#36 - Chapter 36 Establishment of the Chamber of Commerce
“This tag is very important and can save your lives when necessary. I will give you a detailed introduction later.”
Dongfang Chen put away the tag.
“There is also some other equipment, but I won’t introduce them one by one. We will have a special training session before departure.”
“Now it's question time. Ask whatever questions you have.”
“Boss, do I have to join too?” Yan Fangfang asked.
“What? You don’t want to?” Dongfang Chen asked sternly.
“Ah! No. It’s just my identity…” Yan Fangfang didn’t finish, implying that he should understand.
“It doesn’t matter. After you leave, just continue doing what you were doing. Just complete the sleeper's mission diligently.” Dongfang Chen said indifferently.
“Then my subordinates…” Yan Fangfang continued to ask.
Dongfang Chen had made arrangements in advance today, and Yan Fangfang’s subordinates did not come.
“They should leave with you. However, for your personal safety, they shouldn’t join the sleepers.”
Yan Fangfang hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Strictly speaking, her subordinates weren't really her people, and Dongfang Chen could see that.
Those people were also soldiers, probably sent to protect Yan Fangfang.
“Boss, what about our families?” Tong Li asked.
“My suggestion is that the families should stay in the base. It’s too dangerous outside, and you would have to spend time taking care of them. Of course, this is not mandatory. If anyone wants to leave with their families, they can.”
Dongfang Chen didn’t make it a hard rule to forbid them from taking their families. Saying that would be like threatening them, holding their families hostage.
Everyone nodded, indicating their agreement.
“Brother Dongfang, do we have to leave?” Luo’er asked, frowning.
“We have to leave. But Luo’er, you can stay with your brother. We have no choice in some things,” Dongfang Chen said comfortingly.
Luo’er nodded in disappointment. She wasn’t afraid of danger, she just didn’t want to leave the base, to leave everyone.
“Comrades, in this apocalyptic world, we have no choice but to step up and take responsibility!”
“Yes!”
Everyone stood at attention, shouted in unison, and then saluted.
…
After the meeting, Dongfang Chen returned to his office.
Niu Xingwang was standing at the office door waiting for him.
“Brother Niu, why don’t you rest more?” Dongfang Chen greeted him.
“Mr. Dongfang, I’m getting old and need less sleep,” Niu Xingwang said awkwardly.
As Dongfang Chen spoke, he invited Niu Xingwang into the office.
“Brother Niu, you don’t have to be so polite. Just be casual with me,” Dongfang Chen gestured for Niu Xingwang to sit down as well.
“Mr. Dongfang, I have to admire you. You are truly a divine being! If I had known this day would come, I wouldn't have done any business, and I would have sold everything to build the base for you quickly,” Niu Xingwang said admiringly.
He had been on the construction site for the past few months and felt this deeply. Compared to Dongfang Chen’s design, theirs was just child’s play.
How could defensive works built on the ground be better than those built underground? Not to mention, the constant harassment and attacks by zombies were a headache.
Every day, people were infected and then expelled from the settlement.
Treatment? Forget about it.
No one could cure them. It was a waste of time and resources.
However, when he left, the base was still a shell, with nothing inside. But now: water, electricity, and ventilation systems were all complete. They could even grow grain and vegetables. It would be fine even if they never went out for the rest of their lives.
Awesome!
Admirable!
Choosing to rely on Dongfang Chen was the wisest decision he had ever made.
After listening to Niu Xingwang, Dongfang Chen laughed and said:
“Come on, Boss Niu. I don’t know who it was, but when I said I was going to build an underground fortress, he was so scared he almost peed his pants.”
Niu Xingwang's old face turned red, and he said:
“Ashamed, ashamed!”
“Brother Niu, I want to talk to you about something serious today,” Dongfang Chen said, leaning closer.
Seeing Dongfang Chen become serious, Niu Xingwang quickly responded:
“Mr. Dongfang, please speak.”
“It’s like this, I plan to establish a chamber of commerce. I don’t know if you are interested?” Dongfang Chen said.
“Chamber of commerce? What for?” Niu Xingwang asked.
“Just buying and selling supplies and stuff,” Dongfang Chen replied.
“Oh? Mr. Dongfang, can you be more specific?” Niu Xingwang asked, not quite understanding.
“Wait a moment,” Dongfang Chen said, walking out of the office.
After a while, Dongfang Chen returned, carrying a briefcase.
“Brother Niu, I have a gift for you,” Dongfang Chen said with a smile, opening the case and taking out a vial of medicine.
“This is?” Niu Xingwang asked.
“Antigen serum!” Dongfang Chen said.
“What!?” Niu Xingwang stood up suddenly.
“Look at you, so easily startled, you scared me,” Dongfang Chen said with a smile.
“Mr. Dongfang! This, this, this… could it be the vaccine that resists the virus?” Niu Xingwang said incoherently.
The families in the base hadn’t been injected with the antigen yet, and his wife hadn’t mentioned it to Niu Xingwang, so he still didn’t know about the antigen serum in the base.
“That’s right,” Dongfang Chen replied calmly.
“Oh my god! This, this, this…” Niu Xingwang didn’t know what to say.
As a businessman, he understood the business opportunities and value contained within better than others.
At the same time, he also understood the risks and crises contained within.
“Come, hold out your arm,” Dongfang Chen said, opening the vial.
Niu Xingwang was completely stunned, and unconsciously held out his arm.
After the injection, Niu Xingwang sat there for more than ten minutes, still with his arm exposed.
Dongfang Chen waved his hand in front of him to call his soul back.
“Ah? I’m sorry, Mr. Dongfang, I was distracted,” Niu Xingwang said embarrassedly.
“Brother Niu, if I entrust this business to you, would you be interested?” Dongfang Chen asked.
“I, I, I… this, this, this…” Niu Xingwang didn’t know where to start.
“Brother Niu, if you have any difficulties, just say them, and we can study them together,” Dongfang Chen said, cutting to the chase.
“Oh! Mr. Dongfang. I’m just afraid I don’t have the ability to protect the safety of the vaccine,” Niu Xingwang said.
“It’s antigen!” Dongfang Chen corrected.
“Oh, right, right, right, antigen. This antigen can save lives! Even if there is just a slight rumor, I’m afraid countless people will risk their lives to snatch it!” Niu Xingwang said.
“That’s why I said that this matter must be done by you. You understand the key points as soon as you hear them. To be honest, there are others in the base who want to do this business, and they have a lot of influence. I haven’t formally expressed my position yet because I was waiting for you to come back. You don’t have to worry about security issues, I will arrange everything properly. You just need to tell me if you are interested in doing this.” Dongfang Chen said.
“Since Mr. Dongfang has said so, then where is there any reason for me, Niu Xingwang, to refuse. Mr. Dongfang, tell me, how do we do it.” Niu Xingwang rolled up his sleeves, striking a pose ready to do a great job.
“That’s right! This is the Boss Niu I know.” Dongfang Chen patted Niu Xingwang on the shoulder, stood up, and continued:
“Brother Niu, you will be in charge of allocating 60% of the vaccines produced by the base. I will use the remaining 40% for other purposes. You will take the lead in establishing a chamber of commerce, ostensibly doing some buying and selling of supplies, and slowly setting up an office in other settlements. The production of vaccines is limited, so large-scale sales are not realistic. However, using them to grease some palms and accumulate some resources and connections is not a problem. You are an expert in this area, so I won’t show off my limited skills.” Dongfang Chen explained roughly.
“Of course, there is no problem with that. But what is your purpose in doing this?” Niu Xingwang couldn’t figure it out.
“As expected, it’s easy to chat with smart people. Come, Brother Niu, let me show you something.” Dongfang Chen led Niu Xingwang to the big screen.
The screen began to play the cartoon from the previous two days.
“This, this, this… is this real?” After watching the cartoon, Niu Xingwang was also frightened.
“Now you understand why I want to do this, right?” Dongfang Chen asked.
“I understand, I understand everything! What painstaking efforts!” Niu Xingwang shook his head in admiration.
