There Are Always More Solutions Than Problems! A 15-Chapter Bonus Sponsored by Book Friend: YellowTail
How can you make something that might not be worth much become valuable?
Many ordinary people, including those who have just become business people, may use many practical methods to turn this thing into a commodity and make it valuable.
One of the most common examples is to add value to something that is not inherently valuable, using that added value to justify its high price.
For example, fossils inlaid with gold and precious gems. Fossils are extremely widespread in the world; they are almost everywhere.
The first people to discover fossils did indeed sell them for a good price, but as people discovered that as long as they had a hoe, chose a suitable spot, and dug down, they could find fossils if they weren't too unlucky, the price of fossils began to plummet rapidly.
From being hailed as "historical memory" to becoming "pages of history," and finally to "historical garbage," this evolution process did not take long.
However, there have also been some counter-trend examples. Some people choose relatively complete and beautiful fossils and then inlay them with gemstones, gold, or other valuable ornaments according to their outlines.
They made these fossils, inlaid with expensive materials, look shiny, instantly associating them with wealth, and added a ridiculously fake story, thus selling them at high prices based on their added value.
This is a method many people choose—if you want to sell something worthless at a high price, then let the added value come into play. Many semi-official authoritative institutions also use added value as an example to popularize some success theories that may not necessarily succeed.
However, for capitalists, making something worthless valuable only requires hyping up the concept of value that doesn't actually exist, provided that it is rare.
The rarity here is not strictly "scarce", "uncommon", or "unique". It is just a concept.
A successful capitalist can identify a "rare item" from a million identical mass-produced goods. This could be due to a unique color variation, a minor flaw, or something that makes the item stand out from the others. This can make the item rare and then generate hype around it.
This product will soon appear extensively in newspapers and in public discourse, and each appearance will be accompanied by its ever-increasing value.
If it's just about the goods themselves, auctions are a great way to sell them. Some items always manage to become miracles at auctions, which creates demand, and then people wait for the last fool to come along.
The situation is the same now. These businessmen who have decided to invest in Lin Qi's Interstellar Trade Company have already started hyping up the company even before they have officially become investors.
Lin Qi gave them a valuation of 50 million, so how could he guarantee that they wouldn't lose money after investing? It's actually quite simple: make the company appear to be worth more than 500 million or even 10 billion in people's eyes. Then, no matter how they invest, they won't lose money; on the contrary, they will make a fortune.
However, this takes time, and it's the situation that many aspiring entrepreneurs least want to face: the operation and manipulation of capital can destroy their dreams, because the game of numbers and concepts is far more enjoyable than dreams.
In just one day, the potential and market value assessment of Interstellar Trade Company has risen from Lin Qi's unsubstantiated estimate of 50 million to 70 million. With the large-scale construction to come, this number may continue to rise.
Some people are certainly well aware that the company isn't worth that much money, but as savvy businessmen or speculators, they don't mind getting involved in the game, just like in today's Financial Market, where not every participant is unaware of what's going on.
Some people who genuinely don't know what's going on at the company might think they're being clever and observe for a while before considering investing, once they're certain it's real and has potential.
But by the time they've thought things through and made their decisions, it's often already the end of the matter.
He was also somewhat tempted by the mayor's offer. He didn't know that Lin Qi's small company could be valued at so much money. If he had known earlier, he might have made even more money.
Of course, Bayer Federation does not stipulate that politicians must and cannot engage in any investment activities; it simply means that the censorship system is more stringent than that for ordinary people. However, most politicians do not personally participate; they have agents.
"I have a nephew who is very interested in your company..." the Mayor chuckled. "Aren't all young people like this, full of energy, but don't they know what the future holds?"
It looks like a sentiment, but it's more about expressing one's attitude through these words. How could someone like Lin Qi, who has been through so much, not understand it?
He unfolded his napkin and laid it on his lap, seemingly casually saying, "Do you have his contact information? Perhaps we young people can have something in common." After laying out the napkin, he looked up directly at the Mayor. "Of course, we also need the help of an elder's experience and wisdom, after all, we are still young..."
The two looked at each other for a moment, about three to five seconds, confirming with their eyes that they had not misunderstood each other. The Mayor placed a black business card on the table and pushed it over.
Then, the conversation abruptly shifted to other matters.
"Have you heard any rumors lately about anything related to the Listoan Group?" the Mayor, using a very ordinary question as a starting point. Lin Qi nodded in affirmation.
Everyone knew about this during this period, and even Lin Qi felt that the Mayor and governor's attitude might have been a bit too direct and lacked finesse. They could have solved the problem in a different way, but they didn't.
Seeing Lin Qi nod, the Mayor's expression changed slightly, becoming somewhat helpless. He sighed, "Actually, the situation is not very optimistic. Neo has been contacting Conservative Party, you know..." He twirled his index finger near his ear, "We will have some contact."
His point was that there was communication between the Federal Progressive Party and the Federal Conservative Party, which was normal, given that the Bayer Federation was a three-party government. Although the Federal Socialist Party was often invisible, they did exist.
This connection, or rather, this exchange, is essential for stabilizing the political situation of the entire Federal. This is no longer the imperial era; people have emerged from the darkness of feudal rule and will not repeat the mistakes of their predecessors.
When Neo contacted the Conservative Party, it was inevitable that the news would leak out, including the conditions the Conservative Party offered Neo for switching sides, which were already known to the Mayor and the Governor.
That's why the governor sent people to support the mayor; it wasn't without reason.
"Actually, I don't care whether Neo and Listoan can stay in Sabine City. I never care about those things. What I care about is how many people in this city are facing unemployment, hardship, hunger and other situations."
"That despicable Neo and his company are using these people as bargaining chips in their dealings with the government. I will not compromise, for the sake of my citizens!"
If a stirring, somewhat tragic symphony were to play at this moment, Mayor Landon might have a chance to attend this year's Augustine Screen Awards Ceremony, or at the very least, receive a Best Actor nomination.
"What's troubling me most right now is what to do if they really leave, what will happen to the tens of thousands of jobs..." he said, his eyes fixed on Lin Qi.
When he heard at noon today that Lin Qi's company was valued at 70 million, he realized that this might be a bargaining chip that could be used. The value of 70 million needs to be created by people; it cannot be created out of thin air. Otherwise, it would not withstand scrutiny from various departments and the public.
Since someone is needed to create this value, could Lin Qi, who created 500 jobs for the mayor when his net worth was less than one million, create even more jobs for him when his net worth exceeds seventy million?
Even if we don't have seventy jobs with five hundred employees each, we should at least have thirty-five jobs with five hundred employees each, right?
For the sake of that damned nephew, there should at least be twenty jobs for five hundred people, right?
Lin Qi didn't respond. It was indeed a difficult question to answer. He was very good at describing a grand blueprint for the future to others, but the mayor was asking him to produce something concrete.
The salary for 1,000 people is 200,000 per month. If he hires 5,000 people, he will have to pay out 1 million per month just for salaries. Even if his company is valued at 100 million, it can't withstand such a few mishaps.
Lin Qi's silence made the mayor realize that he could not treat Lin Qi as a young man entirely. If Lin Qi said that he could not do it, or said that he could solve part of the problem, these could become leverage for the mayor.
But silence is a tricky thing. If you tell him he disagrees, he doesn't say it directly, but if you tell him he agrees, he doesn't nod either.
After a few seconds of silence, he changed his approach to express his attitude. "You are all businessmen, so perhaps you can better understand why they do this. Personally, what difficulties have you faced in your current entrepreneurial journey?"
Lin Qi raised an eyebrow, a smile spreading across his face. The smile quickly widened. "Your Mayor," he said, "I've faced many difficulties, but as you know, I'm a socially responsible businessman. Some are things I can solve, but others are beyond my control. Perhaps you could offer some constructive advice?"
The mayor didn't immediately respond, but instead looked thoughtful. "We can discuss it," he said.
For details on how to add extra Naming Rights, please refer to the list of donors summarized in July.