American Entertainment 1982

  Chapter 15 He can't be a master at picking up girls

The engineer named Will Kendrick, who came to Providence for vacation, was very talkative. After inviting him for two glasses of whiskey, Tommy Hawke learned something that made him The news that is about to move.

  That is at this moment, on the high seas close to the territorial waters of the United States, a large tobacco processing ship of Philip Morris Tobacco Company is running at full capacity, producing red and white hard-packed Marlboro cigarettes day and night.

A processing ship is an independent medium-sized tobacco factory that operates on the high seas. Products are sold as they are produced and sold wholesale to the cargo ship that picks up the goods. Moreover, because the high seas are used as the base for producing and selling cigarettes, Philip Morris can A series of formalities such as ship berthing for customs declaration and payment of management fees are exempted. The most important thing is that all these are legal acts that take place on the high seas.

Tommy Hawk talked about unofficial business history in his last life when he was a professor in a business school. Regarding the history of the development of American tobacco companies, the professor did say that some American tobacco companies came up with the idea of ​​producing cigarettes on the high seas in order to seize the market. , and then smuggled into a certain country to seize the market as a commercial means, but at that time it all happened in Canada, China, and the high seas near RB. Selling goods to other countries is just a prevarication of the reason for producing on the high seas.

As for whether it is legal for domestic companies to use the same means to rob the U.S. government of taxes, Tommy is not sure, but perhaps officials from both parties in the United States should not dare to provoke the largest tobacco company in the United States. After all, if the other party is slightly dissatisfied, they can Let their political contributions be greatly reduced, and there are countless legal advisers and lobbying companies behind this large tobacco company like thugs, helping tobacco companies solve various problems at any time.

The reason why this tobacco processing ship, which was supposed to be moored on the high seas near Plassen, Canada, will sail to the northeast waters of the United States is that the New York area and Massachusetts have recently raised tobacco taxes, and smokers in the regular Buying cigarettes through channels has to pay more taxes, resulting in a rapid decline in cigarette sales.

Taking New York as an example, a box of Marlboro used to cost less than three dollars, but after the tobacco tax was raised, the price of a box has risen to nearly four dollars. For smokers, if they do not want to buy regular cigarettes at high prices, they must reduce their smoking In either case, Philip Morris Tobacco, owner of the Marlboro brand, wants to see it.

Moreover, the substantial increase in the price of cigarettes through regular channels naturally gave birth to a group of illegal cigarette dealers who wanted to take advantage of this to take risks. They would try their best to hoard a large amount of goods from other northwest states with low tobacco taxes and smuggle them to New York or Massachusetts. Sell, or simply produce fakes to make money.

And the tobacco company's processing ship sailed to the nearby high seas to provide convenience for these smuggled cigarette dealers. They don't need to find a way to find the source of the goods, but they can get the goods directly from the source factory, eliminating the need for middlemen to earn the difference. The main thing is to ensure that the genuine product is genuine and there will be no problems with the taste.

   That is to say, cigarette smugglers can easily complete the transaction as long as they drive a boat to the offshore factory, pay with one hand and get the goods with the other.

  This is the United States. As long as there is money to be made, capitalists can always come up with intimate ways of cooperation.

Of course, this kind of business is not without risks. Simply going to the high seas to buy cigarettes quietly may not attract much attention, but whether the smugglers will be caught when they return to land to wait for an opportunity to ship their goods depends on their own luck. After all, it is very difficult to take advantage of the U.S. taxation department. They may tolerate the tobacco processing ships far away from the U.S. mainland, but they must be resolute and merciless in dealing with these smugglers who are lying on tax money and sucking blood.

"A box of fifty cartons, only two hundred yuan?" Tommy Hawke asked Will in shock after learning the ex-factory price of cigarettes: "That is to say, the price of a cigarette is four dollars? Four dollars, a pack ? Ten boxes?"

  You know, the price of a box of Marlboro in New York is close to four dollars, but at the moment Will said that the ex-factory price of the factory is only two hundred dollars for a box of Marlboro, and the price of a single box is only 40 cents.

  Will nodded slightly drunk: "Of course, boy, otherwise, why do you think those smugglers would risk being hunted down by the tax department to do this kind of business, the tobacco business has been so profitable since its inception."

   "Sir, at least how many boxes are available for sale." Tommy Hawke only felt a little hot in his body. Maybe the alcohol played a role, but it should be more because the word "profiteering" kept burning and stimulating him.

"Boy, do you know, in my opinion, you shouldn't be here talking about such drowsy topics with an old guy like me. You should find a hot dancer to call it a worthwhile trip." Will Kendrick said a little boringly: "Besides, the factory is not a convenience store. If you just want to buy a few boxes of cheap cigarettes, you should go to the street and ask those cigarette sellers. At least one hundred boxes must be purchased at a time. I will receive you."

He didn't expect this kid to sit here and just chat with him about this boring tobacco issue. Every time he wanted to brag to the other party about his experience of picking up girls when he was young, this boring kid named Tommy would turn the problem around again. Let him lose the desire to continue chatting with Tommy.

And Will Kendrick's last words extinguished Tommy Hawk's enthusiasm like cold water. If the minimum ten boxes are sold, he can get some advice from Ruby after he understands the market supply and demand and the sales method. Borrow a sum of money to try it out, but starting from 100 cases, that is, excluding other expenses, you need to come up with a principal of 20,000 US dollars.

   Ruby couldn't have lent him such a large amount of money to a seventeen-year-old guy, and if he really lent him, he would probably say hello to his father.

Feeling that Will Kendrick next to him was no longer interested in chatting with him, and he couldn't afford the $20,000 principal to do this kind of business, Tommy Hawk exhaled, then shrugged and changed his mind. He changed the topic: "You are right, Mr. Kendrick, if this trip is worthwhile, you should enjoy yourself in time. Come on, let's go to the single curtain to see how it is. I treat guests, but I made it clear that only one song is allowed. Let me have some recommendations, which dancer has the most graceful dancing posture, you have been here for three days on vacation, you should know better than me, so give me some recommendations."

"Hahahaha~" Will laughed happily when he heard Tommy's words, he held up his whiskey glass and said to Tommy: "Boy, that's right, let me teach you how to have fun in this kind of place, the rules As follows, first, never treat guests, spend money on women, you have to let him do it himself, second, don't trust other people's recommendations, and don't keep your eyes on those hot scumbags in the hall."

   "Then what should I choose? Shouldn't it be like in the movie, go to the dance floor, throw a few small bills generously, and ask the other party to accompany me to dance close to the curtain?" Tommy also laughed.

"NO, of course not, I'll teach you how to play in Miami, come on, boy, I'll show you." Talking about women, Will's face was full of interest, he put his arms around Tommy's shoulders, and walked towards the single-person area .

A tall bodyguard stood outside the single-person area. Will took out two one-dollar bills from his shirt pocket, walked up to the other person, and stuffed the bills into the bodyguard's suit pocket: "Man, we are going to watch a solo show between the curtains. Xiu, help me go backstage and call out two hot waiting dancers, this is your tip."

The single-person curtain area will be equipped with one or two bodyguards. One is to deter the guests and prevent them from touching the dancers in their own clubs in the curtain room. If you order three dances, but are only willing to pay the dancer for two dances, the bodyguard will stand up and teach the guests the correct way to count.

"Okay, sir, both of you, please choose a curtain room." The bodyguard seemed to be accustomed to the game proposed by Will, and made a gesture of invitation to the two, and then took out the walkie-talkie at his waist to call: "Two guests in the curtain room, don't like the fat mothers on the dance floor, bring two glasses of wine that are hot enough."

"You know, the time when the dancer comes to dance for you and you are waiting is the most enjoyable moment. You can let your imagination run wild and guess what the waiting woman will look like." Will walked to a place In front of the curtain, let go of Tommy's shoulders: "Tommy, I wish you a happy first trip to striptease, go in, yes, remember clearly, rule three, don't believe any nonsense that the dancer says, she Everything said, the ultimate purpose is just to empty the money in your pocket."

Tommy was pushed and shoved by Will, and walked into this cramped and narrow single curtain room. The so-called curtain room is similar to the small club room where the protagonist in the game "GTA5" goes. It is separated by cheap synthetic boards. There is no door panel in the small room, only a half-length or even faintly transparent gauze curtain is hung. There is not even a sofa in it, only two chairs placed opposite each other.

  At this moment, Tommy could only sit on a chair against the wall, like a prisoner waiting for interrogation, waiting for the arrival of the dancer.

  But what Will said is indeed reasonable. Before the dancer really shows up, the man can't help but guess what the upcoming woman will look like and what a hot body she will have.

Two minutes later, the sound of high-heeled shoes stepping on the ground outside came from far and near. A woman with golden tassel bikini and long blond hair opened the gauze curtain and walked in from the outside. Seeing the appearance of Tommy who came, he was stunned on the spot in shock:

   "Oh My God..."

And when Tommy Hawk raised his head and saw Aunt Melonie wearing a golden wig walking in, he froze for a while, then immediately made a booing gesture to Melonie, and said loudly to the outside: "Man, open a champagne box for me."

"Okay, sir, this way please." The bodyguard agreed outside, and seeing Melonie standing still, who obviously hadn't recovered, came over and urged: "Beatrice, go and help the guests prepare champagne first. .”

Melonie turned around in a daze and walked towards the area of ​​the champagne box. The bodyguard looked at Tommy with a smile on his face. Young people are so impulsive. When they see a beautiful woman, they don't need a reason, and they can obediently put her away. The banknotes came over: "Sorry, sir, she is new here, and she is still a little unfamiliar with this process, please follow me."

In another curtain room, Will, who was twisting her body with a dancer's hands around her head, heard Tommy Hawke's voice just now, and he frowned: "Boy! Rule three! Oh my god... I'm sixteen It was the first time I came to this kind of place when I was 3 years old, but after dancing three songs, I was lured to the champagne box by the dancer, I bet this kid can't become a master at picking up girls..."

  (end of this chapter)