Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 60 The Capacity Dilemma and Foresightful Planning

Inside the Dongcheng District Public Security Bureau in Beijing, the atmosphere suddenly became unusual. Two black sedans silently drove into the courtyard, and Sha Qianli, Minister of the Ministry of Grain, and Ye Jizhuang, Minister of Foreign Trade, got out one after the other. Both men wore solemn and urgent expressions, followed by several capable staff members. Captain Zhang, who had already been notified, respectfully stepped forward to greet them.

"Ministers, this way please." Captain Zhang didn't dare to be negligent and led everyone straight to the secluded courtyard in Dashilan.

The courtyard gate was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, one was greeted by a hidden paradise. The courtyard was elegantly laid out, with blue bricks paving the ground and several stalks of green bamboo planted in the corner, swaying gently in the breeze. The door to the main house was open, and Lin San, who had already received the news, was standing at the entrance of the hall to greet them. He was dressed in a dark long robe, his demeanor calm and composed.

"Minister Sha, Minister Ye, comrades, it is an honor to have you here. Please come in." Lin San bowed and greeted them with a warm smile, stepping aside to welcome them into the main hall.

The interior furnishings blend Chinese and Western styles, featuring the dignified elegance of Ming-style huanghuali furniture, while the walls are adorned with profound ink landscape paintings. Several porcelain and jade ornaments are arranged in a pleasing manner on the antique shelves, and a faint, elegant sandalwood fragrance permeates the air, all of which reveals the owner's refined taste and profound cultural background.

"Ministers, please take your seats." Lin San calmly led Sha Qianli and Ye Jizhuang to the two large armchairs at the head of the table, then gently gestured to the accompanying staff, "Comrades, please make yourselves at home, no need for formalities."

After everyone was seated, he clapped his hands twice, and a respectful servant quietly entered carrying a red lacquered tray.

On the tray lay a set of white porcelain covered bowls, delicate as jade. The servants moved with practiced quiet grace, serving each guest fragrant tea in turn. As the lids were gently lifted, a refreshing and invigorating aroma instantly filled the hall. The fragrance was high and pure, invigorating the spirit, and clearly not something found in ordinary markets.

"A cup of coarse tea, nothing special, please enjoy." Lin San raised his hand slightly to indicate, and then sat down in a chair at the head of the table, relaxing his posture.

Sha Qianli and Ye Jizhuang exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised. Mr. Lin's demeanor, the furnishings of the room, his hospitality, and especially the enticing aroma of tea, far exceeded their expectations. He didn't seem like an ordinary businessman at all, but rather more like a reclusive sage hidden in the city. The two unconsciously picked up their teacups, took a sip, and immediately felt the lingering fragrance on their lips and teeth. The anxiety they had felt on the journey seemed to have been somewhat soothed by this cup of tea.

However, as soon as he put down his teacup, the urgency of reality returned. Minister of Grain Sha Qianli, an impatient man, cut to the chase: "Mr. Lin, your tea is excellent. But let's skip the pleasantries. We've already discussed your previous proposal internally. To be frank, the country's current food situation… is extremely difficult. Stockpiles in many places are almost depleted, and the autumn harvest will take time to arrive. The pressure on supplying food for millions of urban residents and factory workers is immense! We are sincerely grateful for your assistance!"

Minister of Foreign Trade Ye Jizhuang picked up the conversation, his tone more cautious, carrying the typical prudence of an economist: "Mr. Lin, while we are grateful, there are some practical difficulties we must face. The quantity of grain you have requested is enormous; even at your promised 'cost price,' converted into foreign exchange, it would be an astronomical figure. The country's current foreign exchange reserves are extremely precious and limited, and every penny must be used wisely, mainly for importing industrial equipment and key technologies that cannot be produced domestically. If all of it is used to purchase grain, I'm afraid…" He paused, his tone heavy, "...it would seriously affect the pace of the country's industrialization. We have come here to earnestly request Mr. Lin, out of consideration for our compatriots, could you perhaps… offer some further discounts?"

Upon hearing this, a faint displeasure flashed across Lin San's eyes. He had gone to great lengths, using his spatial resources, intending to offer timely assistance, only to be met with bargaining the moment they arrived? His aura seemed to instantly turn slightly colder, and the temperature in the hall seemed to drop several degrees.

"I understand what the two ministers mean," Lin San's voice remained calm, but carried a noticeable distance. "It seems I've presumptuously tried to curry favor and caused the country trouble. Since foreign exchange is so tight, let's drop this matter..."

"No, no, no! Mr. Lin, please don't misunderstand!" Minister Sha Qianli hurriedly interrupted, his forehead almost sweating profusely. "We absolutely did not mean that! Your help is urgently needed by the country! It's just... it's just that the foreign exchange gap is too large, and we had no choice but to shamelessly ask for this..." His tone was full of anxiety and helplessness.

Minister Ye Jizhuang quickly added, his tone extremely sincere: "Mr. Lin, please understand the country's difficulties. We are not questioning your sincerity, much less trying to take advantage of you. It's just that... even a skilled cook can't cook without rice!" The two ministers spoke back and forth, their words earnest, their faces filled with deep concern for the country's current situation and the immense pressure they felt as officials in charge.

As Lin San listened, he suddenly sensed something was amiss. There seemed to be a significant information gap in the conversation. He frowned slightly and raised his hand to interrupt the two ministers' urgent words.

"Wait a minute." Lin San's gaze suddenly shifted to Captain Zhang, who had been cowering in the back, his face pale and covered in cold sweat. "Captain Zhang, didn't you explain to the two ministers in your previous report that the payment method I proposed wouldn't require using the country's foreign exchange reserves?"

"Huh?" Captain Zhang was stunned for a moment, his face turning ashen. He suddenly remembered that Lin San had indeed mentioned settling the accounts with antiques, jade, and gold, but he had been focused on the quantity and price of the grain and had overlooked such crucial information! "I...I..." he stammered, sweating profusely, unable to finish a sentence.

Ministers Sha Qianli and Ye Jizhuang were also stunned for a moment, exchanging a shocked look with a huge question mark in their eyes.

Upon seeing this, Lin San's initial displeasure vanished instantly; it turned out to be a huge misunderstanding. He shook his head helplessly, his tone softening, and looked back at the two ministers, clearly reiterating:

"Minister Sha, Minister Ye, I think there might be some misunderstanding between us. I clearly stated to Captain Zhang that the Lin Group is well aware of the value of the nation's foreign exchange reserves and that they should not be wasted on this. Therefore, we are willing to accept settlement through barter. Specifically, we will use antiques, jade, gold, silver, and other valuables from the national treasury to pay for the grain."

He paused, noticing the two ministers' wide-eyed and incredulous expressions, and continued, "These items not only preserve value but also avoid depleting foreign exchange reserves. The value of all items can be assessed by a nationally designated authoritative institution to ensure fairness and impartiality. My Lin family has a long-standing interest in researching and collecting such items, which is also my way of contributing to the preservation of the nation's cultural heritage."

silence!

A deathly silence enveloped the entire hall!

Ministers Sha Qianli and Ye Jizhuang were completely stunned. They stared at Lin San, mouths agape, as if they had heard the most unbelievable thing in the world. The biggest problem that had plagued them all the way, causing them endless worry and even forcing them to swallow their pride in bargaining—the foreign exchange issue—had simply not existed?!

The next second, an immense, indescribable joy and excitement instantly shattered the composure of the two ministers! Minister Sha Qianli's lips began to tremble slightly, and Minister Ye Jizhuang's eyes almost instantly turned red!

"Mr. Lin... Mr. Lin! You... you really mean this?! You... you really can exchange those things for food?!" Minister Sha's voice was trembling with emotion, and he was choked with sobs.

"It's true." Lin San nodded firmly, his tone gentle yet resolute. "The Lin Group always keeps its word."

"That's wonderful! That's wonderful! This is fantastic news!" Minister Ye Jizhuang slapped his thigh excitedly and stood up abruptly. He was so excited that he swayed slightly and quickly grabbed the coffee table next to him. His eyes were red as he looked at Lin San, his voice filled with sincere gratitude and relief. "Mr. Lin! The Lin Group! This... this is truly... truly a timely help! A lifesaver! Please accept my bow!" As he spoke, he actually bowed.

"Minister Ye, you mustn't! You're making me feel terrible!" Lin San quickly stepped forward to support him.

Minister Sha Qianli was also so excited that he could hardly contain himself. He suddenly turned his head and shot his gaze like a knife at Captain Zhang, who wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. In front of everyone, he rolled his eyes at Zhang without any politeness! His eyes were full of resentment and the meaning of "you are a good-for-nothing who is more likely to ruin things than to accomplish anything".

Minister Ye Jizhuang, having recovered his composure, glared at Captain Zhang with equal annoyance, and muttered in a pained voice, "Little Zhang! What can I say about you! Such incredible news, such crucial conditions! How could you forget to report it?! You made us two old folks look like fools in front of Mr. Lin! We almost... almost missed out on this amazing opportunity! We thought Mr. Lin was going to try and raise the price! We've almost lost all face!"

Captain Zhang blushed deeply with embarrassment, his head almost buried in his chest. He repeatedly said, "It's my fault! It's all my negligence! The two ministers are right to criticize me! I...I apologize! I apologize to Mr. Lin!" He wished he could turn back time and strangle his past self.

Minister Sha Qianli gave a heavy snort, ignoring Captain Zhang, and instead tightly grasped Lin San's hand. This usually serious and composed minister now had tears glistening in his eyes, his voice choked with emotion yet sincere: "Mr. Lin, I have nothing more to say! Thank you! Thank you so much! The nation will remember your friendship with the Lin Group, and your selfless dedication to helping the country in its time of need! The people will remember it too!"

The misunderstanding cleared up, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly transformed from tense and solemn to incredibly warm and excited. The two ministers sat down again, picked up their now lukewarm teacups, and found the taste even sweeter than before. They surrounded Lin San, eagerly and excitedly discussing the specific operational details.

Minister Sha Qianli inquired in detail about the type, quantity, and arrival time of the first batch of grain at the port, while Minister Ye Jizhuang discussed with Lin San the evaluation process and handover method for antiques, jade, and gold. Lin San answered fluently, and every arrangement was meticulously considered, demonstrating a vision and execution ability far beyond that of ordinary merchants, which greatly impressed the two ministers.

After the preliminary plan was finalized, a new worry appeared on Minister Sha's face. He rubbed his hands together, and said somewhat reluctantly, "Mr. Lin, the plan is excellent, and the country will certainly cooperate fully. However... there is still an urgent matter that I'm afraid we will need Mr. Lin's further assistance."

"Minister Sha, please speak freely," Lin San said calmly.

"It's all about transportation!" Sha Qianli sighed. "To be honest, the country can only mobilize a very limited number of large ocean-going freighters right now. Most of the tonnage is prioritized for importing key equipment needed for industrial construction. We need to reliably receive the hundreds of thousands of tons of grain you provide every month, and the transportation capacity gap... is enormous. I wonder if the Lin Group has any way to help solve this problem, even just a part of it!"

Upon hearing this, Lin San remained calm and composed, as if everything was under control. He pondered for a moment, then said, "Minister Sha's concerns are quite valid; transportation is indeed a crucial link. Perhaps I can find a way to handle this matter. My second elder brother in Hong Kong, Lin Er, has a close relationship with Sir Yue-Kong Pao and Mr. Henry Fok. I can have him visit them immediately to see if we can rent or ask them to coordinate some transportation capacity to help the country overcome this difficulty."

"Bao Yugang and Fok Ying-tung?" Minister Ye Jizhuang's eyes lit up. "If these two patriotic businessmen were willing to lend a helping hand, that would be wonderful! Their shipping capabilities are undeniable!"

"There's no time to lose, I'll go contact them right away." Lin San nodded slightly, then stood up. "Ministers, please wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Lin San left the hall and entered the inner room. He wasn't going to send a telegram, but rather to convey the room's needs directly to Lin Er through his divine sense.

Inside the headquarters of the Lin Group in Hong Kong.

Upon receiving the order, Lin Er did not delay and immediately prepared a car, first heading to the Worldwide Shipping Company to visit Sir Y.K. Pao.

In Bao Yugang's simple yet efficient office, Lin Er didn't engage in much small talk and went straight to the point: "Mr. Bao, I have come here today with an urgent matter concerning the national economy and people's livelihood." He frankly explained the domestic food shortage and how the Lin Group was struggling to procure food supplies despite insufficient transportation capacity.

Upon hearing this, Bao Yugang's expression immediately turned serious. He stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the bustling Victoria Harbour, remained silent for a moment, then abruptly turned around, looking firmly at Lin Er: "Transporting grain for the nation is our bounden duty! Mr. Lin, please tell our friends back home that my fleet can allocate 100,000 tons of transport capacity each month specifically for this purpose! The freight will be calculated at cost price; we will absolutely not profit from the nation's crisis!"

Lin Er was deeply moved and bowed deeply: "Mr. Bao, your kindness is truly admirable. On behalf of the nation, I thank you in advance!"

After leaving the Bao family business, Lin Er immediately drove to Fok Ying-tung's office.

Henry Fok's reaction was even more enthusiastic and excited. Upon hearing that it was about transporting life-saving food for the country, he slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, "Brother Lin, say no more! This is a tremendous good thing, and it's our duty as overseas Chinese! The same goes for me; 100,000 tons of transport capacity is no problem! Tell the people back home how much they need, and we'll do our best to transport it! Everything will be made easier for the country!"

Having received definite assurances from the two shipping magnates, Lin Er felt much more at ease. However, he was a meticulous thinker who could see further ahead. He knew that although the immediate crisis had been resolved, based on his master Lin Yan's assessment of future trends, the situation would only become more severe in the next two or three years, with an explosive increase in demand for shipping.

After expressing his sincere gratitude, Lin Er paused for a moment and said to Fok Ying-tung, "Mr. Fok, your patriotism is truly admirable. We have relied on your great help during this difficult time. However, in my humble opinion, this food shortage is likely not a short-term issue. Given the complex international situation, future transportation demands will probably continue to grow, perhaps even far exceeding the current levels."

He cleverly offered a tempting offer, guiding the conversation: "From a business perspective, this could be an opportunity to integrate resources and expand your business. Ultimately, in the shipping industry, scale determines efficiency. Why don't you two take advantage of this stable demand and timely payments to further expand your fleet? Ordering or purchasing new ships now will allow you to catch the upcoming peak demand. This investment could very well recoup most of its cost from freight revenue over the next few years."

He particularly emphasized a key advantage: "Moreover, unlike other long-haul routes, our grain is loaded onto ships near Hong Kong and transported to major ports across the country. The voyage is short, the turnover is extremely fast, and the return on investment is far faster than other routes. This is definitely a good opportunity with controllable risk, rapid returns, and the ability to contribute to the country and the nation at the same time."

Henry Fok, a magnate of exceptional strategic vision and business acumen, was deeply moved by Lin Er's reasonable analysis, which combined national righteousness with immense business opportunities. Looking into Lin Er's insightful eyes, they seemed to see a future of booming shipping. A solution that could both address the nation's urgent needs and seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand their own fleet—this was undoubtedly a highly attractive win-win strategy!

Their eyes gleamed with excitement almost simultaneously. "Mr. Lin is right! We should indeed take a long-term view." Fok Ying-tung nodded vigorously, "Exactly! This is a good approach! It helps the country and develops our business at the same time!"

A grand plan that would not only solve the country's current shipping capacity predicament but also lay a solid foundation for the rise of Hong Kong's two future "shipping magnates" was quietly unveiled in Lin Er's visionary remarks.