On Friday, September 20, 1985, White Films released another movie Pretty Woman. Due to the time difference, Europe obviously got to see it first.
Well, the angry French struggled to accept how that French kiss turned into, well, a prostitute.
Although they admitted they felt quite passionate while watching, they just couldn't accept that Americans got the better deal.
Meanwhile, European movie critics were also ranting, "That William White is such a jerk! Can't he avoid being so heartfelt? Isn't this just Camille? We just want to know, could anything this ridiculous really happen in Hollywood?"
Facing criticism, White Films was as defiant as ever, claiming that art stems from life but surpasses it. They suggested that some people lacking education should read more, but not just to memorize it.
A group of idealistic critics felt anger toward a shameless person like him. Yet, they also felt a deep sense of powerlessness. No matter how harshly they critiqued William White's films, it was no use. Those French could yell all they wanted, but the theaters were nearly sold out.
It must be said, the French people's bodies were honest; as for their grumbling and roaring, well, perhaps they were just a bit regretful.
By contrast, Americans were much more straightforward -- they were not only honest in their bodies but also in their words. At most, they would just complain about William White's sheer luck.
To be honest, most Americans interviewed said the movie was decent and the plot was very engaging.
European peers lamented about his luck while reflecting. They had so many classics; should they give this a shot too?
...
Two days later, all eyes turned to the Plaza Hotel in New York. The five most developed countries decided to join forces to save the American economy.
Funny enough, lowering interest rates naturally caused exchange rates to drop. If they insisted on sticking to such ridiculous rates, how could anyone suppress the dollar?
From a later perspective, it was clear this was an American conspiracy -- or rather, a Federal Reserve scheme. Yet, at that time, almost nobody could see through it.
At least Europe and Japan didn't realize it. They understood that if the situation continued to worsen, the dollar's devaluation wouldn't be a simple affair -- it could lead to systemic risks.
This wasn't Europe repaying a debt; in fact, they were furious. They never thought there could still be such shameless people in this world.
...
William White was thrilled. He decided to celebrate with Sophie.
As for what to celebrate?
Haha, that honestly wasn't important; it was just a coincidence.
Well, these box office numbers didn't bother him much. He was making money every single minute -- lots and lots of money.
As for his debts, haha, they were shrinking every minute. Could there be anything more delightful in this world?
Well, there was, because he was still scrambling to make more deals, having more fun than those Wall Street tycoons.
In fact, he didn't dare go to the exchange. Hearing reports from his subordinates was one thing; going there himself would be too thrilling. In that atmosphere, he was sure there would be a few crazies.
Filson was quite gloomy; here was William White, choosing to sail out with a beautiful woman under such circumstances. Well, he understood somewhat -- he figured the boss's heart could only take so much and chose to avoid that mess.
Other financial groups were not so at ease. They were destined for a sleepless night.
Alright, William White was restless too. His body rocked with the waves, occasionally making strange noises.
"Darling, what's gotten into you? Why are you so happy?"
"Haha, I struck it rich! You know, Sophie, I've been waiting for this day for a long, long time."
"Rich? Are you alright? You can't possibly use up the money you've got. What more do you want to earn?"
"You know, before this, I had quite a bit of assets, but I also had a lot of loans. If things had gone poorly, I'd have been in trouble. But after tonight, I won't have to worry about that anymore."
"Ah, then how much do you need to earn to make that happen?"
"Hahaha, a whole lot, dear! I've got ideas."
"Ugh!"
...
When William White returned to the office, the atmosphere was buzzing. They didn't share their boss's fortune; everyone's eyes were bloodshot.
"What's up, Filson?"
"Everything's great, all normal. The central banks of various nations selling off dollars has intensified the devaluation. There are reports suggesting the benchmark interest rate will be drastically cut, so the dollar is dropping even more."
"Great! Tell the guys that luxury cars and mansions are waiting -- it's time to grab them."
As soon as William White finished speaking, the place erupted in cheers. The only thing that excited this crowd was the falling dollar.
...
Whether it was Citibank or Morgan Stanley, nobody felt like playing games with him anymore. The Dollar's plunge was just getting started, and wealth was still beckoning. In such critical times, who had the time to care about anything else?
A Feast for the Gluttons
Not only was it significant, but it was also the largest in human history. A pack of crazed vampires was frantically devouring, and they wouldn't stop as long as they drew breath.
No dissonant noise was heard. At that moment, the world media was silent, firmly supporting the G5's decision.
Under this media hype, Americans felt a surge of happiness. The damn yen was about to rise -- our businesses were saved, and our jobs were back!
Yet, it was all for naught. William White longed to tell these fools they were mistaken; no matter how much the dollar depreciated, those junk cars from General Motors wouldn't sell.
From that day on, the U.S. economy began to skew. The imagined trade surplus never returned. As for the so-called fiscal deficit, it was growing higher every year.
...
"Tom, confirm with the Japanese companies if they can deliver on time."
"Sure thing, sir. I'll contact them right away."
"What about the products from Taiwan?"
"They're still being tested. So far, it looks pretty good."
"Mm, keep in touch."
William White believed those companies wouldn't have any issues in the short term. However, over time, these export businesses would face severe losses.
Raising prices seemed to be the only option. Facing this situation, William White was quite frustrated. To be honest, electronics were not a necessity. In tough economic times, consumers became sensitive to prices; they didn't care if it was imported -- increasing prices would make them unhappy.
*****
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