I'm a Master in India

"Look, what's this?"

Luca lifted the clothes in the suitcase, revealing the green items in the hidden compartment.

Dollars, all dollars.

They were hidden in the middle of a pile of clothes, covering a whole layer.

"Buddy, we're going big this time! $100,000, all used for supplies!"

"This is all profit from selling medicine?" Ron held his breath, this business was a little beyond his expectations.

"No, of course not.

Last time was just a trial run, the principal and interest added up to just over $20,000.

The rest I scraped together from friends, and even the money for weed was diverted."

"What weed?" Ron looked up.

"Uh... didn't I mention it?

Before coming to Mumbai, I went to rural India, Bihar, West Bengal... it's a major producer of weed there, very famous in South America."

Luca originally did this kind of gray business in Brazil, but because of some gang conflicts, he couldn't get goods from the local dealers.

That's why he thought of going all the way to India to develop new sources of goods, and as a result, he inadvertently heard people talking about the medicine business here, so there was what happened later.

"So you originally planned to do tobacco business, but now you've changed your mind?"

"Buddy, the profit of the medicine business is completely comparable to weed, and it also has a good reputation.

Locals will thank you, and the police won't treat you like a weed dealer when they find out, so why not?"

The benefits were obvious, and Luca's local friends, after seeing the medicine business, invested money one after another, wanting a piece of the pie.

When there was a "legitimate" way to make money, the gangsters were unwilling to be tobacco dealers.

"I can tell you really enjoyed the past two months in Brazil."

"Ah ha, you caught me.

That was a super cool experience, a legendary inspirational story!"

"A small-time gangster reformed?

A rotten person turned over a new leaf?

Alright, I'll help you arrange the rest." Ron got up to leave.

"Buddy, we have to hurry!

The sooner the better, get the goods early, and then make a big profit!"

"There's no problem with Pant, but remember our agreement, 30% commission." Ron made a gesture.

"Wait, Ron, let's make a deal." Luca stopped him.

"What do you want to say?"

"Can this commission be delayed for a while, don't get me wrong, I don't want to renege on the debt, I mean to invest it in the medicine business.

Look, our last batch of medicine worth five thousand dollars turned into more than 20,000 dollars in cash.

Buddy, four times the profit!

You can't find a more profitable business than this."

"And then?" Ron remained unmoved.

"Your math must not be very good, come, let me help you calculate.

If you take away $30,000 from $100,000, you only get $30,000 in the end.

But if you put it back in the box, in two months, no, one month, I can bring back $60,000!"

"Shouldn't it be $120,000?" Ron looked at him amused.

"Oh, you can calculate!

But that's not the point, this money is considered an investment.

You know, I'm responsible for transporting and selling the goods, and I bear most of the risk, so a little commission is reasonable, right?"

The $30,000 was originally Ron's commission, but as long as it was turned into the principal of the business, Luca could in turn take a commission from Ron.

That way, he not only didn't lose the money, but instead earned $60,000.

"You really are a genius!"

"Everyone thinks so, so they pooled money to let me come out to do business." Luca said triumphantly.

"No way!"

"What?

Wait, I didn't make it clear, this is double the profit!

Double!"

"Listen, Luca, I know very well what you want to express.

But that doesn't work in Mumbai, at least not now."

"Why?" Luca spread his hands, "I can't understand, this is obviously good for both of us!"

"Because this is India!

A country that relies on bribery to get things done!

Do you think that the 30% commission is all for me?

No!

I'm just taking it for those officials, customs, police, foreign affairs bureau, docks...

Have you ever thought about how many kilograms of medicine nearly $100,000 is?

How did they escape the layers of inspection and finally leave India safely?

Airlines don't work, buddy!

We can only go by water, and there are more officials to bribe here.

Before the medicine is sold, where does the money for these bribes come from?

Me?

Indians don't do business like that!"

What Ron said was generally correct, although a little exaggerated, but the principle was obvious.

Someone had to pay the money for the bribes, and it certainly wasn't him.

The prospects described by Luca were very tempting, the money went out and doubled back, no matter how you calculated it, Ron wouldn't lose.

But there was a key point, that was whether what Luca said could be achieved.

Ron doubted this in the absence of any supervision.

Who knew what the situation in Brazil was?

He couldn't follow him there.

Was Luca completely trustworthy?

He couldn't guarantee it either.

Business rule number one: Don't take trust as the key to determining the success or failure of a business, business is business.

"You really are a shrewd and ruthless fellow!" Luca glared at him.

"In India, that's the best compliment for a businessman."

"Wow, are Indians so perverted?"

"Congratulations, you're about to discover the weakness of this country."

"I knew it, I knew it the first day I came here, this country is abnormal from top to bottom."

"Don't complain, at least I get things done with money."

"Just like those policemen?"

"What did I just say, you've already discovered the weakness of this country!"

"Here!

Take it!" Luca grabbed a wad of dollars angrily and stuffed it into his arms, "Buddy, go fix them!

I want to leave India safely with the goods in a week, no problem, right?"

"No Problem!"

For some reason, once it enters October, time in Mumbai seems to pass particularly quickly.

Perhaps it's because the temperature has cooled down a bit, and people are starting to enjoy the benefits that Mumbai brings as a big city.

And once you fall into this comfortable state of enjoyment, time becomes less noticeable, and then slips away secretly.

As a local, Ron could already put on a jacket and walk down the street, ignoring the sun in the sky.

"Niya, how about this set of bracelets?"

"Baba, it's too big, let's change to a smaller one."

"I like big ones!"

Today, Ron accompanied Niya to the market to fulfill his promise to buy her a set of gold jewelry before the end of the year.

Zaveri Bazaar is the oldest jewelry market in Mumbai, and there are goldsmiths who have inherited their skills for generations.

The jewelry they make is exquisite and breathtaking.

There is an Indian saying that jewelry is half of a woman's life.

Even if a family is so poor that they live on the sidewalk, the hostess must have two pieces of personal collection jewelry on her body, even if they are made of brass.

Although Niya said it was too big, her big, bright eyes couldn't help but peek at the bracelets in Ron's hand.

Indian bracelets are not thin strands, but very wide bundles, but they are not heavy.

Because the goldsmiths have carved countless hollow patterns on them, which look like a thin layer of fishing net when you look closely.

Ron picked up the bracelet and gestured on Niya's wrist, then decisively started bargaining with the boss.

After a bloody fight, he bought the set of jewelry for six thousand rupees.

The current price of gold is about $200 an ounce, and it is even cheaper here in India, and the labor cost is not worth much.

It's not a loss to buy such a big and exquisite bracelet for six thousand rupees.

"Well, I have fulfilled my promise, so what about you, Niya?"

"What?" Niya, who was immersed in fantasy, raised her confused little face.

"I haven't seen you wear a dress yet."

Swish, Niya's fair face was instantly covered with a layer of pink.