chapter 8 Benjamin Su enters the stage

When the freight train arrived at the station, it was already 7 PM. Benjamin and the train staff were already quite familiar with each other. Since they hadn't been making much profit, they were extremely polite to Benjamin, who was now seen as a source of earnings.

As Benjamin stepped off the train, he spotted Simon waiting on the platform with two unfamiliar men.

Seeing Benjamin disembark, Simon introduced Lucas Li and Jason Li in a low voice and then led them to approach quickly. Since this wasn't the final destination, Michael naturally couldn't accompany them, but he still exchanged a few pleasantries with everyone before hurrying back onto the train.

Currently, Ertai Town doesn't have a decent hotel. Lucas and the others chose a uniquely characteristic restaurant to treat Benjamin. Feng City still didn't have a hunting ban, so the restaurant offered a wide variety of dishes. In addition to common dishes like stewed wild mushrooms with pheasant and dishes made from wild boar and deer, Lucas, and Jason specifically had the owner prepare a bear paw for Ian to try.

Lucas and Jason had heard a lot about Benjamin from Simon and Robert over the past few days, so they were naturally extremely warm upon meeting him. Combined with Benjamin's impressive appearance—sharp black trousers paired with a light blue shirt that accentuated his elegance—he exuded confidence and dominance in every gesture. Lucas and Jason, who had formed their opinions in advance, were both somewhat shaken. They thought that what Simon and the others had said wasn't unfounded.

Benjamin's style of dress already carried some elements of modern business elites. He simply couldn't stand the image of a shaved head, tattoos, and bell-bottom pants. So, he didn't hesitate to spend money on his appearance. What he didn't realize was that this change had inadvertently led to several young people who frequented the station quietly imitating him. Only Simon, who had been holed up in Ertai Town, still maintained his previous style.

Naturally, Benjamin took the main seat. Nicholas astutely took out packs of local premium cigarettes from his bag and handed one to each of Lucas and Jason. Benjamin understood that for a first meeting, the key was to be generous and open-handed. At this time, local premium cigarettes were considered nothing short of luxury items, and their sensory impact on the two men was no less than if he had handed them a $10,000 handbag in the presence of a materialistic woman in the future.

Most of the people in Ertai Town were mountain folk, known for their bold and unrestrained nature. The weighty gifts seemed to overwhelm Jason and Lucas, who were both overcome with excitement. They downed three cups in succession, with each cup containing one or two shots of the local 50-plus proof grain alcohol. Even with Benjamin's robust constitution, he could feel his face growing warm after drinking in such a hurry.

As the alcohol took effect, the atmosphere immediately warmed up. Benjamin knew that his pine nut business was not a one-time deal. He signaled for Nicholas to refill the cups, then raised his own.

Seeing everyone raise their cups, Benjamin declared, "Today, we're seizing this golden opportunity for wealth. Naturally, when we profit, everyone profits. From now on, for every ton of cargo transported, I'll give each of you fine gentlemen $40 as hard-earned pay."

Finishing his drink with a tilt of his head, Benjamin's declaration nearly caused Lucas and Jason to jump in astonishment. Ertai Town was still a remote little town. Lucas was a bit better off, earning just over 60 dollars a month, while Jason, working for the Board of Market Regulation, made just over 50 dollars. The payment for this box of goods was nearly equivalent to their monthly salaries. In their eyes, Benjamin's generosity marked him as a man with big plans, and the quantity involved was not small.

Both men were filled with excitement.

As Benjamin continued to drink, the alcohol was starting to go to his head. He stood tall, his eyes exuding a commanding air, and the tattoos that peeked out from his clothes made him appear like a fierce tiger in the eyes of the onlookers. Nicholas looked on with stars in his eyes. He had been cautious with his drinking, as the hefty sum of 40,000 dollars was resting on his shoulders, and he was afraid that too much alcohol might lead to a mishap. However, his rugged nature got the better of him, and he downed a glass of liquor.

At the table, Jason provided a detailed overview of the pine nut situation in Ertai Town. Currently, the pine nuts from Ertai Town are primarily sold to the trade and produce companies under the Board of Forestry. The grading and pricing by these companies were quite stringent, offering first-class pine nuts at 2.3 dollars, second-class at 2.1 dollars, and third-class at 1.9 dollars. However, typically, the produce companies would downgrade first-class to second-class and second-class to third-class. It was said that relations between the two sides were quite strained, and there had been no transactions lately.

Early the next morning, under Jason's guidance as a local expert, Benjamin quickly secured deals with several large landowners at a rate of 2.8 dollars per kilogram. After quality inspections passed without a hitch, he settled the payments after weighing the pine nuts.

Benjamin understood the trajectory for the coming year, knowing he needed to build good relationships with these major landowners. He bumped up the prices by an additional 20 cents. He also signed five-year exclusive contracts with these two major landowners. With Simon by his side throughout the process, after everything was settled, he called Simon over.

"As soon as this batch of goods starts moving, we'll have the capital to expand. I want you to anchor yourself here. Use the contract sample I just used. Secure the contracts for pine nuts from all the major landowners within a hundred miles of Feng City," Benjamin instructed, a hint of ruthlessness in his tone.

"Before the produce companies catch on, I want over 80% of Feng City's pine nut contract share. Can you do it?"

"Understood," Simon replied, determinedly nodding.

Benjamin gazed at the setting sun, his tone calm. "Since we're entering the field, let's not give others a chance."

Once the first batch of pine nuts was shipped, he would immediately establish a company. Then, he would use the company's name to sign contracts. This way, the goldmine of pine nuts in Feng City would be firmly in Benjamin's hands. This marked the true beginning of his path to wealth.