FOE Family First Chapter 15 He Can't Become an Expert at Picking Up Girls
The engineer named Will Kendrick, who came to Providence on vacation, was very talkative. After buying him two glasses of whiskey, Tommy Hawke learned a piece of news from their casual chat that made him excited.
At this moment, on the high seas near the territorial waters of the United States, a large tobacco processing ship of Philip Morris Tobacco Company is running at full capacity, producing red and white hard-packed Marlboro cigarettes day and night.
A processing ship is an independent medium-sized tobacco factory that operates on the high seas, selling products as they are produced and wholesale to cargo ships that come to pick them up. And because it uses the high seas as a base for producing and selling cigarettes, Philip Morris can be exempted from a series of procedures such as ship docking, customs declaration, and payment of management fees. Most importantly, all of this is a legal act that takes place on the high seas.
In his previous life, Tommy Hawke's professor at the business school would chat about some business history in his spare time. Regarding the development history of American tobacco companies, the professor did mention that in order to seize the market, some American tobacco companies came up with the business method of producing cigarettes on the high seas and then smuggling them into a certain country to seize the market. However, at that time, these happened on the high seas near Canada, China, and Japan. Those countries repeatedly protested to the United States, but the US government always evaded the question by saying that their tobacco companies had no malicious intentions in selling goods to other countries and were just producing them on the high seas.
As for whether it is legal for domestic companies to use the same means to snatch tax money from the US government's pocket, Tommy is not sure, but officials from both parties in the United States may not dare to provoke the largest tobacco company in the United States. After all, if the other party is slightly dissatisfied, their political donations will be greatly reduced. Moreover, behind these large tobacco companies are countless legal advisers and lobbying companies who protect them like thugs and help them solve various problems at any time.
The reason why this tobacco processing ship, which was supposed to be anchored in the high seas near Placentia, Canada, sailed to the northeastern waters of the United States was that New York and Massachusetts and other places recently raised tobacco taxes. Smokers have to pay more taxes when purchasing cigarettes through formal channels, resulting in a rapid decline in cigarette sales.
Take New York as an example. A pack of Marlboro used to cost less than three dollars, but after the tobacco tax was raised, the price of a pack has risen to nearly four dollars. For smokers, if they don't want to buy , they can either reduce the amount of smoking or switch to a cheaper brand. Either situation is not what Philip Morris, the owner of the Marlboro brand, wants to see.
Moreover, the sharp price increase of cigarettes through regular channels has naturally spawned a group of illegal cigarette dealers who want to take risks to make a profit. They will find ways to stock up large quantities of cigarettes from other northwestern states where tobacco taxes are relatively low, secretly transport them to New York or Massachusetts for sale, or simply produce counterfeit products to make money.
The tobacco company's processing ships sail to the nearby high seas to provide convenience for these smuggled cigarette dealers. They no longer need to find ways to source the goods, but can get the goods directly from the source factory, eliminating the link of middlemen making a profit from the price difference. The most important thing is to ensure that the goods are genuine and there will be no problems with the taste.
In other words, cigarette smugglers can easily complete the transaction by simply driving a boat to the offshore factory, handing over the money and taking the goods.
This is America. As long as there is money to be made, capitalists can always come up with thoughtful ways to cooperate.
Of course, this kind of business is not without risks. Simply going to the high seas to buy cigarettes quietly may not attract much attention, but whether the smugglers will be caught when they return to land and wait for an opportunity to ship the goods depends on their luck. After all, it is very difficult to take advantage of the US tax department. They may be tolerant of tobacco processing ships far away from the US mainland, but they must be swift and resolute in dealing with these smugglers who suck blood from taxes.
"A box of fifty cigarettes only costs two hundred dollars?" Tommy Hawke was shocked when he learned the factory price of cigarettes. "So, a cigarette costs four dollars? Four dollars for one cigarette? Ten boxes?"
You know, the price of a box of Marlboro in New York is close to four dollars, but at this moment Will said that the factory price of a box of Marlboro is only two hundred dollars, which is only forty cents per box.
Will nodded a little tipsy: "Of course, kid, why do you think those smugglers would risk being hunted down by the tax department to do this kind of business? The tobacco business has been so profitable since its inception."
"Sir, what is the minimum number of boxes?" Tommy Hawke only felt his body getting a little hot. Maybe the alcohol played a role, but it was more likely that the word "huge profits" kept burning and stimulating him.
"Kid, you know what? In my opinion, you shouldn't be here chatting about such sleepy topics with an old guy like me. You should find a hot dancer to make your trip worthwhile." Will Kendrick said in a boring tone, "Besides, the factory is not a convenience store. If you just want to buy a few boxes of cheap cigarettes, you'd better go to the street and ask those cigarette vendors. You have to buy at least 100 boxes at a time before the factory will accept you."
He didn't expect that this guy would sit here and just talk to him about such boring tobacco issues. Every time he wanted to brag to him about his experience of picking up girls when he was young, this boring guy named Tommy would turn the question back again, which made him lose the desire to continue chatting with Tommy.
Will Kendrek's last words were like cold water on Tommy Hawke's enthusiasm. If the minimum order was ten boxes, he could borrow some money from Ruby to give it a try after he figured out the market supply and demand as well as the sales method. However, if the minimum order was one hundred boxes, that meant he would need to put up a capital of twenty thousand dollars, excluding other expenses.
There was no way Ruby would lend such a large sum of money to a seventeen-year-old boy, and if she really lent it to him, she would probably tell her father about it.
Feeling that Will Kendrick beside him had no interest in chatting with him, and he couldn't afford the $20,000 capital to do this kind of business, Tommy Hawke let out a sigh, then shrugged and changed the subject: "You are right, Mr. Kendrick, if you want to make the most of your trip, you should enjoy yourself while you can. Come on, let's go to the single curtained room to have a look. I'll treat you, but it's only one song. Give me some recommendations. Which dancer dances more gracefully? You have been here for three days for vacation. You should know better than me. Give me some recommendations."
"Hahaha~" Will laughed happily when he heard Tommy's words. He raised his whiskey glass and said to Tommy, "Boy, that's right. Let me teach you how to have fun in a place like this. The rules are as follows. First, never treat others. When it comes to spending money on women, you have to let them do it themselves. Second, don't trust other people's recommendations, and don't keep your eyes on those hot bastards in the hall."
"Then what should I choose? Shouldn't I just go to the dance floor like in the movies, throw out a few bills generously, and ask the other person to accompany me to the curtain for a close and passionate dance?" Tommy also laughed.
"NO, of course not. Let me teach you how to play in Miami. Come on, boy, let me show you." Will's face was full of interest when talking about women. He put his arm around Tommy's shoulders and walked towards the single area.
There was a tall bodyguard standing outside the single area. Will took out two one-dollar bills from his shirt pocket, walked up to him, and stuffed the bills into the bodyguard's suit pocket: "Hey, man, we're going to the curtain room to watch a one-man show. Help me go backstage and call two hot dancers. This is your tip."
The single curtain area will be equipped with one or two bodyguards. One is to intimidate the guests and prevent them from making any moves on the dancers in their own club in the curtain room. The other is to help the dancers silently count how many dances they have danced. If a guest enjoys three dances but is only willing to pay the dancer for two dances, the bodyguard will come out and teach the guest the correct way to count.
"Okay, sir, please choose a room each." The bodyguard seemed to be accustomed to the game proposed by Will. He made a gesture of invitation to the two of them, then took out the intercom at his waist and called: "Two guests in the room, don't like the fat moms on the dance floor, send two glasses of spicy enough drinks over."
"You know, the most enjoyable moment is when the dancer comes to dance for you and you are waiting. You can let your imagination run wild and guess what the woman you are waiting for looks like." Will walked to a curtained room and let go of Tommy's shoulders. "Tommy, I wish you a happy first striptease experience. Go in. By the way, remember the third rule. Don't believe any nonsense the dancer says. Everything she says is just to empty the money in your pocket."
Tommy was pushed by Will into this cramped and narrow single curtained room. The so-called curtained room was similar to the small room in the club that the protagonist went to in the game "GTA5". It was a small room separated by cheap synthetic boards. There were no door panels, only half-long and even vaguely transparent gauze curtains hanging. There was not even enough space for a sofa inside, only two chairs placed opposite each other.
At this time, Tommy could only sit on a chair against the wall, like a prisoner waiting to be interrogated, waiting for the dancer to arrive.
But what Will said does make sense. Before the dancer actually shows up, men can't help but guess what the upcoming woman will look like and what hot body she will have.
Two minutes later, the sound of high heels stepping on the ground came from far away. A woman with long golden hair and wearing a golden tassel bikini came in from outside, pulling aside the veil. When she saw Tommy looking up with his arms folded, she was shocked and froze on the spot:
"Oh My God..."
When Tommy Hawke looked up and saw Aunt Melonie wearing a golden wig, he was stunned at first, then he immediately made a shushing gesture to Melonie and said loudly to the outside: "Hey, help me get a champagne box."
"Yes, sir, this way please." The bodyguard outside answered, and seeing Melonie standing there motionless, he came over and urged, "Beatrice, go prepare champagne for the guests first."
Melonie turned around in confusion and walked towards the champagne box area. The bodyguard looked at Tommy and smiled a little more. Young people are so impulsive. When they see a beautiful woman, they will hand over the money without any reason. "Excuse me, sir, she is new here and is still unfamiliar with this process. Please follow me."
In another curtained room, Will, who was being twisted by a dancer with her hands around his head, heard Tommy Hawke's voice. He frowned, "Boy! Rule three! God... I first came to this kind of place when I was sixteen, but after dancing three songs, I was seduced by a dancer to the champagne box. I bet this kid can't be a master at picking up girls..."
