Chapter 10, Bluefin

When he arrived at the doorstep, he saw a petite figure peeking out from the entrance from a distance; it was none other than Xiao You.

Lin Tianyu smiled and said five words— "Bluefin Tuna"

Lin Tianyu's heart said that he finally arrived, and it must be the diving equipment he ordered

The bluefin tuna is extremely difficult to catch due to its massive size and powerful speed, typically requiring several people to collaborate in the capture, along with proper fishing boats and equipment. However, for Lin Tianyu, these traditional methods are entirely unrealistic; he possesses neither a fishing boat nor the necessary fishing gear, and even if he had those items, he would be unable to operate them alone. After careful consideration, Lin Tianyu decided to employ the method of underwater shooting, which is the simplest and most brutal way to capture fish. To this end, he spent a significant amount of money to order a set of diving equipment, including a speargun and harpoon, and it should be arriving soon.

Lin Tianyu felt a surge of pride at the change in his expression, thinking to herself that he now understood her importance. However, he did not continue to dwell on this topic; instead, he said.

On January 5, the major national wholesale markets in Japan specializing in seafood and fresh produce welcomed their first trading day. At the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, a bluefin tuna weighing 342 kilograms, sourced from Hokkaido's Hoi, was crowned this year's "Japan No. 1" (the best tuna in Japan)

Regarding the price of bluefin tuna, Lin Tianyu recalled a piece of news he had seen online a few months ago

Ah, you have finally returned; I have been waiting for you for half a day

Secondly, payment must be made in cash, and it must be settled at the time of the transaction. I do not trust banks. His statement is certainly made with consideration, as he is an ordinary white-collar worker without a job, and suddenly receiving tens or even hundreds of thousands in income would inevitably raise suspicions. Moreover, compared to banks, he feels that the small island is somewhat safer.

Lin Tianyu was slightly taken aback, "What conditions?"

Upon thinking of this, he smiled slightly and asked, "What conditions?"

Due to Lin Tianyu's influence, the hotel has seen a significant increase in customer traffic this month. The Mediterranean spiny crab, a high-end seafood dish, has become immensely popular since its launch. After all, in this day and age, there is no shortage of wealthy individuals. The spiny crab, with its rare appearance and delicious taste, has now become a signature dish at Wan Feng Hotel. However, if there is a disruption in supply, it is likely that the hotel's reputation will be difficult to maintain, and my position within the hotel will inevitably be threatened.

However, Lin Tianyu did not refute this; he merely smiled slightly and said, "To be honest, I am almost out of crabs. Not to mention the smaller ones, I am not even sure if I can gather fifty kilograms next time. Therefore, I think you won't have to worry about this issue for long."

Indeed, what conditions do I need to agree to for you to sell me the bluefin tuna

Hu Bin lowered his voice: "This transaction needs to be conducted privately."

Upon hearing this, Hu Bin fell into deep thought. An adult bluefin tuna weighs at least around 200 to 300 pounds, and larger ones weighing 500 to 600 pounds are not uncommon. If priced at 2,000 yuan per kilogram, a single fish could amount to several hundred thousand yuan, and it would require cash transactions, which is no small sum. Moreover, due to the high price of bluefin tuna, selling them can be relatively difficult. However, he also saw a tremendous opportunity in this, just as Lin Tianyu had mentioned. The price offered by Lin Tianyu was far below the current market price. If he could profit from this transaction, he could potentially make a significant profit.

Unlike the completely novel Mediterranean spiny crab, bluefin tuna, although expensive, is not particularly rare overall. At least at Wanfeng, there are dishes made with this ingredient. However, due to relatively low demand, the stock is not abundant, and because fish meat is difficult to preserve, the purchased fish is all frozen.

He immediately revealed an unprecedented smile and said, "Of course I can accept it, but are you sure it is fresh?"

"What happened? Is there something wrong?" Lin Tianyu asked in confusion

Upon considering this, he began to take stock of the relationships and resources he possessed. After careful contemplation, Hu Bin smiled slightly and said, "Both of these conditions are acceptable, and I agree to the price; however, I also have a condition."

If Lin Tianyu truly intends to change clients, he could very well do so quietly and discreetly, without any need to bring it up in front of him

Upon hearing his words, Hu Bin's expression suddenly changed. Despite his considerable professional competence, he still felt somewhat disheartened upon receiving such news.

One person wanted to quickly sell a large quantity of goods, while the other aimed to profit from the price difference. Thus, they quickly reached an agreement to conduct a private transaction the following Friday, with the price set at 2,000 yuan per kilogram.

It is said that Lin Tianyu can obtain fresh bluefin tuna, which immediately stirred Hu Bin's interest. He considered himself well-informed and naturally had some understanding of the price of bluefin tuna.

Although Hu Bin still wore a smile on his face, Lin Tianyu sensed a hint of dissatisfaction in his words, igniting a flicker of anger within him. He was well aware of the substantial profits his crabs brought to the Wan Feng Hotel. From the kitchen staff he dealt with, he learned that a two-kilogram Mediterranean spiny crab could fetch an astonishing price of 8,000 yuan when steamed. Even smaller ones, while priced lower, still sold for thousands of yuan each. In comparison, the amount he earned was merely a fraction of that.

Hu Bin was momentarily taken aback, thinking to himself, what seafood could we possibly not afford? However, on the surface, he still maintained excellent composure and made a gesture of invitation.

Therefore, it does not matter to him whether the money is earned by Wan Feng or Hu Bin; what truly matters is selling quickly and earning steadily.

"What does he mean by doing this privately?" Lin Tianyu thought to himself, glancing at the smile at the corner of Hu Bin's mouth, and suddenly understood in his heart that he was trying to avoid sharing the meal at the Wanfeng Hotel.

The high price of bluefin tuna is largely due to overfishing by various countries, which has resulted in a decreasing annual yield of this species. However, for Lin Tianyu, bluefin tuna is not rare; he occasionally encounters it while fishing in the waters near the small island, not to mention when venturing deeper into the sea

However, upon hearing his words, Hu Bin calmed down. Being the manager of a three-star hotel, his thoughts were indeed very meticulous. Although Lin Tianyu said this, he could see that the other party was merely posturing, using it as a means to extort benefits.

It is evident that, due to the underdeveloped fishing industry in the world where the small island is located, bluefin tuna is not as scarce as it is in the world he currently inhabits

Upon seeing Lin Tianyu get out of the car, Xiao You immediately approached.

This is indeed interesting. Lin Tianyu is well aware that the bluefin tuna he sells will certainly fetch a significant markup once it changes hands. Under normal circumstances, conducting business in this manner would be quite unprofitable for someone like him. However, for Lin Tianyu, sourcing the goods is not an issue at all. The only real challenge lies in how to sell the products in large quantities and quickly. If he were to go through formal channels, negotiating prices and selling slowly, he could indeed sell at a higher price. Yet, the effort and time required would exceed what he spends on fishing, making it simply not worthwhile. Nevertheless, for Lin Tianyu, sourcing the goods is not a problem; the only real challenge is how to sell in large quantities and quickly. If he were to go through formal channels, negotiating prices and selling slowly, he could indeed sell at a higher price. Yet, the effort and time required would exceed what he spends on fishing, making it simply not worthwhile.

Lin Tianyu chuckled lightly, thinking to himself that dealing with smart people is indeed convenient. His expression then became serious as he said, "First of all, I am selling the entire batch. To purchase, you must buy the whole lot. I can offer you a lower price, two thousand yuan per kilogram, which is significantly below the current market price. Moreover, there is a considerable difference between fresh goods and frozen ones."

I would like to hear more details

Tsukiji Market stated that this is the highest price ever auctioned for a single tuna since Japan began tracking tuna prices in 1999, surpassing the record set in 2001 when the price for the "best in Japan" was 20.2 million yen. This also marks the first time that tuna from Hokkaido's Toyoi has been sold at a historical high price.

Although such market conditions are not common, only those rare large specimens can enjoy such prices, this also indirectly indicates the high cost of bluefin tuna. A typical bluefin tuna weighing two to three hundred pounds can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

Generally speaking, although tuna is widely regarded as a high-end seafood, there is a significant price disparity among different species. The cheaper varieties can cost as little as several dozen yuan per kilogram, such as yellowfin tuna, while the more expensive ones can reach thousands or even several thousand yuan per kilogram, such as bluefin tuna.

Of course, I have other high-end seafood to offer, but I am not sure if you can afford it

I have a package for you here, delivered this morning, and it is quite a large package

The business deal was finalized, and Lin Tianyu received the recent payment for goods before leaving. Now, the only question for him is how to catch bluefin tuna

The price of two thousand yuan per kilogram may seem only slightly cheaper than the current market price of three thousand yuan per kilogram. However, one must not forget that what is sold in the market is all frozen, while he is selling fresh fish. Just this factor alone can at least double the price. As long as Hu Bin can sell the bluefin tuna, it would not be a problem for him to make a profit even if he sells it at a lower price, earning a margin of one hundred percent.

Lin Tianyu said: "You may speak."

Of course it is fresh, but to be honest, I have been considering switching to another client recently, as the prices you offer are hardly generous. As far as I know, there seem to be several star-rated hotels in City S, and I believe they would be quite interested in high-end seafood such as bluefin tuna

Ultimately, it was jointly acquired by Yoshihiro Imada, the owner of a high-end sushi restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo, and the owner of a sushi chain in Hong Kong, for a transaction price of 32.49 million yen (approximately 2.62 million RMB), with the fish being evenly divided between the two.