There Are No Loss-Making Businesses with Me, by Fish Who Likes to Eat Cats... Naming Rights 68

During this time, Lyme has been trying his best to adapt to his role. In fact, he has been doing a very good job, but he doesn't think so.

Just a few months ago, he was still struggling at the bottom of the ladder in Bu Peien, making a living by selling unsold Little Yellow Sheet.

He has witnessed many ups and downs in this industry—most of the time when it was his turn to take on these responsibilities, all that was left was the dross, but he still witnessed a lot of things.

He could recount most of the major events that happened there in detail to anyone.

He always believed that he would succeed one day, but when that day actually came, he was not so used to it.

Everyone you come into contact with is better than you. The way they speak, their way of thinking, their body language—these are things you can't learn just by watching them.

If you can't learn the essence of their arrogance, then you're just a clown. He's already tried very hard, but he feels it's not good enough because he has a role model, a goal, and that is Lin Qi.

Lin Qi's story is legendary; he is a living miracle and inspires others because he is also a successful person who rose from humble beginnings. He did better than anyone else, and people like Lyme look up to him, follow in his footsteps, and admire him.

"Transportation, yes, local transportation is a big problem..." Lin Qi got people back to the previous topic in less than five seconds.

But this time, the person hosting the discussion wasn't Lyme, who was a little overwhelmed.

"When we arrived at the hotel, everyone could see that Nagaril has a major transportation problem. If the transportation problem is not solved, this region, and even the whole country, will not be able to develop."

"That's why I invested here. Of course, I hope everyone doesn't misunderstand me. I'm not a philanthropist; I'm just a businessman who wants to make money. There's nothing shameful about that, is there?"

Lin Qi's way of joking about himself was unique, and his way of saying things was also unique. People found it amusing, and they laughed and echoed him, "Of course not, Mr. Lin Qi, there's nothing shameful about making money. Isn't that what we all want?"

Lin Qi pointed to the person who spoke and shook hands with him. "Yes, making money is not shameful. The purpose of my coming here, and the purpose of your coming here, is not to make contributions, as some ignorant fools in China say."

"We're here to make money, and big money!"

"The railway is a very worthwhile business to invest in, and I believe you all know this well enough, otherwise you wouldn't be focusing your attention on this area."

Everyone nodded in agreement, precisely because they knew some of the inside information about the railway, which was why they were interested.

"We plan to build a comprehensive railway network around the entire Mengwu Province. Both the flow of goods and the flow of people within the province will rely heavily on this comprehensive mode of transportation."

"With the upcoming large-scale development, the more people use the railway and move on our tracks, the more revenue we will generate."

Lin Qi's voice carried a convincing quality. "Here, only we have the legal rights to build and operate the railway. Gentlemen, we all know what business is most profitable, don't we?"

His smile was conveying a message to everyone: this was a monopolistic, exclusive business.

It may not be a nationwide phenomenon, but it is still very difficult to achieve exclusivity in a region or province.

Several gentlemen were quietly exchanging their opinions when Lin Qi took the opportunity to glance at Lyme. Lyme was also looking at him, and their eyes met briefly before looking away.

Lyme's gaze held a kind of respect and admiration that Lin Qi was very familiar with; he had felt the same way when he looked at someone before.

Learning makes people happy and also makes them rich.

"Mr. Lin Qi, we are not worried about the railway company's local dominance. We are just worried that its rate of return is not as high as we imagine, and if we wait too long..." said a man in his sixties. He smiled and looked at the others, then at Lin Qi. "This does not fit our investment philosophy."

In addition to pursuing a rate of return, commercial investors also have certain requirements for the efficiency and duration of returns. Of course, these requirements depend on the specific investment and the investor's purpose and attitude.

Banks, for example, can invest in the agricultural and livestock industry, and they are not in a hurry even if the returns take several years or more than a decade to materialize.

But for ordinary investors, quick and effective returns are what they are looking for.

Lyme was stumped by their questions, but Lin Qi was not. "Gentlemen," he said, "Many people, when discussing the railway, only pay attention to industrial development."

"They will consider how many industrial enterprises can invest in building factories around the railway's transport capacity, and whether freight transport can bring them sufficient returns, but they, including gentlemen, seem to have overlooked another issue..."

Lin Qi reached for a glass of wine from a passing waiter's tray, took a sip, and then left everyone in suspense, making them eager to know what was going on.

People's eyes were fixed on Lin Qi, hoping he would drink faster, but they also had to maintain a respectful gaze. This feeling made Lin Qi very happy; life is only interesting if you have a little bit of wickedness.

After he took out a handkerchief to wipe away the remaining alcohol from his self-pleasure, he smiled and finished saying everything he hadn't finished.

"... You have overlooked the local population, gentlemen."

"Nagaril has a population of 200 million, which is Central Government of the Nagaril United Kingdom has announced to the world, but I don't think that's the real number."

"Outside the city limits, there are many people who are called Lowly People. They are not included in the official population statistics, but they are not a small number. I have reason to believe that the actual population of Nagaril may be 300 million or even more."

"Have you considered this: assuming each person incurs one dollar in train-related expenses annually, the market for transportation alone amounts to three hundred Federal Sol..."

Lin Qi threw out a huge cake, and the gentlemen's expressions immediately changed.

Because Lin Qi was absolutely right. Before this, they hadn't considered any other issues; all they were considering was whether the benefits generated by the company using the railway would satisfy them.

They don't consider the issue of railways losing money. In fact, there have been very few cases of railways losing money since their inception; it's just a matter of different time spans for the return on knowledge.

They are interested in investing here, but not so committed, as they worry the returns will be too slow.

But Lin Qi's words immediately gave them a glimpse of a bright future.

Before this, people had never thought of it; they had never considered this issue. After all, compared to the transportation cost of a train carriage, how much revenue could one person generate by buying a ticket?

While they were still in shock at the huge business of "300 million a year", before they could react, Lin Qi took the initiative to reduce the number to make his words and data more convincing.

"Even if not every Nagaril People can come here to take the railway, the population of the Mengwu Province exceeds ten million, which is still a huge market for us, especially when you add in the transportation costs for industrial transport..."

Lin Qi chuckled softly, "That would be a business that could double the wealth of everyone here!"

Even at a scale reduced to one-thirtieth the size, the profit margin remains enticing. Once the railway is laid, the maintenance cost is not as high as that of the Federal because local labor is exceptionally cheap; the only cost is steel.

As the exploration team goes deeper, once iron ore is discovered and the steelmaking problem is solved, then steel production will no longer be a problem, and maintenance costs will be almost non-existent!

What remains is, of course, profit.

The man in his sixties couldn't help but ask again, "Mr. Lin Qi, we understand what you've said, and it's certainly very tempting. But I have one last question: how can we get people to take the train at least once a year?"

Others also began to pay attention to Lin Qi's answer because they also wanted to know how to make it possible for everyone to take a train ride.

Lin Qi smiled confidently and said, "We just need to give most of them a job in another city every year!"

The gentlemen around Lin Qi were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"So that's how it is, Mr. Lin Qi. Your thinking and methods are amazing. No wonder some people say you are a new generation of Youth Leader. I believe it now!" The investor, who was in his sixties, praised Lin Qi to the skies, even using honorifics.

What seemed like a complicated matter to him and others around him was simply a matter of a single sentence to Lin Qi.

Yes, it's that simple. Give them a job in another city, and they'll definitely come back every year. As long as the distance is far enough that they don't consider traveling on foot, then they'll have to take the train.

And this method is not just talk; capitalists who are hiring will be happy to use it.

While there isn't a wise saying like "people are less valuable when they leave their hometown" in the Federal, there are similar proverbs. Hiring out-of-town workers is more stable than hiring local workers, at least it doesn't involve local worker groups and local clan forces.

Even if it's impossible for everyone to leave here and work elsewhere, let's reduce that number tenfold, down to three million, and then cut it in half again, to one and a half million.

If 1.5 million people work in other places, and they buy tickets twice a year, once when they return and once when they leave, it will generate at least 3 million in gross profit.

With other income included, a gross profit of over five million a year is not a dream. Even with a net profit margin of 15%, there would still be a net profit of seven or eight hundred thousand. Moreover, as Lin Qi's proposed method of promoting population mobility continues to improve, the profit will only increase.

Breaking even in a few years, and then starting to generate profits... this business seems very lucrative! Your names are way too damn long.

Furthermore, the profitability of railways is a very complex issue, so please do not apply it to reality. The data in this book is fictional and should not be taken seriously!