300" behind "Cotton Underwear" on the color page. After waiting a moment, he wrote 50 behind "Rubber-soled Shoes." His shoe factory was also operating below capacity; 500,000 pairs of shoes would probably require hiring workers for three shifts.

He secretly decided that once he got the loan, he would buy equipment from several nearby small factories, then double the number of workers, so that even snatching 3.5 million orders could be completed; but this way, labor costs and financial costs would both rise.

"Or buy a few sets of good equipment; I heard German machines are good but expensive, but spread across each unit, the cost is extremely low." Mao Li subconsciously marked with a marker pen; by the time he noticed, half the color page was covered in dots.

Gritting his teeth, he added 2 million pieces of work shirts. And behind Cotton Underwear he marked "14.2 yuan."

The total number of underwear in the bid was 8 million pieces, four times the last time, and the schedule was so tight; Mao Li had to ensure enough advance payment to buy machines, then remove the extra cost of three shifts compared to two shifts; 14.2 yuan wouldn't earn much money.

Not few people also wanted to expand; for example, the president of Red Heart Group straightforwardly bid 14.5 yuan and 8 million pieces, and various other light industrial products were hardly let go. Needless to say, he was preparing to continue making money through contract manufacturing.

Contract manufacturing was a normal business mindset; compared to Mao Li's way of expanding production capacity, Red Heart Group's choice was more modern. Speaking from the good side, his contract orders would support some small factories, forming so-called industrial clusters. But Mao Li's merger method could rapidly strengthen his own production capacity, more suitable for controlling costs and increasing profits.

The 18 order companies from last time, plus 12 new companies, formed the members of the second West River Association. The various presidents sat in the conference room, each with their own thoughts.

Chen Yi sat with legs crossed in the main seat, wearing a Listening Scroll, judging people's thoughts. Because there were many people, it wasn't very clear, but he could still hear the truth they were unwilling to say.

"Everyone can submit bids." Gao Qiu still presided over the bidding ceremony.

"Just finished writing." The president of Red Heart Group put down his pen, satisfiedly blowing with his mouth.

If he could win half the bid, that would be remarkable.

The crowd came forward in twos and threes to submit bids, while chatting with each other at the same time.

"Everyone." Chen Yi saw the bidding was complete, stood up and smiled: "Such a large-scale order is rare in Jiangning in recent years, right?"

"That's right."

"All thanks to Mr. Chen's support."

The bosses of each company, when saying flattering words, had a whole set of them.

Chen Yi laughed hehe, and said: "The West River Association is dedicated to solving various difficulties of member enterprises; now, everyone has obtained orders, what ideas do you have regarding raw materials?"

"Raw materials will rise in price." Mao Li said cooperatively.

His order price was very low, so his sensitivity to price was even higher.

For the previous order, the raw material enterprises had not yet reacted, rushing to digest their inventory; this time it wouldn't be so easy.

Chen Yi nodded and said: "So, I hope you can each attend a small meeting and meet with some raw material merchants. The West River Association is willing to guarantee transactions and conduct bidding. For example, manufacturers producing Cotton Underwear can sign contracts with bidders from Cotton Cloth factories."

What he said was precisely Second-tier Affiliated Enterprises.

The president of Tianrong Group, Li Tianrong, coughed once and said: "We have contracts with our original suppliers; if we breach them, it's quite troublesome."

"Not a hard requirement, but I actively suggest; I have already invited several of the largest raw material factories in Sheng Nei to participate; maybe your original suppliers are among them. Additionally..." Chen Yi blinked his eyes and said: "Member enterprises of the first West River Association can individually invite one supplier to join the small meeting."

The new Tonghui Company president immediately stood up: "Then what about us?"

"The West River Association is an exclusive organization; after participating a few more times, you will also have privileges." Chen Yi said very clearly, to the extent that others were too embarrassed to oppose.

Bank staff began guiding different enterprises into the Small Conference Room to participate in discussions. That place was equivalent to another bidding field; the difference was that member enterprises placed orders and paid money, thus making money circulate again.

Chen Yi waved his hand, called Fang Zhong over, and handed him a note saying: "Here is 50,000 tons of Natural Rubber Latex; distribute it in each conference hall, and also join it into the bidding process."

"What about the price?"

"More than 80% of the market price will do."

This was an extremely large concession; in the raw material market, unless there were natural or man-made disasters, a 10% drop was enough to create middlemen.

Chen Yi originally could have stuffed them into the Futures Market; a single empty order could sell them off, but selling to the West River Association obviously had more long-term value, especially at a lower price.

"Understood." Fang Zhong had seen Chen Yi's astonishing actions too many times; after confirming the information on the note, he went out.

Chen Yi paced slowly in the Corridor. He could hear arguments and discussions in different rooms, and could sense their excitement and dissatisfaction.

Excitement came from profit; dissatisfaction came from the reduction of profit.

Everything required competition.

The West Continent was like a new export country; the West River Association was more like an export group facing this country; as long as Chen Yi's orders left enough profit, the lower-level factory enterprises would only differ in how much profit they made.

Jiangning Bank opened Gold Voucher accounts for each enterprise, enabling them to use Gold Vouchers as bookkeeping currency. Similarly, cash Gold Vouchers were used to fill gaps.

When the West River Association ended that day, Gao Qiu couldn't restrain his excitement.

If Gold Vouchers were part of Chen Yi's development, then for Gao Qiu they were everything. He was like a maiden in first love, gazing affectionately at the issuance figures of Gold Vouchers, unwilling to leave for a long time.

"President of the Central Bank." With his feet propped on a redwood office desk, Gao Qiu sank into deep thought and fantasy.

Also sinking into fantasy was Daoist Li of Qixia Guan in Jiangning.

Since the Buddhism Opening Light Ceremony, Pu Chan Temple had leapt to become the local religious leader, suppressing all others in status so they couldn't lift their heads. Although in terms of income, Qixia Guan had only increased and not decreased, what he wanted was a similarly grand ceremony.

Chen Family Martial Arts Hall finally brought good news, sponsoring Taishang Laojun's "Pilgrimage Ceremony"!

Daoist Li could not describe his mood when he saw the fax.

He lay on the chair, gazing up at the starry sky, feeling as if he had recovered the trepidation of the first time he spent the night at a nunnery in his youth.

Round stars, a smooth bald head, weather turning from cold to warm, graceful curves and satisfied pleasure...

For a whole week, Li Daozhang couldn't help but laugh.

The alchemy furnace's young attendants feared most when Daozhang laughed; they hid themselves as best they could, avoiding appearing before Daozhang.

Naturally there were people to take care of Daozhang.

Staff from the Religious Office, reporters from the Jiangning Daily and the Television Station all likened Li Daozhang to a leading figure of Jiangning Daoism.

No title could make Daozhang happier than this.

Not even a nunnery could compare.

Besides the media and the celebration ceremony, the only thing Daozhang needed to care about was the 30 Knights — he didn't know why these tall, strapping foreigners liked Daoism so much, but for Chen Yi's sake, Li Daozhang gave the Combat Knights two hours of popularization courses every day.

The Knights absorbed knowledge like hungry men.

This was knowledge truly concerning fate.

God's rules were not very clear, but the deeper the understanding of God, the easier it obviously was to gain recognition.

The Knights did not demand to master both Chinese and Western learning; they only wanted to surpass their comrades.

Among the 30, three or four would become respected Divine Art Knights. Everyone had sworn oaths, even though the vows were stricter than those of ordinary temples, everyone had sworn.

Some swore twice, three times... trying to memorize them and then discovering some secrets. Everyone ate konjac as their staple meal, reviewing the Daoist foundations over and over.

Li Daozhang had never seen such diligent believers; he even had the impulse to accept disciples.

Of course, it was just for a fleeting moment.

Chen Yi invited his clan members to attend the celebration ceremony up close; the surge of Source Energy at the moment of advancing to a Divine Art Knight was beneficial.

On the other hand, he also hoped for a bit of subtle influence, an opportunity to change their thinking.

Hundreds of thousands of believers stepping on two gods poured into Jiangning; this time, everyone was experienced.

Mo Shaoqiu, however, took this opportunity to smuggle 2000 tons of arms into Jiangbei Port. Not only that, he also got hold of an old thousand-ton destroyer and cleared customs under the name of scrap iron.

What gave Chen Yi a headache was how to transport it into the Subway Station.

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)