Chapter 45: An Irresistible Bait

Xu Aizhou was still reflecting on Lin Ran’s speech from earlier that day. After reading the report, he believed it at once. The data was so detailed that even an old shipping magnate like him couldn’t have access to much of it. For example, the transportation costs for America International Intercontinental Trucking—this was information he simply couldn’t obtain.

The data he did know matched almost perfectly with Lin Ran’s report, with differences no greater than a few thousandths. When he saw the design drawing of the conical guide post positioning device presented by Lin Ran, Xu Aizhou, an experienced tycoon, immediately recognized how useful this device was. It fundamentally solved the problem of cargo damage caused by collisions during loading and unloading, which in turn prevented cargo devaluation at its root.

If this standard were adopted worldwide, the conical guide post positioning device alone would become an essential fixture on every cargo ship and at every port, creating an enormous industry. This was the power of standardization.

After Lin Ran left, Xu Aizhou picked up the report again and glanced at the names and registration dates of the three patents inside—all registered under Randolph Lin, which was Lin Ran’s English name. He had suspected that a Jewish family might be behind this, since Lin Ran mentioned Rockefeller and Morgan. He had heard rumors of close ties between Lin Ran and the Morgan family. But on second thought, it seemed unlikely. No matter how much of a front this was, when had international standards ever been influenced by a Chinese businessman, especially one from a border region like Hong Kong?

Though Xu Aizhou was renowned as the Chinese Shipping King, he was hardly a notable figure in the global shipping world. If it were Rockefeller or Morgan partnering with Jews, would Chinese shipowners dare defy the international standards they set? Looking again at the patent registrant, this seasoned tycoon dismissed the possibility that someone else was acting on behalf of Rockefeller or Morgan—it was clear this was Lin Ran’s own endeavor.

The old magnate felt a surge of admiration: “These young talents are truly formidable—the new generation really does push the old forward! When I was his age, I was still selling peanut oil. Professor Lin is indeed a once-in-a-century mathematical genius.”

With trembling hands, he reached for the phone, and once connected, he bellowed with full force, “Shixun! Get over here immediately!”

***

After hanging up, Xu Aizhou thought of the remarkable person he had just met and then grew furious thinking about his son, who only knew how to gamble on horse races and chase women. Xu Shixun loved horse racing so much that he had become the largest racehorse owner in all of Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news, Dong Haoyun responded enthusiastically, vowing to cooperate fully with Xu Aizhou to make this endeavor a success: “Professor Lin, even if this project doesn’t turn a profit, I will give it my all. This is a matter of great pride for the Chinese people and will help us make a name in the global shipping industry. I will work closely with Elder Xu to establish the modern shipping route you envision.”

At Lu Yu Tea House in Hong Kong, Lin Ran met for a tripartite discussion with Xu Aizhou, his eldest son Xu Shixun, and Dong Haoyun, who also brought his son. Whereas the Lotus Pavilion, where Chen Jingrun and Director Zhang had gone, catered to common folk with shrimp dumplings and siu mai costing only 0.3 Hong Kong dollars per basket, the Lu Yu Tea House, where Xu Aizhou hosted, was famed for dishes like abalone stew, priced at 12 Hong Kong dollars per serving and requiring reservations a fortnight in advance.

This single meal cost more than half a year’s wages for an average Hong Kong resident.

“Mr. Xu, Mr. Dong, here are the one-year technology licenses for the patented Honeycomb Deck System, Conical Guide Post Positioning Device, and Container Data Structuring. You may collaborate with each other, partner with other shipping companies, or operate independently. How you build the modern shipping route is not my concern. What matters is that a year from now, when the International Container Association is established, they will visit Hong Kong and see something tangible—something that clearly demonstrates the superiority of our solution.

“Because both of you have mature experience in development, you will naturally become the contractors for the post-standardization shipping companies and port renovation projects. Whether or not I share equity from the technical standards with you, you will benefit. Furthermore, if you perform well, you can compete for seats on the final standards alliance, as well as shares in the company behind the standards. In truth, I have contributed only patents as equity and hold little sway.

“So whether this truly shakes the global shipping market depends on your efforts in the coming year.”

Lin Ran handed the patent licenses bearing his signature to Xu Aizhou and Dong Haoyun respectively. Using patents and container standardization as bait, with international ports and vessel renovations as the lure, any shipping magnate who studied the patents carefully would find it impossible not to bite. This was an open and blatant strategy.

***

The meal ended with warm camaraderie. Xu Aizhou’s eldest son Xu Shixun presented a deed to the land at 23-27 Wing Kit Street in Central: “Professor Lin, this is a small token of the Xu family’s appreciation. Please accept it.”

Lin Ran took it and was genuinely surprised—it wasn’t just for a single floor but the entire building. The property at No. 23-27 was a fourteen-story mixed-use commercial and residential tower. Floors two through five had already been leased to the headquarters of Zhouxing Real Estate for one million Hong Kong dollars per year. The rent from just those floors exceeded Lin Ran’s yearly salary.

Such a generous gift struck Lin Ran profoundly. He realized that although he possessed abilities and observational skills beyond others, he still lacked a full grasp of human nature. Xu Aizhou had told him he was gifting just one floor, but in fact, he was giving the whole building—a gesture that felt far more gracious than simply saying “the whole building” and then delivering it outright.

Lin Ran considered this a valuable lesson—no wonder the Xu family had stood firm through wars and emerged steady as a rock in business. On the other side, Dong Haoyun offered five percent equity in the Dong Shipping Group. Both parties sought to win Lin Ran’s support; a true shipping king knew how to get people on board.

The dinner was a complete success.

***

That night, back in his single dormitory at Hong Kong University, Lin Ran pulled out a blackboard and carefully reviewed his calculations: “According to my estimates, after modernization, the shipping route from the Far East to Europe and America will be about 60% cheaper than rail transport. America’s deindustrialization will begin twenty years earlier; General Motors will outsource over 80% of its components by the 1960s.

“The new route linking Yokohama, Busan, and Hong Kong will form a Pacific assembly line. European companies will initiate direct voyages to Asia ahead of schedule, and deep-water berths in the Malacca Strait will be completed earlier as well. Hong Kong is very likely to take on a large portion of manufacturing, replacing the role originally designated for 4V.

“Shipping in Hong Kong during the 1960s and 70s will be far safer. From a risk perspective, the electronics industry’s relocation will only be feasible in Hong Kong.”