"Wu Zhi, let's meet at our usual spot for lunch. Let's get together and talk about some things!" Ning Zhiheng said meaningfully.
"Of course! I'm so happy, see you in a bit!" Takeshi Ishikawa replied readily.
After hanging up the phone, Ning Zhiheng turned to Hirao Daichi and said, "I will use my connections at the Military Police Headquarters to lift your arrest. As for what happens next, it will depend on the background of this Kono Company. You can stay here and wait for me to come back!"
"Yes, sir! I will follow your arrangements. Thank you so much!" Hirao Daichi knelt down again, bowed to Ning Zhiheng, and said with deep gratitude.
"Akagi, arrange a room for him and get it ready!" Ning Zhiheng frowned as he looked at Hirao Daichi and instructed Yi Hua'an.
"Hi!"
"How rude of me! Please forgive me!" Hirao Daichi knew that Japanese nobles were very particular about their appearance and demeanor, and he felt embarrassed by his disheveled appearance, so he kowtowed again.
Around noon, in a tavern, Ning Zhiheng and Ishikawa Takeshi were raising their glasses to drink together, finishing their sake in one gulp.
Takeshi Ishikawa chuckled and said, "Tomohito, now that you're back, we brothers can finally work together and make something of ourselves. I've been waiting for this day!"
“Of course, I’m back this time full of confidence!” Ning Zhiheng said with a smile. “This time I brought back enough funds from Hong Kong, one hundred thousand US dollars! I’m going to open a large trading company, also called Fujiwara Company. I keep my word, Wuzhi, you don’t have to pay a single penny, it’s just a ten percent share!”
One hundred thousand dollars? Takeshi Ishikawa's glass trembled and nearly fell to the ground.
He never expected that Fujiwara Tomohito's investment would be so large. He had some savings, but compared to this huge sum, they were nothing!
According to Takeshi Ishikawa's original plan, his cooperation with Tomohito Fujiwara would definitely require him to put his own funds into this trading company, since he himself had no business experience or time, and everything would have to be handled by his friend Tomohito Fujiwara.
Moreover, he was very clear about Fujiwara no Tomohito's background and identity. Fujiwara no Tomohito was not only a member of the Fujiwara family in Kyoto, but more importantly, he was also the main person in charge of the intelligence department of the Central China Area Army and a close friend of General Uehara Junpei, despite their age difference.
Any one of these identities was enough for him to believe that Fujiwara Tomohito wouldn't embezzle his money, and that his interests were guaranteed. This was precisely why he was so keen to cooperate with Fujiwara Tomohito.
But now that Fujiwara Tomohito has suddenly announced that he will invest a huge sum of $100,000 to establish a trading company, Ishikawa Takeshi hesitated. His own savings would be like a drop in the ocean, how could he possibly get a 10% share?
One-tenth of the trading company's shares is no small amount; it's worth a full ten thousand US dollars, and its value may even increase in the future.
Moreover, he gained huge profits without paying any money, labor, or taking any risks, which is extremely unfair to Fujiwara Tomohito.
For Ishikawa Takeshi, this would be extremely humiliating. After all, Ishikawa Takeshi is a member of the Ishikawa family, and he himself could not be so shameless. Moreover, he was well aware that if he did this, it would be difficult to maintain the equality and friendship between him and Fujiwara Tomohito, which would be a complete loss.
Seeing Ishikawa Takeshi's sudden change in expression, Ning Zhiheng immediately understood his inner thoughts and couldn't help but nod inwardly. This was a young Japanese nobleman with principles. Although he had his own ambitions and desires, he also had self-respect and pride. In the end, he was unwilling to take the money for nothing!
"What, Wu Zhi! You're unwilling? Haven't you always hoped that we could work together to build a career?" Ning Zhiheng asked, feigning surprise.
Takeshi Ishikawa gently placed his wine glass on the table, shook his head, and said, "Tomohito, I appreciate your kindness, but you should know that by doing this, you will become my creditor, and I will become an immoral thief, a thief who uses our friendship to gain profit. I don't want to do that!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhiheng said with a guilty expression, "I'm sorry, Wu Zhi, I didn't think it through. Alright then, how much money do you have available to invest right now?"
“I could only scrape together 16,000 yen, but I didn’t expect you to invest so much,” Takeshi Ishiikawa said helplessly.
After all, he was just a member of a collateral branch of the Ishii family. His family was of average means and not very wealthy. He had been unable to get ahead, so he enlisted in the army. After coming to China, he did not get any opportunities to make money. For a major, being able to come up with so much money was already a lot!
Ning Zhiheng waved his hand and said readily, "No problem, then invest all of it. I'll still give you 10% of the shares."
After saying that, he raised his hand to stop Ishikawa Takeshi from saying anything more, and said again, "The remaining shortfall will be made up by your labor expenses."
"Labor expenses?"
"Yes, labor expenses. Takeshi, you are a major in the Military Police Headquarters. This position is very intimidating to outsiders and can do a lot for our trading company."
Do you know what the most profitable products are in China?
"What product?" Takeshi Ishikawa asked, puzzled.
Ning Zhiheng chuckled and said in a mysterious low voice, "What are controlled goods? And what makes the most money!"
After the Japanese occupied Shanghai, they began to comprehensively control the inflow of foreign goods, especially military-related materials, which were absolutely prohibited from entering the Chinese mainland. These included steel, steel pipes, cables, electrical materials, gasoline, engine oil, automobiles, and especially medicines, all of which were on the embargo and were urgently needed by the Chinese government.
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