Chapter 237 Sounding the Alarm
Not only India is short of US dollars, but Southeast University is also short of it.
Although the exchange rate unification reform this year has eased the situation.
However, according to regulations, enterprises and individuals must sell their foreign exchange earnings to designated banks, which will then centrally manage them.
To put it bluntly, the foreign exchange quota is still not freely disposable and is far from being wealthy.
When they heard that Ashish paid for two black-and-white TV production lines with US dollars, the manufacturers who were worried about where to discard their old products were overjoyed.
They came to the door one after another and served Ashish and others with fine wine and food, just to get rid of the burdens in the factory as soon as possible.
The initial bid of $300,000 went straight to $200,000 because too many competitors joined in.
In the end, the relevant departments could not stand it any longer and coordinated the transaction.
A TV factory in Shanghai got the upper hand by owning two production lines that are 80% new and in good condition, at a discount of $450,000.
In line with the principle that this is the first transaction and there is always a long way to go, they also gave Ashish two sets of spare parts for repairs.
Of course, with Ron's approval, Ashish also reciprocated on behalf of Sur Electrical Appliances.
They signed a contract with several TV parts factories in Dongda, the main content of which was to purchase certain core components.
According to the agreement, in the next two years, Suer Electric will import 200,000 cathode ray tubes and circuit boards from parts factories such as Hongguang and Shangdian.
There is no way. India cannot produce core components such as display tubes and can only import them.
However, the price quoted by the University of Tokyo is very cheap, 20 US dollars per 14-inch cathode ray tube, equivalent to 172 yuan, or about 620 rupees.
When Ron got a call back from Ashish, he thought he had misheard.
He had consulted the international market about things like cathode ray tubes.
The same 14-inch cathode ray tube is priced at US$100 in Europe and the United States, while it is cheaper in Japan and South Korea, at US$80.
The price offered by the University of Tokyo is only one-fourth or one-fifth of theirs, which is definitely a bargain.
What else is there to say? Just buy it!
In fact, they didn’t know that the manufacturers from the University of Tokyo were also nervous after quoting their prices.
Because domestic production of this thing is oversupplied and on the verge of being eliminated, black and white TVs are still sold in rural areas, and urban residents have long ignored them.
The cost of producing a 14-inch cathode ray tube was only about 100 yuan, and they sold it to Indians for 172 yuan, which was really a huge profit.
Then a strange scene occurred. Ashish wanted to bargain but didn't dare to, and the manufacturer from Dongda wanted to make concessions but was afraid of appearing weak.
When you use straw to hit a wolf, both ends are afraid.
Finally, Ashish tentatively asked them to bear the shipping costs and subsequent training costs, and the Dongda manufacturer immediately agreed.
Well, one bought a good quality and low price product, and the other accidentally opened up a channel to earn foreign exchange, and everyone was happy.
The atmosphere during the signing was extremely enthusiastic, just like when NEC signed the contract in Mumbai.
Ron was extremely satisfied with the deal; he had found the secret to wealth.
The main cost of a television is the cathode ray tube, which accounts for about 30%-50% of the total cost. India can produce other parts by itself.
After taking into account customs duties, other accessories, labor, and electricity costs, the total cost for Sur Electric to produce a 14-inch black-and-white TV is approximately 1,700 rupees.
Damn, now it’s better to buy it if it’s really made.
The price of black and white TV sets in India is not less than 8,000 rupees. How can this be possible?
For a moment, Ron even considered becoming a comprador in the future.
Dongda's products are completely dumped in India and have no competitors at all.
Unfortunately, the comprador’s road will not last long. After two years when India completely opens its borders, more and more people will set their sights on this market.
Without technological advantages and unable to keep up with the pace of iteration, being eliminated is inevitable.
Fortunately, there is no need to consider this issue for the time being. Ron can start with the comprador.
The total cost of 1,700 rupees is a complete blow to the other two Indian counterparts.
However, this matter needs to be kept low-key and not publicized as we did when we cooperated with NEC.
Anyone who understands the relationship between India and the University of Tokyo will understand.
Ron could only enter the village quietly without firing a gun.
With NEC providing cover in front, it wasn't a big problem.
According to Ashish, the production line from Dongda is expected to arrive at the port in a month, which is incredibly fast.
Ron was very excited; he wanted to see with his own eyes the TV with the Sul logo coming off the production line.
However, a call from his hometown in Uttar Pradesh forced him to temporarily put aside his affairs in Mumbai, as there was trouble at the mine.
Muna now feels like he is living in heaven. Not only can he eat curry grilled chicken every now and then, but he also has time to read!
What a luxury! It is a privilege only for rich people and gentlemen.
Now Muna also has this privilege, which is a gift from his master.
The several books placed on his bedside are proof of this, covering everything from Indian encyclopedias to introductions to social customs.
Muna cherishes these books as if they were rupees.
But he usually doesn't read in the house because Doggie always makes sarcastic remarks.
Dorje wanted to leave the mine and return to Varanasi or to stay with his master Ratan, but he was never able to do so.
He took out all his anger on Muna. They lived in the same room, only one meter apart, but they had never exchanged a friendly word.
Not even a "hello" or "how's your mother?" or anything like that.
The first thing Dorje did every morning after getting up was to bow and pray to the no less than twenty images of gods he had posted on the wall, chanting "Om, Om, Om" under his breath.
At this point, he would glance at Muna out of the corner of his eye, as if to say, “Don’t you say your prayers? What are you? A traitor in disguise, a herdsman?”
Muna was so angry that one evening he went to the market and bought all the idols of Lord Rama and Monkey God he could find, about twenty-four or twenty-five.
He put up all the idols inside the house, so that he was on par with Dorje in terms of the number of idols he owned.
Every morning, after bowing to these great gods, they both prayed loudly, trying to drown out the other's voice.
After persisting for a few days, Muna realized in time that there was no need to waste time with that guy.
Wouldn’t it be better to read more books instead of wasting time?
So under Doji's smug look, Muna no longer competed with him to see who was more loyal to the gods.
Muna got up very early. Before the sun came up, the roosters were crowing like crazy in the village.
He carefully left the house, took his books, and climbed up the hill near the mine.
The sun was about to rise, and the pond at the foot of the mountain was shimmering. Occasionally, a stone would roll down from the top of the mountain, tumbling and roaring into the pond.
The stone that fell into the water was half submerged, its surface smooth and moist, like a large pebble.
The surface of the pond was full of lotus and water lilies, and the ripples between the flowers were sparkling with silver light.
As usual, the village buffaloes waded in the pond, chewing on the water lilies, and their noses made a big V-shaped wave wherever they went.
The sun slowly rose, casting its light on the buffalo, on Muna, and on the land.
Muna looked up and saw a stone wall with rows of lookout holes that looked like bright red lines at sunrise.
That’s right, there is an ancient castle on the top of the hill, and the villagers prefer to call it the Black Castle.
It is said that the Black Castle has a history of at least several hundred years, but no one knows who built it.
Maybe it was the Ottomans, maybe it was the Persians, maybe it was the British, or some other foreigner who had ruled India.
Muna curled his lips in disdain. He had read history and understood that India had never been truly free.
At first the herdsmen had the final say, and then it was the British's turn to order them around.
The British left in the forties, but only an idiot would believe that India was truly free.
Now the Black Castle has long been abandoned and a group of monkeys have taken over its throne. Apart from shepherds who sometimes graze their sheep nearby, no one has ever been there.
The closer we got, the more distinct the monkeys' squeaking became. Their nimble figures leaped up and down the wall, sometimes fighting each other, like dead Black Castle warriors possessed, wanting to renew their decisive battle.
Muna climbed to the top of the hill, passed through the gate, and entered the Black Fort.
He looked around and saw only a few dilapidated walls and a group of frightened monkeys looking at him from afar.
The rocks in the pond at the foot of the mountain probably fell from the stone walls of Black Castle.
Ignoring the monkey's squeaking threats, Muna climbed to an exposed platform on top of the Black Fort.
The light here is just right, without any obstructions, and there is a quaint stone table left.
It is Muna's desk, sturdy and durable, and has been preserved for hundreds of years.
Muna likes to read here without being disturbed by anyone, and it is also a perfect lookout post.
As long as you stand up and walk to the stone wall, you can overlook the mine and cement factory site at the foot of the mountain, as well as the small village not far away.
Muna saw the tower of the temple near the village, the small market, the glittering stinking ditch, the beasts' mansions, and his own home.
There was a small black dot at the doorstep, and Muna knew it was a buffalo. It was simply the most beautiful sight in the world.
He leaned out of the castle and wanted to shout loudly.
Well, he didn't do that because he was afraid that the people from the mine would come up to check.
Hey, Muna, who was about to turn around and go back to read, was suddenly stunned. A row of small black dots came from the distance.
Coming from the south, there were cars and pedestrians, a huge procession.
Muna was surprised that there were very few outsiders coming to Kana Village, especially those from the south.
We are used to seeing workers coming from Varanasi in the north, but why the south?
Muna squinted his eyes and looked at him for a while, then his expression suddenly changed.
Oh no, it must be someone from Mirzapur.
That King of Mirzapur, Kalimbai! Only he could mobilize so many people.
Muna ran down the mountain without even leaving the book on the stone table.
Muna kept in mind what his master had told him and kept a close eye on any movement near Kana Village.
He ran so fast, like a soldier charging down from Black Castle, that he almost couldn't stop and fell into the pond when passing by it.
"Doji! Doji! Hurry! Kalinbai's people are coming!" Muna shouted.
The workers who had just started working in the mine looked confused and had no idea what he was shouting.
Until Doji heard the news and came out, and struggled to ring the bronze bell under the eaves.
The mine was awakened and became noisy.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
