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Chapter 1208: Chapter 1065: Wolves Huddling Together (Please Subscribe!)
Half an hour later.
They had roamed all over the model room.
Drinking chilled beverages.
Enjoying the air conditioning, watching TV, and even the swimming pool outside, they all felt that they had simply wasted their previous lives, and in their hearts, they had already made up their minds to change their lives, starting with where they live.
Before, they hadn’t felt much about it.
Living in an adobe house or wooden hut seemed quite alright.
But that was when everyone was poor.
Now, having seen better things, the food, the drinks, the goods, when they look back at their past lives, all they can do is scoff and think, damn it, they had really lived too roughly before.
Change.
They definitely had to change.
"All rooms will be equipped with a solar power set. Even if there’s a blackout in the future, you won’t have to fear the darkness at night. And when there’s electricity, it can save on the power consumption of home appliances."
"These pieces of furniture, panels, and some small appliances will all be manufactured here in our own factory, which can also be sold to others. If you’re interested, we can talk about production and dealership in the future."
"Since we can’t provide natural gas for now, you can use induction cookers for daily cooking. Of course, considering your cooking habits, we have specially designed a firewood stove."
"..."
Guan Songhua became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke.
However.
When they heard that the factories had not yet been built, they felt a bit disappointed, wishing they could start construction tomorrow. According to what Guan Songhua said, it would take at least a month.
And that was just for the main steel materials.
To fully get on track.
To provide all the items in the model room, it might take four months, and honestly, Tang Qing wasn’t interested in making even the nails himself; he just needed to collect some management fees.
"Everyone can sign up first, and we will supply the goods in order."
Seeing the crowd eagerly registering.
Guan Songhua smiled.
Allowing someone with a mine at home to exchange their future minerals for a comfortable life now was just like using a credit card to overspend. Once you start, it’s hard to stop.
...
February 3rd.
Evening.
Tang Qing’s villa came alive.
Starting tomorrow.
The Fudan winter break would begin.
Taking advantage of the free time before the new year, Chai Ren and Zheng Lin discussed it and decided to bring their families over to mooch off Tang Qing for a meal; everyone would be busy after the new year, and this year, Tang Qing had no plans to hold an annual meeting.
This would count as a shareholders’ dinner.
"Tang Qing, this move of yours is pretty bold."
While eating, Chai Ren suddenly remarked.
Tang Qing feigned ignorance, "What move?"
"Stop pretending with me. That steel factory of yours. I didn’t expect you to reach such an agreement with Waite. A whole country promoting you, setting aside an industrial zone for you—your clout shocked us all."
Chai Ren was full of admiration.
Tang Qing had arrived in Congo Gold later than him, but when it came to networks, he couldn’t compare.
"Not at all, it’s just that Waite wanted to do something tangible, and I happened to be there at the right time," Tang Qing said with a smile.
Chai Ren asked, "Is there any good business over there? I’d like to join the buzz."
"Mining business isn’t making enough profit for you?" Tang Qing retorted.
Chai Ren sighed.
"But I haven’t earned much in terms of connections. The people I’ve been giving gifts to for mining deals are just superficial acquaintances, unlike you, who’s connected with Waite, on good terms with Sadoke, and able to peacefully coexist with the surrounding tribes."
All of this.
If it hadn’t really happened,
He would have had a hard time believing it.
Tang Qing had fully embraced ’uniting all the forces that can be united,’ balancing the interests of all parties so well that everyone gathered around the steel factory, forming a community of shared interests.
If it had been him in charge,
He definitely wouldn’t have been able to achieve such a perfect balance, nor would he have had Tang Qing’s admirable ’not planning to make a profit’ mentality.
Since he didn’t have that ability,
He might as well follow behind and enjoy the spoils.
Chai Ren realized that Tang Qing was serious.
Tang Qing thought for a moment.
"Chai Dashao, the market in Congo Gold is still in the cultivation stage. I think you know this, and next, I plan to use steel to break into the markets of the thirteen African countries surrounding it."
"They have nothing, the people have no money, and they lack any skills. It’s uncertain whether the mass consumer market will pick up within ten years, so you must start with government projects."
Chai Ren nodded continuously.
This was indeed the case.
Without a certain level of socioeconomic development, it’s hard for the consumer market to grow significantly.
"But you need to understand that their countries are poor too, the government doesn’t have much money to offer, and a lot are still relying on international aid. Therefore, that little bit of government funds is fiercely competitive terrain."
"So, wanting to make quick or big money is impossible. This is a market that requires us to cultivate first and then harvest. Anyone looking to make a quick buck will only end up with a pittance in the end."
Tang Qing looked at Chai Ren: "Chai Dashao, do you dare to go for something big?"
Chai Ren was taken aback.
Big?
How big?
He suddenly felt scared, knowing that if Tang Qing, at his level, said it was big, then it was definitely a business prospect that could frighten him.
"Let’s hear it first," Chai Ren asked weakly.
"Electricity," Tang Qing uttered two words.
Without electricity,
you’re essentially out of touch with "demand", just like the villas currently being marketed there. Without the power plant near the steel factory providing electricity for the various tribes, the villas’ appeal would be greatly reduced.
Air conditioning.
Refrigerators.
TVs.
Lighting.
Without these,
the "villa", a standardized commodity, simply has no space to survive. But with electricity, people will develop "new needs" for various electrical appliances, living conditions, and so on.
Do Africans really prefer to live in wooden houses?
Do Africans really not like air conditioning?
Nonsense.
It’s just that the local infrastructure is not adequately provided.
With roads, people will want to buy vehicles, be they two-wheeled or four-wheeled. With base stations, local mobile phone sales will flourish, and with electricity, all other demands will begin to sprout.
"It really is big," Chai Ren said with a bitter smile.
Investing in electricity infrastructure takes how much money? He knew that less than half of the entire African population had access to electricity, with five hundred million living in no electricity zones, the market indeed was vast.
"If you don’t do it, then I’ll do it with someone else," Tang Qing said very seriously.
Chai Ren hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Are you sure they will pay for the electricity?"
Tang Qing shook his head.
"First of all, in doing business in Africa, don’t charge individuals—it’ll be very troublesome. Instead, adopt a tribal approach, so the coverage of the power grid has to focus on large tribes during the initial phase."
"Large tribes are never too poor, there’s always something that can be exchanged, and the price difference in these things may bring in more profit than selling electricity. And for those who really have nothing, shouldn’t the government subsidize a bit?"
"If there’s no cash for subsidies, can it be converted into debt? We could use debt to offset taxation, offset the raw materials for power generation, offset the purchase funds for your acquisition of other minerals?"
"So that’s what you’re aiming at," Chai Ren realized.
Just like with the steel factory, switch the method but not the medicine. If the main business doesn’t make money, I can scoop it back from other places. If I can’t recoup it in the short term, I’ll settle it as property.
A substantial initial investment.
Later, it only requires constant internal rolling.
One day.
These settled properties will lose the prefix ’settled’ and become liquid assets, and during the period of asset rolling, one can earn a reputation like Tang Qing and establish contacts with authorities in different countries.
At the same time, it could also lead by example, expanding sidelines and building a solid alliance of interests within that country.
As a result,
the derived benefits are too plentiful.
For example, if Tang Qing continues to maintain his relationship with Waite, securing minerals in Congo Gold would be cheaper and easier compared to others, saving a substantial sum.
Looking at Tang Qing,
Chai Ren didn’t know what to say.
A lone wolf is not scary.
It’s the wolf pack that knows how to band together that’s truly frightening.
