Chapter 41 – The Portwide Extermination Plan

Chapter 41 – The Portwide Extermination Plan

The next day, Yang Wendong arrived at Wang Zhixian's office.

Wang welcomed him warmly, poured him tea with a grin, and said, "Mr. Yang, if you'd waited any longer to show up, I might've lost sleep worrying."

Yang chuckled. "Worried I'd run off with the two thousand dollars?"

"Haha! Don't insult either of us," Wang replied, shaking his head. "With the capabilities you've shown, even if it were twenty thousand, I know you wouldn't pull something like that."

"You flatter me," Yang said modestly.

"Alright, let's get down to business," Wang continued. "So, Mr. Yang—do you have a solid plan for the Kowloon Wharf project?"

Yang nodded. "I do. That's actually why I came today—so we can discuss the details."

"Good." Wang handed over a freshly steeped cup of tea. "This is a premium blend from the mainland. I don't know the name—I'm just a simple man. If it tastes good, it's good. Let's drink and talk."

Yang laughed. "Then we're the same. I enjoy tea, but I'm no expert."

He took a sip. It was fragrant and smooth.

In his previous life, Yang had developed a taste for tea in his later years. He wasn't particular—just liked a little bitterness in his water.

Since arriving in 1950s Hong Kong, this was the first time he'd had real tea. Until recently, he could barely afford proper meals.

"If you like it, I'll send some home with you," Wang offered.

"Thanks, I'll accept," Yang replied without hesitation. He knew that in business, these small gestures helped build relationships. Refusing generosity could even cause offense.

Wang nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "So, how do you plan to handle the Kowloon Wharf extermination?"

Yang didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Mr. Wang, will I have full operational control over the project? Including labor and supply decisions?"

Wang nodded. "Of course. You'll handle the operations. I'll oversee outcomes and approve resources as needed."

"Perfect," Yang said. That arrangement was reasonable—delegated authority with oversight.

He began laying out his strategy.

"My plan has two parts," Yang explained. "First, the wharf itself. Second, the surrounding residential zones, where tens of thousands of dockworkers, vendors, and families live."

Wang frowned slightly. "That second part sounds tricky. Those neighborhoods are chaotic. People there don't listen to anyone."

Yang nodded. "That's true. But here's the thing—no one likes rats. Whether you're the U.S. President, a Hong Kong tycoon, or a street vendor, the disgust is universal.

"Most people don't act because it's too much work. It's not worth the effort for them to trap rats individually. It's about cost-benefit."

Wang nodded in agreement. "So how do you plan to deal with that?"

Yang pulled a glue board from his bag. "With this."

He began explaining how it worked—its low cost, high efficiency, and how it was cleaner and more convenient than traps or poison.

"Impressive," Wang said. "It's clever, really."

Yang added, "I've already patented it. This will be an exclusive product under Changxing Industrial."

Wang laughed. "Smart move."

He appreciated Yang's honesty. By revealing the patent, Yang showed confidence—and also subtly warned not to copy the idea.

Yang continued, "My idea is to start by distributing these boards for free to residents. Then we coordinate with local authorities to promote usage and monitor results.

"People won't say no to something cheap and effective."

Rats were universally hated. Unless you were in the pest control business, there was no opposition to exterminating them. That was Yang's biggest strategic advantage—low resistance from the public.

"Free?" Wang raised an eyebrow. He paused, then nodded. "That's fair. For a project this size, we need public cooperation. Charging would only get in the way."

In large-scale public initiatives, companies and governments often ate the cost. The goal was impact—not profit per unit.

"How much per glue board?" Wang asked.

"Thirty cents each. That's just above cost."

Yang had come prepared. At that price, he still made a modest profit, but his main goal was to prove the board's value through this high-profile campaign.

"Sounds reasonable. I'll let my boss know," Wang said.

"This will be the cheapest pest control tool you've ever bought," Yang added.

Wang nodded again. "If it works like you say, then yeah—it's worth it.

"I'll handle the official announcement. We'll encourage residents around the wharf to participate."

Yang added, "Just an announcement won't be enough. People are lazy by nature. If someone else does the work and they benefit anyway, they'll choose not to act. We'll need incentives."

"More incentives?" Wang asked, frowning. "We're already giving away the glue boards for free."

Yang nodded. "If we want fast results, we need action. And action needs motivation. Otherwise, people wait for others to handle it.

"In other countries, like the U.S. or Soviet Union, public rat control campaigns offered cash or goods in exchange for rat corpses. It worked."

"Fair point," Wang said after a moment. "Quicker results matter more. I'll consider it."

Yang smiled. "How you handle the incentive is up to you."

"Actually," Wang said, "I've already discussed with the port authority. They want to offer future job opportunities to people who actively help with rat control. It's the same method used in earlier campaigns at Whampoa and Taikoo docks."

"That's a smart approach," Yang nodded. "No cash needed, and it motivates workers."

In the ports, jobs varied in pay and status. Getting to work on ships was considered high-income.

The districts surrounding the docks were full of unemployed men—many desperate enough to join gangs.

Turf wars, violence—often it all stemmed from fighting over access to dock jobs.

If rat control became a pathway to better work, participation would skyrocket.

Wang asked, "What about the docks themselves?"

"Docks are harder," Yang admitted. "Too many people moving around. Too much cargo. We can't set traps or poison—it could end up in the shipments. If foreign customs find that, we're finished."

"So it's manual?"

"Yes. We'll use human labor."

"How many people do you need?"

"I'll need to inspect the area properly, but I plan to hire from the shantytowns. Labor's cheap, and they've got some experience."

"Fine. That's your call," Wang replied. "Just give me results."

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