Money makes the mare go!
Whether in China or abroad, this sentence is absolutely a true maxim.
What can 500 pounds buy?
A round-trip ticket to the United States.
Of course, to board this flight, one had to wear the airline’s uniform.
In fact, it was just pretending to be a flight crew member.
On the way to the flying boat dock, Kent, who was driving the car, glanced at Li Yi’an in the rearview mirror and said straightforwardly:
“Mr.
Li, I don’t know why you are going to New York, but you have to know, we will only stay in New York for 5 days.
After 5 days, whether you come back or not, we must return to London.
As for the next time, I cannot guarantee you will have the chance to board the plane again next time.”
“Please rest assured, Captain Kent, I absolutely will not delay everyone’s time.”
Soon, the car stopped at the parking lot next to the Tower Bridge in London.
A large four-engine Empire C-class flying boat was parked by the River Thames.
“See?
This is the Empire C-class flying boat.”
Major Kent cast his gaze toward the plane and said:
“Before the war, it was the main passenger plane of the British Empire connecting the homeland with overseas colonies.
Every week there were flights from Britain to Egypt, India, East Africa, South Africa, Malaysia, and Australia…
Now, there are only flights to New York, once a week.”
As he spoke, he stepped toward the flying boat dock.
When approaching the dock, the sentries on duty just glanced at them and then let them pass.
Obviously, Kent had already greased the palms of everyone.
From the blind eye turned by those sentries, one could tell that it definitely wasn’t Kent’s first time doing this kind of thing.
Even after Li Yi’an boarded the plane, he didn’t attract the attention of the flight crew.
On the plane, he was like an invisible person, sitting on a seat in front of a pile of mailbags.
About twenty minutes later, accompanied by the closing of the cabin door, the engines above the wings roared and started turning.
The huge flying boat slowly taxied to the center of the River Thames, and then began to accelerate.
The spray kicked up during the plane’s taxiing constantly hit the porthole, and suddenly, the plane began to climb.
For Li Yi’an, who was riding a flying boat for the first time, he was naturally very curious.
But soon, curiosity turned into boredom.
“Get some sleep first.”
Mechanic Richard threw Li Yi’an a sleeping bag and said:
“We still have to fly for 26 hours.”
26 hours!
This was the time from London to New York.
Of course, it wasn’t a direct flight to New York; during the journey, they needed to stop in Greenland for refueling, and then fly to New York.
Occasionally, one could even see plumes of smoke rising from the sea, which were produced by merchant ships sunk by German submarines burning on the sea.
The smoke plumes reminded Li Yi’an that the Nazi wolf packs were not a legend.
…
Including the stop in Greenland, it took almost 27 hours for the plane to finally land at the Port of New York.
After the plane landed and docked, before the cabin doors even opened, all the crew members seemed a bit impatient.
They all wanted to immediately rush into New York City to exchange the watches and cameras in their suitcases for the supplies they needed.
Although 1943 New York couldn’t compare to the prosperity of later generations, it was already the most prosperous metropolis of this era.
The existence of skyscrapers even gave a feeling of time-space illusion; after all, skyscrapers like the Empire State Building towered over Manhattan.
Walking on the streets weaving with people, looking at the crowds beside him and the high-rise buildings on both sides, Li Yi’an felt a sense of alienation from time travel.
As a Chinese person arriving in New York, unfamiliar with the place and people, the only place he could come to was Chinatown.
The reason Li Yi’an came to Chinatown first was to find channels to buy cigarettes.
Once Li Yi’an entered Chinatown, he immediately noticed many people wearing uniforms of a similar style and color to his.
At this time, a Chinese man wearing an open-collar shirt took the initiative to step forward and greet him.
“Lei ho a, sin saang.” (Hello, sir in Cantonese)
The Cantonese in his ears stunned Li Yi’an.
Before he could react, Zhu Yihai saw that this person couldn’t speak Cantonese, so he switched to Mandarin.
“Hello, sir, first time in Chinatown?”
Seeing the other party clearly looked like he was visiting Chinatown for the first time, he immediately realized there was an opportunity.
Listening to the Mandarin with a Cantonese accent, a wave of intimacy welled up in Li Yi’an’s heart.
“That’s right, first time here.”
Although everyone was a compatriot, one should always be careful when away from home.
Although there was no Northern Myanmar in this era, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
So Li Yi’an appeared very cautious.
Seeing the other party’s obvious vigilant attitude, Zhu Yihai hurriedly explained:
“Sir, you don’t need to worry that I will harm you.
Right now, a small half of the people in Chinatown rely on sailors like you to make a living.
How could we smash our own rice bowls?
Don’t worry, in Chinatown, absolutely no one will deceive you.
I see you seem to be here for the first time.
I wonder if there is anything I can help you with.”
Hearing the other party say this, Li Yi’an asked curiously:
“A small half of the people in Chinatown rely on sailors for a living?
How so?”
“Sir, look at the sailors in Chinatown, aren’t they all your colleagues?
Right now, the best business in Chinatown is buying watches, cameras, and fur from your hands…”
Under the other party’s explanation, Li Yi’an realized that there were tens of thousands of Chinese sailors in the Allied merchant fleets.
When they arrived in Britain, they would use supplies like cigarettes to exchange for watches, cameras, jewelry, and even fur coats, and then bring them to New York to sell in Chinatown, exchanging them for cash and supplies.
“So, if I guess correctly, sir must also be here to trade supplies.”
“Indeed,”
Li Yi’an nodded with a smile and said:
“I did bring some things over.
I don’t know what prices they fetch.”
“This depends on what exactly you brought.
I will help you find the most suitable shops.
As for my commission, you can rest assured, you don’t have to worry about this.
No matter which shop I take you to, the shop owner will give me a commission in the end.”
Zhu Yihai explained in great detail, and of course, very frankly.
The most important thing in doing business is frankness, especially with people dealing for the first time.
If Mazu protects his ship from accidents, then he will definitely come back to find him next time.
With regular customers, the business can continue indefinitely.
Examining the person in front of him, he looked to be in his thirties.
Although dressed cleanly and neatly, the worn collar indicated that his current situation was not very good.
After thinking for a moment, Li Yi’an asked:
“If I need a lot of cigarettes?
Lucky Strike and Camel, can you get them?”
“Look at what you’re saying,”
As soon as the other party spoke, Zhu Yihai knew this business deal was stable.
“Don’t you come to Chinatown just for this?
How many cigarettes do you need?
20 cartons?
Or 50 cartons?
You know, currently, American cigarettes also have a quota system!
Everyone only has a quota of a few packs a week, so the price isn’t cheap.”
“Then how much needs to be added to the price?”
“At least fifty percent more.”
Zhu Yihai explained.
“Sometimes it might even be sixty or seventy percent more.
This price fluctuates with the market, but if you want a lot of goods, it can definitely be cheaper…”
“I do want quite a lot.”
Li Yi’an said.
“More than all of them put together.
If you can help me find a reliable seller who can guarantee supply, the commission is negotiable.”
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends.