[Chapter 917: Balance is Key]
"Poh Jiseong, how's the mobile business been lately? Still no progress?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, I have disappointed you. It was going well in America, but then..."
"Damn it, the U.S. is really tough to deal with. By the way, what are those officials saying?"
"Mr. Chairman, the timing isn't great. Those farmers made a fuss again. Just yesterday, they let their cows roam the streets and poured milk all over the pavement. If the police hadn't intervened, they planned to burn the American flag."
Li Jianxi was frustrated. In the U.S., there was a specific group that resisted any foreign products. They boycotted cars, computers, rice, and beef. Thankfully, their wheat production was limited, so that was a non-issue.
In Li Jianxi's eyes, boycotting wasn't a bad idea, just don't go overboard with it. If American and Australian beef came in, their interests would be hurt. So, if they were allowed to boycott, what if the U.S. and Australia boycotted their products too?
Don't you all understand? If cars and those electronic products couldn't be exported, they wouldn't even be able to afford to buy food abroad. If those companies went bankrupt, what would they do with their beef?
Take a look at leisure time; when the economy was good, people enjoyed eating local beef. Kobe beef was ridiculously overpriced. Now, the economy wasn't doing well. You'd see their dining tables rarely featured beef; even when they did, it was the cheap stuff.
"Mr. Chairman, if this keeps happening, we should consider setting up a factory in Canada."
"No need to consider; this step has to be taken. Now I understand why so many companies set up factories in Canada. If products weren't made in the U.S., they shouldn't be taxed at all, right?"
"Alright, Mr. Chairman, I will arrange an investigation immediately."
Sometimes, unity truly was a good thing, like resisting external humiliation. However, doing this during peacetime required caution. National pride was admirable, and national honor was also important. But you can't use the word "versus" in this context. Yes, you can dream and enjoy your fantasies, but you shouldn't be comparing yourself against others.
That's dangerous; on a grand scale, it's considered prejudice, and on a smaller scale, it can create trade imbalances. Every country protects its agriculture. Europe had always been wary of American goods flooding their markets, employing government subsidies as a method.
This is actually the approach most countries take. They prohibit or restrict products from other nations, thinking others can be easily bullied.
"Fu Zhen, you really shouldn't play basketball anymore; in just a little while, your skin has turned rosy."
"I thought you liked that tanned look? Don't you all like to roast yourselves in the sun? Can't move, I'm starving, no strength left."
"How about we grab something else to eat?"
"Hmm, do you have knives and forks?"
"Cough, cough, you really are hungry. Let's go get something to eat and replenish some of that energy."
After years of investment, Lanai Island was truly a paradise.
"Wow, these golf carts actually have licenses?"
"Yeah, there are restrictions. If every cart on the island were like this, it would be chaos."
If there was one downside to this paradise, it was the cost. Accommodation was decent, but food prices were just exorbitant. Yet, it seemed nobody was complaining.
There are supermarkets; they're not pricier than anywhere else. If you wanted to feed yourself, it was pretty straightforward.
"Is this Kobe beef? Aren't they supposed to be prohibited from exporting it?"
"Haha, I don't need a princess. Asking for two cows would be a little excessive. Besides, this restaurant is run by the locals. But, Fu Zhen, the local beef isn't terribly overpricing. I've heard that your homegrown beef costs four times more than what comes from Australia."
"Haha, that's what gives my dad headaches. If cheap beef floods the market, the farmers' interests would definitely be jeopardized.
Although those poor folks are annoying, the money in their hands is not. Whoever offends them will have a rough time ahead."
William White paused, realizing if you didn't plan for success, you might as well run for president in the U.S.?
You should be wary; risk was high, and it was either jumping overboard or landing in jail.
Ah, this economy sandwich truly felt painful. If cowboys couldn't sell beef, how could you expect people to protect your safety? Bringing in such cheap goods would only create chaos at home.
This cycle of turmoil had become a common occurrence.
"I admire those farmers protecting their interests. But why don't they alter their raising methods? They're too pricey. I've heard that gifting meat is a higher-end present."
"Yeah, what's the issue with that?"
"Cough, cough, nothing at all." William White chuckled, a picture conjured in his mind. Ah, old Steve Jobs, this pig intestine really did look fresh.
Although Li Fu Zhen didn't understand why he was laughing, she knew it wasn't good. She didn't get that giving a couple of pounds of ribs was an admirable gift. If you went to someone else's house, this was an excellent gift.
Some things people might resist or dislike until they experience them. If the approach is right, they can find enjoyment in the process. This wasn't limited by gender.
In pain and joy, Li Fu Zhen probably didn't know this phrase, yet her current state could be aptly described by those five words.
Happy moments were always fleeting. Watching Li Fu Zhen wave goodbye left William White slightly melancholic.
What a loser!
Cough, saying that was unfair. Love was one thing, while emotions are something else. Humans are emotional beings; not only does interaction cultivate feelings, raising a puppy or kitten can also build bonds over time.
You could call a guy a loser, but that didn't mean it wasn't also a type of feeling. If there were absolutely no feelings, wouldn't we just be animals?
That instinct was generally influenced by the seasons. All mammals... had a reason for reproduction. The only exception might be humans.
See, animals do not experience these urges unless it's the right season. What distinguishes man from other beasts? Maybe that's the reason.
Watching the plane slowly taxi away and then disappear, William White shook his head, casting away the scattered thoughts. He was here to see the stones. It was impossible to get cheap goods from Burma now; the only platform for bulk transactions was the open markets.
Of course, he had also acquired quite a bit. If he couldn't buy it, then so be it. He believed it wouldn't take years before those stones would skyrocket.
Tanner was now persuaded; in recent years, the Burmese open market had been steadily rising. Initially, only jewel merchants from Hong Kong were involved, but now, wealthy buyers from Canada had started sweeping the market without holding back.
"Wow, how did this massive thing make its way here?"
"Cough, sir, this is what they call the stone king. Over fifty tons, it took a lot of effort to transport."
"Gee, this guy is impressive. Wonder if there's anything inside. But, whatever, I'll keep this grand stone for myself. Let's slowly appreciate it.
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