Chapter 586 American Collaborators
As someone who had experienced this, Lu Ding saw at a glance the difficulty and seriousness of the matter.
He said: "It must cost a lot of money to sell color TVs to Mexico and then smuggle them into the American market, and a lot of the money cannot go through formal procedures. Once a shareholder with an ace makes trouble, he will be accused of misappropriation of funds at any time."
Lu Yiming assured, "Li Donglai and I have no vested interests, so even if something happens to him, it won't implicate me."
Lu Ding was relieved, but he was confused again: " Why are you so concerned about such a useless thing?"
Lu Yiming laughed and said, "When doing business, sometimes favors are more valuable than benefits. I am optimistic about the development of Wangpai. Maybe we can cooperate with Jianlai Technology in the future... Isn't this an opportunity to make money?"
Lu Ding was deeply touched by Lu Yiming's growth. He said to Lu Yiming with a look of satisfaction: "It seems that you have really grown up. You have considered things so thoroughly and thought so far ahead. I am really relieved."
Lu Yiming smiled and said, "Dad, look at what you said. When have I ever done anything that would make you worried?"
When Lu Ding heard this, he could no longer sit still, and immediately exposed his past: "You little brat, how can you say that? Didn't I use my connections to get you into junior high school when you didn't pass the entrance exam in elementary school? I have to bring two bottles of blood pressure medicine to the parent-teacher meeting every semester..."
Lu Yiming's face turned red when he heard this, and he argued, "That's all in the past. You know, you should look at people with new eyes after three days of absence?"
Ning Xuehua brought the food to the table and called out, "What are you two talking about? Why don't you come over and wash your hands and eat?"
"Oh, here it comes."
Lu Yiming took the opportunity to run away.
After dinner, Lu Yiming began to study the matter of selling TV sets carefully. Since he had promised to help Wangpai, Lu Yiming would not break his promise. And this kind of thing still involves some risks. After all, it is doing business with a group of lunatics with no moral bottom line, so it is necessary to make a perfect plan.
Lu Yiming knew very well that in order to open up the smuggling channel from Mexico to the United States, Mexicans were not the key. The real key was to find a ruthless person in the United States who could protect him. In this way, even if the truth was revealed in the future, it would be easy to get out of it.
After a brief thought, he thought of a suitable candidate.
He picked up the phone and called Epstein: "Hey, man, are you interested in doing a big deal?"
When Epstein heard about the big deal, he immediately said excitedly: "Of course I'm interested."
Lu Yiming smiled slightly. Epstein's reaction was completely within his expectations.
"I'm glad you're interested. I'm going to America in a few days. We can meet and talk in detail then."
This kind of thing can't be discussed on the phone. After all, the American door left a deep impression on Lu Yiming. Who knows if these guys will monitor ordinary people besides those politicians?
After all, if you compare America's "politicians" to Satan, even Satan would have to move out overnight. Lu Yiming doesn't believe in their moral integrity.
"I'm always waiting for you, my friend."
When Epstein heard that Lu Yiming was coming to America for a face-to-face chat, he had no idea that Lu Yiming was concerned about the XX Gate. Instead, he thought that this was a very big deal, and his excitement was beyond words.
"Okay, I'll call you when I get to America."
"I will pick you up at the airport myself."
"You are so polite."
"Of course."
"Then let's meet and chat then."
"OK."
“Hang up.”
"goodbye."
After the call with Epstein, Lu Yiming thought about it and felt that it might take some time to get this done completely, so he called Shi Qingxue and said, "Xiaoxue, I'm going to America and won't be back to school for the time being. I'm telling you this first, and I'll call the teacher to ask for leave later."
Shi Qingxue learned that Lu Yiming was going to America again, and from the tone of her voice, she estimated that Lu Yiming would have to stay for a while. Thinking that she would not be able to see Lu Yiming for so long, she felt very unhappy. But she still said, "Then you should be careful and stay safe."
Lu Yiming said affectionately: "I will pay attention. Remember to think of me. Come and give me a kiss."
Shi Qingxue blushed slightly and couldn't help looking around guiltily, as if the phone was on speakerphone.
After finding that there was no one around, she pouted and hummed into the phone: "Tsk, who wants to kiss you?"
Lu Yiming said naughtily: "Come on, give me a kiss."
Shi Qingxue decisively refused: "No."
Lu Yiming urged: "Give me a kiss, hurry up."
Shi Qingxue thought Lu Yiming was unhappy, so she curled her lips and said, "Mua~ Is that okay? Humph, even elementary school students are not as childish as you."
Lu Yiming immediately smiled with a look of success and said, "Haha, this may be childish for elementary school students, but it's just right for adults."
Shi Qingxue was speechless: "Alright, alright, hurry up and do your work. Be careful on the road, go early and come back early. Don't go out and hook up with questionable women."
Lu Yiming immediately cried out: "When did I ever hook up with a woman of questionable character?"
Shi Qingxue snorted and said in a long tone: "Who knows?"
Lu Yiming felt a little guilty for some reason and said, "Okay, I'll come back as soon as possible. That's it, bye."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Yiming packed up his things, called Li Yiwen, and boarded the "Yiming" to America.
On the plane, Li Yiwen felt a little tingling on his scalp after listening to Lu Yiming's overall plan.
"I say, are you so bold now? You've even started smuggling? Doesn't ordinary business excite you anymore?"
Lu Yiming quickly defended himself, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm a legitimate businessman. How could I possibly engage in smuggling?"
Li Yiwen thought about it and suddenly realized it - Lu Yiming was not involved in the entire industrial chain, and he couldn't make a penny at all, so it didn't seem to be smuggling.
So he became even more upset: "I say, you take such a big risk and don't make a penny, what are you trying to achieve?"
"Tu-160."
Lu Yiming made a joke and then said, "Don't talk about money all the time, it's tacky."
Li Yiwen said rudely, "That's enough. How could I not know you? You even dream about how to make money, and you still have the nerve to call me vulgar? Tell me, what on earth are you planning this time?"
Of course, Lu Yiming would not hide anything from Li Yiwen, his right-hand man. He lowered his voice and said, "My cousin is indeed meticulous. I can't hide it from you. Well, I will tell you the truth. I will not directly participate in the construction of this smuggling channel, nor will I receive any benefits from it. On the contrary, I hope to use this channel to get some equipment that the United States prohibits from selling to our Xia country."
When Li Yiwen heard this, he almost jumped up and down: "Are you crazy?"
Smuggling prohibited items, this seems to be even more outrageous than smuggling, right?
Lu Yiming spread his hands and said helplessly: "To work in the semiconductor industry, you have to be crazy to survive. What's more, I am just a matchmaker. Once the chain of interest transfer is established, I can sit back and reap the benefits. Anyway, I am not the one taking the risk."
In fact, it is not only after the trade war that the sale of high-tech equipment such as lithography machines has been banned. Since that day in the late 1940s, the ban on many things has actually begun. For example, high-performance computers and related components, high-end precision machine tools, etc. It can be said that since that day, the country has been moving forward step by step.
Although Lu Yiming sounded relaxed, Li Yiwen still felt uneasy: "That won't do. You have to know that this is America! When has America ever taught people reason? It's not up to you to decide whether it has anything to do with you or not. The American government has the final say."
Lu Yiming said disapprovingly: "Let's get back to the point. Are there no poor people in America? You have to know that most of the laws in America are bullshit and irrational in themselves. I just make the entire market freer."
For the sake of money, Toshiba dared to sell high-precision machine tools to the Russians.
There is never a shortage of people in this world who are willing to take risks for money.
What's more, the person Lu Yiming wants to trap this time is Epstein, so there will be no problem at all.
Li Yiwen asked: "Okay, I won't tell you this, but Epstein was able to build his current business, and he's not a fool, how could he be fooled by you?"
Lu Yiming said mysteriously: "This is not a question of being fooled or not."
Compared with the other ridiculous things Epstein did, something as trivial as smuggling a few instruments and equipment on the banned sales list is not worth mentioning at all.
The plane landed in the United States, and Epstein personally came to the airport to greet him. As soon as they met, Epstein gave Lu Yiming a big hug.
"My dear friends, welcome to America."
Obviously, Epstein was very enthusiastic towards Lu Yiming, the "money boy" from the East. After all, who in the world would hate money?
"My dear friend, I miss you so much."
Lu Yiming also responded.
"This is my assistant, Mr. Li Yiwen. I believe you are familiar with him, right?"
"Of course. Hello."
"Hello."
Epstein invited Lu Yiming to get into a stretched Lincoln, while Li Yiwen and Zhao Tiezhu followed in other vehicles.
"What would you like to drink? I have single malt whiskey from Scotland and this, Louis XIII."
Lu Yiming said, "Do you have Pepsi? I'll just drink that."
I really can't get used to drinking foreign liquor.
Epstein was immediately in tears and laughed, saying, "You are a billionaire after all, and you can't even drink a can of Coke that costs one dollar?"
Lu Yiming asked: "How much do you have for Coke?"
Epstein looked helpless, and was obviously stumped by Lu Yiming's question: "I have a 70th anniversary aluminum can produced by Coca-Cola at home, which costs $10,000 a bottle. Do you want to drink it?"
Lu Yiming said: "Okay."
“The Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1886,” Epstein said.
Lu Yiming thought about it in his mind.
Then wouldn’t this Coke be fifty years old?
"Forget it, I'm afraid of being poisoned."
When Epstein saw Lu Yiming's depressed expression, he immediately laughed out loud like a child who had successfully played a prank.
He poured Lu Yiming a glass of malt whiskey without saying anything and said, "Come on, try it. This wine costs thirty-two thousand dollars a bottle."
“It turns out that capitalism can easily corrupt people.”
Lu Yiming muttered something, then took a sip from the wine glass.
“Good wine!”
Epstein was immediately delighted and said, "Come on, cheers."
"cheers."
The two men clinked their glasses, and Epstein drank the wine in the glass. Then he couldn't wait to ask, "Tell me quickly, you came all the way to America. What good and profitable business do you want to discuss with me?"
He had tasted the sweetness of shorting the U.S. stock market before, so much so that the money he earned from his "legitimate business" was no longer enough to satisfy his growing greed.
Lu Yiming did not directly answer Epstein's question, but instead asked: "Do you know how much a TV costs in America?"
Epstein was stunned by the question.
Although he had a TV at home, he didn't need to buy these things, so he naturally didn't understand the market.
"Why are you asking? If you need a TV, I can always have one sent to you."
Lu Yiming smiled and said, "I learned a little bit on my way to America. The best-selling TVs in America are basically produced by Philips and SOMY, and the price is generally over one thousand dollars. The slightly higher-end ones cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. For example, the FlatPlasmaTV produced by Philips costs as high as 22,924 US dollars, while the KV-35XBR48CRTTV produced by SOMY is more affordable, but it also costs 3,821 US dollars per unit."
Epstein laughed and said, "It's only $20,000 or $30,000, which is the price of a few drinks. I don't need to know this, right? I'm not selling TVs."
Epstein’s reaction was completely within Lu Yiming’s expectations. There are more and more people like him who think “Why not eat meat?” in modern society.
Lu Yiming smiled slightly and asked, "Then do you know how much a color TV costs in Xia Country?"
Epstein frowned slightly and asked, "How much?"
Lu Yiming raised three fingers and said, "Less than three hundred dollars."
Epstein was shocked that the same color TV could have such a huge price difference.
Although Epstein never cared about the lives of the lower class, he still had an idea of the difference between three hundred thousand and twenty thousand dollars.
This is clearly a case of expensive technological products being priced down to dirt cheap, and the bottom line of prices has been broken!
The shock brought by Lu Yiming undoubtedly opened a door to a new world for Epstein. For this reason, even his breathing became rapid. He looked at Lu Yiming eagerly and asked tentatively: "So what you mean is..."
Since he was going to cooperate with Epstein, Lu Yiming certainly would not hide it. He immediately said, "I can help you find suppliers in Xia Country so that these affordable TV sets can enter thousands of American households. After all, the people have the right to choose freely, and they deserve an affordable and quality TV set."
Epstein secretly despised him in his heart. Smuggling is smuggling, and he even said it in such a high-sounding way. However, his face was full of smiles, and he praised Lu Yiming's words: "You really understand freedom. That's right, the American people have the right to buy a cheap and beautiful TV."
However, Epstein became a little worried afterwards. After all, he knew the trade policy of the United States, so he said to Lu Yiming: "It may not work to go through the formal channels. The TVs you produce are so cheap that they will definitely be targeted by the Ministry of Commerce."
A TV set worth three hundred dollars seemed incredible to people in Europe and the United States. After all, the average wage in the United States in 2000 was twenty-nine thousand five hundred dollars. They simply could not imagine that an ordinary worker in Xia country earned only one twenty-sixth of their monthly salary.
So they couldn't understand why Xiaguo's products were so cheap.
Lu Yiming looked at Epstein and said methodically: "So, the goods will first enter Mexico in the name of export, and then enter the North American market through Mexico."
Epstein understood.
My goodness, it turns out they are trying to drag him into smuggling!
There is no doubt that smuggling is illegal.
But in the face of huge financial interests, what is the law?
Epstein almost didn't think twice before blurting out: "Of course I can do this deal."
There are people who do business that will get them killed, but no one does business that will lose them money.
Lu Yiming smiled and said to him, "I will take care of the suppliers in Xia Country and ensure that the products are of good quality and low price. We can even accept return and exchange services. If there are any quality problems with the products, we will directly replace them with new ones for the customers. However, in contrast, you will have to contribute to the supply channels in Mo Country."
Epstein, who runs Happy Island, has frequent contact with foreign "agricultural product suppliers". After all, without their supply , how can the "tourists" of Happy Island be truly happy?
So Epstein patted his chest and said, "No problem, I can handle this."
Lu Yiming laughed and said, "It is indeed a pleasure to do business with you. Then let's talk about the specific details."
When the car arrived at the destination, Lu Yiming and Epstein discussed again in Epstein's villa, finalized some technical details, and the cooperation was ready to begin.
After leaving Epstein's villa, Lu Yiming told Li Yiwen the whole story. Li Yiwen was shocked after hearing it: "No way? It's so simple, and the matter is settled?"
Lu Yiming said: "This is America. No one will drag their feet when it comes to making money. Moreover, compared with legitimate business, smuggling is extremely profitable. With Epstein's greedy and shameless personality, how could he possibly resist?"
After listening to this, Li Yiwen couldn't help but sigh: "It turns out that the old saying is true: people die for money, and birds die for food."
