socalfunplaces Chapter 84 Double-Circuit Grounding and Rubber Planning
Chapter 84 Double-Circuit Grounding and Rubber Planning
For the next week, Lin Yan's life was regular and fulfilling.
Every morning, he would still transform into "Little Lin" and appear at the Lin's Grain Shop on Johnston Road. Scooping rice, weighing it, and settling accounts—these simple, repetitive tasks were what he treated as a form of spiritual practice to hone his mind. His control over his immense strength became increasingly refined; now, he could scoop a peck of rice with perfect precision. Listening to the casual chatter of the locals, feeling the warmth of everyday life, the sense of emptiness that had come with his seclusion was gradually replaced by a solid sense of real life.
In the afternoon, he appeared on time at the training ground in the annex of the Lin Group building. His sticky hands with Ip Man and his push hands with Master Yang were no longer just simple sparring, but more like an exchange and verification of martial arts. He incorporated his understanding of "strength" and "Tao" gained through arduous training into the simplest moves, often leaving the two masters thoughtful and greatly benefiting them. In these repeated exchanges, he also thoroughly honed his rapidly increasing skills, making his aura increasingly restrained and profound.
While Lin Yan was quietly cultivating his mind amidst the world, a silent "land grab" was quietly unfolding in Hong Kong under Lin Yi's command.
Lin Yi faithfully carried out Lin Yan's instructions without using any of the Lin Group's funds or personnel openly. He used several clean-backed shell companies registered overseas under different agents six months earlier as cover for his operations.
These companies have unremarkable names: "Anshun Trading Company", "Delong Trading Company", "Yuanhang Industrial Company"... They seem to have no connection with each other, and their offices are scattered in different areas of Hong Kong.
An agent from "Anshun Trading Company," posing as a descendant of a British merchant family eager to leave Hong Kong, discreetly contacted the owner of a 40-year-old tenement building in Central. After some "difficult" haggling, they ultimately purchased the entire complexly titled tenement building in cash for slightly over 10% of the market price. The signing process was quick and quiet, attracting little attention from the outside world. Similar operations were simultaneously unfolding on several old streets in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.
"Tak Lung Trading Company" targeted some abandoned docks and warehouse sites along the Kowloon waterfront. These sites are now considered "worthless land" and have low value. Negotiators approached the relevant Hong Kong government departments that held these government lands and a few private owners under the pretext of developing "warehousing and logistics," offering reasonable prices and generous payment terms, and the process was quite rapid.
Far Eastern Industries, however, set its sights on a more distant future. They acquired large tracts of land in Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin in the New Territories, and even in Kwun Tong, which is still mostly farmland and barren hills today, at extremely low prices. Transactions were often conducted through village gentry and elders, and the properties they purchased were hillsides and saline-alkali land that seemed worthless at the time, with contracts signed quietly.
All the funds flowed through a complex web of overseas accounts, ultimately originating directly from Lin Yan's unfathomable reserves—gold, jewelry, and foreign exchange. Lin Yi sat in the center, like a master chess player, precisely controlling every bid and contract signed by each "shell company" through his puppet subordinates.
Throughout the entire process, there was no indication that these acquisitions were related to the thriving Lin Group. To outsiders, it appeared to be merely a matter of astute overseas capital or mysterious tycoons taking advantage of the sluggish market to sporadically purchase properties on Hong Kong Island, without causing much of a stir.
A week later, in the evening, just as Lin Yan came out of the training ground, Lin Yi appeared as if it had been precisely calculated.
Inside the car on the way back to Deep Water Bay, Lin Yi handed over a brief report.
"Young Master, the initial plan is progressing smoothly. Within a week, through various channels, we have secretly purchased: four old tenement buildings in Central and Causeway Bay, approximately 50,000 square feet of waterfront land in Kowloon, and approximately 500,000 square feet of land in various potential areas of the New Territories. All transactions have been notarized and the property rights are clear."
Lin Yi spoke calmly, as if discussing a trivial matter: "The funds consumed account for about 15% of the initial budget. Subsequent target plots have been identified, and we are currently in contact with them."
Lin Yan watched the street scene rushing past the window; the plots of land that Lin Yi had just purchased might just flash by. He nodded slightly, his gaze distant.
"Very good. Keep the pace steady, don't rush. The key is to be discreet and have clear property rights. Especially in the New Territories, the relationships between the local gentry and their clans are complicated, so we need to be more tactful in handling things. It's better to spend a little more money to avoid future disputes."
"Understood," Lin Yi replied. "We will establish good relations with the local gentry under the guise of long-term investment and joint development to ensure everything goes smoothly."
The car drove up the winding mountain road, and the Deep Water Bay villas came into view. Lin Yan closed his eyes, and in the vast space within his consciousness, spiritual energy swirled, and the mist at the edge of the plain seemed to have thinned a little.
A mountain breeze swept by, bringing with it the damp scent of the bay. Late that night, in the study of the Deep Water Bay villa, the spatial imprints rippled slightly—this was a regular report from Lin San on the mainland.
Lin Yan immersed his consciousness into it, and Lin San's voice rang out in his sea of consciousness:
"Young Master, everything is going smoothly on the mainland."
"The grain transport routes are functioning well. On the southern route, Huo Sheng and Bao Sheng's fleets have become a stable channel, with at least 200,000 tons of coarse grain departing from Hong Kong docks every month. After arriving at Tianjin Port, they are taken over by officials. The northern route is even more convenient. At the pre-arranged handover point on the banks of the Heilongjiang River, we 'receive' grain from the 'Soviet Union' in multiple shipments each month, totaling about 300,000 tons. The transport teams sent by the state are used to this and settle accounts readily. It's just that these transport team members are suffering; they can't even keep up with changing all the tires."
Lin San's tone carried a calmness befitting a report on work achievements: "To date, through these two channels, we have accumulated the following:
Gold: Approximately 15 tons, mainly settled in the form of gold bars and ingots.
Over 5,000 antiques and cultural relics. Initial screening has been conducted to eliminate fakes. Among the items are many fine pieces such as Song Dynasty porcelain, Ming Dynasty paintings, and Qing Dynasty enamelware, with a large number of jade and bronze artifacts of high intrinsic value. All items have been stored in the spatial warehouse in batches. A small amount of foreign exchange and RMB are also included, primarily for maintaining daily operations and managing relationships.
"Because the price of the grain we provide is far lower than the international market price, and it does not use the country's precious foreign exchange reserves, the other party is very satisfied with this cooperation model. I am already a well-known figure in the relevant departments, which makes things quite convenient for me."
Lin Yan listened, a satisfied expression appearing on his face. He pondered for a moment:
"Lin San, you've done a great job. Resource accumulation is key, but it's crucial to remain low-key. The grain we provided has solved the country's urgent needs; it's a mutually beneficial arrangement. We must avoid being complacent and, even more importantly, refrain from using our achievements to make unreasonable demands."
He then changed the subject, offering a seemingly casual yet far-sighted suggestion: "Now that you have ample funds, you can make some moves in Beijing. In the name of the Hong Kong Lin Group, express your intention to the relevant departments to purchase a few well-located and spacious courtyard houses."
"As for the reason," Lin Yan instructed, "simply say that the group is optimistic about the long-term development of the mainland and wants to invest in some properties in advance. These properties can serve as the group's future office in Beijing, as well as be used to receive clients and provide accommodation for employees, demonstrating the Lin family's sincerity in establishing a foothold in the mainland. The price can be slightly higher than the market price to show goodwill. This matter must be handled openly and legitimately, through formal channels for application and purchase, and all procedures must be complete."
He emphasized, "When choosing a courtyard house, take a long-term view. The location should be quiet, the courtyard should be well-organized, and the area should be as large as possible. Ideally, it should be a large mansion that was once lived in by princes and nobles and is still well-maintained. Such properties may seem like just old houses now, but their future value may be immeasurable."
"There's no need to rush into short-term profits or losses. We should proceed gradually. If we can acquire two or three prime properties in core locations, that would be a great achievement. If we encounter difficulties, we can use our past relationship with the grain trade to make appropriate communication. But remember, we must maintain a humble attitude. We are legitimate businessmen investing in accordance with the law."
After the message was delivered, Lin Yan disconnected.
He walked to the window and looked north. He could almost see Lin Sanzheng quietly searching for courtyards and mansions in the capital city, amidst the gray walls and black tiles, places that were not yet valued but carried hundreds of years of historical significance.
With coordinated efforts from the north and south, and both Hong Kong and the mainland progressing steadily under his control, his business empire is expanding, and his path of cultivation is also poised for a breakthrough.
Lin Yan's thoughts were still immersed in Lin San's report on the details of grain transportation in the north when a seemingly insignificant point suddenly flashed through his mind—the transport teams' frequently changed tires. In this era, rubber was an extremely important strategic material and industrial raw material. Whether it was military vehicles, trucks, or the civilian transportation that would inevitably flourish in the future, all relied on it. However, domestic rubber was scarce, and almost entirely dependent on imports, which were expensive and subject to foreign control.
An idea instantly formed: Why not plant rubber trees in the space?
The space boasts a 365-fold time acceleration, a top-tier first-grade spiritual spring, and nourishing spiritual veins, which will shorten the growth cycle of rubber trees to an astonishing degree, resulting in rubber production and quality far superior to anything found outside. He doesn't need to directly produce complex finished tires, which require a supporting industrial system. He only needs to provide the most crucial primary raw material—natural rubber. This allows the country to purchase these high-quality raw materials at low prices, build its own factories for processing and production, saving a significant amount of valuable foreign exchange, promoting the development of the domestic rubber industry, creating jobs, and training technical personnel—a truly win-win situation!
Thinking of this, Lin Yan immediately activated his mind and summoned Lin Er through the spatial imprint.
A moment later, Lin Er appeared at the study door: "Young Master, you wanted to see me?"
"Lin Er, I have a new task for you." Lin Yan's eyes were bright. "Immediately select a group of capable people to form a team specifically responsible for going to Malaysia to collect as many high-quality rubber seedlings as possible, as well as technical data and tools for rubber harvesting and seedling cultivation."
Lin Er didn't hesitate at all: "Yes, young master. I'll take care of it immediately. The goal is to acquire as many rubber tree seedlings and technology as possible, right?"
"That's right." Lin Yan nodded, then added, "The operation must be covert and carried out in a dispersed manner. We can disguise ourselves as traders, botanists, or employees of companies that buy local products. Spending more money is fine, but we must ensure the survival rate of the seedlings and the integrity of the technology."
"Understood!" Lin Er accepted the order and turned to leave to make arrangements.
"Wait a minute," Lin Yan called out to him again, pondering for a moment, "Malaysia in 1958... the situation seems a bit complicated. You should be a little more careful on your trip."
The situation in Malaysia at this time was delicate. The country had only recently gained independence and was overshadowed by the receding ebb of the Malayan state of emergency. This was an armed conflict between the British colonial government and the Malayan Communist Party. Although large-scale fighting had decreased, sporadic confrontations and tense security checks still occurred in the mountains and forests, and the state of emergency had not yet been fully lifted.
In terms of social structure, racial tensions are a potential powder keg. The distribution of power among the three major ethnic groups—Malays, Chinese, and Indians—in the economic, political, and cultural spheres is becoming increasingly prominent. Although the ruling Alliance Party (composed of UMNO, MCA, and MIC) maintains overall control, internal power struggles persist, creating a sensitive social atmosphere.
The economic lifeline is in the hands of British capital, especially in the rubber and tin mining industries. Large rubber plantations are mostly owned by British companies, but there are also many small and medium-sized plantations run by Chinese. The entire industry chain, from planting and tapping to export, is relatively mature, but technological barriers and capital monopolies still exist.
For Lin Er's team, this meant avoiding areas where guerrillas might be active, strictly adhering to local security regulations, and avoiding being mistaken for suspicious individuals. Large-scale acquisitions of saplings and poaching of technical personnel could potentially offend British capital and local vested interests, requiring careful maneuvering to avoid direct conflict. They also needed to leverage the networks of local Chinese chambers of commerce and community organizations, using business cooperation, technical exchanges, and high-priced purchases as cover to complete their mission discreetly and efficiently. It wasn't so much a fear of danger on their part, but rather a concern that a conflict could lead to loss of life and other serious trouble.
Lin Er acted with extreme speed. He selected ten puppet team members who were most skilled in infiltration, reconnaissance, negotiation, and disguise. They were fluent in multiple dialects, including Malay, and were equipped with ample gold bars and foreign exchange.
A few days later, several groups of "travelers" and "businessmen" of various identities arrived at the docks in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and other places. Through their connections with the local Chinese, they used the pretexts of "a Hong Kong landscaping company wanting to establish a new variety research base" and "seeking cooperation in rubber planting technology" to be active in rubber plantations of all sizes, agricultural research stations and tea houses and associations where Chinese technicians gathered.
With funding paving the way, coupled with the puppets' superb social skills and efficiency, progress was quite smooth. They purchased large quantities of high-quality, high-yield budding stakes and rubber tree seedlings in batches from smallholders and even large plantation managers willing to sell, at prices 20-30% higher than market value. Sets of professional tools such as tapping knives, rubber cups, and rubber collection buckets were bought in bulk. Books and handwritten notes on seedling cultivation, budding, rubber tapping techniques, and disease prevention were sought after at high prices.
The entire process was dispersed and covert, like a drizzle seeping into sand, and did not attract much attention. Occasionally, some British plantation owners noticed some minor anomalies, but they only thought it was a rich but inexperienced sucker from Hong Kong, or some Chinese businessmen making small moves, and did not escalate it to a strategic level to investigate further.
A month later, the first batch of rubber tree seedlings, seeds, and technical data were stored in the space.
Standing on the vast and fertile land in the space, Lin Yan looked at the lush green rubber seedlings and the mountains of seeds before him, a smile playing on his lips. He directed his puppets to designate large areas on the vacated land outside the forest, using time acceleration to begin large-scale cultivation and planting.
Before long, this place will become the world's most efficient and highest-quality rubber production base. The primary rubber produced here will become another important asset for leveraging the future, silently flowing into the torrent of national development.
The Southeast Asian strategy has achieved its first success.