Even though Japan has a temperate oceanic monsoon climate, winter snow falls in this season.

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

Goldman Sachs Japan Investment Company was approved to be established a week ago, but according to corporate investment regulations, it must have a Japanese partner, two managing directors and some Japanese employees.

In addition to business cooperation with major life insurance companies and urban banks, President Conn Brady personally participated in recruitment matters.

It is the job-hunting season for fresh graduates.

As a top American investment bank, Goldman Sachs has a great reputation internationally. When the recruitment news came out, many people sent in job application letters.

Hitotsubashi, University of Tokyo, Keio University, Waseda University, Kyoto University.

Among the many job application letters, there were applicants from various universities. After the first round of personnel screening, Conn Brady, in line with the idea of ​​"better to have nothing than to have someone of poor quality", sent a second interview invitation to the person he liked.

They were all elites from major universities. The second round of interviews went very smoothly and they received all the desired responses. Conn Brady then invited them to a new interview.

However, the other person's eyes were strange.

He didn't look happy at all when he received the invitation for the final interview. His eyes looked like he was looking at an idiot.

What happened? Conn Brady didn't know what the other person's eyes were as he watched the job seeker he was satisfied with leave.

But what happened next was even more bizarre.

Young people who were clearly looking forward to working at Goldman Sachs looked very strange after receiving the interview invitation letter.

The original respect, excitement, and excitement suddenly changed, revealing an indescribable weirdness.

One! Two!

After receiving more than a dozen people, Conn Brady felt confused, angry and frustrated at being discriminated against.

Although these job seekers didn't say anything, their eyes couldn't lie. That look was definitely full of discrimination and contempt.

As a Wall Street elite, he is arguably the top elite in the entire human race. Suddenly encountering such a strange look, Conn Brady was filled with anger but didn't know how to vent it.

After these job seekers changed their faces, they didn't say anything, but just said they would consider it, and were very polite, leaving people helpless.

Damn it!

What exactly happened?

Why would you look at me with such a strange look when you come out to look for a job?! I was completely confused.

Conn Brady finished interviewing the last job applicant and went to the restroom.

happen.

Several job seekers seemed to know each other and were gathered together talking about something.

"Pinggu-kun, do you want to come tomorrow?"

"Of course they won't come. Aren't these Americans too stingy? They don't even give us travel expenses. What future does this kind of company have?"

"Yeah! The strength of the top investment banks on Wall Street is too weak! I thought they would at least prepare $10,000 for travel expenses, but I didn't expect it to be so bad!"

"And it's a three-year employment contract. Doesn't that mean you can be fired at any time? Can't the top investment banks on Wall Street even afford a lifetime employment system?"

"My friend also said that he received an invitation from Qualcomm to work in Silicon Valley. Wall Street is so rubbish, what kind of treatment can a place like Silicon Valley give? I must persuade him!"

"It's rare to find a company that doesn't even provide travel expenses these days. I don't know how such a company survives. Don't Americans think such a crappy company is rubbish?"

“.”

With a sarcastic laugh.

Coming from the bathroom.

But Conn Brady couldn't understand what the other party was saying.

But there is no doubt that at this time, the other party's sarcastic tone must be related to the change in attitude of these job seekers before and after.

Damn it!

Is it possible for a part-time worker in Japan to laugh at his boss? That doesn't make sense!

With such doubts.

The next day arrived.

However, none of the guys who said they would consider it showed up.

As a top investment bank on Wall Street, it feels terrible that we can't even recruit people.

"Damn it. Are those bastards here to tease us on purpose?"

Everyone present looked at each other in bewilderment, no one knew how this could have happened.

Logically speaking, the Japanese are very polite, and those people shouldn't be rude in such an important matter as an interview.

With such doubts, assistant Charlie King said: "Is the interview process in Japan different from that in the United States? Or, are there some things we don't understand?"

"Interview session?"

Conn Brady frowned slightly. Different countries have different cultures and workplace cultures. Maybe this is really possible: "Go call George to ask about the situation. Damn it, this is a waste of our time!"

George, whose real name is Masao Igarashi, is a translator for a financial company that cooperates with Goldman Sachs and is also a nominal partner of Goldman Sachs.

I received a call and came to the president's office.

Conn Brady asked his own questions alone in frustration.

Masao Igarashi's expression became quite strange, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth seemed to be twitching.

"Maybe it's because we didn't pay for the travel expenses!" Igarashi Masao couldn't bear to embarrass his boss, so he said very tactfully.

Conn Brady looked stunned: "Walter?"

"Well, this is how it is. In Japan, when a company wants to hire an employee, whether they accept the employee or not, they should give some travel expenses to show respect. The more they give, the more it reflects the company's strength. Even factories will give around 2,000, so."

"Travel expenses? What is this?"

"It's all about the travel expenses, the cost of the ride, and the time wasted for the interview!"

"Walter?"

Conn Brady was petrified on the spot, his eyes almost popped out of his head in fear.

In his heart, what he hated most were Japanese taxis.

Damn robber.

The starting price is 10,000 yen per kilometer, and if you run any distance, it may be 30,000 or 50,000 yen.

What’s even more abominable is that if you want to take a taxi at night, you may not be able to get one even if you spend 30,000 or 50,000 yuan, and those taxi drivers will look at you with disgust, as if your parents have died.

Nothing could be more fucked up than this.

Even on Wall Street, a hundred dollars is more than enough to take a ride to New York.

In Japan, a short distance costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

It can be said that in David Matthew Brady's heart, the most painful thing is trucks, and the thing he hates the most is taxis.

But that’s not the point! Why is job hunting so hard?

I don’t provide any value to the company and I’m not a company employee, so why should I pay me?

"Damn it. What kind of rule is this? We're not sure if they'll be admitted, so do we have to reimburse them for the taxi fare?"

"Sir, you misunderstood what I meant. This is not reimbursement!"

"What is that?"

"It's an unspoken rule. This not only reflects the company's respect for talent, but also demonstrates the company's strength, which will allow talent to choose to join the company."

"That only means that the travel expenses are not enough. If they are very important talents, you can arrange for them to travel to Hawaii and send some models to seduce them."

“.”

FUCK.

Conn Brady's face turned pale.

Is this a recruitment for a boss or an employee? Going to Hawaii to find a young model? I haven't been there for a long time! But the legal ratio of Japanese employees cannot be violated, so Conn Brady could only hold back his anger and ask, "How much travel expenses should we give them to make them feel respected?"

"About 200,000 yen for a normal company."

Two hundred thousand dollars? More than a thousand dollars?

Damn it.

I get paid for an interview, so why do I have to run back and forth like a dog during an interview?

"Then you can arrange this matter. We must recruit people as soon as possible. Our time is precious."

"Sir, two hundred thousand is enough for an ordinary company. But in the financial industry, if you want real talent, you should prepare at least five hundred thousand!"

"Oh my god! Four thousand dollars? What if they take the travel expenses and don't come?"

"After all, there is no employment relationship. If this happens, it only means that the other party is still considering other options."

"FUCK. Doesn't that mean I can keep going out like this to get travel expenses?"

"In theory, that's true."

“.”

Oh shit!

Are these little Japanese people deliberately bullying us Americans? How could there be such absurd workplace rules?

However, as a partner of the company, George couldn't lie about this matter. Conn Brady could only pinch his nose and said, "Then George, you arrange it!"

"this."

"Any other questions?"

"I'm afraid that such a contract will not be accepted. Although there is no clear legal requirement for lifetime employment, if it is not lifetime employment, I don't think anyone will come. After all, all companies are like this!"

"Lifetime employment? Are you kidding? How can there be such an unreasonable request! If the guy we recruited is a loser and can't help the company make money, do we still want to keep such a loser?"

"this."

“.”

A few minutes later.

George left the office.

Conn Brady was like a woman who had been raped and could no longer hold back his temper and started cursing.

"John, what kind of broken rules are these?"

"Oh my god! How could there be such an unreasonable unspoken rule as lifetime employment?"

"If you're unlucky and recruit some idiots, won't you have to support them forever?"

“.”

To be honest.

Worked at Goldman Sachs on Wall Street.

It is a pride that most Americans share.

But at this moment, all the pride was torn to pieces.

Taking a taxi is frowned upon! Shopping is frowned upon.

I wanted to go out to a nightclub to find a girl, but I was told I wasn't a member and was refused entry! Now even hiring people is frowned upon! These damn Japanese are showing off their wealth all the time! After cursing for several minutes, Conn Brady still couldn't swallow this breath: "John, how can these damn Japanese be so exaggerated? Not only do they have to pay travel expenses for the interview, but there are no restrictions at all. How can there be such a damn rule?"

"I want to know too, but it seems that we have to re-evaluate Japanese companies!"

“.”

New York.

Manhattan.

The howling wind, mixed with heavy snow, enveloped the entire New York in a white world.

Warren Buffett tightened his coat, held down his hat, and pushed open the closed door of the villa.

The sexy housekeeper took his coat and put it away, and John Weinberg greeted Buffett and invited him to the fireplace.

A maid brought hot coffee.

Buffett took a sip and said, "What a damn bad weather! My hat almost got blown off on the way here!"

"But this kind of weather is more beneficial to us, isn't it?" John Weinberg said with a smile.

In 1929, Goldman Sachs was still a very conservative family business. Its leader, Vidal Keynes, wanted to develop Goldman Sachs from a single bill business into a comprehensive investment bank.

The first step he took was to introduce the stock business and establish Goldman Sachs Stock Trading Company. Under his fanatical promotion, Goldman Sachs entered and rapidly expanded businesses similar to today's mutual funds at the rate of establishing a trust investment company every day, and the stock issuance volume expanded by US$100 million in a short period of time.

The company once developed very rapidly, and its stock price quickly rose from a few dollars per share to more than $100, and finally to more than $200.

But the good times did not last long. The global financial crisis of 1929 and the crash of the Wall Street stock market caused the stock price to plummet to more than one dollar, causing the company to lose 92% of its original investment. The company's reputation also plummeted on Wall Street, becoming a laughing stock and a synonym for mistake on Wall Street. The company was on the verge of bankruptcy.

At the critical moment, Goldman Sachs received the support of a congressman and was able to go bankrupt and escape the crisis.

This person was Buffett’s father. As a result, Buffett became a senior partner of Goldman Sachs at an early age and had a deep friendship with John Weinberg for decades.

After decades of mutual cooperation and understanding, and having the latest government information, who would not know what the other party means in such a relationship?

It’s such a cold day.

Prices in the Soviet Union skyrocketed, supplies were in short supply, and the price of vodka had risen by who knows how much. Although the ruble remained strong against foreign currencies, how long could it last?

Without the containment of the East, Japan would not be so powerful! Buffett also smiled: "That kid Conn called back and is still complaining. It seems that it is time!"

"I talked to the chairman of the Securities Commission yesterday, and the earliest I can do that is January 12."

“.”

Right now.

The other side of the Pacific Ocean.

Nao Nagano was sitting in the Kansai headquarters meeting room, listening to the ridicule and sarcasm of Tsuchiya and his group, and raised his eyebrows slightly.

After the New Year.

The stock market did not fall as quickly as expected.

Instead, it fluctuates at a high level after rebounding.

That's why.

The asset management company made considerable profits from selling Goldman Sachs' put warrants.

As the original opponent, Tsuchiya's lackeys spared no effort to mock him: "If you don't listen to the old man, you will suffer the consequences! Nagano, now you know how valuable the experience of the predecessors is?!"

"It is precisely because of the valuable experience of our predecessors that the company can become strong. You are a guy who has no experience in talking, so please reflect on this!"

(End of this chapter)