Chapter 246: Japan's Current Wealth

When Carter walked out of the izakaya, his face was full of excitement, and his steps were light!

What he thought would be the hardest part—attracting investors—turned out to be the easiest. Although no formal agreement had been signed yet, based on Jiu Li Lang's naive enthusiasm, Carter felt confident.

Given Japan's cultural influence from China and its land-scarce island status, Jiu Li Lang's quick and decisive response to the offer of free land wasn't entirely unreasonable. Besides, labor costs in the U.S. were still lower than in Japan at the moment.

With free land, cheap labor, and proximity to both the consumer market and raw material suppliers, the economic and time costs saved made the offer attractive to the Japanese. It wasn't surprising that they took the bait.

With these thoughts in mind, Carter walked away with a spring in his step. Meanwhile, just as he was turning his attention to road financing, Jiu Li Lang, who had just returned to his hotel, received a call from his brother Mitsuzou.

"Did you meet with Mr. Black tonight? How did it go? I heard you two are about the same age, so you should have gotten along well."

"Ha, get along? That guy's young but arrogant. You know what happened when I asked for a million square feet of land?"

In the privacy of his hotel room, Jiu Li Lang didn't hide his disdain for Carter:

"His eyes lit up like he'd never seen money before! He didn't even consider whether I was tricking him. How can someone like that get anything done?"

"Could there be some misunderstanding? The U.S. isn't Japan; land isn't as valuable there. While a million square feet is a lot, taking some land still makes sense. The Americans are having a tough time now, which is why they're offering land for free. Once they recover, this opportunity will be gone."

In New York, Mitsuzou rubbed his chin and pondered. While the benefits were attractive, the reliability of the executor was crucial. Even a great project could fail if handled by an unreliable person.

Hearing that the American representative was young had already made Mitsuzou uneasy. The lack of verification for such a large land deal only confirmed his doubts.

"Tell me about your meeting in detail, every movement and expression from when he walked in."

Knowing his brother's arrogant demeanor, Mitsuzou asked for specifics to ease his concerns.

But as Jiu Li Lang recounted the meeting, Mitsuzou's doubts grew. The young age was one thing, but the lack of government authorization and the eager reaction to the land request painted a grim picture.

"Brother, it's not that I look down on him. He actually thought our cuisine was all raw fish! That kind of ignorance shows he's a commoner at heart. How can someone like that handle such a project? He's a fraud!"

"At most, he's a local bully trying to scam our funds and equipment. Once we choose the land and transport our equipment, he'll conspire with local thugs to rip us off."

"Alright, rest early. Remember to call Mr. Black tomorrow and decline the deal. Also, don't stay out too long; come home soon."

After hanging up, Mitsuzou paced to the window, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Jiu Li Lang casually tossed himself onto the bed, smirking at the thought of Carter.

As for calling Carter back? Jiu Li Lang had no intention of dealing with someone he already labeled a fraud and a clown.

Even if Carter wasn't a fraud, so what? Did they really need to build a factory in the U.S.? This wasn't the 1930s or 1950s when American cars dominated the world. Once untouchable giants like Ford and GM were now nothing.

A country that couldn't even produce fuel-efficient small cars and had outdated production methods had no appeal. Building a factory there could only tarnish their company's reputation.

Thinking these thoughts, Jiu Li Lang quickly put the matter out of his mind.

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"Hey, Jim! It worked!"

Unaware he'd been fooled, Carter banged on Jim's door upon returning to the hotel.

When Jim hurriedly opened the door, he found Carter grinning widely.

"Of course it worked. Do you have to be so excited?"

Jim calmly moved aside and grabbed a drink from the fridge, tossing it to Carter.

"Oil prices are soaring, making fuel-efficient Japanese cars more popular. The Japanese need the U.S. market just as much as you need their investment. It's a mutually beneficial situation."

"Hahaha, true. But a million square feet for a factory! I thought I'd need to negotiate with several companies, but this one deal is a pleasant surprise. Do you think all these Japanese are this wealthy now?"

After taking a few gulps of water, Carter casually asked, heading towards the sofa.

"They are. The Japanese have been smart. Since the last oil crisis, they've been focusing on fuel efficiency, whereas our car companies are just now catching up."

Jim, having ordered some snacks, sat down next to Carter.

"I figured you hadn't eaten well, so I ordered some food. Japanese manufacturing has been advancing, with improved production methods and equipment. They're not behind us anymore, maybe even ahead. Plus, they've been less affected by the current economic crisis, so they seem richer."

"They were less affected?"

"Yes, they controlled inflation earlier than us. Plus, our crisis is basically an oil and energy crisis. With energy shortages causing price hikes and increasing production and living costs, Japan's efficient production methods stand out."

"Imagine if you and I produce the same product. Normally, we both use one unit of energy, but now your efficiency improvements mean you only need 0.8 units. Your product is as good or better than mine, and your currency is weaker, making your exports more competitive."

"So, who will consumers choose? The better, cheaper product, of course. Increased exports then boost their domestic economy. Like it or not, the Japanese are currently living easier than us Americans!"