Chen Qiang didn't know that the FBI was investigating him, and he was busy developing new sports shoes at this time.
Chen Qiang plans to develop a real basketball shoe. The creativity of the sneakers comes from the most famous superstar basketball shoes in Adidas in the future. As the originator of basketball shoes, Chen Qiang is not worried that this shoe will not have a market.
The upper of the Adidas superstar is pure leather, but not the hard leather of business leather shoes, but very soft leather. This requires dyeing and processing of leather materials. This is not a difficult technology. More than ten years ago, when Chen Qiang first participated in the Olympics, he specially customized several pairs of nail shoes in China. At that time, the nail running shoes used soft pure leather uppers.
The toe part is made of rubber, which is the so-called "shell toe" that many sneakers often see now. This can give the shoes greater bearing capacity. However, in the 1940s, sneakers did not have the design of "shell toe".
In order to provide more protection for the ankle, some sponges are stuffed into the upper part so that the upper will become soft and elastic.
The rubber toe, pure leather upper, and the upper filled with sponge must be sewn together. Although it is not difficult, this greatly increases the process steps. Therefore, making a pair of superstar basketball shoes is much more complicated than making a pair of Nike-one canvas shoes, which requires more manpower. So Chen Qiang had already predicted that once the superstar is officially launched, the shoe manufacturer will definitely need more workers.
The tongue is also filled with a soft sponge pad, so that even if the shoelaces are tied tightly, they will not be blocked. With this layer of sponge pad, it can bring more comfort to the feet.
In addition, Chen Qiang also asked that the pattern on the soles of the shoe will deepen and give the sneakers more grip, so that basketball players can perform more urgent stops and get up without worrying about slipping. When wearing these shoes, they will run and jump on the wooden floor court, and they will make a "squeaking" friction sound, just like a basketball game in later generations.
The above are not considered technical difficulties. It can be easily done with the technology at that time, but the one that is really difficult is the built-in stabilizer of the heel.
The reason why Adidas Superstar became the first real basketball shoe is mainly because there is a built-in nylon material stabilizer at the heel, which allows the sneakers to wrap the heel, making players safer when landing and not easily sprained.
From a future perspective, this is a backward sneaker technology. The future basketball shoes mainly use insoles to achieve safety and shock absorption, rather than a plastic filler. Since Nike used air cushion technology to basketball shoes, various new technologies have emerged one after another, such as shox technology, inflatable technology, TPU support, cushioning technology, boost materials, etc., which make sneakers more and more comfortable, the shock absorption effect is getting better and better, and the safety is getting higher and higher.
However, when Adidas launched this built-in stabilizer in 1969, it was regarded as a kind of black technology. This design directly made Converse, which Adidas killed, become the boss of American sports shoes in one fell swoop.
It is still in 1945. If Chen Qiang had built-in stabilizer for sneakers, it would not be as simple as black technology. It would probably be described by people as "science fiction product".
When Xiao Beckland's laboratory developed nylon ropes, it had accumulated nylon materials technology, so the production process of built-in nylon stabilizer is not a problem at all. The key is what shape the nylon stabilizer should be made.
The stabilizer must be ergonomic and helps athletes. If the design is not good, it will not only not protect the athletes, but also hurt the athletes. Moreover, if the design is not appropriate, it will make the athletes feel uncomfortable and will also affect the athletes' performance in the competition.
In this regard, Chen Qiang could only conduct experiments again and again, design a stabilizer of one shape, and then make several pairs of sample shoes, ask athletes to try it out in person, and feel the effect. Chen Qiang would also go on the battle himself, put on sample shoes and run around, and then propose improvements.
So Chen Qiang spent more than a month while constantly experimenting and improving sneakers.
...
The young FBI director came to New York with a group of people.
With the power of the FBI, it is not easy to investigate a company with a small national model. In a few days, Nike's production and sales were clearly understood by the FBI.
"Director, I've checked it here, there is no problem with Nike's sales."
"Director, there is no problem with Nike's production. I quietly went to Nike's factory and found no illegal situations."
"Director, Nike's financial situation is very healthy, the capital flow is clear, and the debt is clear."
"Director, I have investigated Nike's employees. Although there are hundreds of people, many refugees from Europe, everyone's identities are legal and no suspicious people are found. Do we need to screen them one by one?"
"Chief, I investigated the situation of Jared, general manager of Nike, who is a Polish Jew who came to the United States as early as 1935. This is his resume and there is no problem. I think as a Jew, they have been persecuted in Europe and are unlikely to become spies to the enemy."
"Director, this is Nike's products, hula hoops, tennis rackets, basketballs, and sports shoes. I have bought them all, and I have tried them myself, they are all ordinary sports goods."
The reports were summarized one by one before the Director of Investigation, and the result was nothing more than four: nothing was found.
The investigation director was a little depressed. It seemed that the investigation had made no progress at all. Bored, he picked up the tennis racket, tried to wave it a few times, then grabbed the sneakers, put them in his hand and rubbed them. It was indeed quite soft.
"Director, this pair of shoes is very good. The canvas upper is very comfortable to wear, the rubber soles are also wear-resistant, and the price is not expensive. I can't help but want to buy a pair!" said the subordinate next to me.
After hearing what his subordinates said, the investigation director suddenly became alert, and he suddenly raised his head: "What did you say just now?"
"I said I want to buy a pair, too..."
"It's not this sentence, it's the previous sentence!"
“The canvas upper is very comfortable, and the rubber sole is wear-resistant…”
"Yes, that's it!" The investigation director looked at the soles carefully, confirmed that they were rubber materials, and then asked, "What is the sales volume of this kind of shoe?"
My subordinates looked through the information in their hands, found the relevant numbers, and then spoke: "According to our investigation, this shoe has sold 400,000 pairs."
"Forty-hundred thousand pairs of shoes, how much rubber raw material should be used! Rubber raw materials are controlled strategic materials. Where did this Nike get so much rubber from!" The investigation director seemed to have grasped the key to the problem.
"Report Director, I have checked Nike's purchase channels, all of which are legal. The rubber they need to produce sports shoes was also purchased through regular channels." The subordinate answered.
"What is the formal way?" the investigation director continued.
"It is the Material Distribution Committee, and Nike has formal documents and rubber raw materials quotas given by the Material Distribution Committee, so that they can purchase rubber raw materials."
"But this Nike company should not have a military background, right?" The investigation director felt that he had found a breakthrough, and he continued to say: "Since he did not have a military background, he could get quotas from the Material Distribution Committee. This is a very strange thing in itself. We can continue to investigate along this line, and maybe we can find something."
...
The Investigation Director returned to Washington to investigate Nike's source of rubber raw materials from the Material Distribution Committee.
"We did give Nike's approval documents, and it is legal for them to purchase rubber raw materials. I can show you the relevant documents, but you have to wait a little longer. There are a lot of documents, which is very troublesome to find." An official from the Material Distribution Committee replied.
"Can you help me check how Nike got the rubber quota? As far as I know, most companies cannot get the quota for important strategic resources such as rubber raw materials. If you want to obtain rubber raw materials, you must have a military permission. You should have records there, right?" said the investigation director.
"Okay, you can wait a while. I'll go to the archives room to help you find information." The other party said.
After waiting for a long time, the official of the Material Distribution Committee came back with a strange expression, holding a file bag in his hand.
"All the information you want is inside." The official paused and continued, "I haven't opened the things inside yet. You can find what you need!"
"Thank you." The investigation director found the folder, but after the official handed the folder to the investigation director, he ran away in a hurry.
"Why did you run so fast? It's like seeing a ghost?" The investigation director complained in his heart, then opened the file bag, took out the files inside, and quickly checked them.
Soon, the investigation director found the approval document for Nike's rubber raw materials. He looked at the final signature of the approval document, and his expression was stunned.
This signature is Harry-s-Truman!
"It turned out to be Mr. President!" The investigation director was shocked. At this time, he finally understood why the official said that he had not opened the file bag and ran away like a ghost.
Obviously, the official opened the file bag and saw what was inside. He also knew that Nike's approval was approved by President Truman. This official is not a fool. When it comes to matters involving the president, he must quickly separate the relationship so as not to be implicated, otherwise he would be unable to take it.
At this moment, the investigation director also showed a bitter smile on his face.
When the case was first investigated, it almost found its head on the head of Director Hoover, who knew that this was not the worst. The worst thing was that the case had been found on the president, which was much more serious than the investigation of Director Hoover!
"Who am I provoking whom I am? How can I get into such a bad thing!" The investigation director regretted touching Chen Qiang's case at this time.
At the beginning, Chen Qiang wanted to produce sports shoes, but could not find rubber raw materials, so he went to ask Truman, who was just a senator at that time. Later, after Truman became vice president, he happened to be responsible for managing the material distribution committee, so he gave Chen Qiang a batch of rubber raw materials quotas.
...
Washington, the FBI, and the Director of Investigation came to Director Hoover again.
"Director, some problems have emerged in investigating whether Chen Qiang was a Japanese spy." The investigation director said.
"Did Chen Qiang have a problem, or did we encounter problems during the investigation?" Director Hoover asked.
"Chen Qiang's sports goods company produced a sports shoe and sold hundreds of thousands of pairs. It took a lot of rubber raw materials to produce it, and the rubber was controlled materials, so I followed this line and finally found the material allocation committee. Then I saw that the rubber quota was approved by the President himself." The investigation director said.
"President Roosevelt knew that Chen Qiang very early, and I know this too. Unfortunately, President Roosevelt has passed away and this clue cannot be investigated." Director Hoover nodded.
Director Hoover thought that Chen Qiang knew Roosevelt, and subconsciously regarded the "Mr. President" mentioned by the Director of Investigation as President Roosevelt.
"It's not the late President Roosevelt, but the current President Truman." The Director of Investigation said.
"What? Is Mr. President? When did Chen Qiang get to Mr. President?" Director Hoover was also shocked.
"I checked the documents when the President signed and approved the rubber quota document, he should still be the vice president." The Director of Investigation paused and lowered his voice and said: "Later I went to check the source of Mr. President's campaign funds and found that there were funding from Nike, which is Chen Qiang's sports goods company."
"Are you crazy?" Director Hoover slapped the table suddenly: "You actually go to investigate Mr. President!"
At this moment, Director Hoover was shocked and angry.
Hoover was able to become the first director of the FBI, and served for a full 48 years. He was deeply trusted by every US president. His sense of political smell would definitely not be low, otherwise he would have been replaced long ago. Of course, he knew that no one could investigate the current president. This was simply a dragon's reverse scale, and he would die if he touched it.
"Director, don't worry, I investigated the source of Mr. President's campaign funds through personal relationships and would not attract others' attention." The investigation director said quickly.
"No need to explain, Chen Qiang's case does not need to be investigated. All relevant case files will be listed as a seal and sealed! And you, give me a vacation immediately. After a while, there will be no news before coming back." Director Hoover said.
The matter has been found on the president's head, and the case cannot be investigated no matter what. Not to mention that there is no evidence that Chen Qiang is a Japanese spy, even if there is evidence, the case cannot be made public. If the president is implicated, the entire FBI will have to be in trouble.
...
At the Chinese Embassy, ​​Ambassador Wei looked at the grass outside the window, with a hint of anxiety and impatientness in his eyes.
"I have been sending this anonymous letter for so long. Why is there no movement in the FBI? I have not come to the embassy to investigate. These Americans have really low work efficiency. If it were those of the "Military Command" who would have finished the investigation long ago!"
At this time, Ambassador Wei was waiting for the FBI to come as a fool, and his mind was fantasizing about how to throw dirty water on Chen Qiang.
—————
Chapter completed!