Goblin Library - Chapter 209

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 209.

Following the elderly man’s guidance, Lee Gang-hun stepped into the mansion and entered what served as the living room.
Chairs lined both sides of the space, and in the center, an elderly man with white hair sipped tea from a Chinese porcelain cup.
His hair was snowy white, yet his physique remained remarkably robust.
This was Wang Hong, the man with whom Lee Gang-hun shared a connection.
“Welcome, my friend.”
Wang Hong smiled and gestured to the seat beside him. Lee Gang-hun cupped his fist in salute, bowed respectfully, and took his place.
“It gladdens my heart to see that you remain in such excellent health.”
“I’ve left behind a tumultuous life and now live in peace—there’s no reason my body should fail me.”
Wang Hong set down his cup and poured fresh tea for his guest. Lee Gang-hun lifted the cup, examined the brew briefly, and took a measured sip.
“Excellent tea.”
“Just arrived from Yunnan this time—truly exceptional quality.”
Wang Hong then picked up a piece of dried meat from the table beside him and offered it.
“Thank you.”
“So tell me, what brings you to China when so many there wish to see you dead?”
“Ha! It seems you’ve heard quite a bit about my situation.”
“I have many brothers conducting business in that country.”
Wang Hong continued with a smile.
“I don’t concern myself with major matters, but I’ve asked my associates not to lay a hand on you.”
“I’m grateful. That’s precisely why I’ve come with a proposition that benefits both you and your brothers.”
“A proposition that benefits us… and naturally benefits you as well.”
“It benefits us all.”
“Then what is this proposition?”
Wang Hong regarded Lee Gang-hun with interest. He knew Lee Gang-hun as a man who brought profitable opportunities.
And if profit was involved, he was someone willing to negotiate even with those who had once sought his death.
That’s what made this moment so intriguing—just how lucrative would this proposal be?
“I’d like you to purchase some land.”
“Land?”
“I intend to develop a residential community for wealthy individuals in the country where I conduct business.”
“Hmm… even in a poor country, not everyone is impoverished—the wealthy remain wealthy.”
“Precisely. And from what I’ve observed, there are many local officials and entrepreneurs newly enriched by the business ventures happening in China.”
“So you’re saying you’ll build homes for these newly wealthy?”
“The established wealthy already know how to live well in fine homes, but those who’ve suddenly struck it rich often don’t.”
“You’re creating a residential development for such people?”
“A residential development for Chinese nationals as well.”
“Our country?”
“These are people who became wealthy through Chinese money—naturally, Chinese nationals should share in those benefits as well, shouldn’t they?”
Wang Hong paused at Lee Gang-hun’s words before responding.
“Will there be profit in it?”
“Wherever the wealthy begin to settle, land values invariably rise.”
“That’s true enough. So you’re asking me to buy land cheap and resell it dear?”
Wang Hong’s expression shifted to one of puzzlement.
“But if you do that, wouldn’t your business never get off the ground?”
Lee Gang-hun’s venture was built on constructing quality homes at reasonable prices and selling them. Yet if land values climbed, he couldn’t build quality homes at competitive rates.
Since the project hadn’t even broken ground, rising land prices would strangle it before it could begin.
Lee Gang-hun smiled and nodded at Wang Hong’s observation.
“Buying land cheap and selling it dear—that’s correct. But the land in question is different.”
“Different?”
“The land I need is for constructing homes. The land I’m proposing you acquire is for convenience facilities.”
“Convenience facilities… you mean shops and such?”
“Precisely. Since wealthy residents will be moving in, we’ll need marts, convenience stores, clothing shops, hospitals—establishments like those. If you acquire such parcels and develop them, the returns should be substantial.”
Wang Hong fell silent, contemplating Lee Gang-hun’s proposal before speaking.
“If I were profiting alone, the margins would be decent. But factoring in other partners as you suggest, the individual share wouldn’t be particularly large, would it?”
“This is merely the beginning.”
“The beginning?”
“Once a wealthy neighborhood emerges, other service establishments and workers catering to them naturally congregate. Revenue streams multiply through those channels as well.”
“Hmm…”
Wang Hong shook his head slightly, as though the proposition were tedious. While uncertain of the ultimate profit, his ambitions transcended such modest returns.
This caliber of venture was work for those beneath him.
“Can you provide concrete figures?”
“I could generate numbers, but imprecise ones would amount to deceiving Wang Tagger. So I’ve refrained from projecting.”
“I see. That’s reasonable.”
Wang Hong took a sip of tea before continuing.
“But if it’s undeveloped land, prices should be low. Why propose this to me? You have the capital to acquire it yourself, don’t you?”
Lee Gang-hun smiled as he answered.
“I need your shadow.”
“My shadow? Ah… I understand.”
Wang Hong nodded with a knowing smile, grasping the implication.
By surrendering his share of commercial land profits and recruiting Wang Hong and other Chinese investors, Lee Gang-hun was building protection against terrorism.
With a Triad heavyweight like Wang Hong invested in the venture, it would serve as an umbrella shielding Lee Gang-hun from threats of sabotage by rival Chinese organized crime syndicates.
And should additional Triad magnates join beyond Wang Hong, that umbrella would grow thicker and more expansive.
The calculation was about security, not mere profit margins.
Wang Hong mulled over Lee Gang-hun’s words before speaking again.
“There’s a problem with me taking this on.”
“Is there?”
“I understand the profits would materialize, but our people are territorial about their ventures. We resent outsiders encroaching on our domains—even brothers, if I’m being frank. Do you follow?”
“I do.”
Lee Gang-hun smiled as he sipped his tea and spoke.
“How is the Boss’s business these days?”
Rather than continue persuading Wang Hong with business talk, Lee Gang-hun shifted the conversation.
“Today is like yesterday, and tomorrow will be like today.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Is it?”
“Surely Boss Wang has reached the point where defense matters more than expansion.”
“Well, at my age now, it feels pointless to expand further anyway.”
Wang Hong was indeed in his late sixties, so this was indeed the time to consolidate rather than grow.
“Then what do you plan to do now?”
“I’ll have to find other business partners.”
Wang Hong asked, observing the smile on Lee Gang-hun’s face.
“Aren’t you disappointed that I rejected your proposal?”
“I wish all business ventures succeeded, but that’s hardly realistic, is it? Besides, if Boss Wang accepted every suggestion I made, how could I comfortably visit you?”
Lee Gang-hun continued with a smile.
“It’s only when you occasionally decline that I feel comfortable making proposals and bring even better ones next time.”
“Haha! That’s right, I’m glad you think that way.”
Wang Hong burst into hearty laughter and continued speaking as he looked at Lee Gang-hun.
“Why don’t you stay here for a few days if you’re not too busy?”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
This wasn’t mere politeness—I had already planned to stay at Wang Hong’s residence for about two days.
I hadn’t arranged my schedule this way simply for leisure; I intended to discuss the business plan and financial arrangements in detail once Wang Hong accepted the proposal.
And now… though the business proposal had fallen through, leaving immediately would only disappoint Wang Hong.
Of course, Wang Hong was the one who rejected the proposal, but to maintain a good relationship with him going forward, I needed to make some effort to appease him.

That evening, Lee Gang-hun was dining with Wang Hong. Over fine cuisine and wine, he engaged in casual conversation with Wang Hong on various topics.
“So, in your view, how should I earn money going forward?”
“Wouldn’t it be best to follow China’s current policies?”
“Are you talking about expanding overseas?”
“Precisely.”
Lee Gang-hun continued with a smile.
“There are two methods to earning money.”
“Two methods? What are they?”
“The first is to follow the money.”
“Follow the money?”
“It’s obvious, but wherever large sums of money flow is where you can earn substantial wealth.”
“That’s true. You can’t make money where there is none.”
“Exactly. Sometimes people do earn money in places others avoid—but that’s like standing with your mouth open waiting for an apple to fall from the sky. So following the money is the safest approach.”
Wang Hong nodded and spoke.
“Then what’s the second method?”
“There’s a Chinese saying: ‘Everything depends on people.’ It has multiple interpretations, but I believe it means that all matters are resolved depending on how you employ people.”
“In another sense, it also means that problems are solved by meeting the right people.”
“Precisely. Either way, both methods require people—the right kind of people.”
“So you’re saying if you follow the right people, money will come?”
“Exactly. Don’t you see how those who make money keep making it, while those who fail keep failing?”
“But there are self-made entrepreneurs who fail ten times and succeed spectacularly on the eleventh attempt, aren’t there?”
Lee Gang-hun laughed at Wang Hong’s point.
“Such people do exist, and they’re certainly remarkable. But those working alongside them never know when success will finally come, do they?”
“That’s… true.”
“I’d rather stand beside someone who succeeds consistently in small ways than someone who fails ten times before one grand success.”
“That has merit too.”
After all, standing beside someone who fails repeatedly means you’ll fail repeatedly as well.
Watching Wang Hong nod, Lee Gang-hun spoke lightly.
“Since you have a keen eye for people, Wang Tagger, if you employ the right individuals, money will flow in naturally—people like myself, for instance.”
Wang Hong laughed at Lee Gang-hun’s words and smile.
Wang Hong raised his glass, and Lee Gang-hun raised his as well, drinking together.
Then they poured wine into each other’s glasses.
“Money’s flow and people…”
Lee Gang-hun spoke as he watched Wang Hong murmur softly.
“If entering the sectors where I currently operate is difficult due to existing connections, what about Country C?”
“Country C?”
“From what I’ve heard, many Chinese officials have been entering Country C recently. It seems China will likely fund development there as well.”
“Is that so?”
Lee Gang-hun smiled, noticing Wang Hong’s unfamiliarity with the matter.
“Since I don’t have precise details yet, do investigate it. And if such projects are indeed being pursued… acquire a heavy equipment repair company in Country C.”
“A heavy equipment repair company?”
“Country C isn’t wealthy, so they repair and restore old, worn-out equipment to keep it operational. They even fabricate missing parts by melting and shaping metal to fit. That’s how resourceful they are.”
“But doesn’t it break down again?”
“Of course it does. But somehow it keeps running. And that’s precisely why the craftsmen there are so skilled. If you acquire a few of those repair companies and operate them, you’ll make money. And beyond that…”
Lee Gang-hun smiled as he continued.
“I’ll send you heavy equipment that’s being scrapped in Korea and other countries. If you establish a few heavy equipment companies using that equipment… you’ll turn a profit.”
“Ha! And you’ll make money too, won’t you?”
“Isn’t mutual profit the finest bond between partners?”
“Hmph! Yes, that’s true.”
When a meeting could be transformed into profit, there was no reason to refuse it.
That was the primary reason Wang Hong, a Triad magnate, continued his relationship with Lee Gang-hun without hesitation.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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