He didn't come to study to cultivate his character, but to find a suitable emerging industry to start a business. Hong Kong's existing industries are currently controlled by major Chinese or British and American companies. Although he could make money if he worked hard, and with his intelligence he could gain considerable wealth and even status, at best he would just be following behind those big Chinese businessmen and drinking some of their scraps. If he didn't have a say in an industry, he might as well continue to follow the Chu Family and enjoy the benefits of having a powerful backer.
However, emerging industries cannot be created casually, especially during the current embargo period. Hong Kong's various industries are suffering a double blow. With the support of the United States, the Japan economy has risen rapidly and swallowed up the market share that Hong Kong originally held. Even though Hong Kong's labor costs are lower than Japan's due to the influx of foreign workers, the soaring prices of raw materials during the Embargo Order have already made it impossible for Hong Kong's various export industries to engage in the most basic price war with Japan to compete for market share.
Hit by both rising raw material costs and aggressive dumping by Japanese goods, business owners across Hong Kong can only watch helplessly as Japan companies snatch away market share in Europe and the Middle East.
Even now, most of the cargo ships owned by Hong Kong shipping companies are chartered by Japan companies for transportation.
In Hong Kong's current market environment, continuing to do business in one's existing industry is tantamount to baring oneself into the already fiercely competitive Hong Kong business market and fighting with China person for food. Even if one fights one's way up, one will inevitably have to bow down to the dominant Chinese businessmen who control the industry and obediently follow the rules they have already set. If one deviates even slightly, the other party can easily lead their competitors to drive one out of business.
This is why Song Tianyao came to the library to read various economic books and journals. He wanted to start a business in an industry that no one else in Hong Kong had done before. But having advanced ideas alone is not enough; you must know whether there is a market for it at this time and whether it can be sold.
During this period, Song Tianyao basically listed out all the business opportunities that Hong Kong had not yet been able to come up with, but in the face of the Embargo Order, none of them were perfect, especially since many low-priced raw materials could only be maximized by relying on the mainland.
Instead of letting Song Tianyao recuperate for two years and plan his future after the Embargo Order ends, he didn't want to waste time. So he could only try to read business journals and materials from the United States, the world's Big Brother after the war. If the United States needed it, nothing was a problem.
In most businesses, the United States is supporting Japan. It was only after reading for nearly a month and a half that Song Tianyao noticed a term mentioned in this English magazine: the Beat Generation.
The article states that World War II United States youth experienced unprecedented confusion. While the United States is currently enjoying technological prosperity, rapid industrialization and urbanization, and continuously improving material living standards, a growing number of United States youth are finding their comfortable lives dull, meaningless, and even lacking in faith and the foundation of education. They are beginning to rebel against life through escapism and self-destructive lifestyles. They challenge traditional United States values and morals with outlandish clothing, tattoos, wigs, piercings, truancy, extramarital sex, marijuana use, and other rebellious behaviors. Starting in United States San Francisco, this rebellious behavior has gradually spread to several United States.
Song Tianyao had absolutely no interest in the article's assessment of United States social development; he only noticed the words "Beat Generation," "outlandish clothing," and "wigs." After a week of research, he crossed out "outlandish clothing," leaving only "Beat Generation" and "wigs."
By gathering as much information as possible about the United States Beat Generation, and combining this with the current situation and his memories from his previous life, Song Tianyao could conclude that the United States Beat Generation would not disappear quickly like a shooting star, but would continue to grow as the Cold War intensified, the Vietnam War broke out, and so on, and would spread to countries such as Europe. It's even possible that the so-called punk movement of later generations developed from this so-called Beat Generation.
He decided to manufacture wigs and sell them in the United States, making money from United States. At least for the next few years, he could do that and become a leading company in Hong Kong in this emerging industry. He would set the rules for the industry, and everyone who wanted to enter the market would have to follow his rules, no matter how much capital they invested.
Once he has achieved a certain status, he can make money in his own industry while, like the Chu Family, the Cai Family, or other major Chinese businessmen, patiently waiting for his prey like a tiger or leopard, seeking opportunities to enter other industries.
After deciding on this idea, Song Tianyao even took Meng Wanqing to visit him at major Hong Kong department stores like Sincere Department Store, Daimaru Department Store, Lane Crawford Department Store, looking for wigs. However, neither Sincere Department Store Daimaru Department Store, owned by Japan company, had this new fashion accessory. Only Lane Crawford Department Store had wigs currently popular in the United States, and only eight styles in two types: one made in France, where wig manufacturing technology is most advanced, priced at Hong Kong dollars 1700 per wig; the other made in the United States, priced at Hong Kong dollars 1400 per wig. Both types of wigs used real human hair as raw material.
"Hey, remember to put your leftovers in the trash can tomorrow." Since no one comes to the library in the morning anyway, Hong Lai-sau said loudly to Song Tianyao was flipping through his notes.
Song Tianyao looked up at Hong Lai-sau and said, "I usually throw them away myself, but I specially left them for you this time. I told you to start looking for things to do tomorrow, so you won't have a chance to throw them away later."
"You really found something to do?" Hong Lai-sau threw the cardboard box into the trash can, walked over to Song Tianyao, and said, "Which big company are you working for? How's the salary? Hey, how about I treat you to a few drinks tonight to celebrate?"
Song Tianyao smiled at Hong Lai-sau, "It's not for work. I'm going to United States San Francisco to investigate a business deal. I'll treat you tonight as a way of thanking you for your help during this time."
"United States?" Hong Lai-sau placed his hand on Song Tianyao's forehead and touched it. "Your forehead isn't hot? Are you out of your mind? I've known you for so long, and you've hardly changed your clothes. Your breakfast is just milk and bread, and when you buy me drinks, it's just cheap snacks. You think you can go to San Francisco? I'd rather send you to Little Olive Psychiatric Hospital."