Return to the Past to Become a Tycoon #1-80
Author: 小鱼的命运
Date: 2025-09-06T07:33:42+00:00

Chapter 1: First Arrival in England

The crater-pocked road looked like a pockmarked face. The houses on the entire street had been reduced to rubble, and wisps of smoke drifted over the city. The wreckage of destroyed buses and cars lay scattered about. In the giant craters, ruptured water and sewage pipes gushed fresh water and filth, which pooled together, turning the street into a place as foul as a cesspool.

The piercing air-raid siren had finally stopped.

Li Yian walked dazedly through the street, staring at the apocalyptic scene before him. He hoped it was all just a bad dream.

But it was all real.

Just a moment ago, he had been carrying a backpack full of goods, reading Starting with a Deduction, American Tycoon on his phone while making a delivery to his roommate, who ran a stall in the public square.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he found himself on an unfamiliar street.

Red double-decker buses, red telephone booths, and policemen in black helmets blowing whistles—it was like old London had walked straight out of a vintage film.

After all, in 21st-century London, you would never hear air-raid sirens or see pedestrians scrambling for their lives. And you certainly wouldn’t see propeller fighter planes roaring overhead.

Though still bewildered, Li Yian followed the fleeing crowd for the sake of survival and ran into a nearby subway station.

Then came the deafening sound of explosions. The shockwaves left him in a daze for a long time.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually, the air raid ended. He followed the surging crowd out of the subway station and began to wander the streets of London like a headless chicken, losing track of how many blocks he had walked.

Finally, exhausted, Li Yian sat down on a roadside bench to catch his breath.

Time to face reality!

He looked down and saw half of an old newspaper floating in a puddle by his feet. The headline read, “From One Victory to Another! German Forces in North Africa Surrender to the Allies!”

German forces in North Africa surrender?

He checked the date on the paper: May 13, 1943.

I really fucking transmigrated!

Having time-traveled, he now had to face an unavoidable reality—he was penniless and had nowhere to go.

Wandering the streets of London like this wasn’t a long-term solution.

What now?

This was going to be tricky.

As an avid reader of web novels, he knew that physical transmigration—traveling with your original body—was the most tragic of all methods, bar none.

Physical transmigration meant he had no legal identity in this world, and there was certainly no “my dad’s a tycoon, I just have to be a spendthrift” scenario waiting for him.

Right now, the chance of finding a rich dad was nil, but the possibility of ending up on the gallows was growing by the minute.

An unidentified foreigner wandering the streets during wartime… The three factors combined made him a textbook spy.

If he didn’t go to the gallows, who would?

Thirsty and hungry, Li Yian felt his heart sink further with every step. He had no idea how long he’d been walking.

Fortunately, the newly bombed city of London was full of rushing fire trucks and ambulances. No one paid him any mind; even the police couldn’t be bothered with him.

After all, any Asian “strolling” through London at a time like this certainly wouldn’t be Japanese. The Japanese living in Britain had all been thrown in prison years ago to experience the brotherly love of Great Britain.

What should he do?

Sigh. I’ll just take it one step at a time, he thought. Having struggled to make a living in a first-tier city with his classmates after college, Li Yian had long since learned to go with the flow.

Besides, worrying wouldn’t help. He had been recklessly dropped into a war-torn era. It was a blessing from the heavens that he hadn’t already been arrested as a spy.

Though it seemed that fate wasn’t far off.

The sky was already darkening. Once night fell, the police who were too busy to deal with him now would have plenty of time.

Li Yian fumbled in his satchel for a cigarette and sighed helplessly.

I’ll have a smoke first, calm down, and then figure things out.

Just then, an Englishman approached him. As Li Yian took out a cigarette, the man’s eyes lit up at the sight of the camel on the pack.

Before Li Yian could even light it, the man walked over and asked ingratiatingly, “Sir, are you smoking Camels?”

Did he smell it?

Li Yian was indeed smoking American Camels, the unfiltered kind. According to the tomboy back home, they were strong—one cigarette could last two hours.

For someone to name the brand on the spot… even a dog’s nose might not be that sharp.

Li Yian nodded. A look of delight spread across the Englishman’s face.

“They really are Camels? Haha, I knew it the moment I smelled them, haha…”

In truth, he had seen the camel on the pack earlier. Staring at the cigarette in Li Yian’s hand, the man asked tentatively, “Sir, do you have any more Camel cigarettes?”

“What?”

The man got straight to the point. “If you do, I can offer you one penny per cigarette! What do you say, sir?”

“One penny?”

Although the Englishman’s behavior was puzzling, for Li Yian, who was broke, hungry, and thirsty, this was an absolute godsend.

“One penny…”

Li Yian paused for a moment, seeing the longing in the Englishman’s eyes. He flicked open his lighter.

The moment the lid opened with a crisp ding, the Englishman’s eyes were glued to it.

That sound… it had to be a Zippo lighter.

Camel cigarettes and a Zippo lighter—both were authentic American goods!

The kind you couldn’t get even if you had the money!

“Sir, if you sell me that Zippo lighter as well, I’ll give you four pounds and six pence for it and however many cigarettes you have left. What do you think?” the man offered, gritting his teeth and naming a high price.

Camel cigarettes and a Zippo lighter. Holding those in your hand was a status symbol.

With these two things, I’ll be the sharpest guy in town!

“Hmm…”

Seeing the desire written all over the Englishman’s face, Li Yian thought for a moment and said, “I have seventeen cigarettes left in the pack… How about this? I’ll keep five, and you can have the rest, plus the lighter, for five pounds. What do you say?”

He had to leave himself some rations.

Every smoker understood—it was his last stand.

Hearing this, the Englishman was overjoyed. “Of course!”

It had to be said, when men came across something they truly wanted, they were just like women—utterly powerless to resist.

Twelve cigarettes and a Zippo lighter.

He actually got five pounds for them!

Taking the banknotes from the man’s hand and looking at the bills, which were nearly half the size of an A4 sheet of paper, Li Yian felt a thrill of excitement.

He finally had money!

He hadn’t disgraced the ‘transmigrator’ name, earning his first pot of gold on the very day he arrived.

Chapter 2: Madam, I Don’t Take Money

Just as Li Yian was getting excited about earning his first pot of gold, he suddenly froze.

He was scared—a screen of light had materialized out of thin air before him. Through the screen, which only he could see, the London streetscape was clearly visible, but everything seemed to have stopped.

A moving double-decker bus was parked in the middle of the road. Pedestrians stood motionless, like wax figures. Even the smoke he had just exhaled hung suspended in mid-air.

A line of text appeared on the translucent screen.

[First transaction complete. Unlocking skill ‘Business’. Learn?]

A system?

It wasn’t fear, but a pleasant surprise. Was this the transmigrator’s special perk?

I knew it. Transmigration definitely comes with benefits.

What kind of skill was “Business”?

Was there even a need to hesitate?

If not now, when?

“Learn.”

Li Yian quickly chose to learn, and in an instant, some basic business knowledge flooded his mind.

It really was a system!

Just then, another line of text flashed across the screen.

[First transaction complete. Sold 12 Camel cigarettes and one Zippo lighter. Current black market price: 4.5 pounds. Premium: 120 pence. Reward: 2 experience points! Current experience points: 7.]

There was even a reward!

“This transaction utilized the buyer’s urgency to increase the price. Storage space can be activated. Activate?”

There was storage space too?

Of course he had to activate it. After he did, a house-shaped symbol appeared in the top right corner of the screen.

He tried using it on his backpack. Sure enough, with a flash of white light, the heavy backpack on his shoulders vanished, and a red dot appeared over the warehouse symbol on the screen.

His shoulders were finally free.

Could it get any better than this?

What other functions did this system have?

However, now wasn’t the time to study the system.

After exiting the system, Li Yian, so hungry his stomach felt like it was stuck to his spine, headed straight for a nearby restaurant.

I’m a man of means now. I should at least get a steak!

…

A moment later, without having eaten a single bite, Li Yian stood dumbfounded by the roadside, completely stunned.

“Sir, could you please provide your food ration book?”

What the hell was that?

“Damn it, it’s just a food coupon! Where would I get a food coupon!”

Looking up at the barrage balloons floating in the sky, the lingering smell of gunpowder in the air reminded him—this was wartime. Many things were completely different from peacetime.

Otherwise, why would a few cigarettes sell for such a high price?

“For fuck’s sake, no wonder people are willing to pay a premium for cigarettes. Without tobacco coupons, you can’t buy them even if you have money…”

In truth, even with tobacco coupons, Camel cigarettes and Zippo lighters would have been impossible to buy. After all, Britain’s foreign exchange reserves had long been depleted. The Camel cigarettes and Zippo lighters on the market were, nine times out of ten, gotten by British women who slept with American GIs for them.

Clearly, Li Yian, who was ignorant of the market, had no idea that in modern-day Britain… cash was fucking useless. What was useful were goods.

Shaken by this realization, Li Yian, despite having money, was helpless. He could only continue to trudge along the street, his stomach empty. At one point, he even rummaged through his backpack.

Staring at the bag full of women’s products, he casually took out a small sample bottle of perfume from a box, his heart sinking.

In a world torn apart by war, who would want something like perfume!

Just then, a brown-haired woman walked towards him. It wasn’t the magnificent sight of her curvaceous figure that drew his attention, but the paper bag she clutched to her ample chest. A piece of bread stuck out of the bag. Whether the bread was delicious or not didn’t matter to Li Yian. His gaze, full of desire, locked onto the loaf. He was drooling, and it felt as if a hand had reached out from his stomach, desperate to shove the bread right in.

He hadn’t had a single drop of water all day. He was truly thirsty and hungry.

The woman in the red and blue floral dress sensed the craving in the man’s gaze, but she didn’t look away or feel shy. Instead, she boldly met his eyes and looked him up and down.

Although he was Asian, he was undeniably young and handsome.

His look of intense longing made the corners of the woman’s lips curl up slightly, and her pretty eyebrows seemed to twitch. Their eyes remained locked on each other as they slowly moved past.

Just as they were about to pass one another, Li Yian, who was staring at the bread, took a deep breath. Amidst the wheaty aroma of the bread, there was a faint… unusual smell.

Suddenly, Li Yian’s gaze cleared, and he took the initiative to speak.

“Hello, miss.”

The unexpected voice from behind her made Stana’s heart jump, but she immediately turned her head, responding with her sweetest smile.

“Sir, can I help you?”

Though she tried her best to remain calm, she couldn’t help but feel a little flustered. This wasn’t the first time a man had tried to hit on her, but her past experiences had been less than pleasant. Those men, yes, they were mostly balding old men—a sad sign of the times. The young men were mostly in the army or in their graves.

However, this man was young. His eyes and posture were full of vigor and vitality. More importantly, he had a charming smile. In that instant, Stana’s heart began to pound like a frightened deer.

“Miss, do you need any perfume?”

What? Her eyes widened slightly, a storm of emotions churning within her. What did he mean?

He stopped her just for this?

“It’s like this, I have some perfume here.”

He held up the small bottle in his hand and continued,

“I thought you might like it.”

Stana frowned slightly. This sample bottle of perfume was clearly not an ordinary item. In this era, the supply of perfume had long since dried up. Ever since Prime Minister Churchill had ordered a halt to all cosmetics production three years ago, perfume had become extremely rare and expensive.

“It’s madam!”

Stana, somewhat displeased, flashed the ring on her finger. So he was a fake perfume salesman.

Thinking he had merely made a mistake with her title, Li Yian quickly corrected himself.

“I’m sorry, madam.”

With a mix of emotions in her heart, she straightened up slightly, the wedding ring on her finger catching a faint glint of the setting sun.

“No, I don’t need… any of these fakes.”

“Fakes? How could that be?”

The tomboy might have never sold the genuine article, but this couldn’t be an obvious fake, could it?

Li Yian picked up the perfume and gave it a light spray. A faint floral and fruity scent instantly filled the air. Stana was momentarily speechless, completely stunned by the sudden fragrance. She took a deep breath, as if she could clearly sense the fresh fruit and soft floral notes—this was definitely not something a cheap fake could replicate.

As she smelled the unique aroma lingering in the air, she softly repeated the words “Pink Encounter”. Once again, the man’s look of intense desire, as passionate as this scent, surfaced in her mind.

“This perfume does smell wonderful, but…”

Stana bit her lip, her beautiful eyes filled with struggle and helplessness. As she savored the unique fragrance, her heart was a jumble of emotions.

“But I only have a few pounds left…”

Stana sighed. This perfume was surely very expensive, and she simply couldn’t afford it right now.

Li Yian saw the complex expression on her face and understood. He smiled gently and said:

“Madam, I don’t take money.”

Stana was taken aback for a moment, then she noticed the desire flash in the man’s eyes. So that was his real objective…

Men!

They’re all the same in the end.

Just as Stana’s thoughts were in a turmoil, the man’s voice reached her again.

“Madam, could I trade you for some food?”

Chapter 3: Learning a New Skill

What!

Food?

If Stana’s feelings were complicated before, now she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was only at this moment that she noticed the man’s gaze wasn’t on her at all, but rather fixed on the bread in her arms.

In an instant, Stana felt an urge to laugh, but the impulse was quickly suppressed by a pang of disappointment deep in her heart.

Li Yian didn’t notice the subtle shift in Stana’s emotions.

“Ma’am, would that be alright?”

As he finished speaking, his stomach let out a loud “gurgle.”

“Of course.”

The sound from the man’s stomach made Stana break into a faint smile.

“However, just this loaf of bread wouldn’t be a fair trade. I live in that building up ahead. If you don’t mind, you can come over. Besides bread, I can also make you some soup.”

Mind? How could he possibly mind?

To have a bowl of hot soup when you were starving and parched was simply a divine pleasure.

What’s wrong with me?

Ten minutes later, Stana was still filled with doubt as she chopped potatoes in her kitchen. What’s gotten into me today?

Why did I invite a strange man into my home?

She listened to the sounds from the living room as she worked. It seemed very quiet. She couldn’t help but pause, her gaze subconsciously falling on the man there.

The man she had invited into her home was sitting on the sofa, seemingly looking around her place.

Li Yian was indeed surveying the apartment. The decor was rather luxurious, showing that the woman’s family was well-off, or at least had been. Flanking the fireplace were a bookshelf filled with books on one side and a piano on the other. The piano was covered in a thick layer of dust, clearly unplayed for a long time.

There were also a few photographs on the mantelpiece. They were photos of a couple. The woman in them was the same one who had invited him over, and the man beside her wore a military uniform. He was probably her husband.

“Her husband is a military officer?”

Actually, that was quite normal. It was World War Two, after all; practically every able-bodied man was serving in the army.

After a quick look around, Li Yian’s curiosity was vanquished by his rumbling stomach. His mind was completely preoccupied with when dinner would be ready.

Although eating was his top priority, there was another matter he absolutely couldn’t neglect.

His identity.

He was in London during the war. As a foreigner with no identification, he could very well be mistaken for a spy, arrested, and executed.

That would be the end of him.

His journey through time would be over before it even began.

So, what should he do now?

How should he explain his origins?

Or rather, how could he obtain legal identification?

These were all pressing problems.

“Of all the times and places to transmigrate, you had to pick this one… one wrong move and it’s game over for real.”

Li Yian complained inwardly, starting to seriously contemplate the many challenges he was about to face.

Time flies when you’re lost in thought. After some time had passed, just as the sky turned completely dark, the woman emerged carrying several plates.

“Sir, dinner is ready.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

The pure joy written on the man’s face made Stana smile, but at the same time, she felt another inexplicable wave of disappointment.

So he really was only interested in the food.

He picked up a piece of bread, and the faint aroma of wheat greeted him. It even had bacon in it, the savory scent of meat wafting through the air. Taking a bite, Li Yian felt for the first time that bread could be so delicious.

In truth, when you’ve starved for a few meals, anything tastes amazing.

There was also mashed potatoes, and… well, the dinner wasn’t exactly lavish, given the limited ingredients.

While the man ate, Stana asked.

“Sir, you must be Chinese, aren’t you?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“Before the war, I lived in Southeast Asia for two years. The Japanese are very short, and the locals there have very dark skin and unattractive features. So, I guessed you must be Chinese,” Stana explained.

“Ma’am, you’re brilliant. You guessed it right away,” Li Yian complimented.

“But why would you be willing to trade expensive perfume for a simple dinner?”

Finally, she got to the heart of the matter. In truth, Stana was holding onto a certain hope.

“Actually, I’ve just arrived in Britain.”

Li Yian knew this question was coming sooner or later.

“Just arrived in Britain?” Stana asked. “From China? At a time like this?”

“No, I escaped from France,” Li Yian said with a helpless sigh.

Stana was taken aback, a peculiar look in her eyes.

“Escaped from France? How is that possible?” Stana asked, her curiosity piqued.

“A few years ago, to escape the war, my family and I left China for Saigon. Before the war broke out here, I took a ship to France to study. But I never imagined that war would break out as soon as I arrived. France was defeated and surrendered. As a foreigner, life in France was… difficult to describe. It was only a few months ago that I found a chance to escape to Spain, and then I came to Britain on a Spanish fishing boat…”

As Li Yian spun his fabricated story, he remembered the perfume in his pocket and skillfully changed the subject with a smile.

“God bless, I ran into a kind lady like you as soon as I arrived in London. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’d still be starving. This perfume was a gift from a friend in France. Thank you so much for the dinner.”

As he spoke, he placed the perfume on the table.

“Now, it belongs to you.”

“Are you sure you want to trade?” Stana asked, pleasantly surprised.

“Of course. Thank you for your warm hospitality.”

Stana immediately picked up the perfume, clutching it in her hand as if it were a precious treasure.

“Thank you.”

At that moment, the translucent screen materialized out of thin air once more.

[Second transaction detected and completed.]

The System was back?

This counted as a transaction?

Was he going to get more Experience points?

In high spirits, Li Yian waited with anticipation, and sure enough, the reward flashed onto the screen.

[This transaction was initiated proactively by seeking a suitable business opportunity. The skill ‘Psychology’ is available to learn. Learn now?]

“Learn! Learn!”

A new skill as a reward again! This System was great!

He saw the words “Psychology has been learned,” but before Li Yian could even begin to feel overjoyed…

He could learn a new skill just like that. Even though it was psychology, one could never have too many skills. What other skills could he learn in the future?

Although he had just transmigrated, Li Yian couldn’t help but feel filled with anticipation for the future that lay ahead!

Chapter 4: Hello, I’m the Plumber

With the System’s support, even just learning a new skill was enough to make anyone feel full of hope for the future.

What a future to look forward to!

With a sigh, Li Yian exited the System, and the woman’s voice drifted into his ears.

“God be praised, you escaped. Thank God. If you hadn’t escaped from France, how would I have ever gotten this perfume?”

Looking at the man before her, Stana, who seemed polite on the surface, now had a slight change in her gaze. Her pretty face turned a little stiff, and even her smile seemed somewhat unnatural.

He… came from France?

Is that possible?

What kind of person could come from France right now?

A spy!

The moment this thought surfaced, Stana’s heart began to pound wildly!

“Um, would you like some coffee? I still have some left.”

Incredibly nervous, Stana used this as an excuse to get up and go to the kitchen. Once there, already in a panic, she hurriedly took several deep breaths.

“What do I do, what do I do? He… he’s a spy, a spy… I have to call the police, I have to call the police, but the phone… the phone is in the living room!”

She paced back and forth in the kitchen. Just as Stana stood by the window, hesitating over whether to jump out and escape, she saw her neighbor across the way preparing dinner.

The neighbor’s open window gave her a flash of inspiration. She quickly grabbed a pen and a notepad from the kitchen cabinet, scribbled a sentence on the paper, put it in a small glass bottle, and threw it across.

The sudden crash of the glass bottle startled the woman preparing dinner. She turned her head to see Stana leaning halfway out of her window, anxiously gesturing with her hands.

…

Soon, the rich aroma of coffee filled the room.

“Thank you,” Li Yian said with sincere gratitude.

The woman handed one of the cups to him. Li Yian took it and had a sip. It was bitter. He couldn’t help but frown and was just about to complain about how bitter it was when the woman spoke.

“I’m very sorry, we’re out of sugar.”

She smiled apologetically, but her heart was in a knot.

“Black coffee is quite good too. Besides, I haven’t had coffee in a long time. You know, after the war broke out, coffee became very hard to come by in France.”

Li Yian was completely oblivious to the woman’s strange behavior. He endured the bitter taste, pretending to enjoy it as he finished the cup of black coffee, making small talk with her in the meantime.

From her, he learned that her husband was a senior employee of the North Borneo Company. All she knew was that he had resisted the Japanese forces with the army after the war started, and then she had lost all contact with him.

“He’s probably still alive and well. Sometimes, no news isn’t necessarily bad news.”

Li Yian offered some words of comfort, but the woman just shook her head.

“I hope so! Anyway, let’s not talk about that. What are your plans now?”

The woman changed the subject. Li Yian set down his cup and, after a moment of thought, said:

“Ma’am, do you know where I might be able to rent a place?”

“Rent a place?”

The woman glanced at him, then at her watch. Why aren’t the police here yet?

Just then, a knock came from the door.

The sound of knocking made the woman’s heart leap with joy.

They’re here, the police are finally here!

Barely suppressing a smile, she quickly called out.

“Who is it?”

“Ma’am, it’s Hak, the plumber. The tenant downstairs said your bathroom is leaking. I’ve come to check on it.”

A plumber?

As the woman got up to open the door, Li Yian didn’t think anything was amiss.

The door opened, and two men dressed as workers walked in. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but Li Yian noticed that they seemed to pause for a moment when they saw him.

Trouble always finds its way to a widow’s door?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he failed to notice the two men, who were heading toward the bathroom, quietly split apart and then suddenly lunge at him.

The moment he was tackled to the ground, Li Yian yelled desperately.

“Help! I’m being robbed—”

…

A spy?

Captain Adam looked at the man handcuffed over there and turned his head to ask.

“Have you ever seen the Germans send an Asian to Britain to be a spy?”

As an officer in the counter-intelligence department, Adam was at a loss for words to describe these police officers.

They were always managing to catch “spies,” but in reality, they had never caught a single one.

“Sir, I’m not sure, but the lady alerted us through her neighbor. She said he was very suspicious, a spy from France. That’s why I called you,” the police officer answered directly.

“From France?” Captain Adam asked doubtfully.

“Does he have any identification?”

“No identification whatsoever.”

“Then why was he in that lady’s home?”

Captain Adam glanced at the unconscious “spy.” He didn’t need to ask to know why. Because he was a young and handsome man, the kind who would receive invitations from many ladies.

…

A pungent, foul odor perpetually filled the cloth bag. How many people had this black hood been forced over?

The smell was overwhelming; it almost made Li Yian gag.

But by now, he had gotten used to it.

From his capture to being shoved into a car, to this very moment.

With his hands cuffed behind his back, sitting on a chair, he had only one thought.

Where am I?

Amid his confusion, Li Yian had already accepted that he was the unluckiest transmigrator in history.

From France.

Identity unknown!

A spy!

These words added up to only one outcome: he would soon be transmigrating for a second time.

Just then, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, the hood was yanked off his head. As he squinted, his eyes adjusting to the light, Li Yian also got a clear sense of his situation.

There was a table in front of him, and behind it sat two British men, one with a moustache. They were both wearing military uniforms.

Soldiers!

Li Yian’s heart dropped. Having seen many WWII movies and novels, he immediately understood his predicament.

British soldiers were interrogating him, which meant they considered him a spy. A spy would certainly be sent to the gallows, no escape!

He likely wouldn’t even get a trial.

Heavens, it looks like I really am going to transmigrate again.

What do I do now?

At that moment, the moustached man spoke.

“Alright, sir. Is there anything you wish to say?”

“What? I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Although cold sweat was beading on his back, Li Yian forced himself to remain calm. He quickly activated his “Psychology” skill. This skill was all about reading people and psychological analysis, its function being to analyze people’s minds during a transaction to help him make a profit.

Having just learned the skill, it was only at Level 1, the entry-level. While its capabilities were limited, it still produced an answer—they were suspicious of him.

“Speak. What did the Germans send you here for?” the moustached man said.

In response to his question, Li Yian said, “Sir, I am Chinese. China is one of the Allies. Why would I help the Germans?”

When faced with an accusation, the best method was a counter-question. It could effectively shake the other party’s conviction.

Entry-level Psychology was good for something, after all.

In truth, Captain Adam didn’t believe for a second that this man was sent by the Germans.

But he was very interested in how he had escaped from France.

Li Yian continued with another counter-question.

“Furthermore, sir, a Chinese person’s appearance is distinctly different from a European’s. I would easily attract attention on the streets of London. If you were the Germans, would you send an Oriental to be a spy in Britain?”

“It is indeed unlikely, but who knows?”

Captain Adam smiled and said, “Why don’t we start with this: tell us the story of how you escaped to Britain.”

Chapter 5: No More Pretending, I’m Laying My Cards on the Table

“Please repeat your itinerary one more time.”

In the interrogation room of the police station, Captain Adam spoke once again.

“After leaving Paris, France, I first went to…”

Once again, Li Yian repeated the story of how he had fled France for Britain.

In truth, this was hardly his own experience; it was the experience of a university classmate. Unlike his workhorse classmates, this rich kid—born with a silver spoon in his mouth—had become a backpacker after graduation, traveling the world. He had not only seen Europe but had even crossed Africa… He had visited nearly every corner of the globe.

Envious of his classmate’s adventures, Li Yian would occasionally keep up with his social media posts. The young man had traveled through North Africa into Spain, then on to France. Reversing that route gave him his escape plan.

As for the language barrier, Li Yian was not the least bit concerned. In university, hoping to land a job at a major company after graduation, he had studied French and German in addition to English. His English and French were particularly strong; communication and writing reports were no problem.

As for the details, he was fortunate that his classmate often posted about things like local food, plazas, and churches. Having seen enough of them, he had committed them to memory. After all, many small European towns had remained unchanged for centuries, which gave him plenty of room to improvise. Even if some parts of his story didn’t perfectly add up, Li Yian himself wouldn’t know, and the moustached captain couldn’t possibly know the fine details of every single place.

Finally, after Li Yian had repeated his story once more without raising any new suspicions, Captain Adam left the interrogation room. He thought for a moment, beginning to have second thoughts.

“Perhaps he really did escape from France.”

Then, he gave an order.

“Notify the embassy to come and confirm his identity.”

…

49 Portland Place.

Pushing his bicycle, Li Guoren was still muttering to himself as he approached the embassy.

“Someone actually managed to escape from France. How strange.”

With the Germans blockading the French coast and the British blockading their own, you couldn’t get a person across the English Channel, let alone a fish—even that would probably require filing a report.

But in these times, all sorts of strange things could happen.

As a Third Secretary, he didn’t overthink it. The ambassador was currently in the United States, and the counsellor had sent him to take a look, so he went.

It was just a routine matter, anyway.

Arriving at the police station, Li Guoren stated his purpose and was quickly led to the person in charge. As was typical when dealing with the British, he spoke politely.

“I’m terribly sorry to trouble you.”

After the pleasantries, he added, “However, officer, I can’t really prove anything for you. At most, I can just talk to him and see.”

“He has no identification, so we cannot be certain of his identity. That’s why we need you to speak with him to confirm who he is.”

“Of course, of course…”

Confirm his identity?

Who could confirm his identity?

If he got it wrong, who would take responsibility?

This fellow, Li Guoren thought, why couldn’t he just stay put in France instead of causing me all this trouble?

The moment they met, Li Guoren got straight to the point.

“Look at you. Why couldn’t you just stay put in France? What are you doing running around in the middle of a chaotic war?”

As he spoke, he tossed his bag onto the table, his tone tinged with impatience.

The familiar language had a slight Jiangzhe accent. The sound of his native dialect was comforting, but the words were harsh. Looking at the man with the gold-rimmed glasses and neatly side-parted hair, Li Yian said coolly, “Sir, you’re from the embassy? May I ask if Ambassador Gu is in?”

“Ambassador Gu?”

Li Guoren’s expression shifted slightly. He sized him up carefully, and not only did the impatience on his face vanish, but it was replaced by a smile.

“You know Ambassador Gu?”

Ambassador Gu was none other than V.K. Wellington Koo, the man who had refused to sign the treaty at the Paris Peace Conference.

Of course, Li Yian didn’t know him personally. However, he had once read an article about his wife, Huang Huilan, and knew that her husband had served as the ambassador to France before the war, transferring to Britain after France’s surrender. The article described not only Huang Huilan’s lavish lifestyle but also her experiences accompanying her husband on his European diplomatic missions. From France to Britain, from Britain to the United States—if he remembered correctly, they should be in the US right now, accompanying a certain First Lady on her American tour.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Huang once at a banquet at the Paris embassy,” Li Yian said, adding a specific detail. “My family has had some business dealings with the Huang family.”

Why mention the Huang family?

Because the Huang family’s business empire was vast. Mrs. Huang’s father was the famous “Sugar King” of Southeast Asia, the richest man in the Dutch East Indies. Furthermore, Li was a common surname, so having business dealings with someone named Li was perfectly normal.

That was why Li Yian dared to rashly claim a connection to the Huang family. And with the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia, it was impossible for anyone to contact them and verify his story. Even if Mrs. Huang herself were present, he wouldn’t worry about being exposed.

More importantly, only by waving the Huang family’s banner would the embassy staff intervene to rescue him and even grant him a legal identity.

Otherwise, given the man’s initial impatient demeanor, how could he possibly be expected to help?

“Oh, I see! My apologies, my apologies!”

Li Guoren’s attitude grew increasingly enthusiastic. After all, anyone with business ties to the Huang family had to be from a prominent family in Southeast Asia. No wonder he was able to escape from France.

This fellow is rich!

Almost instinctively, Li Guoren’s tone became much more deferential. This was, after all, an acquaintance of his superior’s wife.

More importantly, he was rich!

Rich and powerful!

If he missed this chance, he might never get another opportunity to connect with such a person!

“Mr. Li, you may not be aware, but Ambassador Gu and his wife are currently in the United States accompanying Madame Soong on her tour. They are not at the embassy.”

“Ah, what am I to do then?”

Li Yian’s brow furrowed as he spoke with a helpless air. “Now the British suspect I’m a spy. Without Mrs. Huang to vouch for me, how can I ever prove my innocence…”

Before he could finish, Li Guoren cut in directly. “These Brits are going too far! Mr. Li is clearly one of our fellow Chinese countrymen, yet they slander him as a German spy. What an outrageous accusation! Please rest assured, Mr. Li. Even if we weren’t from the same family, even if you were an ordinary compatriot, it is my duty to act. How could I allow the British to frame you? I will lodge a formal complaint with them. These Brits, they’re all old imperialists. If you don’t show them some strength, they will only look down on us!”

With that, Li Guoren stood up and began banging on the iron door, then shouted loudly in English.

“Open the door! Open up!”

The moment the door opened, before Captain Adam could speak, Li Guoren—no longer the timid man he was before—demanded loudly, “Captain Adam, what is the meaning of this?”

“What?”

“On what grounds are you detaining a citizen of an allied nation? Our compatriot suffered endless persecution under German rule, and after managing to escape to Britain, he is accused of being a spy and subjected to your arrest and detention. How absurd is this? I will protest to the Foreign Office! I will protest at Downing Street! Is this how your country treats its allies?”

Stunned by Li Guoren’s tirade, Captain Adam quickly asked, “Secretary Li, didn’t you just say you couldn’t prove anything?”

“Prove?” Li Guoren declared with righteous indignation. “Mr. Li’s family is a prominent overseas Chinese family from Southeast Asia and are old friends with the ambassador’s wife’s family. How could I not prove it!”

Instantly, Captain Adam understood. So, after all this, the lad had connections.

Alright, then. Release him.

Chapter 6: It’s Great to Have Connections

As it turned out, the treatment people with connections enjoyed was completely different from that of ordinary people.

Even a fabricated background could bring a host of unexpected benefits.

If not for his supposed old ties to the Huang family, Li Guoren would never have argued so forcefully on his behalf, nor would he have worked so hard to clear him of the “suspicion of being a spy.”

Even though it was all a bluff, in Li Guoren’s eyes, this young man beside him was not only an old acquaintance of the ambassador’s wife but also hailed from a wealthy family in Southeast Asia.

For a young master like him, it wasn’t just a matter of careful service; it was an opportunity to seize and build a connection.

After all, with the War of Resistance raging, what was China relying on to fight?

It wasn’t just the flesh and blood of four hundred million compatriots, but also the donations from tens of millions of overseas Chinese. As an official from the Foreign Office, how could Li Guoren not know that before the fall of Southeast Asia, remittances and donations from overseas Chinese had accounted for eighty percent of the government’s expenditures? Naturally, he also knew that the influence of overseas Chinese leaders on the top brass was far beyond that of any ordinary person.

Even if Southeast Asia was currently occupied by the Japanese, what about the future? The Japanese would surely be defeated eventually, and Southeast Asia would be taken back by the British, the French, and the Dutch.

Seizing the chance to befriend a down-on-his-luck young master from a prominent Southeast Asian family was certainly the right move. Whether in his official career or in business, it would surely bring a hundred benefits and not a single harm.

With this in mind, Li Guoren brought his newly-acquainted “kinsman” to an apartment the embassy kept on a long-term lease.

“My dear brother, I must apologize. The conditions here are a bit basic. Please bear with it for a while. We can make other arrangements once the ambassador and his wife return.”

Opening the door, Li Guoren’s tone was full of apology.

“Oh, please, Brother, don’t say that. Your little brother drifted to London as a refugee; just having a roof over my head is more than I could ask for. If I hadn’t run into you, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have even found a place to stay.”

As he spoke, Li Yian made a deep bow to express his gratitude.

“I will never forget your great kindness for as long as I live, Brother.”

I’m glad you appreciate it.

Li Guoren quickly replied.

“There you go, being a stranger again. We both share the surname Li; we’re kinsmen. If I don’t help you, who will? Now, you were hassled by those foreigners at the police station all night and must be exhausted. Get some rest. I need to return to the embassy to report and also get your temporary identification sorted out. As for the passport, we’ll deal with that when the ambassador returns…”

Li Guoren was direct and efficient. He didn’t linger to deepen their friendship, but promptly took his leave. After all, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Having connections… is truly wonderful!

Watching his exceedingly warm kinsman leave, Li Yian couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He had been so worried about matters like his identification papers.

And just like that, the man had taken care of it for him.

“Then, I’ll have to trouble you, Brother.”

He finished with another deep bow, his face a mask of profound gratitude. This was a kindness that demanded thanks.

“There you go, being so formal with me again!”

Standing by the door, Li Guoren pointed at him with a laugh, looking for all the world like they were actual brothers.

“Alright, get some sleep. By the way…”

As he was about to leave, as if remembering something, Li Guoren took a small booklet from his pocket.

“This is my ration book. You keep it for now.”

He pressed it into Li Yian’s hands as he spoke.

“This… I can’t possibly take this, Big Brother. No, if you give it to me, what will you eat?”

“Look at you. You’re already calling me Big Brother, yet you’re still acting like a stranger. The embassy has separate rations; I usually eat and live there, so I don’t need this. You take it for now and give it back when yours is issued. Besides, this ration book can also serve as identification. It’s for diplomatic personnel, so you won’t have to worry even if you run into the police. It’ll make it easier for you to get around.”

After specifically emphasizing the utility of the ration book, Li Guoren teased him.

“Without this, what are you going to eat? What, do you plan on having someone call the police again? Or maybe try to swindle a meal? Come on, we’re brothers. No need for such formalities.”

“But…” Before Li Yian could thank him, the door was shut. Listening to the footsteps fading down the corridor and looking at the ration book in his hand, Li Yian couldn’t help but sigh.

“What a good man!”

A good man!

An absolutely good man.

As he was marveling at this, the translucent screen flickered into view.

[Persuaded another to help you through speech, obtaining free lodging. Experience Points +20.]

Whoa!

I can’t believe I got so many experience points!

But it made sense. Rent in London was so expensive!

Scoring free lodging just by talking his way into it—how could that not award experience points?

[Attributes function unlocked. View?]

Li Yian, of course, chose to view without a moment’s hesitation. Information appeared on the screen.

Current Skills:

Business: Lv. 1

Psychology: Lv. 1

Business Administration: Lv. 2

…

When he saw the last item, Li Yian’s lips instantly twisted into a grimace. He felt a complicated mix of emotions. Business and Psychology were from the System, but the Business Administration he’d studied in college had somehow become a Skill as well!

And it was rated at Lv. 2!

But what the hell good is that?!

“I must have gotten my head caught in a door to have picked that major. If only I’d studied pharmacology or something. Even veterinary medicine would have been better! Humans and animals aren’t that different, after all. If I could produce penicillin, I’d be set for life…”

Despite his grumbling, Li Yian was pleasantly surprised to see that, judging by the levels, all these Skills could be improved!

“My experience points went up today and unlocked the attributes function. Does this mean that as long as I keep leveling up my Skills, I’ll unlock more functions?”

What kind of functions would the System provide then?

Staring at the screen, Li Yian couldn’t help but rub his hands together in anticipation, ready to train a Skill to its absolute limit and see what would happen.

He looked at his Skills. Business Administration was already at Lv. 2. If he could just find a way to improve it, he could quickly reach an even higher level!

The future was full of possibilities!

But… Business Administration?

Right now, what kind of business was there for him to manage?

“Looks like I’ll have to focus on the Business Skill…”

Having made his decision, he exited the System and sat down on the sofa, lost in thought, pondering how he was going to improve his Business Skill.

This Skill wasn’t just about unlocking new functions; it was about his entire future.

He might have a place to stay now, but it was only temporary.

“According to that article, Madame Huang is supposed to return to London in December. That means I have seven months.”

What could he do in seven months?

Make himself strong enough for Madame Huang to willingly acknowledge him as an old acquaintance, of course.

No one likes a poor relation; that was just human nature.

Walking to the window, he gazed out at London, his expression shifting. He didn’t know if the city was filled with opportunity or danger, but he knew one thing for certain: his only chance was outside this room.

Taking a deep breath, Li Yian said to himself.

“Alright, London. Here I come!”

Chapter 7: Hello, I’m Here to Read the Water Meter

“…And just like that, I threw the bottle to my neighbor, who then called the police. Then the police disguised themselves as Plumbers, entered the room, and arrested that Spy.”

On the tram, Stana was boasting to her friend about how she had “outsmarted” the Spy. She was in a good mood today, not because she had done a great service for the British Empire.

But because of… the envious looks from others.

“Stana, I don’t want to leave your side…”

Gilly said, unconsciously leaning closer to her.

“This way, I can borrow some of your fragrance… God, I can’t even remember what perfume smells like…”

Once more, Gilly moved closer to Stana’s neck and took a deep breath, her greedy expression making it seem as if she wanted to inhale the entire scent.

“Oh, darling, if you just take a walk around Grosvenor Square, those American fellows will be fighting to give you perfume. And not just perfume, but silk stockings, too.”

Grosvenor Square was the location of the United States embassy. Most of the office buildings around the square were now being used by Americans; not only was the American military headquarters there, but corresponding US State Department agencies also had offices nearby. As a result, there were far more Americans on the square than British people.

Compared to the British, who were suffering from a scarcity of goods, those Americans had an abundance of supplies that was far beyond their imagination. So much so that many British women liked to stroll around the square, hoping to meet an American who could satisfy their material needs.

“Hmph, American perfumes are just cheap, shoddy things. Who would want them…”

Resting her head on her friend’s shoulder, Gilly said.

“But if it were stockings… that wouldn’t be out of the question.”

Inhaling the scent of her friend’s perfume, Gilly asked.

“Darling, do you think the perfume you’re wearing was… exchanged… for your beauty?”

As she spoke, Gilly gave Stana’s thigh a flirtatious pat. The texture was as smooth as butter, making one wonder if she was wearing stockings. In fact, this was what made others most envious—her fair, tender skin, almost completely free of body hair.

“Of course not. It was a gift from a friend who brought it from abroad.”

Stana certainly wasn’t going to say that the perfume came from that Spy. In fact, she hadn’t even told the police. What if they confiscated it as evidence?

“I’m so envious of you.”

Her friend’s envious tone filled Stana with a deep sense of satisfaction. Perhaps this was her last bit of stubborn pride.

God was her witness, ever since her husband’s whereabouts became unknown, she had gone from being an upper-class lady to an ordinary woman on the street. Without her husband’s income, she couldn’t even make ends meet and had to go out to work like any common woman.

Thinking of the past, Stana’s mood suddenly grew heavy. Soon, the bus arrived at her stop. After bidding her friend farewell, Stana got off alone.

Back home, Stana went to the bathroom to wash up as usual. Just as she changed into her nightgown, she heard a knock on the door.

“Who could it be at this hour?”

Puzzled, Stana went to the living room and called out.

“Who is it?”

It’s that woman, it has to be!

Li Yian lowered his voice and said.

“Ma’am, here to read the water meter.”

Read the water meter?

Though a bit confused, Stana opened the door. The moment it opened, her eyes widened instantly. She tried to shut the door, but the man outside blocked it with his arm.

“You, you…”

“Hello, ma’am. We meet again!”

Li Yian said with a smile, his arm holding the door open.

“What, not going to invite me in?”

“You, weren’t you… arrested by the police…”

Suddenly, Stana seemed to understand something, and a look of realization dawned on her.

“You’re not a Spy?”

If he were a Spy, there was no way he would have been released so quickly.

“What do you think?”

Thinking about how she had mistaken him for a spy and called the police, and how they had seemed to use a lot of force when arresting him…

Stana’s cheeks instantly flushed hot, and the hand pressing against the door lost its strength.

…

“Sir, would you like some coffee…”

Instantly, the atmosphere in the living room grew even more awkward. Neither of them spoke.

After a long moment, Stana finally said tentatively.

“Sir, I’m truly sorry about the misunderstanding earlier, but, but, between us…”

Between us, what?

Stana didn’t know how to continue. After all, she had indeed misunderstood him.

“There’s nothing between us.”

Li Yian picked up where she left off.

“I came here because I want to help you.”

“Help me?”

“Yes.”

Looking at the woman before him, Li Yian glanced around the living room. The last time he was here, he had noticed marks on the wall where paintings had once hung. Now, even the living room was left with just a single sofa.

“I can tell that your current situation is not very good.”

“During the war, no one’s situation is as good as it used to be,” Stana said.

“But your circumstances, ma’am, are far worse than they used to be.”

Why had he come here?

Because of that photograph. The rank insignia on the woman’s husband’s uniform in the photo was a crown and a star—that was the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

A Lieutenant Colonel in the colonies was undeniably upper class.

This was precisely why Li Yian had come here. He needed this woman. Or rather, he needed this woman who could access the upper class to help him earn his first pot of gold.

Stana adjusted her nightgown and, as she sat down on the armchair, elegantly crossed her legs, revealing their long, slender shape.

“What are you trying to say?”

“You need money.”

Stana couldn’t help but burst into laughter. With her laughter, her nightgown billowed in waves.

A classic case of a slender frame with a bountiful figure.

“Who doesn’t need money?”

They really are big.

As he marveled internally, Li Yian took out the things he had prepared from his bag.

Instantly, her laughter died. Her eyes were glued to the items on the small coffee table, a strange light glinting within them.

Is, is this a dream?

Stana blinked, then looked at the man with a questioning gaze.

“What… what do you want from me?”

As she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on the items on the coffee table—stockings!

It was a pair of silk stockings!

My God!

Was this man planning to use them to… to… Should she accept or refuse?

Ugh, it’s so hard to refuse.

All sorts of thoughts flashed through Stana’s mind as her eyes darted between the stockings and the man. The stockings were very tempting, and the man was young and handsome…

Sigh, this man certainly knows what women can’t resist.

Just as Stana was about to compromise, the man’s words reached her.

“Yes, everyone needs money, but not everyone gets the chance to earn it. Right now, you have an opportunity.”

What opportunity?

Stana’s eyes were still fixed on the stockings. She watched as the man picked them up and held them out to her, displaying their light, translucent quality. A charming smile appeared on his face once again.

“Help me sell them to the people who need them and can afford them.”

Chapter 8: Foreign Guest, I’m a Foreign Guest

“What?”

For a moment, Stana felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

Her brown eyes blazed with fury!

This wretched man!

How could he?

Last time it was for bread, and this time… he wants me to help him sell stockings!

In this man’s eyes, was there no room for a woman?

Stana had guessed right.

At least for now, Li Yian truly had no women on his mind.

He had transmigrated, for crying out loud! Who the hell had time to care about women?

Making money fast was the only thing that mattered!

As for thanking the Tomboy, her bag had contained not only sample perfumes and women’s lingerie, but also dozens of pairs of long stockings of the ten-for-five-yuan variety.

In this era, stockings were incredibly valuable.

However, precisely because they were valuable, he needed to find buyers who could afford them. If it weren’t for this woman having connections to the upper class, Li Yian wouldn’t have bothered with her.

Using her looks to get her way?

Who cared about that!

Stana glared at the man. Faced with such complete disregard, a maelstrom of feelings churned within her. She simply didn’t know how to describe her current mood.

Anger, confusion, disappointment…

As her heart was troubled by this mix of emotions, she heard the man speak.

“You can use this pair of stockings as a sample. Of course, the cost will be deducted from your salary later.”

He’s giving them to me?

Instantly, a look of ecstatic joy burst forth from Stana’s eyes.

In the end, a woman could never resist the temptation of stockings.

Just then, the man’s seductive voice once again sounded in her ear.

“With these, you can re-enter the world you were once familiar with. Do you want to go back?”

Psychology was useful. With just a little observation, he could see that this woman’s current situation was far from optimistic. Perhaps she had once been wealthy, but now she was just an ordinary person. For people like her, what they yearned for most was to return to the past, to once again feel the life of being sought after and respected.

This was also why Li Yian had chosen her. What she needed was a chance to reclaim everything she once had, not some paltry immediate gain. Otherwise, if he had picked someone at random, they might have just run off with the money.

This man… Staring at the stockings, Stana understood that not only did she have no reason to refuse him, but she even craved this opportunity to regain her dignity in front of those who had once looked down on her.

But, this man, honestly, was this really all he saw in his eyes?

…

Ah!

Have I already grown old?

After the man left, Stana went to the bathroom. Standing before the large mirror, she carefully examined herself.

Her body was still as slender as a young girl’s, yet it didn’t lack for curves. Her features were even more beautiful than before.

But, how could he be so completely unmoved?

For a moment, Stana’s spirits plummeted. But the next instant, thinking of that pair of stockings, a brilliant smile lit up her face.

Stockings!

They’re mine!

As Stana strode toward the bedroom on her long, one-meter legs, her heart filled with joy, Li Yian was heading downstairs, looking at the luminous screen only he could see.

[Hired one employee, beginning a new chapter in Business. +20 Experience points.]

So, hiring an employee can also earn experience points!

Could it get any better than this?

“Huh? No other rewards?”

Despite a hint of disappointment, Li Yian was still full of anticipation for the future. After all, one employee was just the beginning. In the future, he would have to build a multinational corporation with at least ten thousand employees to start.

“A-thousand-story tower is built from the ground up. I’ll focus on laying a solid foundation first.”

Now that he had a ration book to serve as identification, he could naturally explore London a bit more. In wartime London, people in military uniforms could be seen everywhere, but even more common were the long lines—there were always queues in front of food shops. The people waiting would involuntarily crane their necks, trying to see how many were ahead of them.

Li Yian was no exception. He joined a queue, too. After all, a man has to eat.

While waiting, he made a point to observe the people in the line. They were mostly women. Even the few men present were elders with heads full of white hair.

The young men, and even the middle-aged ones, had all joined the army.

As a young man, he naturally attracted a lot of attention. In fact, while he was in line, women would often cast their gazes upon him—vibrant young girls, charming young wives. Their looks were sometimes direct, sometimes shy. All in all, the pressure was immense.

But in this place, what everyone cared about most was food. It wasn’t just a question of availability, but also of price.

After all, everyone had a ration book, but it was merely a permit to buy; you still had to pay. Whether one could afford it and actually get it was what mattered most.

“What? Two ounces of sugar for ten pence? You might as well just rob people…” an old woman at the front of the line shouted. Hearing her, others joined in the clamor.

“My God, a pound of sugar for eighty shillings!”

“A pound of sugar? Are you dreaming?”

“Yeah, do you even have that many ration coupons?”

Amid the people’s shouting, an old man spoke up.

“Ma’am, you should blame those damn Krauts. Haven’t you seen the papers? German U-boats sank another dozen ships. Our sugar probably sank to the bottom of the sea…”

“Those damn Krauts!”

Instantly, the enraged crowd began cursing the Germans and Hitler.

Just like that, moving forward with the surging crowd, it was finally Li Yian’s turn. When he took out his ration book, the shop owner glanced at it, then at him, and asked.

“Sir, what do you need?”

“Two loaves of bread, a pound of bacon or ham, and some butter…”

To avoid having to queue again, Li Yian wanted to buy more. However, he didn’t notice that both the shop owner and the people in line were looking at him with strange expressions.

“Alright, sir.”

As the shop owner took the food ration coupons from his hand, someone from behind shouted loudly.

“Harry, why are you selling him so much? We can only buy four ounces of bacon at most!”

“Yes, why sell that fellow so much food!”

What was going on?

As Li Yian looked at the indignant people around him in confusion, the shop owner said, “Ladies, he’s a diplomat. He’s using the red book…”

Instantly, the previously resentful crowd fell silent. The gazes they cast on Li Yian became complicated.

Was this the special treatment for a foreign guest?

For a fleeting moment, Li Yian’s heart leaped with a little thrill. After all, this was the legendary special treatment for foreign guests.

Taking the paper bag filled to the brim with food, he thanked the owner and left amidst the crowd’s envy and jealousy, and, of course, the flirtatious glances thrown by the women.

When he reached the street corner and was about to buy some fruit, a hoarse voice called out.

“Hello, sir. Do you have any petrol coupons?”

Following the sound, he saw a blond, blue-eyed, and slender man in a short-sleeved shirt and a flat cap looking at him.

“Sir, if you have any petrol coupons, I’m willing to buy them at a high price.”

As he spoke, the man rolled up his sleeve to reveal a gold watch. “I have a gold watch here, sir. A real gold watch…”

Chapter 9: A Path to Wealth

Turned out to be a greenhorn!

Having knocked about the streets for over twenty years, Anderson understood everything from the blank look on the other man’s face.

For a split second, Anderson wanted to slap himself.

The gold watch. Damn it, why did it have to be a gold watch.

Gold watches were extremely valuable!

And for that very reason, things like gold watches could buy anything on the market, including the extremely scarce “Petrol coupons.”

Watching the man’s expression shift constantly, Li Yian, though unsure what was going on with him, took the initiative and made an offer.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“A drink? The liquor ration isn’t much,” Anderson said uncertainly.

“Even for diplomatic staff, it’s the same.”

“Is there a pub nearby?”

Why buy this fellow a drink?

Li Yian certainly had his reasons. The existence of a black market meant profit, it meant wealth. For someone like him who was just figuring out how to get rich, it was like discovering a new world.

But this new world required some reconnaissance, and the scalper before him was the perfect source. There was no harm in understanding the market conditions.

“…Petrol coupons. Of all the ration coupons, petrol coupons are the most valuable because almost everyone needs petrol. It was rationed even earlier than food. Because of rationing, controlled items like fuel and food all show up on the black market, and the trading is very active. After all, everyone needs them. And ‘Petrol coupons’ are ‘hard currency.’ You can trade them for anything—food, expensive watches, gold coins…”

After two long-awaited glasses of whisky, Anderson held nothing back, educating Li Yian on London’s black market trade.

This gave him a basic understanding of it all. For certain “enterprising” individuals, the shortages and rationing system were a golden opportunity for illicit profit. Shopkeepers could often get their hands on scarce goods and sell them privately at a markup. Black market dealers peddled everything that was in short supply on certain streets, and the buyers knew full well the goods were not obtained legitimately.

“…Meat. At the docks, hundreds of tons of meat go missing every day. This lost meat naturally finds its way to the black market, where it’s sold at several times the price to those who need it, sir,” Anderson said in a serious tone.

“I know you diplomatic personnel get much higher rations than ordinary people. You even get ten packs of cigarettes a week. But a lot of the time, you don’t need all that, because they deliver food, cigarettes, and liquor to the embassy for you every week. If we cooperate, I guarantee you can earn at least ten pounds a week.”

In Anderson’s eyes, this gentleman standing in line was probably just a minor figure at the embassy. For such a small fry, a dozen or so pounds would certainly be a tempting offer.

“Take this bag of food you have. You probably paid two pounds for it, but I can sell it for four, maybe even five pounds.”

“So what sells best?”

“Cigarettes, and sugar,” Anderson said bluntly.

“Cigarettes have to be supplied to the military first, so there’s never enough on the market, not to mention you need tobacco coupons to buy them. And those coupons only get you a few packs—a month, I mean. That’s why cigarettes sell the best. As for sugar, well, who doesn’t need sugar?”

As he spoke, Anderson shouted directly to the person behind the counter.

“Billy, does your wife need sugar?”

“You got some?”

“See? Every kitchen needs sugar. We have sugar coupons, but we can never buy enough.”

“Why?”

“The papers say it’s because of the German U-boats sinking merchant ships all the time. But the truth? The truth is, to Downing Street, things like sugar, milk, meat, and tobacco aren’t as important as tanks, planes, and cannons. They won’t spend precious foreign exchange on that stuff. So, they blame everything on the Germans and tell the common folk to overcome the so-called difficulties.”

Anderson took a sip of whisky and continued.

“That’s why everyone depends on the black market. Everyone needs it. Even the blokes who fly the mail planes from the airport, they’ll load up boxes of cigarettes in the United States. A pack of Lucky Strikes or Camels costs just ten or twenty cents in the States, but over here, you can sell it for at least a pound.”

“The profit margin is that high? Don’t they make a fortune on a single trip?”

Anderson was starting to get it. This fellow in front of him knew absolutely nothing about the black market.

“Sir, from the looks of it, you don’t understand the market at all! Britain has rationing, and so does the United States, it’s just not as strict over there. But they have quotas too. Those mail plane pilots can smuggle some, but only some. They can’t buy any more than that. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be the pilots; the sailors at the port would be smuggling them in by the crate. You have to understand, a ship has a lot more space than a plane. Even if a pilot wanted to bring more, he might not have the room. But a ship is different. If they wanted, they could definitely load up a lot. The problem is, it’s not a matter of buying as much as they want.”

Quotas.

So there were quotas for buying cigarettes in the United States too! It wasn’t something you could just buy as much as you wanted. No wonder the price was so firm.

Having been schooled on the market, Li Yian also got another piece of information from the black market dealer.

“Are you saying there are planes that fly from Britain to the United States?”

“Mail planes,” Anderson explained.

“Even before the war, mail planes flew between Britain and the United States. They’re specifically for transporting mailbags. They fly big planes, ones that can even fly directly from Britain to the United States. It’s just that, back then, who would’ve thought you could make ten times the profit on a pack of cigarettes? It’s a pity they can’t buy enough, otherwise, they’d surely fill the whole plane.”

Anderson’s lament made Li Yian’s eyes light up. He immediately realized this might be his opportunity—it might very well be his new world.

After a quick calculation in his head, Li Yian took the initiative to order another whisky for him, spending a full seven ration coupons. Only after the drink arrived did he ask.

“So, do you know where these mail planes land?”

“At the seaplane dock on the Thames River. But who knows? Compared to those guys, people prefer buying from ship crews. You could never imagine the things sailors smuggle in—cigarettes, white sugar, coffee, and so on. Everything. But…”

Indebted after another free whisky, Anderson continued his lecture.

“They won’t take pounds because you can’t buy anything with pounds in the United States. They want US dollars. Of course, nobody has those, but watches, cameras, and even antique furniture are their favorites. The port is full of shops like that. That stuff sells for a good price in the States, especially watches and cameras. You know, those country bumpkins in the United States can’t make a decent watch or camera to save their lives. German and Swiss goods have always been their favorites, but now, because of the war, they can’t get their hands on them, of course.”

Finally, after two whiskies, Anderson got back to business.

“Sir, do you have any petrol coupons or not? I can offer a high price…”

Chapter 10: First Pot of Gold

After leaving the bar, Li Yian began to mull over the information he had just obtained. This huge price difference was only a short-term market phenomenon due to the wartime situation, but if he could seize the opportunity, he could definitely accumulate his initial capital.

The only question was, how to enter this market?

After returning to his residence, Li Yian lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and pondering.

“The key is still getting the goods here.”

Demand stimulated the market, and the black market was born. For Li Yian, who had once bought hundred-yuan vegetable packs, he knew very well just how profitable the black market could be. Of course, he also knew that this market was temporary—it would only last for about two more years!

“Cigarettes, white sugar…”

That night, lying in bed, Li Yian tossed and turned, his mind consumed by thoughts of the black market, of this great business that could launch a man to success overnight!

…

Li Yian was stunned by the stack of pounds on the table.

“Five pairs of stockings, each sold for 200 pounds. That’s a thousand pounds in total.”

One thousand pounds!

And from selling just five pairs of stockings!

Was this the exorbitant profit of the black market?

Amid his shock, the screen of light flashed again!

[Employee successfully sold five pairs of stockings, earning a substantial profit and entering the high-end market. Received 500 Experience points!]

What!

Five hundred Experience points right off the bat!

This was a pleasant surprise!

“It seems if things keep going like this, I won’t have to worry about leveling up at all.”

Li Yian mused excitedly.

After all, the Tomboy’s bundle contained several hundred dozen pairs of stockings!

Vintage, seamless, pantyhose, and even crotchless ones—it had everything!

Those weren’t stockings; they were clearly stacks of banknotes!

After Li Yian exited the System, Stana’s voice reached his ears once more.

“Mr. Li, you should know that I haven’t attended any ladies’ salons for a long time. Yesterday, I just went to a reading club, and only a few ladies there could afford them. However, I’ve already received an invitation to a salon where there will be more wealthy ladies. They will surely be willing to buy more stockings and spend more money.”

Stana seemed rather excited. It had been a long time since she had been the center of attention. Even now, she could still remember how the other ladies at the reading club—those who had ostracized her after she lost her livelihood—had stared at the stockings on her legs when she appeared wearing them yesterday. They could tell at a glance that they weren’t drawn on with a brush but were real stockings.

The moment she hinted that she had more, they all flocked to curry favor with her, trying to get a pair. After all, during the war, even if they had money, stockings were hard to come by.

More than money, the women coveted nylon stockings!

“…Li, can you believe it? Even the haughty Mrs. Charlie—that woman who thinks working women like me are not qualified to have afternoon tea with them? Yet yesterday, she couldn’t stop trying to butter me up…”

Speaking of her triumph, Stana’s face was all smiles. Even the way she looked at this man had changed. After all, he was the one who had allowed her to regain her respect.

As the woman flaunted her success like a proud peacock, perhaps feeling a stir in her heart, she couldn’t help but cross her long legs, displaying their slender beauty for the man to see.

Watching the triumphant woman, Li Yian knew he had found the right person. A woman like her, who had once been part of the upper class, most desperately craved to reclaim her dignity, and he had given her that chance. And what he needed was precisely this effort from her.

But to her disappointment, the man didn’t notice her at all.

This man…

Just as a mix of complex feelings welled up in her heart, she saw the man pick up the banknotes, count out a few, and say…

“This is one hundred pounds. It’s your commission.”

“What!”

Stana looked at the stack of banknotes in surprise, asking in confusion.

“Didn’t you say this pair of stockings was my payment? Why are you giving me money as well?”

“Madam, your work is worthy of a reward, and…”

Li Yian pointed to the stockings on her legs and said.

“They are your prize, so of course, I have to pay you a salary.”

Instantly, the woman shrieked with delight. She rashly rushed to Li Yian’s side and planted a kiss right on his cheek.

“Thank you, thank you! This is the best gift I’ve received since the war began!” Overcome with emotion, Stana even forgot that she was a married woman. In her excitement, she gave him another firm kiss, this time on the lips.

It had to be said, the woman’s kiss was powerful and very alluring. After a forceful, passionate kiss, her eyes grew hazy. She held the man’s face in her hands, her tempting red lips parting slightly.

“Darling, please don’t hold back…”

With that, her beautiful eyes narrowed, and she kissed him passionately.

Restraint.

At a time like this, no man could restrain himself.

Fuck, at this moment the interface popped up, asking whether to activate a Skill… Fine, learning makes me happy!

Double the happiness!

…

When he woke up again, Li Yian looked at the sleeping woman, smiled, and got out of bed. He dressed and went to the living room, where the woman’s long skirt and high heels were carelessly tossed on the floor.

The battle must have been quite intense!

Just as Li Yian was picking up the clothes, a knock came from the door.

“Haha, little brother, you must have been getting anxious these past few days!”

Who else could it be but Li Guoren?

The moment he entered and finished speaking, Li Guoren caught the lingering scent of perfume in the living room. A quick glance around the room was all it took for him to understand: there was a woman in the house.

But he didn’t point it out, instead directly taking out the identification document.

“Here, little brother. These are your identification papers. There were some complications, sorry to keep you waiting.”

He said just enough. The unspoken favor was understood by those who knew.

Receiving the thin sheet of paper, Li Yian was naturally moved to tears with gratitude. How could he not be? With this paper, he had a legal identity and no longer had to worry about the gallows.

“Thank you, Brother. Words can’t express my gratitude for such a great favor. I will certainly keep this kindness in my heart.”

“We are kinsmen, why be so polite?”

Filled with gratitude, Li Yian added.

“Brother, please wait a moment…”

When Li Yian opened his portfolio, Li Guoren couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Inside the portfolio was a thick stack of money.

Where did he get that money?

When he left the police station, didn’t he only have five pounds on him?

Before he could react, ten or twenty five-pound notes were shoved into his hands.

“Little brother, what is this? What are you doing?”

“Please accept this money, Brother. I remember your kindness, but nothing gets done in this world without spending money. I can’t let you use your connections and spend your own money on my behalf.”

Shoving the money back to Li Guoren, Li Yian explained.

“To be honest, Brother, I’ve managed to contact an old family acquaintance in London these past two days. So…”

He brandished the banknotes in his hand and said with a smile.

“I don’t have to worry about making a living for now!”

A real, true scion of a wealthy family!

Looking at the young man in his twenties before him, Li Guoren felt a surge of excitement. He really hadn’t misjudged the man!

This fellow really came from a wealthy family. He just found an old acquaintance, and they gave him a large pile of cash.

That stack of money… if it wasn’t a thousand pounds, it had to be at least eight hundred!

No wonder, no wonder there was the scent of perfume in the room!

With money, would he ever have to worry about women?

Seeing the somewhat dazed Li Guoren, Li Yian smiled to himself. The reason he gave him the money was twofold: first, to get him to help him more effectively, and second, to tell him that his background was not simple!

With both factors combined, he would surely do his utmost to help him!

Seeing that Li Guoren was still in a daze, Li Yian asked again.

“By the way, Brother, there is one more thing I’d like to trouble you with.”

“What is it? As long as it’s something I can do, just say the word!” Li Guoren said quickly.

“I’ve just arrived in Britain, and I’m unfamiliar with many things here. There’s something I’d like to ask you, Brother.”

“Go on.”

“Brother, do you know of any way to get to the United States?”

Then, Li Yian specifically emphasized.

“I mean, right now…”

The reason he asked him was because the ambassador and his wife were in the United States right now. Li Guoren must know of some channels.

“To the United States…”

Li Guoren was taken aback for a moment, then frowned and said.

“With shipping cut off right now, that’s difficult!”

That “difficult” is exactly what I wanted to hear!

Difficult doesn’t mean impossible. It means it’s very hard, but it can be done.

Some things are understood the moment they are said. Li Yian smiled.

“If it were easy, I wouldn’t need to trouble you, would I?”

Chapter 11: Chinatown

Money makes the world go round!

This saying, whether in China or abroad, is an absolute pearl of wisdom.

What could 500 pounds buy you?

A round-trip ticket to the United States. Of course, to board this flight, one had to wear the airline’s uniform—which was basically just posing as a member of the flight crew.

On the way to the seaplane dock, Kent, who was driving the car, glanced at Li Yian in the rearview mirror and spoke bluntly.

“Mr. Li, I don’t know why you’re going to New York, but you should know that we’ll only be stopping there for five days. After five days, we will return to London, whether you’ve come back or not. As for next time, I can’t guarantee you’ll have another chance to get on the plane.”

“Rest assured, Captain Kent, I will absolutely not hold any of you up.”

Soon, the car pulled into a parking lot beside Tower Bridge. A large, four-engine Imperial C-Class seaplane was moored by the banks of the Thames River.

“See that? That’s the Imperial C-Class seaplane.”

Major Kent cast his gaze toward the aircraft and said.

“Before the war, it was the flagship passenger aircraft of the British Empire, connecting the homeland with its overseas colonies. There were weekly flights from Britain to Egypt, India, East Africa, South Africa, Malaysia, and Australia… Now, the only route left is to New York, once a week.”

As he spoke, he started walking toward the seaplane dock. As they approached, the guards on duty merely glanced at them before letting them pass.

Clearly, Kent had arranged everything in advance.

From the way the guards turned a blind eye, it was obvious this wasn’t the first time Kent and his crew had done something like this.

Even after Li Yian boarded the plane, he didn’t draw any attention from the crew. Onboard, he was like an invisible man, sitting in a seat in front of a pile of mailbags.

About twenty minutes later, as the cabin door closed, the engines above the wings roared to life. The massive seaplane slowly taxied toward the center of the Thames River, then began to accelerate. The spray kicked up by the plane continuously splashed against the portholes. Suddenly, the aircraft began to climb.

As it was his first time on a seaplane, Li Yian was naturally quite curious, but that curiosity soon turned to boredom.

“You should get some sleep,” Richard, the mechanic, said, tossing Li Yian a sleeping bag.

“We’ve still got another 26 hours of flying.”

Twenty-six hours!

That was the flight time from London to New York. Of course, it wasn’t a direct flight; they needed to stop in Greenland to refuel before continuing to New York.

For the rest of the journey, the plane flew over the Atlantic Ocean. Occasionally, one could even see plumes of smoke rising from the sea—the smoke from merchant ships that had been sunk by German U-boats and were now burning on the water.

The columns of smoke reminded Li Yian that the Nazi wolf packs were no mere legend.

…

Including the stopover in Greenland, the journey took nearly twenty-seven hours before the plane finally landed in New York Harbor.

After the plane landed and docked, before the cabin door had even opened, all the crew members seemed rather impatient. They were all eager to rush into New York City to trade the watches and cameras in their luggage for needed supplies.

Although New York in 1943 couldn’t compare to the prosperity of later generations, it was already one of the most bustling metropolises of its era. The sight of skyscraper after skyscraper, such as the Empire State Building towering over Manhattan, even gave him a disorienting sense of having traveled through time.

As a Chinese man in New York, unfamiliar with the people and the place, the only place he could really go was Chinatown. The reason Li Yian went to Chinatown first was to find a channel for purchasing cigarettes. Upon entering Chinatown, he immediately noticed many people wearing uniforms of a similar style and color to his own.

Just then, a Chinese man in an open-collared shirt approached him proactively.

“Nei hou ah, sin saang.”

The Cantonese greeting caught Li Yian off guard. Before he could react, the man, Zhu Yihai, realized he didn’t speak Cantonese and switched to Mandarin.

“Hello, sir. First time in Chinatown?”

Seeing that the man clearly looked like a newcomer to Chinatown, he immediately sensed an opportunity.

Hearing Mandarin spoken with a Cantonese accent filled Li Yian’s heart with a sense of warmth and familiarity.

“That’s right, my first time here.”

Even though they were both fellow countrymen, one always had to be careful when away from home. In these times, it paid to be cautious. Thus, Li Yian remained very guarded.

Seeing the man’s obvious wariness, Zhu Yihai quickly explained.

“Sir, you don’t have to worry about me trying to harm you. Right now, nearly half the people in Chinatown make a living off of sailors like you. Why would we smash our own rice bowls? Rest assured, absolutely no one in Chinatown will try to cheat you. I saw that you seemed to be here for the first time, so I was wondering if there was anything I could help you with.”

Hearing this, Li Yian asked curiously.

“Nearly half the people in Chinatown make a living off of seamen? What do you mean?”

“Sir, look at the sailors in Chinatown. Aren’t they all your colleagues? The best business in Chinatown right now is buying watches, cameras, and furs from you all…”

From the man’s explanation, Li Yian learned that there were tens of thousands of Chinese sailors in the Allied merchant fleets. After arriving in Britain, they would trade cigarettes and other goods for items like watches, cameras, jewelry, and even fur coats, which they would then bring to New York to sell in Chinatown for cash and supplies.

With that explanation, it all clicked for Li Yian.

“So, if I’m not mistaken, you must be here to trade goods as well, sir.”

“Indeed,” Li Yian nodded with a slight smile.

“I did bring a few things with me. I was wondering what the prices are like.”

“That depends on what you’ve brought. I can help you find the most suitable shop. As for my commission, you don’t need to worry about that. No matter which shop I take you to, the owner will give me a cut.”

Zhu Yihai’s explanation was detailed and, of course, very frank. Honesty was paramount in business, especially when dealing with someone for the first time. If Mazu protects his ship and nothing happens, he’ll definitely come back to me next time. With repeat customers, the business can keep going.

He sized up the man before him. He looked to be in his thirties. Although his clothes were clean and tidy, the frayed collar of his shirt indicated that his current situation wasn’t the best.

After a moment’s thought, Li Yian asked, “What if I need a lot of cigarettes? Lucky Strikes and Camels. Can you get them?”

“Now you’re talking,” Zhu Yihai said. The moment the words left Li Yian’s mouth, he knew this deal was in the bag.

“Isn’t that why you all come to Chinatown? How many cartons do you need? Twenty? Fifty? You know, cigarettes are rationed in the United States now. Each person only gets a quota of a few packs a week, so the price isn’t cheap.”

“How much is the markup?”

“At least fifty percent,” Zhu Yihai explained. “Sometimes it can be sixty or seventy percent. The price fluctuates with the market. But if you’re buying in bulk, we can definitely get you a better deal…”

“I do need quite a lot,” Li Yian said.

“More than all of them combined. If you can help me find a reliable seller who can guarantee supply, the commission will be generous.”

Chapter 12: International Trade

“More than all of them combined? May I ask exactly how much?”

Faced with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Zhu Yihai naturally wanted to seize it. Overjoyed, he also understood that whether or not he could grasp this chance depended on his ability to introduce a reliable supplier.

There were plenty of reliable suppliers, but the question was, how much did he need?

“About twenty cases, I’d say…”

If he tried to find a seller himself, being unfamiliar with the people and the place, the opportunity would be long gone by the time he found one. Besides, his time was limited, and he had none to waste on this.

“What!”

Zhu Yihai’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“What, twenty… twenty cases…”

Seeing the dumbfounded Zhu Yihai, Li Yian asked, “Is there a problem?”

“A problem? Of course, there’s a problem! Sir, do you know how many cigarettes that is? A case has two hundred fifty cartons, not two hundred fifty packs! Even in the United States, you need ration points to buy cigarettes now! That many cigarettes, so many…”

Looking at the agitated Zhu Yihai, Li Yian said calmly, “So there’s a problem?”

“A problem, definitely a problem…” Zhu Yihai said. “That many cigarettes… you’d have to buy out all of Chinatown to scrape that much together…”

Before he could finish, Zhu Yihai glanced outside Chinatown, then lowered his voice. “However, I know someone who definitely has enough stock. But… he’s not Chinese!”

“Not Chinese?”

“Right.”

“Is he reliable?”

“A lot of the goods in Chinatown come from him. During Prohibition, his family was in the bootlegging business. Now they deal in contraband cigarettes…”

Normally, Zhu Yihai would never have mentioned this guy, but now, thinking of the staggering commission, he naturally wouldn’t hold anything back.

“But if you deal with him, you’ll definitely need cash. Before we go there, though, we can sell the things you brought.”

“Alright. Find me a buyer first. What I’ve brought this time are mainly watches—high-end timepieces, I mean.”

“Thank you for your trust. I’ll take you there right now. Please, follow me.”

With that, Zhu Yihai led the way out of Chinatown.

“Mr. Covell, this is Mr. Li, who has just come over from Europe. You can call him Li.”

He had brought Li Yian to a luxury watch shop outside Chinatown and found the man before them, Mr. Philip Covell.

“Hello, Li.”

Covell greeted the two of them warmly. From the watches displayed in Covell’s watch shop, it was clear that this was indeed the right place to be.

“Li, you can call me Philip.”

Covell enthusiastically extended a hand to shake Li Yian’s. Compared to his enthusiasm, Li Yian just wanted to finish the transaction quickly and get on with the next phase of his plan.

So, Li Yian got straight to the point. He took a watch out of his backpack, placed it on the counter, and said:

“Mr. Philip, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is the watch I’ve brought. Please, have a look!”

The moment Li Yian produced the watch, Covell’s gaze was already captivated by it. He picked up the watch and exclaimed in surprise.

“A Longines Flyback Chronograph, using the 13ZN movement…”

Covell was meticulous in his examination of the watch. He even opened the case back and, with the help of a magnifying glass and a small desk lamp, inspected it carefully. Li Yian and Zhu Yihai sat quietly to the side, waiting for him to finish his appraisal.

After inspecting the watch, Covell had a price in mind. Although the war had affected the luxury market, its main impact was on supply. After all, the outbreak of war made it difficult for Swiss watches to enter the United States.

Yet, even during wartime, the rich still had their demand for luxury goods—a demand even greater than before, because the war… had made many people very wealthy.

“Are you looking to sell it?” Covell asked. “If you are, I can offer two hundred dollars. Before the war, a new one would go for about that price. Although this watch is from ’38, it’s been very well maintained.”

War had a way of driving up the prices of luxury items.

“Two hundred dollars?” Hearing the offer, Li Yian stated directly, “Two hundred fifty dollars. If that’s acceptable, I have five more of the same model here, all of similar quality.”

As soon as he finished speaking, both Covell and Zhu Yihai looked at him in surprise. After a moment’s thought, the former agreed.

One thousand two hundred fifty dollars for five watches!

In truth, this was just the beginning. Back in London, knowing that pounds were useless in the United States and couldn’t be exchanged for dollars, Li Yian had specifically bought some second-hand watches and cameras. In London, countless people had sold their family treasures just to survive—watches, cameras, even family heirlooms like antiques and famous paintings. ‘Antiques in a flourishing age, gold in a chaotic one.’ In London, such items were a dime a dozen. The Longines Flyback Chronograph was a common model among them—not exceptionally valuable, but not cheap either. It was a run-of-the-mill item among famous watch brands and could be had for a mere dozen or so pounds. He also had a few Patek Philippes in his bag. The real treasure was a Patek Philippe 96 “Quantieme Lune” watch.

When he took it out, Covell’s eyes instantly lit up. Production of this watch had ceased right after the war began; it was something money couldn’t buy.

“How much is Mr. Covell willing to offer for this watch?”

The reason he asked directly instead of waiting for an offer was that Li Yian had a vivid memory of this Patek Philippe. Before he transmigrated, he had read an article about it. At the time, only seven watches of this model were known to exist. The one auctioned in the article was the eighth, which had never before appeared on the market.

And that watch had sold at auction for the high price of 48.85 million Hong Kong dollars!

If he weren’t trying to raise funds for his stock, he would have even considered keeping this watch as a family heirloom.

After considering for a moment, Covell finally spoke. “Eighteen hundred dollars! Mr. Li, that is absolutely the highest price on the market. I doubt anyone could offer you more.”

“Two thousand five hundred dollars,” Li Yian gave his price crisply.

“Deal!”

As Covell readily agreed, Li Yian, in turn, said with a touch of regret, “Well, the family heirloom is yours!”

The moment the words fell, time froze, and the light screen appeared once more.

[First international transaction completed. Eleven second-hand watches sold, yielding 5460 dollars in funds. Profit: 4835 dollars. Reward: 2412 Experience points!]

Well, another System reward!

Chapter 13: The Well-Connected Boss Li

“Twenty cases of cigarettes?”

In a bar in Little Italy, right next to Chinatown, Anastasia sized up the customer before him. With a Cuban cigar dangling from his lips, he asked again.

“Are you sure about the quantity you want?”

“Twenty cases of cigarettes, and maybe more,” Li Yian stated directly, having just left Covell’s watch shop with several thousand dollars in his pocket.

“Mr. Anastasia, if our cooperation goes well, I might need more cigarettes next time. Of course, you’ll have to guarantee the supply.”

“Supply is no problem, of course. In New York, only we can provide enough cigarettes. Lucky Strike, Camel, you name it, we have it!”

Anastasia looked at the man in disbelief and asked, “But, are you sure you want this many?”

He asked because he knew very well that sailors usually just smuggled cigarettes on the side, at most carrying fifty or sixty cartons, along with a few dozen pounds of coffee beans or other goods.

But this guy was asking for twenty cases right off the bat. Five thousand cartons of cigarettes wasn’t a huge amount—after all, a single smuggling ship could carry several hundred cases.

“Sir, I’m very sure.”

“Well, in that case, you need to understand that each case of cigarettes must be sold with one hundred pounds of coffee beans. It’s an industry rule. If you find this price unacceptable, then I can only express my regrets…”

Why the bundled sale of coffee beans?

Because a month ago, the government had lifted the controls on coffee beans, causing the Gambino family, who had just shipped in a boatload of Colombian coffee from Cuba, to lose a great deal of money. To get rid of the coffee beans as quickly as possible, they bundled some with every case of cigarettes.

Coffee beans… they’re in short supply in London, too!

As a businessman, Li Yian certainly wasn’t going to turn down money that walked right up to his door. He immediately agreed, “Of course, that’s fine. But regarding the price, we need to talk!”

Then, Li Yian got straight to the point.

“As everyone knows, your cigarettes are shipped in on small boats from Cuba, where they aren’t controlled. Plus, you buy in bulk, so your price must be cheaper than in the United States. For the sake of our future cooperation, I hope you can give me a reasonable price!”

“Haha, alright. For the sake of a long-term partnership.” Anastasia said cheerfully.

“I’ll give them to you at market price. I’m talking about the price in a regular store. How does that sound?”

No markup!

Li Yian was naturally delighted to hear this and agreed at once.

“Trust me, Mr. Anastasia, this deal is just the beginning of our partnership. We will definitely continue to work together in the future. You absolutely won’t regret it.”

“God willing, we can continue to work together!”

As their hands clasped firmly, Zhu Yihai, who was sitting to the side, had a strange look flash across his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words never came out.

The deal was already done.

It was too late to say anything.

After they had settled on the delivery method, Li Yian left Little Italy. On the way, seeing Zhu Yihai’s hesitant expression, Li Yian asked.

“You’ve seemed like you have something to say ever since we left the bar?”

“Mr. Li…”

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhu Yihai told him what he knew.

“Actually, you probably could have negotiated a lower price back there. At the price they gave you, they’re still making at least double their cost in profit.”

Through Zhu Yihai’s explanation, Li Yian finally understood where the cigarettes came from. It could be Cuba, or possibly Mexico, as American cigarettes dominated the tobacco markets in both countries.

After the war started, even though the United States implemented strict rationing on tobacco, its exports to South American countries did not decrease. This was partly because American tobacco companies were afraid of losing the market, and partly to curry favor with the South American nations—even while enforcing the Rationing system at home, the United States maintained its trade with them.

Well, foreign guests come first. It’s the same with the Americans.

This was also the opportunity the mafia, who used to smuggle liquor from places like the Bahamas and Cuba during Prohibition, had spotted. Just as they did in the Prohibition era, they used small boats to ship all sorts of goods, including tobacco, into the United States, earning enormous profits.

“…Because there’s no tobacco tax, those cigarettes are at least fifty percent cheaper than in the United States. By selling them to you at market price, their profit is at least one hundred percent.”

After explaining, Zhu Yihai added apologetically, “I’m sorry, I should have warned you before we went. I’ve caused you to lose a lot of money. I’m truly sorry.”

Was this deal a loss?

Li Yian didn’t think so. According to the System’s “rewards and punishments” rule, he would definitely have lost Experience points for a losing deal. But the System hadn’t deducted any, which meant he hadn’t lost out. And from Li Yian’s own perspective, he hadn’t lost out either.

“It’s not really a loss,” Li Yian said with a smile.

“If everyone knows there’s a profit of over one hundred percent to be made buying cigarettes from Cuba, why does Chinatown still source them from Little Italy?”

“What good is knowing? We can’t get them here. Trafficking contraband cigarettes is just like smuggling liquor during Prohibition. Not only do you need ships, but you also have to bribe customs, the police, and a lot of officials. We can buy off the police in Chinatown; as long as we give them money, they’ll turn a blind eye. But outside of Chinatown, we don’t even know who to bribe.”

In short, they had no connections outside Chinatown. Why was it that during Prohibition, the Irish, German, and Italian mobs all got into the liquor smuggling business, but no Chinese organizations ever did? Given the nature of the Chinese people, they would surely have tried their hand at any profitable venture. The reason they didn’t was… a lack of connections. Some businesses weren’t ones you could just do because you wanted to.

“Exactly. The channels!” Li Yian said with a smile.

“Those Italians can make a one hundred percent profit because they’ve opened up those channels. That’s why they get that profit.”

He looked at Zhu Yihai. Although the man hadn’t seen the key issue behind it all, the fact that he spoke up to warn him showed that he was a pretty honest person. This business would continue, and this man might be useful.

Checking the time, Li Yian said, “It’s getting late. Can you recommend a restaurant you know? It’s been a while since I had Chinese food, and I’m really craving it.”

Chapter 14: A Chance Encounter with a Physics Titan

In 1943, Chinatown only had Cantonese restaurants. After all, most of its residents were from Guangdong.

Although he was craving Sichuan cuisine, its popularity wouldn’t surge until the new century. For now, Cantonese was the only option in Chinatown. However, the dishes served in the Cantonese restaurants of this era were incredibly authentic, not yet significantly altered to suit foreign palates.

The Cantonese-style roast goose and other roasted meats were enough to whet anyone’s appetite. While enjoying the feast, Li Yian made sure to express his gratitude. Being able to complete the transaction so smoothly on the very day he arrived in the United States was all thanks to Zhu Yihai.

“Mr. Li, your patronage is more than enough. I should be the one thanking you!”

For Zhu Yihai, who hadn’t made a single sale in days, the money he earned today was nearly equivalent to his income from the past two months. He had received a fifty-dollar commission from Covell and another fifty dollars from Anastasia in Little Italy—a full one hundred dollars!

This was equivalent to a month’s salary for an ordinary worker at the time. In truth, American incomes weren’t high back then. A US military soldier’s monthly salary was only about fifty dollars, and even that was enough to make many rednecks leave their homes to fight for their country.

One hundred dollars in a single day!

This left Zhu Yihai more than satisfied. Of course, it would be even better if it could always be like this.

“Mr. Zhu, I was wondering, what is your average monthly income now?”

Li Yian intended to turn this into a long-term business, and for that, he needed someone in the United States to take charge. This wouldn’t be some small operation run out of Chinatown but a proper, corporatized enterprise.

Initially, Li Yian had no one to handle the business on this side of the ocean, but Zhu Yihai’s performance had impressed him. He might not be shrewd, but he was reliable, which was what mattered most. So, Li Yian decided to give him a chance.

“Well…”

After a moment of thought, Zhu Yihai replied.

“To be honest with you, as you know, it’s not easy for us Chinese to find work here. During the Great Depression, white people would always hire other white people first. After graduating from high school, I couldn’t find a suitable job in Chinatown, so I just did odd jobs here and there. Originally, after the war broke out, I wanted to take advantage of the fact that all the factories were hiring and get a job in one. But because seamen often came to Chinatown to sell goods, I ended up staying here. This business has its ups and downs; it’s just enough to make a living…”

Zhu Yihai didn’t try to hide the fact that he had no steady income, choosing instead to be truthful.

“I’m planning to establish an import-export trading company in New York. How would you like to come work for me?”

“You’re planning to open a company here, sir?”

Zhu Yihai was astonished.

“Is that so surprising? The business I plan to run won’t be limited to just cigarettes; I’ll definitely expand into other things later on. Having a company will make things more convenient.”

Working for a company?

Did that mean a respectable job, wearing a suit and tie? Wasn’t that exactly the kind of work he had longed for?

“If I were to work for you, what would my responsibilities be? And what would the salary be?”

Despite his eagerness, the terms were still crucial. No one would refuse a stable income, but only heaven knew if this job would be stable.

“Your job will be simple: you’ll be responsible for the company’s daily operations. You’ll just need to purchase goods according to my instructions, then transport them to the warehouse for storage and management. Of course, this is just in the early stages. As the business grows, we’ll definitely need to hire more employees. As for the salary…”

Recalling a job advertisement for clerks he had seen in the newspaper on his way here, Li Yian said.

“Eighty dollars a month. If performance is good, there will be additional bonuses.”

After considering it for a moment, Zhu Yihai nodded in agreement.

“Mr. Li, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely not let you down.”

Although he knew the terms he offered were hard to refuse, Li Yian was still pleased by Zhu Yihai’s acceptance. He needed someone on this side to handle procurement and gather market intelligence.

The latter was especially important. Information was wealth!

Sometimes, things proved more complicated than expected. The easiest way to register a company was to hire a lawyer. That afternoon, Zhu Yihai visited every law firm in the vicinity, but not a single one was willing to take their case.

Because they were Chinese.

“Sigh, it’s much better now than it was a decade ago. When I was in high school over ten years ago, even black people didn’t want to sit next to me. If it really comes to it, we can try to find a black lawyer. They should be willing to help us. It’s just registering a company, right? If that doesn’t work, we can just handle the process ourselves…”

Just as he finished speaking, a young man from the next table approached them.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, pardon the intrusion,” the young man said with a smile. “My friend and I are dining next to you, and I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Are you in need of a lawyer?”

“If you don’t mind, I could help you. I’m a lawyer myself, licensed to practice throughout the United States and in New York. If you’ll have me, I’d be happy to be of some assistance.”

The ways in which people’s paths cross can be mysterious.

Just when Li Yian was unable to find a lawyer, one appeared before him, and a fellow countryman at that.

Zhang Weilun’s eyes also held a hint of anticipation. It was a well-known fact that Chinese people disliked, and even avoided, going to court, so they rarely needed lawyers.

Faced with an opportunity to represent someone who needed a lawyer, Zhang Weilun certainly wasn’t going to miss it.

“You’re hired!”

Li Yian said without a moment’s hesitation.

“As for your fee, I’ll pay the going rate in New York. If I’m spending money, I’d rather a fellow countryman earn it!”

Noticing that Zhang Weilun had a companion, Li Yian extend an invitation.

“Mr. Zhang, why don’t you ask your friend to join us?”

“Well…”

Zhang Weilun glanced at his friend, who didn’t seem to object, and nodded in agreement. His friend wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses and had a scholarly air. As he walked over to the table, Zhang Weilun made the introduction.

“This is my friend, Yuan Jialiu. He’s currently working at the Radio Corporation of America’s laboratory.”

Yuan Jialiu!

Li Yian froze. This man… was a titan in the world of physics! Both he and his wife were major figures in the field. In fact, his wife, Wu Chien-Shiung, had nearly won a Nobel Prize but missed out because her forthright personality had offended some of the other giants in physics.

With a lawyer’s help, things proceeded smoothly. It only took a day to complete all the necessary procedures.

While the others were busy renting an office and a warehouse, Li Yian, accompanied by a few others, spent five days covering all of New York to get a sense of the current market.

After several days of investigation, Li Yian had a bit of a headache.

“This isn’t as simple as I thought…”

After a simple comparison of the controlled goods in both countries, Li Yian had to face a harsh reality—compared to the United States, Britain’s material shortages were far more severe. There was practically nothing suitable to ship back.

As he was lost in thought, an advertisement in the newspaper caught his eye. He didn’t pay it much mind at first, but as his gaze swept across the page, he froze. He hurriedly rummaged through the advertisements on the table, then grabbed several other newspapers and began flipping through them frantically. Suddenly, as if he had discovered a new continent, he exclaimed with excitement.

“I’ve got it…”

Chapter 15: London’s Fog, the Razor Gang’s Smoke

In the mirror, a graceful silhouette twisted again and again, her eyes seeing nothing but the black lingerie she wore.

Lace, push-up…

Everything combined was a fatal temptation. She sized up her own body with a greedy gaze, her hands caressing her skin. She bit her lip, her eyes growing hazy, and turned to look at the man on the bed with a bewitching expression.

Li Yian watched her too, his eyes fixed on her alluring body. He had come straight here after returning from New York and had given her this gift. The Tomboy rarely sold items in her size, but being a little smaller made the visual effect all the more stunning.

“I can’t believe it…”

“Believe what?”

“That I could be this beautiful!”

The woman approached with light steps, the tender affection shining in her sparkling eyes enough to mesmerize anyone.

“Thank you for your gift.”

To Stana, she simply thought the black lingerie was a gift the man had brought back for her from New York. And this gift was enough to captivate her—and, of course, enough to make her turn herself into a gift for the man she hadn’t seen in days.

As she walked toward the bed, she suddenly seemed to remember something, turning and bending over to get something from a cabinet drawer.

“Darling, while you were away, I went to a few parties and recommended our seamless stockings to some of the ladies…”

Watching the woman’s alluring silhouette as she bent over, Li Yian couldn’t help but gulp. This woman really knew how to kill the mood. A man needed self-control!

Money matters could wait.

…

Finally, after everything had settled down, the woman lay lazily on the man’s chest, and the two began to talk.

“So you went to the United States this time to get cigarettes?”

“Not just cigarettes, but other scarce goods as well, like stockings. If I get the chance, I’ll bring more over.”

“I see.”

Stana finally understood where the man had gotten the stockings from. Her finger tapped lightly on his firm chest as she reminded him softly.

“But you have to be careful. Goods like cigarettes and coffee beans are different from stockings. Only wealthy ladies can afford stockings, but cigarettes can easily attract official attention.”

“Official?”

Li Yian asked, confused.

“So the authorities are cracking down on the black market?”

“What do you think?”

Rolling her eyes, Stana lifted her meter-long legs and rested them on the headboard, as if wanting to relax.

“If the authorities didn’t crack down on it, would it still be called a black market? Ever since the war started, the government has sent inspectors all over the country. If a black marketeer is caught and convicted, they not only get fined but also have to serve two years in prison.”

As she spoke, she rolled over and pressed herself on top of him, looking at him seriously.

“Promise me you’ll be careful. I don’t want to… visit you in prison.”

…

The fog over London is the smoke exhaled by the Razor Gang. If the underworld of New York belongs to the Mafia, then the underworld of London belongs to the Razor Gang.

The moment Li Yian stepped into the bar, he felt people’s eyes on him.

Fitted suits, bow ties, newsboy caps… and of course, the razor blades sewn into the brims!

This was a gang of suited thugs!

A gang of suited thugs who had fought their way from Birmingham to London and eventually became London’s number one gang.

While most British men were serving in the military, they still wandered the streets in suits and bow ties.

While many Britons couldn’t even get beer and had to make do with crude spirits distilled from potatoes, these men could drink the finest Scotch whisky.

Only gangs like these could handle such large quantities of goods. And Anderson, that street peddler, was one of the Razor Gang’s men. As the one who made the introduction, Anderson took a seat at the bar after they entered. Now, it was all up to Li Yian.

“You’re Chinese?” John asked.

“Yes.”

“When did the Chinese start getting involved in this business?” John asked, getting straight to the point.

“That’s not important. What’s important is that I can provide five thousand cartons of Lucky Strike and Camel cigarettes, and two thousand pounds of coffee beans.”

As soon as Li Yian finished speaking, everyone, including John, stared at him in astonishment. A young man to the side said bluntly.

“That’s impossible. No one can get their hands on that much stuff right now.”

“But I can…” A faint smile played on Li Yian’s lips.

“And this is just the beginning. I can provide even more in the future—if the price is right, of course.”

Sizing up the Chinese man before him, John said.

“Do you have your own ship?”

Li Yian didn’t answer the question.

In truth, both sides knew the answer. All ocean-going vessels had been requisitioned by the navy—cargo ships to transport supplies, fishing boats for anti-submarine patrols, and even yachts for guard duty. How could anyone possibly have their own ship?

But what channels did he use to acquire these goods?

Could it be from a U.S. Army quartermaster’s warehouse?

After a quick mental calculation, John said.

“Three pounds per carton of cigarettes, 2.5 pounds per pound of coffee beans. I can pay you twenty thousand pounds.”

“I don’t want money!”

Once again, Li Yian’s words astonished them.

“What? You don’t want money? What are you talking about?”

John thought he was being mocked. The men drinking nearby were even reaching for their caps—they had blades hidden in the brims. These razors were cheap, available in any shop, and made for ideal personal weapons. They were also the origin of the gang’s name.

Of course, they had another advantage at the moment: a blade like this could wound a man without drawing too much outside attention.

“What do you mean, kid?”

“Karl, when will you learn to stay calm! Can’t you let the man finish speaking?” John said coolly.

“I need some goods.”

Li Yian smiled, glancing fearlessly at the blades sewn into their cap brims.

“Oh? And what goods might those be?”

“Cars!” Li Yian said bluntly.

“Cars in near-mint condition!”

“What! Cars? Are you sure you want cars?”

Anderson, who was off to the side, was also stunned when he heard what Li Yian wanted.

Karl, on the other hand, looked overjoyed and was practically jumping out of his seat.

Cars!

He actually wanted cars!

It was simply unimaginable.

As everyone knew, the most worthless things in Britain right now were cars. Because gasoline was both scarce and expensive, there was no fuel to be had. Cars had become mere decorations—ones you still had to pay taxes on every year. Some people tried to sell their cars just to avoid the taxes, but in times like these, who would pay for a pile of scrap metal?

And now someone actually wanted scrap metal!

“Of course. But I’m not looking for ordinary cars. I want high-end cars,” Li Yian said with a smile.

In the classifieds of American newspapers, there were numerous ads from people wanting to buy cars. Unlike in Britain, cars had long since become a necessity for the vast majority of American families; their lives were practically impossible without them. But the war meant that many Americans whose cars were damaged couldn’t replace them. After the war began, the United States had ordered a halt to all civilian car sales and production. For Americans during the war, there was only one way to buy a car: on the used-car market.

But there simply weren’t that many cars on the used-car market. The shortage had driven prices so high that a used car in slightly better condition could now sell for the price of a new one in the American market.

This stark difference between the British and American car markets was his opportunity—not just for huge profits, but for something that was in extremely high demand.

John studied him for a few moments, then said bluntly.

“Deal. I can get you several high-end cars. Brand new ones, at that.”

Chapter 16: Opportunity is Everywhere

Inside the warehouse, silver and black sedans were parked in a neat row.

A full sixty cars were presented before Li Yian.

The bonnets of these cars bore emblems of a blue and white propeller, four interlocking rings, and a three-pointed star in a circle. These logos clearly indicated that they were German-made automobiles.

“Look, this is a BMW 326.”

John pointed at a sedan, his voice full of pride.

“Just as you said, all high-end sedans, the best!”

John stated bluntly.

“Sixty Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis for twenty thousand pounds. Before the war, you could’ve bought ten of them at most with that money.”

This is the kind of opportunity war brings!

Li Yian remarked casually.

“Without me, they’re just a pile of scrap metal. It’s a deal.”

As his words fell, a light screen appeared before his eyes.

[Exchanging cigarettes and coffee worth 5,432 US dollars for 60 cars, including 15 BMW 326 cars valued at 1,700 pounds each, Mercedes… Reward: 115,500 Experience points]

The System reward had arrived!

At the same time, more text materialized on the light screen.

[Congratulations, User’s Experience points have successfully advanced to LV.2. Please continue your efforts.]

Leveled up!

Amid his excitement, Li Yian wondered what changes this upgrade would bring.

He barely paid attention to what followed, wanting only to conclude the transaction as quickly as possible. After the deal was done, watching as boxes of cigarettes and sacks of coffee were loaded into the cars, John asked with some curiosity.

“May I ask, what channels did you use to bring these goods in?”

“Well, I know a big shot, from the military. As long as we continue to cooperate, there will be a steady stream of goods coming here. So, you just need to get the funds ready… well, I should say the cars. That big shot will arrange for navy transport ships to bring the cigarettes over in batches.”

Dealing with these members of the Razor Gang, Li Yian had to be cautious. Revealing that he had a powerful figure backing him was a way of telling them he had connections—someone who could even use transport ships for smuggling.

Such a person was definitely not someone an ordinary person could afford to provoke. This statement would make them wary of acting rashly, and at the very least, he shouldn’t have to worry about being double-crossed.

The truck bed was filled with cigarettes. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Tommy looked at the cartons. For him, this was just a small piece of business. Even the coffee beans, which were in high demand on the market, were hardly worth a mention.

But he had come anyway. Spitting out the coffee bean he was chewing on, Tommy asked.

“These were all traded for cars?”

“Yes, and he told us to get ready. He’ll bring more goods next time,” John said directly.

“He said he knows a big shot who can arrange for ships to transport the cars to the United States.”

“Shipping them to the United States… That’s not something an ordinary person can do…”

Tommy took a drag from his cigarette and said, “John, are you saying he really has a big shot behind him?”

“It seems so. An ordinary person couldn’t possibly supply so many goods at once.”

“Indeed. If they could be shipped to the US, the car dealers would have sold off their stockpiled cars to America long ago. In the US, even second-hand cars are in high demand!”

“I know.”

After a moment’s thought, Tommy said, “Tell him we need two hundred thousand pounds of coffee beans. If he can bring them, we’ll continue to work with him!”

Then, as if remembering something, Tommy added, “Pull our men out from outside the warehouse.”

“Cheng Jie, you’ve served in the Foreign Office for a long time. I was wondering if you know anyone in Cuba?”

In a high-end restaurant near Grosvenor Square, Li Guoren, who was enjoying a steak, looked at Li Yian with a slightly peculiar expression.

“To be honest with you, little brother, the plenipotentiary minister, Li Dijun, is actually my clan uncle.”

In fact, his own ability to work at the Foreign Office and get assigned to Britain was thanks to his clan uncle’s help.

“What a coincidence!”

Li Yian could hardly believe it. He had taken an interest in Cuba ever since he learned it was a primary source of goods like the Mafia’s contraband cigarettes.

Or rather, he had taken an interest in the United States. Compared to Britain, the American market was far larger, and Americans had more money. If he could seize the opportunities of the next two years, it would be enough for him to complete his initial accumulation of capital.

And Cuba was his first step into the American market.

“It is indeed a coincidence. Zhiyuan, if you need any help in Cuba, just say the word. I’m quite close with my third uncle.”

“Thank you so much, then.”

In high spirits, Li Yian ordered another bottle of whiskey. The restaurant Li Guoren had recommended, which catered specifically to diplomats from various countries, was a bit pricey, but its advantage was that no ration coupons were needed. Things rarely seen outside, like red wine, whiskey, and steak, were all available in abundance.

During the meal, Li Yian didn’t hide the fact that he had set up a company in the United States. Li Guoren, surprised, expressed his strong approval.

“Ah, to make money these days, you have to do business with the Americans… Look.”

Pointing at the people in the restaurant, Li Guoren said, “Look around. Most of the people in here are Americans. Some of them hold the power to distribute Lend-Lease materials, and others are military officers, making plans to bomb Germany. There are more and more American troops in Britain now. But do you know who the really formidable ones are?”

Li Guoren’s rhetorical question made Li Yian curious.

“Who?”

“There… Those people are from Washington.”

Li Guoren gestured with his chin.

“Zhiyuan, do you know what they’re here for?”

“That I don’t know.”

“They’re here to dismantle the British Empire.”

“Dismantle the British Empire?”

“That’s right. Zhiyuan, have you heard about the Atlantic Charter that the US and Britain signed two years ago?”

“I’ve heard a little about it.”

“In truth, the Atlantic Charter is a trap the Yanks laid for the British. The charter states that ‘all peoples have the right to choose the form of government under which they will live’—that’s the time bomb the Americans planted. America made it clear that they expect Britain to give up its overseas colonies after defeating Germany. They even pulled India—a British colony—into it as a signatory. In reality, the US was telling Britain in no uncertain terms: if you want American aid, you have no choice but to give up your colonies.”

Watching the eloquent Li Guoren, Li Yian couldn’t help but see him in a new light. After all, even with his poor grasp of history, he knew how the United States had used World War II to dismantle Britain’s global hegemony, forcing it to relinquish its colonies and paving the way for its own post-war global dominance. Wasn’t there a saying? “Britain won the Second World War but lost the world.”

“…And the reason America is doing this is mainly so it can interfere in the affairs of former British colonies after the war, including gaining access to their markets. And there are huge interests involved in this. After all, Britain’s overseas colonies currently exceed thirty million square kilometers.”

Looking at his kinsman, Li Guoren said, “And it’s not just India. If Britain can give up India, what about its other colonies? If Britain gives up its colonies, then the French and the Dutch certainly won’t be able to hold onto theirs either. Zhiyuan, your family has long resided in Southeast Asia. For your family, this could very well be an opportunity!”

Chapter 17: Opportunity in the Collapse of an Empire

It could be an opportunity!

The seemingly casual remark sounded different to Li Yian’s ears. Before he could even react, Li Guoren spoke again.

“Look, and those people…”

He pointed with his knife and fork at a group of men in suits not far away, who were clearly not government officials.

“They’re from Morgan, Rockefeller, General Motors, Ford—all the big American financial groups and corporations. Unlike the officials who are annhilating the British colonial empire with a war of words, they are silently taking over the post-war world. No guns, no bloodshed, just money and resources. Everything is cheap. Any important mines, factories, and financial groups will be absorbed by these big American companies, and the British can’t do a thing about it. You see, those men eating steak, they’re just like us…”

Cutting into his steak, Li Guoren spoke with a tone of undisguised mockery.

“While Sherry’s husband is dropping bombs over Germany and Beth’s lover is eating sand in North Africa, these well-mannered, wealthy Americans are drawing the post-war world map in their own way. This map is different from Roosevelt’s political one, and it’s different from the generals’ military maps. It has its own special mountains, rivers, towns, and troop deployments. They’re fighting a world war too. It’s just that this map doesn’t belong to Sherry’s husband or Beth’s lover, nor does it belong to the millions of ordinary people. It belongs to those American tycoons. But…”

Putting down his knife and fork, as if he had lost interest in the American beef on his plate, Li Guoren said in a solemn tone, “As long as you can seize the opportunity, you’ll have a chance to take part!”

Hah!

At these words, a thought suddenly surfaced in Li Yian’s mind—My word, this man is no simpleton!

He was certainly not simple. How many people in 1943 could, with just a few sentences, expose America’s post-war plans for the world? This was 1943, after all, not 1953.

“Take part? How would one do that?”

Li Guoren smiled.

“Some people eat the meat, others drink the soup. All that matters is seizing the opportunity. As for that opportunity, of course, it’s about latching onto the Americans’ coattails. In the future, as the British withdraw from various places, the Americans, especially those big American companies, will definitely be sticking their hands in. If you seize the chance to build good connections with them now, Zhiyuan, how could you ever worry about not making money in the future?”

Right.

The first half of his speech had been insightful, but the second half was pure groveling. The contrast was so stark that Li Yian was momentarily taken aback. However, he found himself in deep agreement with Li Guoren’s subsequent remark: “If you’re going to make money, make American dollars.”

“Cheng Jie, you are a great talent. I am full of admiration.”

“Just some shallow insights. What I’ve said is merely repeating what I’ve heard from others. Ambassador Gu often says at the embassy that this war is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity for our country. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the last European war, America will inevitably dismantle the British and French colonial empires to further its own interests. After the war, with Japan defeated by the Allies in Asia and Britain and France pushed out by the Americans, they will surely support our country to maintain a balance of power in the region. If this is true for the nation, how much more so for an individual? While the Americans eat the meat, just drinking the soup is enough to become rich and powerful. Zhiyuan, just you latch onto the Americans’ coattails. When Britain and France withdraw from Southeast Asia in the future, seize the opportunity, and how could your family’s fortune not prosper?”

The words were crude, but the reasoning was sound. Whether he latched onto the Americans’ coattails or not wasn’t the most important thing. What mattered was that the decline of the British and French colonial empires was inevitable. After the war, under the combined efforts of the United States and the Soviet Union, it would only take a few short years for the vast colonial empires to crumble. And what would be presented to the world then?

Pieces of juicy meat!

All sorts of resources, enormous markets—everything would truly open its doors to the world. Of course, those doors would be open to American capital, but as long as one seized the opportunity, others could drink the soup until they were stuffed.

One need only look at post-war Japan and South Korea. Didn’t they just follow behind the United States, drinking the soup, and end up making a fortune? Weren’t all those prominent conglomerates of the new century born from this very process?

For the rest of the evening, Li Yian and this kinsman from the embassy talked at length. As they spoke, his gaze kept drifting to the suit-clad Americans. Among them were officials and managers of financial groups. They would occasionally raise their glasses, drinking Scotch single malt whisky—a rare sight for ordinary people—and even French red wine. The knives and forks in their hands were carving not steak, but the very flesh and blood of the British Empire. They chatted and laughed as they carved up the post-war world.

“They are the real big winners!”

In that instant, Li Yian finally understood why people said America was the true victor of the war. The benefits they reaped were unimaginable. It wasn’t just about turning the nations of Europe into their loyal dogs; more importantly, those American financial groups were silently taking over the world.

In fact, it was during this war that the so-called multinational corporations laid the groundwork for their future glory. They used the fortunes they made from the war to fund governments-in-exile and give blood transfusions to near-bankrupt foreign companies, buying up their stocks at outrageously low prices. While people all over the world were bleeding and dying for the “righteous cause of all humanity,” while tens of millions of Allied soldiers from Asia to Africa, from Africa to Europe, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, sacrificed their lives for this cause, these well-mannered, suit-wearing men had already quietly reached agreements with the governments-in-exile. They had bought up the mines, oil fields, and factories with the most potential.

Not only that, while the people of the world were suffering in dire straits, they were there, drawing their maps. Spurred on by them, American officials wielded their great sticks, forcing Britain and France to relinquish their colonial empires. And those seemingly harmless American financial groups, like crouching giant beasts, awaited the opportune moment to silently take over the world before anyone else could react.

Amid the clinking of glasses, the suit-clad Americans in Li Yian’s eyes transformed into crouching giant beasts. They would continue to lie in wait, biding their time. In this process, anyone who could discern the signs of the times and seize the opportunity would reap immense rewards.

And this… wasn’t this his opportunity as well?

Swirling the French red wine in his glass, Li Yian smiled.

Yes, this was his opportunity!

Chapter 18: The North Borneo Company

…

A question: what can deprive you of thought, give you spirit, fill you with energy, excite your body, leave you exhausted, and yet make you feel utterly refreshed?

The answer: a succubus.

That woman, Stana, was not only charming and alluring, but an absolute succubus—proactive and with a strong fighting spirit, though her stamina was a little lacking.

A while after the endless, panting breaths subsided, Li Yian reluctantly climbed out of the warm bed. He ran a hand through his messy hair, yawned, and walked into the bathroom…

When he came out, Stana, who was lying limply on the bed, watched his broad, sturdy back, her beautiful eyes filled with nothing but deep infatuation.

“Darling, yesterday I received an invitation from a Lady. She invited me to a reading club at her home. If all goes well, our products should have already made their way into London’s high society.”

Stana rolled over, not at all shy about revealing her body to the sunlight, and said with a sigh of emotion.

“I originally thought I was the only one who had lost everything, but compared to them, I’m actually quite fortunate. By the way, darling, did you know? Her husband is Robert Smith, the Governor of North Borneo. When North Borneo was occupied by the Japanese, Sir Smith surrendered to them in Sandakan. But he was very unlucky; he died of an illness in a prisoner-of-war camp a few months ago…”

Just imperialists fighting amongst themselves, thought Li Yian, who was busy brushing his teeth and paid no mind to Stana’s sigh.

He sneered inwardly.

Died of an illness?

You people are too naive. Since when were those Japanese devils ever so kind?

“Because North Borneo was occupied, the company has no income, so naturally, it can’t pay out salaries, nor can it pay the Sir’s pension…”

“What? The company pays his salary? Shouldn’t the British government be paying him?” Li Yian asked, playing along as he spat out the foam in his mouth.

“Darling, North Borneo belongs to the company, not to Britain. It’s a chartered company…”

“What’s a chartered company?”

If he was just playing along before, Li Yian was now genuinely curious.

Resting her head on her arm, Stana turned on her side and said.

“It’s a company with a Royal Charter. The company rules over thirty thousand square miles of land there. Everything belongs to the company. It governs the territory just like a country. In fact, Jerry was also a company employee.”

So it’s something like the East India Company?

Li Yian truly hadn’t expected such a company to still exist in the 20th century.

“There’s a company like that among Britain’s colonies?”

“Darling, North Borneo isn’t a British colony. Although it holds a Royal Charter, legally speaking, it’s just a company, one that’s responsible to its board of directors. Britain…”

Stana scoffed.

“When Sandakan fell, neither the Army nor the Royal Navy sent so much as a single company of troops there. To Britain, it’s just private land, not a British colony at all.”

Stana’s words were filled with dissatisfaction toward the British government, so much so that she didn’t even notice Li Yian, sitting on the edge of the bed, had become lost in thought because of what she said.

Private land… not a colony.

Doesn’t that mean the land doesn’t belong to any country?

At least to a certain extent, it doesn’t belong to a nation. It’s just a company. And if it’s a company, then… a transaction is possible!

“The ones suffering the most right now must be the members of the board of directors. In the past, they could receive tens of thousands, or even over a hundred thousand pounds in dividends each year. But now, not only are they not getting any dividends, they even have to cover the bank interest.”

Stana’s words startled Li Yian, and he quickly asked.

“What interest?”

“For the bonds, of course. The company bonds issued before the war, worth several million pounds. Even though the company’s territory is occupied, the directors must still bear its debts, including paying the interest on the bonds. Last time I had afternoon tea with Mrs. Dent, I heard her say that the company’s creditors have once again rejected their request to suspend interest payments. After all, times are tough for everyone, and everybody needs money. Although the directors are wealthy, sitting around spending their fortune while also paying bond interest is a significant burden. Mrs. Dent said that if some fool was willing, she’d sell her shares in a heartbeat…”

Stana’s eyes narrowed. She turned onto her back, spread her arms, and fully exposed her perfect body to the sunlight, letting the bright rays wash over her as she said lazily.

“But where in the world would you find a fool like that?”

“Maybe… such a fool really does exist!”

“What? How could there be such a fool!”

Li Yian gave Stana’s pert bottom a firm slap, enjoying the springy, trembling sensation under his hand, and said thoughtfully.

“From now on, help me learn more about the company’s situation.”

“What?”

Stana quickly rolled over and said urgently.

“Darling, you… you’re not thinking of being that fool, are you? Don’t you dare think this is a bargain. Even those ladies know that Britain will definitely grant its colonies self-governance after the war. Without the support of the British government, the company will certainly not be able to continue operating. By then, those shares will be completely worthless!”

Seeing Stana’s concerned expression, Li Yian smiled.

“Aren’t they worthless right now? Not only are they worthless, but they’re a negative asset that’s constantly draining their wealth.”

A negative asset is still an asset!

Although Li Yian was well aware of the future, knowing that the British colonial empire would rapidly collapse after the war, it didn’t stop him from being interested in the North Borneo Company. At first, he hadn’t known what or where it was.

After Stana’s explanation, he learned that the so-called North Borneo was the northern part of Borneo, with an area of about seventy-five thousand square kilometers. And Borneo, also known as Kalimantan in another world, was the world’s third-largest island, with an area of over seven hundred thousand square kilometers.

An island that large was out of the question for now, but North Borneo—that was over seventy thousand square kilometers of land!

But the land wasn’t the most important thing!

It was the chance to be a local emperor!

If he could seize this opportunity to take the North Borneo Company for himself, he could escape his greatest predicament—the risk of becoming a fat prize for others to devour.

In this era, as a Chinese man, being wealthy in the United States or any other country wasn’t necessarily a good thing. If he became exceptionally rich, he would likely become a thorn in the side of others, or at the very least, make many people envious.

How could he protect his fortune while being watched by a pack of greedy wolves? One wrong move, and he could end up as the juicy piece of meat in their mouths!

Li Yian had to guard against this!

Before, he had no choice, but now… an opportunity had arrived!

Chapter 19: Acquisition by Force and Guile

Who would have thought that in the 1940s, a remnant of the 19th century still existed!

The North Borneo Company!

A company that owned a colony. In that land, the company was the law; it was everything.

And now, the plight of the North Borneo Company presented Li Yian with an opportunity. If he could seize this chance, he could make the company his own.

But… could he really seize this opportunity?

For a moment, Li Yian’s brows furrowed, his expression turning solemn.

It would be a terrible shame to miss such a heaven-sent opportunity. Besides, buying it would be easy; holding onto it would be hard.

“Sir, your judgment of this company is undoubtedly correct. As things stand, selling the company is the best option for the directors of the North Borneo Company. However, as your lawyer, my advice is that you should not acquire it. After all, God only knows if the British government will reclaim the company’s land and other assets after the war.”

As a King’s Counsel, Ian Thorpe simply couldn’t understand why anyone would still be interested in this company.

“Then, do they have that authority?”

Li Yian retorted. The King’s Counsel before him was worth a thousand pounds. To buy the North Borneo Company, someone like him was indispensable for mediating many affairs.

“Well…”

Ian Thorpe thought for a moment, then shook his head and said.

“Legally speaking, the British government does not have the authority to reclaim the land and property of North Borneo. After all, North Borneo was acquired in 1880 when British merchant Dent and others purchased the shares of an American company. Even though it received a Royal Charter in 1881, that doesn’t change the fact that it is a private company and Borneo is the company’s territory. However, they do have the power to revoke its Royal Charter. After the charter is revoked, Britain will no longer provide it with defense or diplomatic protection, which means it will be exposed to other nations.”

Such good news!

Li Yian almost wanted to laugh out loud. His biggest worry had been that Britain had the right to reclaim the colony—that was the greatest problem. He never expected such an unexpected piece of good fortune.

“Exposed? That’s not a problem, as long as they don’t have the authority to take back the company. By the way, do they have the authority to stop me from acquiring the company?”

Faced with his client’s question, Ian Thorpe, who had dealt with clients from the colonies on more than one occasion, replied in a very haughty tone.

“Sir, this is London, not a colony. Britain is a nation that respects the rule of law. No one has the right to prevent you from acquiring any enterprise, and the North Borneo Company is just an enterprise—with the exception of its current owners, of course.”

He then looked through a report in front of him and added.

“The board of directors of the North Borneo Company currently consists of five directors. According to company law, a proposal can be passed with the approval of just two of the five directors. In fact, the five board members combined only control forty-eight percent of the company’s total stock. The other fifty-two percent is scattered among more than 5,300 large and small shareholders across Britain. A considerable number of these people seem to be married women or widows, as many bought their shares before the First World War, and most of those original buyers died in that war. Unquestionably, with the Japanese occupation of North Borneo, the company’s stocks and securities are now practically worthless. In fact, they even have to pay interest on bonds.”

As a King’s Counsel, although Ian Thorpe couldn’t fathom why anyone would be interested in a company destined to disappear into history, he still offered his professional advice.

“Therefore, sir, I do not believe this is the right time to acquire it. If you are determined to buy this company, you could wait until next year. When they receive another notice for bond interest payment, I believe they will be desperate to transfer their shares to you for free. After all, everyone knows…”

Closing the file, Ian Thorpe adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and said.

“After the war, Britain’s colonies are bound to move towards self-governance, and a colonial company will certainly not be able to continue its operations. The shares they hold will naturally be worthless. Before the war, its stock price was 18 Shillings per share. Now, it’s 1 Shilling and 3 Pence per share. By next year, the price will be even lower.”

Leaning forward in his chair, his elbows on the desk, Ian Thorpe said.

“But we certainly won’t acquire it at that price. If you haven’t changed your mind by next year, I can help you fulfill your wish for a very cheap price.”

…

Very cheap?

How cheap, Li Yian didn’t know. But he soon went directly to see White. He had inherited a nine percent stake in the company from his father. As a member of the board of directors, although he wasn’t the largest shareholder, he was one of the five major shareholders and had worked for the company for many years. As one of its managers, White was very clear about the North Borneo Company’s current situation.

The current situation was… the North Borneo Company was finished!

For the past few decades, White had maintained an extremely respectable life on his dividends. But after the war broke out, those good old days came to an end. Not only was he required to pay a 99.5% personal income tax on his annual dividends, but the dividends themselves were always late. After the Japanese occupied North Borneo, the dividends stopped completely. Not only that, but the shareholders were legally required to pay the interest on the bonds. It had to be said, as a shareholder, he was in great distress.

At this moment, he was sizing up the Chinese man before him. In his youth, as the company’s deputy manager, he had lived in North Borneo and Singapore for over twenty years. He was no stranger to the Chinese.

“So, you’re interested in the shares I hold.”

A slight smile touched the corners of Li Yian’s lips as he spoke.

“Mr. White, I’m helping you solve a problem.”

As he spoke, he took a Lucky Strike from a golden cigarette case. After offering one to White, he lit his own with a lighter, took a drag, and looked at him, saying.

“Interest, you say? In this world, businessmen are always interested in profit, but no businessman is interested in a losing venture. As everyone knows, including the Secretary of State for the Colonies, it is acknowledged that the colonies will at the very least be granted self-governance after the war. This means that after the war ends, the North Borneo Company will very likely cease operations.”

As soon as he finished speaking, White gave him a nonchalant glance, took a puff of his cigarette, and said.

“Mr. Li, none of what you’ve said will happen. How could the company possibly cease operations? After the war is over, the company will get everything back.”

“Get everything back? Get what back?”

Li Yian gave a cold, sarcastic smile.

“A pile of ruins?”

Chapter 20: Acquisition by Force and Guile (Part 2)

A pile of ruins!

The seemingly casual words landed heavily in Mr. White’s ears, making his heart tremble. He knew, of course, what the other man meant—war would destroy everything.

And everything in North Borneo had already been destroyed, including the extremely expensive port. On military orders, the company had demolished many facilities, the port included. After the war, rebuilding it all would require money.

“Setting aside the fact that Britain will not—and the United States will not allow Britain to—keep its colonies, let’s just talk about North Borneo. The war has destroyed almost everything there. Even if the company reclaims North Borneo after the war, it will be met with a landscape of utter devastation. The destroyed ports and cities will all need to be rebuilt. The question is, do you have that kind of money?”

Exhaling a puff of smoke, Li Yian looked at White and spoke bluntly.

“You don’t, and neither does the company. When that time comes, what will your choice be? It can only be to hand everything over to the government, well… after you’ve paid several years of bond interest! Mr. White, that is the only thing you will get—paying an enormous amount of interest, only to hand the company back to the government. Because that is your only option.”

Li Yian didn’t even give him a chance to breathe, pressing on while his mind was still in turmoil.

“Otherwise, not only will you have to bear the massive interest payments on the bonds, but you will also have to find a way to rebuild. But sir, would you really invest in a piece of land that you are destined to lose?”

This was the fatal blow.

As a major shareholder in the only company in the British Empire to possess a colony, White had always maintained close ties with the Colonial Office. Just a few months ago at a banquet, he had personally heard the Secretary of State for the Colonies say that it would be very difficult for the British Empire to hold on to its colonies.

This was a well-known fact. Even India had been promised self-governance by the British Empire after the war.

Self-governance!

For the North Borneo Company, this was nothing short of a catastrophe. Without official help, the company would find it very difficult to continue operating. And was it even possible for the government to help them? Compared to North Borneo, the government would surely be more willing to rebuild Singapore.

“This…”

White took a drag from his cigarette, his voice laced with uncertainty.

“But sir, as everyone knows, the company owns everything there. Someone will surely be willing to buy the company’s bonds.”

“Let’s wait and see if the British Empire forbids its colonies from self-governance then. Besides, how long can your assets hold out?”

Li Yian asked bluntly.

“Your dividends in 1940 were thirty-five thousand pounds. That was the last dividend you received, but over ninety-nine percent of it was taken for personal income tax. In ’41, North Borneo fell. For the past three years, you haven’t received a single penny in dividends. Instead, you’ve had to pay twenty-nine thousand pounds in company bond interest each year. Over the past three years, you have paid nearly one hundred thousand pounds in interest. Mr. White, living off your capital like this, how long can you last?”

“Sir, the war will end,” White said, deep in thought.

“Once the war is over, I’ll still have a chance…”

“But what if the war continues for another four or five years? You know, there is still no sign of it ending!”

A single sentence made White’s face turn deathly pale. Even the fingers holding his cigarette trembled involuntarily.

How long would the war last?

No one knew. It could be four years, or it could be five. Who could say? The German army was so powerful, and their submarines were still relentlessly sinking merchant ships. The newspapers even worried that Britain might face a famine next month, as ships were being sunk far faster than they could be built.

This war was completely different from the last one. This time, Germany was stronger, and Britain? Weaker. So weak that it couldn’t even resist a German invasion and could only rely on the Americans. And the Americans were no saints; they were trying every trick in the book to force Britain to give up its colonies. Did Britain have a choice?

No!

Why hadn’t Li Yian listened to Ian Thorpe, the King’s Counsel, and waited until next year to acquire the North Borneo Company?

To put it plainly, it was because of the information asymmetry.

In 1943, no one could guess when the Axis powers would be defeated. But by 1944, the whole world could see that the signs of their defeat were already showing.

Li Yian didn’t know if the North Borneo Company’s stock price would fall by next year, but one thing was certain: these shareholders would be clinging to their illusions. They would fantasize about restoring their former glory, and this fantasy would be completely shattered in 1945, when the war ended.

If he could, Li Yian would certainly wait until 1945. After all, by then, everyone would know that North Borneo could not be held. But by then, there might not be enough time. He needed to “return” to North Borneo the moment the war ended, which involved a series of subsequent tasks.

“But in those four or five years, you will need to pay over a hundred thousand pounds in bond interest. The only question is, can you afford it?”

Li Yian said lightly, then took a drag from his cigarette and leisurely blew a smoke ring.

“When you can no longer afford the interest, the creditors will sue. The court will auction off your assets according to the law to pay the interest. Mr. White, at that point, you will be left with nothing. You will lose everything, including this house!”

The man’s words pierced Mr. White’s heart like daggers. The old British man, now over sixty, knew that the other party was speaking the truth. In fact, this was precisely what he and the other major shareholders feared—that the war would drag on, and the massive bond interest would eventually cause them to lose everything.

“Alright, sir, I admit what you say is true. If you’re willing, one Shilling per share…”

Before he could finish, he saw the look of utter ridicule on the other man’s face, as if mocking his naivete.

“Mr. White,”

Li Yian took a drag from his cigarette and stood up.

“If that’s your offer, then there’s no need for us to talk any further. We both know perfectly well that the shares of the North Borneo Company are utterly worthless!”

With that, he turned to leave. Seeing this, Mr. White hurriedly said.

“Mr. Li, what price do you think is appropriate?”

“Transfer the shares to me for free. I will assume responsibility for the interest payments. From now on, I will pay you a pension of two thousand pounds a year.”

Li Yian stated his terms directly. He never had any intention of spending money! After speaking, he placed his business card on the table and said to him.

“Mr. White, I will be leaving London in a few days. Please make your decision as soon as possible!”

With that, he left, leaving a bewildered Mr. White behind…

Chapter 21: The New Skill is Actually Engineering

What is information asymmetry?

Information asymmetry is wealth!

That day, in Ian Thorpe’s law firm, after signing the share transfer agreement, White looked at him and said.

“Mr. Li, it’s done. The North Borneo Company is yours now. I hope it will prosper under your management.”

God only knew why, as he said this, White felt a certain sense of gloating deep down.

How could I think that?

I’m supposed to be getting my pension from him.

“That’s a certainty, Mr. White. You’re welcome to visit North Borneo after the war is over!”

As he extended the invitation, Li Yian signed his name on the contract.

The light screen flashed.

[User has acquired 48% of the North Borneo Company’s shares using information asymmetry. Reward: 1000 Experience Points.]

That’s it?

That was a company worth tens of millions of pounds!

Even now… it was still worth several million!

Why was the reward so few experience points? But on second thought, Li Yian immediately understood the reason—North Borneo was still under Japanese occupation. Whether it was a liability or an asset remained to be seen.

It seemed the road to becoming a local emperor was still a long one!

Opportunity favors the prepared.

And to seize an opportunity, one had to accumulate ammunition, accumulate wealth.

No matter what ambitions one held, one first needed sufficient strength; otherwise, it was all empty talk.

To be a “local emperor,” one had to accumulate enough wealth.

Well, it seemed he had to continue being a human cargo carrier.

After cramming cars into the space like building blocks until it was full, he found that there still seemed to be room to squeeze in a few more. With the principle of maximizing the use of space, Li Yian naturally wouldn’t let it go to waste.

If there were no new cars, used ones would do. In the United States, anyway, used cars sold for no less than new ones.

What was the biggest change brought by the war?

It was rising prices and material shortages. Many people had to sell their idle household goods to make ends meet. Among these idle goods, the least valuable were cars—because car owners in Britain could only get four gallons, which was less than twelve liters of gasoline, per month. That amount of fuel wasn’t even enough to drive a hundred kilometers.

The limited gasoline supply not only turned the cars in the hands of most owners into useless junk, but even the cars of taxi companies sat idle. To reduce expenses, many taxi companies also chose to sell off their vehicles.

But they were just selling them off at a discount. To sell, you needed a buyer!

“A ’38 Cadillac V8, the best luxury car in the world, only 120 pounds!”

“A Chrysler Airflow, drive it home for 100 pounds! You can’t go wrong, you can’t be fooled…”

…

Upon entering the used car lot filled with vehicles, Li Yian saw advertisements everywhere, and of course, rows and rows of cars. There were British, German, and French cars, but most of them were American, as the United States had been the world’s largest automobile manufacturer before the war.

He walked up to a Ford, and before he could get a closer look, a white-haired salesman approached him.

“Sir, this is a ’36 Ford Model 48, a fantastic car…”

As he spoke, he opened the hood and said.

“Look, it uses a V8 engine. The horsepower…”

As the old man was introducing the car’s engine, Li Yian, who was feigning an inspection, suddenly saw a light screen appear before his eyes.

The System prompted.

[New skill category available. Open?]

A category skill?

Well, if there was a new skill, of course he had to learn it.

[Skill “Automotive Engineer” available for learning. Learn?]

What?

Automotive Engineer, what kind of skill was that?

Nonetheless, Li Yian was very interested in this Automotive Engineer skill, so he quickly chose to learn it. Immediately, a vast amount of knowledge about automotive mechanical engineering flooded directly into his mind.

[Skill “Automotive Engineering” learned.]

With the new function unlocked, the Ford Model 48 sedan before Li Yian’s eyes seemed to become a gateway to new knowledge. Detailed information related to automobiles instantly poured into his mind, covering everything from complex engine designs to tire wear, from body construction to throttle control, all-encompassing, profound, and detailed. From a complete novice, he had instantly transformed into a professional automotive engineer, as if with a moment’s thought, he could grasp every detail of the car.

Whoa!

I’ve actually gone from a liberal arts student to a science and engineering student!

This System is way too powerful!

Having turned into an automotive engineer in the blink of an eye, as he inspected the engine, the light screen immediately displayed its structure. The three-dimensional model allowed him to intuitively understand the engine’s construction, making his inspection more convenient.

This system… is seriously powerful!

However, Li Yian didn’t continue the inspection, because the Ford Model 48 was a common car, almost equivalent to the Model T. The space was too precious to waste on it.

By the time he left the used car dealership, Li Yian had not only bought several Cadillacs and Chryslers, but they were pretty much the most popular American luxury cars of the era.

In the following days, Li Yian lived quite a carefree life. He would wander around London during the day, and at night, he would dally with Stana and her one-meter-seventy-five-centimeter-long legs, while also counting the profits she made from selling stockings during afternoon tea. It wasn’t much, but it was a little amusement.

Of course, it wasn’t all so relaxing. Just before he was set to travel to the United States again, London was bombed once more. A bomb even landed directly on the street where he lived. After running out of the air-raid shelter and seeing the large crater in the middle of the street, the ground covered in rubble and glass, the desire to leave grew even stronger in Li Yian’s heart.

“London is just too dangerous!”

It is human nature to seek advantages and avoid harm. For Li Yian, who held the grand ambition of becoming a local emperor, he had no desire to experience the power of the German bombs in London.

Early the next morning, Li Yian arrived at the docks on the Thames River. Just like last time, he still had to pay the 500-pound “plane ticket.” But unlike last time, most of the crew members now actively greeted him; after all, they were now somewhat familiar with each other. Although they were curious why he was taking a plane to the United States again, none of them asked. Some things were better left unsaid. To outsiders, the reason he was going to America was surely because the money he was earning far exceeded the cost of the expensive “ticket.”

The next morning, after a twenty-six-hour multi-stop flight, Li Yian once again arrived in New York.

Unlike last time, he now had a place to stay in New York. The commercial building the company rented was in Brooklyn, a red-brick factory. His office was on the second floor partitioned off at the other end of the factory, and from the window, he could see the Brooklyn Bridge.

When he arrived at the company, Li Yian found no one there. He strode to the desk, and before he could sit down in the leather chair, he saw a report and a notepad on it. The note was from Zhu Yihai.

“Boss, I’ve done the market research. This report contains the product information you wanted.”

Zhu Yihai’s office was right next door. Although the company had no business yet, he had been constantly gathering product information.

Li Yian glanced at the report, then opened it up. As soon as he unfolded it, he knew he hadn’t chosen the wrong person. The report detailed the prices and demand for consumer goods in New York and several neighboring states, and some sections had newspaper clippings attached.

There wasn’t a single wasted word in the report. The summary was short and to the point—the tightest items on the market were tires and gasoline, because every household needed them. But the consumer product in highest demand was somewhat unexpected.

“The product in highest demand is… sugar?”

Chapter 22: Luring Out the Big Fish

Like any businessman, Li Yian was keenly aware of the importance of information in commercial activities. This was precisely why all major financial groups had their own intelligence agencies. In the world of business, information was money, and intelligence was wealth.

Sugar was a seemingly inconspicuous bulk commodity, yet it was currently one of the most in-demand products on the American market.

“Fifty-five cents per pound of sugar.”

Sitting in his chair, Li Yian looked at the price on the report. The market price of sugar had entered a period of frantic increase after the Pearl Harbor incident, soaring more than fourfold from the initial twelve cents per pound to fluctuate around fifty-five cents. And this was the officially mandated price.

“The black market price is one dollar. The profit doesn’t seem that great…”

Though the profit margin wasn’t huge, the sheer volume made up for it. After all, the public’s craving for sweets was a constant, intense demand.

“Because the government has preserved shipping capacity to transport other urgently needed supplies, sugar is in short supply. Candy manufacturers cannot obtain sufficient raw materials, sugar has disappeared from many household kitchens, and candy store owners save the best candy for those willing to pay the maximum price. Even the trade of bubble gum has formed a black market! … The current gap in the sugar market is five million tons…”

Five million tons!

Li Yian did a quick calculation on his notepad. Even at the official price, a ton of sugar could sell for around 1,200 dollars.

Five million tons meant a six-billion-dollar market!

Six billion! A fortune impossible to spend in a lifetime!

Just then, an exclamation shattered Li Yian’s fantasy.

“My God!”

Who else could it be but Zhu Yihai? Opening the company’s main door, Zhu Yihai was stunned by the sight of the warehouse filled with cars.

Rows of brand-new luxury cars—BMWs, Mercedes, and Audis—were parked neatly inside the warehouse, making him feel as if he were hallucinating.

“Boss, Boss…”

Seeing his boss emerge from the office and stand behind the second-floor railing, Zhu Yihai said excitedly.

“Did you bring these from Britain?”

“Are they all new?”

“More or less. There are a few used ones, too.”

“Boss, none of these are used cars! I guarantee that the moment we put these on the market, people will be scrambling for them!”

Scrambling?

No, others wouldn’t even get the chance!

…

“Thank you for the tea.”

The voice was soft and gentle, the smile on his face sincere, almost giving one the pleasant illusion of basking in a spring breeze.

“You’re welcome.”

Li Yian studied Carlo Gambino, a smile on his face as well.

He had, in fact, been prepared for this moment. When doing business with the Mafia, you were bound to meet the Godfather eventually.

Now, the Mafia Godfather had finally arrived.

Dozens of cars had lured out the big fish—the reclusive Mafia Godfather had finally shown his face!

The Godfather’s appearance was a prerequisite for expanding their business with the Mafia.

What was the biggest advantage of doing business with the Mafia?

They didn’t talk much, didn’t ask about the origin of the goods, and paid promptly in cash. The only condition was to dissuade them from any thoughts of double-crossing you.

And the message conveyed by these cars was enough to dispel any such ideas.

Most importantly, he needed to use the Mafia’s distribution channels to sell his goods.

And that required the Godfather’s personal appearance.

“I rarely get involved in business matters myself,” Carlo Gambino said, looking at the young man before him.

His low-profile approach was his most defining characteristic. He always worked through his consigliere and trusted subordinates, never appearing in person.

The reason he was here now was not because of a few dozen cars, but because of the power the other party demonstrated by being able to transport them.

“I came here today hoping that we can establish a long-term partnership, if you have more cars or other goods,” Carlo Gambino said directly, a smile on his face.

“Just like today, I will give you the best price, and all transactions will be in cash.”

“That’s also why I chose to work with you,” Li Yian said with a smile. “I believe we will have many more opportunities to cooperate in the future.”

Then, he continued without pretense, “I have some connections in the official transport convoys. I can ship a lot of goods from Britain, and of course, from other places as well.”

Li Yian said this because dealing with the Mafia required caution. The mobsters of this era were the type to riddle corpses with a Thompson submachine gun. By feeding them a mix of truth and lies, he could make them wary—make them believe he had powerful figures backing him. That way, they would have reservations and he wouldn’t have to worry about being double-crossed.

Carlo Gambino paused for a moment, his mind suddenly filling in the blanks.

“So, the last transaction was just a test?”

In an instant, he thought he understood the other party’s identity. This Chinese man was merely a representative for certain people, perhaps even some officials in Washington. After all, nearly every ocean-going vessel had been requisitioned by the government. Only those officials could load bulky cargo like cars onto a ship. And with only a few days between the two transactions, could it be anything but a test?

“Mr. Gambino, sometimes, true trust can only be established through long-term cooperation.”

Li Yian’s half-true answer made Carlo Gambino nod in deep agreement. “Yes, true trust takes time to build, but I’m sure your choice was the right one.”

Carlo Gambino now had his answer, his internal speculation confirmed.

“Of course. After meeting you today, Mr. Gambino, I know my choice was correct. I think we will have much more room for cooperation in the future. We will have a continuous stream of goods arriving in New York. So, as long as you have sufficient funds, we will arrange for navy transport ships to bring the goods here in batches.”

Li Yian’s posturing words made Carlo Gambino and Anastasia exchange a glance. Then, he spoke slowly.

“Li, in the future, if you have cars or other supplies, just give me a call in advance, and I will have the payment ready. Even if the transaction is ten times larger than today’s, it will be no problem on my end.”

Soon, the transaction was complete. As Gambino ordered his men to drive the cars away, he glanced at the warehouse Li Yian was renting and said to Anastasia.

“Anastasia, tell those little hooligans in Brooklyn to stay far away from here. This is Mr. Li’s place. He is our friend.”

Friend?

If you can trust the Mafia, pigs can fly.

The words were nice to hear, nothing more.

But the Mafia’s money was still money!

The profit from this transaction was a full 510,000 dollars!

But what truly surprised Li Yian was not the massive 500% profit, but that this transaction had earned him over 120,000 Experience points and, at the same time, unlocked a new System function.

[System transaction function can be enabled. Enable?]

“System transaction? Does that mean I can make transactions within the System?”

Was this the real grand prize from the System?

With a surge of excitement, Li Yian chose “Enable.” Subsequently, more text appeared on the light screen.

“Storage space can be temporarily increased. The increase limit shall not exceed 50%, and the duration shall not exceed 24 hours.”

Li Yian’s brow twitched at the System’s notification.

That’s it…?

This was the long-awaited grand prize?

Was this “grand” prize even that big?

A temporary expansion… actually required 10,000 Experience points.

“Holy crap, that’s way too expensive…”

He complained, but his actions betrayed his words. Although he felt the temporary increase in storage was a bit pricey, the potential returns were extremely high.

“Actually, I could also consider Cuba…”

Once again, Li Yian’s thoughts turned to Cuba.

First, Cuba was very close to the United States. Second, it was the most important source of goods for families like the Gambinos.

“Perhaps I should give Cuba a try.”

Having made up his mind, Li Yian gave Zhu Yihai a few instructions, asking him to see if he could purchase cigarettes through other channels. Then, he drove to the consulate in New York. Inside, he found an old colleague of Li Guoren’s. Letting the US dollars do the talking, he easily “replaced” his documents with a proper passport. Compared to his previous temporary papers, this passport was a true form of identification and a pass to travel to other countries.

Chapter 23: Tenfold Profit

After the plane from New York landed at Havana airport, a private car provided by the hotel was already waiting beside the runway. As soon as the passengers disembarked, a driver came forward to greet them and help with their luggage. One thing was certain: a hotel that could drive its private car right up to the plane would definitely not be cheap.

However, Li Yian wasn’t concerned about the price of the hotel. He was certain of one thing: when you’re unfamiliar with the people and the place, staying at a high-end hotel is always the right choice.

At the very least, he wouldn’t have to worry about safety.

When the car arrived at the National Hotel, Li Yian discovered he had even less to worry about—not only was the hotel located in the bustling city center, but it was also a quintessential luxury establishment.

And it truly was. The National Hotel in Havana was not only luxurious, but its shareholders were mostly Cuban dignitaries and wealthy American tycoons, which was why its private car could drive onto the airport runway. But this had little to do with Li Yian. After all, he had come to Havana to open a trade route. After checking in, Li Yian took a car to the legation.

The so-called legation was, in reality, just a small building. In fact, even the building itself had been donated by local overseas Chinese. Before the War of Resistance, the Cuban minister had always been a concurrent post held by the minister to the United States. It was only after the war began that the Foreign Office dispatched a dedicated minister to raise funds from the overseas Chinese. As the plenipotentiary minister, Li Dijun’s daily task since arriving in Cuba had been to raise donations. After all, with the domestic treasury on the brink of collapse and Southeast Asia occupied by the Japanese, Cuba, with its population of over one hundred thousand overseas Chinese, had become the most important source of overseas remittances and donations.

Just as he was racking his brains, as usual, trying to figure out how to raise more funds, a visitor arrived. It was none other than Li Yian.

“This junior pays his respects to Minister Li.”

Because of his connection to Li Guoren, it was only natural for him to show the courtesy of a junior upon meeting Li Dijun.

“Zhiyuan, there’s no need to be so polite. Guoren sent a telegram before you came. I didn’t expect you to arrive so quickly. Did you fly?”

Anyone who could afford a plane ticket for several hundred US dollars these days was definitely a wealthy man.

Should I try to solicit a donation from him?

But he was his nephew’s friend, after all. Besides, he couldn’t just start asking for donations the moment they met.

“Yes. With the war raging at sea, flying is much more convenient.”

“You are Guoren’s friend, so now that you’re here, anything I can do to help, I will. However, my boy…”

He paused for a moment before continuing.

“Although there are great opportunities for trade in Cuba right now, wartime is not like peacetime. To do business in Cuba nowadays, you must have ships. The shipping routes to Cuba aren’t cut off, but merchant vessels are in extremely short supply. Those ships are either controlled by American companies or…”

Before Li Dijun could finish, Li Yian spoke up.

“To be honest, Uncle Li, I have people who can help me solve some shipping capacity issues. It’s not a lot, but shipping ten thousand tons a month should be possible.”

“What! Ten thousand tons!”

Li Dijun shot up from his seat and looked at Li Yian with excitement.

“Is that true!”

“Well, at least four or five thousand tons should be doable.”

“That’s good, that’s very good…”

Wringing his hands in excitement, Li Dijun asked directly.

“I wonder if you might be interested in transporting cane sugar?”

“Cane sugar… Th-this…”

Seeing Li Yian’s apparent hesitation, Li Dijun said.

“My boy, you may not be aware, but cane sugar is the most profitable commodity in Cuba right now.”

With that, he continued to explain.

“You should know that cane sugar is the pillar of the Cuban economy; ninety percent of its agriculture is dedicated to sugar cane cultivation. Since the war began and supplies from places like Hawaii and the Philippines were cut off, the price of sugar has skyrocketed to twenty cents per kilogram. As a result, sugar production has constantly increased, with the current annual output at no less than seven point three million tons!”

“Wait, what’s a current price of sugar?”

Li Yian asked, somewhat astonished.

“Twenty cents per kilogram, perhaps slightly lower,” Li Dijun continued.

“In the past, the Cuban sugar industry was almost entirely controlled by Americans, making it difficult for outsiders to enter. Since the war began, the soaring price of sugar has stimulated the Cuban government to encourage the industry’s development, so some Chinese merchants started getting involved. But unexpectedly, American companies have used their monopoly on shipping to demand that the Chinese merchants sell them sugar on the cheap. Right now, every Chinese merchant who has invested in the sugar industry is suffering immensely. If you have ships, you could solve this urgent crisis for our countrymen!”

Of course, if he, as the minister, could help his countrymen resolve this matter, he could then righteously ask for donations. After all, the war back home was fierce, and funds were desperately needed from all quarters.

Twenty cents per kilogram!

One kilogram is 2.2 pounds, so that was roughly ten cents a pound.

And how much was a pound in the United States?

Fifty-five cents!

On the black market, it could reach one dollar!

Wasn’t this a tenfold profit!

How did that saying go? With a hundred percent profit, a capitalist will risk the gallows.

And this was one thousand percent!

Seeing that Li Yian was silent, lost in calculating the profits from sugar, Li Dijun quickly added.

“Is there some difficulty, my boy?”

“Difficulty…”

After a moment’s thought, Li Yian said.

“For the sake of our countrymen, what difficulty could there be!”

His words sent a thrill of excitement through Li Dijun, who said repeatedly.

“Such a noble spirit, my boy, such a noble spirit! Where are you currently staying? I shall bring a few of the overseas merchants to visit you tomorrow.”

Li Dijun then asked for his address. Upon learning that he was staying at the National Hotel, the look in his eyes changed slightly. It couldn’t be helped. Everyone knew that the National Hotel was most famous for one thing… being expensive!

Expensive!

It was indeed very expensive. A single steak cost five dollars, and the US dollar of this era wasn’t mere paper; it was practically gold.

Still, compared to a certain sixty-nine-dollar-and-eighty-cent fried rice somewhere else, one could only say the Cubans weren’t greedy enough.

Although the prices were steep, the service was truly impeccable.

Unlike the various controls and rationing in the United States, there were no such restrictions in Havana. As long as you had money, you could enjoy anything. Even as Americans were scrimping and saving for the Allied cause, American beef was still being shipped to Cuba by the boatload. After all, the Cubans needed to eat their meat, and of course, they needed to drink their wine.

American beef, French red wine—it was just a pity there were no British waiters, or else he’d be served by the three great powers at once.

After a meal that cost over ten dollars, the idle Li Yian glanced at the Cuban women sitting by the bar with their alluring, expressive eyes, then left the restaurant. He did not, like many others, head towards the casino.

Instead, he returned to his room. After all, the long journey had been tiring. He even ignored those enthusiastic Cuban ladies. There would be plenty of time for that later…

Chapter 24: Collaborators Are More Despicable

After returning to his room and washing up, Li Yian got into bed. The spring mattress was soft and comfortable, so much so that his whole body seemed to sink into it. Relaxing his nerves and his mind, he yielded to his fatigue and quickly fell asleep.

When he woke again, the bright Caribbean sun was streaming through the window into his room. Looking at the beautiful sea view outside, Li Yian raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself.

“Alright, it all comes down to today.”

Over an hour later, in the hotel’s open-air cafe, Li Yian looked at Li Dijun and Song Chengjun, who were seated before him, and remained silent.

Seeing that he hadn’t spoken for a while, Song Chengjun addressed him directly.

“Mr. Li, I know this must put you in a very difficult position. But right now, the Americans are trying to use their monopoly on shipping to force us Chinese merchants to sell them sugar at a low price. If we compromise, then in the future, all Chinese merchants will be at their mercy. Therefore, for the sake of hundreds of thousands of our countrymen, I implore you to lend us a hand, Mr. Li.”

At this, Song Chengjun spoke again with great solemnity.

“The Americans are demanding we sell them our sugar for fifteen cents a kilogram. If you are willing to buy it, Mr. Li, I, Song, am willing to sell it to you for ten… thirteen cents per kilogram. No matter the quantity, as long as we Chinese merchants have even a single catty, we will sell it to you at this price!”

Thirteen cents per kilogram!

That was about six cents a pound!

At the official rate, that would be a profit of nearly ten times. If sold on the black market, the profit would be closer to twenty times!

What was it Boss Ma used to say?

He couldn’t remember.

But this was a twenty-fold profit!

Moreover, this could become a stable market in the future. Although he certainly couldn’t swallow a six-billion-US-dollar-a-year market whole, even taking a small fraction of it would be more than enough to make a fortune!

Despite this, Li Yian still said nothing. He simply lifted his cup, took a sip of coffee, and looked at the man opposite him.

“My boy…”

Li Dijun opened his mouth but didn’t continue. After all, they had only just met and had no deep connection. After a moment’s thought, he said, “This is all to help out our countrymen. We share the same blood; if we can help, we naturally should.”

“Uncle,” Li Yian said with a small smile.

“I understand.”

Turning his gaze to Song Chengjun, Li Yian asked bluntly, “Why are you unwilling to sell to the Americans for fifteen cents a kilogram, yet you’re willing to sell to me for thirteen?”

“Mr. Li, if I were to say it’s because we are countrymen and shouldn’t let outsiders profit at our expense, you certainly wouldn’t believe me. In truth, as you can probably guess, the reason I’m unwilling to give the Americans a bargain is, in the end, for profit. If we allow the Americans to bully us like this, then in the future—in ten, twenty years—we Chinese merchants in Cuba will never have a chance to get ahead. Compared to being at the mercy of American businesses, I would rather sell the sugar to you at a low price. As long as we can overcome this hurdle, we Chinese merchants can establish a firm foothold in the sugar industry. Only then will we have a future. In the end, Mr. Li, this is all for the future of Chinese merchants. Our ancestors came here as indentured laborers. For nearly a century, we have struggled from laborers to small vendors to where we are today. It hasn’t been easy. If we miss this opportunity, we Chinese merchants will remain nothing more than small vendors. So, for the future of Chinese businesses, I’d be willing to sell for ten cents, let alone thirteen. Even if it means taking a loss, I’ll do it. What I’m doing is for nothing else but to secure a place for our people in the sugar industry!”

After his firm and decisive declaration, Song Chengjun heaved a long sigh, though it was unclear if it was for himself or out of helplessness for the future of Chinese merchants.

Looking at the man before him, Li Yian suddenly seemed to understand why, in that era, Chinese merchants had been able to rise in Southeast Asia. From French Indochina to Malaya, to the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines—wherever there was an opportunity, they would inevitably rise. It wasn’t just one individual becoming the local tycoon, but the rise of the entire community.

What did they rely on?

It was this spirit, this deep-seated refusal to be left behind. They would always seize every opportunity to advance themselves. And now was precisely their chance to do so. Helping them was also helping himself!

In that instant, Li Yian seemed to understand everything. His gaze toward Song Chengjun changed, and he nodded slightly.

“Mr. Song, in that case, why should I buy it for thirteen cents a kilogram…”

Before he could finish, Song Chengjun’s expression changed abruptly. Even Li Dijun’s face turned grim. Just then, a sharp female voice cut in from the side.

“Dad, I told you, you can’t rely on people like him!”

Before the voice had even faded, a… well, a pair of long legs came into view. Looking up, he saw a young woman in a long dress approaching from the next table, her eyes burning with fury as she stared at him.

“The foreign devils are despicable, but their collaborators are even more despicable! Aren’t you just trying to take advantage of us while the foreigners are oppressing us?”

Uh…

Staring at the girl who had appeared out of nowhere, Li Yian was momentarily at a loss for words. It was clear at a glance that she was of mixed heritage. Her features looked somewhat familiar—perhaps it was a man’s habit of thinking he’d seen every beautiful woman somewhere before, maybe in a movie.

But she was truly tall!

At least 175 centimeters, he estimated.

Seeing the furious girl, Li Yian’s brow furrowed. Just as he was about to speak, Song Chengjun interjected.

“Bing’er! Who told you to interrupt!”

“Dad, I… He…” the girl pouted, her face full of indignation. “He’s clearly trying to…”

“Take advantage of the situation?” Li Yian finished with a smile.

“This is business. Taking advantage of the situation is what a businessman should do. Otherwise, how can you call yourself a businessman?”

The girl’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You, you…”

She had seen shameless people before, but never someone so brazen, someone who didn’t even bother to pretend. This was utterly shameless.

In contrast, Li Yian appeared perfectly calm. He turned his gaze back to Song Chengjun and asked, “Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Song?”

Song Chengjun managed to force out four words.

“Business is business!”

“Well said, Mr. Song. However, a gentleman makes his fortune in a righteous way. Business is business, that’s true, but…”

Looking into Song Chengjun’s eyes, Li Yian smiled.

“Some money can be made, and some money cannot.”

?

Before Song Chengjun, Li Dijun, or the girl at the side could react, Li Yian said one more thing.

“Market price!”

His words made Song Bing gasp in astonishment.

“What?”

Chapter 25: I Treat You Like a Brother

“Mr. Song, a gentleman acquires wealth by honorable means. The foreigners are using their power to bully our countrymen. How could I, as a fellow countryman, take advantage of a crisis for personal gain? From now on, I will purchase sugar from you at the market rate!”

With that, Li Yian picked up his cup and took a sip of coffee as if nothing had happened.

In that instant, he had actually prepared himself to be penalized by the System. After all, knowing the System’s usual antics, a merchant wasn’t supposed to do business at a loss.

But unexpectedly, the System didn’t appear at all.

This was a little different from what he’d imagined!

His seemingly casual words fell upon the ears of Li Dijun, Song Chengjun, and Song Bing, leaving them all frozen in place, utterly dumbfounded.

After a long moment, Song Chengjun finally stood up, clasped his fists, and said.

“Mr. Li, your noble spirit is admirable! I am truly impressed!”

Gazing at the man sitting there, Song Bing, who had been full of anger just moments ago, now felt her face turn crimson with shame. She had only come to the city to do some shopping, tagging along with her father. But after hearing Li Yian’s words, she had lost control and spoken out, never imagining it would all be such a huge misunderstanding.

She quickly apologized.

“M-Mr. Li, I… I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have accused you without reason.”

Li Yian glanced at the girl standing beside them and said, “It’s alright. Since you came with Mr. Song, miss, please join us.”

With that, he turned his gaze back to Song Chengjun.

“Mr. Song, I can take the sugar, but I can’t guarantee how much. This month…”

After a moment of thought, Li Yian said, “Three to four thousand tons shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Three to four thousand tons…”

Although slightly disappointed, Song Chengjun still nodded.

“It’s not a lot, but it will solve our urgent problem.”

“Let’s take it a step at a time.”

Li Yian continued, “But there’s something I must say first. The Americans are using their control of shipping to throttle us. If they find out I’m the one helping you out of this predicament, I’m afraid it might attract some trouble. So, if we’re going to do this business, it must be kept confidential!”

Confidential?

Not to keep it a secret, but to… hide the fact that he didn’t have any ships himself.

“You are absolutely right, Mr. Li. Rest assured, we will never let outsiders know your identity, nor will we…”

Song Chengjun had been about to say “cause trouble for the powerful figure behind you,” but he swallowed the words before they could escape.

Some things are better left unsaid, even if they are understood.

Right now, ships were the most valuable asset. An ordinary person certainly couldn’t get one. And even if they did, it would have to be through means that couldn’t see the light of day. A ship like that could never be spoken of openly.

The rest was simple. The two parties just had to agree on the delivery method and, of course, how to maintain secrecy. With that, the deal was settled.

Of course, Li Yian also made a point to ask about the tobacco business, and Song Chengjun told him everything he knew without holding back.

“…Although American tobacco companies have factories in Cuba producing cigarettes, those cigarettes are subject to a tobacco tax upon leaving the factory. Unless you can buy the factory, only then can you ship out untaxed cigarettes…”

To put it bluntly, it all came down to one thing: you had to have connections!

Without connections, you couldn’t necessarily buy what you wanted, even if you were holding a pile of silver. It wasn’t that the Chinese couldn’t do certain businesses, but that there was no way for them to do it, at least not yet. If they tried to force their way in, they would inevitably be suppressed, just like how Song Chengjun and the others tried to enter the sugar industry. If not for the heaven-sent opportunity of World War II, they could only watch helplessly as the Americans controlled the business. And even now that they had a foot in the door, what was the result?

It was obvious.

…

“I really didn’t expect Mr. Li to be so generous…”

As the car made its way to the Legation, Song Chengjun suddenly spoke up. After a long silence, he said:

“My dear brother Cheng Jie, since Mr. Li is so generous, I, as your elder brother, will absolutely not let him suffer a loss…”

“What do you have in mind, Brother Zhepu?”

“Hmm… if we pack them tightly, we can fit an extra ten percent into each bag.”

“An extra ten percent…”

Li Dijun mused.

“Mr. Li has a noble spirit, and you, Brother Zhepu, are generous. If all of us Chinese merchants were like you two, why would we be looked down upon by foreigners? Sigh…”

As he spoke, Li Dijun couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh lightly. Beside him, Song Chengjun agreed.

“Cheng Jie is absolutely right. Ever since Jiang Yu and the others seized the position of chairman of the Consolidated Benevolent Association, the overseas Chinese community has been mired in internal strife, even bringing in foreigners for support. It’s utterly absurd.”

The Jiang Yu he mentioned referred to people like Jiang Cifu and Yu Zhiquan, who had become chairmen of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association through bribery and other fraudulent means. Since taking office, they had created all sorts of pretexts to extort the overseas Chinese.

“Absurd is an understatement; it’s simply shameless. It’s hateful how they run rampant, relying on their status as Central Committee members. Even I…唉, can do nothing about them.”

After a long sigh, the car fell silent. After a good while, Li Dijun finally said, “Actually, Brother Zhepu, you could also run for the position of association chairman. Wouldn’t you be a better fit than those people?”

“This…”

Song Chengjun shook his head.

“You know my ambitions don’t lie there.”

Seeing this, Li Dijun didn’t press the matter. He suddenly seemed to remember something and said, “Oh, right, Brother Zhepu, what do you think of that Mr. Li?”

“I can’t see through him,” Song Chengjun said bluntly.

“Anyone who can get their hands on a ship right now is no ordinary person. His background must be extraordinary!”

Hearing his old friend’s words, Li Dijun asked, “In that case, Brother Zhepu, do you think he would be a suitable match for your daughter?”

Faced with his old friend’s question, Song Chengjun didn’t hide his thoughts.

“Yesterday, you told me a young prodigy from the United States had arrived in Havana, and I was intrigued. After all, there aren’t many suitable countrymen for Bing’er in Havana right now—they’re either too old or too young. The War of Resistance has been going on for years now. Although victory is in sight, there’s no end to be seen. But she’s my only daughter…”

With a wry smile, Song Chengjun said, “I can’t just let her become an old spinster, can I?”

This was why Song Bing was at the café. However, Song Chengjun hadn’t told her the real reason, only using the business meeting as a pretext to bring her into the city and have her wait nearby.

Neither Song Bing nor Li Yian would have ever guessed in their wildest dreams… that this was actually a matchmaking session!

“It’s not easy being a parent!”

Li Dijun sighed, then added, “Setting other things aside, Mr. Li and your daughter are a good match in terms of looks and age. If it works out, it would be one less worry for you, Brother Zhepu.”

Hearing this, Song Chengjun shook his head.

“Let’s wait and see. Let’s wait and see. Besides, I sense his ambitions don’t lie in this direction. Didn’t you see? He didn’t even give Bing’er a second glance from start to finish. This Mr. Li, I’m afraid his mind is focused solely on his career…”

Chapter 26: Omnipotent

A kindred spirit!

If Li Yian knew about Song Chengjun’s assessment, he would undoubtedly give him two thumbs up. He was truly a kindred spirit.

Bright sunlight streamed through the window into the room. Having toiled all night, Li Yian was now awake. The scent of perfume beside him made him turn to look. He saw dark brown, wavy, long hair spread across the white cotton sheets. Looking further down, the undulating peaks stirred the imagination.

“Smack!”

He gave the shapely bottom hidden under the sheet a firm smack. A beautiful blonde woman emerged, opened her eyes, glanced at the man, and broke into a brilliant smile.

“Darling, you wore me out. I’m so tired. Let me sleep a little longer…”

With that, the woman went back to sleep.

Glancing at the woman on the bed, Li Yian shook his head helplessly and said.

“Alright, you get some sleep!”

Before leaving, he took two ten-dollar bills from his wallet. After a moment’s thought, he replaced them with a Franklin. He had to admit, foreign women were very passionate and proactive—definitely worth the price.

I’m a rich man now, I’m not short on this kind of cash!

He had even forgotten how he had brought her back last night. Bored, he had gone to a bar, ordered a drink, and watched the somewhat uninteresting performance. Then this woman had sat down next to him. They drank together, chatted, and finally, the woman invited him to a casino. He naturally refused; compared to playing poker at a table, he was much more willing to play poker in a room. The woman didn’t refuse, and the two of them played all night long.

Whether he was tired or not, business still had to be done. After all, his career was on the rise, and he had to prioritize it!

His so-called business, of course, was using his space to personally transport goods.

Taking the hotel’s private car, Li Yian arrived at the designated warehouse. Just as they had initially agreed, the warehouse’s main gate was shut tight, without so much as a guard in sight. According to their agreement, the delivery personnel would leave after the sugar was brought to the warehouse.

To prevent American merchants from sabotaging the deal, no one involved except for Song Chengjun himself knew who the buyer of the sugar was.

After entering the warehouse, he looked at the mountains of cane sugar piled high.

Li Yian called out softly.

“System.”

After the light screen appeared, Li Yian tapped on the warehouse.

“Temporarily increase storage capacity?”

“Yes.”

After the transaction was complete, the warehouse space increased by 50%, reaching a total of 1140 cubic meters.

“Upload cargo!”

Accompanied by a white light, sack after sack of cane sugar continuously entered the storage space. Although this wasn’t the first time he had uploaded bulk cargo, he still couldn’t help but be amazed when the thousand-plus tons of goods were fully uploaded.

“This isn’t just a System, it’s a master mover!”

It was more than just moving; it was completely emptying the place out!

The warehouse, once full of goods, became completely empty in a short while. Looking at the vacant warehouse, Li Yian snapped his fingers in satisfaction.

“Work’s done!”

The private car was waiting right outside the warehouse. After getting in, the driver asked.

“Sir, back to the hotel, or?”

Li Yian answered directly.

“To the airport!”

As the car headed toward the airport, back in that room at the National Hotel, the blonde woman was just now letting out a lazy yawn. With a flirtatious expression, she couldn’t help but let out a soft moan, the corners of her lips turning up as she murmured to herself.

“That guy… where did he go?”

The empty room left the woman feeling a little lost. Just then, she saw a hundred-dollar bill on the nightstand, along with a note.

“The room has been paid for. Thank you for a wonderful night.”

Instantly, the woman’s expression became complicated—it was hard to tell if she was about to cry or laugh.

Staring at the Franklin on the nightstand, the woman scratched her hair and said.

“I can’t believe I got paid off like this…”

The woman, her face a mask of helplessness, suddenly became indignant.

“That guy, he actually ran off! He’s… infuriating!”

…

When the plane landed in New York once again, Li Yian had already had a nap. As the flight attendant announced their impending landing, the Statue of Liberty was visible through the porthole. As the plane adjusted its course, the skyscrapers of Manhattan came into view.

This was New York!

Full of opportunity and wealth!

Looking at the city below the wing, Li Yian’s eyes gleamed with excitement!

The wealth and opportunities here were all his for the taking!

Excitement!

A few hours later, Li Yian truly understood the meaning of excitement—a group of burly men, the kind carrying Thompson submachine guns, arrived in sedans and trucks and surrounded his company.

Was he being robbed?

While he was still puzzled, Anastasia got out of a car and asked excitedly.

“Li, is what Zhu said on the phone true?”

“Do you really have one thousand three hundred tons of sugar?”

…

Looking at the group of burly men behind him and the whole spectacle before him, Li Yian was a little speechless.

“Anastasia, are you guys planning to rob a bank?”

“No,”

Anastasia said directly.

“We’re not here to rob a bank, but to protect you. God, I really wonder how you’ve survived this long, my friend.”

As he spoke, he pointed a finger at the warehouse.

“Do you have any idea? If anyone knew you had over a thousand tons of sugar in your warehouse, every thief, hoodlum, and robber in New York would come over and clean you out, my friend!”

Anastasia explained as he walked inside.

“Cars, maybe nobody cares, because there are only so many fencing channels. But sugar is different. Sugar is omnipotent. A few pounds of sugar can get you into a woman’s bed, dozens of pounds will have a grocery store owner grinning from ear to ear as he hands you cash. If you have a few hundred pounds, every bakery and dessert shop owner in New York will treat you like a god. And if you have a few thousand pounds, all the food factory owners will see you as their savior…”

Anastasia’s exaggerated words made Li Yian feel it was all a bit incredible. It was just sugar; was there any need to be so dramatic?

The next moment, Anastasia stopped talking. His eyes were fixed on the mountain of sacks. Even through the burlap, he could still smell the sweet aroma filling the air.

This was, without a doubt, the sweetest scent!

Chapter 27: The Sincerity of the Chicago Typewriter

A sweet fragrance permeated the entire warehouse!

It was a scent potent enough to drive anyone mad!

“My God, Li, you always manage to surprise me. Is this real? Is it really sugar?”

An emotional Anastasia walked over, heaved a sack off the pile, and noted its unusual packaging. Unlike typical bags, this one had no markings—as per his agreement with Song Chengjun, no matter whose sugar it was, the packaging was to remain unmarked.

Ostensibly, this was to avoid unwanted attention and prevent American merchants from sabotaging them, but the real reason was to keep their transactions here discreet.

Tearing open a sack of sugar, Anastasia grabbed a handful and spoke excitedly to his underlings.

“It’s real sugar, and it’s the absolute best!”

It wasn’t just Anastasia; even the burly men holding Thompson submachine guns were beaming, looking like bears that had just found a beehive.

It was just sugar. Was there really a need to be so excited?

Looking at the Thompsons cradled in their hands, Li Yian understood that this excitement was absolutely sincere. If anyone doubted its sincerity, the Chicago Typewriter would teach them how to spell the word.

“Li, here…”

Anastasia, holding his Chicago Typewriter, looked at him with an excited gaze.

“All this sugar is mine!”

Are you trying to rob me?

But in his excitement, Anastasia didn’t seem to notice he was using his Chicago Typewriter to demonstrate his “sincerity.”

“I mean, I’m buying. I want to buy all the sugar. Everything. Not just this shipment, but from now on, however much sugar you bring in, we’ll buy it all. The price will be the standard market rate, until rationing ends. That is the Godfather’s promise to you!” Anastasia said with great solemnity.

Market price!

That was higher than he had expected.

“This week’s sugar price is fifty-seven cents per pound!”

After quoting the price, Anastasia added, “This much sugar is worth over a million dollars, so the Godfather asks that you give us one night to raise the funds. I’m sorry, this all happened so fast. You have to understand, we just bought over five hundred thousand dollars’ worth of cars from you. Even a banker would find it difficult to raise this much cash in just a few days…”

Although Anastasia seemed to lack confidence as he said this, he then pounded his chest.

“But don’t you worry, the security of this cargo is now our responsibility. I guarantee not a single grain of sugar will go missing…”

To prove his determination, Anastasia even gave his Chicago Typewriter a deliberate tap.

Li Yian was left a little speechless. Good grief, are you offering protection, or strong-arming me into a sale?

I need to find some security, and fast!

Manpower was hard to come by.

Nowadays, any able-bodied young man had gone off to be a soldier. Finding bodyguards wasn’t easy, and one wrong move could see a bodyguard turn into a kidnapper.

Who knew?

This was becoming a tricky problem.

Putting down the phone, Coris said, “Godfather, the Genovese family has agreed to lend us three hundred thousand dollars. They’ll have someone deliver it in three hours.”

As he spoke, he made a note on a pad.

“We’ve raised a total of one point five million dollars now. That should be about enough.”

“Not enough. Call the Jews again. Ask them for five hundred thousand dollars.”

Carlo Gambino lit a cigar as he spoke. The dim light of the desk lamp illuminated his face, which flickered with the red glow of the cigar as he puffed on it. He seemed to be deep in thought, his gaze occasionally drifting to his consigliere, who was now using every connection he had to borrow money.

Soon, Coris hung up the phone again.

“The Jews have agreed to deliver the money in two hours, but… they want us to sell them twenty of the cars.”

Gambino’s brow twitched, and he sneered, “Those damned Jews, they always love to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain!”

After hanging up yet again, Coris looked at the Godfather and said, “Godfather, it’s done. We’ve raised enough money.”

Gambino nodded but didn’t speak.

“Godfather, I don’t understand. Why do you place so much importance on this transaction?”

“Over one thousand three hundred tons of sugar!”

Looking at his consigliere, Gambino said, “The first time, the cigarettes were a test. The cars were also a test. And this time?”

Taking a drag from his cigar, Gambino continued, “This time is a trial. Li, or rather the powerful figure behind him, is testing our capabilities. If we can pass this test, perhaps we’ll be able to get a thousand, or even several thousand, tons of sugar every month. We only need to mark it up by ten percent to make a profit of hundreds of thousands of dollars. And the most crucial thing is, this is a legitimate business!”

Pinching the cigar between his fingers, Gambino gazed into the distance and asked, “Are you certain that no sugar freighters have arrived from Cuba or Brazil in the last two days?”

In truth, if he had the ships, Gambino would have been shipping sugar from Cuba long ago. The problem was, he only had a few small boats. Even if they ran nonstop day and night, they couldn’t transport much sugar, which was why he had opted for lightweight cigarettes and higher-priced coffee instead.

“Yes, Godfather. There are too many German submarines off the coast of New York. Ships from South America tend to dock at southern ports first.”

“Hmm, it seems the powerful figure behind him must have his own channels. But that’s not important. What’s important is that the business we’re conducting is legitimate!”

Nodding slightly, Gambino, having already pieced together the answer in his mind, continued, “We can also build connections with those food merchants. These connections won’t just be for now, but for after the war. After the war, this legitimate business will become the most important source of income for our family. Coris, my boy, we can’t do shady business forever!”

With that, Gambino fell silent. He had his own plans for the future, a plan to launder his family’s reputation, to live respectably like other wealthy people. His children would become congressmen, senators, even judges.

But the precondition was… he had to be in a legitimate business.

And the business before them now was legitimate!

This business would turn his family into a true family!

As he imagined the future, Gambino silently thanked his lucky stars.

God bless, that those powerful figures chose me, and not someone else…

Chapter 28: New Skill, Weapon Design

As Carlo Gambino imagined the wonderful life ahead after going legit, and inwardly thanked Li Yian and the powerful figure behind him.

Li Yian, sitting in the plush chair, was fiddling with the typewriter in his hands.

A Chicago model.

It didn’t even have a drum magazine. Thumbs down.

As he handled the weapon, a light screen flashed before his eyes.

[New unmastered skill detected. You can learn the Skill “Shooting”. Learn now?]

“Learn!”

[You have learned the Skill “Shooting”]

A wealth of knowledge about shooting flooded Li Yian’s mind, including how to use weapons and how to fire them.

In the System, a Skill’s level was equal to the user’s level. Li Yian wasn’t sure if his current Level 2 proficiency was amateur or professional, but one thing was certain: the Thompson submachine gun, once a strange object that only existed in movies, now felt incredibly familiar. He played with the submachine gun in his hands, casually pulled back the bolt, and then squeezed the trigger.

“Click…”

The sound of the empty chamber was crisp, but something seemed off.

Puzzled, Li Yian began to disassemble the submachine gun. His movements were so practiced it was hard to believe this was the first time he’d ever handled a gun.

After taking the submachine gun apart, Li Yian quickly found the problem.

“The H-shaped bronze delayed blowback block is worn out. It just needs a new one…”

Muttering to himself, Li Yian realized his understanding of firearms had reached a new level. Even the obscure principles and structures from gun magazines he’d read as a student, which had been incomprehensible before, now made perfect sense. He even felt as if he could design weapons.

Not design, but rather, replicate.

“This submachine gun is way too complicated. No wonder it’s so expensive.”

As Li Yian said this, an image of an extremely simple weapon flashed in his mind—the Uru submachine gun. Its main components were assembled from stamped parts using welding and spot welding.

That wasn’t the most shocking part. The most shocking part was its number of parts—a total of only seventeen!

And that number included the magazine and the stock! Compared to other submachine guns that had dozens, even hundreds of parts, it was appallingly simple!

Although it only had seventeen components, its structure was sturdy and durable. Not only was it reliable, but its accuracy was also outstanding.

Of course, a submachine gun with a simple blowback design was destined for obsolescence from the day it was created. After all, the mid-seventies was the era of the assault rifle.

As the blueprint for the Uru submachine gun, which he had seen at some unknown time, materialized in his mind, its once-indecipherable structure became incredibly distinct. Once he clearly understood the function of each component, everything about the submachine gun became crystal clear in his mind.

“Maybe I can build it…”

No sooner said than done. Li Yian immediately picked up a pen and paper. As he began sketching a rough draft, the light screen flashed once more.

[New skill detected. You can learn the Skill “Small Arms Design”. Learn now?]

Holy hell!

In that instant, Li Yian was truly stunned.

Although he had sensed the System’s power before, he had never imagined it could be this powerful.

“So, as long as I’m willing, I can choose a skill, and System-daddy will unlock it for me!”

Faced with a System that was starting to show its true might—no, faced with his daddy!

Li Yian practically bowed down in worship.

This daddy didn’t encourage your studies with a stick or bribe you with candy. Instead, he just made you “drink ink”—stuffing you full of knowledge in one go.

A direct infusion!

“Learn!”

[You have learned the Skill “Small Arms Design”]

With the System’s notification, a vast amount of knowledge related to small arms design appeared in Li Yian’s mind—from weapon structures and principles to material science. In short, in just a single moment, Li Yian had transformed from a liberal arts student into a science and engineering student—the kind who specialized in small arms design!

Naturally, this included knowledge on how to draft blueprints.

Even if it was just basic, introductory knowledge, for him, it was more than enough.

After exiting the System, Li Yian immediately tossed aside his previous doodles, which were no better than a turtle’s scrawling. He then closed his eyes and mentally recalled the structure of the Uru submachine gun he had seen before. Then, he patiently sharpened his pencil and began to draw the blueprints.

Previously, his understanding of its principles and structure was merely that of a “shooter” with a slight familiarity. But now, with the designer’s boost, drawing them up was a breeze—it couldn’t be simpler. Not only could he draw the designs, but he also annotated the dimensions and even specified the type of steel required for each part, as if Li Yian himself were a brilliant weapon designer.

In less than two hours, he had already finished dozens of blueprints. Why was he so fast?

There were only seventeen parts in total. Even if he tried to be slow, how slow could he possibly be?

Even at this speed, it was only because the cooperation between his brain and hands hadn’t been fully coordinated yet.

Looking at the blueprints before him, Li Yian couldn’t help but smile, saying with considerable pride.

“Now this is what you call a genius! From now on, I’ll be the one to redefine the very concept of genius…”

As he spoke, he even glanced from side to side.

“It’s a bit of a shame. There should be a piano here. I could just unlock a new skill and become a master…”

Though he said this, Li Yian was filled with smug satisfaction. He suddenly realized this System was basically a “Master System.” Its purpose wasn’t just to teach him a skill, but to turn him into a master with its support!

Not just an ordinary master, but an unprecedented and peerless super master.

“Sigh, really, I didn’t want this either…”

Once again admiring the blueprints he had drawn, Li Yian muttered to himself.

“To be honest, I just wanted to be a normal person, but alas, I’m just too brilliant. It can’t be helped. My talent just slipped out by accident…”

As if in cosmic response, just as Li Yian revealed the “truth” of his innate genius, a beam of light shone in from the window. It was the light from a car’s headlights.

The money delivery had arrived!

Chapter 29: Godfather? Just an Errand Boy

The one delivering the money was none other than Carlo Gambino.

“Godfather, the warehouse is full of sugar…”

Anastasia said as she met the Godfather.

“Godfather, I’ve been guarding this place the whole time.”

“You’ve worked hard. Where is Mr. Li?”

Gambino peered into the lit-up loft, his eyes fixed on the staircase. He knew he was about to step onto the ladder that would lead him into high society, and his guide was right there.

“Hello, Mr. Li.”

Unlike the last time, upon entering the office, Gambino made a point of knocking on the door, his expression appearing quite deferential.

Gambino had now placed Li Yian on a very high pedestal—as his guide, his stepping stone into the upper echelons of society.

He would never again harbor the slightest doubt about the powerful figure behind Li Yian.

If a few dozen cars could possibly be slipped in with a transport convoy through some manipulation, then smuggling thousands of tons of sugar into New York without a whisper was a feat of a magnitude no ordinary person could achieve.

And Li Yian represented such a person. This status not only made Gambino envious but also filled him with awe.

As a Godfather, Gambino was keenly aware of the immensity of such power. In comparison, he, the Godfather of the Mafia, was like an ant!

But that didn’t matter!

Gambino knew that as long as he seized this opportunity, he could transform himself into one of the people he so admired.

“My apologies for making you wait. It’s nighttime, so it was a bit difficult to gather the cash. I promise it won’t take this long again in the future.”

Although he didn’t know what the Mafia Godfather was thinking, Li Yian could perceive the change in his attitude. The reverence in the words and demeanor of the Godfather of New York’s top Mafia family was completely undisguised.

Interesting.

He mused over the change in the man’s attitude.

From this day forward, he would no longer have to worry about distribution channels.

“Let’s say half a month!”

Li Yian said directly.

“You have half a month to prepare the funds, and then we’ll conduct the next transaction!”

In truth, this was why he had chosen the Mafia as his partner. Not only did they have a sales network that covered the entire United States, but they would also never say a word more than necessary.

By the time the two of them walked out of the office, the inspector had already completed his checks.

“Godfather, the sucrose content is at or above 99.4%, and the grain size meets the standard. It’s all grade-one sucrose. However…”

The inspector glanced at the Chinese man standing next to the Godfather and continued.

“The net weight of each bag here is 55 kilograms, some even 56, not the standard 50 kilograms.”

What?

How could that be?

While Li Yian was puzzled, Gambino said.

“As long as there’s no problem with the quality, the weight…”

Could this be a test from the big shot?

Once again, Gambino’s heart was in a tangle. He really couldn’t grasp the thoughts of such a powerful figure.

Perhaps this is just how big shots operate!

Before Gambino could figure it out, Li Yian spoke up.

“Let’s calculate it based on 55 kilograms.”

Was the extra 10% a little bonus from the other side?

That Song Chengjun was a truly generous man!

He had given his fellow countryman a good deal, but there was no way he would let these foreigners take advantage.

Soon, the final tally was out. A total of one thousand five hundred tons of sucrose. Even though he had been prepared, Carlo couldn’t help but swallow hard.

That was a full two hundred tons extra!

The rest was simple. Cash amounting to 1,884,420 US dollars was handed over to Li Yian.

Faced with such a huge sum, Li Yian found it difficult to calm his heart. After all, this was his first million!

I’m a millionaire now!

A light screen flashed into view.

[Congratulations to the user for earning their first million in life. Rewarded with the cost-accounting function. We hope the user will continue to strive for new breakthroughs.]

That’s it?

A cost-accounting function?

What kind of function is that?

Although he didn’t know what it did, a reward was better than no reward. And getting a reward for achieving a “small goal” wasn’t bad at all!

One transaction had earned him nearly five hundred thousand Experience points, but he was still some distance from leveling up.

Though a bit disappointed, Li Yian was also quite satisfied. After all, this transaction proved one thing: after leaving Britain, there was great potential for him here in the United States as well!

After completing the transaction, as his men began to move the cargo, Carlo noticed the crates of cigarettes in the warehouse and asked curiously.

“Mr. Li, what about those cigarettes?”

“You have to give the crew some perks, don’t you think?”

His words made Carlo nod in deep agreement. They did the same when smuggling contraband, ensuring all participants received some benefits.

Then, Li Yian changed the subject.

“Carlo, there’s something I’d like to ask you to do for me.”

Trouble? What kind of trouble could it be? Gambino replied almost instantly.

“Li, my friend, just tell me what you need. There’s no need for pleasantries between friends!”

Then I won’t be polite with you!

What Li Yian, the newly minted millionaire, wanted Gambino to do was simple: help him find a suitable industrial enterprise to acquire.

Gambino, the New York Mafia Godfather, was more than happy to run this errand for him. He even saw it as an opportunity to close the distance between them. Only by getting closer would he have a chance to come into contact with the truly powerful figures.

Gambino’s efficiency was remarkable. In just two days, he had found a suitable company for acquisition, and the scale of the factory far exceeded his expectations.

“How could a factory be going bankrupt?”

On the way to the company, Li Yian looked at Gambino with a face full of doubt.

“Logically speaking, any factory right now should be running day and night.”

Although he wasn’t very familiar with the United States, from what he understood, this was an era of explosive productivity. Even in the twenty-first century, people still marveled at the immense industrial power the US had displayed during World War II.

For a factory to go bankrupt, especially a machine processing enterprise, seemed almost ridiculous.

“My friend, not all factories are like that. Some can get many orders, while others can’t get a single dime’s worth.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

Carlo Gambino said with a smile.

“It’s all because of the company’s owner… He’s a German-American immigrant.”

“Oh? Just because of that?”

Li Yian asked, surprised.

“And he’s a key member of the German American Bund—you know, the Nazis, the American Nazis.”

Gambino’s answer left Li Yian momentarily stunned.

“What? The guy’s a Nazi? Wasn’t he locked up?”

Chapter 30: Extortion

“Lock him up?”

Gambino spoke with a hint of helplessness.

“His father-in-law is a senator, how can we lock him up? Even the president has to show him some respect.”

So America is also a society of connections!

People rely on their daddies, or in this case, their father-in-law!

As he was reflecting on this, he listened to Gambino continue.

“Actually, he’s not much of a Nazi. The ‘German American Bund’ was an organization the Nazis developed in the United States before the war, and that guy was a key member of the New York branch. Although he wasn’t interned as an enemy alien after the war started, thanks to his father-in-law’s connections, his factory fell into dire straits. He couldn’t hire any workers or get any orders. Even the banks refused to give him a loan. And those Jews are like a flock of greedy vultures, just waiting for him to declare bankruptcy so they can buy his factory for a pittance…”

Clearly, in Gambino’s mouth, the Jewish people were no saints either. Come to think of it, how many people who came over from old Europe actually liked the Jews?

They were all old-school anti-Semites.

Silently criticizing the hypocrisy of these white people, the car had already stopped in front of a factory that occupied a considerable amount of land. Looking at the factory gate and the four-story building next to it, one could imagine the former scale of this factory.

“Two thousand four hundred and fifty-seven metal-cutting machine tools of various types! This is my factory. My father came here half a century ago and founded it with his own two hands. Now those Americans want to drive it to ruin, and the damned Jews want to snatch it away for the price of scrap…”

Hermann von Karl spoke with a resentful tone.

“Damn Americans. They will never understand the love we, as people of a nation-state, have for our motherland. Am I right?”

Karl looked at Li Yian and asked directly.

“I agree with you completely on that point. The motherland is a bond we can never let go of in our entire lives. That deep-seated emotion, carved into our very flesh and bone, is something Americans will never be able to understand,”

His answer first stunned Karl, who then said with some excitement.

“Exactly, exactly! They can never understand, never understand…”

It’s not that Americans don’t understand. For a nation built by immigrants, what they want is for you to forget your motherland and integrate into the United States through so-called “Americanization,” to become a so-called “American.” But in reality?

It’s all just self-deception.

“Just like those Jews. They have no motherland, so they will never know how we feel. They are a pack of greedy hyenas. They’re trying to pounce on my corpse and tear at my flesh, but that’s impossible. I would rather sell my factory to anyone else than to that inferior scum…”

Karl, appearing full of righteous indignation, continued.

“One million five hundred thousand dollars!”

“For just one million five hundred thousand dollars, everything Karl Metal Company owns—from the land to the machinery, everything—I’ll sell it all to you, Li. This even includes the patents held by the company. It’s an absolutely fantastic deal. The factory buildings and the machinery alone are worth more than that.”

Glancing at Karl, Li Yian didn’t agree. Like hell I believe you.

Just then, the System’s light screen flashed.

“Enable cost-accounting function?”

“Enable.”

Instantly, a stream of text flashed across the light screen.

“Karl Metal Company was founded in New York in 1886 by the elder Hermann. The company covers an area of 2.7 square miles, of which the factory floor area is…”

A moment later, Li Yian, who now had a full understanding of Karl Metal Company, glanced at Karl and turned to leave.

“Li? What’s wrong?”

Gambino asked, confused. Karl also hurried over.

“Mr. Li, what’s going on?”

“I don’t want to work with a man full of lies!”

Li Yian said bluntly.

“What?”

Gambino looked at him, puzzled, while Karl’s face flushed with anger.

“Mr. Li, what are you talking about?”

“First, let’s not even mention that half the machines in your factory are secondhand goods purchased during the First World War. Those machines are nothing but worthless scrap iron! Let’s just talk about the loan you took out by mortgaging the company’s land and property with the bank—a full two hundred thousand dollars! You chose to completely conceal this debt!”

“Mr. Li, I, I just hadn’t gotten around to mentioning the company’s debts yet!”

Before Karl could finish, Gambino snorted coldly.

“Is that so, Mr. Karl!”

“Mr. Gambino, I, I swear to God!”

“Mr. Karl, I brought my friend here, not for you to deceive him. You should know how I treat my friends, and you should also know how I treat people who betray their friends.”

Gambino’s threat made Karl tremble. He said hurriedly.

“No, no, Mr. Gambino, you know that was absolutely not my intention to hide anything. Li, isn’t this how business is done? I name a price, and you can make a counteroffer, right?”

Looking at the man before him, Li Yian said directly.

“Mr. Karl, a counteroffer? How could I possibly make a counteroffer? First of all, your land and property are worthless, as they’ve already been mortgaged to the bank. This means I would have to assume over two hundred thousand in debt no matter what. Secondly, your machines—almost all of them are from twenty years ago. They’re just scrap metal. Maybe those machines could still produce something during the war, but once the war is over, the high labor costs will render them completely useless. Scrap iron… no, they’re a pile of money-wasting junk. As for the remaining machines, how much are they worth? Two hundred thousand? One hundred thousand? Karl…”

Staring at him, Li Yian said bluntly, “Those Jews might be a pack of greedy hyenas, but the problem is, your company has long been a dead, worthless corpse. To them…”

Pointing at the factory building, Li Yian sneered.

“The only thing of value is this piece of land. But after deducting the payment for the bank loan, how much value is left? Fifty thousand? Or how much?”

Karl, whose lies had been exposed by Li Yian’s words, turned pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He had initially thought Li Yian was just some foreigner he could take advantage of. As for Gambino… what could he do, kill him?

But looking closely now, Karl realized things were not as he had imagined. In front of this foreigner, Gambino was like a follower, trailing behind him.

What is this guy’s identity? Why is Gambino so respectful of him?

At this thought, Karl began to panic.

“Sir, sir, I, I…”

Looking at the stammering, speechless Karl, Li Yian said mercilessly.

“No. When the time comes, the Jews will use the banks they control to squeeze you dry. Not only will you not get a single cent, but you’ll also be responsible for the company’s remaining debts! At that point, you won’t just lose everything, you’ll become a true pauper!”

Chapter 31: The Butcher’s Knife of Capital

What is the cruelest thing in the world?

A war-torn battlefield?

No!

It’s capital!

Capital is an invisible butcher’s knife. When that knife is raised, the wealth a nation has accumulated over generations can be destroyed in an instant. Likewise, when it is raised, the painstaking work of several generations can turn to dust.

Banks don’t just lend you an umbrella on a sunny day and take it back when it rains. Banks are the ones wielding the knife. They won’t just take back the umbrella in the rain; they’ll strip the clothes from your body and squeeze every last drop of blood from your flesh.

Karl understood this better than anyone, which was exactly why he wanted to sell his company.

“Mr. Li, I, I…”

As Karl’s forehead beaded with nervous sweat and his lips trembled, Li Yian ruthlessly tore through his forced composure.

“Right now, Karl Metal Company is nothing but a money pit in your hands. Yes, the company isn’t subject to income tax since it’s not operating, but as long as it’s in your name, you have to bear the property taxes. How much were they last year? Can you afford them? The moment you default on your property taxes, a judge will order your company to be seized. And then what? An auction will be held in the judge’s office, attended by perhaps only a few hyenas. With a small bribe to the judge, they can buy everything here for the low price of a few hundred dollars. At that point, the bank will still come after you for your debts, because taxes take priority over debt. What will you have left then?”

With that, Li Yian took a gold cigarette case from his pocket, offered a cigarette to Karl, and then another to Gambino. He then produced a lighter and lit Karl’s cigarette for him.

“Smoke up. This might be your last one.”

Hearing this, Karl’s fingers trembled. His blue eyes stared in shock at the Chinese man before him. He hadn’t even noticed that the freshly lit cigarette had already fallen from his mouth.

The instant it fell, Li Yian caught it and placed it back between Karl’s lips.

“Go on and smoke, Mr. Karl. From now on, you’ll only be picking up cigarette butts!”

Li Yian then took a drag from his own cigarette.

And Karl?

He just stood there like a fool. His eyes were vacant as he stared at the man in front of him. This man was voicing his deepest worries, his greatest fears. In fact, for the past year, he had been trying to find someone to take over his company.

But who would be willing to take it?

Everyone was just waiting for the day he could no longer hold on. In the end, just as this man said, he would lose everything, left with nothing but a mountain of debt. At that point, he would have no choice but to jump off a building.

With his last shred of pretense torn away, Karl understood that the other party had done his homework. He thought for a moment and said.

“One hundred thousand dollars, and the company is yours, including all the debts. I can assure you, all the debts combined are not worth as much as this company…”

“That’s not important!”

Li Yian said bluntly.

“Because I’m not paying a single cent!”

After his experience in London, Acquisition by Force and Guile was almost too easy!

“What!”

Karl’s body trembled slightly. For a moment, he nearly collapsed to the ground. His last lifeline was gone…

Looking at the swaying Karl, Li Yian said.

“But I can give you an option now. You transfer the entire company to me, and you’ll stay on as the manager. I will pay you a salary of 1,200 dollars a month! When you retire, you will receive a handsome pension.”

Thank you, System. Its “cost-accounting function” had picked Karl Metal Company clean, giving him the courage to make such an audacious demand.

To swallow someone’s company without paying a cent—this company wasn’t like North Borneo in the hands of the Japanese; it had real, tangible assets.

Acquisition by Force and Guile, indeed!

In reality, it was nothing short of that. But did Karl have any room to refuse?

“This, this…”

Karl opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but in the end, not a single word came out.

He understood. This might not be the best choice, but it was his only choice!

“Alright, if there are no objections, please sign the contract!”

Standing in the conference room, Zhang Weilun looked at the few people seated at the table. His gaze once again settled on Li Yian, his heart churning like a stormy sea.

It had only been a few days!

He had actually managed to acquire such a large factory without spending a single cent.

It was something one wouldn’t even dare to dream of.

Yet, this man had done it. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, who would believe it?

Sighing internally, Zhang Weilun turned his attention to Mr. Karl and his lawyer, who were reviewing the contract.

“We have no objections.”

After getting the confirmation he needed from his lawyer, Karl readily signed his name on the contract. God knows, the moment he signed, he actually felt a sense of relief. He no longer had to worry about those debts.

He didn’t have to worry about bankruptcy, and he no longer had to consider the pain of his wife ending up with someone else after he jumped off a building!

“Congratulations, Mr. Li. You have the company.”

In response to Karl’s congratulations, Li Yian shook his head and said,

“No, Mr. Karl. The congratulations are for you. How does it feel to be free of debt?”

Karl, who had been wearing a solemn expression, suddenly burst out laughing.

“Haha, Boss, you saw right through me. But, Boss, you must run the company well. After all, it’s my pension!”

How could this be!

Zhang Weilun was completely dumbfounded. Was this real? Was this the proper reaction after being subjected to “Acquisition by Force and Guile”?

Shouldn’t he be resentful? Shouldn’t he be furious?

Why was this his reaction?

Li Yian, however, simply smiled and said.

“After cutting your losses, you won’t be short of this little bit of money!”

With that, he picked up a pen and signed his name on the contract. Almost at the exact moment he finished the last stroke, the light screen flashed.

“Congratulations to the user for utilizing existing intelligence and Psychology to force the other party to submit, acquiring a business worth 2.7835 million dollars for zero cost. Comprehensive reward: 600,000 Experience points.”

The next moment, a firework animation flashed across the light screen.

“Congratulations to the user for successfully upgrading to LV3 User!”

An upgrade. I really upgraded.

Li Yian cheered inwardly. I finally leveled up!

Leveling up is this simple!

You don’t even have to spend a cent!

All you need is a “zero-cost acquisition.”

Chapter 32: The Talent Pool of Chinese Students in America

“This factory is mine!”

Standing by the window, looking at the sprawling factory buildings and towering smokestacks behind him, Li Yian lit a thick cigar in his moment of triumph. Like all big bosses, he puffed on his cigar, his expression full of satisfaction.

“I never would have thought!”

Zhang Weilun said, walking up beside his boss and gazing at the massive factory complex.

“To get a factory this big without spending a single cent!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I spent a lot of money. Didn’t you see? The bank interest alone is two hundred fifty thousand, and from now on, I have to pay high property taxes every year…”

Li Yian was one step short of saying, “Don’t make it sound like I seized it by force; I’m not that kind of person.” After a pause, he added.

“Besides, business is hard! One misstep, and this factory could become a money pit!”

Who could possibly understand my hardships!

Seeing Li Yian’s dramatic act, Zhang Weilun smiled.

“Business is hard, but I’m sure you didn’t acquire this company for no reason, and you definitely won’t let it lose money!”

As the company’s lawyer, Zhang Weilun studied Li Yian with an appraising gaze.

“No one wants it to lose money, Karl included. But the key is to keep the business running. Otherwise, it’s doomed to fail!”

Seeing Karl looking a bit dejected, Li Yian walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and said.

“From now on, you’ll have to work hard at the company.”

“I don’t mind the hard work. The only problem is…”

Karl’s smile vanished as he said.

“If we want to resume production, we have to hire workers first. But you know that right now, people have either gone into the army or to other factories. Not only is it hard to find skilled workers, we can’t even find ordinary ones. Unless…”

After some thought, Karl spoke as if he’d made a momentous decision.

“Unless we go to the South and hire Black people. A lot of factories are using Black people now. Not only are they cheap, but they’re also docile…”

Docile? How could they not be? They’ve been beaten into submission by the Ku Klux Klan in the South for nearly a hundred years.

World War II was the beginning of the great northern migration of Black people, who then went on to populate the northern industrial cities.

The United States, which saw itself as a “beacon,” was very direct in its discrimination against Black people, even considering them too inferior to serve as cannon fodder. Thus, they conscripted white men in large numbers. While one in every ten white men was drafted, only a few hundred thousand Black men were, less than five percent of their total population of twenty-three million. At the same time, northern factories, spurred by the war, were constantly expanding production and desperately needed workers. With white men being drafted en masse, Black people became their only option.

Black people began moving north, eventually populating cities like Chicago. And what did Chicago, once a symbol of America, become after it was populated by Black people?

A slum!

A typical case of reaping what you sow.

Although he was quite tempted to add fuel to the fire of America’s “blackening,” Li Yian was direct.

“What? Hire Black people? Absolutely not!”

The boss’s veto made Karl, who had just steeled himself to make a decision that went against all his ingrained beliefs, quickly backtrack.

“You’re absolutely right, Boss. We absolutely can’t use them. But… we still have to find workers!”

At that moment, Zhang Weilun, who was standing to the side, spoke up.

“That’s right, Boss. To restart the factory, we’ll definitely have to hire people first.”

“We’ll hire Chinese people!”

Hire Chinese people!

Zhang Weilun couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Li Yian took a drag from his cigar. He had never even considered hiring white people!

Why didn’t Zhu Yihai get a factory job back then? Wasn’t it because of the Americans’ discrimination?

“Weilun, those Americans would rather hire Black people than Chinese. Why can’t our factory exclusively hire Chinese people?”

“Exclusively hire Chinese… Can… can we do that?”

“Why not?”

Taking a puff of his cigar, Li Yian sneered.

“From now on, my factory won’t indulge the delicate sensibilities of the White people or the black skins. Exclusively hiring Chinese—what’s wrong with that? Of course, if we’re short on technical personnel, we can supplement from other groups. But whenever there’s an opportunity, given equal qualifications, Chinese people will get priority!”

Hearing this, Karl, who was standing nearby, didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable. On the contrary, he felt it was the absolute truth and supported it wholeheartedly.

So be it. If it’s not the truth, it’s just human nature.

Human nature is that when your family is harmed by someone, you don’t look for fault in yourself; you go kill the other person and tear them to shreds!

Uh, that’s the white liberals for you. They’re not so left these days; some countries are just a bit to the right.

In truth, exclusively hiring Chinese was also part of Li Yian’s own little plan. After all, the United States was just a stepping stone. His ultimate goal was to go to North Borneo and become a local emperor.

Not only would he go, but this factory would be moved there as well. It would be best if he could bring a group of skilled workers with him—that was essential for developing North Borneo.

After making his decision, Li Yian remembered something else and gave an order to Karl.

“Oh, right. Karl, a factory this big definitely needs a security force. I don’t want to be surrounded by a bunch of Mafia goons all day. I’d feel safer with our own people. We need to hire some armed guards.”

“I understand, Boss.”

Karl smiled. Any factory needed security personnel.

“I happen to know some people. They’re, uh, people you can definitely trust, Boss.”

Glancing at Zhang Weilun, Li Yian said.

“Weilun, our factory doesn’t just need workers; we also need a lot of engineers. Do you have anyone suitable to recommend?”

He asked this because of his connection to Yuan Jialiu. Chinese students studying in America during this era were mostly in contact with one another, and there were bound to be many engineers among them.

“Boss, you’ve asked the right person.”

Zhang Weilun adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said with a smile.

“Boss, there are actually quite a few Chinese engineers in the United States. Not to mention the ones who came from Southwest Associated University in recent years, there are also many government-sponsored and self-funded students who came from universities like Tsinghua, Jiaotong, Central, and Zhejiang before the war. With travel cut off by the war, most of them are now in American companies. If you’re willing, Boss, they would definitely be happy to work for a company run by our own people!”

“Exactly. We Chinese are no worse than foreigners. Weilun, you tell them—including Mr. Yuan, who we had dinner with last time—that as long as they come to my company, I guarantee their compensation won’t be any worse than at a foreign company! Whatever equipment foreign companies have, we’ll get it. In short, our countrymen should support our countrymen!”

Others might not know, but how could Li Yian not? He knew how many major figures were among these students… To say nothing of others, there were at least several Nobel Prize winners and near-winners. If he could recruit them, not only would the company gain a large number of engineers, but when he went to North Borneo in the future, he wouldn’t have to worry about a shortage of talent…

Chapter 33: A Public Announcement

The morning sun shone through a foot-square window, a yellow ray of light piercing the gloom of the basement. Amid the brightness, a mosquito occasionally flitted past.

The June weather was far too muggy, and the damp basement was filled with the smell of mildew.

Although the environment had given Li Leqin a rash, he had no other choice. After all, this was the only home he could afford.

Two years ago, after the Pacific War broke out, Li Leqin had lost his financial support. His family, far away in Jiangsu Province, could no longer fund his studies as they had before. As a self-funded student, government sponsorship was out of the question.

“I just need a job…”

Li Leqin muttered to himself once again.

His gaze fell on the newspaper beside him and remained fixed there for a long time. The paper was full of job advertisements, but how many factories would be willing to hire a Chinese engineer?

What did it matter that he was a graduate of New York University?

Watching the beam of light slowly shift across the dark, damp basement, Li Leqin let out a long sigh and stood up. Once again, after washing up, he changed into a respectable set of clothes and smiled at his reflection in the mirror.

“Hello, my name is Leqin… Li…”

A nearly imperceptible hint of distress flickered across his smile.

Soon, he left the basement. At the street corner, he spent a few cents on a copy of The New York Times.

As usual, he read the newspaper while he walked. Suddenly, an advertisement caught his attention.

“Karl Metal Company is hiring various engineers and workers. Competitive salary and benefits. Interested parties, please call…”

Anyone would have been drawn to this recruitment notice because it was published in Chinese. As an engineer, Li Leqin could tell at a glance that it had been handwritten and then photo-transferred for printing. After all, an American newspaper office would certainly not have Chinese movable type.

The Chinese recruitment notice made Li Leqin so excited he nearly jumped for joy.

“My God! This… this is meant for Chinese people. It means they’re specifically hiring Chinese people…”

The notice, published in Chinese, was naturally aimed at the Chinese community. A seemingly simple advertisement immediately caused a huge stir in the Chinese circles of New York and beyond. This community was not large, so news traveled fast. In particular, the students stranded in the United States by the war—whether they were self-funded students who had dropped out due to financial hardship or government-sponsored students who had completed their studies but were unable to return home—all rushed to New York.

They flocked to the Karl Metal Company. For them, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

By the time Li Leqin took the bus to the Karl Metal Company, he saw that the area outside the company gate was packed with people—the vast majority of them Chinese. Crowds speaking Cantonese, Fujianese, or Mandarin chattered excitedly. Inside the office building, the corridor was also filled to the brim. No sooner had Li Leqin arrived than he ran into several familiar faces.

“Wenli.”

“Le’an.”

“Jiade…”

…

Not only did Li Leqin see friends who, like him, had studied engineering, but he even ran into someone from his hometown.

“Jing’an, what are you doing here? I thought you studied English and American literature.”

“Well, Brother Leqin,” Zhao Jing’an said, adjusting his glasses, “I figured a company this large can’t possibly need only engineers. Surely they’ll need someone to handle clerical work.”

“Being a clerk here has to be better than waiting tables in a restaurant!”

“Heh, you’d be lucky to find someone to hire you to wait tables. You know, you could be carrying a tray when some customer points at you and shouts ‘Japs!’”

“Japs,” meaning Japanese devils.

“Haha, then you can just wash dishes in the back.”

Those few simple sentences revealed the full extent of the difficulties the Chinese faced when looking for work in the United States. You not only had to be more qualified and more outstanding than others, but you also had to endure all sorts of injustices and discrimination.

“Do you know why this company published its recruitment ad in Chinese?”

“I heard the company was bought by a Chinese merchant, which is why they’re hiring only Chinese people.”

“To run such a large factory here in the United States… he’s truly the pride of our people!”

For a moment, the corridor was filled with voices of admiration. This was not empty flattery or sycophancy, but sincere praise from the heart. After all, to be able to operate such a large factory in the United States these days was truly something worthy of celebration.

Not only was it worthy of celebration, but it also attracted a great deal of attention. In fact, the Chinese recruitment advertisement was more than just an ad; it became something of a news story itself, so much so that even The Wall Street Journal reported on it and the events behind it.

“He acquired such a massive factory without spending a single cent?”

Reading the news in the paper, Song Peilun couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.

“How could a Chinese man pull off such an ‘Acquisition by Force and Guile’ in the United States, seizing another man’s entire business like that? The papers even praise him for being ‘quite resourceful.’”

As soon as his words fell, Wang Fuji, who was having breakfast, spoke up.

“Brother Song, you may not be aware, but this is America. For Mr. Karl, that factory was not an asset, but a burden. If he had continued to hold onto it, he would have been dragged into bankruptcy. During the Great Depression, many millionaires, even multimillionaires, were ruined in exactly this way. Bank interest, property taxes… with all of that piled on, even a man worth tens of millions couldn’t last for long.”

Unlike Song Peilun, an expert in engineering, Wang Fuji had studied economics. He understood not only the economy but also the United States. After all, he had been living and studying in the country for fifteen years. Having lived through the Great Depression, he had personally witnessed many millionaires go bankrupt.

“Therefore, giving the company away for free—machines, land, and all—was his best option. And it’s not as if Mr. Li isn’t taking on any risk himself. If he can’t secure any orders and turn the business around, it’s very likely the factory will drag him into bankruptcy as well…”

“So this ‘freebie’ isn’t so easy to take after all! One wrong move and he could lose his entire fortune. Still, this sort of thing is quite unheard of.”

As Song Peilun shook his head with a light sigh, Wang Fuji suddenly seemed to have an idea. He looked at Song Peilun and said…

“Brother Song, he published the recruitment ad in Chinese to look after our fellow countrymen. Perhaps we could lend him a hand as well? After all, our company has quite a few orders on hand.”

“You’re saying… we should give our orders to him?”

Staring at the news article in the paper, Song Peilun’s brow furrowed, and he spoke in a low voice.

“But he has no experience. The company’s orders are of great importance. If we rashly contract a company like this, I’m afraid it will be difficult to answer to the chairman.”

Chapter 34: A Big Deal

Li Yian, the originator of it all, had no idea what kind of repercussions his Chinese-language job advertisement would cause.

By the time Li Leqin and the others came for their interviews, Li Yian had already flown back to London.

In the few days since returning to London, he hadn’t been idle. From renting a warehouse to contacting the Razor Gang, he was busy. This time, however, the person he was meeting was not John, but the Razor Gang’s leader, Tommy, a British fellow in his forties. The meeting place was still the same bar.

“I heard from John that this transaction is different from the last one?”

“Yes, because the quantity is much larger. I’m not sure if you can handle it.”

Looking at Tommy, Li Yian stated his concern bluntly.

“No matter how large the quantity, I can handle it. What do you need? Cars, tires, or… dollars!”

Tommy’s confidence stemmed from the fact that he had dollars. Brothels were one of the Razor Gang’s most profitable businesses, and as soon as the US bomber fleets were stationed in Britain, he had opened brothels near the airfields. Those American GIs were quite generous, and they paid in dollars. Over the past few years, thanks to those prostitutes, the Razor Gang had accumulated a large amount of US currency.

That was why he was so confident—dollars could be used anywhere in the world, at least for now.

“Two hundred thousand pounds of coffee beans! This is an order I’ve proactively added!”

“Too little.”

“What?”

“I have two million pounds of coffee beans on hand!”

“What!”

In an instant, Tommy shot to his feet.

“Is that true?”

“Of course!”

Li Yian said directly, “And there’s also a shipment of cane sugar and cigarettes.”

What could he say? A Level 3 user could afford to be bold. Even though his storage space had only tripled, it was enough to hold several thousand tons of goods.

Could they handle such a large quantity of goods?

“The only question is, can you handle it?”

Faced with this question, Tommy fell completely silent. Two million pounds—a full ten times more than what he had asked for before.

A deal originally worth four hundred thousand pounds had suddenly become four million pounds!

Never mind London; no one in all of Britain could come up with that kind of money!

As for gold… don’t be ridiculous.

Watching the silent and grim-faced Tommy, Li Yian kept a smile on his face as he took a sip of whiskey from his glass.

In truth, compared to cane sugar, coffee was the most profitable business. Never mind Cuba; even in Colombia, the price of surplus coffee beans was less than a third of what it was before the war. Why was that?

Because it couldn’t be shipped out!

There was no spare shipping capacity. In the past, those countries relied on British and American ships for their exports. Now, the merchant fleets of both Britain and the US were prioritizing military transport. As for civilian goods like coffee beans—things people wouldn’t starve without—they naturally had no priority. As a result, the price of coffee beans at the source had plummeted.

But in Britain, its price remained very firm. A lot of people in Britain drank tea, but plenty of people drank coffee, too!

Finally, Tommy broke the silence.

“Two million pounds… no one in all of Britain can take that on. Besides, if that much coffee hits the market, the price will surely plummet. And for a coffee deal this large, we certainly can’t use the previous price.”

“Indeed.”

Li Yian nodded, signaling for him to continue.

Looking at the Chinese man before him, although he had no idea how he had brought two million pounds of coffee to Britain, Tommy realized this was an opportunity. Not only would it bring him enormous wealth, but it might even be a chance for the Razor Gang to go legit.

“So, I want you to entrust this shipment to me. I will purchase it at a price of two pounds per pound. However, I can only make a down payment right now, which is five hundred thousand pounds. If you need cars, I can provide six hundred brand-new German luxury cars. As a down payment, I hope this can be valued at six hundred thousand pounds. From then on, I will pay you three hundred thousand pounds on time every month. At this rate, I can pay off the full amount within a year.”

Then, Tommy looked at Li Yian with anticipation. Li Yian didn’t speak. He took a Lucky Strike cigarette from his golden case, and after lighting it, he seemed to be pondering something. In reality, he was just putting on an act.

The reason he had come here was simply to end his life of being a human courier.

He was a big boss now; he couldn’t keep working so hard, could he? So before leaving the United States, he had bought the coffee beans that Gambino was stuck with for an extremely low price—a full thousand tons or more. They had smuggled it from Cuba in small boats, originally hoping to make a huge profit, but unexpectedly, the United States suddenly lifted its coffee rationing, and the goods were left sitting on their hands. That was why Gambino had asked him for help, hoping he could get rid of the coffee beans.

Helping a friend and making a fortune at the same time! Of course he had to help.

This was a major deal worth several million pounds!

The only problem was that no one in Britain could handle such a large order, unless… it was done over time. This meant handing over the goods to one or a few agents, letting them be fully responsible for sales, and simply settling the payments on schedule.

Why get rid of it all at once? Because if that much coffee was left in a warehouse, it could easily be discovered and confiscated by the authorities. Not only would he not get a single penny, but he would also be hit with a massive fine.

“Dollars!”

Finally, as Tommy waited in anticipation, Li Yian spoke.

“Half of the three hundred thousand pounds each month, paid in dollars!”

“Done!”

After agreeing without a second thought, Tommy looked at Li Yian and said, “Mr. Li, you always bring us surprises.”

As he spoke, he raised his glass.

“Mr. Li, let’s toast to our partnership!”

“Cheers!”

The crisp clink of glasses echoed in the room. With both parties getting what they wanted, everyone seemed happy. However, the happy moment didn’t last long. The sudden wail of an air raid siren shattered the bar’s tranquility.

“Quick, to the basement!”

Amid the piercing shriek of the siren, Li Yian, Tommy, and the others ran into the basement, which quickly filled with people. Soon, the sound of explosions came from outside. The blasts rolled in from the distance, gradually growing closer and closer. The vibrations were so strong that debris began to fall from the basement ceiling. Looking at the old shelter, Li Yian even started to worry if it could withstand the bombing. He hoped he wouldn’t be unlucky enough to be buried alive in here…

“This godforsaken place… I can’t stay here another day. If I stay any longer, who knows, I might end up making a ‘contribution’ to the British…”

Chapter 35: A Series of Misunderstandings

As it turned out, even a dilapidated basement could withstand a bombing, as long as the bomb didn’t land directly on it.

When the all-clear siren sounded, Li Yian stepped out of the basement into the choking smell of gunpowder smoke. In the distance, a large building was on fire. People were running through the streets, some shouting the names of their loved ones. The wail of ambulance and fire engine sirens was incessant.

None of this was much different from when he first arrived in Britain a month ago. What was the only difference?

When he first arrived in England, not only was he lost after transmigrating, but he had also brought with him the common trait of a small-town youth from his previous life: poverty.

But now?

Not only was he no longer lost, but he was full of ambition for the future. And he had money… a lot of money!

Standing on the roadside, gazing at the apocalyptic scene before him, Li Yian took a cigarette from its case, tapped it a few times against the golden case, lit it, and took a drag.

A cigarette mixed with the smell of gunpowder… very satisfying.

These English blokes… it was no great loss if they died!

But there were good people among them, too, like Stana.

Although there had been a few misunderstandings between him and that woman at the beginning, now… well, things were good!

Only then did Li Yian realize he hadn’t gone to see Stana since returning from the United States. At the thought of her, the image of those incredibly long legs on her 1.75-meter-tall frame immediately appeared in his mind, causing his heart to stir.

And so, he immediately turned and headed for her house.

After letting himself in with his key, Li Yian caught the aroma of pan-seared steak coming from the kitchen. Seeing an open bottle of red wine on the table, the corners of his lips curved up as he thought to himself.

“This woman certainly knows how to live.”

The steak and red wine were things he had brought back for her from the United States last time. Inside his storage space, there was no need to worry about the beef spoiling.

He walked quietly to the kitchen. What came into view was a woman in a silk nightgown, its hem barely managing to conceal her rather dramatic curves. Admiring her seductive figure, Li Yian walked straight over. As he wrapped his arms around her from behind, he began kissing her neck. His hands, of course, did not stay idle.

“Darling, did you miss me?”

The woman’s body stiffened. She seemed not to have processed what was happening, just standing there woodenly. With his eyes closed, Li Yian continued to kiss her neck and collarbone, and as his hands moved up and down, he couldn’t help but feel a little surprised.

“Darling, it’s only been a few days, but you seem a little different…”

She seemed shorter too… Something felt off!

“Ah!”

A sudden scream made Li Yian open his eyes. Only then did he see clearly that the woman in his arms wasn’t Stana at all, but another woman. A very beautiful one, but… he had the wrong person.

They both asked at almost the same time.

“Who are you… mmph.”

The woman’s question was accompanied by a soft moan, and only then did Li Yian hastily withdraw his hand from where it shouldn’t be.

Looking at the disheveled woman, Li Yian’s gaze couldn’t help but travel over her body. Who was this person? How did she get here?

What the hell… Did I come into the wrong room?

“Darling, is the steak ready?”

Just then, a voice from behind made Gilly quickly straighten her clothes. Tying the sash at her waist actually made the view even more spectacular. Feeling the man’s gaze on her, Gilly couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.

This man… Who was he?

How could he do that? How did he get in?

Just as a storm of questions brewed in her mind, a fragrant breeze suddenly swept past. Stana threw herself into Li Yian’s arms.

“Darling, you’re back from the United States!”

It was him!

He was actually Chinese!

But, he was really handsome!

And his complexion looked incredibly healthy, a stark contrast to the tuberculosis-like pallor of English men.

Gilly’s eyes darted between Stana and her lover, her emotions a tangled mess.

It wasn’t just because this man had just groped her all over, touching her until she could barely control herself, but more importantly… he was truly handsome!

Looking at the couple before her, Gilly could only turn her attention to the steak. The steak was tender and juicy, just as delectable as him.

My God!

What are you thinking? How long has it been since you’ve seen a man… Not that you haven’t seen men, you see them every day, but it’s been a long time since you’ve seen one so handsome and young.

Taking a deep breath, Gilly looked at Stana and said.

“So, this Li is the spy you mentioned.”

“It was just a misunderstanding…”

Her friend’s question made Stana’s face flush, and she was just about to explain when Li Yian spoke.

“A beautiful misunderstanding. If it weren’t for this misunderstanding, how would I have ever met Stana?”

With that, he looked at the woman beside him. What did the past misunderstanding matter? She was already learning her lesson, and not for the first time.

A man must be magnanimous!

“Darling…”

The man’s words made Stana’s eyes light up. If Gilly hadn’t been there, she probably would have jumped on him already to receive his ‘re-education.’

Seeing her best friend’s expression, looking like she desperately wanted to pounce on the man, Gilly couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. But seeing Stana’s flushed face and ragged breathing, she simply cleared the plates.

“I’ll go wash the dishes. You two can chat…”

With that, she cleared the table. Almost the instant Gilly entered the kitchen, Stana sat directly on Li Yian’s lap, completely ignoring the fact that Gilly was just in the next room. Then again, at a time like this, one could hardly be concerned with others…

Chapter 36: Focusing on Career

At noon the next day, the person on the bed didn’t lazily open their eyes until noon. Glancing at the messy clothes on the floor and feeling the warmth beside him, Li Yian finally remembered that he had gone wild here all night yesterday.

“Stana,”

He had just patted her shoulder when Stana, lying prone on the bed, murmured drowsily.

“I can’t anymore. Don’t come looking for me. Gilly… Gilly’s outside, right…”

Was she really that generous?

It seemed she had said the same thing last night. Thinking of how Gilly looked yesterday with her clothes half-undone, Li Yian’s heart couldn’t help but flutter.

It seemed worth considering… It’s just that the bed was too small, only one point two meters. Otherwise, the three of them sleeping under the same blanket wouldn’t be out of the question.

Of course, this was just a thought. After all, he still had proper business to attend to.

As soon as he got dressed and stepped out, Li Yian saw Gilly. Looking haggard, her heart fell into disarray when she saw him.

Noticing her dark circles, Li Yian said apologetically.

“Sorry for disturbing you last night.”

“It wasn’t a disturbance, no…”

Before she could finish, Gilly wanted to bite her own tongue. What kind of thing was that to say? Was she telling this man that she actually enjoyed listening?

Flustered and embarrassed, Gilly rolled her eyes at Li Yian and said to him.

“You knew you were being disruptive, and you still didn’t stop.”

“That question…”

Li Yian said seriously.

“You should probably discuss that with Stana.”

Another eye-roll. Gilly, who felt she hadn’t gotten enough sleep, yawned.

“I can’t. I need to catch up on some sleep. The sofa is really uncomfortable.”

With that, she ignored Li Yian, went straight into the room, and got into bed with Stana.

That worked too?

Looking at the two mermaids on the bed… Li Yian still chose to leave.

A man, after all, must focus on his career!

While Tommy and the others were gathering the cars and funds, Li Yian rented an office in London and registered a company. Actually, it wasn’t really a company, just the Britain office of the Zhenhua Company.

Compared to the discrimination against Chinese people in the United States, at least in Britain, no lawyer found money to be a problem. As long as you could pay, a lawyer would handle the entire process. With the lawyer’s help, the London office of the Zhenhua Company was freshly established in just one day.

“So, you want me to help you manage the company?”

Stana, dressed in a cocktail dress, looked at the spacious office before her, the delight flashing in her eyes impossible to conceal.

“Yes, but it’s not really managing. The work is very simple—just basic coordination with clients. Every week, you just need to send their purchase orders to New York via telegram,”

Li Yian said straightforwardly.

“I’m going to New York at the end of the month, and I’ll probably be based there for the foreseeable future. I’ll try to come back whenever I have time. In London, besides you, I don’t know who else I can trust.”

“You’re going to New York again…”

The light in Stana’s eyes dimmed considerably. Seeing this, Li Yian walked over, wrapped his arms around her waist, and said.

“Darling, from now on, I’ll need you to look after things for me here in London.”

As he spoke, his hands were already roaming between her waist and hips. The woman immediately went limp in his arms, moaning softly.

“I really can’t bear for you to leave, darling. Promise me you’ll come back to me whenever you have time, okay?”

Although Stana greatly enjoyed her time with Li Yian, as a married woman, she was well aware that they were only lovers and would only ever be lovers.

“Don’t worry,”

he whispered in her ear. Li Yian’s gaze shifted to the spacious desk. The desk was very wide…

What was there to hesitate about?

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Who cares if there are no curtains…

…

As it turned out, not having curtains… didn’t matter at all.

Over the next few days, he was either lost in carnal pleasure or immersed in spiritual bliss. Their complete disregard for anyone else made the third wheel standing by gnash her teeth in frustration—though in truth, her heart was itching too.

Once again, Stana emerged from the room wearing only a thin silk nightgown. As she stood before the refrigerator, opening it to get a drink of water, Gilly, lying on the sofa, spoke resentfully.

“Darling, if you keep this up, I’m going to die.”

Looking at Gilly as she sat up on the sofa, the light from the refrigerator revealed her dark eye circles. Gilly, in turn, saw Stana’s radiant, love-flushed face.

Now, she finally understood why Stana had looked so beautiful recently. She was completely nourished, like a peeled egg—so fresh and delicious that Gilly couldn’t help but want to take a few bites herself!

“Darling, I’m sorry. Listening must be making you anxious.”

Stana walked over to Gilly with a glass of ice water, a beaming smile on her face.

“Why don’t you join us?”

“What!”

Gilly’s eyes widened as she said in shock.

“What did you say?”

“I said, we can be together…”

Stana leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“He’s not just young and handsome, and you’ve heard… he’s very impressive! Come on, let’s go together…”

Looking at Gilly, Stana spoke in a seductive tone. In truth, she had her own agenda. She wanted to bring Gilly to bed. With the two of them together… they could surely entice this man, making him return to London often.

For Stana, who had just returned to the upper class, she didn’t want to fall back to the bottom of society again. This man could fully guarantee that. Besides, he was very young and handsome, and when she was with him, she felt completely happy, as if she had regained her youth and was falling in love all over again. However, Stana knew very well that she was a married woman, and nothing would come of her relationship with him.

Therefore… she needed Gilly.

“I, I…”

Gilly bit her lip gently. While she was still hesitating, she was already pulled to her feet. Just like that, Stana led her into that room.

Lying in bed waiting for Stana to bring him water, Li Yian heard footsteps. He opened his eyes and, by the moonlight, could see two figures walking in.

It was her!

Instantly, Li Yian couldn’t help but swallow. Stana had already brought Gilly in and pulled her to the bedside. Then, holding Gilly with one hand, she crawled over and looked at him, her voice bewitching as she said.

“Darling, your tea has arrived…”

Chapter 37: A Good Find

The tea was a fine English milk tea, delicious and sweet. However, just because it was good didn’t mean one should overindulge.

A man couldn’t always be lost in such comforts; he still had to prioritize his career.

Soon, Tommy had delivered all the cars—a full 600 of them. They were brand new, some German-made, some American, and most of them were luxury models. The Razor Gang had driven them straight out of the dock warehouses. These were pre-war imports that had been sealed away due to official injunctions.

For the Razor Gang, this was a business with no initial investment. But Li Yian couldn’t really say anything about it. After all, they were the Mafia; this was their line of work. As long as they weren’t running their schemes on you, it was fine.

After the cars were delivered, his experience points, as expected, increased by another several hundred thousand. However, for Li Yian, who had seen his fair share of high-stakes situations, this amount of experience no longer brought him much surprise.

All that was left was to wait—wait for the plane to take off, and then he would be on his way to the United States.

Compared to Britain, the United States offered more opportunities and a much larger market. The sugar market alone would be enough for him to accumulate the capital needed for the reconstruction of North Borneo.

But while he waited, Li Yian didn’t stay idle. He drove to a second-hand market. The war had changed many people’s lives, and the wealthy were no exception. A simple example of this was Britain’s current top income tax rate, which had reached a staggering 99.25%!

This was surely the pinnacle of human taxation!

This peak level of taxation made it difficult for many British people to maintain their lifestyles. With insufficient rations, many had to turn to the black market, which required money. To get that money, they had no choice but to sell their old belongings, leading to a boom in the second-hand market.

People bought and sold goods, trading for supplies. You could find anything here, perhaps even a painting by Picasso. Li Yian had once read a report about a real estate tycoon from China who had spent over a hundred million at an auction to buy a piece of porcelain from the Qianlong era. That very porcelain vase had been acquired by the seller’s father during World War II at a London second-hand market in exchange for a can of food.

What was even more ridiculous was that the porcelain piece had served as a decoration in their family’s kitchen for half a century.

A can of food might not get you a beautiful woman, but it could definitely get you a priceless antique.

Finding a hidden gem!

Who wouldn’t love something like that?

Wartime London was one big farm—any patch of land that could be used for planting was covered in vegetables. Not only were balconies and window boxes filled with various greens, but even Hyde Park had been turned into a vegetable field. Although it was a field, the park paths on either side were crowded with small stalls. On them were displayed all sorts of items: cameras, watches, tea sets, even old leather shoes and overcoats. In short, you could find almost anything. Some stalls had signs that read “Cigarettes only” or “Food only.”

This was a unique feature of wartime: barter was the most popular form of trade.

As he walked, Li Yian scanned the second-hand goods around him. There was certainly no shortage of porcelain; basically every stall had some, and there were many pieces that were clearly made in China.

However, Li Yian knew absolutely nothing about antiques. But that didn’t matter.

After all, he had the System!

When Li Yian bent down and picked up a flower vase, the System, as expected, displayed a notification.

[Discovered blue and white porcelain from the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. You can learn the skill “Porcelain Appraisal.” Learn?]

Just as he thought, as long as he made contact with an object, he could learn the relevant skill!

“Learn!”

Li Yian quickly selected “Yes,” and the knowledge of the skill flooded into his mind.

In an instant, he, a complete novice when it comes to antiques, gained a thorough understanding of porcelain. The ordinary vase in his eyes was now something he could identify the origin and stylistic era of at a glance. In a second-hand market, this was an incredibly valuable skill.

“Sir, you must be Chinese. This vase is from China, very rare. If you’re interested, it’s just one pound.”

Before the man could finish his introduction, Li Yian shook his head.

“I’ll keep looking…”

Although there were many things at the second-hand market, he didn’t find many items worth acquiring. The best were just a few pieces of porcelain from the Qianlong era, worth only two or three pounds. After all, in this day and age, to most Europeans, these ceramics from China were just household decorations.

Just as Li Yian was feeling a little disappointed and was about to leave, a small, inconspicuous item on a stall suddenly caught his eye. He walked straight over and took a look. Yes, it was what he thought it was.

But surely it couldn’t be a replica, right?

A Chenghua Doucai Chicken Cup!

Could it be such a coincidence?

Picking up the cup from the stall, Li Yian began to examine it carefully. As he did so, the stall owner, an old man reading a book, didn’t even glance at him.

The six-character kaishu script mark in a square frame on the bottom filled the entire base, the lines thick and the color deep…

In truth, holding it in his hand, Li Yian couldn’t really tell. After all, he was a total novice when it came to antiques.

Besides, this particular item had been imitated for generations. With so many fakes out there, it wasn’t easy to find a genuine one.

Though he didn’t really know, everyone harbors the hope of finding a hidden gem.

Suppressing his excitement, Li Yian asked.

“Sir, how much is this cup?”

Only then did the old man use the cane at his feet to tap a cardboard sign nearby.

“Barter only.”

Well, that’s something I have plenty of!

Li Yian thought for a moment, then pulled out an unopened pack of Camel cigarettes.

“I’ll trade this pack of cigarettes for this, and…”

He pointed to a small, book-sized abstract oil painting next to it.

“…this painting. What do you think?”

The oil painting looked quite pleasant. He could take it back and hang it on the dining room wall.

The moment the old man saw the Camel cigarettes, his eyes lit up, and he quickly said,

“Deal!”

A pack of cigarettes for a Chenghua Doucai Chicken Cup worth two hundred million! This deal was more than worth it… Alright, now I have a family heirloom!

He carefully wrapped the cup and put it in his bag. As he picked up the oil painting, a notification popped up from the System.

“Congratulations, user, for trading cigarettes for a Qing Dynasty imitation of a Chenghua Doucai Chicken Cup and a Picasso oil painting. You can learn the skill ‘Art Appraisal.’ Learn?”

Another new skill!

The only disappointing part was that the chicken cup was a Qing Dynasty imitation, not a family heirloom by a long shot.

The oil painting, on the other hand, was an unexpected surprise.

A Picasso!

This wasn’t just a painting, it was pure money!

Chapter 38: The Yongle Encyclopedia

In a second-hand market, you never know what you’ll encounter!

Of course, you also don’t know what kind of new skills you might unlock!

Porcelain, works of art, bronzeware…

“Recent imitation of a Western Zhou bronze vessel. After creation, it was placed in a cesspit to accelerate…”

The prompt that popped up from the System almost made Li Yi’an throw the bronze vessel from his hands.

It was actually soaked in a cesspit!

But even so, the seller still spoke of it as if it were a priceless treasure.

“One hundred packs of Camel cigarettes, sir! Only one hundred packs. My father bought this when he was in China. It’s an antique from thousands of years ago!”

Well now…

His daddy had probably run into someone who specialized in swindling foreign devils. Thanks to a TV drama he had seen, Li Yi’an knew that ever since China had opened its doors, plenty of “experts” had specialized in making fake antiques to fool Westerners.

According to them, if they ran into those clueless foreign devils and didn’t swindle them, they’d be letting down their ancestors.

“I’m very sorry, I just don’t have that many cigarettes. It’s a great piece, what a pity…”

Shaking his head regretfully, Li Yi’an didn’t expose the sham. Having already spent half the day at the second-hand market, his haul was quite substantial. Aside from the Picasso oil painting, he had also acquired over twenty pieces of porcelain from the Ming dynasty and the Kangxi and Qianlong eras of the Qing dynasty, all for a mere few dozen packs of cigarettes.

Although the System didn’t provide an appraisal value for these items, and he didn’t even gain experience points from each transaction—because the System was assisting him with the authentication—Li Yi’an was still very satisfied.

After all, he now had family heirlooms.

“Putting other things aside, that vase alone, in a few decades, would be worth two ‘small goals’!”

Marveling at how the second-hand market was full of treasures, Li Yi’an, who had already gained a lot, started to leave from another direction. Just as he was about to leave the park, he suddenly froze.

His 5.0 vision came into play at this moment, his eyes glued to a pile of books… If it weren’t for the yellowed covers and the vertical text that stood out starkly among a pile of English books, Li Yi’an wouldn’t have given them a second glance. Yet now, he stood rooted to the spot.

Staring motionlessly at the few books with yellowed covers, Li Yi’an could hardly believe his eyes. After a moment of astonishment, he hurried toward the old English woman’s bookstall. But as he drew near, he deliberately slowed his pace to avoid revealing his eagerness.

Getting closer, Li Yi’an forced himself to calm down. As he picked up one of the books, he appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was ecstatic. Even his hands might have been trembling slightly.

“The Yongle Encyclopedia.”

The moment he picked up the book, he opened the System. The information it displayed told him that these books were the original edition of the Yongle Encyclopedia!

Before coming to the second-hand market, he had never imagined he would see these books here. Not just one volume, but… a full thirty-something volumes!

The few thick stacks of books made him wonder if he was seeing things!

“Sir, you’re Chinese, aren’t you? My husband brought these back from China over forty years ago. He was serving in the army at the time…”

Just then, the old woman’s words reached his ears.

Serving in the army!

Fucking Eight-Nation Alliance!

No… screw your daughter!

The old woman, wearing glasses, looked at him and said,

“If you’re interested, it’s two pounds per volume!”

Hearing this, Li Yi’an immediately tossed the book down.

“Ma’am, these are just a few books! And they’re incomplete volumes, at that…”

“Sir, if you want them, I have some more at home, hmm…”

The woman adjusted her glasses, thought for a moment, and said,

“About a box full, I think. Yes, a Chinese-style wooden chest. I really don’t understand what Adam was thinking. When other people went to China, they brought back porcelain and gold, but he actually brought back a whole box of books. Could he even read those characters? If you want them all, I can sell them to you for just two hundred pounds.”

What, a whole box!

Are they all from the Yongle Encyclopedia?

Wait, how could there be so many?

This isn’t some kind of trap, is it?

As it turned out, Li Yi’an was overthinking it. When he drove the old woman to her house, he wasn’t even invited inside. She led him directly to the yard, to a small wooden shed about one or two square meters in size. It was only when the old woman pointed to the Chinese-style wooden chest under a pile of firewood that he understood he had let his imagination run wild. Only then did he take his hand out of his pocket, where his gun was resting.

“They’re all in here, a whole box full, all of these books…”

Looking at the wooden chest stored with the firewood, Li Yi’an strongly suspected that if he hadn’t shown up, perhaps this winter or the next, these books would have very likely been turned into kindling by the old woman to heat her home!

A monstrous waste!

This was an absolute monstrous waste!

Although he felt a surge of anger, he felt even more relief—relief that he had come here.

Especially when he opened the chest and saw it was packed full of volumes! That’s right, it was the Yongle Encyclopedia. The vast majority of them were even preserved in their original protective cases. Who could have imagined that the Yongle Encyclopedia, a treasure lamented and yearned for by later generations, was right here? Although it wasn’t the complete set, there were at least six or seven hundred volumes!

While inwardly celebrating his good fortune, Li Yi’an said,

“Ma’am, these books certainly aren’t worth two hundred pounds, but I have…”

As he spoke, he took out four cartons of Camel cigarettes from his bag and said,

“I have four cartons of Camel cigarettes. I can trade them for the box, if you’re will—”

Before he could finish, the old woman interrupted impatiently,

“Deal!”

As everyone knew, on the market, Camel cigarettes were even better currency than pounds. Especially four cartons! Even as the chest of books was being loaded into the car, the old woman couldn’t stop saying,

“Adam finally did one good thing in his life…”

Yes, and you’ve done a good thing too!

Li Yi’an couldn’t help but feel incredibly fortunate. As he drove away, his heart was still pounding with excitement. He knew the value of those books well—it was something that couldn’t even be measured in money.

“Those aren’t just books! They’re clearly national treasures!”

Beaming with joy, he was in such a good mood that he had already secretly decided that in the future, whenever he had time, he had to come to Britain often. Not for any other reason, but just to browse the second-hand markets. Who knew what kind of treasures he might find here?

Those English blokes had quite a lot of treasures in their hands…

This was no longer just about finding a steal; this was about bringing back lost national treasures…

Chapter 39: The Assassin

During the war, you could find a good deal in the second-hand markets every day.

Over the next few days, Li Yi’an’s footprints covered nearly every second-hand market in London as he searched everywhere for antiques, especially those related to China. Although many foreign museums were interested in Chinese antiques during these years, the number of treasures scattered among the populace was countless.

He made some acquisitions almost every time, both Chinese and foreign. After a few days, although he had gone through over two hundred cartons of cigarettes, the items he had collected were nearly enough to fill a small museum.

Finding good deals by day, playing poker at night, and battling little vixens—two of them, at that.

Life was quite pleasant, but pleasant days always come to an end. A few days later, on another Wednesday, Li Yi’an once again boarded a seaplane bound for the United States. As the Empire G-type seaplane took off from the Thames River, he cast one last look back at London.

There was a hint of reluctance in his expression. After all, this was where he had made his first pot of gold. And besides, there were the two little vixens.

And New York?

That was home!

Whenever arriving in a new place, the most important things to sort out were “food” and “lodging.”

Although he had been to New York several times before, he had stayed in a hotel at first, and later treated the company as his home.

But now that he planned to develop his career in New York long-term, that wouldn’t do.

So, before he arrived in New York, the company had already rented a residence for him—a typical brownstone. Pushing open the first thick, solid wood door revealed a second, glass door.

“Boss, what do you think?” Zhu Yihai said, as if trying to claim credit.

“This is the living room, the kitchen is over here, and this is the study. The stairs under the main staircase lead to the basement, which has two bedrooms and a bathroom. It can be rented out or used for servants. There are three bedrooms upstairs, and the back door leads directly to the yard…”

Zhu Yihai had spent a full half-month finding this house. While the residents here couldn’t be called extravagantly wealthy, they were definitely part of the affluent class.

“Mm, not bad, not bad at all. You’ve worked hard, Yihai,” Li Yi’an said.

He naturally knew why Zhu Yihai was so proactive. He was feeling a sense of crisis. After all, the scale of Karl Metal Company far exceeded that of Zhenhua Company, and he held no position at Karl’s company, so it was natural for him to feel a bit unsettled.

“By the way, have you found the person I asked you to look for?”

What kind of person?

A bodyguard, of course. Although Karl Metal Company had already hired over a hundred security guards, those guards, like Karl, had once been members of the German American Bund, and the uniformed kind at that, which was more or less equivalent to America’s Nazi Stormtroopers.

Although those guards harbored all sorts of resentments towards Americans, Li Yi’an still felt that his own people were more reliable. After all, he would have to leave the United States eventually.

Fearing that the boss would think him incompetent, Zhu Yihai quickly explained.

“Boss, you said you didn’t want anyone from the gangs, so it was definitely hard to find someone in Chinatown. But despite that, I managed to find one person for you. It’s said that he was once a soldier, a personal guard to a certain warlord. He has excellent martial arts skills and is a crack shot. Mr. Situ of the On Leong Tong Headquarters tried to hire him several times but failed.”

A warlord’s personal guard?

Li Yi’an asked curiously.

“Oh? Why couldn’t they hire him?”

“He said he doesn’t join gangs.”

Li Yi’an immediately broke into a smile.

“Well, we certainly think alike on that.”

Though they hadn’t met, this refusal to join a gang instantly gave Li Yi’an a favorable impression of the man.

“Right, Yihai, you also need to keep an eye on our cooperation with the Gambino family. Stay in contact with them, find out what we need. That’s the business that will really make us big money!”

After saying this, Li Yi’an looked at him and added earnestly, “Yihai, I trust you to handle things. Matters like these are the kind that I can only feel at ease with if you’re the one handling them!”

Those two simple sentences made Zhu Yihai quickly say, “With the boss’s trust in me, I will definitely not let you down!”

In that instant, Zhu Yihai, who had been worried about his future position in the company, finally stopped worrying. That was right, what was Karl Metal Company?

It was just a cover. The boss was doing such big business; if he were to attract the attention of the IRS, it would be disastrous. That was why he bought Karl Metal Company.

After puzzling it out, Zhu Yihai had a clear understanding of his own position—I am the boss’s confidant!

Thinking that the boss must be tired from his journey after just arriving in New York, Zhu Yihai quickly took his leave.

After Zhu Yihai left, Li Yi’an sat on the sofa for a while, looking at the spacious living room. He knew that in a sense, this house was his first real home in this world.

But it seemed like something was missing in this home.

Hmm, it was missing a few vixens…

…

The man before him was about thirty-six or thirty-seven years old, of medium height. Standing there, he was so unassuming that almost no one would notice him.

“You were a soldier?”

“Yes, Boss.”

“A warlord’s personal guard?”

“Not exactly, but I was a bodyguard for important people.”

“Have you ever killed anyone?”

“I have.”

Ding En still looked as if every word was gold.

“Are you carrying a gun?”

“I am.”

With that, he drew a pistol from the small of his back.

“Let me see.”

When the gun was out, Li Yi’an couldn’t help but smile. It was actually a Box Cannon. This gun… was truly familiar.

“It seems you really were a soldier. Tell me, why did you come to America?”

“To be honest, Boss, I’m a wanted fugitive by the government. I had nowhere else to hide, so I fled to America.”

“Oh?”

Li Yi’an was intrigued.

“In 1935, I took part in the assassination of the traitor to the country, Wang Zhaoming. When it failed, I had no choice but to flee to America.”

Whoa!

In an instant, Li Yi’an’s expression changed. He had just wanted to hire a bodyguard, never expecting to find a character like this.

“So, if the boss is worried about being implicated, I can understand.”

Ding En’s words made Li Yi’an laugh out loud.

“Implicated in what? Every man has the right to execute a traitor. Alright, you’re hired!”

Hearing this, Ding En was stunned. His background was sensitive, and no one in Chinatown dared to hire him. Even when the On Leong Tong Headquarters wanted to hire him, they only wanted to use his skills. This was also why he didn’t stay in Chinatown; after all, he had also participated in the assassination attempt on the one in Chongqing. But he never expected this man wouldn’t care about any of that at all.

Before Ding En could even react, Li Yi’an asked again.

“When can you start? By the way, can you drive?”

Chapter 40: First Steps of an Arms Dealer

Exorbitant profits from illicit dealings will bring you wealth, but not status. Only money made in the light of day will bring you status, and status will solidify your wealth, even if its origins are dark.

Li Yi’an couldn’t even recall where he had seen or experienced this sentiment, but it was the truth.

No one will care how dirty your first pot of gold was. People will only mock you when you fall from grace. If you place two gold bars side by side, no one can tell which one is clean and which is dirty.

All people ever see is the gold!

But only clean gold can bring status, and that was why Li Yi’an had acquired the Karl Metal Company. This factory wasn’t for him to launder his money; it was the starting point of his enterprise. One could even say it was the future foundation of the North Borneo Company.

For this very reason, he took a car to the Karl Metal Company the day after arriving in New York.

Compared to its previous deserted state, the Karl Metal Company was now bustling with activity. From a distance, one could already see black smoke billowing from the factory’s smokestacks. In this era, those columns of black smoke didn’t represent pollution; they represented power, modernity, and wealth.

The factory had resumed operations.

After Karl sold the factory, all his problems ceased to exist. The contractors who had been suffocating under the weight of heavy orders were now happy to farm out some of them to the Karl Metal Company. Thus, in just a few days, the factory had resumed production. Although there were only a few hundred skilled workers, things were finally moving in the right direction.

The moment he stepped into the office building, Li Yi’an sensed that it was different from before. Security guards stood in the lobby, their gazes fixed forward. It had to be said, these guys who used to be the muscle for the German American Bund before the war really looked the part.

Li Yi’an couldn’t care less if these men were Nazi sympathizers. What he needed was a group of armed guards in their prime, not a bunch of old men. These men only had American green cards, which had spared them from being drafted, and their pro-German history had led to their ostracization by American society. In fact, many of the company’s technicians were in a similar situation.

Why not use people who were already marginalized? Besides, from Li Yi’an’s perspective, those who were ostracized like this were more likely to go with him to North Borneo in the future.

He was, after all, determined to pack up the American factory and move it to North Borneo. The future North Borneo Company certainly couldn’t just be about running plantations. Industrialization—how was he to industrialize?

Packing up the factory was the best option.

Finally, just as the elevator reached the sixth floor and the doors opened, Karl’s voice reached his ears.

“See, Boss? In less than a month, I’ve restored production at the factory and secured one million seven hundred thousand dollars in orders. They’re subcontracted orders with limited profit, but our factory has finally survived…”

Seeing Karl’s excited expression, Li Yi’an nodded and said, “I knew it wouldn’t be a mistake to leave the company in your hands. With you here, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a mistake. Although the company had gone bankrupt under his management, it wasn’t due to his business skills but rather the circumstances, compounded by his identity as a Nazi supporter.

The broader environment then was still shadowed by the Great Depression, and as for being a Nazi supporter, that was merely an excuse for Americans to ostracize him.

I know how to pick the right man for the job!

However, the fellow was getting a little cocky.

So, he continued, “But we can’t just be satisfied with taking subcontracted orders. The profits are low, and we’re at the mercy of others. So, we need to develop new business and launch new products!”

“You’re right, Boss. Only by developing new products and opening up new lines of business can we survive!” Karl nodded in agreement. He was now tied tightly to this company’s fate.

“Karl, tell me, what’s the most popular product on the market right now?”

“The most popular product?”

After a moment of thought, Karl said, “Firearms!”

“Yes, firearms!” Li Yi’an said directly. “In a time of war, the most popular and profitable products are definitely firearms, nothing else. So, we’re going to enter the arms market!”

As he spoke, Li Yi’an pulled a roll of blueprints from a paper tube he had brought with him. “This is a submachine gun I’ve designed. It will be our first product!”

What was the point of drawing up blueprints?

To put it into production, of course!

In fact, when he acquired the Karl Metal Company, he had already decided to enter the arms market. It was a bit late, but if he seized the opportunity, there was still much to be gained.

After all, the profits from firearms were very substantial.

“This is… a submachine gun?” Karl looked at the drawings in surprise. “Are these all the blueprints there are?”

“Yes.”

“How is that possible?”

Although Karl was a former millionaire and the previous owner of the company, he was no stranger to metal and machinery production, and he was familiar with weapons. A submachine gun had so many parts; how could there be only a few dozen sheets of blueprints?

“Why is it not possible?”

“But Boss, who are we going to sell it to after we make it?” Karl thought for a moment and said. “If it were last year, we might have been able to bid for the new submachine gun contract. But the new model is already in production. Even if you’ve designed a better one, the military is unlikely to accept it.”

Hearing Karl’s words, Li Yi’an shook his head. “Karl, you’ve misunderstood something!”

He pointed at the blueprints and said, “This submachine gun has only seventeen parts in total, and about half of them are stamped parts. Not only is it easy to produce, but its cost is unimaginably low. It’s definitely cheaper than the British Sten gun. Do you know what the ultimate principle in this world is?”

A smile touched the corners of his lips as Li Yi’an said, “Cheapness!”

Emphasizing his point, he added, “As long as your product is cheap enough, you’ll never have to worry about sales. Why did the British choose the Sten gun? Because it was cheap. This one performs better, is more reliable, and is even cheaper. So, I believe it will definitely have a market!”

Li Yi’an’s confidence stemmed from the fact that while the United States seemed wealthy, it was actually a spendthrift. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been putting car transmissions and engines in their tanks. To put it bluntly, the seemingly rich and powerful United States was also pinching pennies. They just didn’t have better options. Whenever a cheaper method was available, they would prioritize it.

It was simple: cheap is king.

“This…”

Flipping through the blueprints before him, Karl asked with some doubt, “Can it really fire?”

Li Yi’an let out a laugh. “What do you think?”

His boss’s rhetorical question made Karl pause. “Who knows until we build it? By the way, ever since you acquired the company, reporters have been asking to interview you.”

Chapter 41: Havana

Li Yi’an flatly refused the reporter’s interview request.

It’s good to get famous early, but the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

A man of yellow skin had swallowed a white man’s factory whole without paying a single cent. In the eyes of some Americans, this was absolutely unacceptable. If they decided to stage a “zero-cost acquisition” of their own against him, wouldn’t he be completely screwed?

Besides, the only reason a reporter would come for an interview was to report on his “zero-cost acquisition.” That was like lighting a lantern in an outhouse—just looking for shit to stir up.

And so, Li Yi’an simply refused.

What was the most important thing right now?

Manufacturing a new product, of course.

…

How long does it take to produce seventeen parts?

Four days!

From designing the fixtures to manufacturing them, then adjusting the machinery, it took four days to produce the first batch of products using prototype production methods.

Four days later, the first batch of one hundred Model 43 Uru submachine guns was fresh off the assembly line.

Stroking the submachine gun in his hands, Li Yi’an felt a surge of excitement. It wasn’t just because he had designed it, but because this submachine gun’s existence meant he had brought a product from the future into this world.

No matter what, even if it was just a submachine gun, it was from the future!

As this thought crossed his mind, Li Yi’an raised the gun and unleashed a full burst at the target in front of the wall. Amid the rapid gunfire, the wooden target was riddled like a honeycomb. Although the sandbags behind it occasionally spurted dust, the vast majority of the bullets hit their mark.

“Not bad, not bad at all…”

Li Yi’an said smugly, holding the submachine gun.

“Well, this gun is definitely better than the British Sten gun. At the very least…”

Flipping the safety with his thumb, Li Yi’an pulled the trigger and smiled.

“At the very least, it’s a lot safer than the British’s pipe gun.”

Seeing his boss’s triumphant look, Karl spoke up from the side.

“Boss, that may be true, but even the best product has to be sold first. Otherwise, it’s completely worthless!”

Karl knew this from bitter experience. Why had his factory changed hands? Because the things he produced wouldn’t sell. It wasn’t because of the product’s quality, but because… a mention of the past was enough to make Karl want to cry.

“Mr. Karl, it will definitely sell.”

Li Leqin, who was standing nearby, interjected.

“After all, no one in this world can refuse a weapon that’s both cheap and exceptionally high-performing.”

Although he hadn’t designed this submachine gun himself, as the process engineer who had participated in its entire production, adjusted the research, and helped design the tooling process, Li Leqin knew very well that this was an outstanding weapon.

“And this is exactly that kind of weapon. We’ve compared it with the Thompson submachine gun, the M3 submachine gun, and the Sten gun. Its accuracy is higher, its reliability is better, and its cost is the lowest. Even the Sten can’t be made as cheaply…”

How could it?

This gun had only seventeen parts, and a significant number of them were stamped parts.

“Li, you’re absolutely right,” Chief Designer Simpson added.

“I asked some old colleagues at Inland. The front lines are always short on submachine guns, and the M3 submachine gun is treated as a disposable light weapon—they just toss it if it gets damaged. So, if a suitable replacement comes along, the military would definitely be willing to make a purchase.”

“You see, Karl? The masses have sharp eyes.”

Li Yi’an turned to glance at Li Leqin and gave him a nod before asking,

“Where are you from? When did you come to the United States?”

“Boss, my hometown is Jinan, in Shandong. I was admitted to Tsinghua University in nineteen thirty-four. When the War of Resistance began in nineteen thirty-seven, I moved south with the university. In nineteen thirty-eight, I went to study in the United States via French Indochina…”

The seemingly brief reply was, in fact, the story of an entire generation. Perhaps the reason so many talented people emerged from that generation was precisely because their experiences taught them what needed to be done.

Looking at Li Leqin and the other compatriots on the test range, Li Yi’an thought to himself that what he needed to do now was to provide them with a platform to utilize their strengths, to let these talented individuals put their skills to the best possible use.

…

To provide them with such a platform required a great deal of capital. Once again, Li Yi’an resumed his role as a human cargo carrier. But unlike his previous trip to Havana, this time at the airport, besides the private driver, there was someone else—Song Bing. The girl, dressed in a long chiffon dress and a sun hat, was standing next to a car.

Seeing this beautiful girl, who bore a slight resemblance to a certain Hong Kong starlet with the surname Li from a later era, Li Yi’an couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

“Miss Song, what are you…?”

“Hello, Mr. Li. Welcome to Havana,” Song Bing said with natural grace.

“My father knew you were coming and specially asked me to pick you up. If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to be a guest at our home.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.”

Li Yi’an instinctively declined. After all, staying at someone else’s house came with many inconveniences.

“Miss Song, I appreciate your father’s kind offer, but I have already booked a room at a hotel. Please thank your esteemed father and Miss Song for me.”

The man’s politeness and refusal caught Song Bing a little off guard. After all, it was rare for anyone to turn her down.

On the way to the hotel, Song Bing took the initiative to break the awkward silence.

“Mr. Li, thank you for your help. Because of your orders, several of the Chinese merchants’ sugar mills have all reopened. I didn’t expect you to come back so soon, and with so many more orders…”

Looking at the man beside her, Song Bing’s voice was filled with gratitude. Compared to her father’s previously worried expression, he was now completely devoted to the sugar mill, organizing production. Seeing her father so cheerful had lifted her own spirits considerably.

“You’re too kind, Miss Song. We’re all compatriots; it’s only right that we help each other. Besides, your father included an extra ten percent in the last shipment. Your father is an exceptionally generous man of business, which I truly admire. But there’s no need for that in the future. Business is business, after all, and we’ll be cooperating for the long term.”

Li Yi’an’s nonchalant words fell on Song Bing’s ears, and she sensed a certain distance. This man seemed to be intentionally keeping her at arm’s length.

It was… really quite puzzling.

The girl in the chiffon dress raised an eyebrow and resolved not to speak again. However, after just a few minutes, her curiosity got the better of her.

“Mr. Li, what do you do in the United States? Is it just trade?”

“Trade is just a side business, I suppose. I recently acquired a factory in New York.”

Hearing this, the girl grew even more curious and quickly asked, “So you own a factory too, Mr. Li? What does it produce?”

Chapter 42: Never Forget July Seventh

So this is just a factory that produces mechanical parts!

Once again, on the way to the Karl Metal Company, General Jiang frowned as he looked over the documents in his hand.

“Are you sure this company can take our order?”

He looked at Song Peilun beside him, his tone filled with doubt.

Ever since arriving in the United States last year, General Jiang had discovered that things were not as simple as he had imagined. Although the U.S. had approved aid to China, American production capacity was extremely strained. With Britain and Russia being prioritized, there was very little left to provide for China. So the Americans were direct about it—you find your own suppliers to produce the weapons you need, and just send the bill to the U.S. government.

And as the director of the National Defense Supply Company, General Jiang suddenly found himself in a frustratingly ironic situation—waving wads of U.S. dollars but having nowhere to spend them. He had even gone to Canada to try and place an order with the Inglis Company for weapons urgently needed back home.

But the Inglis Company also prioritized orders from Britain. As for China… they had to get in line.

“General, this company is owned by one of our own countrymen. When the time comes, we’ll appeal to his heart and reason with him. He’s Chinese—can’t we persuade him?” Song Peilun said directly, fully aware of the National Defense Supply Company’s current predicament.

“Besides, we don’t have any other options right now, do we? The Inglis Company sent a telegram saying the earliest they can supply us is the end of the year. But the war at home, how can it wait until the end of the year?”

Wang Fuji, who was sitting to the side, chimed in.

“And the pistols they originally promised to deliver were requisitioned by the British. Even if they take our order now, there’s no guarantee they won’t just requisition it again later.”

“Damn those English blokes! Last year, when the Japanese were repeatedly bombing Chongqing and our country desperately needed planes, they conspired with that old bastard to divert the aircraft meant as aid for us to North Africa. Now, the weapons we custom-ordered have been requisitioned by them again, and we were the ones who provided the physical sample for those pistols…”

The mere mention of this matter set General Jiang’s blood boiling. After all, he was the one who personally negotiated the order with the Inglis Company. He had even personally handed the Canadians the prototypes for that batch of requisitioned pistols—five Belgian-made FN1935s. They had reverse-engineered them from the physical models. But unexpectedly, just half a month ago, after only a thousand had been delivered, the rest were requisitioned by the British. The FN35 was far superior to the Brits’ crappy revolvers.

“Exactly, General. At least here, we don’t have to worry about the English blokes snatching our order, right?”

Hearing this, General Jiang nodded. It didn’t feel good to have their order snatched away, but it felt even worse to be reprimanded in telegrams from home.

“It’s just… have they ever produced firearms? It’s only a machine factory.”

Hearing the general’s doubt, Wang Fuji said, “General, we’ve been in the United States for over a year now and have visited so many companies. How many of them made guns in the past? How do you think the U.S. can provide so many weapons to the Allies? It’s because civilian factories are also participating in weapons production!”

“That’s true…”

Nodding slightly, General Jiang said, “I just hope this trip won’t be in vain.”

As it turned out, General Jiang and his men would absolutely not be disappointed. Their only disappointment was that the somewhat legendary boss wasn’t there. According to the manager, Karl, he had gone to Havana for the weekend.

Going abroad just for the weekend… Now that’s real extravagance!

After that moment of awe, what remained was shock. When they asked if the company was capable of producing weapons, Karl smiled and invited them to the factory’s backyard. The group, somewhat confused, heard the rapid sound of gunfire before they even arrived.

General Jiang couldn’t help but ask, “What’s that… Manager Karl, why is there gunfire?”

“General, in this war between justice and evil, no one can stand on the sidelines. That, of course, includes us. Our company has already developed a new type of submachine gun and is now preparing for production. Its performance is outstanding, even better than the M3 submachine gun…”

Turning to look at General Jiang, Karl deliberately emphasized, “Not only is it better, but it’s also cheaper. Even cheaper than the Sten gun!”

“Is that so? Cheaper than the Sten gun?”

General Jiang, surprised, added, “For a weapon, being cheap isn’t the only thing that matters. It also has to be reliable.”

“Rest assured, General. Its reliability will astound you…”

What followed was a shooting demonstration. The tests proved that the gun was superior to all other weapons in its class, including the Thompson submachine gun, the M3 submachine gun, and the Sten gun, in terms of power, reliability, and service life. During the test, it fired over five thousand rounds and suffered only a single malfunction. Faced with such a reliable weapon, General Jiang and his men were naturally won over.

“How much for one? If…”

After thinking for a moment, General Jiang gave a number.

“If we purchase fifty thousand units.”

“Twelve dollars!”

Karl took the initiative to explain, “While this price is slightly more expensive than the Sten gun, General, this is just the first batch. If its production volume reaches five hundred thousand units in the future, then I guarantee the price will be less than ten dollars.”

Twelve dollars was already very cheap!

General Jiang, Wang Fuji, and Song Peilun exchanged glances. It seemed more expensive than the Sten gun, but in reality, that was the British military’s procurement price. It was impossible for them to buy it at the same price. After all, the Canadian factory needed to make a profit too.

“So when can you deliver?” General Jiang asked without a second thought.

“The first batch will be delivered within a month, and the full order will be completed within two months.”

Karl was very confident in his company’s production capacity. Besides, the gun had only seventeen parts in total. The two-month delivery time was only because the production line needed to be broken in; otherwise, it might not even take a month.

“Then let’s sign the contract right now!”

There was no hesitation at all. After all, the country was in dire need of munitions. Waiting for the Americans to allocate them or for the British to graciously return their order could take until god knows when. Since these people could deliver within two months, what was there to hesitate about?

After signing the order for fifty thousand submachine guns, and upon learning that the weapon had not yet been formally designated, General Jiang thought for a moment and proposed that the words “American-made Type 77 Submachine Gun” be engraved on it.

As soon as he said this, a silence fell over the conference room. In that silence, there wasn’t a single Chinese person present whose eyes weren’t filled with tears. For how could they not know the meaning of July Seventh.

Chapter 43: A Decision for the Ancestors

Who would have thought that Karl Metal Company’s first arms order would actually come from China.

When he received Karl’s telegram, Li Yi’an was stunned for quite a while. A surprise—this was definitely a surprise.

And beyond the surprise, he was overcome with emotion.

“Type 77 Submachine Gun… Never forget the Double Seventh…”

The unexpected order also showed him a new business opportunity.

“Selling weapons to China… what kind of business opportunity is this? It’s clearly supporting the war of resistance!”

“Wait… the war of resistance!”

At this moment, what Li Yi’an was thinking about wasn’t just the war of resistance!

But rather… how to kill the Japanese.

With just submachine guns, how many Japanese could they kill?

Sitting on the balcony of the National Hotel in Havana, gazing at the azure sea, blue sky, and distant coconut trees, Li Yi’an began to scheme.

First, submachine guns were just the beginning. Next, he could provide more weapons, like machine guns, and even artillery.

“Mortars are a good thing. I think that Soviet 120mm mortar is excellent, and it’s also very cheap…”

Once his mind opened up, he wasn’t just thinking about the simplest weapons. He stared at the coconut trees by the shore, taking in the beautiful tropical scenery. In just an instant, a flash of inspiration lit up his face with a triumphant smile.

“Yes, this is the real good stuff!”

Just then, someone approached his table.

“Hello, Miss Song.”

Li Yi’an stood and pulled out a chair.

“Thank you, Young Master Li.”

Song Bing thanked him. In truth, she knew why her father had sent her to handle this meeting. It was because… he was very young, and a suitable age for her.

However, he didn’t seem interested in her at all. From their first meeting until now, he had always maintained basic etiquette—polite but distant.

Does he already have a lover?

What does it matter to me if he has a lover!

Hmph!

Song Bing glanced at the man beside her from the corner of her eye. He was indeed… very handsome.

But… hmm, it has nothing to do with me.

She was just taking this opportunity to practice her English… She didn’t speak Mandarin, only Cantonese. And he didn’t speak Cantonese, so the two could only communicate in English.

Composing herself, she said.

“Young Master Li, my father has already had the sugar sent to the warehouse. Just like last time, it’s 1300 tons in total.”

Li Yi’an smiled.

“Are you sure it’s thirteen hundred?”

Seeing the confusion on Song Bing’s face, Li Yi’an said.

“The last shipment was already two hundred tons over. I’m afraid it’s the same this time. Mr. Song is a generous man, but I can’t take advantage of him. Besides, we’re going to be doing much bigger business, and I hope you can prepare 4500 tons for the next shipment.”

“4500 tons!”

Song Bing was more concerned about his sudden request to increase the supply.

“What? Is there a problem?”

“No problem, of course, no problem.”

Song Bing said, shaking her head repeatedly.

“Young Master Li, do you really need that much?”

“Yes.”

Li Yi’an nodded and said.

“From now on, barring any surprises, it will be twice a month, 4500 tons each time. That’s about one hundred and ten thousand tons a year. Miss Song, please go back and discuss this with your esteemed father to see if you can meet the demand.”

In fact, it was very likely to increase further. After all, as his level rose, so would his storage space.

Especially after breaking into the arms business, leveling up would be a piece of cake. A single transaction might even bring him over a hundred million experience points.

Li Yi’an couldn’t help but look forward to the upcoming “big upgrade.” Thinking of this, he picked up the Panama hat from the table and said.

“Miss Song, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now.”

What?

Watching Li Yi’an stand up, Song Bing was stunned. They had just finished their business, and he was already leaving!

“Young Master Li, then… goodbye!”

He really left!

Watching his retreating figure, Song Bing sat there stunned, unable to process it for a moment. The guy had actually just left.

Li Yi’an couldn’t care less what the girl behind him was thinking. He had to go now. After all, sending reinforcements is as urgent as putting out a fire.

No, it was more like a matter of extreme urgency. He had to rush back to the United States, recruit talent, establish a laboratory, and most importantly, find a certain person!

Just a few hours later, Li Yi’an arrived at Havana Airport. As he, dressed in beach attire and a straw hat, was about to board the plane, a young blonde woman on a newly landed plane looked out the window, and her eyes lit up.

“He came again?”

Seeing that he seemed to be boarding, the young woman felt a pang of regret.

“That guy, leaving so soon. Honestly.”

While the young woman was pouting and sulking, her younger sister next to her said.

“Sister, I really don’t get it. Why do you come to Havana every weekend? What for? Is it for the casinos? You don’t seem to like them very much.”

“There are many things you’ll understand after you get married… Yes, you’ll understand in the future!”

The young woman ignored her sister’s question. Right now, her eyes were only on the man in the beach shirt and straw hat, the guy who had once paid her a hundred dollars.

He came to Havana again!

Among a crowd of bald, overweight, middle-aged and elderly men, he, being young and handsome, stood out conspicuously. It made the young woman unable to stop herself from once again recalling that night—a night she had relived countless times in her dreams, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

“He’s here, he’s here…”

Just as the young woman’s heart began to flutter with excitement, she was stunned to see that the man was actually boarding the plane!

My God, he… he’s gone…

By the time they deplaned, the United Airlines DC-3 had already taken off. Li Yi’an, sitting on the plane, had no idea that his presence at the Havana airport had caused a woman so much regret, nor did he ever imagine that a one-night affair would leave a woman so infatuated.

At this moment, Li Yi’an was simply writing a series of words on a notepad. Finally, he wrote down a name, first in Chinese, then several times in English. After repeatedly checking it, he muttered to himself.

“Yes, that’s right, it’s him. Hmm, he should be at the California Institute of Technology now, researching rubber. That’s right…”

Relying on his extraordinary memory, Li Yi’an wrote down the information he had once seen, one detail at a time, on the notepad. Right now, he had only one thought: to recruit the person on the notepad into his own laboratory, or to buy his patent.

“Looks like I’ll have to buy a chemical plant, too. I wonder if there are any suitable targets!”

Chapter 44: KTJ Chemical Industries

A few hours later, the moment the plane landed, Li Yi’an called Karl directly from the airport. The message was simple: have the company hire a lawyer to find someone at the California Institute of Technology.

Although transportation in this era wasn’t particularly advanced, thanks to the United States’ developed communication networks and legal industry, it only took a few telegrams for Karl, all the way on the East Coast, to reach an agreement with a Los Angeles law firm.

“What? What did you say?”

Arthur Galston looked at the lawyer before him, asking with some confusion.

“It’s like this, Mr. Galston. A company on the East Coast is very interested in you and your invention, the ‘plant growth regulator.’ So, they are not only willing to purchase the patent you hold, but also to offer you a position to continue your research in this field. I was wondering if you would be interested.”

As he spoke, Hudson, the lawyer, took a check from his briefcase. He had to admit, even after forty years as a lawyer, he had never seen such a generous client.

“This is twenty thousand dollars, for the purchase of the patent you hold!”

When he received the wire transfer check, Hudson could hardly believe it was real.

Twenty thousand dollars!

Just to buy a patent that seemed to have no practical use!

This was simply… incredible!

“Twenty thousand dollars!”

My God!

Born in Brooklyn, New York, his father having lost his job during the Great Depression, Arthur Galston, whose adolescent memories were always filled with hunger, stared at the check in disbelief, his eyes fixed on the string of zeros.

This sum was equivalent to several years of his salary. With this money, not only could his wife move into a new house, but they could also buy a car, if they could find one…

At that moment, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

Of course, he also thought of the debts his father owed; he would help his father pay some of them back.

But reason still compelled Arthur Galston to speak.

“Are you sure, sir? This plant regulator only accelerates the flowering and fruiting of soybeans…”

Was this invention worth twenty thousand dollars?

Galston himself wasn’t so sure. Two thousand dollars seemed more realistic. Even when he invented this plant regulator, he hadn’t discovered any particularly special use for it.

After all, its effect on increasing yield was very limited. If used during cultivation, it could even be said to be a bit of a loss.

It was an invention with practically no production value. Of course, it might be useful in the future, but now—twenty thousand dollars.

Someone was actually willing to spend twenty thousand dollars on his invention!

“Mr. Galston, the check says it all. As long as you sign the contract, this money is yours.”

Twenty thousand dollars!

Anyone in the world would be moved by it. Hudson knew this well; no one could resist its temptation.

If it were him, he wouldn’t just sell a patent—he wouldn’t even blink at selling his wife to that fellow. Even throwing in his daughter wouldn’t be out of the question.

This was twenty thousand dollars!

If he could close this deal, Hudson would spend the rest of his life bragging about it!

“Mr. Galston, you must know that in this world, opportunities are always fleeting.”

“Well…”

After examining the contract before him carefully once more, and confirming that it was all real, Galston finally signed his name. Then he asked again.

“Sir, you mentioned earlier that they are also willing to offer me a job. What’s the salary like there?”

This company was definitely the most generous one Galston had ever encountered. It was precisely for this reason that he hoped to work for them. Of course, there he could continue the research he loved and also earn a handsome salary.

“We’re going back to New York!”

At the train station, carrying a suitcase, Galston held his wife Dalet Judith Kuntz’s hand and said with excitement.

“When we get to New York, I’ll buy a house, a house of our own. Not an apartment, but a house with at least four bedrooms…”

Galston was now full of all sorts of dreams for the future. Although he had already earned his doctorate and was supposed to have a happier future than his father, it had all come so fast, so fast that he could hardly believe it was real.

In truth, Galston had already lost his job. When that lawyer found him, he was, in fact, unemployed. He and his wife had moved to Pasadena for that job because James Bonner, a plant biologist at the California Institute of Technology, had invited him to work on a war-related project involving a Mexican shrub called guayule. Their research was to extract rubber from it as a raw material, a project supported by the military to supply the army with rubber. Just as the project succeeded, the large-scale production of synthetic rubber made it redundant.

Having lost the military’s support, Galston was naturally out of a job. Just as he was contemplating his next move, the sudden job offer and the check for his patent changed everything.

“Yes, once we get to New York, our lives will be completely different from now.”

Just then, Dalet’s gaze fell on someone.

“Huh? Look, it’s Sun.”

Carrying a suitcase, Sun Tianlei also saw them. He had been their classmate at Caltech.

“Arthur, Dalet, what are you doing here…”

Sun Tianlei said.

“Are you going to New York?”

“Yes, what about you?”

Dalet then said, as if she suddenly remembered something.

“Sun, are you going to KTJ Laboratories in New York?”

KTJ Laboratories was the very one that had hired Galston and bought his patent. Dalet asked because Sun Tianlei was also a chemist.

“What, you two are as well?”

“Yes, Arthur is going there too. This is wonderful! I can’t believe you’ll be working together again.”

Overjoyed, Dalet asked curiously.

“Sun, do you know what KTJ stands for?”

“KTJ…”

Sun Tianlei simply shrugged his shoulders.

“Who knows? Maybe it’s ‘Kill the Japs’.”

Kill the Japanese devils…

As a Chinese student studying abroad, Sun Tianlei was certainly blunt.

Well, he had actually guessed it right. Li Yi’an was often just that straightforward. In fact, the reason he was searching for chemists and botanists across the United States was precisely to… kill the Japanese devils.

And in the greatest possible numbers.

Chapter 45: A Weapon of Mass Destruction

In the 1940s, Long Island, New York, was not yet a paradise for the wealthy. It was covered in vast fields of corn and potatoes. Because the land was cheap, it also attracted many people to build factories here.

The Claire Chemical Pesticide Company was located on Long Island.

The company was medium-sized, but its facilities were fully equipped. However, as a chemical pesticide company, it didn’t seem to play much of a role in the war; it could neither produce weapons nor poison gas.

It just continued to produce pesticides, same as before.

While the war didn’t bring massive orders to the company, it also didn’t affect its production.

For this very reason, the company’s board of directors had no need to sell the business.

But that didn’t matter. Sometimes, all it takes is a check.

Half a month ago, Zhang Weilun came here as the lawyer for Zhenhua Company. At a board meeting, he directly presented a check for one million US dollars.

And then, the board of directors immediately agreed to sell the entire company—after all, that sum was enough for them to build a new, larger factory.

Who would refuse such a deal?

“Time, what we need is time!”

Li Yi’an explained to Zhang Weilun and the others.

“We don’t have two, or even three, years to build a factory…”

By the time a new factory is built, the opportunity would be lost. The war would be over. Who would we sell the company’s products to?

The simplest solution was an acquisition. Thus, Claire Chemical Pesticide Company was renamed KTJ Chemical Company and became the third subsidiary under Zhenhua Company. And KTJ Laboratories was located within the company.

The chemists present, who hailed from all over the United States, included young men like Galston and Sun Tianlei, as well as renowned scholars in the field of organic chemistry. They were all surprised by Li Yi’an’s arrival.

The owner of KTJ Company was actually Chinese!

Chinese students who had been invited over, like Sun Tianlei and Zhao Zheng, were all visibly excited. They believed that once this news got out, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation throughout the community of Chinese students in America.

After all, this was the United States!

Weren’t all Chinese people supposed to run laundries and restaurants?

Now, one of them had actually opened a modern factory!

Li Yi’an was already accustomed to people’s surprise. He had gotten used to such looks at Karl Metal Company. But there was nothing to be proud of in this. People were surprised because of the stereotypes they held about Chinese people, which was in itself a form of discrimination.

Why couldn’t Chinese people open factories and run businesses?

Why couldn’t Chinese people engage in scientific and technological research?

Standing there, Li Yi’an appeared calm and composed, his eyes bright and resolute.

“Gentlemen, this laboratory may not be large, but I believe that as the starting point of our venture, it will surely shock the world. For that very reason, we need to examine our research direction.”

Surveying the crowd, Li Yi’an spoke without raising his voice, yet everyone could feel the confidence in his words.

“And I have gathered you all from across the United States for a very simple purpose: to further research the ‘plant growth regulator’ invented by Mr. Arthur Galston…”

His gaze fell upon Arthur Galston. Who would have thought that the infamous “Agent Orange” was invented by this 23-year-old young man?

If it weren’t for the fact that “Agent Orange” became so infamous that people traced its origins with exhaustive effort, even Li Yi’an, a man from the future, would never have guessed that this thing was actually invented during World War II and could be mass-produced.

However, it was a great pity that by the time the U.S. military discovered its potential military applications, the war was already nearing its end. It was only in June 1945 that experiments began. The results were promising, and the U.S. military immediately placed an order for fifty million liters, preparing to spray it extensively over the Japanese homeland to completely destroy its agricultural ecological foundation. Within half a year, it would turn the land into a barren wasteland where no crops could grow, and Japan’s environment would be utterly devastated.

The U.S. Army Air Forces made detailed plans, scheduling nine thousand sorties of heavy bombers to spray fifty million liters of the defoliant, with the amount to be increased if the effect was insufficient. The Americans estimated that with the arrival of winter, under the influence of the defoliant, the autumn harvest in the Japanese mainland would fail completely, leading to a famine. The resulting great famine would cause population losses on the scale of twenty million people—roughly one-third of the population.

This way, there would be no need for a ground invasion; they would only have to wait for Japan to crumble and surrender. To a certain extent, Japan’s surrender in August 1945 was indeed a stroke of luck for them.

This stuff was great!

Since it was such a good thing, it should be shared with the world. And it especially needed to be shared with the Japanese.

Therefore, with the ideal of sharing and benefiting mankind, Li Yi’an spared no expense to directly purchase this chemical plant, which had an annual output of five thousand tons of pesticides, and also recruited dozens of chemists, including its inventor, Arthur Galston.

The goal was to let the Japanese “enjoy” it ahead of schedule.

Perhaps Li Yi’an couldn’t build an atomic bomb, but he could certainly make pesticides. Just to help “disinfect” the Japanese.

Such a wonderful thing—he couldn’t let the Japanese miss out on it again!

Li Yi’an continued,

“The use of this substance causes soybean plants to shed their leaves, increasing the yield of the beans. What we need now is to conduct further research on it—not just on the substance itself, but also for its application in other fields.”

As the inventor, Galston quickly asked.

“Mr. Li, may I know what field that might be?”

“Military!”

The word that came from Li Yi’an’s mouth stunned everyone present. An American in his fifties directly questioned him.

“Applying a plant growth regulator on the battlefield? How is that possible?”

“Why wouldn’t it be possible?”

Li Yi’an said.

“If it can make soybean leaves fall off to increase yield, then can it also make the leaves of trees fall off?”

Everyone was astonished and began to murmur.

“What? Make tree leaves fall off? What military use could that possibly have?”

Looking at the bewildered people whispering among themselves, Li Yi’an said with a smile.

“Gentlemen, you need to use your imagination. Alright, let’s get to work now. You should know, the soldiers in the Pacific are eagerly awaiting the results of your work!”

Chapter 46: Sir, You’re Here Again

In truth, the work Galston and his team were doing wasn’t complicated. It was simply a matter of further increasing the concentration of the “plant growth regulator.” After all, Galston had already developed a finished product; it was merely a question of boosting its potency and specifically strengthening its defoliant effect.

With the efforts of dozens of chemists, it only took half a month to produce the first batch of high-concentration “plant growth regulator” samples. The test results were gratifying.

“…”

Was this a forest?

Looking at the withered patch of woods before him, where even the tree trunks were decaying, Li Yi’an finally understood why the U.S. military would want to use it in Vietnam. With this, the rainforests that served as a visual shield for guerrilla fighters would be utterly destroyed!

“Boss, can this really be used on the battlefield?”

Sun Tianlei’s tone still held a hint of uncertainty.

“Can it really kill the Japanese devils?”

“Trust me, it can. Not only will it kill the Japanese devils, but it will kill a great many of them!”

Li Yi’an smiled at Sun Tianlei and said, “As long as you don’t come to regret it one day, that’s all that matters.”

“Regret? Why would I regret it? The Japanese devils killed so many of our people. Have they ever felt any regret?”

Nodding slightly, Li Yi’an knew that Sun Tianlei’s attitude represented that of most Chinese people. For them, hatred was a debt that could only be washed away with blood.

However… when Galston and those other Yanks found out their hard work would lead to the deaths of twenty million Japanese, what would they think?

Would they have a crisis of conscience like Oppenheimer?

Would they, upon hearing of the Japanese casualties, feel themselves burdened with sin, their hands stained with blood?

In times of chaos, kill the saints first…

There was truth in that saying!

Seeing his boss fall silent, Sun Tianlei asked curiously, “Boss, what are we doing next?”

“Calibrating the equipment and preparing for mass production. As for me… I’m going to Washington.”

After instructing the company to calibrate the equipment for production, Li Yi’an rushed to Washington.

After all, the people with the authority to drop this stuff all over Japan were in Washington. But once he got to Washington, who would he even look for?

Though he still had no concrete plan, Li Yi’an boarded the train to Washington. Not long after the train left the station, Li Yi’an said to Ding En and Hank, “You two stay here. I’m going for a walk…”

His so-called walk was really just a trip to the bar car for a cigarette and a couple of drinks.

The biggest difference between the bar in the first-class carriage and an ordinary one was that the drinks here were expensive, but unlimited.

Otherwise, there was no difference—just a crowd of balding, portly, middle-aged and older men. These well-dressed individuals talked endlessly of politics, money, and, of course, the war—or rather, how to profit from it.

“What a bunch of boring people…”

Peggy, who was sitting by the window, sighed as she took a delicate sip from her glass, then turned her gaze outside.

She had only been married for half a year, but Peggy was already fed up with her marriage. For her husband, there was only ever politics and business, which was why she often escaped to Atlantic City or Havana.

Married life was simply too dull.

“Sigh…”

Just as the glass touched her lips, she happened to see someone walk into the carriage.

It was him!

Even though he was wearing a suit today, she recognized him at a glance. It was that man from Havana!

What was he doing here!

As she watched him walk in her direction, Peggy’s heart began to beat faster and faster. What would she do if he recognized her?

In truth, even now, she couldn’t quite figure out what had happened that night.

Was it the alcohol, or…

While her mind was racing, Peggy noticed that the man walked straight past her.

This…

In an instant, a storm of emotions surged within her!

He… he didn’t even recognize her!

He had me for free!

No, wait, not for free. He seemed to have paid.

At this thought, Peggy instinctively clutched her purse. Inside was that Franklin, a bill that reminded her of that night of madness.

“Did he really not recognize me?”

Watching the man take a seat at the bar, a million thoughts flashed through Peggy’s mind.

At first, she was afraid he would recognize her. But now, she was tormented by the fact that he hadn’t.

“Honestly, why didn’t he recognize me?”

Sitting at the bar, Li Yi’an was obviously unaware that he was being watched. He ordered a whiskey, took a sip, and then lit a cigarette, pondering his next move in Washington.

“The key is to get a foot in the door.”

Frowning, Li Yi’an thought of the most common type of person in Washington—the lobbyist.

“Maybe I should find a lobbyist. But can a lobbyist get me through the doors of the Pentagon?”

This was going to be difficult.

The more he thought about it, the more difficult the task seemed.

After all, he was a newcomer. It wasn’t realistic to expect to waltz in and do business with the Pentagon right off the bat.

Just then, a voice reached his ears.

“…the National Hotel. That’s where I sealed my deal. You never know who you might run into in the sixth-floor restaurant. A general? A lieutenant colonel? Don’t think those generals are such a big deal… Over a single meal, you could land yourself an order…”

The National Hotel?

An order?

Puzzled, Li Yi’an glanced over at the men who were speaking. They were a bit too far away, and he couldn’t hear them clearly. It was then that the woman at the adjacent table entered his line of sight.

She looked familiar… That’s right, it’s her!

In Cuba, blonde women were rare, and one as beautiful as her was even rarer—especially one in that line of work.

She was on the train?

Was this also her place of business?

Thinking this, Li Yi’an walked over.

He… he was coming over…

He recognized me…

With a swirl of complicated emotions, Peggy stared blankly as the man walked toward her. As he approached, she grew flustered and discreetly covered the ring on her finger with her hand.

“Miss, we meet again…”

With that, Li Yi’an sat down opposite the woman. The position was perfect; he could hear exactly what the other men were saying.

“You… you…”

Seeing the woman’s dazed expression, Li Yi’an smiled, took a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet, and whispered, “Miss, a little help…”

Ah!

Not… not again…

Chapter 47: My Turn Now

A Franklin!

Instantly, Peggy’s eyes widened. Her blue, ocean-like eyes stared intently at the man, then glanced at the bill on the table. For a moment, she wanted nothing more than to splash the drink in her hand onto his head.

In this man’s eyes, was she just a call girl?

But then, she saw that the man’s interest wasn’t on her at all, but on those old men, on their conversation…

Watching the man listen in on others, Peggy’s heart was a tangled mess of emotions.

Perhaps she had imagined their reunion countless times in her dreams, but it was definitely not like this.

It should have been him, seeing her with a pleasant surprise, and then…

Whatever the case, it wasn’t this blatant disregard. At first, he hadn’t even recognized her. And even now… the only reason this jerk had come over was to eavesdrop on someone else’s conversation.

She sipped her drink sullenly. The Franklin on the table was so jarring. Not just jarring, but scorching hot, like a branding iron searing her heart again and again, down to the deepest part of her soul.

Though she cursed the man in her mind for daring to ignore her, as she waited, images of that night flashed uncontrollably through her mind.

What had gotten into her that day?

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe it was because… he really was handsome!

Looking at him, Peggy felt a little thirsty and couldn’t help but swallow. At that moment, she could even hear her own heartbeat and heavy breathing.

Damn it, Peggy, how could you…

Peggy chided herself inwardly.

Stay calm, calm down! Peggy, he’s just a Chinese man, just…

Feeling her whole body heat up, Peggy quickly took a gulp of her drink. Soon, the glass was empty. Parched, she raised a finger at the waiter.

“Another one…”

Her mind in turmoil, Peggy didn’t even know how many glasses she’d had. Slowly, her gaze grew hazy. As she looked at the man across from her, she couldn’t help but gently bite her lip. Though his interest wasn’t on her, she still stared straight at him. At some point, she had unconsciously taken off the wedding ring she wore.

Finally, the few people at the neighboring table got up and left. Only then did a faint smile appear on Li Yi’an’s face.

“Looks like I can give it a try…”

Just as the words left his lips, a soft, coquettish voice reached his ears.

“Let’s give it a try…”

He looked up. The blonde woman across from him was looking right at him. The glint in her eyes, combined with the blush on her cheeks and her heavy breathing, was a clear signal to anyone who knew what was what.

Seeing that the man’s attention was finally on her, Peggy lifted her leg and extended her foot across, gently grazing the man’s thigh. Her blue eyes were now brimming with moisture. With her large, watery eyes fixed on him, her red lips parted slightly.

“I’ll go ahead…”

With that, the woman stood up. As she left, she smiled faintly, reached out to take the bill from the table, shot the man another seductive glance, and swayed her slender waist as she walked away.

“She’s a real firecracker!”

Watching the sway of her hips, the corners of Li Yi’an’s mouth turned up. No man could control himself in this situation.

So he got up and followed her. He had just stepped out of the bar car and taken a few steps when a pair of arms pulled him into a private compartment by the corridor. A fragrant breeze accompanied a searingly hot body and fiery red lips that pounced on him.

Choo-choo…

To the rhythm of the train’s roar, a moving symphony began to play within the compartment…

…

By the time it was all over, the sky had already darkened. In the compartment, a panting Peggy lay on the man’s chest. Drenched in sweat, she couldn’t even move a finger, yet she forced herself to sit up.

Watching the exhausted woman, Li Yi’an was a little puzzled. Was she leaving?

Should he pay again?

But looking at her graceful back, he had to admit, this woman was incredible!

Stunningly beautiful with a perfect figure, how did she end up in a situation like this…

She picked up her clothes from the floor, put on her underwear and then her dress. After tidying herself up, she took out her wallet. A smirk played on Peggy’s lips. As she took out some money, her fingers paused on two one-hundred-dollar bills, then she turned and walked over to the man with her wallet in hand.

“Darling, you worked hard just now. I had a wonderful time.”

The woman’s words made Li Yi’an smile with satisfaction.

“You were amazing too…”

In the next moment, he fell silent, because the woman had pulled out a stack of bills from her wallet!

Tens and twenties, there were twenty or thirty of them. She placed them—no, she tossed them onto the small table. A corner of Peggy’s lips curled up as she said smugly,

“This is a tip for you.”

What?

Staring at the stack of cash, Li Yi’an’s mind went completely blank.

What… what was going on!

I… I was just…

Before he could figure it out, the woman had triumphantly opened the compartment door.

“Darling, you really are amazing! Worth the price!”

With that, she waved and left, cocky and proud…

Son of a… bitch!

Lying on the bed, Li Yi’an remained stunned for a good ten minutes, unable to process what had just happened.

What was going on?

Li Yi’an was thoroughly frustrated. Even after getting dressed, looking at the money on the table filled him with an indescribable bitterness.

How did it turn out like this?

It shouldn’t have…

For the first time, Li Yi’an discovered that money could really burn your hands!

“Who the hell wants your money? As long as I don’t give money—no, as long as I don’t take money, it doesn’t count as soliciting a prostitute!”

Comforting himself with this thought, Li Yi’an finally started to feel a little better.

“Anyway, I didn’t take a single cent! And you even took my money…”

As he was reassuring himself, a slip of paper on the carpet caught his eye. He bent down and picked it up.

It was an entrance examination notification.

“American Academy of Dramatic Arts? Grace Kelly?”

Grace Kelly?

Why did that name sound so familiar…

But who cared. The most important thing right now was to get to Washington, knock on the Pentagon’s door, and give the Japanese a big gift.

At almost the same moment, Peggy was hurriedly getting off the train, so much so that her sister, who was following her, asked in confusion.

“Sister, we haven’t reached our stop. Why are we getting off?”

In response to her sister’s question, Peggy quickly explained.

“Grace, I think we can travel for a few more days. There’s no need to rush home so early…”

Chapter 48: General, I’m Here to Help You

What was Washington like in 1943?

Soldiers!

Soldiers everywhere!

After the war broke out, as the U.S. military rapidly expanded, its command structure in Washington swelled dramatically. To accommodate this burgeoning military command, they constructed a building in Arlington County, Virginia, southwest of Washington. Named for its pentagonal shape, it became known as “the Pentagon.”

This building, the largest single administrative building in the world, had only been in use for a few months. Its facilities were far from complete; even the cafeteria couldn’t serve everyone. Of course, the generals wouldn’t eat there. They would dine at the National Hotel, not far from the Pentagon.

However, it wasn’t just generals who dined at this hotel. Senior executives from various corporations were also present. To a certain extent, they were arms brokers, meeting with generals here to either pitch weapons or secure orders. Fueled by tens of billions of dollars in military contracts, businesses large and small were filling their coffers to the brim.

Moreover, it wasn’t just Americans here. The British, the Soviets, the French—they all appeared here, communicating with American generals, seeking aid while trying to influence their combat plans to ensure U.S. military actions benefited their own interests. Of course, there were also Chinese, though they were few and far between.

“Hello, General.”

As Li Yi’an walked up to Thomas Holcomb, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, a lieutenant general, was busy enjoying a steak. He didn’t even raise his head as he spoke bluntly.

“The generals in charge of the China-Burma-India Theater are over there to the left. The ones in charge of Lend-Lease materials are surrounded by the British and the Soviets. I can’t offer you any help here.”

What does it mean to be the third-rate service?

One look at the treatment of this Marine Corps Commandant made it clear. While other generals were swarmed and courted, this lieutenant general was sitting here all by himself, with not a single person to greet him.

Right now, the Marines were the “third-rate service.” Once the Air Force became independent from the Army, they would immediately drop another level to “fourth-rate.”

Lamenting the status of the Marines, Li Yi’an said.

“No, General. I’m here to help you.”

Interesting. Thomas Holcomb, who had initially assumed the man was a newcomer who didn’t know the ropes, finally looked up with a spark of interest.

“This is my card.”

“KTJ…”

Taking the business card, Thomas Holcomb looked it over and asked.

“Does it stand for ‘Kill the Japanese devils’?”

“Yes, General. That’s exactly what it means.”

Thomas Holcomb immediately burst out laughing.

“Haha! That’s the best company name I’ve ever seen. Have a seat.”

It had to be said that in the United States, the ones who hated the Japanese devils the most were, first, the navy—because of Pearl Harbor—and tied for first was the Marine Corps, because they were the ones who had to fight the Japanese devils gun against gun, cannon against cannon, and even bayonet against bayonet.

This company name immediately earned Thomas Holcomb’s goodwill.

“Thank you, General.”

With the general’s invitation, Li Yi’an finally sat down. You couldn’t just dismiss a lieutenant general; his aide was sitting right next to him.

“Tell me, how do you plan to help me?”

Thomas Holcomb said, flipping the card in his hand.

“A chemical company. Are you selling chemical weapons? You should know that chemical weapons production in the United States is all handled by the DuPont Company. They’re more technologically advanced and have a full range of products.”

As a military man, the word “chemical” naturally made Thomas Holcomb think of chemical weapons, and he immediately exposed the inner workings of American military procurement—there were designated suppliers.

“General, what I can provide is not a weapon in the traditional sense!”

As he spoke, Li Yi’an placed his briefcase on the table and took out a few photographs. These were battlefield photos from Guadalcanal that he had purchased from The New York Times. One had to admit, American journalists were truly dedicated, heading directly to the front lines to report and take pictures.

“General, these are pictures from Guadalcanal. Please, take a look.”

General Holcomb was no stranger to Guadalcanal. He took the photos, glanced at them, and said.

“Is there anything special about these?”

They were just ordinary battlefield photos. In the pictures, mud-caked Marines were in the middle of a firefight. “General, look above the Marines’ heads, and around them…”

Li Yi’an said, pointing at the photos.

“What?”

General Holcomb looked at the photos in his hand, puzzled.

“They’re just trees. It’s the tropics; there are trees everywhere.”

“Yes, General, trees everywhere! Tropical rainforests everywhere. From Guadalcanal to Borneo, from Malaya to Burma, it’s all tropical rainforests. The Japanese devils have deployed millions of troops in these regions. Their firepower may not be strong, but the rainforests provide them with the best cover. They hide in the forest and shell the Marines with mortars. They hide in the treetops and snipe at the Marines with rifles…”

Li Yi’an deliberately emphasized the word “Marines.” Everyone is protective of their own, and Americans are no exception.

“General, although I’m a layman when it comes to military matters, in my opinion, the greatest enemy the Marines face on the battlefield isn’t the Japanese devils, but the tropical rainforest! It’s the Japanese devils hiding within the tropical rainforest!”

“Your assessment is very accurate.”

General Holcomb nodded in deep agreement.

“Our biggest enemy in the Pacific is the local natural environment—the tropical rainforest. In the jungle, our Marines can’t even see the Japanese devils thirty yards ahead. And those Japanese devils are hidden deep in the dense forest. You can’t see them, and by the time you do, the bullets and shells are already flying.”

“So, General, the help I’m offering is…”

He pushed a file in front of General Holcomb.

“To help the United States Marine Corps eliminate their greatest enemy—the tropical rainforest!”

When General Holcomb opened the file, the first thing he saw was a photograph of trees. Bare trunks stood starkly, clearly several dead trees.

“What’s this?”

General Holcomb asked, confused.

“General, this is the weapon I’m offering you—a new type of chemical substance. With it, we can eliminate the tropical rainforests.”

Li Yi’an gave him a direct answer.

“If we spray this chemical in large quantities from airplanes, it will cause widespread defoliation in the mountain forests, killing off plants and trees. Vegetation will struggle to recover for years, ultimately stripping the Japanese devils hiding in the rainforests of their natural protective barrier and exposing them completely to the firepower of the U.S. military.”

Chapter 49: A Blessing for the Japanese

“Is this the effect after it’s been sprayed? Have you tested it on tropical rainforests?”

Looking at the photograph in his hand, General Holcomb asked a series of questions.

“This is just the result from the initial tests. My company is currently conducting further research and improvements, and I believe we will achieve the desired results very soon. Of course, military approval will be required for any large-scale testing.”

Why had he come to Washington?

It was to win the support of the military. Compared to the currently well-funded, first-rate Army and second-rate Navy, the third-rate Marines were Li Yi’an’s best option. The Marines had just spent months fighting the Japanese on Guadalcanal; no one hated the Japanese more than they did. And by extension, they had also come to hate the tropical rainforests that provided the Japanese with cover.

If he had gone to the Army or the Navy, they would have been largely indifferent to the matter of tropical rainforests.

The Marines might be a third-rate service, but they were a third-rate service with over a million men!

Seeing General Holcomb staring at the photograph without a word, Li Yi’an emphasized again.

“General, this is the weapon that will allow us to defeat the Japanese devils and win this war. It can not only eliminate tropical rainforests, turning them into a wasteland of dead stumps, but it can also be applied on other battlefields.”

Putting down the photograph, General Holcomb asked with curiosity.

“Oh? On other battlefields?”

“Yes. Since it can make leaves fall and turn trees into dead stumps, it can also be used in attacks on the Japanese home islands—for instance, to attack their agriculture.”

“Attack their agriculture?”

General Holcomb was immediately interested. As a military man, victory was his only concern; other matters were secondary.

“Explain. Why attack their agriculture?”

“General, Japan is a nation that believes in ‘Bushido.’ In Japan, everyone is willing to die for the Emperor. I’m sure you’ve learned this from the reports on the front lines. But that’s just the front. In their homeland, they are even more fanatical—including women and children. They will even use themselves as bait, sacrificing their own lives to kill the enemy.”

No amount of praise for the “sacrificial spirit” of the Japanese was too much. In fact, it was better to praise it to the heavens. The more he hyped it up, the harsher the United States would be.

When dealing with the Japanese, the United States couldn’t afford to be soft. And to ensure they weren’t, of course he had to praise the Japanese with all his might.

So what if he was putting a high hat on the Japanese? The only consequence would be a few more dead Japanese.

“Indeed. They’re like a pack of madmen. On Guadalcanal, those Japanese devils would charge our positions, screaming ‘Banzai’ without any regard for their own lives. Sometimes, they really would break through our lines with sheer flesh and blood. The boys were even terrified by their fanaticism…”

General Holcomb nodded in deep agreement.

“Though human bodies cannot stop bullets, the fanaticism of those Japanese devils is truly appalling!”

“Yes, General. The Allies will eventually have to fight their way to the Japanese home islands, all the way to Tokyo. When that time comes, we will be facing seventy million frenzied Japanese. Men, women, the elderly, and children will all be our enemies. They will resist madly, which will lead to a massive number of Allied casualties…”

In another world, wasn’t it to avoid over a million casualties that the United States had privately allowed Japan a “not-quite-unconditional surrender”?

This time, he couldn’t let the Japanese off so easily.

“Compared to bullets, the most powerful weapon is hunger. Japan is an island nation with insufficient resources of its own. Almost all its supplies, including food, must be shipped from overseas. I believe the Allies are already aware of this and will certainly strike its maritime supply lines…”

This was no secret. After all, the newspapers often reported how many Japanese merchant ships the US submarine forces had sunk. That was precisely what striking supply lines meant.

“But that only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. After all, they still have farmland on their home islands. If we spray this on Japan’s fields during our future bombing runs, we can cause a massive reduction in their crop yields. Just a few tens of millions of liters would be enough to cut Japan’s rice production in half. Combined with a naval blockade, I believe the entire nation of Japan will be plunged into starvation.”

Not just starvation. People would most certainly starve to death.

How many?

At least ten million, to start.

Starving ten million Japanese to death would just be collecting a small bit of interest.

A blessing like this would have the Japanese feeling grateful for at least half a century.

“Yi’an Li.”

General Holcomb said his name.

“You really are Chinese.”

Li Yi’an nodded. He knew why the general had said that. Only someone with a profound enmity for the Japanese could speak these words and make these suggestions so calmly, without any psychological burden.

Who hated the Japanese the most? The Chinese, of course!

“Yes.”

“I am an American. We both share a common goal: to send those Japanese devils to hell!”

Looking at the young man before him, General Holcomb closed the file and asked,

“What do you need me to do?”

Success!

Li Yi’an’s heart pounded with excitement. He wasn’t excited about the military procuring thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of tons in the future, but about being able to give the Japanese a “good life”!

Who wouldn’t break out the champagne for this!

Time to bring out the Lafite, drink by the case!

Taking a deep breath, Li Yi’an said.

“General, first, we need the military to grant this plan official project status. You know that if the company’s technical staff are drafted, it will definitely affect the entire research and development plan.”

During the war, only scientific projects officially approved by the military were granted draft exemptions. Historically, Arthur Galston was drafted just a few months after the military suspended the rubber project. Scientists… they had to serve in the military and go to war, too.

Nodding, General Holcomb said.

“That’s only right. What else?”

“We also need some aircraft and a suitable proving ground for testing. The proving ground should preferably be a tropical rainforest so we can evaluate its actual effectiveness. Of course, we will also need to establish a rice cultivation area to conduct further tests on rice.”

Li Yi’an listed his requirements one by one. General Holcomb fully agreed with all of them. Finally, he looked at Li Yi’an and said.

“I will have Colonel Harry follow up on this matter. You’ll have a response soon. But when can we expect to see results?”

Chapter 50: It’s All About Connections

As it turned out, a Marine commandant was a commandant, no matter what. That very afternoon, Li Yi’an received a call from the Pentagon. Soon after, a jeep arrived at the hotel and took him straight to the Pentagon.

In a room that still smelled faintly of new paint, he was received by Colonel Leto John, who got straight to the point.

“The military has agreed to include your company’s ‘Agent Orange’ in its development program. We will be signing a contract, but I need to remind you of something…”

Colonel Leto John looked at the young man before him and continued.

“After you sign this contract, the military will provide you with no less than five million US dollars in funding for the development of ‘Agent Orange’ and its improved versions. However, during wartime, if the military deems it necessary, it can authorize other companies to produce ‘Agent Orange.’ You will be required to provide all technical data to the companies designated by the military. Of course, after the war ends, if these authorized companies wish to continue production, they will need to enter into patent negotiations with you, and you will have the right to demand they cease production.”

Before coming to Washington, Li Yi’an had specifically looked into the matter of patents. After the war broke out, the United States had established special agencies to coordinate and resolve patent issues. Take synthetic rubber, for example. Although the DuPont Company had invented neoprene and Standard Oil had developed butyl rubber, neither could be used to produce tires. The suitable material was styrene-butadiene rubber, invented by the German company I.G. Farben. Fortunately, through pre-war technical cooperation and sharing with I.G. Farben, Standard Oil had obtained the patent and technical knowledge to produce it.

But until 1941, not only had the company failed to invest in producing styrene-butadiene rubber itself, but it had also threatened to sue to prevent other tire companies from using the technology. Against this backdrop, the US government immediately intervened. It first coordinated an agreement between Standard Oil and America’s tire giants, as well as the U.S. Rubber Company, for sharing patents and information. The following year, it launched a judicial investigation into Standard Oil’s collaboration with the enemy company, I.G. Farben. To avoid further government pressure, Standard Oil had no choice but to agree to share its synthetic rubber patents for free with all participating companies for the duration of the war.

This approach was very American… but very effective. Just like how the company that invented the jeep barely produced any itself. During a war, patents became something of a joke.

Besides, Li Yi’an had no objections whatsoever. The only prerequisite was that the United States was willing to produce it. The more the military purchased, the more the Japanese would suffer. Who would refuse such a good deal? “No problem!”

Li Yi’an signed the contract without hesitation.

“Within two days of signing this contract, an initial payment of two million US dollars will be transferred to your company’s account.”

See that?

This was what you called deep pockets!

No nonsense, just straight to the money.

Of course, this also showed Li Yi’an the power of knowledge. A one-million-dollar factory had earned several million in the blink of an eye!

The arms business truly was a massive moneymaker!

After the contract was signed, Leto John took out a business card.

“This is my card. It has my phone number. If you have any problems in the future, we can get in touch anytime.”

“Of course, Colonel.”

After Li Yi’an took the card, Leto John seemed to remember something.

“I hear your company was just established, is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Then you must be in need of employees.”

The colonel said with a straight face.

“A friend of mine has a child who just graduated from university with a law degree. I was wondering if the laboratories might have a suitable position.”

“That’s perfect,” Li Yi’an said quickly.

“KTJ Laboratories is in need of a legal consultant to assist with some patent matters. If your friend’s son is interested, he’s welcome to apply.”

Did they need a legal consultant?

Even if they didn’t, now they did. It was all about personal favors. Sure enough, as soon as he said that, the smile on Colonel Leto John’s face grew wider. He even personally invited Li Yi’an to his office for coffee. Who knew how much the coffee pot at the Pentagon cost, but coffee was certainly great for strengthening relationships. After a bit of small talk, Li Yi’an learned the name of the “friend.”

Leto John. Yes, it was his own son. And why was his son going to KTJ Laboratories? Because of the draft exemption, of course. One had to admit… this guy was a sly old fox, tricking other people’s kids into going to the battlefield while conveniently placing his own in the rear.

But what was the benefit of such favors?

Upon learning that Li Yi’an had another company manufacturing submachine guns, the colonel immediately stated that the military was in urgent need of them. He told Li Yi’an to send one hundred units for military testing, and if they passed, they would be procured in large quantities.

It was a done deal!

He was a real arms dealer now!

He had broken straight into the US military’s supply chain. It would be hard not to get rich now!

In truth, amidst the tens or even hundreds of billions in military appropriations, a player like Li Yi’an was too small to even be mentioned. He was just feeding on the scraps and leftovers from the big corporations. But even so, it was still a very considerable amount.

Over the next few days, Li Yi’an didn’t stay idle in Washington. Besides coordinating with the military to prepare a testing ground, he was also contacting the military’s testing agencies. For instance, he sent some small gifts through certain intermediaries, just to build some goodwill. Of course, he didn’t forget Colonel Leto John. He sent his son a graduation gift: a used car.

Although he had only been out of school for a little over a year, his time in sales had taught Li Yi’an exactly how to handle interpersonal relationships. Right now, the most important thing for Zhenhua Company wasn’t to start doing business, but to build a network of connections.

As it turned out, crows are black the world over, and the crows in Washington were no whiter than anywhere else. This place also ran on connections and personal favors. Just as Li Yi’an was trying every means possible to build his network, someone took the initiative to approach him.

“Hello, Mr. Li. I’m Harvey, a lawyer from the Harvey Law Firm. This is my card.”

As the business card was offered, a middle-aged American in a suit and tie sat down at the dining table and said bluntly.

“I know your company has just received an order from the Department of Defense, and I also know you’re trying to build a network in Washington. But, Mr. Li, you need to understand something: to get the best results, you must leave professional matters to the professionals.”

Looking at the card in his hand, Li Yi’an knew. The legendary lobbyist had appeared!

Chapter 51: Ava Gardner

Lobbyists are a uniquely American phenomenon.

In the future, lobbying firms would even become an industry. These firms could be broadly divided into two categories: one serving domestic interest groups, and the other serving foreign governments and their interest groups. In Washington alone, there are over twenty thousand full-time and part-time lobbyists. Most of them have previously worked in the federal government or congressional offices. It is because of this that they have the opportunity to build connections with bipartisan staff in the White House and Congress, allowing them to advocate for their clients.

It’s unclear exactly when lobbyists first appeared in Washington, but they have always existed. They act as intermediaries, helping clients lobby politicians to achieve their goals.

Now, a legendary lobbyist was sitting right in front of him. Was this man all talk, or did he actually have the skills?

After a moment of thought, Li Yi’an wiped his lips with a napkin and looked at him.

“Mr. Harry, you’re right. Professional matters should be left to the professionals. But professionals certainly require compensation that matches their expertise. What are your fees?”

“A monthly retainer of one thousand dollars. Special matters are billed separately.”

The price was neither low nor high.

Li Yi’an nodded and said, “I would like to invite a senator to dinner.”

As he spoke, he wrote a name on his napkin and passed it over. One of his reasons for coming to Washington was to meet this man. He had been wondering how to get in touch with him, and now, an opportunity had conveniently presented itself.

“Truman!”

Seeing the name on the napkin, Harry thought for a moment and said, “Although he’s just a federal senator from Missouri, he’s currently a rising star in the District, arguably the most watched and most powerful senator here. The ‘Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program’ that he chairs is currently responsible for investigating waste and corruption in military production. Since its inception, his committee has saved the federal government tens of billions of dollars. So, many people want to meet him—at least half of Washington does. But few succeed.”

Putting down the napkin, Harry first emphasized the man’s special status, which was his way of telling Li Yi’an—this will be difficult.

“If it were easy, how could it demonstrate a professional’s capabilities?” Li Yi’an said with a smile.

After thinking for a moment, Harry nodded and said, “This is a test for me, isn’t it?”

“What do you think?”

“As you wish!”

Then Harry sized up Li Yi’an and said, “Mr. Li, you’ll need a lady to accompany you.”

“What?”

“When the time comes, he will certainly attend with his wife. You will need a lady to accompany you to the dinner. Do you have a suitable female companion?”

“A companion?”

Li Yi’an shook his head in surprise. He had only brought three or four people with him to Washington, and none of them were women. Stana was in London, and distant water can’t quench a nearby thirst!

“If not, I can arrange one for you.”

“Go ahead and arrange it. Just give me the bill after the meeting.”

“Excuse me…”

In the hotel room, Ava Gardner put down her glass of water and asked with some hesitation, “What do you need me to do?”

Bright sunlight shone through the window into the room, bathing Ava Gardner. Her long, wavy brown hair glimmered in the light, exuding an indescribable and enchanting allure.

Although she had signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as an actress two years ago, Ava Gardner had in reality only played minor roles in a few films.

As a struggling actress, especially now that she was divorced after only a few months of marriage, she was more anxious than ever. To make ends meet, she even had to work as a waitress. But this was the first time she had accepted such an invitation, and her slender, fair hands nervously gripped the teacup.

Ripples spread across the surface of the light brown tea, seeming to reflect the turmoil in her heart.

Two hundred dollars. That was her payment.

Just to accompany him to a single dinner.

In fact, she had been a little bewildered when she got the call from her agent. At the time, she was with some other actresses performing for the troops at a military camp near Washington. Then, a single phone call from her agent brought her here.

“Do you know what your job is?”

Li Yi’an glanced at the woman before him, Ava Gardner. He really didn’t know where Harry had found her. She was stunningly beautiful and alluring, yet also seemed somewhat introverted and naive.

“Yes, sir, I do. I’m to be your companion and accompany you to a dinner,” Ava Gardner nodded and replied.

“I received etiquette training at the company. I won’t disappoint you.”

She felt a little nervous. At MGM, she knew many other girls like her. Some of them had also acted as companions, accompanying men to dinners, but it was never as simple as just attending a dinner.

Even now, she wasn’t sure why she had agreed.

Was it the financial pressure?

That was certainly part of it. After all, MGM only paid her a salary of two hundred dollars a month. If she didn’t get any minor roles, that wasn’t even enough to live on. As an actress, her expenses were high, which was why she had signed up for the troop performances. After all, each show paid ten dollars, and room and board were covered.

Alright, it was because she was poor. That’s why she took this job her agent offered. But she wondered if this job would be like what the other girls talked about…

For now, she was very satisfied with her employer.

Although he was Chinese, he was a young man so handsome it made her heart skip a beat. He looked no older than eighteen or nineteen—still school-aged, probably.

The evening sun streamed through the window, bathing the handsome youth in a golden glow. His tall, upright frame was captivating, as were the firm lines of muscle beneath his shirt. His chiseled features possessed a subtle softness, making him devastatingly handsome from any angle.

Sitting across from him, her hands clasped around her cup, Ava’s heart beat quickly. If it was him, she thought, taking things a step further wouldn’t be out of the question…

“Mm, that’s good…”

While Ava Gardner’s mind was in turmoil, she heard the man speak. “Since you’ve had the proper training, there’s no need to be so nervous. This is just a small dinner, not really a banquet. When the time comes, you just need to attend with me. After the dinner is over, a driver will take you back to your hotel.”

That’s it?

Ava Gardner looked at him, slightly confused. He had his agent bring her here from hundreds of kilometers away just for this? Just to accompany him to a dinner, and not to… Her eyes involuntarily flickered toward the large bed in the other room.

What am I thinking!

Ava!

Just as complex thoughts swirled in Ava Gardner’s mind, Li Yi’an spoke.

“Let’s go. We’ll go shopping now.”

Since they were attending a dinner, he would definitely need to change into formal wear. Ava Gardner would also need a gown, and not just that—she’d need some jewelry too.

Well, this was going to cost a fortune.

Chapter 52: Moissanite

How much was “a fortune”?

About two hundred dollars.

In the jewelry store, after looking at who knows how many necklaces, Li Yi’an finally nodded in satisfaction.

“This is the one.”

This diamond-studded necklace was only two hundred dollars… Its chain was platinum, but the mounted diamonds were fake. It was a display necklace. If needed, real diamonds could be swapped in at any time. In Washington, a client might suddenly need a top-tier necklace, and these display pieces were prepared for just such an occasion. In just a few hours, a dazzling diamond necklace would be created… which was really just a matter of swapping out the stones.

“Sir, the center stone for this necklace requires a diamond of over thirty carats…”

The Jewish jeweler hadn’t finished his sentence when he froze. He saw the man pull out a diamond of at least forty carats as if it were a common stone!

It wasn’t just the Jewish jeweler who was stunned; even Ava Gardner was dumbfounded for a long moment. She never would have imagined the man was carrying such a massive diamond in his pocket.

While they were still in shock, Li Yi’an took out another small cloth pouch.

“My God!”

The contents of the small pouch spilled out—hundreds of small diamonds, one carat, even three or four carats each, lay displayed before their eyes.

“My God!”

Ava Gardner covered her mouth in astonishment. She knew he was wealthy, but she had no idea he had so many diamonds! And just carrying them around so casually in his pocket.

As for the Jewish jeweler, he stood there, completely stupefied. He had seen many rich people, but never a tycoon who treated diamonds like pebbles.

“S-sir.”

While the jeweler was still gaping, Li Yi’an said casually, “These diamonds are already cut. There are square cuts and round cuts. See which ones are suitable to be set.”

But these weren’t diamonds at all.

In truth, Li Yi’an himself hadn’t expected it. In a side pocket of that bag, there were actually two pouches of treasure—Moissanite!

This type of artificial diamond simulant was very inexpensive in later eras; even one of several dozen carats would only be worth a few hundred yuan. This small bag of moissanite wasn’t actually very valuable, costing a thousand or two yuan at most.

Li Yi’an had no idea why the Tomboy had these things, but if he had searched the bag more thoroughly when he first arrived in London, he would never have had to go hungry. Just one of these “stones” would have been enough to cover his food and lodging.

“Ye-yes…”

The Jewish jeweler quickly picked up a loupe, fitting it to his eye, and began examining the massive teardrop-shaped stone under a small desk lamp. His heart was pounding uncontrollably. This was perhaps the largest diamond he had ever handled in his life. What’s more, it was an exquisitely cut teardrop.

But with just one look, he was stunned once again.

“My God, the fire… it’s so brilliant!”

So brilliant?

I’m surprised it didn’t blind you…

Li Yi’an thought to himself.

Then, the jeweler called over another person, an older man. After carefully observing the diamond, this man said, “Well, sir, your diamond is quite unusual. Compared to ordinary diamonds, its fire is much more intense. And more beautiful. I’ve been in this business for many years, and I’ve never seen such beautiful fire.”

“Yes, is there a problem?” Li Yi’an asked nonchalantly.

“Of course not, no problem at all. It would be our honor to craft this necklace for you. If you could give us three days, I guarantee we can create an even more perfect diamond necklace for you,” the jeweler said. “Just three days.”

“Three days…”

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi’an shook his head. “I can’t wait that long. Finish it as soon as possible. As for the small diamonds…”

Before he could finish, the Jewish jeweler interjected, “Sir, we will provide the small diamonds free of charge. We only hope that you will allow us to take photographs and acknowledge our craftsmanship.”

The Jewish jeweler looked at Li Yi’an with an expectant expression. He wasn’t really offering them for free; he clearly wanted to use this necklace as an advertisement for his shop. No jewelry store in Washington had ever created a necklace for a customer with a center stone of over ten carats.

“Alright.”

A few hours later, in their hotel room, as Li Yi’an placed the freshly made diamond necklace around Ava Gardner’s graceful, swan-like neck, she stared at the necklace in the mirror and was utterly lost. Even though she knew this necklace could never be hers, she was still mesmerized. Just to wear it once was an incredible stroke of luck.

As he fastened the necklace, his fingers inevitably brushed against her skin, making her let out a soft moan.

Watching the woman in the mirror bite her lip, her face flushed crimson, Li Yi’an thought of a saying—diamonds are a woman’s aphrodisiac.

Even man-made diamonds… were also an aphrodisiac, perhaps even a stronger one.

Standing behind her, fastening the necklace, Li Yi’an not only heard her soft moan but also felt her rapid breathing. At the same time, her body went boneless and she leaned into his embrace, her soft form devoid of any strength.

Feeling her short, heavy breaths, Li Yi’an gently traced the back of his fingers along her collarbone. She closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder and savoring the sensation of his touch.

With her ever-quickening breaths, the diamond necklace on her chest rose and fell between magnificent peaks.

Li Yi’an’s fingers moved along the curve of her dress at the waist. He had to admit, Ava Gardner’s figure was absolutely perfect.

“Li…”

Just then, Ava Gardner turned around. Her shimmering green eyes stared intently at Li Yi’an, her lips trembling slightly.

“I, I…”

Faced with such a beautiful sight, who could possibly resist?

In that moment of inner conflict, her expression hazy with desire, she leaned in and kissed him.

Is this how you test a man?

Li Yi’an was just an ordinary man, and like any normal man, he was not one to withstand such a test.

…

In the early morning, upon waking once again, Li Yi’an was standing by the window, gazing at the distant obelisk with the faint trace of a smile on his lips. In his hand was a cup of coffee that Ava Gardner had just made for him…

Chapter 53: The President’s Benefactor

“Harry, it’s time for us to go.”

Hearing his wife’s call, Truman reluctantly rose from his desk.

He was unwilling to waste time on pointless socializing right now; after all, he and his committee had far too many investigations to conduct each day.

For a politician, the investigations weren’t about how much money he saved the United States, but about the constant headlines he was making.

Though socializing was pointless, as a Senator, he had to participate, especially when the other party had made an offer he couldn’t refuse.

A five-thousand-dollar donation.

This was the commission for the dinner; the other party was willing to pay five thousand dollars to have a meal with him. He had to admit, the man was very generous. While not an unbelievable sum, it was certainly rare.

Half an hour later, Harry and his wife arrived at the designated restaurant. As they entered, they discovered they were the only guests. While he was still looking around in surprise, the young Chinese man approached with a beautiful white lady.

“Hello, Senator, Mrs. Truman.”

Li Yi’an took the initiative to welcome them.

This was Harry S. Truman, the federal senator he had spent five thousand dollars to invite. Yes, the very one who would succeed to the presidency in two years. Right now, he was neither vice president nor president, just a federal senator, but he was already Washington’s rising star.

The committee he currently chaired had absolute authority to investigate the military and all its suppliers. It was his outstanding work as chairman of the “Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program” that caught Roosevelt’s eye. When Roosevelt ran for his fourth term next year, Truman would be nominated as the vice-presidential candidate.

By then, forget paying for dinner—one might have to wait in line for a year just to get a meeting. And then, he’d be promoted again to president.

Well, then you’d have to get back in line.

“Hello, Mr. Li…”

Despite never having dined with a figure as important as a senator, Ava Gardner, having received the appropriate training at the company, was able to adapt to the occasion perfectly. She extended her hand and introduced herself.

“Hello, I’m Ava Gardner. It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Senator, Mrs. Truman.”

Although Truman was somewhat curious about the presence of a beautiful American girl, his interest was limited to just that.

“Hello, Miss Gardner. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Meanwhile, Mrs. Truman was astonished not by the young lady’s beauty, but by the necklace around her neck.

Such a large diamond… It was simply… unbelievable!

“Please, call me Ava, Senator, Mrs. Truman.”

Soon, they were seated. After some brief pleasantries, they seemed to grow more familiar with one another, and Truman got straight to the point.

“Mr. Li, first, I must make one thing clear. I have no power to intervene in matters concerning Lend-Lease materials.”

Because of Li Yi’an’s nationality, Truman naturally assumed he was someone sent by the First Lady of China, with the goal of increasing the allocation of Lend-Lease materials to China.

“Senator, that is also not my purpose for this meeting.”

Li Yi’an’s reply stunned Truman, who wondered to himself.

Is it for an investigation? His company had only just signed a contract, one that was hardly worth mentioning. It was a research contract, not even for production. That was precisely why Truman had accepted the invitation; if it had been a major contract worth tens of millions of dollars, he would have declined outright.

“Senator, please believe me. The reason I’ve asked to meet you is not for the present, but for the future.”

“What?”

While Truman was still taken aback, Li Yi’an had already passed a prepared check across the table.

“Please allow me to be the first donor to the Senator’s future presidential campaign!”

What!

Truman’s eyes widened in astonishment. He looked at Li Yi’an, then at the check on the table, and said.

“Do you have any idea what you’re saying, Mr. Li?”

Mrs. Truman also stared at him. What was this young man talking about? She had completely forgotten about the necklace Ava was wearing, her gaze now fixed on him.

“Senator, I trust my intuition…”

Dabbing his mouth with a napkin, Li Yi’an said.

“Since I arrived in Washington, all I ever hear is ‘What is Truman doing?’ and ‘How much money did Truman save the United States today?’ I’ve heard so many people discussing you. Therefore, I believe no one can ignore this, and the White House won’t ignore it either. For his fourth campaign, he will need a running mate. Mr. Truman, I don’t think there is anyone in Washington more suitable than you!”

Staring at the dumbfounded Truman, Li Yi’an continued to display his “superb” insight.

“And the experience as vice president will become the stepping stone for your presidential campaign.”

Looking at the young man before him, Truman was silent for a moment before asking.

“Is this a prediction of yours?”

“A judgment about the future!”

Li Yi’an said with a smile.

“As a businessman, some like to invest in bonds, some in factories, some in movies. Similarly, some like to invest in the future. And this…”

Pushing the check in front of Truman, Li Yi’an said earnestly.

“This is my investment in the future!”

It was best to build connections early. Next year, when Roosevelt ran for his fourth term and Truman was nominated as the vice-presidential candidate, even fifty thousand dollars wouldn’t have the same effect as five thousand dollars did now.

Moreover, although Truman was the talk of the District, his resume was quite thin. Disliked by his classmates since childhood, he never attended university and failed in business three times. He was virtually unknown before the age of fifty. With a resume like that, he only became a senator at fifty, and his second term was won by a narrow margin. For such a person to aim for the presidency was not just a matter of a thin resume.

It was a complete pipe dream.

But the man got ridiculously lucky and became the President of the United States. Not only that, during his term, he directly shaped the post-war world order, a structure that influenced the world well into the twenty-first century. By the time Li Yi’an had traveled through time, the world had still not escaped the framework this man had established.

He thought of North Borneo as a prize to be had. With this man’s help, not only could he secure that prize, but he could also savor the experience.

The only question was, why would he help you?

Everything in this world came down to personal favors!

And these favors could be cultivated in advance!

“Li, you should know, there are far too many people in Washington more qualified to run for president than I am. I’m probably…”

Truman thought for a moment and said.

“Probably ranked after the 100th person.”

At fifty-nine years old, Truman had never even thought about the White House, let alone the vice presidency. At most, he hoped to serve a few more terms as a senator.

“Senator, please don’t sell yourself short. Let’s leave all of this to the future!”

Raising his glass, Li Yi’an said.

“Senator, please allow me to be your donor, not just for your senatorial campaigns, but for your future presidential run as well.”

In Washington, everyone had their ambitions. Although he had never dreamed of being president, Truman would never refuse such a wealthy donor, especially when his judgment of him stirred a strange emotion in his heart—he felt as if he had found a kindred spirit!

Chapter 54: The President Maker

“Harry, is what he said true?”

On the way home, Mrs. Truman asked, looking at her husband who was driving.

“It’s possible.”

“What?”

“I mean, it’s possible the president will choose me as his running mate. If he’s reelected, I’ll become vice president,” Truman said after a moment of thought.

“It seems he is considering his running mate.”

Glancing at his wife, Truman added, “But I’m not sure. After all, my qualifications are too thin, and there are too many people more outstanding than me…”

Looking at her extremely unconfident husband, Mrs. Truman retorted, “Harry, but is it possible that you’re exactly what President Roosevelt needs?”

His wife’s words made Truman freeze. Then, as if he’d had an epiphany, he said, “That’s right, that’s it, that’s it. He’s about to start his fourth campaign. How could he possibly choose a competitor?”

Suddenly, Truman thought of his colleagues in the party, all of whom had high prestige and impressive resumes. They were all trying to become the president’s running mate to gain enough experience to take the next step in the future. But they had clearly forgotten one thing—if Roosevelt could announce a fourth run for president, he could also run for a fifth, a sixth… until he was abandoned by the public, or until he died. Under these circumstances, Roosevelt would certainly not choose a vice president with high prestige and a rich resume. He would choose a vice president he could control, or one who posed little threat to him!

Once he understood the crux of the matter, Truman suddenly seemed to think of something and muttered to himself.

“Li, could he have seen this too? If so, that kid is a truly clever fellow!”

But can I really become president?

It had to be said that tonight, Li Yi’an had ignited the deep-seated ambition in the heart of a District politician, giving him more to look forward to in the future.

The car drove along Pennsylvania Avenue. Under the glow of the headlights, the obelisk stood out against the night sky. This was a country that considered itself a “New Rome” at every turn. Right now, it was just beginning to step onto the world stage. No matter how bottomless its principles, how despicable this nation was, and no matter how morally corrupt the Anglo-Saxons were, one thing could not be denied—they were completing the transition of hegemony internally, and it would happen in the next few years.

The old hegemon had already made a gloomy exit, while the new one was not yet ready. This era… was full of opportunities!

Watching Li Yi’an gaze out the window, Ava Gardner asked curiously, “Will he really become president?”

She was very curious how the man had made such a judgment. Could he really predict the future?

“Who knows?”

Li Yi’an reached out and gently caressed the woman’s graceful, swan-like neck, speaking softly. “For some people, all you need to do is give them the right motivation, and they’ll chase their dreams on their own. And today, I just gave him a little motivation.”

“Ah!”

His answer startled Ava Gardner. The confusion in her eyes suddenly vanished, and as if in a moment of realization, she said, “I understand. You’re making a president!”

What?

Before Li Yi’an could react, Ava Gardner explained, “During my acting training, my teacher once said that many people only see the bright lights of a star, but they don’t know that stars are made. There are people who specialize in making stars. Li, are you making a president? That’s right, you gave him the motivation to seek his dream. You pushed him to become president. If one day, he really does become president, then he will be your creation!”

Instantly, Li Yi’an was stunned. Although he didn’t know if this explanation was correct, it seemed to make some sense!

A president maker… that title sounded pretty damn impressive!

Right, who was the president after Truman… Eisenhower. Well, he was the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, a general, hardly an undiscovered talent anymore.

Then who was next?

It seemed to be that one with the wild ideas, who was commanding a torpedo boat in the Pacific Ocean right now. That one wasn’t short on cash. And the one who took over from him, what was his name?

Lyndon B. Johnson?

What was that kid up to?

Maybe I should go give him some guidance too?

And that other one who listens to walls… He shouldn’t be listening to walls yet, right?

I think there was also a president who flew a dive bomber, and his comrades were turned into sashimi by the Japanese.

After a brief calculation, Li Yi’an realized he was fully qualified to be a “president maker.” He could totally appear as their life mentor and then guide them at the appropriate times.

Doesn’t this mean I’ll be the man standing behind the American presidents!

At this thought, a strange smile appeared on Li Yi’an’s face. No, it was the smile of a wise man.

“Looks like I’ll have to make a list of those people, find them, and be their life mentor.”

At this moment, a wise smile was already playing on the corners of Li Yi’an’s lips. Turning his face, he looked at Ava Gardner and said, “Ava, what you said seems to have a point…”

It was more than just a point; her words were a wake-up call. For someone who held the knowledge of the world’s political and economic trends for nearly the next century, getting rich was just too easy. If nothing else, just by smuggling sugar during the war, he could earn at least a few small goals.

But the issue wasn’t making money!

The issue was the future!

Even if, in the future, with Truman’s help, he successfully took control of North Borneo, how could he ensure the company would survive in the turbulent post-war situation? And not be crushed in the wave of anti-colonialism.

There was only one way: to become stronger himself. Otherwise, before the great powers even intervened, the Southeast Asian natives could wipe him out.

But what if he had the support of a great power?

But why would a great power support you?

If he was good friends with the president, or rather, with successive presidents, then that level of support would be extraordinary.

It would be enough to make anyone tread carefully, to at least make them not dare to have designs on him, and certainly not dare to try a “zero-cost acquisition” on him.

“A point…”

Ava Gardner looked at Li Yi’an with some confusion, feeling his fingers gently caressing her neck. Although the gesture was a bit like playing with a puppy, she still enjoyed the intimate touch. Squinting her eyes, she asked in a charming voice, “What are you thinking about?”

“Me…”

Li Yi’an flashed a wide smile and looked at the woman. “I’m thinking about how to become a better life mentor, to illuminate the path of others, to give direction to those who are lost… Ava, are you sure you want to continue being an actress?”

Chapter 55: The Great Inventor

As it turned out, Li Yi’an had failed as a life mentor.

At least in Ava Gardner’s case. After a night of passion, although he had conquered her body, he couldn’t stop her from stubbornly pursuing her dreams.

“Darling, I know that if I were with you, I could enjoy life and never have to worry about a thing, but I don’t want to be just a canary in your cage.”

After one last tender moment, Ava Gardner, feeling as limp as a noodle, lay on his chest and spoke languidly.

His hand gently stroking the woman’s back, Li Yi’an said softly.

“If you get tired, you can find me in New York. I’ll probably be in New York for the next few years.”

Li Yi’an respected women who pursued their dreams. As she was leaving, he even gave her the pair of diamond earrings, the diamonds on them a full two carats.

“Aren’t these a bit too valuable!”

Even though they’re man-made… they’re still diamonds!

After seeing the woman off, Li Yi’an went to the Pentagon again. He was there to confirm the submachine gun contract, which had come about rather suddenly.

In Colonel Leto John’s office, after signing a contract for two hundred thousand submachine guns, the colonel asked bluntly.

“Li, do you know Senator Truman?”

“? What do you mean?”

“Don’t you know?”

Colonel John explained.

“Two days ago, Chief of Staff Marshall received a call from Senator Truman. He strongly recommended the ‘Avenger Submachine Gun’ produced by your company. He said this submachine gun is cheap, reliable, has excellent performance, is 9mm caliber, and is very suitable for aiding the resistance forces of various countries. He suggested the military test your submachine gun. As it happened, your gun had just arrived. The test results were astonishing: only one malfunction in five thousand rounds fired. The Chief of Staff was very satisfied and ordered that the contract for two hundred thousand Sten guns, originally intended for the Canadians, be given to you instead.”

Staring at Li Yi’an, Colonel John added with emphasis.

“This is the first time General Marshall has ever intervened in something like this. I don’t think the Chief of Staff would have gotten involved if it weren’t for the senator’s call.”

The colonel’s words made Li Yi’an understand the reason behind it. No wonder the contract came through so quickly.

This meant that the dinner from a few days ago had paid off. This was Truman’s way of returning the favor.

But that Truman fellow was truly a politician. When recommending the weapon, though he didn’t know its performance, he emphasized that it was suitable for resistance groups, not the US military. This meant that even if the submachine gun had many malfunctions, it wouldn’t be a problem. After all, it would be the resistance fighters who died. You’d never know if a resistance fighter died from a weapon malfunction or at the hands of the Germans.

Either way, they would just be dead!

As long as it wasn’t Americans.

But for Truman, this was his way of telling Li Yi’an that he acknowledged the favor.

That was how personal favors worked.

Persistent thoughts will surely be answered.

“Truly a politician!”

Li Yi’an couldn’t help but sigh internally. These politicians could always find a way to keep their hands clean.

Truman was no different.

“I’ll have to be more cautious when dealing with people like him in the future. Being a life mentor isn’t so easy.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Colonel John, Li Yi’an stood up to leave. Of course, he made a mental note of important matters, such as the colonel’s upcoming promotion to brigadier general, for which he would need to prepare a congratulatory gift.

And for another, he also needed to express his gratitude to Truman.

What should he give?

Recalling the way Mrs. Truman’s eyes lit up when she looked at the necklace, Li Yi’an thought with regret.

“Such a pity…”

The reason for his regret was that, given Mrs. Truman’s appearance and age, that necklace on her was a bit of a… waste.

But the lady approaching him wouldn’t be a waste. Wait, she looks a little familiar.

Who is she?

It wasn’t strange to run into a lady at the Pentagon, but running into a movie star was a bit of a rarity.

As the black-haired woman walked toward him, she was so breathtakingly beautiful it made one gasp.

As he marveled at her beauty, a name surfaced in Li Yi’an’s mind—Hedy Lamarr!

As Hollywood’s most beautiful actress, audiences were so captivated by her stunning looks that they often overlooked her acting skills.

However, she was a genius whose talents were overshadowed by her glamorous appearance!

She was the inventor of frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology. Her invention was used in airplanes and missiles, and it went on to influence the lives of millions. She was also the ‘Mother of Wi-Fi’—which was why Li Yi’an remembered this talented woman.

Hedy Lamarr, who was walking toward him, had a furious expression on her beautiful face. Dressed in a women’s suit and a formal hat, her anger wasn’t just because her invention had been rejected by the military, but because of what the colonel who received her had said.

“Ma’am, I believe that compared to your invention, the American soldiers on the front lines would be far more eager to get a photograph of you! Since you love America so much, you should use that pretty face of yours to help the government sell war bonds.”

Photographs!

For those officers, is that all they see?

Only her body?

What a bunch of shallow fools!

While cursing those shallow men in her heart, Hedy Lamarr felt a deep sadness. She had never considered her beauty a masterpiece from God; instead, she saw it as a burden, a curse.

“My face is my misfortune…”

At this thought, a single teardrop slid from her eye and down her cheek.

My god!

For a moment, Li Yi’an was stunned. Seeing her shed a tear, he could feel her sorrow despite her lack of expression. Her tear-streaked face was heart-wrenchingly beautiful.

A man’s gaze!

Once again, Hedy Lamarr felt the gaze from the man approaching her. Just as a wave of displeasure rose in her heart, the man blocked her path, and a sudden anger flared within her.

“What do you want!”

Almost at the same instant she spoke, the man said.

“Hello, miss. I’m interested in your invention.”

What?

In an instant, Hedy Lamarr froze completely. What did he say?

“It’s like this, I’m a defense contractor. I overheard someone mention your invention just now while I was signing a contract.”

Standing there dumbfounded, Hedy Lamarr was stunned for a long moment before she could react.

“You mean, you’re interested in my invention?”

Not in me?

Hedy Lamarr was skeptical. This was the first time something like this had ever happened. Most people only saw her face and never her talent.

Facing the woman’s skepticism, Li Yi’an replied.

“Miss, I believe your invention could even change all of our lives! It could bring unimaginable convenience to our lives!”

Chapter 56: You Need to Be More Confident

Is it true?

This was the first time Hedy Lamarr felt her talent was being recognized, not just her looks.

Standing stunned in a corridor of the Pentagon, Hedy Lamarr stared at the man before her with an incredulous gaze.

Truly beautiful!

Looking at the woman before him, Li Yi’an finally understood why actresses, including Vivien Leigh, praised her so: with such beauty, she didn’t need any acting skills.

Yes, Hedy Lamarr didn’t need to act. Just standing still was the most perfect performance.

Just like now, standing there motionless was, in itself, breathtaking.

However, everyone only saw her beauty and overlooked her talent.

Even after she invented frequency-hopping technology, the military refused to adopt it. In their eyes, she was just a pretty face. When she tried to give the frequency-hopping patent to the military for free, they investigated the “pretty face’s” background. Upon learning her ex-husband was the Austrian arms tycoon Mandel, they became even more hesitant to use it. Could she be an enemy spy?

And so, her patriotic act was shelved.

Of course, this also meant Hedy Lamarr’s extraordinary intelligence could not be put to use!

The earliest known implementation of it was in the mid-1950s. The United States Navy gave Hoffman Radio Corporation a contract based on the patent to produce sonobuoys and radios for accompanying aircraft. However, the inventor’s name was removed from the documents, and the information was kept top secret.

It wasn’t until the late 1950s that Hedy’s invention was widely applied in military computer chips. The technology also inspired scientists and was widely applied to the research and development of mobile phones, cordless phones, and internet protocols, allowing many people to use the same frequency band of radio signals simultaneously. Ultimately, Hoffman Radio Corporation completed the mechanical frequency-hopping device. The military also developed many products based on it, including the unmanned drones widely used in the Vietnam War. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, “frequency-hopping” was used for covert communications between warships, forming a naval blockade.

But the United States’ suspicion of Hedy wasn’t just due to her ex-husband’s Nazi background; it was a fundamental disbelief. The military couldn’t believe that an actress and a musician could understand these principles better than weapons experts.

As a result, this world-changing technology was delayed for a full ten years!

Whether this woman was beautiful or not, Li Yi’an didn’t care. He cared about only one thing… he needed this woman!

He needed this woman to continue her research on frequency-hopping! At the very least, he had to buy her patent. It couldn’t be buried by the US military!

Mastering this technology would be like prying open the doors to the world of electronics!

“R-Really?”

Genuine joy spread across Hedy Lamarr’s beautiful face.

“Ma’am, don’t doubt your abilities. I believe that compared to your appearance, if given the right opportunity, it is your talent that will truly amaze the world.”

Li Yi’an said bluntly.

“I am currently preparing to enter the radio communications market and plan to hire technical staff to set up a laboratory. If you are willing, ma’am, you can conduct experiments on your invention in the lab. I will provide you with the best assistants!”

“Are, are you serious?”

Hedy Lamarr’s tone was still uncertain. She even asked bluntly.

“Is this just an excuse to pursue me?”

As a woman, she was well aware of the problems her appearance brought into her life. When men looked at her, all they ever thought about was how to… sleep with her. They would do anything for it.

“Ma’am, you need to believe in yourself.”

I don’t know if you believe in yourself, but I definitely believe in you!

“I only need one hundred dollars a week. No, eighty dollars…”

Hedy Lamarr stated her request directly.

“As long as you keep your promise and agree to let me work in the laboratory, even fifty dollars would be fine.”

When it came to salary, Hedy Lamarr’s demands were very low. A major star was lowering her salary to that of a third-rate Hollywood actor. More than the money, she cared about the opportunity—a chance to apply her brilliant intellect.

That was what she valued most. After all, no one had ever given her such a chance.

Looking at the woman who seemed so eager, even to the point of devaluing herself, Li Yi’an said.

“Ma’am, please don’t devalue yourself like this. I believe every scientist deserves a salary that matches their status.”

Li Yi’an said directly.

“Six hundred dollars a month, and the company will provide full medical insurance.”

Six hundred dollars was nothing to a major Hollywood star like Hedy Lamarr, but among scientists, it was definitely a high salary. Having been in contact with many scholars, she immediately shook her head and said.

“Sir, thank you for your generosity, but we both know that under normal circumstances, a typical scholar’s salary is only around four hundred dollars, maybe even just over three hundred. The salary you’re offering is too high. I think four hundred dollars is enough.”

Hedy Lamarr’s refusal wasn’t surprising. After all, this was someone willing to work in a laboratory for a two hundred-dollar salary. Faced with her rejection, Li Yi’an said bluntly.

“Ma’am, as I said, you need to be more confident. Believe in yourself…”

Staring at the woman before him, a woman captivating enough to make any man fall for her, Li Yi’an said.

“Believe in your talent. Your talent is worth this salary!”

The single word “worth” made Hedy Lamarr’s heart race with emotion. She didn’t even know how to describe what she was feeling. This was the first time, since her youth, that someone had acknowledged her talent!

Not just her face. In the eyes of many, she was just a beautiful vase. Nearly everyone thought the same way, seeing her as a decoration and thinking only of getting into her bedroom. Even her research was scorned by the military, who mocked her to her face, suggesting that an actress with a pretty face should use that face to promote war bonds instead of trying to invent things.

That was how the world saw her. And now, for the first time, someone was telling her—“I admire your talent!”

“Thank you, sir…”

Taking a deep breath, Hedy Lamarr looked at the man before her. Only now did she notice that he was not only extremely young but also very handsome.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity. When can I go to New York?”

“Anytime,”

Li Yi’an said.

“I’ll be returning to New York in the next day or two. You can take care of your affairs first, and we’ll meet in New York.”

Hedy Lamarr said directly.

“Sir, I don’t have any pressing matters to attend to. When are you leaving? We can go to New York together…”

Chapter 57: The Technological Direction of the Future

“I’m so sorry for causing you trouble!”

As soon as they got in the car after leaving New York Central Station, Hedy Lamarr took the initiative to apologize. Outside the car window, the flashbulbs of cameras were still flickering.

She wasn’t just apologizing for the reporters swarming them outside the station, but for the news itself—he had become her rumored boyfriend, and she had supposedly given up her acting career for him. Their relationship was now the subject of intense public debate.

The moment the two of them stepped out of the station, they were besieged by reporters.

“Don’t worry about it.”

As the car pulled away, Li Yi’an glanced at the woman beside him and said.

“I suppose I should feel honored. After all, according to the papers, I’ve charmed the most beautiful woman in the world into coming home with me. They’re all calling me a very lucky fellow.”

The man’s words made Hedy Lamarr sigh deeply.

“That’s how the world sees it. It seems everyone thinks that a woman’s most important asset is her beautiful shell, not her inner intelligence.”

After a sigh that would move anyone to pity, Hedy Lamarr looked at the man driving the car and said.

“But you’re not like them at all. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I just did what any capitalist would be willing to do. To be honest, I should be the one thanking you,”

Glancing at the rearview mirror, he saw Hedy Lamarr leaning against the window with a forlorn expression. He asked.

“We’re in New York now. Where are you headed? I can give you a ride.”

“I don’t know…”

Hedy Lamarr shook her head and said.

“The last few times I came to New York, my agent from the company arranged everything for me. Now…”

Looking out the window at the city, Hedy Lamarr said.

“I don’t know where I should go, or what the future holds. I don’t even know about tomorrow…”

Li Yi’an only glanced at her in the rearview mirror without speaking. It was only natural for her to feel this way; after all, she had practically given up everything.

“But I don’t regret it, because I know this might be the only chance I get to prove I’m more than just a pretty face.”

Looking in the rearview mirror, Li Yi’an could clearly see the resolve in the woman’s expression. Those captivating eyes were filled with a steely determination.

And yet, it somehow made her even more alluring!

Gazing at the woman’s stunning face, Li Yi’an couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Why don’t you stay at my place for now?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a pang of regret. After all, a single man and woman living alone together… mistakes could easily be made.

…

What was it like to live with a beautiful woman?

In truth, it wasn’t anything special, since they were in the same house but not the same bed. At most, she was a pleasant sight to behold. Besides, Li Yi’an was a man who had moved beyond base desires. At least during the start-up phase of his business, he always focused his energy where it mattered most.

For example, now, for the sake of his new venture, he had thrown himself into the company the moment he returned to New York, beginning preparations for the radio laboratory.

Although companies across the United States had snapped up nearly all the available radio talent, a few had slipped through the net. People like Zhou Hongzhang, Cheng Shi’an, and several other Chinese students. After obtaining their degrees, they were barred from classified research because they were foreigners and could only participate in ordinary basic research. This gave Leap Radio Laboratory the opportunity to recruit them.

Upon entering the laboratory, like everyone else, Zhou Hongzhang and Cheng Shi’an were stunned to see a major Hollywood star there. But soon, as Hedy Lamarr began to describe her invention, the awe in their eyes turned to admiration.

“Frequency-hopping technology is different from conventional communication methods. It has eighty-eight channels, and signal interference will only affect one of them… You can think of it like a player piano. After all, it achieves ‘frequency hopping’ by borrowing the concept of a player piano reading a pre-coded punched paper tape to play music…”

While Hedy Lamarr was explaining her design concept to her assistants, Li Yi’an stood to the side. Originally just an observer, he was completely bewildered, as it involved a lot of technical jargon he simply couldn’t understand.

Feeling a bit bored, he picked up a book from a nearby table. It was a radio textbook. He flipped through it casually, and though the content was just as dry and difficult to understand, the light screen unexpectedly appeared.

[New unmastered Skill detected. Learn “Radio Engineering”? Yes/No?]

He could learn a skill just by holding the book!

Astonished, Li Yi’an quickly selected yes, and the knowledge of this skill flooded into his mind.

Once he exited the System, the theories that had sounded so dry and incomprehensible before became perfectly clear.

“…The specific implementation involves installing identically coded rollers in the torpedo’s receiver and the ship’s transmitter. When they operate simultaneously, they will synchronize the sending and receiving frequencies according to a predetermined code. This way, the enemy can’t detect the remote-controlled torpedo’s signal and jam it.”

From Hedy’s explanation, Li Yi’an more or less understood why the navy had rejected her invention. Aside from issues of trust, another reason was likely that the related mechanical components were too large to fit inside a torpedo.

However, at this moment, Li Yi’an’s attention was no longer on Hedy’s invention. He was completely immersed in the world of radio. For a liberal arts student, this was a whole new world. He even walked into another room where the tables were covered with all sorts of electronic equipment. There were a dozen radios and the U.S. military’s newest radio set, but the most eye-catching item was a wooden-cased electronic device on a table that was a good fifty centimeters wide and seventy centimeters tall.

At the top center of the large wooden case, a palm-sized, grayish-white glass screen clearly identified it—this was a television set!

A television set produced in 1943!

“Such a big television, but the screen is only seven inches…”

Televisions had already been invented and put on the market before World War II. It was the only “electronic product” in all of the United States that could be purchased without ration coupons. However, very few people could afford one, as a single set cost two hundred dollars.

An American G.I.’s monthly salary was only fifty dollars!

Actually, it wasn’t that expensive. After all, there was a time when his countrymen would spend several years’ salary to buy a television.

All this proved one thing: the market’s recognition of and demand for television sets.

“Two hundred dollars…”

Looking at the television before him, a strange light flashed in Li Yi’an’s eyes.

“It might be a bit expensive, but you… you are the future!”

Chapter 58: What’s Most Important in the 20th Century?

A company’s products must focus on the future!

While founding Leap Radio Laboratory, Li Yi’an didn’t put all his focus on Hedy Lamarr’s frequency-hopping technology.

That technology was too cutting-edge, merely preliminary research. As for the radio sets that were in high demand by the military, he dismissed them out of hand. That market had long been monopolized by giants like Motorola.

Let alone a foreigner like Li Yi’an trying to get involved; even native American companies wanting to enter this industry would have to face suppression from the monopolistic giants. The conflicts of capital have always been blatant.

Why did Truman, when he interfered with the submachine gun contract, never even consider replacing the M3 submachine gun with the Avenger Submachine Gun? To some extent, it was for self-preservation, but on the other hand, it was to avoid harming the interests of internal groups.

Therefore, a new company started by a yellow-faced guy shouldn’t even dream of taking a bite out of the fat prize of US military orders.

So, when choosing a product for the company, Li Yi’an chose the television!

Compared to the radio, the television was the real future!

After the war, the television, once considered a toy for the rich, could be mass-produced. Even though it sold for one hundred or two hundred dollars, the demobilized soldiers who had just crawled out of muddy trenches still carried them into their homes. Eventually, they found their way into countless households and became a family necessity.

“Right now, it’s just an extravagant toy…”

Muttering to himself, he turned on the television. It took about half a minute to warm up before a picture appeared. Although the image wasn’t very clear, this seemingly insignificant little screen was destined to change the world.

After turning off the television, he picked up the circuit diagram from the table and studied it for a moment. Then, Li Yi’an grabbed his tools and directly dismantled the television.

On the circuit board were vacuum tubes and wires of various colors. Just as he finished removing the board, a System notification popped up.

[Disassembled Television. Radio Experience +2. Lv1, 2/100]

I get experience just for taking a television apart?

Li Yi’an couldn’t help but feel a little pleased. This Radio Skill seemed a bit easier to grind than the others.

With experience points rising so quickly, Li Yi’an felt even more motivated. He picked up his soldering iron and, in a flash, completely disassembled the entire television.

“Since it’s taken apart, I might as well put it back together.”

As a high-end product, the television’s solder joints were precise. Soon, Li Yi’an had reassembled it with great ease.

[Assembled Television. Radio Experience +8. Lv1, 10/100]

After finishing the assembly, Li Yi’an now had a thorough understanding of the television’s structure. Finally, he turned his attention to the picture tube. Composed of an electron gun, deflection coils, and a fluorescent screen, the picture tube was the core of television technology. The other components, like the circuit boards and vacuum tubes, couldn’t be considered “black technology” at all.

For this era, the real black technology was the picture tube. During the age of television’s development, many Eastern countries, including the Soviet Union, couldn’t produce qualified picture tubes. Soviet televisions were even nicknamed “bombs” for causing tens of thousands of explosions or fires a year.

“To catch the post-war television boom, the key is still to master picture tube technology.”

Post-war television manufacturing was a boom, and Japan’s electronics industry had its moment of glory because of it. But what was the key to this boom?

It was the picture tube!

Without mastering picture tube design and manufacturing technology, it would be impossible.

A moment later, a smiling Li Yi’an closed the System’s notification.

[Picture tube detected. Picture Tube Manufacturing and Design has been learned.]

However, after gaining a basic understanding of the knowledge for picture tube manufacturing and design, Li Yi’an’s brow furrowed. Even though the knowledge included technology for color picture tubes, he couldn’t bring himself to smile.

The technology involved was incredibly complex, especially the manufacturing process.

“No wonder that as human society develops, there are fewer and fewer inventors. A tiny picture tube actually involves so much technology—the electron gun, the glass envelope, phosphor, the shadow mask…”

After a brief calculation, Li Yi’an felt that investing in television manufacturing wasn’t realistic at the moment. Never mind that the technology to manufacture picture tubes was extremely complex; even if he could produce them, the market demand wouldn’t be there yet.

“Well, I’ll have to accumulate the technology first.”

As for booms, being too early is no good, and being too late is no good either. Li Yi’an, who knew the future direction of development, was very clear on what he had to do.

He powered up the television again. Looking at the vacuum tubes behind the picture tube that lit up like light bulbs, he watched their glow, and the corners of his lips curled up as he muttered to himself.

“Actually, the real boom is you!”

What was the real boom?

Not televisions, nor other electronic products, but semiconductors!

Whether it was televisions or other electronic products, none could do without semiconductors. One could even say that semiconductors would directly determine the future of the world.

And right now, the semiconductor—that is, the transistor—hadn’t been invented yet.

Well, I’ll have to poach some talent first.

What’s most important in the twentieth century? Talent, of course!

Trying to find talent on his own was clearly not very feasible. Li Yi’an made a direct choice: a headhunting firm.

But not to hire a headhunting firm to find talent for him, but to directly establish a headhunting firm of his own.

Why establish his own headhunting firm?

In fact, Li Yi’an’s idea was very simple—to recruit talent from all over the world, not just in the United States.

As a newly established company, what was the most important thing to achieve a technological breakthrough?

It needed talent and technology. Only then could it grow quickly.

Under normal circumstances, acquiring talent and technology would be extremely difficult. But this was World War II!

This was the best opportunity.

At the end of World War II, the United States, as a victorious nation, not only plundered the vanquished nations’ machines, weapons, and other “hardware,” but also spared no effort to hunt for their advanced technologies and other “software”—especially the elite talents who had mastered them. They even formed the “Alsos Mission” to get their hands on the scientific elite from the defeated countries. They secretly arrived in Germany and, through their efforts, captured many of Germany’s famous scientific experts one by one.

In the end, those German scientists played extremely important roles in various industries. It was precisely because the United States employed the German rocket expert von Braun that it successfully completed the moon landing, sending three astronauts to the moon.

“Although I can’t go to the extent that the United States did, as long as I seize the post-war opportunity to get a sip of the soup, it’ll be enough for my company to grow into a behemoth.”

Chapter 59: The Headhunter

How does one establish a headhunting firm?

Leave professional masters to the professionals. Naturally, Li Yi’an made a call to Harry, who was far away in Washington.

Harry found his work quite demanding. He was not only Zhenhua Company’s lobbyist, responsible for helping Li Yi’an build a network of connections in Washington, but now he also had to help him with headhunting—or rather, find some headhunters.

This was a simple enough task. After all, such firms had existed in the United States for over a decade. Although many hadn’t fared well, some individuals in the field were exceptionally good, and most of them were lawyers. Soon enough, Harry found a candidate for him.

“Hello, Mr. Li. I’m Heidrick Gerrard. Mr. Harry sent me. Here is my business card. I hear you’re planning to set up a talent search company. I used to work for the Dikdilan Talent Search Company, where I recruited many talents for major corporations like Ford and General Motors. If given the opportunity, I would be very happy to work for you.”

After handing over his business card, Heidrick Gerrard presented his resume and looked at the young man expectantly. He had done some research before coming here. This was a young Chinese millionaire who, in just a few months in the United States, had acquired two companies and become a defense contractor. For someone who had been unemployed for over a year, this was an excellent job opportunity. He was confident that his resume would be enough to persuade him.

“I don’t need this resume. I need you to prove your ability with your work.”

Li Yi’an had been observing Heidrick from the moment he walked into the office. His suit was a bit worn, and the creases on his leather shoes, along with their scuffed heels, indicated he walked a lot, perhaps even lacking a car. All of this suggested he was not in a good state.

This man desperately needed this job, which meant he would give it his all.

“Prove myself?”

As he was wondering, he saw the other man hand him a slip of paper.

“I need you to help me poach this person.”

Taking the paper, Heidrick felt a headache coming on. The target was from Bell Labs.

“Mr. Li, we’re in the middle of a war. The government prohibits poaching from such important companies.”

“I know.”

Li Yi’an looked him straight in the eye and asked, “So, can you do it?”

He needed someone who could help him achieve his goals. Otherwise, after the war, how could he possibly help him recruit people from Germany? After all, the future development of the North Borneo Company would require a massive amount of talent. And where would this talent be poached from? From the defeated Germany, of course.

But to dare venture into a warzone, into regions not yet occupied by the Allies to recruit people—that required guts!

Without more courage than the average person, who would be willing to go deep into a warzone?

“This…”

After some thought, Heidrick said, “I can try.”

“Very good. Contact my secretary directly for anything you need.”

Who was the target?

None other than Walter Brattain, the man who invented the transistor.

In the twenty-first century, what was most important? Talent, of course. Standing on the shoulders of giants, Li Yi’an knew very well which talents to headhunt. After all, many of them were famous figures, individuals who changed human society and were destined to leave a bold mark on the pages of history.

After Heidrick left the office, Li Yi’an once again took out the folder containing information on the North Borneo Company, which naturally included maps.

Borneo is what later generations would call Kalimantan. North Borneo is located in its northeastern part, with an area of 74,500 square kilometers.

“Such a large place, and yet it has a population of less than four hundred thousand, with thirty percent being Chinese… This is simply a godsent land for us!”

Leaning forward in his chair, elbows resting on his desk, Li Yi’an’s eyes glinted with desire for this land. Ever since acquiring the North Borneo Company, he had begun preparations to truly make North Borneo his own.

This was his way of protecting himself.

Since arriving in the United States, he had felt discrimination everywhere. Even as a man with connections—someone who would be good friends with the president in the future—so what? Systemic discrimination would hinder his development in the States.

As for Britain, that was even more out of the question. The class stratification in Britain was so severe that it was unfriendly even to its own people, let alone a foreigner.

It was the same in all European countries. Perhaps he could use his foreknowledge of the era and wartime speculation to accumulate immense wealth, but that would be the extent of it.

In truth, being a peaceful tycoon would be quite good, but there was no guarantee that a commercial conflict wouldn’t one day lead to him being served a “zero-cost acquisition” package. It wasn’t an impossibility.

In contrast, only North Borneo could guarantee his safety and allow him to become a truly top-tier tycoon!

No, it would be more accurate to say a top-tier financial conglomerate—one that effectively owned a country.

No, still a company.

After all, the North Borneo Company was not a nation.

“Only on one’s own turf can one sleep soundly!”

Although he had already bought the company, there was still much to do to turn that plot of land into his own territory.

In fact, establishing the headhunting firm was also a preparation for that day. After the war, the ruins of Germany would be teeming with talent for hire. For the starving Germans, a loaf of bread would be enough to convince them to work overseas. Among them would be ordinary technicians, scientists, scholars, and of course, some soldiers. Many in defeated Germany would be looking to flee abroad to escape post-war trials. For a colonial company, these people were all precious assets. A company needed all kinds of talent to grow.

However, realizing this dream required capital. Li Yi’an once again picked up the phone and spoke to the secretary outside his door.

“Book a plane ticket to Cuba for tomorrow.”

Work brings happiness, that’s a must. Especially when work is directly equivalent to money, one is not only happy but also full of motivation.

In the days that followed, Li Yi’an made several round trips to Cuba and even took a special trip to Colombia, where he purchased high-quality coffee at an extremely low price. The life of a human courier was very fulfilling, requiring flights back and forth between multiple countries. But Li Yi’an was happy to do it. After all, this was the startup phase. As the boss, it was inevitable that he would have to work a little harder.

Chapter 60: Time to Think Bigger

“Ring, ring… ring, ring…”

In the early morning, amidst the piercing sound of the alarm clock, a hand reached out from under the covers, fumbled for a moment, and silenced the alarm before retreating back into the warmth.

After another few minutes, Li Yi’an finally got out of bed. The two little Cuban sirens were still sprawled across the bed. How did they get here?

He seemed to recall bringing them back from a bar or a casino last night. After a night of vanquishing demons, he was a little weary but ultimately victorious. Still, the body needed its exercise.

Out of habit, he took two banknotes from his wallet and placed them on the nightstand. Gazing at their enchanting figures, Li Yi’an couldn’t help but sigh.

“Ah, I’m always working so hard!”

6:00 AM.

Facing the morning sun, Li Yi’an put on his Bluetooth headset and jogged out of the National Hotel at a brisk pace, running along the seaside promenade.

Going to Colombia inevitably required a transfer in Havana. By now, he had become a regular at the National Hotel, with not only a dedicated driver but even a dedicated room. As soon as his plane landed in Havana from Bogota, the airport’s private car would take him to the hotel and into the room reserved for him.

It had to be said that Havana’s service industry had been excellently trained by the Yanks. Basking in the Caribbean sun, even during his start-up period, Li Yi’an was having so much fun he had no desire to leave.

Champagne, beer, seafood, and passionate Cuban ladies—who wouldn’t become addicted to such a life of debauchery?

Listening to the music in his headset and enjoying the cool sea breeze, Li Yi’an found himself becoming captivated by it all.

He was thankful for having transmigrated to a modern society. He didn’t need to worry about electricity; a simple 220-volt converter was all it took to charge his phone, allowing him to listen to music during his long journeys.

Running, of course, was no exception.

A healthy body was the foundation for enjoying life, and a morning jog alone surely wasn’t enough.

“From now on, I must go to bed early and wake up early.”

Starting today, he had to resist the temptations of the Cuban women. But then again, faced with those sultry and passionate women, who could possibly refuse?

Alas, men were always true to their nature; they never had much resistance when it came to beauty.

With music playing, the scenery unfolded before him like a scroll painting. Shaped by the Spanish and the Americans, Havana was like a beautiful garden. Running on the seaside promenade, with the lovely garden on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, was an absolute pleasure. Without realizing it, he began to pick up his pace.

Thump, thump, thump…

Just as he got into his stride, the light screen flashed.

[New unmastered skill detected. You can learn the “Running” skill. Learn now?]

Did he even need to learn this?

Acting on the principle that “one can never have too many skills,” Li Yi’an selected it without a second thought.

“Learn!”

[You have learned the “Running” skill.]

Just like before, a wealth of knowledge about running and exercise flooded Li Yi’an’s mind. This knowledge included many advanced sports theories and training methods from the future. Though they were basic theories, they were still far ahead of their time.

And at the same time, he felt a certain change occur within his body.

Although he had noticed his physical attributes had improved significantly since transmigrating—greater strength, faster reflexes, and even enhanced intelligence and memory—he had never felt a change as distinct as this.

Looking at the path ahead, Li Yi’an stretched his legs, hopped a few times, and then started to run. His initial pace wasn’t fast, but after a dozen quick steps, he suddenly accelerated into a sprint. An astonishing scene unfolded: a young man in athletic shorts and a tank top was sprinting along the road at a shocking speed. A man on a bicycle was ahead of him at first, but they were soon neck and neck. The cyclist glanced at the person beside him. As he pedaled faster, Li Yi’an, feeling playful, matched his acceleration. In just a few dozen steps, he left the bicycle at least ten meters behind.

The terrifying speed even startled the cyclist. By the time he tried to chase after him, the man was already more than twenty meters ahead. The cyclist stared dumbfounded in the direction he had disappeared.

“Wh-who is that guy? How can he run so fast!”

After running for nearly two kilometers, Li Yi’an stopped, panting heavily. At the same time, a notification popped up in his mind.

[Running training session completed. Running EXP +1. Lv1, 1/100]

His heart was pounding, but his body still felt full of energy.

“I feel like I can keep going, and even faster!”

That was it. His body had definitely undergone some changes after he transmigrated, and learning the skill had enhanced it even further.

“It seems I’m not just learning skills, but also strengthening my body!”

Li Yi’an was secretly thrilled by this conclusion.

“I unlocked a new skill today through running. Does that mean I can unlock new skills for any activity I pursue?”

He shouldn’t learn too much at once, or he’d spread himself too thin and wouldn’t have the time.

But that was fine. Li Yi’an knew his greatest asset was how quickly he learned. Once one “technology” was unlocked, countless “skills” were waiting for him to acquire.

At a rate of one skill per day, he could theoretically learn 365 new skills in a year.

No matter how vast and complex human knowledge became, he could learn it all!

If he wanted to, he could just take a stroll through a university campus and probably compile an encyclopedia of all current human knowledge.

But doing that would be a bit taxing on his brain cells.

“But brain cells die off naturally anyway! Isn’t it a waste not to use them to learn new skills?”

In that instant, Li Yi’an’s imagination ran wild.

“The knowledge base for ‘Running’ includes theories from the future. Doesn’t this mean that learning skills is, in itself, a form of ‘technology smuggling’? The more skills I learn, the more technology I can ‘smuggle’ over from the future?”

Assuming the System could work as he imagined, allowing him to continuously learn “new skills” as needed, and that these skills included future knowledge, then he could pull off some truly insane maneuvers!

Why even bother with a laboratory?

The next time he was in the lab, he could simply “learn” something and instantly master future chemistry. Even basic chemical knowledge would be leaps and bounds ahead of this era.

At that point, something like “Agent Orange” would be nothing more than an appetizer.

Or for example, if he wanted to make money, he could just copy down the molecular formulas for a few chemical drugs, open a pharmaceutical company, apply for patents, and then take it public… He would make an absolute fortune!

And it would be a win-win!

Who said a business management major couldn’t know a thing or two about mechanical engineering, Small Arms Design, or radio technology?

And what was wrong with knowing a little medicine on top of that?

Couldn’t a self-taught genius become a cross-disciplinary “Master Expert”?

No, no, my thinking is still too constrained. My steps aren’t bold enough!

Who decreed that my skills had to be limited to chemistry?

If he continued learning like this, he could definitely turn himself into a walking, talking version of an encyclopedia…

Physics, mathematics, architecture, engineering, metallurgy, biology…

My god, am I on the verge of plagiarizing the entire future of human civilization?

This is too damn exciting!

Could this be the correct way to use this “System”?

My apologies, past self… my vision was too small!

Chapter 61: The First Nobel Prize Talent

You have to think bigger!

Since I’m standing on the shoulders of historical giants, I should take a much bigger step.

Although taking too big a step can lead to trouble… ten thousand years is too long. I must seize the day.

Just as Li Yi’an decided to take that big step, Heidrick had already arrived at the Mayo Clinic. In its basement, he found the man he was looking for.

“Mr. Schatz, these are the terms Jisheng Pharmaceuticals is offering you. A salary of five hundred dollars a month, and a…”

Glancing at the tightly shut door of the basement, Heidrick said, “A laboratory in much better condition than this one.”

“Sir, the reason I chose to be here is the lack of protective equipment. To avoid the tuberculosis bacteria from spreading and harming others—after all, someone has already been infected with tuberculosis because of it—I can only hide and work alone in this basement laboratory to prevent infecting anyone else.”

Albert Schatz’s reply filled Heidrick with admiration.

“I understand. Mr. Schatz, you’re a kind-hearted man, which is why you deserve better laboratory conditions and, of course, better compensation.”

“But…” Albert Schatz said, “I still have my doctoral thesis to publish. Here, Mr. Waksman is supervising my dissertation.”

“Mr. Schatz, there are better professors and scholars in New York, I can assure you of that. The company will absolutely not interfere with your studies. I know you just left your job at the military hospital due to a back injury. The reason you came back to work in Waksman’s laboratory is that you had no better options. Now, an opportunity is right in front of you. If I were you, I would seize it tightly. After all, both your family and you yourself need this job.”

As he spoke, Heidrick handed him a contract and emphasized, “This is a long-term employment contract.”

For Albert Schatz, who came from an impoverished family, this contract was undeniably tempting. Five hundred dollars was a higher salary than even Professor Waksman earned.

“Let… let me think about it…”

In reality, ordinary people often don’t have a choice. For Albert Schatz, who came from a poor farming family in Connecticut, he knew what he had to do.

…

“Alright, another Nobel Prize in the bag!”

After receiving Heidrick’s telegram, Li Yi’an leaned back in his chair and whistled softly.

“What a pity. Is a Nobel Prize without a scandal still a Nobel Prize?”

Who was Albert Schatz?

He was the true inventor of streptomycin.

However, the credit for his work was stolen—one of the most notorious academic scandals in history.

Albert Schatz studied soil biology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, not out of passion for the subject, but because he had no better options. He figured that studying soil biology would at least be useful on a farm.

In 1943, his professional knowledge gave Schatz an intuition that a new antibiotic, one on par with penicillin, could be found in soil microbes. Penicillin was ineffective against a type of bacteria called gram-negative bacteria, a category that included the microbe that causes tuberculosis. Schatz patiently tested thousands of samples, and in less than a year, he developed the first drug capable of destroying gram-negative bacteria: streptomycin. This was one of the most significant breakthroughs in microbiology in the 20th century.

Schatz’s supervisor, Selman Waksman, immediately took note of this discovery. Despite being so afraid of infection that he never dared to enter the laboratory himself, Waksman took charge of the drug’s clinical trials. In the process, he had Schatz sign an agreement transferring the patent rights to Rutgers University. Later, the young Schatz discovered that Waksman had taken all the credit for the discovery for himself and had blocked him from being invited to various conferences. Thus, the praise and attention that should have belonged to Schatz all went to Selman Waksman.

Waksman stole not only the glory but also the money. Although Schatz was against patenting a drug so beneficial to humanity, under his supervisor’s insistence, the two jointly filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent Office. Schatz agreed that if the patent was granted, it would be sold to Rutgers University for one dollar, meaning he himself would not receive any financial gain from the invention.

But what Schatz never expected was that Rutgers University and Waksman had made a private deal: twenty percent of the royalties would go to Waksman himself.

In the following years, Waksman not only reaped honors—including the 1952 Nobel Prize as the inventor of streptomycin—but also received millions of dollars in lavish royalties each year.

What could Schatz do, his original intentions betrayed and his reputation stolen?

Unable to get any satisfactory resolution, Schatz eventually sued Waksman and Rutgers University, and won. In the settlement, he, the discoverer, was named “co-discoverer” and received a portion of the royalties and credit. But the lawsuit itself ruined him: people considered suing one’s academic superior to be a malicious act.

And so, Schatz, who should have received the Nobel Prize and immense wealth as the inventor of streptomycin, was ostracized by the entire academic community—academic overlords aren’t unique to China. Not only did he lose his job, but his papers were also repeatedly rejected by mainstream journals.

It wasn’t until twenty years after Waksman’s death that the American Society for Microbiology made a belated effort to make amends, inviting Schatz to give a speech to the society on the fiftieth anniversary of streptomycin’s discovery. To recognize his achievement, the society awarded Schatz its highest honor: the Selman A. Waksman Medal.

Life can be so full of irony sometimes.

This was undoubtedly the biggest scandal in academic history. The supervisor stole his student’s work, reaping a Nobel Prize and the title “Father of Antibiotics.” And the true inventor?

He was ostracized, shut out, and lived a life of melancholy!

But now, all of that has changed. Schatz will conduct his experiments in the laboratory provided by the company. No one will steal his glory—though, of course, his patent will belong to the company.

How much profit will streptomycin bring the company before the patent expires?

A corner of his mouth lifted in a smug smile as Li Yi’an said, “By then, we’ll be talking about more than just one or two ‘small goals’!”

At that time, the profits from the pharmaceutical company alone might be enough to fund the post-war reconstruction of North Borneo!

Once again, Li Yi’an’s thoughts drifted to that land in Southeast Asia. Even if it was an impoverished backwater with only a few hundred thousand people, a place he still knew nothing about, what did it matter?

This prize had to be his, no matter what!

Chapter 62: Laying the Groundwork in Media

If you wanted a piece of the pie, if you wanted to join in on dividing the post-war world’s cake, you had to be prepared. This preparation wasn’t just financial; it had to be on all fronts.

These preparations weren’t limited to building a network of connections in Washington and fostering a good relationship with Truman. There was another crucial element—swaying the American people. And swaying the American people was actually very simple: all one had to do was control public opinion. Once you controlled public opinion, you controlled how Americans thought.

“Boss, are you planning to acquire a television station?”

After the company’s executive meeting, Lin Ande approached Li Yi’an.

“Television stations hardly have any viewers. I heard there are only a little over ten thousand television sets in all of New York. Wouldn’t acquiring a station be a bit too risky?”

As Li Yi’an’s secretary, Lin Ande had a law degree. Having graduated four years ago, he had been stranded in the United States due to the war. He was originally working for a small company, but when he heard that Karl Company was hiring, he immediately resigned and came over, eventually being transferred to Zhenhua Company.

During the earlier meeting, when the Boss had asked Manager Zhu to investigate television broadcasting companies, he had already sensed his employer’s intentions.

Noticing Lin Ande’s somewhat nervous expression, Li Yi’an couldn’t help but smile.

“Ten thousand television sets might not seem like a lot, but tell me, what kind of families are using them?”

Lin Ande thought for a moment before answering. “What kind of families? Hmm… They must be wealthy families, right? After all, a television set that costs several hundred dollars isn’t something an ordinary family can afford.”

“Yes, that’s right. Wealthy families. These are definitely middle-class families and above. Many of them are lawyers, doctors—the elite of American society. Don’t underestimate these people. They are the ones who influence the thoughts of the majority. Their ideas can even impact politicians, because politicians are their friends. They dine together, they discuss matters together. And that is why I want to acquire a broadcasting company.”

Looking at Lin Ande, Li Yi’an continued.

“In this society, most people seem to have their own judgment, but they can hardly avoid being influenced by the outside world. Public clamor can melt gold, and accumulated slander can destroy a person. In the future, the television station will be our mouthpiece. For example, when it comes to news involving us Chinese, it will have to take our side! As for the truthfulness of the news, that’s not important. What’s important is what we report on television…”

In truth, his motivation for starting a television station was entirely inspired by the Jewish people. Why was it that the Jews, who had negligible influence before the war, became a powerful force in American politics by the nineteen-sixties? Before the war, they couldn’t even lobby the United States to accept Jewish refugees; America had in fact completely closed its doors to Jewish immigration.

It was because the Jewish people had seen the power of the media. The Nazi persecution of the Jews before the war began with tarnishing their reputation through public opinion, using propaganda to stir up anti-Semitic sentiment among the populace before launching their full-scale campaign. To avoid a repeat of this tragedy, they realized they needed to control the media themselves. Faced with the reality that traditional newspapers and radio in America were already monopolized by Americans, the Jewish people seized the opportunity presented by the rise of television, investing in and founding numerous television stations. By the nineteen-sixties, sixty percent of American television stations were in Jewish hands. By the nineteen-seventies, Jewish capital controlled seventy percent of them.

And what did the Jews who controlled the television stations influence?

It wasn’t just public opinion; they swayed the very thoughts of the American people. And what did American politicians pander to? Jewish capital? No, it was the media controlled by Jewish capital.

At the same time, as television began to impact the film industry, Jewish capital took advantage of the decline of movie theaters to acquire cinema chains at low prices. By the nineteen-eighties, nearly all American cinema chains were controlled by Jewish capital. This directly led to the Judaization of Hollywood—because film studios needed their movies to be shown in theaters.

Thus, Jewish capital came to directly control the most effective tool of public opinion and used it for its own benefit. The rise of the Jewish people was, in fact, inextricably linked to the rise of television.

“Of course, running a newspaper could achieve a similar effect, but newspapers aren’t the future. Television is the real future. Not everyone reads a newspaper, but everyone will watch television at home. After the war ends, television sets will surely become common in every household. People will watch TV in their living rooms, listen to the news, and watch movies. When that time comes, with the right guidance, the television station will become our most powerful tool for influencing public opinion.”

How does one launch a good television station?

Li Yi’an didn’t know the specifics, but he had, at the very least, read articles about the rise of American television stations like CNN, so he had some idea. And he was certainly even more aware of the importance of television advertising to a station.

In the nascent era of television programming, casually bringing out some of those future models would be the ultimate trump card!

Don’t be fooled by the small number of early television users; these were high-end consumers, and their influence was immense. Besides, just a few years from now, televisions would find their way into a third of American homes, becoming a household necessity. As long as he seized this first-mover advantage, it would be difficult not to grow into a media giant.

Why lay the groundwork in media so early?

To put it bluntly, it was to pave the way for the next step. He was, after all, determined to take North Borneo in the future. To survive the coming wave of anti-colonialism, a connection with the president wasn’t enough; he also needed the support of the people. Only then could he securely establish himself as the local emperor of North Borneo.

But to secure his position as a local emperor, the most important thing was still military force. Without military force, how could he possibly stand his ground amidst the tide of independence movements?

An armed force was essential!

The barrel of a gun was extremely important.

Fortunately, the company’s armed force was already taking shape. Over the past two months, Ding En had been recruiting security personnel everywhere. According to Li Yi’an’s requirements, they had to be the sons of overseas Chinese with clean backgrounds, not gang members. People like that… were truly hard to find. After all, most young overseas Chinese men had already joined the army, and a considerable number had returned to China to aid in the war.

Recruiting over a hundred men was no small feat. After all, nearly two out of every ten Chinese people in America had enlisted, and they were fighting not just for the United States, but even more so for China.

Gazing through the window at the security guards training in the company compound, Li Yi’an muttered to himself, “I really need to press forward on the military front…”

Chapter 63: Mercenaries

Actually, the power that comes from the barrel of a gun was readily available.

Perhaps not at this very moment, but what about after the war ended?

Post-war Europe and Asia would be shrouded in poverty and hunger. It wasn’t just soldiers with no skills other than fighting; even scientists would be starving.

With enough money, one could assemble a mercenary army in Eurasia at any time. This force wouldn’t need to be large; a few thousand men would be enough to maintain the company’s rule in North Borneo.

“I’ll take it one step at a time. First, I’ll get a mercenary army, and then I’ll establish my own armed forces.”

On the way home, Li Yi’an once again laid out his plans for North Borneo in his mind.

What was the most important thing for a colony?

People, of course!

Just like New York. Once upon a time, this land was bought from the Native Americans by the Dutch for a few glass beads. But with the influx of large numbers of immigrants, the natives were eventually driven onto reservations. And the white men? They became the masters of the land.

Therefore, the future of North Borneo lay in immigration!

Understanding this crucial point, all that remained was to prepare for the future immigrants.

“I can use the defense material supply contracts to establish some connections in China. After the war, I can bring in immigrants from there…”

Nodding, Li Yi’an then considered the transportation for these immigrants.

“To get the immigrants to North Borneo, I absolutely need ships. Ships… landing craft would be best. Even without a dock, they can pick people up and transport them. Yes, I need to strengthen my connections with the Marine Corps.”

The more he planned, the more Li Yi’an realized the importance of intelligence. He needed intelligence on all fronts; whether for Business or the development of North Borneo, information from all sides was indispensable.

“An investigation company… that can be a start.”

Nodding, Li Yi’an, who had few options at the moment, could only place his bets on this for the time being.

The car drove along the smooth asphalt road. Sitting in the Mercedes driven by his chauffeur, Li Yi’an thought about going home to take a long, hot bath. The only regret was the lack of any entertainment.

Maybe I should go have some fun at a bar?

Leaning back, he lit a cigarette. Just as Li Yi’an was wondering whether to go to a nightclub, the car pulled over. Ding En, sitting in the front passenger seat, got out and bought a copy of the Evening Post.

After unfolding the paper, a news story in the “Latest News” section caught Li Yi’an’s eye. It was on the front page of the Evening Post.

Looking at the news, Li Yi’an read it several times over. Then, his gaze shifted to the world outside the car window. To the passersby, this news report would, at most, make them grumble and complain a bit. After all, this victory didn’t belong to them, and they would soon put it out of their minds. Italy had already announced its unconditional surrender. Even if there were some twists, it wouldn’t affect the overall situation.

As he stared out the window, an idea surfaced in his mind.

His fingers gently tapped on the newspaper’s headline:

Mussolini Rescued by German Paratroopers!

Although this event took place in distant Italy, the seemingly simple news made Li Yi’an think of the German paratroopers who led the operation. Weren’t they the best source for mercenaries? At the same time, he thought of another group—German spies, or rather, German intelligence personnel.

“It’s already September 1943. Next year, after the Normandy landings, Germany will be pretty much finished. The overall situation in the European theater will be decided by then. A lot of men will be discharged, and I can hire them.”

Sometimes, a sudden idea could lead to unforeseen consequences, but one thing was certain: for those discharged veterans, this would be their opportunity.

“Hmm, these discharged veterans are quite a good option indeed!”

They were indeed an excellent choice. Those men were battle-hardened elites. With them as mercenaries, not only would they have strong combat capabilities, but they would also be very cheap. After all, in post-war Europe, everything besides food and supplies would be cheap—including people.

Smiling, Li Yi’an folded the newspaper in his hands and looked out at the New York streetscape, his face filled with a confident grin. It was a confidence in the future!

The post-war world… so many opportunities!

As long as I seize the opportunities, forget being a local emperor in Southeast Asia—it might even be possible to go a step further!

In the following days, everything progressed steadily. In early October, KTJ Chemical Industrial delivered the first batch of Agent Orange to the military. Although it was a mere fifty tons, this was just the initial trial.

When it came to testing military equipment, the US military fully showcased just how deep their pockets were. For instance, to obtain test data for a new type of incendiary bomb, they specifically built a mock German city with brick and stone structures and a mock Japanese city with wooden structures out west. To make it as realistic as possible, they not only hired Japanese-American architects to build the Japanese city but also used similar raw materials whenever they could. Since they had no Japanese pine, the United States even went so far as to acquire a shipload of similar pine wood from Soviet Russia through the Lend-Lease Act. Even for the tatami mats, they rummaged through warehouses across the country and even the homes of Japanese-American immigrants to find Japanese-made ones. After such a Herculean effort, they finally built a Japanese-style town in the west. In the following period, they conducted multiple bombing tests with the new incendiary bombs. Only after confirming that the new bombs were effective against German-style buildings and even more so against Japanese-style ones did they put them into practical use.

And now, it was the same for Agent Orange. The first batch was shipped to Panama by the US military as soon as it was delivered. There were vast tropical rainforests in the Canal Zone available for testing to acquire the necessary data and prove its effectiveness.

Unlike the incendiary bomb tests, which lasted for more than a year, just half a month after the first delivery of Agent Orange, KTJ Chemical Industrial received an order from the Pentagon for a staggering five thousand tons of it.

Clearly, the military had been won over by the outstanding effectiveness of Agent Orange. After all, that stuff could really turn a tropical rainforest into a barren wasteland. For the Allied forces fighting in the tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean, it was even more effective than planes and artillery!

Chapter 64: Need Artillery? The Large-Caliber Kind

[Military purchase of 5,000 tons of “Agent Orange” from KTJ Chemical Industrial. Total contract value: 10 million US dollars. Reward: 100,000 Experience points!]

As the contract for this big gift package for the Japanese was being signed, Li Yi’an, though far away in London, received his due reward from the System at the first opportunity.

Although the reward was a hefty 100,000 experience points, Li Yi’an was now unfazed. After all, he was still nearly ten million away from his next level-up!

To level up, he needed to keep pushing forward.

In fact, when the System gave him the reward, he was in the middle of discussing new business with the National Defense Supply Company.

“This machine gun is our company’s latest product—the RM2. Compared to the Czech ZB26 and ZB30 machine guns, as well as the British Bren gun, it’s not only reliable but also has a simpler structure, making it easier to produce. It’s also very light, weighing only 6.4 kilograms, which makes it easier for soldiers to carry on the offensive…”

Standing before General Jiang and other officials from the National Defense Supply Company, Li Yi’an pointed to the machine gun on the table and detailed its advantages. This machine gun was a licensed design that Karl Metal Company had purchased from the Mendoza Company in Mexico. They had acquired the complete set of blueprints and technical data for only 15,000 US dollars—it was outrageously simple and cheap. Although the price was low, its performance was absolutely outstanding. Unfortunately, because it was Mexico’s standard-issue weapon, it rarely garnered outside attention. Compounded by the post-war influx of second-hand light machine guns, even the Mexican military had only procured a few dozen units. But this couldn’t hide its superior performance.

“It looks quite similar to the Czech model.”

General Jiang picked up the machine gun and said with a smile.

“Just as you said, it’s light. Very light indeed. But won’t such a light machine gun kick up when firing? Will it be hard to control?”

The timely delivery of the Type 77 Submachine Gun had earned him a commendation back in China. Of course, this was also the reason he was here—China was in urgent need of various weapons, including machine guns.

“Not at all, General Jiang. You see, its muzzle is fitted with a muzzle brake, which reduces recoil and makes it easier to control. Like the Czech model, its barrel can be quickly replaced, and a fixed bipod is mounted on the gas tube… The gun’s firing pin is pointed on both ends, so if one end breaks, you can simply reverse it. The stock and trigger mechanism are hinged into a single unit. And it has a dedicated tripod that can be used for ground combat or anti-aircraft operations, giving troops a certain degree of field air defense capability.”

While introducing the various advantages of this machine gun to the guests from China, Li Yi’an added pointedly.

“If the purchase quantity exceeds 20,000 units, each machine gun will come with one spare barrel and eight 30-round magazines. For every six machine guns, we’ll include one multi-purpose tripod and six 100-round drum magazines. Hmm, as for the unit price… 120 US dollars!”

120 US dollars!

Instantly, General Jiang was stunned by Li Yian’s offer. The price seemed a full third cheaper than a Bren gun, but this one came with an extra spare barrel, a tripod, and 100-round drum magazines. The actual price might even be less than 100 US dollars!

“General, once you mount it on a tripod and add a drum magazine, isn’t it basically a heavy machine gun?”

Wang Fuji, who was standing by, added at the perfect moment.

Li Yi’an nodded.

“Exactly. That’s precisely why I’m recommending it to you. Even with the tripod, it weighs only 16 kilograms and can be easily moved on the battlefield. This reduces the vulnerability of fixed heavy machine gun emplacements, which are often easily destroyed.”

In truth, the reason he chose the Mendoza machine gun, besides its excellent performance and simple design, was that it was a quasi-general-purpose machine gun—equipped with a tripod and a 100-round drum magazine

“The logic holds, but the key is still its performance. After all…”

General Jiang said, looking at the machine gun mounted on the tripod before him.

“Let’s have the facts speak for themselves. Let’s start with a shooting demonstration!”

Over the next three days, the two unremarkable-looking light machine guns fired a total of 120,000 rounds. Not a single part was damaged. Just as Li Yi’an had promised, its design was simple, reliable, and durable.

Faced with such a high-performance machine gun, even though no army had yet equipped this weapon, General Jiang and his group were completely won over. In fact, it wasn’t just the weapon’s performance that convinced them, but more importantly, the seller’s delivery promise—40,000 to 50,000 units could be delivered within a year.

“Are you sure you can deliver 40,000 units?”

As he asked, General Jiang took another look around the factory. Its scale was indeed far larger than any arsenal back in China, but delivering 40,000 light machine guns in a year still seemed a bit unrealistic. After all, China could only produce a mere 10,000 units per year.

“General, you’ve already seen how simple its structure is. It only takes 75 man-hours, less than half that of a Bren gun. 40,000 is a conservative estimate; 50,000 is definitely not a problem!”

If push came to shove, he could always subcontract some of the parts to other manufacturers. In the United States, small arms companies were countless, and they had always supplied parts for the larger corporations. This was the greatest feature of a mature industrial nation; the big arms companies were often just assembly plants.

“Moreover, if your purchase quantity exceeds 20,000 units, we will transfer the complete blueprints and technical data to you free of charge. If necessary, we can also send technicians to assist you in producing the RM2 machine gun.”

This was the real trump card. Although China had already copied and standardized the Czech model, its prototype was, after all, the ZB26. Compared to the ZB26, the RM2 machine gun had superior performance and was cheaper.

Cheap and excellent!

This was the most suitable machine gun for China. It even had the potential to replace the Type 24 Heavy Machine Gun. Although it was only potential, who could refuse something that cost only a tenth of the price?

Just as Li Yi’an had expected, the National Defense Supply Company had absolutely no reason to refuse. After all, Karl Metal Company was the only supplier that could deliver immediately. For the National Defense Supply Company, which had US dollars but no fixed manufacturer, Karl Metal Company was quite possibly their only choice.

After signing a contract for 50,000 RM2 dual-purpose light/heavy machine guns, General Jiang asked tentatively.

“Can you produce artillery? You know, what China needs isn’t just machine guns. If you had artillery… hmm, our contract has only used 60% of the quota approved by the Americans for light machine gun procurement. The remaining 40% is for the company to use at its discretion. I can give that contract to you…”

Seeing the look of eager anticipation on General Jiang’s face, Li Yi’an said directly.

“Would mortars be okay? I’m talking about large-caliber ones!”

Chapter 65: Drowning the Japanese in Agent Orange

Large-caliber mortars.

In truth, Li Yi’an had already been considering large-caliber mortars long before General Jiang and the others made their request. After all, given Karl Metal Company’s level of technology, producing mortars was the most realistic option.

However, the Allied forces, or at least the British and American ones, had no demand for large-caliber mortars. While the American 107mm chemical mortar performed exceptionally well, it was too heavy and its production was limited, so it couldn’t meet China’s needs.

What kind of mortar did the Chinese battlefield need?

A 120mm mortar!

To reduce development difficulty, Karl Metal Company used its status as a military contractor to obtain a Gr.W.42 mortar from the military, which the Americans had captured in Italy. This mortar was the German version of the Soviet PM38 mortar. It weighed only 285 kg, had a barrel length of 1865 mm, and fired a 15.8 kg WGr.42 shell to a maximum range of 6050 m. The 120mm Gr.W.42 mortar was a remarkably successful copy, extremely popular with German frontline soldiers, and quite cheap to produce, costing only 1200 Imperial Marks per unit.

When General Jiang and his men requested to purchase artillery, Li Yi’an naturally gave this weapon his strongest recommendation. The price tag of a mere 500 dollars per mortar immediately won over General Jiang and his party.

One had to admit, cheap is king.

After just two days, following a test firing of the Gr.W.42 mortar and learning of its six-thousand-meter range, General Jiang placed an order for one thousand mortars and three hundred thousand shells. The funds used were merely the surplus from the amount approved by the Americans to purchase light machine guns.

More often than not, cheap is king. If it cures the poison, it’s a good plaster; if a weapon can kill Japanese devils, it’s a good weapon.

Some things may not kill people directly, but their effect can far exceed that of ordinary weapons.

“My God, I dare say, this is truly God’s magic…”

At KTJ Chemical Industrial, Li Yi’an stood holding a letter, reading its contents aloud to the people gathered.

“The entire island was once covered in green jungle. Those damned Japanese devils would hide in the rainforest, just a dozen yards away from you, in the treetops, ready to snipe us at any moment. Every one of our brothers believed that the rainforest, even more than the Japanese devils, was the most hateful enemy… But now, the geniuses at KTJ have sent us ‘Agent Orange.’ God bless you. When the planes spraying it flew overhead, we could see the leaves falling with our own eyes, just like a forest in autumn. All the leaves disappeared, and even the branches withered. After a heavy rain, the once-dense tropical rainforest turned into a field of withered tree stumps, and those Japanese devils were exposed right before our eyes… God bless you, you geniuses at KTJ. You have created God’s magic, and this magic has saved countless members of the Marine Corps.”

After finishing the letter, Li Yi’an spoke to the people around him in a tone filled with pride.

“Gentlemen, this is just one letter. Over the past few days, we’ve received hundreds of letters from Marines in the Pacific. The content is much the same—they’re all grateful for the product we’ve created… Now…”

Li Yi’an turned his gaze to Galston and said.

“Gentlemen, please, let’s give Mr. Galston a round of applause. His invention has saved thousands of Marines.”

Instantly, applause erupted. Amid the clapping and cheering, Galston savored the moment.

Watching the proud and gratified look on Galston’s face, Li Yi’an also wore a smile.

“Agent Orange” had certainly not disappointed him!

“To kill tens of millions of the Japanese, in the end, we’ll have to rely on ‘Agent Orange’!”

In many cases, starvation is far more effective than bullets. What would happen to the Japanese if they were plunged into a full-scale famine?

Li Yi’an hadn’t dwelled on it, just as he had never considered the consequences of spraying tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of liters of “Agent Orange” over Japan. Things like after-effects and pollution, in his view, were practically “a double blessing.”

“Right now, the only problem is how to produce as much ‘Agent Orange’ as possible. No, that’s not right. It’s how to get the US military to deploy as much ‘Agent Orange’ as possible on the battlefield.”

In another world, “Agent Orange” was a weapon that arrived too late, so the US military never had the chance to deploy it on the battlefield. But now, with Li Yi’an’s intervention, its mass production had been brought forward by nearly two years.

In fact, due to the urgent need in the Pacific, the very first batch of “Agent Orange” was deployed on Guadalcanal to mop up the remaining Japanese forces. The trial results were very encouraging, and these thank-you letters were the proof.

Now, the only question was to what extent the military was willing to use it!

“There will definitely be no problem on the military’s end.”

In the office, Paul Swell watched as his boss spoke with extreme confidence.

“These thank-you letters we’ve received aren’t just thank-you letters. They are, in fact, a prelude to military orders. The military will certainly increase its orders. After all, its effect is remarkably significant. That being the case, why wouldn’t they purchase it in large quantities?”

Looking at Paul, Li Yi’an shook his head and said.

“Indeed, the military will definitely place additional orders. It might be for five thousand tons, or it might be for ten thousand tons, perhaps even more.”

“Boss, if it exceeds ten thousand tons, the military will likely farm out the orders to other companies. We might even have to license the technology to them.”

Paul stated bluntly.

“That wouldn’t be a good thing for us. After all, our scale is far smaller than that of the major corporations, including DuPont.”

“That’s not important.”

Li Yi’an took a cigarette from its pack, lit it, and exhaled a puff of smoke before sneering.

“What is the ultimate goal for which I founded this company? It’s to save as many of our soldiers as possible and kill as many Japanese devils as possible. As long as we can achieve that goal, I would even publicly release its patent to all companies. After all, in wartime, our only interest is in winning the war!”

Smoking his cigarette, Li Yi’an presented himself in a very noble light. In reality, God only knew that all he wanted was to kill more Japanese devils; nothing else really mattered.

There were plenty of opportunities to make money. Of course, if he could kill the Japanese while earning Dollars, that would be absolutely perfect.

“Therefore, what I need to do is convince the military to purchase one hundred thousand tons, or even two hundred thousand tons!”

His boss’s words made Paul’s eyes widen in astonishment.

“Boss, do you want to drown the entire nation of Japan in ‘Agent Orange’?”

Chapter 66: The First Step to Bombing Tokyo

One hundred thousand tons!

Two hundred thousand tons!

Could it be enough to drown all of Japan in Agent Orange?

Li Yi’an didn’t know for sure, but he knew very well what he had to do.

As a Chinese man, how could he not do his part in this war?

“This seems a bit difficult!”

Standing before the large world map in his study, Li Yi’an’s brows furrowed deeply. He periodically used a ruler to measure the distances between various islands and Japan.

“In the end, we’ll still need to capture the Mariana Islands…”

Once again, Li Yi’an sighed helplessly, then looked at the photograph of a bomber pinned to the map.

It was a picture of a B-29 long-range bomber.

A few months ago, the B-29 long-range bomber had just rolled off the assembly line and immediately entered mass production.

The B-29 was the only long-range bomber capable of striking the Japanese mainland. But even with the B-29, bombing Japan was fraught with difficulties.

To achieve this goal, while the US military employed its island-hopping strategy in the Pacific, constantly closing in on Japan’s inner defense ring, they formulated a plan codenamed “Operation Matterhorn” for the bombing of Japan: using Chengdu, China, as a forward base—2340 kilometers from Kyushu. B-29 bombers would refuel and rearm at the Chengdu base, fly to the Japanese mainland to carry out their bombing runs, and then return to Chengdu to land.

Every drop of fuel they took on in Chengdu, every ton of bombs they loaded, was flown in from India by the Sino-American Air Group over “The Hump.” According to post-war calculations, to drop one ton of bombs on the Japanese, eighteen tons of various supplies had to be transported, and this transport effort largely squeezed out aid destined for China.

“Eighty percent of ‘The Hump’ airlift capacity was used to transport supplies for bombing Japan, while aid to China was reduced to a minimum…”

Why would the Americans spend so much to bomb Japan?

Ostensibly, it was for revenge, but in reality, it was to drum up support for Roosevelt’s re-election campaign—Roosevelt needed the bombing of the Japanese mainland to prove to the American people that he was sparing no effort in striking back at Japan!

But who bore the cost of all this?

Not Japan, but China. The construction of the Chengdu airfields drained China’s already depleted military budget and consumed vast amounts of manpower, materials, and financial resources. Furthermore, prioritizing transport for the bombing raids led to insufficient transport of military aid for China.

In short, for the Americans, “Operation Matterhorn” was little more than a publicity stunt, and the price for this show was paid by China.

“This time, I can’t let you have your way…”

Muttering to himself, Li Yi’an once again cast his gaze toward the vast Pacific Ocean. Compared to Chengdu, bombing Japan from the Pacific was the best option.

“But that won’t be possible until 1945…”

Staring at the Mariana Islands on the map, it wasn’t until the US military captured them in 1945 that the B-29s bombing Japan’s mainland had a more suitable forward base. Before that, Chengdu seemed to be the only choice.

However, that choice… was inherently flawed!

Standing before the map, Li Yi’an used a line to draw a circle with Tokyo as its radius, and then…

The problem returned to square one.

Besides China, there were no suitable locations for takeoff and landing within 2500 kilometers.

“Damn it…”

Frowning deeply, Li Yi’an tossed his pencil down in frustration. He stood before the map, just staring at it.

Outside, a biting cold wind swirled with a few snowflakes, turning the ground white. A car pulled over to the side of the road, and Hedy Lamarr stepped out. She glanced at the still-lit study.

“What is he doing?”

After arriving in New York, Hedy had been living here, but they had actually had little contact, as she spent most of her time in the radio laboratory.

Despite this, she grew increasingly curious about this man. He was different from others. If any other man were living with her, he would undoubtedly try every trick in the book to please her, to get into her boudoir, to climb into her bed.

But him?

To him, she… might as well not exist!

Although they lived under the same roof, they had barely seen each other for half a month.

Passing the study, Hedy saw the man through the half-open door. He seemed to be contemplating something in front of the map.

After a moment’s thought, Hedy knocked on the door and asked, “Still up so late?”

The voice at the door startled Li Yi’an. Turning to see Hedy, he finally remembered he had a tenant living in his house.

“Aren’t you too? Just back from the lab?”

“Yes. What are you looking at?”

Walking into the study and seeing the circle drawn on the map and the red lines pointing to their target, Hedy immediately understood what the man was scheming.

“Tokyo… Hmm, are you thinking about how to bomb Tokyo?”

“Just some rambling thoughts. Bombing Tokyo isn’t easy. It’s too far away. The Pacific… it’s just too vast.”

Li Yi’an sighed helplessly, then pointed to the liquor cabinet. “Care for a drink?”

“I’ll have one.”

Hedy nodded. As Li Yi’an walked to the cabinet, she went to the map, looked at the marked locations, and said softly, “This place of yours seems to have become a general’s war room.”

“It’s just business,” Li Yi’an said, walking over with the glasses.

“KTJ Chemicals’ products need bombers that can reach Japan. Only then will the military increase their procurement orders. On this point, my interests and the military’s are aligned.”

Taking the glass, Hedy smiled and asked, “It seems there are no suitable forward airfields?”

“The distance is too great. 2500 kilometers is the combat radius of the new bombers. At that range, there are absolutely no suitable bases for them to take off and land.”

Taking a sip of her drink, Hedy said, “If there are no suitable airfields, is there a way to make the planes fly farther?”

Hedy’s question made Li Yi’an laugh. “It’s not that easy. You can shed some weight, add more fuel, and maybe fly an extra two or three hundred kilometers, but any further would be difficult. To bomb Japan, you’d need to extend the combat radius by more than a thousand kilometers. And even then, it’s just a possibility.”

Another thousand kilometers? Where would they take off from?

Just as this thought popped into Li Yi’an’s mind, Hedy, as if recalling something, said, “What about using aerial refueling? I saw a demonstration like that before the war.”

Hedy’s suggestion made Li Yi’an exclaim excitedly, “That’s it, that’s it! Aerial refueling! Aerial refueling! Yes, yes, that’s it! But, what was this demonstration you mentioned?”

Chapter 67: Identity Revealed

On Christmas Eve, Li Yi’an came to London once again. Besides bringing coffee, white sugar, beef, and other supplies to the Razor Gang and making another tidy profit, he had another matter to attend to.

However, as soon as he arrived at Stana’s, he was immediately entangled by the little temptresses.

There was nothing he could do but set aside his official business for the time being. How could he possibly have the time to ask about anything else?

The next morning, accompanied by Stana and Gilly, Li Yi’an went to the company. One of them drove while the other sat in the passenger seat. Both women were glowing, their faces flushed. A woman in love possesses an exceptional kind of beauty. But as the passenger, Li Yi’an’s mind wasn’t on them; it was already at the company.

Of course, it was only natural for them to drive. After all, one was a Manager and the other was a secretary, but when the real Boss arrived, they both naturally became his secretaries.

That was the true essence of being a secretary…

When the three of them arrived, the company’s lawyer, Ian Thorpe, was already waiting in the office.

“Hello, Li. Long time no see.”

“Hello, Ian.”

Li Yi’an walked into the office, with Thorpe following close behind.

“What have you found out?” he asked as he took off his light camel hair coat and hung it in a wall-mounted wardrobe. Thorpe first took a report from his briefcase and handed it over, then pulled a notebook from his pocket, opened it, and began to recount the results of his recent work.

“Just as we planned, our debt lawsuit was supported by the court. To avoid being pursued for the debts, the small shareholders sold off their holdings one after another. But how could those stocks possibly sell? So, we acquired about 47% of the shares at an extremely low price.”

Flipping through the report from Ian Thorpe, the King’s Counsel, Li Yi’an asked, “So you’re saying we now hold 95% of the North Borneo Company’s stock?”

“Yes. The remaining 5% belongs to an old widow. If she’s still breathing, she must be eighty-five years old. She currently lives in a dreary old mansion in Kensington, accompanied by a personal maid who has served her for many years.”

After a moment of thought, Li Yi’an said, “But why is she still holding on to those shares for dear life?”

“Simply because she doesn’t want to sell. Old people often have peculiar ideas. Perhaps it’s just because it’s an inheritance from her husband.”

“Just sentimental value…”

Li Yi’an thought for a moment and said, “Ian, go and find out about that old widow. Figure out her background, what she wants, what she loves, what she hates, what she likes to eat, and most importantly, find her weakness. There must be something that appeals to her. Go figure it out and get her shares for me.”

For Li Yi’an, who was determined to be the local emperor of North Borneo, he wanted 100%. If he wanted something, he wanted all of it!

Only by buying all the shares could he become the true local emperor of that land—the kind who could do whatever he pleased.

“Of course. I’ve already sent investigators. I believe we’ll have results soon.”

Then Ian added, “Li, there’s one more thing I need to remind you of. According to British corporate law, anyone wishing to buy ten percent or more of a listed company’s stock must declare their identity to the company’s board of directors within two weeks. The purpose of this law is to allow the public to know the buyer’s identity, how many shares were bought, and from which company. Soon, everyone will know who you are. You need to prepare for that.”

“Prepare for what?” Li Yi’an retorted.

“I hid my identity before to avoid alerting anyone and having someone snatch this away at the last moment. But now… let them. It’s nothing more than a young millionaire from China.”

Shrugging, Li Yi’an looked unconcerned. He was already somewhat famous in New York—not because he had acquired a factory through a zero-cost acquisition, but because Hedy Lamarr was living in his home.

Although the two of them weren’t living together at all, in the eyes of the outside world, they were cohabiting lovers.

In reality, the two had never even held hands.

Li Yi’an felt helpless about this unjust accusation.

“It’s no big deal if my identity is exposed. Just proceed with the North Borneo Company matter as planned. I came here this time because I need you to do something for me.”

“It’s not just about your identity being exposed, Li,” Ian said.

“The North Borneo Company is no ordinary company. It’s a company that owns a colony, and many of its affairs are managed by the Colonial Office. Now that its board of directors, or rather its ownership, has changed, the Colonial Office will definitely intervene. You need to be prepared for that.”

In other words, the government would get involved. That did require some preparation. After all, the British weren’t necessarily happy to see their territory taken away by a foreigner, especially during this particular period, and bought at such an extremely low price.

If the Colonial Office were to intervene, what would they do? That was unpredictable.

But it seemed there was nothing he could do at the moment. In fact, the British were in the same boat, since North Borneo was currently under Japanese occupation.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Yi’an said, “We can only take it one step at a time. For now, let’s take care of the other matter first.”

“Whatever you need, just give the word.”

“Have you heard of Flight Refuelling Limited?”

“I don’t seem to recall it,” Ian said. “But I can have someone look into it.”

“Yes, it’s like this. The company was founded by a pilot named Alan John Cobham. He specializes in the production and manufacturing of aerial refueling equipment. I need to buy their aerial refueling technology. Hmm, a direct acquisition of the company would work too.”

“Aerial refueling technology?”

“Yes. This technology can be applied in war, refueling bombers in mid-air to extend their range. Perhaps bombing Germany doesn’t require this technology, but it will certainly be useful for bombing Japan. It’s a little late, but if we hurry, we can definitely catch the end of this war.”

As he said “catch,” Li Yi’an gestured with his hand to emphasize his words.

“With this technology, a bomber’s range can even be doubled. By then, distance will no longer be Japan’s protective umbrella. Bombers will be able to easily drop their payloads on the Japanese,” Li Yi’an continued. “So, I need this technology. What do you think? Is there a way to acquire this company?”

“Li, my friend,” Ian said with a smile. “In this world, there’s nothing that money can’t solve. You just need to wait for my good news.”

Chapter 68: Cheap New Technology

Money isn’t everything, but in this world, money can solve most problems.

The good news came quickly. Just two days later, Alan John Cobham sold his aerial refueling company (FRL), along with the aerial refueling technology it had been researching for over a decade, to Zhenhua Company for 25,000 pounds.

After the contract was signed, Cobham came to Li Yi’an’s office. Gilly entered the room carrying a tray with porcelain cups, a matching coffee pot, a milk pitcher, a sugar bowl, and a plate of biscuits. After she poured the coffee and left, Li Yi’an gestured toward the cup.

“Alan, as we agreed, the company will pay you this sum at a suitable time after the war. In the meantime, as the manager of FRL, the company will pay you a salary of 150 pounds per month.”

Why wait until after the war, and at a “suitable time” at that? To evade taxes—no Briton was willing to pay a 99.6% personal income tax.

That wasn’t taxation anymore, it was robbery! Like a robber benevolently leaving you enough for bus fare after taking everything else.

Of course, this absurd tax rate was only applicable during the war. That’s why Cobham requested to be paid after the war when selling his company.

“Thank you, sir.”

Cobham took a sip of coffee, then added several spoonfuls of sugar to his cup. After another sip, he nodded in satisfaction.

That was the taste.

God as his witness, it had been a long time since he’d had such sweet coffee.

He then ate a biscuit.

Cobham’s behavior made Li Yi’an sigh inwardly, lamenting how war had changed people’s lives.

A bag of sugar could get you into a woman’s bedroom, and a pair of stockings could turn a noble lady into a streetwalker. Even a well-off, famous aviator like him couldn’t be bothered with his former decorum when drinking coffee.

A life of scarcity brought too many changes to people’s lives.

“Alan, I hope you will go to the United States to conduct further research on aerial refueling technology.”

Compared to Britain, the United States was a more suitable place for aerial experiments at the moment. After all, in Britain… you never knew when you might run into a German plane while flying.

“Go to the United States!”

Cobham, who was in the middle of eating a biscuit, had his eyes light up. Then he added, “But, it’s probably not easy to get to the United States right now, is it?”

“I’ll take care of that,” Li Yi’an said with a smile.

Unlike before, as a contractor for the Pentagon, he could now take military planes directly between New York and London. If necessary, he could also use special visas to bring a few people to the United States.

“Can my family come with me?”

Cobham had long grown tired of the extreme rationing in Britain. It would be wonderful if he could take his family to the United States.

“Not right now. Let’s wait until after the war…”

Li Yi’an looked at him and said. When he bought Cobham’s company, he had no idea that his seemingly casual decision would directly cause Cobham’s company, the undisputed king in the field of probe-and-drogue hose aerial refueling, to leave Britain and become a North Borneo company.

Of course, he also couldn’t have imagined what kind of changes the accelerated development of aerial refueling technology would bring to the world, but one thing was certain: it was bound to change many things.

In fact, during the war, one could acquire many technologies at extremely low prices—prices so cheap they were outrageous. After all, during a war, the products and technologies of many companies, especially those whose products couldn’t be directly applied to the war effort, were considered worthless. But often, these technologies held a trove of treasures.

“Sir, this new type of loom uses a high-speed stream of compressed air to carry the weft thread through the shed. Its work efficiency is much higher…”

In Zhenhua Company’s London office, a man named Svatý looked at the Chinese man before him and explained his invention. Although he was a textile machinery engineer, his life after fleeing to Britain as an exile had been one of extreme poverty, a daily struggle against hunger.

To make a living, he had even once published his invention—the jet loom—in a magazine. However, due to the war, no one was interested in looms. Of course, the most crucial reason was that his invention was not yet finished; only the conceptual part was complete.

It was for this very reason that upon receiving a letter from Zhenhua Company, he had immediately rushed to London to try and sell his invention.

“Of course, Mr. Svatý, I believe your invention can bring change to the weaving industry, which is why I’m willing to buy it. However, I don’t just need your invention; I need you as well. After all, it’s not yet complete, is it?”

Li Yi’an smiled at the man before him.

As the inventor of the air-jet loom, Svatý, who had lived in exile in Britain during World War II, had pitched his invention to people countless times, but it was never adopted by British companies. After all, both during and after the war, the British and the rest of Europe had no intention of updating their textile machinery. After he returned to Czechoslovakia, his invention was adopted, but for political reasons—to showcase the achievements of the new regime. In the decades that followed, however, the jet looms produced in Czechoslovakia were consistently the most sought-after industrial products in Eastern Bloc countries, and companies from Germany, Japan, and other nations even imported jet loom technology from Czechoslovakia.

This technology might not seem flashy, but for the textile industry, it was revolutionary. Starting in the 1960s and 70s, it replaced the rapier loom and became the mainstream weaving machine. For both the textile industry and the textile machinery industry, it was the way of the future.

Since it was the way of the future, he naturally had to buy it. And not just the technology—he had to buy out Svatý as well. After all, Czechoslovakia’s lead in jet loom technology was fundamentally linked to him.

“Fifty pounds.”

Li Yi’an said, looking at Svatý.

“From now on, the company will provide you with a salary of 50 pounds per month. This way, you can focus on your technical research without worry. Additionally, I will pay 1,000 pounds to purchase the patent for the jet loom that you hold.”

Sometimes, many things were just that cheap. Li Yi’an didn’t know if anyone else was bottom-fishing like this, but now… for only 1,000 pounds, the cost of a few hundred pounds of coffee, he had acquired a new technology worth hundreds of millions of dollars!

And despite such a low price, the other party was still eternally grateful…

Chapter 69: The First Step to Becoming an Infrastructure Powerhouse

War presented all kinds of opportunities, some of which arose in the most unexpected ways. This was the case while Li Yi’an was in Britain, scouring technical journals for technologies with future potential.

Often, when many new technologies were first invented, very few people recognized the power they held. Some didn’t even believe they represented the future. All that was needed was to carry out a targeted “salvage.”

To facilitate this technology salvaging, Li Yi’an had even established a company in London, hiring professionals to systematically select certain technologies and then acquire them. New technologies that were overlooked by others were a particular focus for the company’s acquisitions.

Sometimes, a technology’s emergence was simply ill-timed, like the 250,000-kilowatt steam turbine generator set developed by the British General Electric Company (CEC). This technology was absolutely world-leading.

Even in the United States, which had introduced a 200,000 KW steam turbine generator set back in 1930, there was no comparable technology.

But its timing was simply unfortunate—in 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, CEC completed the first 250,000-kilowatt steam turbine generator. And then… that was it. The threat of war led the British government to opt for decentralized power generation—small, scattered power stations to reduce the risk from bombing.

“…The greater the power of a power station’s generator set, the more electricity it produces, which seems cost-effective. But if it gets hit by a bomb, it’s completely finished. That’s why that large steam turbine generator has been sitting in CEC’s warehouse to this day. If you’re willing, you could certainly buy the unit for a relatively low price.”

Listening to the introduction from Jason, the electrical engineer, Li Yi’an’s interest was piqued not only by the high-power generator but by the technology itself.

250,000 kilowatts!

This was absolutely cutting-edge global technology!

The United States wouldn’t produce a 300,000 KW unit until the mid-1950s. As for China, it wouldn’t be until 1970 that they managed to build a 200,000 KW unit.

If he could acquire this technology, it would guarantee that his company would possess the world’s most advanced generator technology in the future.

And what was electricity?

Electricity was the future!

The future development of North Borneo would be impossible without electricity. The reconstruction of Europe and the great development of nations worldwide would also be impossible without electricity. In fact, the very reason he was purchasing power generation equipment now was that such facilities would be in extremely high demand after the war—reconstruction everywhere would require a huge number of generators.

The pace of reconstruction in many countries was determined not by the availability of manpower or materials, but by the sufficiency of the power supply. For example, the reconstruction of East Germany lagged behind West Germany precisely because the Russians had dismantled and removed most of its power generation facilities.

It was for this very reason that Li Yi’an was seeking out power generation facilities, making arrangements for them in advance to ensure a sufficient power supply for future reconstruction. After all, if one wanted to develop, construction was the most critical aspect. In his other life, why was China able to rise so rapidly?

Wasn’t it because it was an infrastructure powerhouse?

And the most fundamental parts of that infrastructure were transportation and electricity!

If he wanted to rise, he had to start by learning to be an infrastructure powerhouse!

And power plants were the cornerstone of an infrastructure powerhouse!

But now, after what Jason had said, Li Yi’an had his sights set on the technology itself.

“Is CEC willing to transfer the technology?”

“What?”

For a moment, Jason didn’t even register the question.

“I’m talking about the technology for the 250,000 KW generator set. Are they willing to transfer it?”

Li Yi’an’s words astonished Jason.

“Sir, do you know how much electricity a 250,000 KW unit can generate in a year? Theoretically, close to one billion kilowatt-hours. For the entire electricity consumption of Britain, you would only need a few dozen such units. The market for these mega-units is very limited…”

As an electrical engineer, Jason couldn’t help but offer a word of caution.

“America, the whole of America, only has two 200,000 KW generator sets. Its market is truly very limited. And the war, the bombing of power plants during this great war, will ensure that no one in the world will build large power stations anymore. Decentralization is safest!”

Jason stopped just short of saying… that thing will never sell.

But in Li Yi’an’s eyes, this was an absolute boon.

“The more things are like this, the easier it is to buy it at a low price!”

The more the market was bearish on a technology, the less it was worth. If everyone was optimistic about it, the technology would not only be difficult to buy but also very expensive.

In fact, in the first few years after the war, due to factors like cost and security, units over 200,000 kilowatts were indeed not very popular. But the demand for electricity for the reconstruction of European nations drove the development of large generator sets, which eventually became the mainstay.

And this was precisely why Li Yi’an was determined to buy it. It wasn’t just that the unit could generate over seven hundred million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, but that these large-scale generators were the future of power generation technology. With it, the future North Borneo could truly enter the electric age and gain a head start in the great post-war development. After all, industrial and technological development was impossible without electricity.

“Negotiate with CEC. Buy this 250,000 KW unit and the technology license. What’s your estimate?”

“Alright, Boss.”

Jason shrugged helplessly, then said,

“Boss, the pre-war price for that unit was 970,000 pounds. Considering it’s been idle for years, plus the impact of the war and other factors, I think we can get it for 600,000 pounds.”

“Does that include the technology license?”

“No problem. After all, for CEC, the 250,000 KW unit is currently a money-losing asset with no visible returns. Our offer would actually solve the loss on their books.”

Even as an electrical engineer, Jason was familiar with the workings of the capital markets. Even for a large corporation like CEC, a loss on the books would affect their stock price.

But he still made a point of clarifying.

“But Boss, you have to know that the market demand for it is almost zero. This could very well be a money-losing deal.”

“Losing money? I never make deals that lose money.”

Buying a piece of equipment worth nearly one million pounds, along with its technology, for just 600,000 pounds—was this a money-losing deal?

The root cause was simply that people of this era did not realize which way the future was heading. War always caused certain shifts in people’s outlook on the future, but the market would not. The market would make its own choices in the course of its development.

“A bit of a pity…”

While Jason and the company’s patent lawyers were busy with the negotiations with CEC, Li Yi’an was carefully reading another technical analysis report, this one on British automotive engine technology. The report listed its various technical advantages, but of course, also enumerated its disadvantages. The final conclusion was… it was technologically inferior to that of the United States and Germany.

“I’ll wait. If I’m going to acquire technology, I’ll get the best. After Germany is defeated, I’ll take a trip to Germany… and while I’m at it, I’ll bring that Beetle back with me…”

Chapter 70: Gold Mine

Where could truly inexpensive technology be found?

In the hands of the defeated nations, of course. Technology salvaging in Britain was a bit like finding a good find by chance, relying entirely on luck to discover technologies others had overlooked.

But it was different with the defeated nations. They were like a pirate’s treasure trove. With enough capital and the right channels, one could not only acquire many cutting-edge technologies but also the top-tier talent that came with them.

Germany was one thing, but right now, the recently defeated Italy was like a treasure chest, and a piece of news in the paper had caught Li Yi’an’s attention.

“To alleviate the government’s financial predicament, the Italian government will sell various official assets, including merchant ships…”

Reading this news, Li Yi’an recalled something he had once read. In July 1943, a coup d’état took place in Italy. Mussolini was arrested and imprisoned, and the former Chief of the General Staff, Pietro Badoglio, formed a new government.

Two months later, the Badoglio government announced its unconditional surrender, and the German army subsequently occupied Rome. Badoglio, along with the royal family and cabinet members, fled Rome in five cars under the cover of darkness, rushing to the Adriatic coast, where they boarded two Allied speedboats and escaped to the South.

Although the Badoglio government later formally withdrew from the Axis powers and declared war on Germany, and the governments of Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union issued a declaration recognizing Italy as a co-belligerent, the Allied command did not fully trust Badoglio. The treatment his government received was no better than Mussolini’s.

Furthermore, the Badoglio military government lacked popular support. The Allies used various means to undermine the Badoglio government in order to replace him with a prime minister more to their liking. Economic pressure was one of these methods. The Badoglio government, having retreated to the South, had nothing but its claim to be the legitimate government, despite having a king and a prime minister.

Under these circumstances, the Badoglio government could only survive with financial aid from the Allies. But the Allies had no intention of funding Badoglio. Apart from giving him a few million dollars when he first arrived in the South, they didn’t provide another penny. In the end, it was this financial predicament that led to the fall of the Badoglio government.

From start to finish, the United States and Britain never said a word; they just didn’t give him any money. To keep the government running, Badoglio ordered the sale of government assets, including merchant ships. But due to Allied interference, no buyers made any bids.

“Merchant ships… these are merchant ships!”

Looking at the news in the paper, Li Yi’an immediately became interested in these vessels. The reason was simple: he needed merchant ships.

Whether it was for future immigration to North Borneo or for transporting machinery, equipment, and various supplies needed for post-war reconstruction, merchant ships were essential.

Aside from this batch of Italian ships, there was absolutely no chance any country would sell him merchant ships right after the war. Even if there was a massive sale of post-war surplus, that wouldn’t happen until 1946.

“By then, the opportunity would be long gone… Italy, Italy…”

Li Yi’an tapped his finger lightly on the newspaper.

“It looks like a trip to Italy is a must!”

However, how to get to Italy was a problem.

Why were there no buyers?

Besides Allied interference, another very important reason was that it was wartime, and transportation was difficult.

But with enough money, nothing was impossible.

He didn’t even need money, just a permit to take off. Cobham’s aerial refueling company had two planes. As long as they had a permit, they could fly. And that wasn’t difficult, as the military owed Cobham some personal favors after having requisitioned six of his aircraft.

And so, with Cobham stepping in, it took only half a day to obtain a flight permit—a temporary one to Spain.

The plane was an old pre-war model, but it could certainly fly to Spain. From there, he could take another plane to Italy. Regular flights between Italy and Spain had not stopped because of the war; after all, Spain was practically a semi-Axis power.

At the end of 1943, Li Yi’an was finally on a plane to Brindisi, Italy. This time, however, he wasn’t a representative of the Zhenhua Company, just an ordinary passenger.

The engines of the old JU-52 aircraft sputtered like a cough, but despite its age, the plane flew steadily. Li Yi’an occasionally flipped through the documents in his hand. These were official papers he had obtained after the plane landed in Sicily.

Sixty-four merchant ships, totaling 287,000 tons. These were the ships owned by the Italian government, and they had not been confiscated by the Allies. At least nominally, Italy was now an ally, and the Allies couldn’t very well confiscate an ally’s assets, could they? Although the dirty business of allies screwing each other over was something Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union all did plenty of, they at least had to maintain a righteous and noble image on the surface.

Just then, Alfonso sat down next to him again and said.

“Sir, we should arrive in Brindisi in about three hours.”

“Mm,”

Li Yi’an nodded without speaking. Alfonso was the manager of a Spanish company he had acquired. Upon arriving in Spain, his first order of business had been to buy a Spanish company and then head to Italy under its name to purchase the Allied merchant ships.

Why go to all this trouble? To put it plainly, it was to avoid provoking the displeasure of the Allies, since Li Yi’an still needed to do business with them. Thus, he needed a company from a neutral country as a disguise.

“Once we’re there, you can just submit the bid directly.”

With that, Li Yi’an closed his eyes, silently calculating what price to offer for those ships.

Even in the midst of war, capital was swinging its scythe. Wherever there was an opportunity, it would be there, reaping fortunes. If not for the war blocking the shipping lanes, Italy would already be swarming with capitalists.

Just like in Britain—hundreds of agents from American financial groups were waving wads of US dollars, buying up everything that interested them. And the result? The British won the war but lost everything.

Even now, on this very plane to Brindisi, it was likely that some of the other passengers were vultures from the United States. How they had gotten to Spain was unknown, but anyone with a keen sense of smell would try to tear off a few chunks of flesh from Italy’s corpse.

Opening his eyes again, Li Yi’an glanced at the well-dressed men in the cabin speaking fluent English. A faint smile touched his lips as he thought to himself.

“It seems things won’t be as simple as I thought!”

Chapter 71: Predator

How could things ever be that simple?

No matter how the world changed, capital was never absent.

World War II may have been a battle of justice against evil, civilization against barbarism, freedom against enslavement, and though justice triumphed over evil, people had never imagined something else.

As they cheered for victory, they never realized that in the shadow of the god of justice, capital had disguised itself as an angel, wielding its claws in the darkness, reaping the world’s wealth.

“In ’44, on the eve of the Normandy landings, more than a thousand agents from major American corporations entered Britain through various channels. They were like a pack of hyenas, seeking to plunder wealth from the shattered corpse of post-war Europe.”

“World War II was a feast of wealth—or rather, a feast of wealth for America’s big corporations! No one has ever calculated how much wealth those American companies earned during the war, but in its aftermath, they extended their hands into all of Europe. Not after 1945, but during the war itself!”

Once upon a time, Li Yi’an would have scoffed at such a notion. But after coming to Britain, he had witnessed more than once how those well-dressed men wielded the great club of capital, harvesting riches. The wealth that the British had plundered from around the world over centuries was now being reaped with abandon by American capital during the war.

While Allied soldiers sacrificed and bled for the cause of justice, Wall Street capital unscrupulously harvested the wealth of other nations. They stood upon the corpses of the old European powers, tearing wantonly at their already filthy flesh.

Unlike the financial capital of Wall Street, Li Yi’an had neither sharp claws nor vast funds. And, most importantly… he had no Wall Street connections.

This meant that in this feast of capital, Zhenhua Company could at most hope for a sip of the soup.

And who were the ones truly eating the meat?

He cast his gaze toward his fellow passengers. Among them, there were bound to be true predators.

As Li Yi’an observed the passengers, one of them was also sizing him up. The man was in his forties. When their eyes met, he gave a slight nod. Though neither spoke a word, like jackals in the jungle, they had recognized each other. They were both predators of the jungle, and their kind always recognized one another.

Finally, the plane from Sicily landed at the airport in Brindisi, which was garrisoned by both Allied and Italian forces. After disembarking, these men in their exquisite camel-hair coats and felt hats immediately struck up conversations in English with the nearby soldiers.

Without exception, they were all trying to hire soldiers as their drivers. Just as they were greeting Allied officers, attempting to entice drivers with US dollars, Li Yi’an and Alfonso had already walked up to an Italian Air Force Major.

“Hello, sir.”

Alfonso spoke fluent Italian. In fact, with the System’s help, Li Yi’an had already learned Italian, though he wasn’t very fluent yet.

“What can I do for you, gentlemen?”

The officer sized up the two foreigners before him.

“We are businessmen from Spain…”

Before Alfonso could finish his introduction, Li Yi’an directly took out two cartons of Camel cigarettes from his bag and placed them on the desk.

“Sir, I’d like to rent a car and a driver from you. The daily payment will be one carton of Camel cigarettes. The driver’s payment will be separate.”

The method was simple and crude, but tremendously effective. Whether during the war or in post-war Europe, cigarettes were the best hard currency, especially American brands like Camel and Lucky Strike.

“I’ll give you a full tank of gas. A full tank for five cartons of Camels.”

With no further nonsense, the two parties reached an agreement. Just as Li Yi’an and Alfonso got into a Fiat sedan and were about to leave, their car was blocked. The person blocking it was none other than the man from the plane.

“Hello, sir. Got a car so quickly? If it’s convenient, could I catch a ride into town with you?”

The man made his request directly.

“I’m Mickey Anastasio from Morgan Bank. Here’s my card. Sir, I have a feeling we’ll definitely have opportunities to cooperate. What do you say?”

Mickey handed his business card to Li Yi’an as he spoke. Throughout the entire exchange, he never spared Alfonso so much as a glance.

“How many of you are there?”

Taking the card, Li Yi’an studied the man with curiosity.

“Just me.”

Mickey shrugged helplessly and said, “They thought that since I’m an Italian fellow, I must speak Italian, so they sent me here. God knows, even my father can’t speak more than a few words of Italian. You can just call me Mickey.”

Putting away the card, Li Yi’an smiled.

“Get in, Mickey.”

“It’s a good thing I ran into you, otherwise I probably would have wasted a lot of time. By the way, which company do you represent?”

Mickey looked at him with great interest.

“On Wall Street, people like me, Italians, and people like you, Chinese, are extremely rare.”

“Oh?”

Li Yi’an asked, intrigued.

“Why do you think I’m Chinese?”

“Haha, if you’re not Chinese, could you be Japanese? They’ve all been locked up. Which company are you with? Citibank? From the Shanghai branch?”

“I represent myself.”

Li Yi’an gave him a wink. Mickey froze for a moment, then said with some excitement, “My friend, you’ve done what everyone wants to do but doesn’t dare.”

Then he pointed out the car window.

“You see what’s out there?”

“What?”

“Wealth!”

Mickey said with a smile. “Riches everywhere. Anyone who comes here and seizes the opportunity is guaranteed to make a fortune. Do you believe me?”

Then Mickey shrugged again, a bit helplessly.

“I came here, but unfortunately, I don’t have any money. There are riches everywhere, but they certainly don’t belong to ordinary people. Ordinary people don’t have enough money to pry open the opportunities and gold buried here. Unless you’re a millionaire…”

As if a thought suddenly struck him, Mickey studied Li Yi’an seriously, a smile suddenly spreading across his face.

“Li, am I right?”

The abrupt question made Li Yi’an’s heart skip a beat.

Shit!

My identity’s been exposed!

Who is this guy! An intelligence agent?

Chapter 72: A Predator’s Feast

What’s the most important thing in business?

Information!

Information is intelligence, and intelligence is wealth.

A successful businessman must be able to analyze a vast amount of information, draw conclusions, and make judgments accordingly.

“Actually, it’s quite simple.”

As he spoke, Mickey picked up his large wine glass and took a delicate sip of red wine.

Their table was laden with exquisite Italian dishes. In this high-class hotel, one could enjoy the most sumptuous of meals.

In any world… money is often a privilege.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure at first. I had only heard of you—or rather, I’d heard that Heidi was living with a young Chinese millionaire. She’s my idol… Before leaving London, I found out from the stock exchange that a Li Yi’an had acquired the North Borneo Company. Your names are the same. That piece of information made me believe you were the same person. Then, we met again on the plane. I still wasn’t certain at first, but your clothes…”

Mickey swirled the wine in his glass and smiled.

“Your clothes aren’t like the austere wartime clothing from Britain; they’re the new style from New York. And, well, considering your age, I guessed you must be Heidi’s legendary lover, Li. It was just a guess, of course.”

“Well, Mickey, Morgan sent the right man when they sent you.”

Li Yi’an took a sip of wine and remarked, “This wine is much better than what I had in London.”

“Yes, after all, the nobles in Italy need to enjoy life too.”

Mickey gestured with his glass toward a few people dining not far from them.

“But that’s not important. What’s important is why we’re here now. Am I right?”

Mickey’s eyes were fixed on Li Yi’an, a smile on his face.

“Indeed. So, why are you here?”

“To talk business, of course…”

Mickey smiled.

“We came here to acquire high-quality assets. There are many of them here, like ports, banks, and factories. Right now, these prime assets are all severely undervalued. You see…”

Mickey gestured with his glass toward a few men nearby, two of whom had been on the same flight as them.

“They’re just like us, all from Wall Street. Wall Street has a predatory nature. A destroyed country, or rather, a defeated country, is littered with high-quality, severely undervalued assets. After all, the war will end, the destroyed nation will be rebuilt, and eventually, all the undervalued assets will return to their original price. When that happens, investors can make a profit of a hundred times over!”

Li Yi’an nodded noncommittally at Mickey’s words, then said, “True, this is indeed the best time to make a huge fortune. Assets have never been cheaper. The only question is…”

His gaze fell upon Mickey as he took a sip of wine, the smile vanishing from his face.

“What do you get out of it?”

What do I get out of it?

Instantly, the wine lost its flavor for Mickey.

“Money? No, at most you’ll just get a bonus. Ten thousand dollars? Or a few tens of thousands? Maybe more, maybe less?”

A bitter look on his face, Mickey shrugged.

“Li, it’s much less than you think. Probably just a few thousand dollars.”

A few thousand dollars was still a considerable sum. The average American worker’s monthly salary was only a little over a hundred dollars, whereas a bank agent like Mickey could earn four to five hundred, or even a thousand, dollars a month. The latter, however, clearly didn’t apply to him.

“Right. That’s the reward you get, Mickey, my friend.”

Li Yi’an took a sip of wine and smiled.

“To Wall Street, that’s all you’re worth. Even if you bought every bank in Italy for them, you’d probably only get a few tens of thousands in return. The only question is, are you willing to settle for that?”

“I…”

Mickey was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“Sir, I’m just an agent. This is my salary… As for them…”

Glancing at his colleagues, Mickey shrugged helplessly.

“They’re probably in the same boat as me.”

This was the fate of a salaried man. He could create millions, even tens of millions, in value for his boss, but his own reward was very limited.

However, Mickey saw a certain possibility in Li Yi’an’s words. After a moment of thought, he said, “Sir, perhaps we could cooperate. You know, no Italian will sell their bank to you. What they need is the power behind American capital. As for factories, you can certainly buy some. Hmm, perhaps you could also acquire some real estate, like high-end hotels and department stores in Rome… But if they see you as a representative of Morgan, it would undoubtedly make your acquisitions much easier. What do you think?”

Mickey’s gaze grew somewhat feverish as he stared at Li Yi’an. In his eyes, this man was his chance to change his destiny. He was a great tree to lean on, and Li? He had money!

If the two of them worked together, they could achieve unexpected returns.

Hearing Mickey’s analysis, Li Yi’an chuckled and asked in return, “What does Morgan want?”

“Banks!” Mickey said bluntly.

“This war has destroyed everything. The wealth Europe accumulated over centuries has vanished in this war. This is the best time for us to enter Europe. Control the finance, and you control a country. The banks and businesses here are like cakes on a dinner table—cheap and delicious. But the problem is, not everyone gets to eat this cheap and delicious cake.”

Putting down his wine glass, Mickey looked at him with anticipation.

“After all, sometimes, just having money isn’t enough to get a piece of the cake!”

Mickey, just past forty, was a typical Wall Street speculator. He was very familiar with the rules of the game on Wall Street and had his own understanding of it all. But he was also well aware that there were too many agents like him there. He might be recognized for his talents and promoted to a certain position, but that would be the extent of it.

He needed an opportunity and had been looking for one. Why had he volunteered to come to Europe? Because he knew this would be a feast for capital. If he had a chance to participate, even the crumbs that fell to the floor would be enough for him to make a huge profit.

Ever since seeing Li Yi’an on the plane, he had been guessing at the man’s identity. After all, for a Chinese man to suddenly appear among a pack of predators was highly conspicuous.

After figuring out who he was, Mickey saw his chance to get those crumbs.

“If we cooperate now, Li, I believe we can take part in this feast!”

Chapter 73: Where Did This Genius Come From?

Cooperation was a fine idea, but unfortunately, Li Yi’an had no interest whatsoever in Italian banks.

Even if North Borneo wasn’t a factor, he still had no interest in Italy. How could investing in Italy possibly compare to investing in Germany?

Germany was the real ruin, littered with… gold!

Italy…

In truth, it was a matter of capital. If, like Morgan, he controlled billions or even tens of billions of US dollars, he would naturally spread his investments far and wide.

But for now, good steel had to be used on the blade’s edge.

Soon, a grand feast of spoils began. Thanks to Mussolini’s nationalization policies over the past two decades, the Italian government possessed a vast number of state assets. Although a considerable portion was in the north, there were still many quality assets in the south. For example, the Port of Taranto, southern Italy’s most important port, was snapped up by an American company for a mere three million US dollars.

As for the assets in the north still under German control, they too could be auctioned, though the prices were, shall we say, less than satisfactory.

Of course, some things couldn’t be sold, such as merchant ships.

Just as in history, the merchant ships at the official Italian auction failed to sell. A total of two hundred and eighty-five thousand tons of shipping were left as unwanted scrap.

This result left the Italians utterly dumbfounded. After all, they had once believed these ships would be highly sought after, considering German submarines were still relentlessly sinking merchant vessels in the Atlantic Ocean.

Logically, they should have been in high demand, as the shipping industry was booming.

The Italians had even set a high price—fifteen million, eight hundred thousand US dollars!

It went unsold. Not a single person was interested in these ships.

It was at this moment that a merchant walked into Major General Baridian’s office.

“You are an Agent for a Spanish company?”

Major General Baridian looked at his visitor with surprise, a hint of confusion on his face.

A Spaniard?

An East Asian man?

Could he be an American Indian?

“General, that is not important. I have brought you a solution to a problem.”

“What problem?”

“Your personal problem,” Li Yi’an said bluntly.

“What?”

Major General Baridian frowned, puzzled.

“What personal problem?”

“General, it is common knowledge that the Allied powers will certainly prosecute war criminals in the future. I believe you have received news to this effect. What will happen in the days to come? I am confident you know very well, so…”

As he spoke, Li Yi’an placed the briefcase in his hand on the desk.

“I believe that in the days to come, General, you will need some things that are spendable abroad. Here is five hundred thousand US dollars!”

Five hundred thousand US dollars!

Major General Baridian’s eyes widened. He stared at the briefcase, then glanced back at the man before him.

War criminals.

He had indeed heard rumors to that effect. Even the Marshal himself was likely on the list.

Who could protect them?

Major General Baridian was filled with anxiety about the future, and now, the briefcase before him was incredibly tempting.

He reached out and opened it. The briefcase was stuffed with US dollars!

The impact of a bag full of dollars was hard to imagine. Taking a deep breath, Major General Baridian asked.

“What is this?”

“This money is your retainer,”

“What do you want to get, sir?”

“The merchant ships!”

“The merchant ships.”

Glancing at the briefcase, Major General Baridian said,

“Anyone can bid on those ships, sir.”

“No one is going to buy that pile of scrap iron, General. You already know the answer, don’t you?”

The smile on Li Yi’an’s face gave Major General Baridian a complicated feeling. Those ships were originally the most valuable assets in the government’s possession, but now?

They were nothing more than worthless scrap.

“They just haven’t realized their value yet.”

“Value? What kind of value?” Li Yi’an said bluntly.

“Compared to old ships, the British and American authorities would much rather buy new ones. New ships are faster and have uniform speeds. And what about the other shipping companies? They are waiting until after the war to buy the Liberty ships from the British, American, and Canadian authorities. Those are all ten-thousand-ton ships, built within the last few years. When the war ends, a Liberty ship worth one million, eight hundred thousand US dollars will only cost a hundred thousand or so, or even just tens of thousands of dollars. General, you tell me, why would they spend a high price to buy your ships?”

Originally, Li Yi’an had thought it was Allied interference that prevented the Italian government from selling its assets. But who would have thought the real issue was a practical one—the United States was building Liberty ships too fast and in too great a quantity!

Compared to Italy’s old ships, they would rather wait until the war was over to buy Liberty ships.

“This…”

Major General Baridian opened his mouth, but in the end, no words came out.

Before the auction, they believed those merchant ships would fetch a good price. But now, after communicating with those American businessmen, their illusions had been shattered.

If anyone was to blame, it was the Americans for building too many Liberty ships.

“That might be the truth…”

“With your help, I believe I can purchase them at a suitable price!”

As he spoke, a sincere smile appeared on Li Yi’an’s face as he looked at the general in charge of selling the assets.

His gaze shifting back and forth between the briefcase and Li Yi’an, Major General Baridian finally spoke.

“This bag seems to be French-made. It looks no worse than an Italian one.”

Of course, he wasn’t looking at the bag, but what was inside it. That was what truly mattered.

“General, you can take it back and admire it at your leisure.”

Seeing that his objective was achieved, Li Yi’an smiled and stood up.

The rules of this world were just that simple. When a country was on the verge of collapse, almost everyone would try every means possible to profit from it.

Who did this feast belong to?

Perhaps it belonged to some high-ranking official or some general, but it certainly had nothing to do with ordinary people. For them, all they endured was the pain of losing loved ones and a future of poverty.

But the dignitaries and officials were once again filling their coffers to the brim. Just like that, many assets were purchased at extremely low prices by these influential figures and speculators.

It was like when Samsung “bought” the rice from Japanese military warehouses when Japan surrendered, accumulating its first pot of gold.

And now?

In Italy, Li Yi’an was merely a participant in this feast, fishing for his own small return.

Just a few days later, a piece of news spread among the Predators—someone had spent two million US dollars to buy the Italians’ merchant ships.

A question arose in almost everyone’s mind—where did this fool come from?

Chapter 74: A Steel Mill, Do You Want It?

It didn’t matter where the fool had come from. What mattered was that these predators of the jungle would not let any valuable prey escape.

“Did you buy the ships?”

Mickey once again hurried over to Li Yi’an and asked in a low voice.

“The Alcarte Shipping Company of Spain, and Alfonso… he’s your employee, isn’t he!”

Faced with Mickey’s series of counter-questions, Li Yi’an neither confirmed nor denied anything.

“My God, how could you spend so much money on ships? Those things are all money-losers, you know?”

Mickey seemed quite agitated. And how could he not be? After all, his future, his very destiny, depended on this man to change it. And here he was, wasting precious capital on those broken-down ships.

Was there a need to be so worked up?

Looking at Mickey, Li Yi’an stated bluntly.

“I need those ships!”

The ships were Li Yi’an’s main objective on this trip. After all, they were an indispensable means of transport for the future development of North Borneo. Whether for transporting immigrants or supplies, ships were essential. He would have bought not just hundreds of thousands of tons, but even over a million tons of merchant vessels if funds allowed.

After all, considering both the post-war development of the shipping industry and the demand from immigration, investing in shipping was an incredibly profitable business.

The simple words “I need” left Mickey dumbfounded. His jaw dropped in astonishment. After a moment, he said.

“Alright, sir. So you’re not interested in banks? What about factories then?”

“Factories?”

Li Yi’an raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, factories. Italian factories might not be on par with those in the United States, but they’re still quite good. Many of them can’t operate due to problems with raw materials, funding, and so on. Of course, the most important thing is that those companies are truly worried about the future!”

Factories…

Besides the ships, Italy’s industrial enterprises seemed like a good option. Unlike in postwar Germany, where factories were included in war reparations and remained under Allied control during the lengthy process of determining whether they would be dismantled, Italy’s status as a co-belligerent meant its factories had not been taken over by the Allies. Even so, many of those entrepreneurs were still losing their factories.

Take the Fiat Company, for example. It had made a huge fortune producing military equipment for the army during the war. Although it wasn’t placed under Allied control after the war, it was confiscated by the Italian National Liberation Committee, and the company wasn’t returned to the Agnelli family until 1966.

Initially, Li Yi’an had never dreamed of acquiring the Fiat Company—it was, after all, Italy’s largest industrial enterprise. But now, Mickey’s appearance showed him an opportunity.

An opportunity to take a huge bite out of Fiat. Even if he couldn’t swallow the company whole, he had to take a good, hard bite!

“The future. As everyone knows, those companies were supporters of Mussolini. What if the Allied powers decide to liquidate their assets later and include their businesses as part of war reparations? If that happens, they’ll lose everything. So, compared to an uncertain future, they’d rather sell their companies now, while they still have control. We can acquire them for extremely low prices!”

This was taking advantage of a crisis for personal gain!

When presented with such an opportunity, how could he not seize it? It would be a disservice to his ancestors!

Li Yi’an said unhurriedly.

“Indeed, this is an opportunity. But what can you do?”

“I represent Morgan, Li!”

Mickey stated it plainly.

“No one in Europe truly knows the relationship between the Morgan Financial group and the government, but believe me, no one wants to try offending the Morgan Financial group. They’re afraid that offending the company means offending the government. Here, Morgan, or rather, the big American corporations, are an all-access pass and a protective umbrella.”

Lighting a cigarette smugly, Mickey said.

“This is what I can offer you. In Italy, I can represent Morgan, and I can also represent you!”

Taking a drag from his cigarette, Mickey played his trump card and said slowly.

“I can acquire banks for Morgan, and I can also, in Morgan’s name, help you achieve your desires. Right now, all of Italy is a treasure trove waiting to be plundered. And me? I only need a small reward.”

Mickey needed more than just a small reward; he needed his first pot of gold. Like those major corporations, he wanted to feast on the scraps left over from this banquet, but that required money!

Money!

This millionaire in front of him had money. A guy who could spend two million dollars on a pile of junk—how could he not have money?

“That’s very reasonable.”

Li Yi’an smiled. He took a drag from his cigarette, thought for a moment, and said.

“Do you have any good recommendations?”

“A steel company. In Taranto, there’s a steel company, a subsidiary of the Fiat Company. It has two blast furnaces with an annual output of one million tons, and six open-hearth furnaces, for a total annual capacity of 1.5 million tons. As everyone knows, due to issues with raw materials, its output has only ever been a few hundred thousand tons. This enterprise was built by the Fiat Company before the war to support Mussolini’s military expansion. The equipment is all first-rate, and the total initial investment was over thirty million dollars. If you’re interested, I can get it.”

After a moment’s thought, Mickey stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and said.

“If I can buy it for three million dollars, you just need to give me a 5% commission. If it’s two million, it’s 10%. If I get it for one million, it’s 30%. What do you think, Li!”

The price Mickey was quoting wasn’t even a fraction of the pre-war investment!

This was post-war Europe. This was how the great American financial groups, waving their US dollars, bought up Europe for ridiculously low prices, acquiring the mines, oil fields, farms, and factories with the most potential and promise, giving blood transfusions to foreign companies on the brink of bankruptcy.

A steel company!

The construction in North Borneo would certainly require a vast amount of steel. Not to mention anything else, just the housing for future immigrants and the construction of factory buildings would demand at least one million tons of steel a year, and even that might not be enough to meet the demand.

Spending three million to buy such a factory… that was certainly possible!

But this was a juicy piece of meat; everyone would want to get their hands on it. Taking it down probably wouldn’t be so easy.

“Steel… Europe’s post-war reconstruction will definitely require a massive amount of steel. A steel company this large will certainly make a fortune after the war. There must be a lot of people with their eyes on it.”

“Li, that’s where my value comes in.”

Mickey leisurely took out a cigarette, his tone relaxed.

“I can guarantee that you will be able to buy it!”

Li Yi’an glanced at Mickey, thought for a moment, and said decisively.

“Go on, then! Buy it!”

Chapter 75: Do You Need a Full-Package Service?

When a country is on the brink of collapse, opportunities are everywhere.

Well, aside from opportunities, there are also prostitutes.

Many of them, everywhere. Southern Italy was poor to begin with, and the war had only made its people poorer.

To make a living, many women became prostitutes. The free-spending American GIs made countless women loosen their belts. After all, compared to chastity, bread was what mattered most.

From a jeep driving down the street, a woman sat in a soldier’s lap, laughing wantonly.

The price, perhaps, was nothing more than a can of food.

As he watched the Americans enjoying the fruits of victory and marveled at the cheapness of the service industry, a man walked up to Li Yi’an and invited him to lunch, to discuss some matters that might involve their mutual interests.

Li Yi’an frowned, looking at this fellow who had appeared out of nowhere.

Who was he?

Whoever he was, he was certainly no simple character.

“My name is Berlin.”

The man’s tone was calm, his face showing not the slightest ripple of emotion.

“Berlin?”

Li Yi’an’s brow twitched as he sized him up.

His name was Berlin. It sounded a bit strange.

Everyone knew that associating with strange people during a war was certainly dangerous, but Li Yi’an was curious as to why the man had sought him out.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m from Spain.”

Noticing his hesitation, Berlin clearly knew what he was reluctant about.

“I’ll order the finest dishes,” Berlin added. “What do you say?”

Li Yi’an shrugged and replied softly, “Why not?”

“For some reason, I feel our chat will be very pleasant.”

He took another look at the Spaniard before him. He appeared to be a sturdily built man, not someone who would stand out in a crowd, and he looked much like an Italian.

After they had ordered, Berlin spoke.

“Li, I know you bought those ships from the Italians.”

Berlin’s voice was neither fast nor slow.

“As everyone knows, the Mediterranean is currently full of German submarines. If your ships were to leave port, they would certainly be sunk!”

“Perhaps,” Li Yi’an said directly.

“And perhaps not.”

Berlin smiled.

“Oh? How so?”

Here it comes!

This fellow was quite direct. Wasn’t he afraid of the gallows?

Just then, the waiter brought their food. Only after the waiter had poured the wine and left did Berlin speak again.

“As businessmen, we all know that transactions are possible at any time, wouldn’t you agree? Therefore, your fleet can sail safely to South America.”

“South America?”

“Yes, any country, any port in the Americas—except for the United States and Canada.”

“Is this a guarantee of safety?”

Now Li Yi’an was getting a little curious.

Berlin smiled.

“You can think of it as a gesture of friendship between friends. In truth, these ships were destined to be bought by someone else. It’s far better that you bought them than anyone else.”

Berlin’s answer was a bit confusing. Li Yi’an frowned and said, “Oh? Why is that?”

“It’s simple. There is no conflict of interest between us,” Berlin said, his words holding a deeper meaning. “And that is why I believe that at some point in the future, we might be able to cooperate in some way. Everyone knows this is how business works. We start cooperating today so that we can cooperate better in the future. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Li?”

What did he mean by that?

Berlin’s explanation made Li Yi’an’s brow twitch. It was an inevitable part of business—strangers become more and more familiar through cooperation.

Although the timing was a bit off, it being wartime, cooperation during the war was also in preparation for better cooperation in the future.

Sensing the change in Li Yi’an’s gaze, Berlin said with a hint of resignation, “The Allied forces have now established a foothold in Italy. This fact cannot be changed. The war will be over soon, and we all need to prepare for post-war business. I remember you have a saying, ‘A man who gives no thought to the future is sure to be met with worries.’ So, we should make some preparations in advance for that very different post-war world. What do you think?”

Berlin’s last sentence was actually in Chinese. This fellow could speak Chinese!

“I went there before the war and worked there for four years. I can communicate with you in your language.”

Then Berlin got straight to the point.

“All in all, this is just a backup plan. You appeared at the perfect time. Your ships will likely be a rarity after the war, since all ships are now controlled by various countries. Very few are privately owned. For business, personal ships are certainly more convenient. Of course, when the time comes, we will pay you a handsome reward. What do you think?”

Sometimes, things were just that strange. When you possessed something of value, people would come knocking. That was business.

What was it they said about a godsend?

This was a true godsend!

This was, in fact, a unique situation in the post-war world. Merchants who owned their own ships would be extremely rare. After all, many merchant ships had been appropriated by the Germans during the war, and the ones built later basically belonged to the British and American governments.

Under these circumstances, the greater flexibility of private ships would naturally be favored by some.

After all, private ships were much more versatile in their use.

“Actually, I think we can establish a deeper level of cooperation,” Li Yi’an said, picking up the thread. “I know you are preparing for some future possibility. Perhaps the help I can provide is far beyond what you can imagine.”

“What?” Berlin said, startled. “What kind of help?”

“Commercial help. If you’re well-informed, you should know that I can offer more than just assistance with merchant ships. I can help in many other areas as well. And that, Mr. Berlin, is precisely what you need.”

Li Yi’an wore a sincere smile, and seeing Berlin’s confusion, he continued to explain.

“…In short, what I can provide far exceeds what anyone else can. It’s something many people cannot provide! I can offer everything from the ships to the destination—a full-package service! Besides me, no one else can provide such help.”

Berlin stared at the man before him in astonishment. Was he telling the truth?

“You? How is that possible? What place are you talking about?”

Faced with Berlin’s skepticism, Li Yi’an said with a serious expression, “Have you heard of the North Borneo Company?”

Chapter 76: How a Sucker is Made

“The North Borneo Company…”

Bright sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room.

The Italian sun was brilliant, but so was the piercing wail of air raid sirens.

Berlin sat on the sofa, a glass of red wine in his hand, his eyes fixed on the world outside. At last, from the shadows of the room, he let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

“This might be a good choice after all.”

He rose unhurriedly from the sofa, took a sip of wine, and walked back to the window to gaze outside.

On the road in the distance, speeding jeeps and American soldiers served as a reminder that this place was now under American occupation. They were relentlessly pushing north.

The Americans had firmly established a foothold on the European continent!

“The world changes so quickly. A year ago, some thought the Germans had won, but now? The Germans… It’s only been a few years, but the world has changed so fast…”

In this world, you could never judge tomorrow by today’s victory.

With the surrender of the North Africa Korps, and especially after the Allied landing in Italy, Germany’s defeat was already a foregone conclusion.

Therefore, at a time like this, many people were already preparing for the post-war world.

This was especially true for businessmen.

And it was then that the fleet of merchant ships Li Yi’an had purchased caught their attention.

After the war, when commercial trade returned to normal, ships would be needed in many places.

So they were making some preparations in advance.

But would Li Yi’an agree?

He was a merchant, first and foremost!

And for a merchant, with enough money, they would even be willing to sell their soul!

Just as they had initially guessed, Li Yi’an did not reject their proposal. After all, everything was for sale.

And they had offered a bargaining chip that was impossible to refuse.

No one could turn down that guarantee of security. With it, their ships could sail the Atlantic Ocean in safety.

However, Li Yi’an’s suggestion had shown Berlin another possibility.

“As he said, Argentina isn’t necessarily the best choice?”

Once again, Li Yi’an’s words flashed through Berlin’s mind. Looking at the back of the man by the window, he said.

“The whole world knows that Perón is definitely friendly to us, but that’s precisely the problem… because the whole world knows!”

Gently swirling the wine in his glass, Berlin’s smile vanished.

“Because everyone knows, it isn’t necessarily the best choice.”

“So, he gave us another option!”

The man by the window stared out at the passing jeeps, seemingly picturing a future Europe where Americans would run rampant across the land.

Right now, they couldn’t afford to think about that. They could only look out for themselves and their families.

“The North Borneo Company!”

“It’s a colony. Yes, he’s already bought the company. Over seventy thousand square kilometers of the colony belongs to his company. After the war, it will need all sorts of people. We can each get what we need, and in return, we help him build his country—oh, it should be company…”

“Asia…”

The man by the window nodded slightly.

“Who would have thought we’d be heading to Asia…”

Placing his empty wine glass on the table by the window, he nodded.

“It seems like a good choice!”

Then he turned to Berlin.

“You continue to maintain contact with him. Who knows? Perhaps this really is an excellent choice.”

In most cases, initial contact was always exploratory.

Deeper cooperation would have to wait. At the very least, they needed to build trust.

The next afternoon, Berlin appeared before Li Yi’an once again. Unlike the grand picture he had painted at their last meeting, this time, he came with a contract.

“Iron ore?”

“Yes, fifty thousand tons of iron ore to be shipped from Spain to Marseille. Spain is a neutral country, so transporting materials to France is in accordance with international law.”

“You can consider this the beginning of our cooperation, and I believe you will be handsomely rewarded during our time working together.”

As he finished speaking, Berlin placed the briefcase at his feet onto the table. Its heavy weight made one wonder what was inside.

“This is the deposit.”

Berlin took out two bright yellow bricks from the bag.

They were gold bars!

Ten kilograms each!

Two bars made twenty kilograms!

He looked directly at Li Yi’an.

What an incredibly generous gesture!

Stifling his astonishment, Li Yi’an glanced at the gold and then said lightly.

“You should know, shipping fees are very expensive right now!”

Running into a sucker like this… missing the chance would be an insult to his ancestors.

“I like you.”

Berlin shrugged.

“Because you’re a profiteer!”

Sometimes, the reasons for liking someone were just that simple.

Arms crossed over his chest, Li Yi’an simply smiled at him without a word.

And Berlin said candidly.

“Name your price.”

After signing the iron ore transport contract with Berlin, Li Yi’an immediately drove to the Port of Taranto in southeastern Italy. It was the largest port in southern Italy. During the North Africa campaign, German and Italian transport ships had set out from here for Africa.

Because of this, hundreds of thousands of tons of Italian merchant ships were gathered here. Now, these useless vessels were moored in the harbor, which was teeming with unemployed sailors.

Standing on the docks and looking at the cargo ship before him, named the Tunisia, Li Yi’an looked quite pleased with himself. He even took out a cigar and lit it, just like Churchill himself.

Now, all these ships belonged to Li.

“Mr. Li, now, these ships are all yours!” Alberto, the former vice manager of the Italian shipping company, said with a tone of undisguised regret. “When we built these ships, we spent thirty million US dollars. And now… they’re only worth two million. Sir, you’ve made the most profitable investment.”

Listening to Alberto’s words, whether they were complaints or laments, Li Yi’an didn’t care. He just smiled and said, “Mr. Alberto, when the war is over, no one will be buying these old ships.”

Was that really true?

At the very least, when the United States launched the “Marshall Plan,” over a thousand Liberty ships were just sitting idle in American ports. These old ships… were truly hard to sell!

Hard to sell didn’t mean they couldn’t be sold. These ships might not seem large, but in reality, there weren’t many ports in Asia suitable for berthing ten-thousand-ton Liberty ships. Freighters of a few thousand tons were actually more suitable for North Borneo.

“Who knows?”

Alberto shook his head helplessly. Looking at the merchant ships in the harbor, he offered a pointed reminder.

“Mr. Li, although you acquired this fleet at a low price, you must understand that there is no reduction in the daily mooring fees. If you can’t find business for them soon, this expense will be a considerable outlay…”

“Indeed. So…”

Li Yi’an glanced at the sailors on the docks, their faces blank and lost.

“Mr. Alberto, would you be willing to command this fleet?”

“What?”

“My apologies, I wasn’t clear. I meant, are you willing to take charge of my shipping company?”

Looking at Alberto, Li Yi’an knew he had researched this man. He was an absolute expert in managing shipping companies and organizing transport. Even under the assault of the Allies’ air and sea superiority, he had still managed to ensure the supply of materials to North Africa to the greatest extent possible.

Not using such talent would be an absolute waste.

“Of… of course, sir.”

Alberto accepted almost without thinking. After all, he needed a job. Or rather, he needed a job that paid a salary.

“Good. Mr. Alberto, we must get our fleet moving as soon as possible. Do you have any suggestions?”

“First, we need to hire a crew. That won’t be a problem. After all, the port is full of captains, officers, and sailors, and they all need work too.”

In fact, this was another reason Li Yi’an had come to Italy. Not only were there ready-made merchant ships, but there were also ready-made crews.

“Alright.”

“However, as you know, sir, the Italian lira has depreciated severely. The crewmen would prefer to be paid their salaries in US dollars or in kind.”

In kind, of course.

We might be short on other things, but we’ve got plenty of goods, Li Yi’an thought. He said, “If we use white sugar as the standard, how many kilograms of sugar would each crewman need? I’m talking about their monthly salary.”

“White sugar!”

A look of delight immediately appeared on Alberto’s face. He said joyfully, “Ten kilograms… no, no, eight kilograms. Eight kilograms is enough for an ordinary crewman…”

In that instant, Li Yi’an was completely stunned… That… that was so damn cheap!

Chapter 77: Buy One Get One Free

Cheap!

In post-war Europe, everything was so cheap, yet also so expensive.

A few cigarettes could buy a night with a woman; a piece of bread could make a young girl lift her skirt.

Cheap and expensive formed such a stark contrast. People were cheap, and goods were expensive.

“With a crew, the fleet can be set in motion. Although the Germans still have submarines in the Mediterranean Sea, they usually don’t attack Spanish merchant ships, especially empty ones. But the problem is, where do we go after leaving Taranto? Before the war, we could have gone through the Suez Canal into the Indian Ocean, but now the British have closed it. We can’t get through without their permission.”

In fact, Li Yi’an had originally thought the same, which was why he had registered a Spanish company in the first place. After all, Spain’s neutrality had always been ambiguous, and both the Allied powers and Germany tried every means to ensure it didn’t join the opposing camp.

As for the Suez Canal, Li Yi’an believed the issue could be resolved through Washington.

After all, with Truman’s influence, he could surely help.

However, with Berlin’s promise now in hand, the problem was much simpler.

“We’ll take the Strait of Gibraltar directly into the Atlantic Ocean, then head to the Caribbean, pass through the Panama Canal, and enter the Pacific Ocean. Business opportunities are everywhere there.”

What was the situation in South America right now?

Those countries had few merchant ships to begin with, and their material transport relied entirely on countries like Britain and the United States. But after the war broke out, the merchant ships of Britain and America returned to their home countries. The resulting shortage of ships meant their goods couldn’t be transported out. This was true for countries like Brazil and Argentina on the east coast, and equally true for Peru and Chile on the west coast.

Right now, as long as you had a ship, you would be drowning in orders. And high-priced ones at that. A single trip could even earn back the cost of buying the ships.

“Through Gibraltar? There are German submarines there!” Alberto exclaimed in astonishment.

“Without an escort, we’d be floating targets!”

“Mr. Alberto, sometimes, God looks favorably upon the lucky, wouldn’t you say?”

Li Yi’an smiled mysteriously.

“But, Mr. Li, no crew member would be willing to take such a risk.”

“Tell the sailors I’m willing to give each of them an extra ten kilograms of white sugar. And upon arrival in Panama, everyone will get a twenty-dollar bonus!”

Being rich allowed for such extravagance. It was simply a matter of brutally and directly throwing money at the problem.

Actually, he would have preferred to pay their salaries in white sugar. But outside of Italy, outside of Europe, white sugar wasn’t worth much.

One had to be decent, after all. He was a conscientious capitalist.

Alberto was stunned for a moment, then said, “Sir, I don’t think anyone would refuse, but…”

Alberto lowered his voice.

“There’s one more thing I think you should know.”

“What is it?”

“Our ships aren’t empty. I mean, some of them are not empty.”

“What?”

Soon, standing on the deck of The Tunisia and staring at the fully loaded cargo hold, Li Yi’an said coolly, “Are you saying all the supplies on these ships belong to the Germans?”

“Yes, Mr. Li. Last year, to reinforce North Africa and avoid defeat, the Germans shipped in a large amount of supplies, 87,562 tons in total. These supplies were already loaded onto the ships, and just as the fleet was about to depart, the news of the surrender in North Africa arrived. Those supplies have remained on the ships ever since. Later, there was a plan to transport them to Yugoslavia, but you know what happened next—Italy withdrew from the war, and these supplies have been stuck here. You know loading and unloading cargo takes a very long time…”

After his explanation, Alberto deliberately emphasized, “Right now, because of the chaotic situation, absolutely no one is interested in these munitions. After all, the military depots in Italy also have large quantities of supplies, sir.”

Of course, he didn’t mention that many of the canned goods, food, and other supplies on the ships had already been taken by the powerful and sold on the black market.

Looking at the artillery under their covers in the cargo hold, Li Yi’an’s expression was a bit strange.

I was just buying ships. Who would have thought they’d come with a bonus of military hardware!

And tens of thousands of tons of it, at that!

There were tanks, artillery, and a large amount of weapons and ammunition.

What was he to do with all this German military hardware?

“Is there an inventory list?”

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi’an asked.

There was a list, of course. After receiving it, although he didn’t know much about weaponry, Li Yi’an was still stunned by the sheer variety of weapons and ammunition.

“There’s even a 122mm howitzer?”

Weren’t these German weapons?

Why was there Soviet equipment?

“And what the hell is this 7.62cm FK 288/1(r)?”

Although he had no idea what these weapons were, he looked at the convoluted inventory list in his hand, which was clearly slapped together carelessly. Tapping his fingers lightly on the tabletop, Li Yi’an muttered to himself, “Perhaps, these weapons could…”

At this thought, Li Yi’an suddenly became somewhat agitated and shot up from his seat.

“Yes, that’s right! I can send these weapons to China! Yes, yes… just like that…”

To other countries, this hodgepodge of weapons might be of little use, but for China, which was in desperate need of all kinds of armaments, it was like timely rain after a long drought.

Not only could they be used to fight the Japanese and strengthen the domestic military, but they could also help him achieve another goal.

“Perhaps it could even help me knock open another door!”

At that moment, Li Yi’an could hardly sit still. If it weren’t for the steel mill business, he would probably be heading back to the United States right now.

However, the acquisition of the steel mill was not going smoothly. Since the steel company was also in Taranto, Li Yi’an made a special trip to see it from the outside. From a hill, he looked down at the sprawling steel company, at the towering blast furnaces and the continuous stretch of factory buildings.

In a few years, the equipment from this factory would be standing tall on the land of North Borneo!

“What did the Fiat Company say?”

“They think we’re taking advantage of the crisis for personal gain. They feel the factory is worth at least five million US dollars,” Mickey said bluntly.

“I rejected them outright. They don’t seem to understand the situation yet. They’re probably still waiting and seeing.”

“Yes, perhaps it’s still a bit early. We can wait a little longer. By the second half of the year, they’ll probably understand.”

In the second half of the year, when the north was liberated and Fiat Company’s assets were confiscated, those guys would surely be desperate enough to sell the factory at a rock-bottom price.

“The second half of the year…”

Mickey thought for a moment and said with some regret, “Then we’ll just have to wait, but…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi’an said with a smile, “Don’t worry, you’ll definitely get your retainer.”

Finally, he cast another glance at the steel company’s factory complex at the foot of the hill. If he had only been slightly interested in the Fiat Company before, now his interest was fully piqued. After all, this was a prime piece of meat!

Chapter 78: Letting the Wolf into the House

A juicy piece of meat is a tempting prize, but what’s truly important?

North Borneo, of course. That juicy piece of meat was the foundation of everything.

To truly take a bite of this prize, too many problems needed to be solved. Although Li Yi’an had bought all the shares of the North Borneo Company, established a connection with Truman, becoming his life mentor, and even built some ties with Germany—if he wanted, he could even form a group of elite German mercenaries after the war.

But all this only guaranteed he could get his hands on the North Borneo Company. What would it take to actually digest that prize?

People, of course!

People!

They were the primary prerequisite for truly digesting and absorbing that juicy piece of meat. Without people—or more accurately, without enough Chinese immigrants—the North Borneo Company would forever be a colonizer.

It was just like Israel after World War II. At first, there were only a few hundred thousand people. After its founding through the so-called “partition plan,” it immediately began absorbing Jewish people from all over the world. In the end, it was with several million Jewish people that they were able to become the actual rulers of that land.

Only when Chinese immigrants became the overwhelming majority in North Borneo could he truly digest that prize.

So, the key was still immigration!

Previously, Li Yi’an had been racking his brain over how to solve the immigration problem. But now?

The headache was gone.

“With this stepping stone, I can knock a giant hole in the door back home!”

Sitting on the plane back to London, Li Yi’an muttered to himself with considerable satisfaction.

This batch of supplies was a complete and unexpected windfall!

So unexpected that the System didn’t even grant any point rewards. It seemed the System had no interest whatsoever in things he simply picked up.

“What a pity. This shipment has to be worth at least one or two hundred million dollars! If I could exchange it for points, I might have been able to level up three times in a row…”

But that wasn’t important. After all, compared to leveling up the System, Li Yi’an was more concerned with the benefits these supplies brought—the ability to trade them for immigrants.

After all, back home in China, the one thing that wasn’t valuable was people!

A few hours later, the plane landed at an airport in London. As soon as he left the airport, Li Yi’an drove straight to the company. The moment his front foot crossed the office threshold, a fragrant figure threw herself into his arms!

“Darling, you’re finally back!”

He didn’t need to see her face; the feel of her generous curves pressing against him was enough to identify her. Who else could it be but that little vixen, Gilly?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, like timely rain after a long drought.

Although it was the office, once the door was closed, it had its own unique flavor. But they weren’t the only two in the company; Stana was there too. Soon, it became a free-for-all.

Sometimes, a war has no winner or loser.

After it was all over, the commotion in the office finally died down.

An unknown amount of time passed before Stana, having collected herself, seemed to remember something and said.

“Darling…”

“Hmm?”

Opening his eyes, Li Yi’an asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

“What is it?”

“While you were away, someone was looking for you. He said he was from the Colonial Office.”

“From the Colonial Office?”

At her words, Li Yi’an sat up straight. He silently lit a cigarette, his brow furrowed.

“Did he say what it was about?”

“I heard it was about the company, about the affairs of the North Borneo Company.”

What was bound to come had finally come.

Taking a drag from his cigarette, Li Yi’an’s brows knitted together. The British officials were making their move.

What would Britain’s attitude be toward the North Borneo Company?

“As long as I am here, we will hold to tradition and steadfastly maintain the integrity of our Empire.”

That was that old fatty Churchill’s stance on the colonies. But did that old fatty know what was coming?

Of course not. His British Empire was destined to crumble, and even he himself would be abandoned by the public on the eve of victory. After all, no one was willing to shoulder a ninety-nine percent income tax for so-called “imperial glory” any longer.

Taking another puff, Li Yi’an said.

“Ignore him for now. If he comes again, just say I’ve gone back to New York.”

Now was not the time to meet with Oliver Stanley, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies. Their so-called imperial backbone had not yet been broken. The initiative was currently in their hands, and the trump card in his own hand had not yet become a royal flush.

“Darling, are you going back already?”

Gilly, lying on the carpet, looked at him with wide eyes. Those brown orbs were like a puppy’s trying to please its master—pitiful and full of reluctance.

“Yes.”

Li Yi’an nodded. He was eager to return. If he didn’t have to wait another two days for a flight, he probably would have already been heading for the Thames River seaplane port to fly straight back to New York.

“Then, can you take me to New York with you…”

Before Gilly could finish, Stana made the decision for Li Yi’an.

“No!”

Stana sat up abruptly, saying with some agitation.

“Gilly, the company’s business is just getting started; we can’t be short-staffed. You know Li entrusted the company to us. We have to do a good job for him, right? Besides, we still have to hire more people and get the North Borneo Company’s operations up and running. If you leave, who’s going to help me?”

What did it mean to let the wolf into the house?

Stana finally understood. Gilly was that wolf—a she-wolf scheming to have Li all to herself!

She wanted to go to New York!

How could that be allowed!

If I can’t go, you can’t go either.

“Li, don’t you agree?”

With that, Stana added pitifully.

“I really can’t do all this by myself.”

“You can just hire more people. Darling, you’ll be so lonely in New York by yourself. My heart will ache for you…”

Li Yi’an wisely chose not to intervene in the war between women. Faced with their jealousy, he decisively took two necklaces out of his bag and said.

“Stana, Gilly, these are for you…”

He held a diamond necklace in each hand. He had bought them in Italy. While they couldn’t be called priceless, diamonds of three or four carats were certainly not cheap.

These were the gifts he had brought back for them.

“Oh! My God!”

In an instant, Gilly forgot all about going to New York. She forgot everything else. Her eyes were filled with nothing but the string of diamonds.

It had to be said, diamonds are a woman’s aphrodisiac.

Faced with such enthusiastic women, Li Yi’an could only see it through to the end…

Chapter 79: The Agreement

London, winter.

Heavy fog.

Although visibility was poor, the weather was excellent; there was no need to worry about bombing raids.

The car had just pulled to a stop in front of the North Borneo Company’s London office when Willy, who had been waiting for some time, proactively stepped forward, opened the car door, and bowed respectfully.

“Hello, Boss.”

One had to admit, the English blokes were always pragmatic. Towards an employer, even a Chinese one, their respect was absolute.

What could they do? It was all for a few pieces of silver, which a man can’t live without.

“Welcome to the company. The colleagues at the office are all awaiting your arrival.”

The company had a new boss.

For the office staff, this was a good thing. Since the war began, they had only been receiving half their salary. Of course, they were free to resign if they didn’t like it.

“…Before the war, the office had thirty-seven employees. Due to the war, there are now only fifteen people left, seven of whom are female staff.”

As he spoke, Willy discreetly glanced at the two women beside the Boss. They were… truly beautiful.

Fifteen people. Seems a bit much.

Capitalists don’t support idlers. Cuts had to be made.

With this thought in his mind, he had already walked into the office. A dozen or so employees were lined up respectfully, awaiting the Boss’s arrival.

There were no surprises, no dazzling moments.

It was just an ordinary meeting. Afterwards, Li Yi’an introduced Stana and Gilly, making it clear to everyone that they were his agents.

What followed was a bit more complicated, as Willy reported on the company’s situation to the new Chairman.

“…Over the past few years, to pay off high-interest debts, our company was forced to sell its assets in Britain. This includes the building we once owned, which has now been sold to a new owner. We can now only afford to rent office space from others. Furthermore, the company has not paid salaries for three months.”

Finally, after the long and detailed report, Willy began to feel uneasy. He watched his boss, Li Yi’an, nervously. The report in his hands felt heavy, as if an hour’s worth of explanation had been condensed into two stark words—“no money.”

It wasn’t just a lack of funds; even the employees’ salaries were long overdue.

Li Yi’an already had an idea of the situation. He asked calmly:

“So, the company is on the verge of bankruptcy?”

Willy was silent for a moment, then nodded. Meeting his boss’s gaze, he said bluntly:

“Yes, you could say that.”

His eyes were filled with helplessness and gravity; every word was like a cry wrung from the depths of his heart. He knew full well that this answer might unleash a storm, but he chose honesty nonetheless. “Even if we return to North Borneo after the war, the situation will likely be the same. I’ve been keeping up with the news from there. Before the war, on the orders of the Colonial Office, the board of directors cabled North Borneo, instructing them to blow up the harbor and destroy infrastructure like the waterworks and power plants. Even if the Japanese have rebuilt these facilities, it would only be a simple repair. After the war, we might need tens of millions of pounds to rebuild everything. Boss, some things are unavoidable. Your investment cannot prevent the North Borneo Company from going bankrupt. From an investment perspective, this was not a wise choice.”

Willy’s candor gradually caused the stern expression on Li Yi’an’s face to soften. A faint smile quietly bloomed at the corners of his lips. There was a hint of relief and appreciation in his eyes.

This was exactly the kind of man he needed.

“Alright, your job is safe.”

The words stunned Willy. He looked at his boss, his eyes filling with respect and gratitude for Li Yi’an.

“Thank you, Sir. I will not disappoint you.”

“Good. Willy, I heard you started working for the company before the First World War, is that right?”

“Yes, Boss. I joined the company in 1910. I’ve been working here for thirty-four years now.”

“Then you must know the company’s situation very well. What are your thoughts or suggestions for the company’s next steps?”

“Well…”

Recalling his boss’s earlier words, Willy thought for a moment before speaking.

“Actually, the company is not entirely without hope.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Boss, since its establishment, the North Borneo Company’s development has been limited, for two main reasons. One is a lack of labor, as the local population is small. The other is limited natural resources; there is no oil or other minerals in the company’s territory. But the small population is the fundamental reason restricting the company’s growth. If the company had seriously implemented the immigration agreement from its inception, or even when it was signed in 1913, North Borneo might have a population of several million by now. The consumption, production, and tax revenue from these people would have been enough to bring the company extremely handsome returns. But because of the short-sightedness of the board of directors, we wasted thirty years.”

As he spoke of the past, Willy’s tone was filled with regret.

“Immigration agreement? What immigration agreement?” Li Yi’an asked, puzzled.

“Boss, in 1913, the company signed an ‘Immigration Agreement’ with China. The plan at the time was to recruit Chinese laborers for development in Borneo. However, due to the war and the subsequent short-sightedness of the board, the agreement was never carried out.”

“What? An immigration agreement signed with China?” Li Yi’an said in astonishment.

“Then why wasn’t it implemented?”

“Because the company was worried that too many Chinese would affect its control over the colony and that the locals would resist. But they completely overlooked one point: without enough people, North Borneo could never develop.”

Something like this actually happened?

Li Yi’an paid no mind to Willy’s complaints. His thoughts were now completely focused on that immigration agreement.

An immigration agreement with China!

“Does the company have a copy of the agreement?”

Before this, Li Yi’an had been racking his brains on how to bring in immigrants from his homeland. This agreement was nothing short of a gift from heaven. With it, he had a legal basis to recruit immigrants from China for North Borneo. Although it hadn’t been acted upon since before the First World War, that didn’t stop Li Yi’an from continuing to execute it.

As for the Chinese side… it was just a matter of clearing the way with artillery. No, that’s not right—it was about using that batch of supplies as a transaction. Who could refuse such a transaction?

Soon, the original copy of the immigration agreement was retrieved from the archives. Looking at the agreement signed in both English and Chinese, the smile on Li Yi’an’s face grew wider.

“Willy, just as you said, those people’s short-sightedness ruined the company. However, I am not a short-sighted man.”

The corners of his lips lifted as he said with a smile, “It seems we ought to pay a visit to the embassy.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the calendar. January 3rd.

There wasn’t much time left for him. He had to hurry.

Chapter 80: A Grand Gesture

Meeting an old friend in a distant land is undoubtedly one of life’s great joys.

But what if that old friend was a fake?

The moment Li Yi’an arrived at the embassy, he was pulled aside by his kinsman, Li Guoren, who said with a beaming face.

“Zhiyuan, you heard the news too?”

“What news?”

“The Ambassador and his wife just returned from the United States for Christmas! I was just thinking about how to get in touch with you, and here you are, you rascal. You’re well-informed! But, you’ve come at a bad time. Mrs. Gu isn’t at the embassy today, but Ambassador Gu is…”

In contrast to Li Guoren’s joy, Li Yi’an’s heart couldn’t help but lurch. Well now, the moment of truth has finally arrived!

On the way to the ambassador’s office with Li Guoren, Li Yi’an反而 found himself calming down.

Truth?

What truth?

The truth was… would they really reject an old acquaintance who was a billionaire?

After two soft knocks on the ambassador’s door, Li Guoren stood to the side and said.

“Ambassador, this is the Li Yi’an, Li Zhiyuan, whom I mentioned to you before. He’s also from Southeast Asia and has business dealings with your wife’s family.”

Because he had already heard Li Guoren’s report, Gu Weijun, though he had no memory of the man, knew he had to be polite. After all, he was an “old acquaintance” of his wife’s family.

Gu Weijun, who had been looking through some documents, quickly closed the file and rose to greet him.

“Oh, welcome, welcome. I just got back from the United States and heard Shida mention you. I was originally planning to visit you with my wife in the next few days, but I’ve been swamped with matters ever since returning to London and haven’t had the time. I hope you can forgive me, Zhiyuan.”

Li Yi’an took a deep breath and said.

“Mr. Gu, you’re too kind. It should be this junior who pays you a visit.”

As they spoke and laughed, Gu Weijun invited Li Yi’an to sit. Li Guoren tactfully withdrew, personally bringing in a cup of tea. After he left, Gu Weijun asked.

“Have you been in the United States recently, Zhiyuan?”

“Indeed. I’ve been busy acquiring a few companies in New York and simply couldn’t find the time to pay my respects to you and your wife. It was extremely discourteous of me.”

“You’re too polite, Zhiyuan, too polite. Business comes first.”

Amidst hearty laughter, Gu Weijun seemed to suddenly remember something and said:

“Those companies you acquired, are they Karl Metal Company and KTJ Chemical Industrial?”

“That’s right.”

His answer sent a jolt through Gu Weijun’s heart. His eyes fell involuntarily on Li Yi’an, his gaze, filled with curiosity and admiration, lingering on the young man. To spend several million US dollars acquiring two major corporations at such a young age—such talented young Chinese men were a rare sight.

“Haha, when I was in the United States, I heard that a Chinese merchant had acquired two large companies. I was wondering who could be behind such a grand gesture, but I never expected it to be an old friend. To have achieved so much at your age, Zhiyuan, truly puts us to shame!”

Gu Weijun then inquired about the acquisition, his tone becoming increasingly familiar. When he learned that Li Yi’an was going to Italy to acquire merchant ships, he nodded in approval again and again.

“Zhiyuan, investing in the shipping industry is absolutely the right move. Since the War of Resistance began, our nation’s merchant ships have either been scuttled in the Yangtze River or sunk by the Japanese army, with barely one in ten surviving. When the war is won, the post-war reconstruction of the country will naturally depend on merchant ships. Buying them now to prepare for the shipping industry’s future is a very promising venture. That you have such foresight, it’s no wonder you’ve built such a large business.”

As he lavished praise, Gu Weijun’s gaze toward Li Yi’an grew warmer. After all, no one could refuse a successful and talented young man who was also an old family acquaintance. He didn’t even press for details about where his family lived or what his connection to the Huang family was.

And when he learned that Li Yi’an was planning to acquire Italian companies and have them dismantled and shipped back to China after the war, Gu Weijun’s look was no longer just warm, but filled with admiration. Even his tone carried a heartfelt appreciation he couldn’t hide.

It was at this moment that Li Yi’an stated his purpose for coming.

“Actually, I came here today to ask for a favor, Sir.”

“Oh? What is it? Please, Zhiyuan, speak freely,” Gu Weijun said with a smile.

“There’s no need for such formalities between us.”

It must be about a passport, Gu Weijun thought to himself. Perhaps I could help him get a diplomatic passport?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Li Yi’an’s voice reached his ears.

“I have a shipment of arms that I wish to donate to the country.”

“What?”

Gu Weijun was slightly taken aback.

“Arms? A donation of arms?”

This was the favor he needed?

“Yes,” Li Yi’an nodded.

“The quantity is quite large, so I expect the procedures might be a bit troublesome.”

“Troublesome? What’s troublesome about this?” Gu Weijun said.

“Our country is in the midst of the War of Resistance and nation-building, and military supplies are scarce. You’re willing to donate munitions—how could such a wonderful thing be troublesome? And you ask for my help? Zhiyuan, it is I who should be thanking you! Ever since the war began, not only has half of our nation’s military budget come from overseas remittances, but overseas Chinese everywhere have not only donated money and supplies and eagerly purchased national bonds, but they have also left their homes and businesses to return to the motherland and aid in the war. How could we not know of the deep love and affection the overseas Chinese have for our country? Zhiyuan, for you to use the word ‘favor’ truly puts us to shame!”

Gu Weijun said this because he was usually the one visiting the overseas Chinese associations to ask the community leaders for donations of money and supplies. For the tables to be turned like this, how could he not be moved?

“You’re too kind, Sir. However, the amount of supplies I wish to donate is a bit large.”

“Large?”

Gu Weijun looked at Li Yi’an, now completely baffled by the young man before him.

He seemed so shrewd, yet on this matter, he seemed to be confused. Who would ever complain that a donation of money or supplies was too large?

When it came to something like this, wasn’t it the more, the better?

“How much are you planning to donate, Zhiyuan?”

“About ten thousand tons.”

In truth, this so-called donation was merely a stepping stone. With this stepping stone, it would be easier to handle what came next.

“What!”

In an instant, Gu Weijun shot to his feet, staring at the young man before him with an expression of utter disbelief as he exclaimed.

“You—you’re saying you want to donate ten thousand tons of supplies? And it’s all arms?”

“Correct.”

Compared to Gu Weijun’s shock, Li Yi’an was perfectly calm. He spoke in a relaxed tone.

“It’s just arms like rifles, submachine guns, machine guns, artillery, and ammunition. Unfortunately, there are no tanks or planes. It’s truly a pity.”

Looking at the young man before him who kept saying what a pity it was, Gu Weijun was, for a moment, at a complete loss for words.

He now understood what Li Yi’an had meant by needing a “favor.”

Donating ten thousand tons of munitions—if news of this got back to China, it would certainly cause a massive stir.

But where on earth did he get so many weapons?

Though he was curious, Gu Weijun knew very well that this matter was far beyond the scope of what he could handle.

Chapter 81: Nothing is More Expensive Than a Free Lunch

Finally! He was here!

As the plane landed once again in New York, Li Yi’an’s heart soared. The embassy in London had sent a telegram to China, and instructions had quickly come back for the National Defense Supply Company in New York to handle the detailed negotiations.

He needed to kick that door open. In the past, he lacked the capital, but things were different now.

With this batch of supplies, he could get almost anything he wanted.

Besides recognition of the Immigration Agreement, he also needed cooperation in various other aspects—supplies!

Why was China so willing to placate the Americans? Wasn’t it simply because the Americans had supplies?

Only by making those people want something from him would they try every means possible to cooperate. Without their cooperation, he could never secure a large number of immigrants.

After all, for the North Borneo Company, the most important thing was population.

They needed as many people as possible!

Population was the foundation of everything. With people, anything was possible.

After all, there was a vast expanse of land waiting to be developed. Without enough people, it was all empty talk. They might even just be paving the way for someone else to reap the benefits.

As for the German rifles and Soviet artillery on the ship, they were just a pile of scrap metal, nothing to write home about.

Weapons… After the war ended, there would be plenty more.

If nothing else, there would be hundreds of thousands of STG44s just lying on the ground, ready to be picked up. Post-war Europe would be littered with planes, tanks, and artillery.

To be honest, besides fighting the Japanese devils, Li Yi’an couldn’t think of any other use for this pile of scrap metal.

In the future, the company’s army would have to be equipped with M1 Garands and M1 carbines at the very least.

If you lack manpower, make up for it with firepower.

“People… I can first figure out a way to get them to provide the first batch.”

But this was only the first step. This shipment of arms had an even better use. If he could leverage it properly, he might even be able to orchestrate a major event.

Everyone calculates what they can get from others, especially after they have given something.

It was only natural; it was human nature.

Just as Li Yi’an was looking out from the plane’s cabin at the streets of Manhattan, calculating how to maximize the impact of these arms and perhaps even leverage another major event, a train in northern New York, which had been stopped at a station to let another pass, started moving again.

The steel wheels clattered rhythmically on the tracks. A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses was flipping through a report.

After some time, the middle-aged man looked up from the document in his hands.

“So, you’re saying our last two collaborations with him went very smoothly?”

He put the file down and took a cigarette from its case. Although the previous two orders had been significant, he hadn’t been involved. After all, there were too many such matters to attend to.

“Yes, Sir. We chose him at the time because he delivered quickly and was one of the few manufacturers willing to accept our orders,” General Jiang replied with utmost respect.

Even though he was a general, he was cautious and deferential in the presence of the Nation’s Uncle.

“It certainly seems that way.”

The man nodded, took a drag from his cigarette, and then said, “But this is completely different from the past. So many supplies… Forget an individual, not even the United States could necessarily give us this much.”

The reason he had rushed to New York by train was that the contents of the telegram were simply too astonishing.

“Have you ever heard of anyone producing so many supplies at once?”

“It’s completely unprecedented,” General Jiang said, shaking his head.

Song Peilun, who was standing to the side, chimed in. “Sir, I think perhaps he has special channels. Who knows?”

“Special channels?”

The Nation’s Uncle frowned and said, “That’s not important. Gu Shaochuan’s telegram has already caused a huge stir back home. Circles all over the country know that a patriotic overseas Chinese is donating a large shipment of munitions, and the country is in desperate need of them. For the past few years, the Indians have always had us by the throat when it comes to military supplies. They’d rather let the aid materials get soaked by the rain in India than ship them to China. In two years, they’ve only shipped a damn one thousand rifles…”

He took a harsh drag from his cigarette. “If there really are this many supplies, and they aren’t American aid, then that fellow in India certainly can’t hold them back anymore. He can’t use supplies to keep us by the throat. Shipping them back to China would provide some temporary relief.”

“You are absolutely right, Sir. If this is true, the soldiers back home will shed less blood!”

General Jiang’s words earned nods of deep agreement from the others. The Nation’s Uncle took off his horn-rimmed glasses, held them up to the light, and then put them back on.

“If this is true…”

He paused, took another drag of his cigarette, and stared down at the telegram.

“Then the only remaining question is… what does he want from us! After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world!”

What did he want?

This was hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of supplies!

Who would provide so much for no reason at all?

And on top of that… for free!

But the Nation’s Uncle, well-versed in the ways of the world, knew that the most expensive things in life are those that are free.

“Where is his company located?”

“The 88th floor of the Empire State Building.”

The Nation’s Uncle’s surprise was precisely why Li Yi’an had moved his company to the Empire State Building. A well-known office location gave outsiders an impression of… prestige.

As the new year approached, the Zhenhua Company had undergone a major upgrade. It had not only shed its makeshift image from the previous year to become a company with over one hundred employees, but had also moved into the Empire State Building. At this time, nearly a third of the building’s floors were vacant, and the rent was absurdly cheap.

The next morning, the Nation’s Uncle and his entourage arrived at the Empire State Building.

In the spacious conference room, as the Nation’s Uncle was sizing up Li Yi’an, Li Yi’an was doing the same to this famous figure.

This guy… is a notoriously corrupt official.

Are the supplies… safe with him?

Oh, right. I’m not handing them over to him, just negotiating with him. I’ll be responsible for the transport and delivery myself. If I don’t plan for the long term, how can I get them to cooperate with me?

But then again… that side was also teeming with corrupt officials!

But on second thought, the supplies were all guns, cannons, and ammunition. Those people couldn’t possibly drag guns and cannons to sell on the black market, could they?

“For Mr. Li to achieve so much at such a young age is truly a credit to all Chinese people.”

Faced with the Nation’s Uncle’s flattery, Li Yi’an smiled. “You’re too kind, Mr. Song. It was just a matter of opportunity and coincidence. When luck comes knocking, there’s no stopping it.”

Sometimes, luck could explain everything. Especially when some things were impossible to explain. Li Yi’an couldn’t very well say… it was all thanks to System-daddy.

In truth, System-daddy was also a form of luck.

After some brief pleasantries, the Nation’s Uncle finally got to the point. “We previously received a classified telegram from the embassy in the UK stating that Mr. Li intends to donate a large quantity of military supplies to China, as much as ten thousand tons?”

“The quantity is wrong.”

Li Yi’an’s words stunned the Nation’s Uncle and his men, but at the same time, they all breathed a long sigh of relief.

I knew it. How could anyone donate so many supplies?

The Nation’s Uncle, who had been sitting respectfully, leaned back slightly, his whole body relaxing considerably.

After all, one’s mentality when dealing with an ordinary person was completely different from when dealing with a billionaire.

Just then, a soft-spoken sentence floated into his ears.

“It’s eighty thousand tons.”

The Nation’s Uncle’s face drained of color.

“What!”

The others also shot to their feet in astonishment. Even Zhu Yihai and the others stared at their boss in disbelief.

Eighty thousand tons of military supplies!

This kid can’t be bluffing, can he?

That was eighty thousand tons!

Instantly, all eyes in the room fell on Li Yi’an, a thousand different thoughts racing through everyone’s minds.

The atmosphere in the spacious conference room turned strange, filled only with the sound of everyone’s breathing.

Under the gazes of the crowd, Li Yi’an took out a cigarette and a lighter.

Click!

The crisp metallic sound of the lighter opening snapped the Nation’s Uncle back to his senses. He took a deep breath and said, “Is… is that true?”

Lighting his cigarette and taking a drag, Li Yi’an shook his head.

“No, to be precise, it’s eighty-seven thousand, five hundred and sixty-two tons.”

Chapter 82: I’m Just Lucky, That’s All

87,562 tons!

The number had increased again!

Uh…

Thank goodness, thank goodness, it was an increase of less than ten percent.

Letting out a long sigh of relief, the Nation’s Uncle and the others felt their hearts race. The shock was so immense that he found it almost impossible to accept.

He couldn’t help but swallow hard, and at the same time, he took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow.

So many military supplies… even Roosevelt had never been this generous.

As for General Jiang and the others at his side, the expressions on their faces were even stranger—a mix of shock, joy, and excitement. It was hard to imagine one person’s face could be so expressive.

In truth, the others were much the same, though the Nation’s Uncle was slightly more composed. He was only sweating on his forehead and struggling to suppress the urge to burst out laughing.

“Mr. L-Li, you have quite a sense of humor.”

“A joke?”

Looking at the Nation’s Uncle with a faint, unreadable smile, Li Yi’an spoke in a serious tone.

“Do you think I would joke about something like this?”

Glancing up at the clock on the wall, Li Yi’an said, “This shipment departed from Italy seven days ago. It has already passed safely through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Atlantic Ocean. The ships will first sail to Havana, Cuba, to refuel and resupply, then head for Panama. If our country wants these supplies, I suggest you negotiate with the Americans as soon as possible regarding the passage of aid materials for China through Panama. Of course, there are also the later issues of transport and escort.”

The Panama Canal was the greatest obstacle for the fleet to enter the Pacific Ocean. After all, the canal was currently in a semi-closed state—only vessels with permission from the United States could pass through. Although he could certainly obtain permission through his connection with Truman, there was no need to use that connection.

Besides, there were many ways to get through the Panama Canal, and the man before him was capable of arranging it.

“Of course, of course. I will handle these matters as quickly as possible. I absolutely will not disappoint Mr. Li.”

The Nation’s Uncle was being extremely humble now. After all, it was only natural to be humble in front of a billionaire.

Still, despite this, the Nation’s Uncle asked, “Mr. Li, is there an inventory list?”

Nodding, Li Yi’an had his secretary hand over a document. The Nation’s Uncle took it and was stunned the moment he opened it.

“This… isn’t English?”

“Sir, it appears to be German.”

General Jiang leaned in for a look, then took the document and began to read it. As he scanned the list of supplies, his brow furrowed slightly.

“Mr. Li, many of these are German vehicles.”

Not just cars, but half-tracks and armored vehicles as well. Right now, our country… couldn’t get them in!

“Is there a problem?”

“No, no…”

Shaking his head repeatedly, the Nation’s Uncle quickly shot General Jiang a look, but the general seemed not to notice. He pointed to the list and asked, “This 15.2 cm KH.433/1(r) cannon—what model is it, and where was it produced?”

“Artillery.”

“Then what about this 12.2 cm Feldhaubitze 396(r)?”

“Artillery.”

The simple, direct answers left General Jiang and the others stunned, while the Nation’s Uncle chimed in from the side.

“Mr. Li is absolutely right. The model of the artillery doesn’t matter. What matters is that the shells it fires can kill the devils. Wouldn’t you agree, General Jiang?”

Closing the document, General Jiang ignored the Nation’s Uncle. He gently pushed the papers back and asked softly, “Mr. Li, I have a question, though I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to ask.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Mr. Li, through what channels did you obtain these arms?”

General Jiang asked this because many of the weapon models were ones he had never seen before. If not for the tens of thousands of Kar.98k rifles, he would have suspected the models were fabricated.

However, based on the MP717(r) submachine gun and the artillery models, he vaguely surmised that these weapons were likely captured from the Russians by the Germans; after all, the artillery had Russian calibers.

General Jiang’s question once again drew everyone’s attention to Li Yi’an.

That’s right, what ordinary person could get their hands on tens of thousands of tons of munitions?

There had to be a source for all this.

“Well, as for that, they were all…”

Li Yi’an said nonchalantly, “I picked them up.”

“What!”

Hearing this, everyone was astonished. The Nation’s Uncle, who had just lit a cigarette, stared at him blankly. The cigarette between his lips fell right into his lap, but he didn’t even notice.

“P-picked up…”

He shot to his feet.

“How is that possible!”

Facing everyone’s doubts, Li Yi’an explained, “Well, I bought a batch of ships…”

…

A moment later, the meeting room fell silent once more. Everyone was speechless.

Buying ships and getting munitions as a bonus…

Was there really such a bizarre thing in this world?

It was simply preposterous!

Looking at Li Yi’an, only one thought remained in everyone’s mind—this kid is incredibly lucky!

“Mr. Li, your luck is truly amazing!”

Just as the Nation’s Uncle finished speaking, Wang Peiji, who was sitting in the back row, added, “This is China’s good fortune as well! Once these munitions reach the front lines, they will surely kill a great many devils!”

“Haha, exactly, that’s exactly right,”

The group burst into laughter, as if in that instant, they could already see the weapons delivered to their country and squads of Japanese soldiers dying under a barrage of artillery fire.

Amid the laughter, the Nation’s Uncle asked, “The entire nation’s compatriots will surely remember Mr. Li’s righteous act of donating arms to support the War of Resistance. But I wonder, does Mr. Li have any requests?”

This was the most important part. Although he had said it was a donation, everyone knew this wasn’t just a few thousand or tens of thousands of dollars worth of supplies—this was tens of thousands of tons of military provisions!

This was the real topic.

This Nation’s Uncle is a sharp one.

“Mm, I do have a few requests.”

Nodding slightly, Li Yi’an said, “These supplies will be delivered to India by my ships. I hope that my people will be in charge of them until they reach our country. This will require coordinating a staging area in India.”

“That is only right. We will find a way to arrange it.”

“Also, guarding the supplies will require a lot of manpower. I hope to hire a group of staff from our country, preferably retired personnel from the army stationed in India. After all, these are munitions; they can’t be left unguarded.”

“Of course, of course. I will have someone arrange it. With so many supplies, we can’t be short on guards. Eight hundred? How about eight hundred? If that’s not enough, then let’s make it one thousand.”

The Nation’s Uncle’s reply made Li Yi’an’s heart skip a beat, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Perfect!

The men are secured!

He had made his reasonable, small requests, but had he stated his real conditions yet? The Nation’s Uncle asked, “Does Mr. Li have any other requests?”

“I acquired a company in Britain. Mmm, the North Borneo Company.”

“The North Borneo Company?”

Unlike the others’ confusion, the Nation’s Uncle, who had extensive contact with the overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, certainly knew of this company. He exclaimed in surprise, “You bought North Borneo!”

The Nation’s Uncle’s expression and words were filled with shock. Others might not know, but how could he not know what the North Borneo Company was? That was hardly a company—it was practically a country!

“That’s right.”

Li Yi’an nodded and said, “Before World War One, to develop North Borneo, this company signed an immigration agreement with China. I hope that our country can continue to recognize the validity of this agreement and allow the company to recruit Chinese laborers from all over China to develop Borneo.”

UNTITLED

Chapter 1: First Arrival in England
Chapter 2: Madam, I Don’t Take Money
Chapter 3: Learning a New Skill
Chapter 4: Hello, I’m the Plumber

Chapter 5: No More Pretending, I’m Laying My Cards on the Table

Chapter 6: It’s Great to Have Connections

Chapter 7: Hello, I’m Here to Read the Water Meter

Chapter 8: Foreign Guest, I’m a Foreign Guest
Chapter 9: A Path to Wealth
Chapter 10: First Pot of Gold
Chapter 11: Chinatown
Chapter 12: International Trade
Chapter 13: The Well-Connected Boss Li

Chapter 14: A Chance Encounter with a Physics Titan

Chapter 15: London’s Fog, the Razor Gang’s Smoke

Chapter 16: Opportunity is Everywhere

Chapter 17: Opportunity in the Collapse of an Empire

Chapter 18: The North Borneo Company

Chapter 19: Acquisition by Force and Guile

Chapter 20: Acquisition by Force and Guile (Part 2)

Chapter 21: The New Skill is Actually Engineering

Chapter 22: Luring Out the Big Fish
Chapter 23: Tenfold Profit
Chapter 24: Collaborators Are More Despicable
Chapter 25: I Treat You Like a Brother
Chapter 26: Omnipotent

Chapter 27: The Sincerity of the Chicago Typewriter

Chapter 28: New Skill, Weapon Design
Chapter 29: Godfather? Just an Errand Boy
Chapter 30: Extortion
Chapter 31: The Butcher’s Knife of Capital

Chapter 32: The Talent Pool of Chinese Students in America

Chapter 33: A Public Announcement
Chapter 34: A Big Deal
Chapter 35: A Series of Misunderstandings
Chapter 36: Focusing on Career
Chapter 37: A Good Find
Chapter 38: The Yongle Encyclopedia
Chapter 39: The Assassin
Chapter 40: First Steps of an Arms Dealer
Chapter 41: Havana
Chapter 42: Never Forget July Seventh
Chapter 43: A Decision for the Ancestors
Chapter 44: KTJ Chemical Industries
Chapter 45: A Weapon of Mass Destruction
Chapter 46: Sir, You’re Here Again
Chapter 47: My Turn Now
Chapter 48: General, I’m Here to Help You
Chapter 49: A Blessing for the Japanese
Chapter 50: It’s All About Connections
Chapter 51: Ava Gardner
Chapter 52: Moissanite
Chapter 53: The President’s Benefactor
Chapter 54: The President Maker
Chapter 55: The Great Inventor
Chapter 56: You Need to Be More Confident

Chapter 57: The Technological Direction of the Future

Chapter 58: What’s Most Important in the 20th Century?

Chapter 59: The Headhunter
Chapter 60: Time to Think Bigger
Chapter 61: The First Nobel Prize Talent
Chapter 62: Laying the Groundwork in Media
Chapter 63: Mercenaries

Chapter 64: Need Artillery? The Large-Caliber Kind

Chapter 65: Drowning the Japanese in Agent Orange

Chapter 66: The First Step to Bombing Tokyo
Chapter 67: Identity Revealed
Chapter 68: Cheap New Technology

Chapter 69: The First Step to Becoming an Infrastructure Powerhouse

Chapter 70: Gold Mine
Chapter 71: Predator
Chapter 72: A Predator’s Feast
Chapter 73: Where Did This Genius Come From?
Chapter 74: A Steel Mill, Do You Want It?

Chapter 75: Do You Need a Full-Package Service?

Chapter 76: How a Sucker is Made
Chapter 77: Buy One Get One Free
Chapter 78: Letting the Wolf into the House
Chapter 79: The Agreement
Chapter 80: A Grand Gesture

Chapter 81: Nothing is More Expensive Than a Free Lunch

Chapter 82: I’m Just Lucky, That’s All