Chapter 1339
: The private jet causes a sensation; the Queen's model; a Hextech joint venture is
On the royal landing pad at Windsor Castle.
The nobles, the old money, and the new money all stared wide-eyed at the Queen's private jet circling overhead.
"My God, is this Her Majesty the Queen's private jet?"
"It's so beautiful, it's a perfect combination of industry and art."
"I love the elegant blue color, which showcases the majesty of the Royal Navy."
"If it were painted silver, it might have a more aristocratic feel, but it's stunning as it is now."
In this era, although private planes have emerged, most are still in the rudimentary stage of "just needing to fly is enough".
Such a private jet, with its sleek and elegant lines and exquisite paintwork, is truly unprecedented.
The moment the Queen's private jet made its appearance, it immediately captured everyone's attention.
Even the Queen herself, standing at the very front of the crowd, couldn't hide the satisfaction in her eyes.
After all, it was she who personally approved the project and commissioned the mysterious Eastern manufacturer to produce it.
The exclamations of amazement from the surrounding aristocrats were undoubtedly the highest praise for her taste.
Amidst a sea of watchful eyes, the Queen's private jet slowly landed, and the Prince pushed open the cabin door and jumped off the plane.
“Your Highness, this plane is truly magnificent. Would we be so fortunate as to board it and have a look?” Several nobles of high status stepped forward at that moment.
"Of course, come on, let me introduce you." The prince was very enthusiastic, after all, sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone.
Thus, the originally solemn and dignified welcoming ceremony instantly turned into an exhibition of the interior of the Queen's private jet.
The prince, on the other hand, became the chief guide.
"See that? This is a specially designed driver's seat. It's flexible underneath and can adjust automatically."
"There's a refrigerator here where you can store iced coffee and beer."
"And this is an absolutely ingenious design: the parachute cabinet."
If you encounter an emergency at an altitude of 10,000 meters, you can quickly parachute to safety.
Of course... I have 100% faith in the quality of this Eastern aircraft, and I hope these parachutes will forever remain just decorations, haha!
The nobles were amused by the prince's witty and humorous commentary, and the atmosphere in the cabin was extremely lively.
The prince continued:
"Furthermore, it can seat five people and has a range of over three thousand kilometers. To be honest, I've already planned to personally pilot it next year, taking the Queen on a romantic round-the-world trip!"
Upon hearing this, the nobles were instantly tempted.
Although they are not professional pilots, they are not very interested in personally flying a plane in the cold wind.
But what if it could be used for business travel?
Private jets have very low requirements for takeoff and landing; even without a formal airport, they can take off and land on open ground or highways.
In this era where time is money, communication networks are still extremely underdeveloped, and cross-border business often requires in-person negotiations.
Sometimes, a mere half-hour delay on the road can cause a competitor to snatch away a huge order worth millions of pounds.
Unfortunately, trains and cars are too slow.
If only I could own a private jet that could take off at any time and fly directly across borders...
Needless to say, in the eyes of those old-money families who are most particular about extravagance, only such a private jet can truly demonstrate their noble and unparalleled lineage and temperament.
Imagine, while other wealthy families are driving Rolls-Royces and honking their horns on London's crowded streets.
What does it feel like to be sitting on a private jet overlooking all living beings from the clouds?
How are status and class manifested? Isn't it by possessing rare treasures that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of?
This private jet from the East has both practical value and perfectly matches their desire to show off top-tier luxury goods.
Almost instantly.
Several astute nobles and heads of old money families quietly slipped out of the crowd, found Yang Jizong, and inquired about the price of the private jet.
They were disappointed, however, as the Queen's private jet's manufacturing process and price are kept secret.
"Mr. Yang, if we want to customize the same private jet, how much would it cost? Just name your price!"
"Well, it depends on the situation. As you all know, although it's a small plane, its technology is world-class. Come on, let me give you a proper introduction."
Yang Jizong is now an excellent salesman, and he has boarded the small plane again with a dozen nobles.
On the lawn not far away, the Queen was sipping red tea and chatting amiably with Adele.
Looking at Yang Jizong, who was surrounded by a group of nobles, the Queen smiled and exclaimed, "Adele, you have excellent taste in choosing a husband."
Adele's eyes were also filled with happiness.
As the representative of Hextech within the John Bull family, her status within the family is rising.
Li Aiguo received the call from Yang Jizong, which was transferred from John Bull's house, just as he was about to leave work.
"What?! A tentative order for fifteen private jets?!"
After explaining the situation, Yang Jizong said...
"Yes, now the other party is asking about the price."
Li Aiguo hadn't expected that the prince would become such a living advertisement. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "The basic model is $800,000, and the Queen's model is $1 million."
"The Queen's style?" This was the first time Yang Jizong had ever heard of such a name.
"It's similar to the Queen's private jet in terms of configuration, interior and everything else is the same."
Of course, the Queen's and Royal Family's coat of arms cannot be painted on, but a customization service is available to replace it with the buyer's own family crest.
"Is this interior and paint job really worth $200,000?"
"Jizong, your vision is still too narrow. It's not the interior and paint that are valuable, it's the name 'Queen's Style' that's valuable."
"what?!"
Yang Jizong was completely dumbfounded on the other end of the phone.
Can a mere title magically generate an extra $200,000 in revenue?
This is even faster than robbing a bank!
However, he didn't ask any more questions.
Since the patriotic brothers say it's worth it, then someone must be willing to pay for it!
At worst, if they think it's too expensive, we can always try to sell the basic model for 800,000.
Yang Jizong didn't ask any more questions. After hanging up the phone, he went to the banquet venue.
To celebrate the Prince's triumphant return to the skies in his private jet, the Queen specially arranged a royal banquet.
The nobles were talking when they saw Yang Jizong enter, and they stood up to inquire about the situation.
"That's the situation. Personally, I think the basic model is enough."
What makes a top-notch salesperson? It's someone who always puts themselves in the customer's shoes.
Yang Jizong's tactic of retreating to advance was masterful.
However, he underestimated the old European aristocracy's fervent pursuit of prestige.
As soon as he finished speaking, several nobles immediately took out their checkbooks and wrote checks.
“How could the prestigious Norfolk family possibly use a basic model! I want to buy the Queen’s private jet, one million dollars, in full!”
"Give me one just like the Queen's! But I want the paint job changed to dark gray, with our family's hound emblem!"
"I want it to be golden yellow! Yes, the seats must be made of Italian calfskin!"
Faced with the checks being handed to him, Yang Jizong was filled with shock.
A name can bring in two hundred thousand dollars in profit?
Patriotic brothers are the real sales masters!
To Yang Jizong's surprise, the impact of the Queen's private jet quickly swept across Europe like a trend.
In particular, the Prince flew over London in the Queen's private jet for several consecutive days, and the photos were taken by reporters and published in the newspapers.
"The Queen's Private Jet", "The Great Aerial Cross-Country", "The Miracle of the East".
These labels further enhanced Hextech's reputation, making its private jets a hot topic of conversation among Europe's high society.
Europe at this time was gradually recovering from World War II.
Wealthy and powerful, but spiritually empty.
The nobles were even more so; seeing that the prince particularly liked this kind of aircraft, they felt they had to have one too, they had to keep up with the trend.
This trend started in Europe, then spread to North America, and subsequently swept through South America and Africa.
South America certainly doesn't have any nobles, but it does have flour merchants.
Their eyes lit up when they saw that the plane had a long range, high speed, and could take off and land at any time.
This thing is simply the perfect tool for transporting "high-value flour"!
buy!
As for the tribal chiefs in Africa, their thinking is even simpler.
If attacked by a hostile tribe, you can jump on this magical plane and fly hundreds of kilometers away in no time. It is definitely a good thing to save your life and escape!
Buy and buy!
Amid this near-fanatical adoration, Hextech's private jets frequently graced the pages of major media outlets worldwide.
Many people read the newspaper carefully and then learned that the Queen's private jet was manufactured by Hextech.
Many people commented, "No wonder it's Hextech; they can design such a great aircraft."
"Yes, look at the newspaper, the pre-orders are huge."
"Ugh, this damn price is just too expensive, starting at eight hundred thousand dollars!"
If it were cheaper, even if it were ten thousand pounds, I would definitely sell everything I own to buy one.
This way I won't have to squeeze onto that damn bus every morning, and I can take my wife for a drive in Scotland on weekends.
"Don't dream, buddy. But there was a really good saying in the newspaper: these days, all the socialites in high society are using the same phrase..."
"What?"
"I'd rather cry on a Hextech jet than laugh in a Rolls-Royce!"
Inside an office in the Beckton area of the lower Thames River.
Yang Jizong took a big gulp of strong tea, frowning at the bitterness. He had only gone to bed late last night and had to get up early this morning.
He's been very busy lately, handling both the sales of private jets and overseeing the construction of the Hextech joint venture car factory.
Fortunately, today is the big day that the joint venture factory officially opened for business.
Yang Jizong washed his face because a reporter wanted to interview him today, and he felt much better.
At this moment, the entrance to the Hextech joint venture car factory was already bustling with noise and the sound of gongs and drums!
The news spread like wildfire, and local Chinese people flocked from all directions to show their support as soon as they heard it.
No one knows who started it, but they even spontaneously organized a Yangko dance team, dancing enthusiastically at the gate.
Meanwhile, several important figures from London City Hall also arrived by car.
In addition, the Hextech dealers at John Bull's company were all dressed in suits and ties, making a grand appearance.
On one side are Eastern faces dressed in Eastern attire, and on the other side are English gentlemen holding walking sticks.
The collision of these two completely different art styles creates an indescribably strange scene, yet it also exudes an eerie harmony.
The opening ceremony didn't follow the usual Western formalities.
Yang Jizong went on stage and said a few words. Then, following the old Eastern tradition, he lit several strings of red firecrackers that had been hung up beforehand.
"Crackling and popping!"
Amidst the deafening sound of firecrackers, Yang Jizong was interviewed by John Bull's reporter.
"The Hextech joint venture is a responsible car factory that guarantees to build the best off-road vehicles."
“We will also be launching sedans and sports cars specifically designed for women later.”
"Shopping or going for a drive are both fine."
The reporters were not only focused on the Hextech joint venture, but also on the Queen's private jet.
At the time, several reporters inquired about the sales figures for the private jet.
"Oh, my friend from the press, this is a top-secret trade secret. But I can reveal a little bit: the current pre-orders have far exceeded everyone's expectations!"
Yang Jizong laughed it off. Then he had Butler Bai entertain the reporters.
These uncrowned kings wanted to ask a few more questions, but remembering some things that had happened here recently, they immediately changed their minds and obediently followed Butler Bai.
The matter that made them so wary dates back to when the Hextech joint venture was first established.
A factory jointly built by the East and the West is eye-catching in itself, especially since the other party is the well-known Hextech.
Everyone knows Hextech is rich.
Therefore, the local London gangsters naturally set their sights on this lucrative opportunity.
The most notorious of them all was a gang leader named Alfie Solomons.
This man is a veteran, ruthless and vicious.
This person's family originally lived in Camden, London.
Over the years, their power has expanded rapidly through shady means such as illegally brewing bootleggings, controlling racetracks, and extorting protection money.
They've now extended their reach to the Beckton area.
Unfortunately, the site of the Hextech joint venture was right on what Solomons considered his territory.
Solomons, being a man who understood etiquette, followed Eastern custom by employing a strategy of "courtesy before force."
Initially, they sent someone to deliver a message, wanting to "have a good talk" with the Easterner in charge of building the factory about the share of protection fees.
To Solomons's surprise, the Easterner refused to meet with him at all, and simply sent him away with the old steward.
Although Solomons felt insulted, he did not intend to retaliate.
Although he always referred to his two vice-chairmen as Mr. Intimidation and Mr. Violence, believing that violence was a necessary means to support intimidation, he was not brainless.
After all, those who can build factories across borders all have a solid foundation.
Solomons decided to hold back for now and gauge the situation before making a decision.
But while he could tolerate it, the thugs under his command could not.
They've managed to establish themselves on these streets because of their ruthlessness.
That night, several core members of the Solomons family, carrying iron drums full of gasoline and carrying revolvers, sneaked onto the construction site of the Hextech joint venture.
This is a common tactic they use; as long as they kill a few people and burn some things, the other side will eventually submit.
However, the script did not go as they had envisioned.
Before they could even pour the gasoline out, a group of figures suddenly rushed out from the dark depths of the construction site!
The composition of these people was very diverse, including Russians, Africans, and even members of the John Bull family.
But none of that matters.
The important thing is that they were all wearing camouflage training uniforms, and what they were holding were all AK rifles!
On one side were several broken revolvers and gasoline cans, and on the other side were battle-hardened mercenaries and rows of dark AK muzzles.
result.
No doubt about it.
The following morning, several bodies were found on the Thames River.
It was those same Solomons family members who launched the night raid last night; each of them was riddled with bullets.
Upon learning of this, Solomons realized the danger and immediately decided to flee.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Before he could even step out the door, Scotland Yard men had already broken in.
Faced with more than a dozen pistols pointed at his forehead, Solomons turned ashen-faced.
He finally realized that he had kicked a really tough nut to crack this time.
Subsequently, the London authorities, who had previously turned a blind eye to the Solomons family's actions, also launched an operation, and family members were arrested one after another.
Although not the largest in London's underworld, the Solomons family was definitely among the most ruthless, and they were completely wiped out without any warning!
This incident also shocked the entire London mafia family, who all knew that Hextech was not to be trifled with.
After attending the ceremony, Yang Jizong planned to return to London to continue preparations for the sale of the private jet.
At that moment, Butler Bai came in and whispered, "Young Master, a man claiming to be from Birmingham wants to see you. He says... he is the head of the Shelby family."
"The Shelby family?"
That evening, as usual, Li Aiguo received a call from Yang Jizong, and for a moment he was somewhat bewildered.
The Birmingham Shelby family?
Isn't this the infamous "Peaky Blinders"?
However, after briefly recalling the timeline, Li Aiguo realized that the true peak of the Razor Party was before World War II.
In this day and age, the so-called leader "Tommy" who came to see him is probably Old Tommy's son or grandson.
"Patriotism, Shelby did not show any hostility."
On the contrary, they came to make a friendly gesture.
They said they had just taken over the territory left by the Solomons family and hoped to...coexist peacefully with us.
"Peaceful coexistence?"
Yang Jizong was both amused and exasperated when he said this.
Although he was not a member of the John Bull family, all social organizations around the world are the same: they fear power but not virtue.
If Li Aiguo hadn't taken precautions and sent mercenaries to deal with the Solomons family, it would have been different.
Furthermore, they established relationships with London officials through John Bull's dealers.
Shelby, who came knocking on the door, has probably already raised his razor.
"Or, we could have London take care of them."
Li Aiguo was well aware of all this, but he shook his head and said, "No need."
"After driving away Solomons, another Shelby has appeared."
Even if you uproot the Shelby family today, a Smith family or a Jones family will pop up tomorrow.
This is an inevitable consequence of a power vacuum. In the gray areas where official control cannot completely cover them, these gangs are like weeds—they can't be eradicated.
"I understand." Yang Jizong was a quick-witted man who understood immediately and nodded.
Li Aiguo actually had little interest in dismantling such gangs.
On the contrary, in certain special periods and on certain special occasions, these illegitimate organizations can achieve remarkable results that official channels cannot.
For example, Mike, Xiaomei's son, can play an important role in crucial moments.
Li Aiguo always believed in a truth: "Make as few enemies as possible and as many friends as possible."
Of course, if someone insists on being ungrateful, turning a friend into an enemy and walking right into the line of fire...
Li Aiguo definitely has the means to teach the other party how to start anew!
"Patriotism and special planes are even more popular than we expected. I think there's a lot of potential in this field," Yang Jizong continued after discussing the joint venture.
Upon hearing this news, Li Aiguo was not surprised; it was all within his expectations.
In his memory.
In the original historical trajectory, the mid-1960s was the golden age when the global private jet market experienced its first explosive growth!
The renowned private aircraft manufacturers of later generations, such as Beechcraft, Piper, Mooney, and Havilland, all emerged during this period.
Wichita, Texas, in particular, is known as the "Private Jets Capital of the World," home to several of America's major aircraft manufacturers.
However, now that I, like a butterfly, have flapped my wings and arrived in this era...
I absolutely have to cut a big slice of this super big cake and have a taste!
“Since there are people interested, we have no reason to refuse. We should accept as many orders as possible, and the more the better. In addition, we should also increase our publicity efforts,” Li Aiguo said with a smile.
"That's what I think too!" Yang Jizong exclaimed excitedly.
This is about selling airplanes.
The profits, the prestige, the influence—it's on a completely different level than selling cars!
After hanging up Yang Jizong's call, Li Aiguo checked the transport plane test flight procedures he had on hand. More than half of them were completed, and he estimated that all the approvals would be completed by tomorrow.
Once all the paperwork is complete, the wind tunnel testing of the transport aircraft will be nearing completion, and the timing is perfect.
It wasn't that Li Aiguo was in a hurry, but rather that his elder brother's attitude was becoming increasingly tough, and he needed to accumulate strength as quickly as possible.
Today, a batch of dried seafood was delivered from Jiangnan Shipyard.
Since they couldn't finish the food at home, Li Aiguo shared some with Section Chief Xing and Cao Wenzhi after get off work, and also brought some to Liu Guozhang's house.
Coincidentally, Liu Guozhang was not at home.
The master's wife took the seafood, sighed, and complained to Li Aiguo that Liu Guozhang had been getting busier and busier lately, and was often nowhere to be seen. Moreover, his temper had become very irritable.
"Could it be because of the imitation of electric trains? It seems there's a lot of support for it."
After pondering these thoughts, Li Aiguo returned home and handed the remaining dried seafood to Chen Xueru.
He Yushui heard that there would be seafood to eat that evening, so she rushed over.
The reason left Li Aiguo speechless: eating seafood would improve his brain function.
"Hey, Yushui, do you want some pig brains? I'll get you some from the slaughterhouse tomorrow," Wang Gangzhu said, poking his head out from outside.
He Yushui's face darkened: "..."
Li Aiguo's lips twitched: "..."
Chen Xueru couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Despite the laughter, Chen Xueru quickly soaked the dried seafood in warm water, then carried a large enamel basin to the central courtyard to wash clothes.
Chen Xueru has a washing machine at home, but she feels it damages clothes too much, and some clothes don't even get clean.
"Xue Ru is such a good girl." The third aunt saw this and went back to tell the third uncle.
"Yes, he's a leader in the neighborhood committee now, but he still hasn't given up his family chores. Patriotism is a blessing."
"Who says otherwise? Oh, by the way, what about Qin Huairu?"
She became a widow at such a young age; isn't there anyone in or around the courtyard who can find her a boyfriend?
"No, Jia Zhangshi is still keeping an eye on things outside. Who would dare to interfere? Besides, I heard that Yi Zhonghai doesn't seem to want Qin Huairu to find a partner either. He is Qin Huairu's mentor."
"Yi Zhonghai is not happy? Does he want Qin Huairu to keep waiting for Sha Zhu?" The Third Uncle was a little puzzled.
"No way! Sha Zhu has made mistakes and been to jail before. His reputation is already ruined. What good girl would want to marry him?"
"What is Yi Zhonghai after?"
The third aunt lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "I think Yi Zhonghai probably wants Qin Huairu to take care of him in his old age!"
Upon hearing this, the third uncle's eyes darted around: "Hmm...you know what, that might actually be possible..."
As the two were whispering to each other, Qin Huairu happened to pass by the Third Uncle's house.
Upon hearing this, she looked through the crescent-shaped door and saw Chen Xueru busy at work.
Qin Huairu bit her lower lip, a mix of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty emotions welling up inside her, a complex feeling she couldn't quite describe.
The sales figures for the private jet ultimately far exceeded Yang Jizong's initial expectations!
A few days later, in his London office, Yang Jizong received the reservation data.
"Two thousand!" Yang Jizong stared at the glaring number.
It's important to know that the price of a private jet far exceeds that of a large off-road vehicle, and these things have a learning curve to master. Nowadays, many small planes only sell a few hundred units a year.
“Yang, this is only a temporary order quantity. Many customers are still waiting and seeing. After the first batch is delivered, the order quantity is expected to increase by at least three times. That’s a full six thousand aircraft! Six thousand aircraft! So, we need to deliver as soon as possible.”
This left them no choice but to go crazy.
In just a few months, these distributors have earned tens of millions of dollars just from commissions!
Keep in mind, this was the 60s! Tens of millions of dollars was an enormous sum of money!
What would it mean if 6,000 private jets could really be sold in a year?
Sales alone can bring in tens of millions of dollars, not to mention pilot training, aircraft maintenance, after-sales service, and other related aspects.
It's important to know that, like yachts, the operating costs of private jets are very high.
"I'll try my best, I'll try my best." Yang Jizong also felt that he had struck gold.
(End of this chapter)