Chapter 46: Departing Siam

Two months later, in the Kingdom of Siam, at the Hesh Rubber Plantation Company, Matthew stood under the shade of a broad palm tree, surveying the progress of the operation. The plantation was a bustling hub of activity, with laborers deftly tapping rubber trees and collecting latex in small, neatly aligned buckets. 

Matthew's eyes scanned the rows of trees, noting the precision and orderliness of the plantation. His vision was coming to life. Though the humid air clung to his skin, his spirits were high. The operation was running efficiently, but there was still room for growth.

He turned to his foreman, a local man named Somchai, who approached carrying a clipboard.

"Mr. Hesh, the workers have managed to tap nearly 80% of the trees in this section today," Somchai reported. "The latex yield is higher than expected."

"That's excellent news, Somchai," Matthew said, glancing at the clipboard. "What about the new storage facility? Is it operational yet?"