It was not until dusk that Simon and Sofia walked out of the master bedroom of the villa on the hillside of Lake Como.

After dinner, Sofia dressed up carefully, the two rushed to Milan city together, intending to participate in a red wine auction at Christie's Milan branch.

After a few years of acquisition of Christie's, Sofia not only managed the old auction house and continued to expand its business, but also perfectly matched it with Melisandra's business, becoming a brand marketing platform that has the effect of the locomotive. Melisandra's clothing, jewelry, watches, red wine and other companies involved in Melisandra from time to time to auction treasures on Christie's platform.

In most people's subconscious mind, the things that can enter the auction house will always be higher in terms of value and style, which invisibly increases the brand value of Melisandra's subsidiaries.

"I have set up a buyer team for Chinese cultural relics. Currently, it mainly collects two categories: calligraphy, painting and porcelain. I have to say that there are really many Chinese cultural relics scattered throughout Europe, and the prices are very low. I recently bought a blue and white porcelain from the Yuan Dynasty. I remember that you mentioned it before, and it only cost about 30,000 US dollars. The seller is an ordinary old man from the UK. He said that his father brought it back from China."

In the car heading to Milan city, Sofia and Simon talked about some business matters about Christie's.

Large auction houses auction not only the treasures provided by various collectors, but often they may be self-promoted. Of course, on the surface, there will definitely be no relationship with the auction house.

Simon accidentally mentioned to Sophia that he could collect Chinese cultural relics in Europe in advance and hoard them. When the Chinese economy develops a little further, more and more rich people will definitely turn to the field of collection in order to pursue their connotation and background, just like the Japanese rich people who bought most of Western Impressionist paintings in the 1980s.

At that time, Christie's can take the opportunity to ship and make a big profit.

At this time, I heard Sophia say that she had just bought a piece of Yuan blue and white porcelain. Even with Simon's current wealth, I still became interested in hearing this kind of porcelain that was fryed into the sky in my memory: "What is it?"

Sofia said: "A jar about two feet tall, I can't say anything about it. It's Chinese dragon totem and peony flower patterns. It's preserved very well anyway. The expert from China said that if it is in China, it is the kind that can enter the Palace Museum. Well, it's the same level as the British Museum, and it's very precious."

Two-foot-tall Peony Cloud Longyuan Blue and White porcelain jar.

The national treasure level of the Forbidden City.

Simon compared the possible price in his memory, and was slightly shocked and a little moved. Two feet, about 60 cm, but this size is very rare. After all, the bigger the porcelain, the less easy it is to preserve. I really don’t know how those guys brought things back to Europe from thousands of miles away.

and……

Simon asked again: "30,000 dollars, are you sure?"

Sofia smiled and said, "Now at least $2 million, so I mentioned it to you specifically. I am very good at doing business, right?"

Simon kissed the woman's face with compliment and reminded him: "Don't sell it within ten years."

Sofia was a little confused: "This operation cycle will be too long."

Any business can only be considered successful if it gets the highest profit in the shortest time. If you invest 1 million US dollars, you can make 30% a year and 100% a year. It seems that the latter is a little more, but compared to the former, it is a complete failure.

Simon also knew that unless it was a real collection in the field of cultural relics, the operating cycle would be as short as two or three years, and as long as four or five years. It would be hard to say if the time would be longer. After all, no one knew whether the collection hot spots would change in a few years. Just like the Impressionist paintings that Japanese people liked in the 1980s, the prices are generally falling sharply now.

The Yuan blue and white porcelain that Sophia just mentioned has been stored for four or five years, and it took place around 2000. Compared with the current market valuation, it is definitely no problem to double the current market valuation, but it is still not the best time.

Simon didn't explain too much, just said, "Listen to me, and, where is that porcelain? I'll take the time to see?"

"If you want to see it in the underground vault in Geneva, I will send it to North America."

"Forget it, let's see it next time I go to Switzerland."

Think about a Yuan blue and white porcelain worth hundreds of millions of yuan in the future. If there is a difference in transportation during the future, even Simon will inevitably suffer from pain.

"OK."

Of course, Sofia would not object, so men could come here a few more times, so she made up her mind to acquire more Chinese cultural relics that men might be interested in.

The two continued to chat. When the car entered Milan city, Sofia's cell phone suddenly rang. She answered and chatted with the other side for a few words, then hung up and said to Simon: "Fiat's Jennie Agnelli and his wife will come here later, and I want to talk to you."

Gianni Agnelli, the head of the Fiat Group.

Simon probably understood what the other party wanted to talk about.

Sofia also said: "It should be that the Fiat Group intends to enter China, but it is not sure of attention and wants to find out some news from you."

The aftermath of Simon's last visit to China continues.

Although it rejected the proposal to invest in Geely proposed by the Apollo Management team, other overseas automakers who were originally hesitant have accelerated their layout. For example, General Motors Group started negotiations with SAIC last year and has been stumbling before. After Simon's visit to China, the negotiation progress between the two parties has suddenly accelerated, and it is expected that a formal cooperation agreement will be signed in the near future.

This is a full year ahead of the original time and space.

As for Fiat Group.

Thinking about some information in my memory, Simon couldn't help but shake his head. He tried to enter China twice in a row and failed. This was only Fiat's own problem.

However, because of the deep layout in Italy, the Westeros system also has many cooperations with the Agnelli family, which can be called the "Royal of Italy". The other party came here deliberately, of course, and wanted to give face and said casually: "Then let's talk."

Sophia noticed Simon's expression and asked, "Don't you want to contact them?"

"No, I'm just not optimistic about Fiat's entry into China."

"Why?"

Simon said: "Besides Italy, do you think that Fiat has more successful overseas market?"

Sofia thought about it and didn't realize it.

Fiat Group is a standard local snake in Italy. It has occupied 90% of the country's automobile market through the Italian government's open or secret favoritism for more than half a century. However, overseas, except for some luxury car brands under Fiat Group, there is no business that can be found.

Moreover, even luxury car brands under Fiat Group such as Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo have not had a good operating condition in recent years. Due to losses, brands such as Maserati have been repeatedly reselled and merged.

In the final analysis, the Fiat Group is so comfortable to be a local snake in Italy and has lost its enterprising spirit.

With the current seller market status of the Chinese automobile industry, if Fiat operates seriously, it will be easy to occupy an important place in the future Chinese automobile market. However, based on the information in memory, Fiat obviously lacks this kind of mind. Instead, it strictly controls technology research and development and automobile production very harshly, guards against partners stealing their own technology, and operates on its own voluntarily regardless of the actual situation of the Chinese market. It only knows how to get it and does not want to pay even a little more.

In short, it is arrogance.

How do you say that sentence?

Weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival, arrogance is!

Therefore, Fiat Group tried twice in 1999 and 2010, and both were good times for the development of China's automobile industry, and both ended in a bleak end.

Later, the Fiat Group, which entered the trough, merged with the Chrysler Group, which had been in a downturn in the United States. After this transaction, it seemed that the Fiat Group still dominated, but in fact, the Italian automobile market was successfully penetrated by American capital and lost its own independence.

Arriving at Christie's headquarters in the heart of Milan, the auction will take more than ten minutes to start.

Simon and Sofia were temporarily waiting in a VIP lounge, and Jani Agnelli and his wife Marila Agnelli also arrived early and happened to meet each other.

Gianni Agnelli is 75 years old this year. Since becoming the chairman of the Fiat Group in 1966, he happened to be in charge of Italy's largest industrial group for 30 years. He also has a younger brother, Umberto Agnelli, 62 years old this year, is the CEO of the Fiat Group.

In the original time and space, after the death of Gianni Agnelli, the power of the Fiat group fell into the hands of Umberto.

Because Gianni Agnelli's only son committed suicide in 2000.

Regarding this young man, there are also allusions in the Italian movie "The Beautiful City" that Simon likes very much.

Unlike the low-key German entrepreneurial families, such as the Agnelli family, the Gucci family and even the Versace family, the family stories behind the scenes of old Italian companies, are enough to be filmed in Hollywood for 30 years, and they are all kinds of exciting.

Gianni Agnelli came to meet Simon in order to enter the Chinese market. The Italian business giant has also begun to pay attention to China recently. However, because of some of the inherent concepts of Westerners, even if they have Simon's demonstration role, the other party still has various hesitation about investing in China.

Simon also made an open and honest statement: "Jennie, the current cooperation model of China's automobile industry is usually provided by Western automakers, and China provides funds. Therefore, if Fiat enters China, it will only pay technology, and the import of parts can bring you additional income. Moreover, in terms of technology, there is no need for the latest ones. Just like the best-selling Santana sedan that Volkswagen cooperates with China, the latest model in the Chinese market is also two generations behind Europe."

Jenny Versace leaned on the sofa in the lounge, holding a cigar in his hand. Perhaps the young man opposite had no intention of smoking or igniting it. He shook his head slightly and said, "Simon, this is what I am worried about. Haven't you discovered that China's goal is our technology? When China masters the technology, do you think they will throw us away?"

This is probably a common concern for many overseas companies to cooperate with China.

Simon just shrugged slightly: "Or, Jenny, you can think so. If Fiat Group does not cooperate with China, when the country's automobile industry develops, the market will definitely be only among other preemptives. It will be very difficult for you to enter again. As far as I know, GM Group is about to reach a cooperation agreement with China, and other auto giants are also testing, leaving Fiat with not much time."

"So, Simon, why did you reject the plan to cooperate with Chinese automakers?"

Simon was stunned for a moment before he realized.

It's still the same cooperation plan with Geely.

Simon was not surprised that Agnelli knew about this.

Just as Simon was not surprised why Agnelli knew his itinerary immediately when he arrived in Italy in the morning, this is the essence. After all, when Simon entered various countries, he must report at the customs office, and he did not deliberately hide it. This is also the reason why Yeltsin's daughter could easily come to her a few days ago.

With the current power of the Westeros system, if Simon wants to deliberately hide it, no one can find it.

However, this trip to Europe was not only Ukraine, but other regions actually meant to inspect the territory. Of course, everyone who should know should know that Simon Westeros has appeared.

Thinking of this, Simon said: "This is different, Jenny, because the Westeros system has not yet entered the automobile industry. Moreover, at this stage, China's automobile industry is monopolized by state-owned enterprises, but the cooperation agreement is aimed at a private enterprise. If I do this, it will likely cause some Chinese state-owned enterprises to be disgusted by some Chinese state-owned enterprises, and China's state-owned enterprises are closely connected with China's top leaders, which is not worth the loss."

Simon explained this and Jani Agnelli immediately understood.

Local snake.

Because this is the position of Fiat Group in Italy, other overseas car companies want to enter Italy, either cooperate with Fiat Group or will inevitably be strongly suppressed.

Putting the unlit cigar in his mouth and taking a sip, considering it a little, Gianni Agnelli said: "Simon, or, what are we working together?"

"Um?"

"We work together to enter the Chinese market. You have to know that I really have a lot of concerns over there. I can only feel at ease if you participate. After all, you already have good connections in China."

"But, Jenny, in this case, we can only get a total of 50% of the shares, each with 25%. Are you satisfied?"

Jani Agnelli smiled and said, "Of course, as long as the project can be successful."

"Forget it," Simon refused with a smile: "Jenny, if you plan to enter the Chinese market, I will give you some advice, don't be too cautious, and don't be too harsh. The potential of the Chinese automobile market, in my opinion, may be comparable to North America in the next ten years, reaching the level of tens of millions. Don't doubt this. You can check the growth data of some other industries in China. This country has great potential. As long as Fiat is willing to bet heavily now, China will inevitably become Fiat's largest overseas market in the future."

A light flashed in Jani Agnelli's eyes, but he quickly said, "Then why can't you participate together?"

Simon and Agnelli looked at each other and said, "If you are willing to hand over control of the project, I am very happy to work together this time."

Gianni Agnelli shook his head subconsciously.

Simon smiled and said, "So, we can't talk about it. To be honest, I will enter the Chinese automobile market, but not now, because the Westeros system has no foundation in the automobile industry. After a few years, a layout will be completed, and the time will be more ripe."

"According to your opinion, I might have to wait a few more years, such as China joining the WTO."

"Of course, this is a good time." Simon nodded, remembering that Fiat's first entry into China in history was stepping on the threshold of entry into the WTO, and said, "However, if you do this, I can only regret you, Jenny, because with the conditions of the Fiat Group, you don't need to wait. You are missing a precious opportunity to make advance arrangements."

The staff came here to remind them that they could enter the venue.

The two stopped talking at the right time.

It can be seen that Jennie Agnelli is still hesitant. Simon has already said that how the other party chooses is not what he cares about.

Speaking of which, if it weren't for Fiat's two entry into China in memory, he failed, if it weren't for the indecisiveness of Jennie Agnelli in front of him, Simon wouldn't mind cooperating with the other party, even if it was just a pure investment without control. In this situation, he wouldn't have any interest at all.
Chapter completed!