sinovels Chapter 132 Fulai Hotel
Chapter 132 Fulai Hotel
After three days of basic training and testing at the Darwin peacekeeping training center in Australia, and receiving numerous vaccinations, Zhou Hong successfully boarded a propeller plane bound for Dili, the capital of East Timor.
Dili Airport can only accommodate medium-sized propeller aircraft at present.
Upon arrival at Dili Airport, we boarded a UN-licensed bus and entered Dili city a dozen minutes later.
Zhou Hong's first impression of Dili was even better than he had imagined.
With a population of over 100,000, Dili is certainly not comparable to a county town in China, not even the most remote county town in the western region.
But at least there are traces of modern life, such as internet cafes. I had thought it would still be a tribal area with thatched huts everywhere.
Of course, many rural areas are indeed in their original tribal state.
After reporting to the Attorney General's office, Zhou Hong went to the General Crime Department, where the head, a Western female prosecutor, assigned him directly to the busiest and most demanding office in the first group.
The General Crimes Department is responsible for ordinary criminal cases. The term "ordinary" is used to distinguish them from cases involving genocide or prosecution of high-ranking officials of Indonesian and former puppet regimes.
The General Crimes Division's Prosecution Headquarters investigates and prosecutes more serious criminal cases, such as murder.
Four subgroups were set up to handle general criminal cases in various regions of East Timor, such as theft, fighting, and brawls, where the evidence was relatively clear.
The first group is responsible for Dili city and its surrounding areas. Because the war has just ended, more than a quarter of East Timor's population is now concentrated in the capital Dili and its surrounding areas, including several refugee camps.
The first group is primarily responsible for general criminal cases in and around the capital city of Dili.
The northwestern suburbs of Dili are also among the most dangerous areas, with several refugee camps.
It can be said that most of the population in eastern East Timor is in Dili, and the vast majority of the poor population in Dili are in the northwestern urban area and suburbs, where the security situation is complex and chaotic.
Zhou Hong was going to the first group, and he was mainly responsible for matters in the chaotic area of the northwestern urban area and suburbs.
Despite going through complicated procedures, Zhou Hong did not go to the logistics office that arranged accommodation for the peacekeeping personnel.
Peacekeeping personnel are not overgrown children; many of them find their own accommodations, and the volunteer teaching team itself encourages employees to do so. If they arrange their own food and lodging, peacekeeping personnel receive a subsidy of about $100 per day, depending on their position. Zhou Hong's subsidy is $95 per day.
Unfortunately, local supplies are scarce and have to be imported internationally, which leads to distorted prices. The main consumers are UN employees and foreigners. With this subsidy, there's not much left after maintaining decent food, lodging, and accommodation. Of course, if the employees are from the Third World and want to save money, that's a different story.
Zhou Hong walked directly out of the UNMISE headquarters, a three-story building that will eventually be handed over to the East Timor Police Headquarters.
There aren't many taxis in Dili, but there are many parked outside the UN headquarters. This is because even non-UN staff, such as foreign businessmen and tourists visiting East Timor, often stop here first, making it the area with the highest demand for taxis.
Moreover, Dili's economy is basically supported by support mission members, employees, and foreigners.
For example, the internet cafe run by Portuguese people that costs $9 an hour mainly serves members of the support group.
This also applies to some hotels (hostels), such as Zhou Hong's destination—the Fulai Hotel.
Although it's called a hotel, it's more like a hostel or guesthouse in China. Yet, a standard 20-square-meter room is priced at $60 a day, and it's aimed at United Nations staff.
Without the support team, such high prices would attract no customers at all.
Of course, long-term rentals are much cheaper, and many ordinary employees of the support group stay at the Fu Lai Hotel for extended periods.
Zhou Hong saw the Chinese sign for this hotel on his way from the airport to the headquarters of the support mission, so he took a taxi here.
Although Zhou Hong had already sent people to make preparations after learning that he might come to East Timor, it would be good to have a place to stay in a Chinese-owned hotel, to support his compatriots, and to get information from various channels.
Actually, judging from the outside, this two-story hotel is probably not even as nice as the Lao guesthouse before it was renovated.
The best hotel in Dili today is the Timor Hotel, which was renovated last year with a $600 million investment from Portuguese investors. It is now a 4-star hotel and the only officially recognized luxury hotel in East Timor. It is also the first choice for hosting dignitaries and senior UN officials.
Several of the highest-ranking officials in the support mission resided at the hotel.
Its restaurants, bars, swimming pools, 24-hour front desk, airport shuttle service, and WiFi throughout the area are unique in East Timor.
Moreover, all rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a TV, a minibar, tea/coffee making facilities, and a private bathroom with a shower, making it the only hotel in Dili that currently offers such comprehensive amenities.
However, Zhou Hong still plans to choose the "Fulai Hotel" as his second place of stay, which can be regarded as supporting his compatriots who have come from afar to make a living here.
In fact, the mainland compatriots who run hotels, internet cafes, shops, etc. are not necessarily wealthy. They may be taking a gamble and hoping to make a fortune.
Those who are truly powerful come here to receive funding and subsidies from the United Nations for various projects.
Mr. Xue, the owner of Fulai Hotel, is a prime example.
In the lobby, this man in his forties from eastern Guangdong chatted with Zhou Hong in a very interesting way.
He had many feelings when he talked about the past. Four years ago, he had failed in his investment in China and was feeling lost. Just then, the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce organized a trip to East Timor to investigate the investment environment, and he joined in. When his colleagues who came with him saw how backward and turbulent the place was, they all left the next day, but he stayed.
He believed that the poverty and backwardness of this place presented a good opportunity for small and medium-sized investors like himself to develop their businesses.
As a result, the United Nations decided to establish the East Timor Transitional Administration to take full control of East Timor's internal and external affairs.
He quickly secured a $60 contract from the United Nations to renovate the Dili City office building that had been damaged in the riots.
But even though he got the contract, he didn't have any workers. He had no choice but to find a foreman from Myanmar and have him bring 57 Myanmar workers to do the work. Moreover, because all the East Timorese government's files had been burned in the riots, there were no blueprints. He could only take these Myanmar workers to measure the dimensions office by office, which was very hard work, and finally the project was completed on schedule.
This was also his first pot of gold.
Moreover, during the construction of the project, he held a tour, and the restaurant attracted a large number of customers as soon as it opened, including many UN employees. At that time, a fried rice dish cost $5 and a stir-fried vegetable dish also cost $5, and the business was booming.
He then built the Fulai Hotel, which became a huge success. In addition, Xie Xueshan also began supplying food to the East Timorese army.
In addition, he obtained two fishing licenses to sell fishing boats from East Timor to East Timor, because East Timor's fishery resources have not been developed much. He plans to buy two boats himself and develop in new areas.
Zhou Hong listened to his incessant chatter without getting annoyed, and just nodded silently. Chinese businessmen are indeed a good thing. As long as there are fewer inside stories in the rules, it is not difficult to get projects and complete the transformation of making their first pot of gold.
This Mr. Xue has made it onto domestic online news.
"I'm selling this place soon. A lady from Northeast China will take over, and I'll be a fisherman from now on," Boss Xue said with a smile.
Because Zhou Hong also speaks fluent Cantonese, Boss Xue and Zhou Hong got along very well.
Zhou Hong was speechless upon hearing this, realizing why he had changed careers: the United Nations was gradually withdrawing its peacekeeping personnel.
By the end of the year, the number of peacekeeping personnel will likely be reduced by half. Obviously, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that primarily cater to UN personnel will be greatly affected. You've found someone to take over; exiting at the peak allows you to sell at a high price.
The problem is, don't you feel any remorse for ripping off this woman from Northeast China?
I was just praising you in my heart! It wasn't easy for you to come here alone and fight your way out.
Zhou Hong picked up a cigarette speechlessly and lit it with a click.
I was just chatting and smoking with Boss Xue, and smokers can easily become acquainted.
"Look, the receptionist was brought here by the eldest sister, isn't she beautiful!" Boss Xue smiled. "I estimate that this place will officially change owners at the end of this month. Now I come here occasionally to help the eldest sister with some arrangements and to cultivate regular customers."
Zhou Hong looked at the stage in front of him and saw two tall, beautiful women whose accents indicated they were from outside the Great Wall.
"Whose revenue is it now?" Zhou Hong suddenly asked.
"It'll all be mine by the end of the month, but I'll factor the portion for long-term clients into the transaction amount for my boss. I won't let our own people suffer a loss!" Boss Xue smiled.
Zhou Hong remained silent, but in truth, there was nothing wrong with it. A person's business acumen is not something that can be considered a scam.
The older sister wasn't actually being careless. She had already discussed trial operation before any deal was even finalized, because she wanted to see the hotel's actual operating revenue, not just the surface-level prosperity of the business.
The problem is that many things are dynamic and evolving. Of course, it's not to say that the older sister will definitely lose money, but it will probably take several years to break even. It will definitely not be in the current state, especially after the complete withdrawal of UN peacekeepers. If there are any local disturbances or unrest, it will be even more difficult to say.
"How much will it cost if I stay for a month?" Zhou Hong asked.
Mr. Xue laughed and said, "A standard room of 20 square meters is $1300 a month. There is also a suite of 40 square meters that has a sea view, which is $2200 a month. It is cheaper if you rent it for a year, with a 30% discount."
He added, "Alright, I've made the decision. If you want a suite, I'll give you a 30% discount, making it $1500 a month. After all, we're from the same hometown. Judging from your accent, you must have been a Cantonese when you were a child. We're quite close."
Zhou Hong nodded. "Okay, thank you, Brother Xue."
Boss Xue smiled: "Come on, I'll take you to complete the formalities. But if you're still staying here next month and can't get this price, then there's nothing I can do!"
You've already been treated like a good guy. If it weren't for the end of the month, you wouldn't be the boss anymore. Would you give me such a discount?
Moreover, I don't lose anything by befriending you. On the contrary, if the Northeastern lady doesn't give me such a discount next month, it will make me think you are a good person, and the lady will be the one who gets hurt.
In business, this is the kind of shrewdness one needs.
Even if you're not in the same industry anymore, you're still subconscious rivals, aren't you? The more friends you have, the more resentment you create between those friends and your rivals.
Zhou Hong shook his head inwardly, but said nothing, and followed him to the front desk.