Chapter 360: Birthday Gift
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Instead of rejecting Helheim"s offer, Dai Li took the special supercar. But he soon realized that this supercar was definitely a troublesome gift, a joyful annoyance.
First of all, because it was too fast, the car could only run on the road in Switzerland, and in other countries, this FXX could only run on the track. Dai Li found no road to drive on, although he accepted the car.
This supercar applied a gearbox of the F1 racing car. Its 0-100 km/h acceleration could be achieved within 3 seconds. Its speed would be higher than 100 km/h before the driver"s foot left the pedal. A ride on a city road in China, with a speed limit of 50 km/h by this car, would give the driver dozens of speeding tickets.
Secondly, maintenance. A top super car"s maintenance cost equaled the price of an imported C-cla.s.s car. And FXX used many F1 racing car technologies, which surely led to more expensive maintenance fees.
If it were in China, my whole year"s salary would not be enough for the maintenance of this car. This car is free, but it is going to cost me everything to maintain it... Dai Li sighed.
Helheim"s retirement gift, a Ferrari FXX prototype. One can get 4 million or 5 million euros easily, if he takes it to auction. One may not be able to earn so much in his life! Dai Li continued thinking.
He would not sell this FXX prototype. It was a gift from Helheim. Dai Li must show some respect.
Yunan"s birthday is around the corner. Let me give this to her as a birthday gift. I have never given her anything valuable before. And her family keeps many luxury cars, which may be given a discount if they maintain cars together.
…
Dai Li visited an international transport company. The company had three Boeing 747 jumbo jets and often undertook luxury car delivery tasks. Many of its clients were from rich countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Those rich customers from the Middle East booked some luxury cars in Europe, and then they would turn to the company to deliver the cars to the Middle East by air.
"Mr. Li, we will offer different delivery options, according to the value of the car," Thomas, the transport company"s business manager, holding a color page ad, told Dai Li. "An ordinary sports car only needs an ordinary s.h.i.+pping container. s.h.i.+pping needs more time, but its price is lower."
"What about a more luxurious supercar? For example, a car of limited edition?" asked Li.
"I suggest you use a customized transport container for a high-value limited edition supercar. We can provide different support brackets according to the style of the car. If necessary, we will also use the anti-scratch film. You know, the paint of high-end supercars is also very expensive. We have common anti-scratch film, BOPP abrasive film, PRT soft-touch film, anti-fingerprint soft-touch film, temperature-sensitive color s.h.i.+ft film and so on," Thomas continued.
"Does it just cover the car, like a dress, or stick to the car?" Dai Li continued asking.
"It depends on your needs, and the distance, and the way of transportation," Thomas paused and then asked, "What kind of car would you like to transport, Mr. Li?"
"A Ferrari FXX. I want it to be delivered by air," said Dai Li.
"What? Are you talking about the FXX? One of the only 30 FXX in the world?" Thomas asked in surprise.
Li nodded, and Thomas swallowed a little. "Mr. Li, in this case, I suggest you use the polymer anti-scratch film, as such film can not only prevent scratches, but also can resist a sword cut, and it can stop small-bore bullets shot from far away, too. And we vacuum it to minimize the effect of high-alt.i.tude air pressure on the paint to prevent the paint from oxidation," said Thomas.
"So many details?" Dai Li nodded, "The polymer film must cost a lot."
"Coach Li, we can offer you a 20 percent discount if you choose us for the delivery of the FXX," Thomas seemed to be facing a hard situation, then he added, "Coach Li, our market is limited. And we are in a tough compet.i.tion. Every high-end customer from the Middle East is a treasure that is very hard to get."
"You want me to be your advertis.e.m.e.nt, don"t you?" asked Dai Li with a smile.
Thomas nodded honestly, "Ferrari FXX is the top supercar. Experience in delivering such a car will help us to gain recognition among those Middle East clients much more easily."
"Let it be a 40 percent discount, OK?" Dai Li started his bargain immediately.
"No! That price even cannot cover our cost," Thomas stretched out seven fingers, "Let"s make some compromise. Is a 30 percent discount OK for you?"
Dai Li frowned. He was thinking. Thomas didn"t want to let this client go. The opportunity is so rare for a company to deliver one of the only 30 FXX in the world. The success of this deal would lead to more business opportunities between the company and the rich from the Middle East. One would be surely willing to get his own luxurious supercar transported by a company that once successfully accomplished the task to deliver an FXX.
"Mr. Li, how about a 30 percent discount and an extra one-million euro s.h.i.+pping insurance for free? That is to say, if your car has an accident during transportation, which causes your losses, you will receive a compensation from our company up to one million euros from the insurance company," Thomas added.
"Only one million euros..." murmured Dai Li.
Thomas made a hard decision. He said, "Two-million extra s.h.i.+pping insurance! That"s all we can afford."
"OK. Deal!" Dai Li said and then he added, "Please arrange the transportation for me as soon as possible."
…
In an auction on Hong Kong Island.
"The next is the final item of today, and the most important item in this auction. The jade pendant, "The Star of Princess"! You all have known a lot about this item. So, I will not waste my time on introductions. The opening bid of "The Star of Princess" is ten million Hong Kong dollars, and the minimum increment per time is one hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars. The auction has started!"
The auctioneer, holding the hammer in his hand, said excitedly, "Ten million and one hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars. Any more bids? OK, No.3 offers ten million and one hundred thousand. And No.15 offers ten million and one hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars..."
The price kept increasing, and soon it came to 12 million, which was more than 120 percent of the opening bid. The bidding slowed down a lot. Many had quit the compet.i.tion.
"12.2 million Hong Kong dollars, from No.7, sir..."
"12.8 million from Mr.7 again! 12.8 million!"
"13 million! 13 million from No.7! Any other bid? Any more? OK! We have No.19! No.19 raised his paddle!"
"Mr.7 offers 13.5 million! 13.5 million, calling once! Calling once!" The auctioneer looked at No.19, who was the only compet.i.tor to No. 7 at the moment.
Looking at the No.7, No.19 hesitated. The price was then more than 135 percent of the opening bid. It was high enough. And he thought that was not so worthy.
"It seems that Mr. Chai is determined to win "The Star of Princess"!"
"13.5 million is nothing compared with the wealth of the s.h.i.+pping tyc.o.o.n Chai family!"
"Although this jade is great, the price is high enough! 13.5 million will be a big surprise to the seller."
"The auction company can also take a lot of commissions."
The crowd discussed and finally, No.19 decided. He clenched his teeth and sighed helplessly, then he made a "please" gesture to Mr. 7. Liang Chai, the No.7, knew that "The Star of Princess" was his. And he put away the paddle of No.7 with satisfaction.
"13.5 million! Last calling! Sold! Congratulations! 13.5 million Hong Kong dollars sold to bidder No.7! He got "The Star of Princess"!" The auctioneer hammered heavily.
The crowd applauded, and Liang Chai stood up and showed an expression of thanks, especially to No.19.
"The Star of Princess". No gift is more valuable than mine! Liang Chai thought.
…
At the Donggang International Auto Show.
A casually dressed man stood in front of a red Ferrari. It seemed that he did not want to leave.
"LaFerrari with a 6262CC V12 naturally aspirated engine. Truly the top flags.h.i.+p of Ferrari. King of supercars! Unfortunately, it has been reserved for someone before the show started. Who would that be?" The man sighed, regretfully.
"I bought it, of course!" hearing the voice, the casually dressed man looked back to see an acquaintance.
"Liancheng Jia!" The man looked at that newcomer, and added, "Mr. Jia, are you kidding me? You are the buyer? It costs more than 22 million yuan!"
"Why do I need to deceive you on this?" Liancheng Jia continued, "Yang Chen, you know sports cars best. Is this car worthy?"
"A man like you never needs to care about the price. Just buy what you like! Unfortunately, I don"t have that much money, otherwise, I would have bought one." Yang Chen stopped and then said, "Mr. Jia, may I borrow this car for a couple of rounds of driving later? I will only drive on the track, not on the ordinary road."
"You are crazy about cars!" Liancheng Jia said, "You could borrow, it if it"s a gift I had bought for myself. But it is my gift to someone."
"A gift? It"s more than 20 million yuan, and you just bought it as a gift to someone? To whom?" Chen asked.
"Yunan Xiao, of course!" Jia replied.
"You mean for Yunan Xiao"s birthday party? You"ve been invited, too?" Yang Chen asked immediately.
"What do you mean by "too"? You have been invited. Why couldn"t I receive the invitation?" said Liancheng Jia coldly.
"It makes sense. Even I have been invited. It"s impossible that Mr. Jia cannot get the invitation." Yang Chen took it for granted and then he added, "It is said that a lot of promising youngsters have got the invitation. Is President Xiao of Dingtian Group choosing his son-in-law there?"
"Something like that. I heard that Yunan Xiao got a boyfriend on her own. He is a poor coach, a n.o.body. President will never like him." Jia added, "The party is an opportunity to impress President Xiao and Yunan. Maybe I will be the son-in-law of Dingtian."
Chen Yang turned his eyes and said, "You are interested in the power of Dingtian Group, aren"t you? With the help of the funds from Dingtian Group, your group"s equity carve-out in Hong Kong will be much easier. Even 20 billion is OK, not to mention a car of 20 million yuan, for marrying Yunan."
"So, please don"t compete with me!" Jia added, "And I have my father"s full support, in both finance and manpower, to catch Yunan Xiao as my girlfriend."
"Others treat me as a rich boy. But I am a loser compared with you. I"ll never compete with you! And you are the best among our friends in terms of family background, ability and look!" Yang Chen grinned and then said, "You have to be careful about Liang Chai in Hong Kong. My father told me that Dingtian is to set the partners.h.i.+p with the Chais to enter the energy industry."
"The Chais. Just businessmen in the s.h.i.+pping industry. They would have been n.o.body, if it were not for us not carrying the policy of opening and reform several decades ago!" said Jia coldly.