257 King Lacquy (1/2)
”What's so urgent? Why is he calling me over now?” Chen Fan parked his car and walked up to Zhang Xueyang, who had yet to notice his presence.
”Ha!”
The hair on Zhang Xue Yang's arms stood on end, as he was surprised by Chen Fan's appearance. He stroked his chest exaggeratedly and said, ”Come on, let's go inside and have a chat!”
The two walked by the bar counter and conveniently ordered the highest quality green tea. They then entered a private room. Even before the tea was served, Zhang Xueyang started chattering away.
”Have you watched the news recently?”
”News?” Chen Fan did not have time to watch the news.
Zhang Xueyang suspiciously moved his face closer and said, ”Yesterday, the European Union and the Republic of South Africa reached a $10 billion arms procurement agreement. It includes fifty Rafale jets, two corvettes, an armored car, a minesweeper vehicle and more. They also lifted three bans on technology that was previously restricted from exporting.”
”What does this have to do with me? You are not trying to incite me to rob the arms cargo ship, are you?” Chen Fan gave him a scornful glance. ”I haven't lived enough yet! I don't want to die young!”
”Let me finish.” Zhang Xueyang popped a cigarette into his mouth. ”These offers come with a cost. Just this morning, the European Union suddenly flipped out. They are now opposing the export of rare earths in China. Alongside South Africa, they adopted measures to set a quota on the five rare metals that our country imports. Metal iridium, osmium, chromium, cobalt and also metallic palladium. My old man purposely hit me up and told me to hoard the five rare metals from now on, in order to prevent our having a short supply in the future. After all, my family is involved in processing precision spare parts, which requires the use of rare metals often.”
”So, you were looking for me today because you want me to get you some metallic palladium from South Africa?” Chen Fan took a sip of tea. ”Isn't the relationship between South Africa and our country good? Why would they suddenly issue this export restriction?”
”We'll have to ask South Africa's President Jacob about this. I guess they are probably not happy with China's export of rare earths!” Zhang Xueyang thought aloud, ”I think that, before this restriction to China is lifted, the domestic price of the metallic palladium will surely skyrocket. This is because it is different from the other metals that can be massively imported!”
”Don't you have a way to get metallic palladium? If so, bring back a few tons! I can guarantee that it will pay more than property speculation!”
”Bring it back and sell it to you?” asked Chen Fan.
”Yes! Yes!” Zhang Xueyang nodded his head eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice. ”Unfortunately, I can only take 20 million from you. But, I can help you to contact other buyers. Moreover, I promise to promote the sale of it, as much as the amount you bring in!”
”How about 50 tons?”
”What did you say?” Zhang Xueyang blinked his eyes, suspecting that something was wrong with his hearing.
”How. About. 50. Tons?!” Chen Fan yelled loudly, careful to emphasize every single word, even with pauses in between them!
”Do you know what 50 tons means?” Zhang Xueyang's facial muscles twitched unnaturally. He was filled with indignation and said, ”Fifty tons represents 50,000 kilograms and 50 million grams. Let's say we take 200 yuan per gram, that's not too much, right? After two months, it would definitely rise up to this price, then 50 million grams would be equivalent to 10 billion yuan!”
Chen Fan responded, excited. ”Think of 10 billion, bro! If we roll out the list of wealthy people under the age of 30, do you think that we can find someone who is younger and richer than even you?”
Zhang Xueyang muttered dispiritedly, ”If you look at the richest people on the Hurun Rich List, which one of them did not work hard for half a lifetime and experience numerous hardships to get to where they are today? Now, look at yourself! You only have that small company that runs fixed production. You can't even make it into the top one thousand list in China. But, the speed of banknotes entering your pocket is faster than the banknote printing factory can keep up with, even were they were working overtime!”
”You are embarrassing me with your words!” Chen Fan put on an 'I am an honest guy' look, then said, ”You haven't given me an answer yet. Can 50 tons of metallic palladium be sold?”
”Of course! If you can bring back another 50 tons, I can confidently assure you that all will be sold out!”
”Selling it at 10 yuan per catty?” asked Chen Fan, wanting further peace of mind and clarification.
”Do I look like someone who brags emptily?” Faced with Chen Fan's doubts, Zhang Xueyang said with his eyes squinted. ”When the metallic palladiums are here, I can bring in the buyer and even guarantee that the payments are super quick!”
”Li Jiacheng?”
”Even Bill Gates is not as rich as him!” Zhang Xueyang smiled.
Not caring about Zhang Xueyang's being secretive about who the buyer was, Chen Fan returned to Rork Island the next day. There, he saw that Argyll and Barru had returned in triumph with their spoils of war.
Their prey was a type of fledgling that resembled a sparrow but was the size of a sheep. It's body was covered with thick and stubbly feathers. Barru tied it up like a sticky rice dumpling, then carried it on his shoulder.
”I got the ship for you!” Chen Fan pointed to the black hovercraft behind him. ”Can you see it? It is this big black thing. As long as there is enough fuel, it can sail for six days straight. When you return, I will refuel it again.”
”Six days?” The corner of Argyll's mouth formed into a surprised circle, as he became lost in thought.
Why does this strange looking ship not have a sail? Are we supposed to paddle it?
”This is the charm of technology! Do you understand?” Chen Fan cast aside Barru, who was in a demented state, then brought Argyll into the cockpit. He guided Argyll to start the hovercraft, them showed him how to use the navigation instruments onboard.
This hovercraft was stolen from a shipyard in Japan, when Chen Fan was in control of the electric eel. At first, he wanted to take a cargo ship from his shipyard, but the huge size of the electric eel made it impossible to carry. Hence, he had to change his target to a hovercraft, which was smaller and also conveniently foldable.
This hovercraft was equipped with two high speed diesel engines and an open cargo. After it was folded up, to use it as normal again, one simply had to hoist it onto the sand beach and open the self-loading air pump. It could then be turned into a 300-ton ship in less than 20 minutes!
”I can't teach you anything that is too complicated, since I don't think you can learn as well as most. So, I will only teach you some simple driving skills.” Chen Fan pushed the red start button that was next to the rudder, then waited for the propeller engine at the tail to groan to life. He then shouted, ”Pay attention to my position!”
Vroom, Vroom, Vroom!
Following Chen Fan's hand movement, the hovercraft's external propeller suddenly accelerated. The airflow that was generated by the propellers was moving at a rate of more than 70 rpm per second. In an instant, the sand on the beach was flying everywhere!
......