Chapter 396 - There isnt much difference between restaurant and newspaper (1/2)
”.....”
Utaha's father observed Haru for a while and could see that this boy was serious. ”Really?”
”Yeah.” Haru nodded and didn't say much.
Utaha's father only realized that this boy was wearing Hyakkou Private Academy and knew that the majority of the students who were studying in that school were coming from rich families. He wasn't sure what to say, but decided to say, ”Is the parent's of your home really that rich that they let you be willful to buy a newspaper company?”
Haru shook his head and said, ”I don't have parents. My parents died a few years ago.”
”...” Utaha's father blinked his eyes and said, ”I am sorry. I am quite insensible.”
”No problem,” Haru answered easily.
”Then how can you buy a newspaper company? Is it an inheritance? You shouldn't play too much with that money. You need to study hard, get into a good university, then work for a famous company,” Utaha's father said, giving him advice.
This kind of advice is normal after Japan's bubble economy in 1990s made everyone in this country become very pessimistic about their lives.
”No, it isn't from an inheritance. I have done business and my decision to enter a newspaper's business isn't something willful,” Haru said.
”But isn't it better for you to study harder then work for a famous company? Business is very risky.” Utaha's father didn't give up and wanted to give him more advice. He knew that this guy might become his son-in-law and he didn't want him to waste his money.
”Business is risky, but the return is high. I am young and I am not afraid of anything. If the business fails then it fails, but I have prepared a plan for the newspaper to become successful,” Haru said.
Utaha's father looked at Haru for a while and asked, ”You have done business?”
”Yes, it's a bakery known as Fleur De Lapin, have you heard of it?” Haru asked.
Utaha's father nodded and said, ”I know that place, so that place is yours?”
”Yeah.” Haru nodded.
”But the food and beverage business is different from the media business, especially the newspaper,” Utaha's father said.
Haru shook his head and said, ”No, there is not so much difference between them.”
”Ho? Can you explain it to me?” Utaha's father frowned but asked since he knew that the view of this young man was different from a lot of people.
”To make a popular restaurant you need to have good food, then to make a popular newspaper you need good content, isn't that easy?” Haru said.
”.......”
Utaha's father slapped his forehead and said, ”But to make that good content is hard!”
Haru shook his head and said, ”16 years old young man has decided to buy a Tokyo Shimbun, isn't that big news?”
”........”
Utaha's father opened his mouth wide when he heard it. He wasn't sure why, but he felt that he was very old now. He crossed his arms while in deep thought then said, ”That's possible.”
”I am also a writer. I have prepared a novel that is to be published in that newspaper,” Haru said.
”........”
Utaha's father seemed to realize that this young man wasn't playing. He thought for a while and said, ”But to buy the newspaper company isn't cheap, you need a lot of money to do that.” He wasn't sure why he had given up his plan to advise him to stop buying a newspaper company.
”Can you give an estimated price?” Haru asked.
”Which newspaper? Depending on the scale of the newspaper the price is different. If it's something, the cheapest one is a newspaper in the countryside,” Utaha's father said.
Haru shook his head and said, ”How about Tokyo Shimbun? I want a newspaper that has an influence on a large number of people.” He didn't mind having a small newspaper, but for his first step, the medium one was good.
”My previous company?” Utaha's father twitched his lips and thought for a while. ”It should be around 100 to 200 million yen.”
”Cheap!” Haru couldn't help but exclaim.
”.......”
”Cheap?” Utaha's father didn't know what to say at that moment.
Haru nodded and said, ”If it that much then I have it, but can you help me to lower the price?”
”Do you want me to help you?” Utaha's father asked.