Chen Jin agreed to the partnership. Many of Xing Hai Technologies’ products were about to enter the Merican market.
There were three reasons why Chen Jin had made this decision.
One, the technologies behind the various core products of Xing Hai Technologies, such as the Little Star learning machine, the virtual factory, and the work assistant, had progressed to the fourth or fifth generation. To buy up the Merican market using the relatively backward first-generation products was not impossible.
Two, the “Manhattan 2” project had recently made significant progress and produced a glimmer of hope. The project was established by the Merican government and involved hundreds of high-tech companies and universities. Its purpose was to achieve the technology of intelligent learning. It was likely that “Manhattan 2” would achieve a breakthrough in this core technology in about two or three years. This was a threat to Xing Hai Technologies and measures must be taken to shoot it down.
Three, money. Chen Jin intended to make money, he would earn as much as possible.
The moment he had decided to become the biggest landlord on the planet, he had felt that he should earn more money. It was difficult to earn a lot of money by relying solely on the Z nation’s market. Only with the addition of the Western market or even the world market was it possible for him to profit so largely. Compared to the idea of eternal wealth, the narrow mindset must be adjusted. Money was still more important.
After all, people were flexible creatures that could adjust themselves to the changing environment and adapt to new interests. Countless environmentalists had seen how Xing Hai Technologies, a high-tech company, was progressing further into the area of desert environmental protection and was loudly praising the company for its actions. Those environmentalists cheered the company on very enthusiastically.
Some savvy businessmen in the country could infer the real plans of Xing Hai Technologies. They quietly said to themselves that Xing Hai Technologies was brilliant indeed. No companies were immortal, but land was forever.
Xing Hai Technologies wanted to break the cycle of the rise and fall. The company was scheming to allow their prosperity to continue for decades even centuries to come. Their ambition was shocking.
The company was wealthy and imposing. It was the world leader in relevant robot technologies, desalination technology, desert anti-evaporation technology, intelligent drip irrigation technology, sand-fixing technology, special materials technology, and many others. With these achievements, the company had reduced the cost of desert governance to an impressive degree.
Some people had calculated the costs.
Xing Hai Technologies’ cost of managing 1 square kilometer of the desert was about $10 million. In the future, with the maturity of various technologies, the cost might be reduced to less than $8 million.
Even if it remained at $10 million, $100 million could make Xing Hai the owner of 10 square kilometers of land in the future. This was equivalent to a small town. $1 billion and they would be the owners of 100 square kilometers of land. This was a small city. $10 billion was 1,000 square kilometers of land and that was a small country.
Buying a small country for $10 billion and getting to inherit it forever was a true value for money.
Of course, many others could afford a small city costing $1 billion, so Chen Jin had received a lot of calls recently.
“Xiao Jin, I see that your company has invested a lot of resources in desertification control,” said Aunt He Jia. “Everyone on the internet says that it is good for the country and the people. The predecessors will plant trees so that future generations can enjoy the shade. This would benefit the people through the ages and protect the future of the planet at the same time.”
Chen Jin was not sure where her call was going, so he waited.
“Xiao Jin, your little aunt here has recalled that last question you asked me. You asked me what the meaning was of making so much money. I don’t know what meaning there is, I even felt a little ashamed. The Master of Steel, Andrew Carnegie said, ‘it is a shame to die rich.’ I have so much wealth, but I made little contribution to this society. I feel very ashamed.”
Chen Jin still waited.
“I have found it now! I’ve found the true meaning of having wealth, that is, to devote myself fully to environmental protection. To combat desertification and protect the environment, I will make a little contribution. I intend to take out the money that I have given to Xing Hai Investments and use it to invest in Xing Hai Desert Management Company instead. All that money will be used for environmental protection! I’ll do a good thing for this planet. Xiao Jin, this is your little aunt’s current wish. I hope that you can fulfill my wish.”
Aunt He Jia’s voice over the phone was passionate. She sounded so pure and holy, like an angel. Chen Jin did a facepalm and looked around. Where was the Oscar trophy? He was completely bowled over by this performance.
After muttering to himself for a short while, he replied.
“So, little aunt, you intend to donate your funds of over $15 billion to Xing Hai Desert Management Company for free? There are no other requests? If so, thank you, little aunt. This time around, you’ve changed my mind about you.”
“Hey, hey…” Aunt He Jia started panicking over the phone. “Xiao Jin, I didn’t say that. I still need the land. I want to open a private winery that belongs to me. After that, I will grow grapes and learn how to brew wine. When I’m old, I’ll have a place for retirement. Xiao Jin, I do want to contribute to environmental protection, but I also have this tiny selfish interest. Ah, Xiao Jin, even my face is turning red, can’t you understand the dream of a woman?”
Ah, so her true intentions were finally revealed.
She spoke in a tender voice. “Xiao Jin, don’t joke with your aunt again, ok?”
“Oh, I see,” Chen Jin shook his head. “Then, this is called investment. But we do not accept investment in this area currently. We have to wait until the transformation of the 50,000 square kilometer desert is completed. Then, we’ll consider an all-around expansion. When that time comes, I’ll be willing to accept this investment. We do not lack money now; we also intend to complete this project independently and evaluate our follow-up plan. Little aunt, I suggest that you wait for a while if you want to invest.”
“How long do I have to wait?”
“Three to five years.”
“Ok, I can wait! Please let me know in advance when you have plans for expansion.”
“Ok.”
Chen Jin nodded and hung up the phone.
“Little aunt, you’re a poisonous person,” he said to himself.
Of course, this was not over yet. He Jia was only the opening act!
Next was a phone call from his second eldest uncle, He Guo Fu. Chen Jin dealt with him using the same attitude. He received successive phone calls from the business bigwigs in Z nation including Jie Kema, Xiao Mage, Brother Lei, etc. All of them had a strong interest in Xing Hai’s desert management plan. They were willing to put forth a little money for a long-term investment.
Chen Jin refused all these investment requests. He told them to wait three to five years as well when Xing Hai Technologies had achieved some results.
“Three to five years?”
All the bigwigs shook their heads. Forget about it. How could they wait for so long? By now, the deserts in the country had been split between the capitalists until there was nothing left. Instead of waiting for Xing Hai Technologies, it was better to increase investment in other sand control institutions and thereby increase the influx of “hot money” into the desert, so they did not call Chen Jin.
The last call was from Little Brother Ze.
“Little Brother Ze, your dad wants to invest money to participate in the desert governance too? Don’t talk anymore, ask your dad to wait for another three to five years. I don’t need investments now, we can talk about investments in the future.”
Chen Jin said this subconsciously and without thinking. He had repeated this speech dozens of times.
“No, Brother Chen, I am not calling to talk to you about that,” replied Wang Zeyu. His voice was gloomy. “I…I am dying, Brother Chen.” He started to sob. “I have AIDS. Everyone has abandoned me!”
What?Chen Jin was shocked.
Chen Jin agreed to the partnership. Many of Xing Hai Technologies’ products were about to enter the Merican market.
There were three reasons why Chen Jin had made this decision.
One, the technologies behind the various core products of Xing Hai Technologies, such as the Little Star learning machine, the virtual factory, and the work assistant, had progressed to the fourth or fifth generation. To buy up the Merican market using the relatively backward first-generation products was not impossible.
Two, the “Manhattan 2” project had recently made significant progress and produced a glimmer of hope. The project was established by the Merican government and involved hundreds of high-tech companies and universities. Its purpose was to achieve the technology of intelligent learning. It was likely that “Manhattan 2” would achieve a breakthrough in this core technology in about two or three years. This was a threat to Xing Hai Technologies and measures must be taken to shoot it down.
Three, money. Chen Jin intended to make money, he would earn as much as possible.
The moment he had decided to become the biggest landlord on the planet, he had felt that he should earn more money. It was difficult to earn a lot of money by relying solely on the Z nation’s market. Only with the addition of the Western market or even the world market was it possible for him to profit so largely. Compared to the idea of eternal wealth, the narrow mindset must be adjusted. Money was still more important.
After all, people were flexible creatures that could adjust themselves to the changing environment and adapt to new interests. Countless environmentalists had seen how Xing Hai Technologies, a high-tech company, was progressing further into the area of desert environmental protection and was loudly praising the company for its actions. Those environmentalists cheered the company on very enthusiastically.
Some savvy businessmen in the country could infer the real plans of Xing Hai Technologies. They quietly said to themselves that Xing Hai Technologies was brilliant indeed. No companies were immortal, but land was forever.
Xing Hai Technologies wanted to break the cycle of the rise and fall. The company was scheming to allow their prosperity to continue for decades even centuries to come. Their ambition was shocking.
The company was wealthy and imposing. It was the world leader in relevant robot technologies, desalination technology, desert anti-evaporation technology, intelligent drip irrigation technology, sand-fixing technology, special materials technology, and many others. With these achievements, the company had reduced the cost of desert governance to an impressive degree.
Some people had calculated the costs.
Xing Hai Technologies’ cost of managing 1 square kilometer of the desert was about $10 million. In the future, with the maturity of various technologies, the cost might be reduced to less than $8 million.
Even if it remained at $10 million, $100 million could make Xing Hai the owner of 10 square kilometers of land in the future. This was equivalent to a small town. $1 billion and they would be the owners of 100 square kilometers of land. This was a small city. $10 billion was 1,000 square kilometers of land and that was a small country.
Buying a small country for $10 billion and getting to inherit it forever was a true value for money.
Of course, many others could afford a small city costing $1 billion, so Chen Jin had received a lot of calls recently.
“Xiao Jin, I see that your company has invested a lot of resources in desertification control,” said Aunt He Jia. “Everyone on the internet says that it is good for the country and the people. The predecessors will plant trees so that future generations can enjoy the shade. This would benefit the people through the ages and protect the future of the planet at the same time.”
Chen Jin was not sure where her call was going, so he waited.
“Xiao Jin, your little aunt here has recalled that last question you asked me. You asked me what the meaning was of making so much money. I don’t know what meaning there is, I even felt a little ashamed. The Master of Steel, Andrew Carnegie said, ‘it is a shame to die rich.’ I have so much wealth, but I made little contribution to this society. I feel very ashamed.”
Chen Jin still waited.
“I have found it now! I’ve found the true meaning of having wealth, that is, to devote myself fully to environmental protection. To combat desertification and protect the environment, I will make a little contribution. I intend to take out the money that I have given to Xing Hai Investments and use it to invest in Xing Hai Desert Management Company instead. All that money will be used for environmental protection! I’ll do a good thing for this planet. Xiao Jin, this is your little aunt’s current wish. I hope that you can fulfill my wish.”
Aunt He Jia’s voice over the phone was passionate. She sounded so pure and holy, like an angel. Chen Jin did a facepalm and looked around. Where was the Oscar trophy? He was completely bowled over by this performance.
After muttering to himself for a short while, he replied.
“So, little aunt, you intend to donate your funds of over $15 billion to Xing Hai Desert Management Company for free? There are no other requests? If so, thank you, little aunt. This time around, you’ve changed my mind about you.”
“Hey, hey…” Aunt He Jia started panicking over the phone. “Xiao Jin, I didn’t say that. I still need the land. I want to open a private winery that belongs to me. After that, I will grow grapes and learn how to brew wine. When I’m old, I’ll have a place for retirement. Xiao Jin, I do want to contribute to environmental protection, but I also have this tiny selfish interest. Ah, Xiao Jin, even my face is turning red, can’t you understand the dream of a woman?”
Ah, so her true intentions were finally revealed.
She spoke in a tender voice. “Xiao Jin, don’t joke with your aunt again, ok?”
“Oh, I see,” Chen Jin shook his head. “Then, this is called investment. But we do not accept investment in this area currently. We have to wait until the transformation of the 50,000 square kilometer desert is completed. Then, we’ll consider an all-around expansion. When that time comes, I’ll be willing to accept this investment. We do not lack money now; we also intend to complete this project independently and evaluate our follow-up plan. Little aunt, I suggest that you wait for a while if you want to invest.”
“How long do I have to wait?”
“Three to five years.”
“Ok, I can wait! Please let me know in advance when you have plans for expansion.”
“Ok.”
Chen Jin nodded and hung up the phone.
“Little aunt, you’re a poisonous person,” he said to himself.
Of course, this was not over yet. He Jia was only the opening act!
Next was a phone call from his second eldest uncle, He Guo Fu. Chen Jin dealt with him using the same attitude. He received successive phone calls from the business bigwigs in Z nation including Jie Kema, Xiao Mage, Brother Lei, etc. All of them had a strong interest in Xing Hai’s desert management plan. They were willing to put forth a little money for a long-term investment.
Chen Jin refused all these investment requests. He told them to wait three to five years as well when Xing Hai Technologies had achieved some results.
“Three to five years?”
All the bigwigs shook their heads. Forget about it. How could they wait for so long? By now, the deserts in the country had been split between the capitalists until there was nothing left. Instead of waiting for Xing Hai Technologies, it was better to increase investment in other sand control institutions and thereby increase the influx of “hot money” into the desert, so they did not call Chen Jin.
The last call was from Little Brother Ze.
“Little Brother Ze, your dad wants to invest money to participate in the desert governance too? Don’t talk anymore, ask your dad to wait for another three to five years. I don’t need investments now, we can talk about investments in the future.”
Chen Jin said this subconsciously and without thinking. He had repeated this speech dozens of times.
“No, Brother Chen, I am not calling to talk to you about that,” replied Wang Zeyu. His voice was gloomy. “I…I am dying, Brother Chen.” He started to sob. “I have AIDS. Everyone has abandoned me!”
What?Chen Jin was shocked.
