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June arrived quickly.
The Japanese singing competition had begun its auditions, and the ABC Tokyo TV building buzzed with activity as countless people came to participate.
According to TV station statistics, the number of applicants exceeded 3,000. Every night, the TV station broadcasted the auditions, and the program captured the attention of the entire nation.
"Hello everyone, my name is Misora Hibari, I am 13 years old, and I am from Isogo District, Yokohama City," a little girl said sweetly to the camera.
"My name is Aoki Aiko, and I am from Tokyo," a beautiful girl said as she bowed to the camera.
"My name is Saotome Masako."
"I am Yumiko Araki, from Saga Prefecture, Kyushu..."
...
Hardy didn't pay too much attention to this. He had returned to Hong Kong. Han Yezhen was now six months pregnant, with her lower abdomen noticeably rounded. Hardy often felt the baby move and, despite not having met him yet, he already felt a connection.
They knew the child's gender—it was a boy. It wasn't that Hardy and Han Yezhen specifically wanted to know; a few traditional medicine experts had mentioned it during their examinations, noting that boys and girls require different care.
"What do you think our son will be called?" Han Yezhen asked.
Hardy thought for a moment.
"His English name will be Byrne Hardy. Byrne means mountain. I hope he will be as strong as a mountain, both physically and in character," Hardy said.
Han Yezhen was very pleased with the name, especially since the child would carry the Hardy surname.
"For his Chinese name, I suggest An Feng," Hardy added. "It's a name I chose because I once gave myself the Chinese name An Yi. I'd like our child to share that surname."
Han Yezhen was a bit surprised, "Why 'An'?"
"Because I once gave myself the Chinese name An Yi, so I want our child's name to reflect that," Hardy explained.
...
Hardy took Han Yezhen to visit the newly completed museum. The two-story building covered over 40,000 square meters, almost as large as the Louvre. The cultural relics were being displayed, and Han Yezhen was busy arranging the artworks.
The main attraction was the 'Chinese Art Gallery,' which included halls dedicated to painting, sculpture, ceramics, and bronze, with a focus on Chinese art. Han Yezhen also wanted to establish a Western Art Museum, similar to how many foreign museums include Eastern art. This new museum would feature Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and European art.
Hardy Auctions had opened several stores in Europe, acquiring a significant amount of Greek, Roman, and European art. With the current situation in Europe, it was an ideal time to acquire these pieces.
At the moment, Hardy and Han Yezhen were in the Home Furnishing Gallery of the Chinese Art Museum. It showcased antique Chinese furniture, crafted from precious woods like red sandalwood and huanghuali, with intricate carvings. Hardy believed these pieces could fetch over ten million in the future, especially since many originated from palaces and had significant historical value.
These items had recently been shipped from the East. The influx of such high-quality antiques was partly due to the rampant smuggling and the need to exchange goods for currency or other valuables.
Hardy met with Huo Qingdong the day after arriving in Hong Kong. Huo Qingdong reported on the current situation, noting a high demand for various products including electronics, precision instruments, machinery, rubber, and fuels.
Hardy responded enthusiastically. If electronic products and precision instruments were required, he didn't need to worry about manufacturing bombs.
After inspecting several museums, Hardy and Han Yezhen visited the underground vault, now brimming with treasures. The gold reserves had increased to 80 tons, acquired from Japan and the U.S. The gold-to-dollar ratio was stable at $35 per ounce, and while this period wasn't suitable for speculation, it was ideal for stockpiling gold.
The vault also contained a large number of antiques, mostly from Japan. Japanese antiques had become increasingly valuable for financial investments, and Hardy's warehouses were filled with over 300,000 pieces. Additionally, there were substantial amounts of Hetian jade and other jades shipped from the East.
Hardy was intrigued by the surge in jade shipments, pondering if it was a sign of historical changes.
Ignoring political concerns, Hardy focused on practical matters.
...
Hardy Group's Hong Kong headquarters now managed all its business interests in the region. Victor was the president of the Hong Kong branch. The crisis in Hong Kong had eased, and the market had stabilized, leading to renewed prosperity.
Victor reported on the status of the group's operations. The company now owned an industrial zone with 129 companies, all performing well. The pharmaceutical factory had expanded its product line to include various health supplements and traditional remedies, some of which were gaining popularity in the U.S. and Japan.
The Hong Kong Racecourse had been completed and had formed a consortium with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Races had been held, though gambling had not yet officially started.
"Don't worry, once things stabilize, we'll focus on establishing connections. Making money will follow," Hardy assured.
Last year, in response to fears from the East, many sold real estate and companies, allowing the Hardy Group to acquire valuable properties. Now, the real estate market had rebounded, with property values doubling or even tripling.
Victor reported that all loans were from Wells Fargo and HSBC, with a current loan amount of $36 million in Hong Kong.
...
After a few days in Hong Kong, Hardy prepared to return to Japan. The situation on the Korean Peninsula had escalated rapidly, with the southern capital being occupied in just a few days. This news shocked the United States, as the South was a crucial ally with U.S. troops stationed there. President Johnson promptly mobilized the Far East Army to assist.
The United Nations soon formed a coalition led by the U.S., including 15 other countries. General MacArthur was appointed as commander of the Far East Army.
Hardy was less concerned with military matters and more focused on the logistics of war. As Japan became a key supply base, the U.S. Congress decided to purchase supplies from Japanese sources.
Lieutenant General Williams, Major General Sutherland, and Japanese Economic Special Envoy Jon Hardy met to discuss logistics. Williams, representing President Johnson, proposed that instead of decentralizing purchases, a powerful company should handle them. Hardy was seen as the most suitable candidate for this task.
Hardy agreed to take on the responsibility. He knew this $2 billion order was just the beginning. The total expenditure for the war would far exceed this amount, and Japan's recovery would largely benefit Hardy and the seven major consortiums controlling the Japanese economy.
"The materials for the military must be of the highest quality, so the price may be higher," Hardy noted.
Williams and Sutherland agreed. Hardy also suggested that better food supplies and entertainment for soldiers, such as hot dogs and Playboy magazines, would be beneficial.
In war, maintaining morale is crucial. Providing good food and entertainment could help soldiers cope with the hardships and long periods of separation from their comfortable lives back home.