The Industrial Giant Reborn

The Brazilian government suddenly sent someone to contact him and asked for business cooperation, which was indeed beyond Chen Zhiwen's expectation. He had never thought of investing in Brazil at this time, and he might not even do so in the future. After all, just Asia, Europe and the United States are huge markets with lots of opportunities.

But it’s normal to think about it. With Midea’s scale, its own acquisition of Disney, and its recent large-scale acquisition in Hong Kong, it has already become famous internationally. It is reasonable for some countries to take the initiative to seek out Midea. After all, unless they are in Europe and the United States, Top developed countries like Japan and most other developing countries are also eager to attract foreign investment to drive the economy and create employment.

In Brazil, there are not many things that can attract Chen Zhiwen, and there are some in its own market, but this has little to do with whether you want to invest or not. Anyway, find a local snake with some power and connections in the country, and then cooperate, and the same goes for your own products. Can be sold.

In terms of investment projects, there are only large tracts of land that can be used as farms and pastures and various mining industries. But in terms of mining, the first thing is that Hutchison Whampoa itself has insufficient experience. One Christmas Creek is enough to take up a lot of energy, even in Brazil. He is willing to sell some mines, but he does not want to take over them. There are too many interests involved and it is difficult for foreign investors to control them. Just like the first super iron mine owned by Vale, it was actually discovered by the United States Steel Company. Later, the two joint ventures developed for several years, but eventually broke up.

Even the U.S. Steel Company, which has U.S. capital behind it, can't handle it. Chen Zhiwen has no interest in taking the initiative to participate. Compared with Canada and Australia, Brazil's various policy risks are definitely much greater. Maybe one day it will be forced to do so due to a law. Let you sell your mine.

Therefore, for Vale, pure economic investment is enough. Although their profits are divided, the real interest of a large company is not in the stock market, but in the employment and economy formed by its successive industrial chains in the region, just like the automobile industry. .

If you are just an investor with a small share, you will generally not be challenged. When Vale went public in the 1990s, it became a company invested by a large number of investors around the world. At that time, the Brazilian government was relatively more reasonable, and There will be no political risks. As long as most of the interests can be guaranteed to be their own, most people are still happy to maintain normal international rules.

As for the farm, you can directly invest in this thing yourself, because the efficiency is relatively low, and there is no front-end and rear-end industrial chain. The Brazilian government will not attack this industry, let alone target foreign investment because of this, because it is not worth it, after all. , foreign capital comes in to expand farm income, without infringing on the interests of local people, and can also bring foreign exchange income to the government plus long-term stable tax revenue, although it will not be very high.

The bigger change is that in ten years, Brazil and many countries in South America will change their permanent property policies. If you buy it then, the lease term will be 99 years!

As for building a farm after deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, if he is asked to invest now, it will definitely not work. His funds are also limited, but if it is 90 years later, there should be no problem. With such cheap land, he can spend money to invest and build a farm. It is also cost-effective. As long as there is no problem with transportation, it will be stable. You don’t need to think too much about the water source. In a place that can become a wild rainforest, there will basically be no shortage of water. However, you have to consider whether there will be too much water.

As for environmental protection, Chen Zhiwen can't control it. Without him, Brazil will still cut down the rainforest, so it's better to get involved himself.

The next day, Chen Zhiwen arranged a team of 60 people to go to Brazil to explore various situations, such as state-owned farms that Brazil was willing to sell, selecting suitable locations next to the Amazon rainforest, etc. Many of the places involved were large. , it is estimated that there will be no progress in a short period of time. Anyway, Chen Zhiwen is not in a hurry, just take his time. It won’t make any difference if he buys these things a few years later.

As for himself, he took some of the company's senior executives and his family on his own private plane to the UK.

In April, the UK has escaped the cold winter, and the temperature has become much more comfortable.

As early as two years ago, Chen Zhiwen arranged for someone to buy a private castle in the UK and arranged for a professional renovation team to decorate it. Like the courtyard house in Yanjing City, cold elements were added to the interior of the entire castle without changing the structure. Heating, electrical facilities, etc., all air-conditioning outlets are buried, but the temperature inside the castle is always warm in winter and cool in summer.

This is also Chen Zhiwen's first time living here. He has already arranged for people to purchase some existing ancient buildings around the world. These can not only be used for living, but can also be regarded as part of the antiques. Moreover, the total number of such buildings is limited. There will only be fewer and fewer of them. Even if there are real estate developers building exactly the same buildings later, they will lack historical heritage and have completely different value and significance.

As a super rich man, even buying a priceless antique house is like buying a bottle of water in the supermarket. Naturally, he cannot inspect each one in person. He can sit at the headquarters in Hong Kong, look at various pictures, and make a decision after comparing them. Came down.

"Are there a lot of rabbits here?" Liu Xiaoli, who was wearing British clothes, picked up her floor-length skirt unaccustomedly.

"In this kind of grassland, a few rabbits will make people feel closer to nature, but not too many. If there are too many, the grass will be eaten up." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile.

"Well, I'm not afraid of people." Liu Xiaoli squatted down and grabbed a rabbit's ears. The rabbit didn't resist and was still chewing the grass in its mouth. At the same time, she also looked at the human who picked her up, curious about these two-legged beasts. What do you want to do?

"People here often give them food, so they are not afraid of people." Chen Zhiwen also grabbed a rabbit and said, "Let's go roast a rabbit."

"The British also like to eat rabbits?" Liu Xiaoli asked.

"I can't say I like it, but some people eat it." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile.

Originally, rabbits were not commonly eaten in Europe, but during World War II, meat was scarce, so all kinds of rabbits were targeted. Although after World War II, meat was no longer in short supply, some people got used to it and continued to eat it. Went down.

"How to cook it? Make it spicy like Sichuan?" Liu Xiaoli asked.

"BBQ bar, that is, barbecue. We are going to meet Prime Minister Thatcher tonight. It is better not to eat anything too spicy, so as not to have stomach problems then." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile.

As the richest man in Hong Kong and a super rich man in the world, his business also involves several large-scale industries. When he comes to the UK and is invited by the British government, the British Prime Minister will naturally invite him to go. Anyway, it is just A meeting+dinner.

"Barbecue? But my clothes are not very convenient, are they? They get dirty easily?" Liu Xiaoli said after taking a look at the clothes she was wearing.

"It doesn't matter. There are many clothes like this, so you can just get used to them now." Chen Zhiwen said nonchalantly.

After arriving in the UK, I have to meet the Prime Minister again, so I still have to give face. Both of them will dress more formally. Chen Zhiwen will naturally wear a suit, and the female companion will also wear a traditional British dress. However, Liu Xiaoli is a little uncomfortable with it, and is now used to wearing it during the day. one time.

"Okay, I remember when I was a kid, I also watched other classmates catching hares and roasting them to eat, but my family didn't allow me to participate." Liu Xiaoli said.

"When you were a child, there was no shortage of food. If there were hares to eat, many people would have to rob them." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile.

More than ten years ago in China, it was estimated that many people did not eat meat during the Chinese New Year. Although Liu Xiaoli's family cannot be said to be a wealthy family, they certainly had no worries about food and clothing. Both parents were educated people, and the whole family The family can be said to be a scholarly family, and it is also because of this that it was able to train Liu Xiaoli from an early age.

Even decades later, art is something that ordinary families will not be able to afford.

After a while, the two came to a concrete open space on the west side of the castle, where many different types of barbecue grills were placed.

BBQ is very popular in Europe and the United States. Many people also have various barbecue equipment in their backyards. On weekends, the whole family or relatives and friends come to party, and everyone likes open-air BBQ.

The same is naturally true for large mansions or castles. Even when it rains, a large temporary canopy can be set up here, and BBQ activities will not be affected by rain at all, except for violent storms.

Other things, such as high-grade anthracite and various delicacies, have been prepared long ago. As long as there is demand for these foods, the owner of a small shop not far away will specially deliver the things. The quantity may not be large, but the service is excellent. Well, the profit is still very high.

Chen Zhiwen also did it himself, and barbecue was not that difficult. In his previous life, he often did it himself, or went to a special self-service shop. After traveling to Hong Kong, he also occasionally did it himself outside his villa in Hong Kong.

"It tastes good." Liu Xiaoli praised after tasting a few bites, but she baked it herself and it was a bit burnt.

"Of course, you can eat whatever you want." Chen Zhiwen smiled. Not only his family members were here today, but also some senior executives of the company and their families. It was considered a team-building trip abroad.

"Don't worry, Mr. Chen, we're not polite either." Midea General Manager Lei Shengli said with a smile.

Doing it yourself is mainly a leisure activity. It is also the simplest daily life to cook barbecue while chatting about home cooking and then enjoying it for your friends and relatives.

Of course, I still have money, otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here in such a good environment and with such a leisurely attitude.

In the afternoon, the British night came a little early. The limousine from the Prime Minister's Office came to pick them up. Chen Zhiwen and Liu Xiaoli went to Buckingham Palace together.

"Hello, Madam Prime Minister, I am very happy to see you in Buckingham Palace." After being arranged to enter Buckingham Palace, Chen Zhiwen met the Iron Lady Thatcher. Of course, for the leader of one of the five permanent members, even the declining five permanent members, Chen Zhiwen must give Very polite.

"Eric, the last time we met was more than a year ago." Thatcher said with a smile and shook hands.

"Yes, in Hong Kong in February last year." Chen Zhiwen replied with a smile.

Because of the problems in Hong Kong, Thatcher went to the mainland many times, and also went to Hong Kong several times later. In September 1982, Chen Zhiwen deliberately avoided it, but it is impossible to avoid it every time. At the beginning of last year, Saw it once at a public banquet.

And today, this time, it was a formal meeting between the two.