Jennifer, who was outwardly calm but inwardly ecstatic, took the brochure. When she saw the log cabin villa Feng Shan had chosen, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on her face.
She had thought he was here to buy a mini-cabin, but who knew she would end up selling a villa.
"Mr. Feng, you have excellent taste. This heavy log villa is one of our company’s signature products."
"As it happens, we have a complete villa set in our Juno warehouse. If you can confirm the order, I’ll have the company arrange for shipnt tomorrow."
Feng Shan was long immune to this kind of scarcity marketing.
Back when he ran a restaurant, beer salesn would constantly claim there was a shortage to get him to stock up. Every ti he bought so, they’d be back a few days later, telling him to stock up again due to another "shortage."
"Just give the price."
"700,000 US Dollars, not including shipping. The logs for this type of villa are all selected from 40-year-old cedar, so I hope you can understand the price."
After stating the price, Jennifer carefully watched Feng Shan’s expression.
’700,000 US Dollars really wasn’t expensive. The materials were indeed 40-plus-year-old cedar, and prices in Alaska were higher than in the mainland United States. The shipping costs in between were also a huge expense.’
’Of course, if this villa were sold on the mainland, it would only be about 400,000 US Dollars.’
’The set stored in the Juneau City warehouse was originally intended as a company display sample. The materials and craftsmanship were all top-tier.’
’It was originally priced at 900,000 US Dollars, but unfortunately, Alaskans prefer to build their own log cabins. So the villa just sat in the warehouse gathering dust. The company dropped the price again and again, but still couldn’t sell it.’
’I can’t believe I ran into such a wealthy tycoon today.’
"Alright, no problem. I hope it can be delivered to the Crown Territory as soon as possible." Feng Shan had no issue with the price.
And he wasn’t worried that the Wind-Rolling Grass Company would try to pull a fast one.
’The United States places a high value on credit and has a mature and complete credit system. If a company were caught committing fraud, the price to pay would be enormous—at minimum, exorbitant compensation, and at worst, bankruptcy and prison.’
’Yes!’
Jennifer was ecstatic, but her face still wore a professional smile.
"What about the mini-cabins?"
Feng Shan thought for a mont, then pointed at the brochure. "Besides the four from before, I’ll order ten each of the 6-square-ter and 12-square-ter cabins."
’FACK!!’
Jennifer couldn’t believe her ears. This man before her didn’t even hesitate, casually placing an order for twenty more cabins.
’Counting the one 6-square-ter and three 12-square-ter cabins from before, plus the heavy log villa...’
’Let do the math.’
’My head is spinning.’
Jennifer cast her composure aside, picked up a pen, and hunched over the table to calculate, all under the watchful eyes of everyone present.
Eleven 6-square-ter cabins total 440,000 US Dollars.
Thirteen 12-square-ter cabins total 650,000 US Dollars.
One heavy log villa, 700,000 US Dollars.
$440,000 $650,000 $700,000 = $1,790,000.
The mont she put down the pen, Jennifer broke into a satisfied smile. The feeling was like reaching the final stage with a man she’d set her eyes on.
Just then, Feng Shan chid in at the most inopportune mont.
"Don’t forget the 10% discount."
Instantly, Jennifer’s euphoria vanished. She shot a resentful look at the culprit.
"Feng, you really know how to spoil the mood."
Feng Shan shrugged. "179,000 US Dollars is not a small amount, right?"
’Yes!’
’179,000 US Dollars.’
’Who knew the order would be this big?’
’After a brief mont of regret, Jennifer rallied her spirits. Since there was a first deal, there would surely be a second, and a third.’
"Let’s draw up the contract. I’ll head back to Fairbanks tomorrow morning and arrange for imdiate shipnt."
"After the 10% discount, the total price for the cabins is 1.611 million US Dollars. The installation contractor’s fee is 250,000 US Dollars, for a grand total of 1.861 million US Dollars. The installation fee can’t be discounted."
As she spoke, Jennifer pulled a contract from her suitcase.
’This kind of boilerplate contract was basically loophole-free. If they tried to pull any tricks in the contract, Feng Shan could sue the Wind-Rolling Grass Company for ten or twenty tis the damages, even sue them into bankruptcy.’
’But this 250,000 US Dollar installation fee...’
’Are the workers made of gold?’
’Not only are goods expensive in Alaska, but labor is even more so.’
Feng Shan had no objection to the price on the contract.
He gave the contract a quick look, took the pen, and briskly signed his na. As agreed, the paynt would be made in three installnts: 50% of the total price upfront, 40% upon delivery and the start of installation, and the remaining 10% one year after all the cabins were fully installed.
Feng Shan took out his checkbook, wrote a check for 930,500 US Dollars, and handed it to Jennifer.
Taking the check.
Jennifer was a bit dazed. Her first thought was that he wasn’t doing a wire transfer, using a card, or financing, but paying directly with a check. It had been a long ti since she’d seen such a straightforward client.
’Almost 1 million US Dollars could be so light, as thin as a piece of paper.’
’Perhaps this was the life of the rich—coming to such a remote place to live in seclusion.’
Holding the check, Jennifer didn’t put it away imdiately but instead placed it on the table.
"There’s sothing I need to inform you about. The Wind-Rolling Grass Company is only responsible for delivering the goods to Fairbanks. You’ll need to arrange for transport for the rest of the journey yourself. The Tundra is simply too remote, and the shipping cost would be exorbitant."
’Understood.’
Feng Shan had already given up hope regarding the transportation issues on the Tundra.
He looked up at Nash. "Go see if Tom is finished. When he is, tell him to get back here. I have so business to introduce him to."
Nash nodded and left the bus.
He returned a short while later, followed by Tom and the young pilot.
Stepping inside, Tom wore a proud expression as he patted the young man’s shoulder beside him.
"Feng, this is my nephew, Andy. Say hello, you idiot."
"Hello everyone, I’m Andy," the young man said sheepishly, greeting the group. His gaze inadvertently landed on Erica, and his eyes instantly lit up.
Ailia keenly sensed a gaze on her. She turned to face the young man, revealing a youthful, sweet smile as if responding to him.
Feng Shan took in the subtle interaction between the two.
’One is foolhardy, the other is nuts. A perfect match. Let’s see who ends up destroying whom.’
"Tom, I’ve got a big job. Do you dare to take it?"
Tom’s eyebrow shot up. "As long as you’re paying, I’d even deliver a nuke."
’Badass!!’
Feng Shan gave him a thumbs-up, then looked at Jennifer. "This is the transporter for the Crown Territory. You can coordinate any issues with him."
Everyone was just trying to make a living; there was no need for cutthroat competition.
Naturally, Jennifer wasn’t hostile toward Tom. On the contrary, she hoped he was capable. After all, completing such a huge order quickly would be a good thing for her, for the company, and for Feng Shan.
The two of them sat together, scribbling and sketching. They bickered for a mont at first, then huddled together to discuss things.
Unable to get a word in, Feng Shan turned to chat with his five quirky employees.
"Now that the mini-cabins are ordered, the plan to build cabins from scratch is on hold. What do you think we should do with those lumberjacks from the town?"
"Send them back to Kivalina! They eat a whole reindeer every day. Such a waste!" said Maria, who was in full-on manager mode, showing no regard for the fact that they were people she once lived with in the sa town.
David thought for a mont and shook his head.
"Why don’t we have them dig an airstrip? The riverbank still needs a runway. It’s too far to transport supplies from outside to the new camp. It’d be better to build a new airstrip."
Feng Shan thought it was a good suggestion. The airstrip on the Tundra was too far from the riverbank, and traveling back and forth was indeed inconvenient.
"Building a new airstrip is a good idea, but the problem is, even if we can build one on this land, won’t it soften in the sumr and turn into a mud pit?"
Yves added.
"Khilla, a simple airstrip doesn’t have to be complicated. When I was stationed overseas, I saw military engineers build airstrips on sand. We can dig a pit, fill it with rocks, lay logs over that, and then cover it with a layer of gravel. It would be more than enough for a P750-type aircraft to take off and land."
David nodded in agreent.
"That’s right. Doing it that way can effectively slow down permafrost subsidence. We could also build a few hangars while we’re at it. Leaving the planes outside, even with waterproof covers, can still cause damage."
"Then it’s settled. David, go find Old Swan tomorrow. Tell him to pause the logging and start building the airstrip. And while you’re at it, finalize the location for the runway."
Feng Shan agreed with their suggestions and turned to see that Tom and Jennifer had finished their discussion. Tom, however, had a long face, as if he’d run into a problem.
"Buddy, is there a problem?"
"There is!" Tom sighed. "The mini-cabins are no problem. The main issue is the heavy log villa. Jennifer said that any given log for the villa weighs over a ton. A regular helicopter can’t lift that."
"Then what do we do?" Feng Shan also knew the Tundra’s terrain was unique; heavy vehicles couldn’t get in. They couldn’t possibly hire people to carry them, could they?
Tom was getting a headache too. There was money to be made, but he couldn’t earn it. His capabilities were what they were; so things just can’t be solved with money.
"Besides using a dium-lift helicopter... I know the North Slope Petroleum Company in Prudhoe Bay has a CH-54 heavy-lift helicopter, but unfortunately, I don’t have the connections to talk to them."
"A CH-54 can carry a payload of 10 tons at a ti. It could transport the villa materials easily."
’North Slope Petroleum Company?’
’Isn’t that the parent company of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation?’
Feng Shan looked at Tom suspiciously. ’Could this guy know sothing?’
"Are you sure you an the North Slope Petroleum Group?"
"That’s right. I’ve seen that big beast. It lifts multi-ton oil pipes like they’re toys. The North Slope Petroleum Group treasures it. Forget borrowing it, they’d probably throw you in jail just for looking at it," Tom said with exaggeration.
’Alright!’
What else could Feng Shan say? He pulled out his satellite phone and called Jie Luo.
The phone rang a few tis before the call connected.
"Hey, Feng! What’s the rush to get back to the Crown Territory? I was planning on inviting you to go fishing on the Yukon River."
"Jie Luo, I need to rent the North Slope Petroleum Group’s CH-54 in Prudhoe Bay to transport so lumber."
"The CH-54? Hold on, I’ll call you right back."
The call ended. Tom’s perception of Feng Shan was once again completely overturned. ’In Fairbanks, he might have been relying on Frank’s power, but I never expected him to have connections with the North Slope Petroleum Company as well.’
’I understand him less and less.’
「Three minutes later.」
The satellite phone rang again.
Feng Shan answered, and Jie Luo’s voice ca through the phone. "Buddy, it’s all arranged with the North Slope folks. You can use it for free, whenever you want."
"Oh, right. Do you need a construction crew? As it happens, the North Slope Petroleum Company has a crew that’s available. They don’t have much work during the winter, so I can have them assigned to you for free."
Tom, who was eavesdropping nearby, stared with wide eyes in astonishnt.
’Only a few minutes had passed.’
’And he’d already sorted things out with the North Slope Petroleum Company.’
’Not only did he get the CH-54 for free, but they threw in a construction crew as a bonus.’
’He knew for a fact that the last ti soone borrowed that CH-54 from the North Slope Petroleum Company, the rental was 100,000 US Dollars an hour—and that was the insider price after pulling so strings.’
"That’s great! I was just about to build an airstrip." Feng Shan didn’t stand on ceremony with Jie Luo. Since it was free, it would be a waste not to take it.
"Alright then. The North Slope Petroleum Company will contact you tomorrow. Don’t you dare be polite with them," Jie Luo said with a hearty laugh, seeming very happy to be able to help Feng Shan.
Feng Shan laughed and replied, "Sounds good. Once the new camp is built, co on over. I’ll take you hunting!"
...
User Comments
0 comments from readers