In Naples, Italy, the night deepens. A tipsy Fang Lang sits in the living room of Lilith's house, holding a cup of coffee brewed by Lilith's mother. Lilith is fidgeting beside him, while Lilith's father and mother sit across the table, looking at Fang Lang as if he were a son-in-law.
This situation made Lilith a little overwhelmed, not understanding how things could have progressed to this point. And her sister behind the door also stuck her head out to secretly observe the strange atmosphere at the table.
Fang Lang calmly took a sip of coffee and spoke first: "Auntie, the coffee you make is really delicious. I hope I can have the opportunity to drink such delicious coffee more often in the future."
Lilith's father's eyes narrowed after hearing this. Lilith's mother smiled and said, "Haha...really? As long as you like it, come over often when you have the chance. I'll go to the market tomorrow to see if there's any coffee left. I'll buy some and store it for you to drink."
It was obvious that Lilith's mother admired Fang Lang's calm temperament. It was like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law and liking him more and more.
Fang Lang was stunned when he heard the answer from Lilith's mother: "Is the supply of coffee in the market tight now?"
"That's right! We don't know when the war will end, and now our family business has gone bankrupt. There is a shortage of everything in the market. If it continues like this, no one will be able to make a living." Lilith's mother heard Fang Lang discussing the supply of goods in the market with her and started complaining directly.
Lilith's father, who was standing beside him, coughed twice and said, "Cough! Cough! Why are you saying these things in front of the child? Fang Lang, I call you Fang, you don't mind, do you?"
"Of course, uncle, you can call me anything." Seeing that Lilith's father was about to start speaking, Fang Lang quickly sat up straight and responded seriously.
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"I see you are wearing a military uniform. Are you an American soldier?" Lilith's father obviously didn't recognize Fang Lang's armband.
"Uncle, I am now a second lieutenant in the logistics department of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force Navy. My specific job is the captain of a transport ship."
Fang Lang's answer startled Lilith who was standing beside him. "Aren't you an infantryman of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force? How did you become a transport captain of the navy?"
"Haha... I have to thank John for his help. He took the time to explain it to you in detail. Anyway, now I don't have to go to the front line and fight the Germans."
Lilith's father was obviously relieved when he heard that Fang Lang no longer had to fight the Germans on the front line. He whispered, "That's good, that's good."
Obviously, he was worried that if he died in the war or came back with missing limbs after being with Lilith, it would affect his future life with Lilith. They didn't know that Fang Lang and Lilith were not boyfriend and girlfriend yet! It was just an accidental encounter, and he happened to see it. However, Fang Lang was happy to see this beautiful misunderstanding.
"My aunt just said that the family business went bankrupt. I wonder what kind of business my uncle used to be in!" Fang Lang is looking for someone who can help him manage the Italian company. If Lilith's father has had such experience, it would be perfect.
"It's a small business, mainly selling some imported mechanical equipment. With the outbreak of the war, sea transportation was cut off and the business could not continue. Now we can only live off our savings at home. So, your aunt will have some complaints. I hope you don't mind." Lilith's father said a little embarrassedly.
Hearing the answer from Lilith's father, Fang Lang was overjoyed. Isn't this just like someone sending you a pillow when you want to sleep? If Lilith's father became the president of his Italian branch, wouldn't it be easier for him to pursue Lilith in the future?
"Oh! So uncle doesn't have a specific job now, right?"
Fang Lang's words obviously made Lilith's father blush and look a little embarrassed. Fang Lang realized that what he said was inappropriate and quickly said, "I mean, I have a job here, I wonder if uncle is interested."
When they heard Fang Lang's words, their eyes lit up and they all looked at Fang Lang. Lilith's mother was the first to speak: "Oh! Fang, is this true? I wonder what kind of job it is!"
"It's like this. I've bought the office building not far from your house and plan to use it as the office location for the Italian branch of Global Trade Co., Ltd. I just completed the company registration procedures today and am looking for a manager who is familiar with the situation in Italy! Since your uncle has experience in this area, isn't it just right?"
"Fang, is that true? Aren't you a soldier? How do you have time to do business?" Now Lilith couldn't help but feel confused.
"It's because I'm a soldier that I need to find a manager to help me manage the company! I only need to manage the general direction of the company!" Looking at Fang Lang's matter-of-fact expression, Lilith actually felt that it made sense.
Fang Lang turned to look at Lilith's father and said, "Uncle, I wonder if you can come and help me. I can hire you as the general manager of the Italian branch of Global Trading Company at a monthly salary of US$200 plus year-end bonuses."
Hearing that Fang Lang offered a monthly salary of 200 US dollars, several people's eyes lit up. Lilith's mother blurted out: "200 US dollars a month, is it true? Fang, is it really 200 US dollars a month?"
To be honest, the 200 US dollars per month that Fang Lang gave was definitely a high salary in Italy at that time, but it was definitely quite low compared to Fang Lang's profits. However, his relationship with Lilith was not close enough yet, and he was not sure whether Lilith's father was qualified for this position. So Fang Lang reported this salary to Lilith's father first, and if he was qualified, he would consider increasing the salary or equity incentives and dividends.
"Of course, how can I joke about such a thing! If uncle agrees, you can start work tomorrow. We also need to recruit people to fill various departments and hurry up to set up the company. I will also report back to the army."
"Fang, it's war time now and sea transportation has been cut off. How are we going to survive as a trading company?" Lilith's father had been in business after all, so he grasped the key point right away.
"Uncle, don't worry. You know I'm a soldier and the captain of a transport ship. So, even though German submarines are hunting everywhere, my fleet will follow the American escort fleet, which is countless times safer than ordinary cargo ships. This is the confidence we have in our development."
Hearing that Fang Lang's transport ships could move together with the US escort fleet, Lilith's father finally understood why Fang Lang dared to open a new import and export trading company at this time when all import and export businesses had been suspended.
Lilith's father looked at his daughter who was still confused sitting next to Fang Lang, and felt mixed emotions. He knew that if he went to work at Fang Lang's company, it would be equivalent to agreeing to the relationship between Lilith and Fang Lang, but his daughter still looked like she didn't understand anything and stared at Fang Lang in a daze. He felt as if the cabbage he had raised for 18 years was exchanged for a bowl of rice by the pig next door.
However, he knew that he could not refuse such a job opportunity. During this special period, everyone was looking for job opportunities. If he did not take this job with a monthly salary of $200, there would be a lot of people who would rush to send their daughters to get this job.
So, after hesitating for a while, he said to Fang Lang: "Fang, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will work hard and make sure that the salary you pay is worth it."
"That's great. I'm so happy that you can come to work. With you helping me steer the company, I can go out and explore without any worries. I have organized a transport fleet. Now we have three transport ships running the route from Italy to Brazil. Uncle, after you get to work, please take the time to do a market survey to see what is the most scarce and in-demand item in the Italian market. We will ship it from Brazil."
Lilith's father was even more surprised to hear that Fang Lang actually had three transport ships. He had never thought that this son-in-law had such strength, and he had to look at him with new eyes. So the two of them made an appointment to meet downstairs of the company's office building at 8:30 tomorrow morning, and Fang Lang left Lilith's house reluctantly.
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