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Chapter 49 5 Axis CNC Machines

"What big business?"

"Shorty after we expanded our company’s business, a person called Zhang Xueyang registered for an account on our website and said that he would like to consign to us the transportation of a few machine tools from Japan." Yiteng Yun opened the web content management system and pointed to the person’s post. "He’s also from Zhongyun City, and he came to our office twice a few days ago, but he was still unconvinced due to the small scale of our company, so he said he would wait for you to come back and discuss with you personally."

"Transport machine tools from Japan?" Chen Fan was a little suspicious. "Could this fellow be transporting goods that are prohibited from entering China? Otherwise, he could just get any shipping company in Zhongyun City to transport them over."

Yu Lin walked over and said, "I think so, this person came twice, I asked him what machine tools he transporting, and he said they’re 5-Axis CNC machines manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries."

"Mitsubishi Heavy Industries..." Chen Fan raised his head and gave it some thought, "It’s a military enterprise! Isn’t it wishful thinking to buy high-tech machine tools from there and transport them to Zhongyun?"

"They had originally contacted a Japanese parts processing factory for them to make the purchase in Japan and then smuggle here. But the smuggling ship was detained by the fisheries’ administration department on its way to Japan."

"This fellow has so many alternative sources? He even managed to team up with a Japanese company." Chen Fan looked at the time and said, "I’ll give everyone a treat at Phoenix Restaurant this afternoon. Zhang Lele, give him a call and invite him over, we’ll talk as we eat."

"Yes, boss." Zhang Lele replied happily.

At noon, Chen Fan brought the four to the Phoenix Restaurant nearby and asked for a private dining room. Shortly after ordering, the waiter brought a young man in. He was 1.78m tall, skinny, had a bit of a mustache on his lip and chin, and looked around twenty-three or twenty-four.

"Boss, this is Manager Zhang." Yu Lin stood up from the chair and made the introduction. "Manager Zhang, this is Boss Chen."

"Hello, how are you? Boss Chen, you’re really young and promising..." Zhang Xueyang held Chen Fan’s hands warmly the moment he stepped in.

"Hello, how are you?" Chen Fan grinned, "We’re both around the same age, please don’t stand on ceremony!"

"Yes, yes, I’ll drink three cups of wine as a punishment later." Zhang Xueyang started talking as soon as he sat on the chair. "Boss Chen, is your company’s business really that incredible as stated on the website? I’m at my wit’s end now. I’ve spent 20 million RMB on three machine tools, but they’re stuck in Japan and can’t be transported back."

"Would I be in this business if I didn’t have the ability?" Chen Fan held a cup and sipped some tea. "I know that our country can also manufacture 5-Axis CNC machines, so why didn’t you buy them domestically?"

"Boss Chen, you don’t understand since you’re not in this trade." Zhang Xueyang laughed bitterly. "Although our country can also produce this type of machine tool, the precision and quality are far from Japan’s. We bought two domestically produced ones a few years ago. They didn’t have any major problems, but minor ones happened every few days. I felt vexed just looking at them. We spent more time on their maintenance than we spent on working."

"Where do you work at, Manager Zhang? Why do you need to purchase such advanced machine tools?"

"I’m a department manager at Xinghua Processing Factory. The factory belongs to my dad. We specialize in manufacturing propellers, axle ball joints of vehicles and such. We received a number of large orders recently, and our current facilities are no longer sufficient to produce these machine parts."

Zhang Xueyang heaved a long sigh. "Some time back, I managed to get my classmate who was working in Japan to purchase three machine tools with his company’s name. I hired smugglers to transport them back, but the smugglers brought along illegal immigrants on the way there, and got detained by the fisheries’ administration department before reaching the Japanese territorial waters.

Chen Fan sounded very diplomatic. "What a pity..."

"Isn’t it? Developed countries are really too stringent on the prohibited products entering our country. Take Japan for example, you can buy anything as long as you have the money, and nobody cares what you do with it, but once you wanna transport it to China, it’s more serious than snatching their headman’s wife."

Chen Fan also let out a sigh. As a qualified nationalist, he had known all along what the developed countries were like. But what could he do? As long as they have leading edge technologies, they will be able to trap you.

"Boss Chen, with all due respect, may I ask how confident you are in transporting the three machine tools back?" Seeing Chen Fan frowning and keeping quiet, Zhang Xueyang thought that Chen Fan had no confidence. "If you’re able to transport the machine tools back, I’ll pay you 1 million RMB for each machine."

"Just call me Chen Fan!" Chen Fan smiled. "As long as you can provide a safe site, I have full confidence that it will get done. I’m not too particular on the loading place. Even on the beach is fine. I don’t need any deposit, you can pay me after the goods are here."

"There’s no problem with the site. The goods are not explosives. As long as it’s out of Japan, no one will bother with them."

"Bro Chen, I won’t bother about the method you use to transport the machines back, since confidentiality is of utmost importance in your trade." Zhang Xueyang paused and then said, "But I have to make myself clear since this is our first time working together. If your ship gets detained by Japan, I’ll take it that I did not buy the machines as long as I verified that it’s true. If it gets detained in our country, I’ll have ways to get them back and I won’t pay you a cent less. I only need you to promise me that you’re sincere in helping me on this."

Zhang Xueyang left out something. "We’re both from Zhongyun and know each other through and through so if you cheat me of my machines, I’ll make sure you pay back with interest."

"Don’t worry, Boss Zhang, since I have the ability to bring the machines out of Japan, it means that I’m in this business. Why would I destroy my own bread and butter for your three machine tools?" Although Zhang Xueyang sounded very tactical and reserved, Chen Fan could still tell what his worry was. There are too many cheaters nowadays, so everyone has to be cautious.

"Bro Chen, I like your straightforwardness!" Zhang Xueyang held up his thumb. "Do you have any rules to abide by? I know that people in your trade have many rules, like the one I previously contacted. He even asked me to have the packaging done up like Honda motorcycles."

"I have two requests." Chen Fan rubbed his nose. "First, cover the exterior packaging of the machine tools with a few layers of plastic and then wrap them with waterproof cloth. After that, tie them with nylon rope so that it’ll be easier to hoist them. Second, the goods have to be sent at night. Your guys have to leave after placing the goods. Our ship will arrive one hour later. You know how important safety is to us in this trade. I don’t wish for anyone to see our ship."

"No problem, this is simple." Zhang Xueyang’s doubts disappeared after seeing Chen Fan’s seemingly serious arrangements. Experienced smugglers like to attach goods at the bottom of ships so they will not be discovered unless frogmen are sent.

"Oh, Bro Chen, my machine tools are all delicate objects. Please be very careful when hoisting them."

"I’ll pay if there are any damages, as long as you don’t fool me with inferior goods." Chen Fan held his hand to his chest. He could earn 3 million RMB with the electric eel making a trip to and fro. Where else could he find such a good deal?

"Are you leaving me with no other alternatives then?" Zhang Xueyang pretended to be a little offended. "Punish yourself to three cups of wine later!"

Chen Fan laughed. "Piece of cake..."

Five minutes later, the waiters came with the dishes Chen Fan ordered. "Waiter, give us two bottles of ten-year Maotai." Zhang Xueyang snapped his fingers. "Bro Chen, let me treat this meal, don’t fight with me, let’s go singing after the drinks."

Who could say no to something free? After hearing this, Chen Fan regretted not ordering abalone and lobsters. Although he was secretly delighted, Chen Fan still said some formalities before pretending to give in reluctantly.