Chapter 21: The Good Man's Approach to Entrepreneurship: The Godfather of Bras (Two-in-One, Please Follow!)
Page (1/3)
At Donald’s youthful and vigorous age, taking such a “kidney tonic” would make him unstoppable!
After his first taste of the so-called “Primal Spirit Alcohol,” Donald exclaimed, “This stuff is amazing!”
If this could be supplied in large quantities, the old white men would go completely crazy, lining up with money in hand.
Of course, that was just wishful thinking, because selling ordinary liquor was already making a killing.
The chaotic situation in Chicago was gradually calming down.
In the south, Johnny reportedly withdrew to New York, and Al Capone officially took over the Chicago Mafia; in the north, Donald led a group of spirited young men, transforming the long-standing lethargy of the Irish gang into a powerful rise.
Other small gangs, squeezed by these two dominant forces, had almost no room left to survive.
The underground world of Chicago had formed a dual hegemony.
Logan, who supplied liquor to these “two pillars,” was making a fortune daily, enough to support all sorts of ventures—no, I mean, entrepreneurship.
Originally, he planned to make a little money selling newspapers, mainly through product promotion or developing peripherals.
Modern bras were Logan’s key peripheral product.
Upon realizing that modern bras had yet to be invented, Logan conducted a market survey:
In recent years, stimulated by ideals of freedom and equality, American women preferred to appear more like men.
They began cutting their hair short, embraced a “curve-free” aesthetic, and adopted androgynous styles that blurred gender lines. To flatten their chests, they used binding straps (similar to bandages) tightly compressing their breasts—flat chests were the hottest trend at the time!
Logan was dumbfounded when he saw these so-called binding straps—women actually wore these towel-like things with hooks at the back!
Even more absurd were the advertisements: “It will make you look like your brother.”
Logan: ...
Terrifying, really!
No words left to express the absurdity!
Coincidentally, Comrade Richard now felt the same way about Logan’s endless absurdities.
When Logan shared his idea while Richard was sipping tea,
“Pfft... cough cough...”
Richard almost choked, the tea leaves going down his windpipe and then out his nose, hanging from his nostril.
“You say you want to get into… women’s underwear?”
“You’re a grown man, and all you think about is this?”
“Can something so girly be called a business?”
Yes, Richard was into certain “adult” businesses, but that was men’s business; what you’re doing is something else entirely.
“Wait, are you planning to use this to… cough, I mean, sneak into women’s circles? That’s quite unscrupulous! And didn’t you hook up with Annie already?”
Richard had sharp eyes and had long suspected that their “photoshoots” were just code for getting intimate.
Logan covered his forehead.
Translate “hook up” for me? That’s clearly... never mind, not the point.
Logan said irritably, “Can’t you think of me in a better light? This is for women’s liberation. It will change every woman’s life like Ford’s cars changed the streets!”
Got it. Richard translated automatically in his mind: He means one woman isn’t enough; he wants to hook up with more women!
Richard earnestly advised, “Young man, here’s some advice—don’t be too wild when young, or when you get older, you’ll be drained dry!”
“If you have energy, why not cultivate some reporters for the newspaper? Didn’t you say every reporter must master some kind of ‘underworld filter’ skill?”
“If that doesn’t work, try digging up some explosive news. The other day was great; look how popular our Sun Daily is for exposing Chicago’s chaos. It’s now one of the top ten papers in Chicago!”
“If all else fails, take more photos with Annie and give the men some perks!”
Richard teased.
Logan replied seriously, “I’m working on women’s bras, which is also giving the men perks!”
Got it. Richard’s mind translated again: Sure enough, this guy’s intentions aren’t pure; he probably wants to make some perverted toy and just uses money-making as an excuse.
Richard wasn’t interested—selling perverted toys only makes a small profit, so better not waste time!
And Logan’s “foolish ventures” had critics beyond Richard.
Upon hearing that Logan “wanted to get girls by making women’s underwear,” Donald sent over a small jar of liquor.
“Little brother, here’s some good stuff. Drink this, and I guarantee you’ll be surrounded by women and firing on all cylinders!”
He winked, laughter laced with coarse “you know what I mean.”
Page (2/3)
Logan stared at the familiar “medicinal wine” silently for a long while.
Thanks, but I—don’t—need—it!
Alright, alright, you all don’t believe in bras, fine, I’ll start my own business. Let’s see if you dare touch bras later!
...
Well, not everyone was skeptical about Logan’s bra business.
Annie Olson, the Sun Daily’s in-house model, Chicago’s “wild goddess,” and a promising future film starlet, sensed that this could be a good business.
As a girl from rural Kansas, Annie believed she was climbing the social ladder.
After becoming a third-section model for the Sun Daily, she indeed became “famous!”
But it was all notoriety!
Once some bitches exposed her rural origins, the insults came in waves. Had she not been mentally prepared, she might have broken down.
But Logan was right—any publicity is good publicity, and infamy is still fame!
Sure enough, after her rise to notoriety, some movie agents were willing to sign her.
At first, Annie was ecstatic, but after Logan’s gentle reminder, she discovered the agents only offered minor, insignificant bit parts—roles so forgettable that audiences wouldn’t remember her after the film ended.
The agents hinted subtly that this was because some big shots in the industry were interested in her and wanted to “get close,” hence the minor roles.
Only then did Annie realize how difficult Logan’s “future movie star” dream really was.
Even if she got into the big shots’ beds, the roles she’d get would be sparse, mostly minor or background parts without lines.
She had to keep turning to Logan.
Logan’s advice was absurd at first—go back to school!
He said, “Trust me, reading more benefits both men and women. It broadens your horizons, lets you see beyond one place, look further, and stand taller in the future.
“Even if you want to be a big star, more reading will make you better.”
Annie had little formal education; even her accent only gradually faded after arriving in Chicago from Kansas.
But at her critical moment of “fame,” being told to study more was like starting over.
When she first heard this, she thought Logan was trying to slip away after a big meal—though the meal had been brought to him by her own hand.
Even though Logan promised to cover all tuition fees.
Annie silently complained: After feeding you so many times, you never gave me a penny pocket money, and now you’re generous with tuition?
Still, after complaining, she accepted Logan’s advice.
—Hmph, definitely not because he’s handsome and talented!
It was just that, on one hand, she realized fame didn’t open the bright avenue; on the other, Logan was truly capable.
When she first met him, the Sun Daily was just a small office; now, barely any time had passed, and it had moved into a skyscraper and become a household name in Chicago!
Such a capable guy couldn’t be setting her up!
—Though she was soon overwhelmed by theater classes, piano and dance lessons, literature tutoring, and more.
Still, reading more was somewhat helpful; she was no longer utterly lost about the future but glimpsed a vague direction through the fog.
For example, she was determined to seize the chance to join Logan’s bra business, despite others’ doubts.
Especially after seeing the finished product, her conviction only strengthened.
...
Back in Logan’s familiar bedroom, just the two of them again, but this time not for photos.
Annie was helping Logan evaluate the new bra prototype.
She carefully slipped on a thin garment made of elastic fabric and delicate straps intricately connected, simple and lightweight in structure.
“Logan, you’re a genius! This bra you designed is like a cloud women only dream of—light and soft, like a second skin!”
Indeed, the bra was Logan’s own design.
He had originally just described his requirements to a few young designers—cool, lightweight fabric, minimal stitching, with shaping and support.
But their designs made him despair: just splitting the binding strap into two parts joined by an elastic band—so crude he couldn’t bear to look.
So he took charge himself, using the familiar padded bra as a prototype, designing the first modern women’s bra and applying for a patent.
Annie, wearing only Logan’s bra, blushed deeply before the mirror; her treasures looked higher, sexier than ever.
Logan ran his fingers over the soft cotton and carefully crafted curves, assessing the material.
Page (3/3)
Annie’s voice dripped with honey as she leaned close to Logan, “You really know what men love. I bet men will go crazy for this.”
Logan replied seriously, “What are you saying? I designed this entirely for women’s bodies to be free, to breathe easier and feel more attractive!”
“You don’t know how rare it is to have a good man like me working under pressure to serve women!”
Annie thought: If your hands weren’t always on those peaks, this would sound a bit more convincing.
“Yeah, without you, I can’t imagine how American women would liberate themselves!”
Her voice rose eight notes with the enthusiasm of a stage heroine, eyes blazing at Logan,
“This isn’t underwear—it’s a revolution! You’re not doing business; you’re making history! You’re God’s envoy sent to liberate us women!”
Tsk tsk, so those drama classes really paid off!
Before Logan could applaud, Annie lowered her head, fingers fidgeting with her panties. When she looked up, her beautiful eyes suddenly clouded with misty tears, long lashes trembling helplessly,
“After taking classes, I don’t think I’m cut out to be an actress. Since that path might be closed, I want to do something else while I’m young.”
“Mr. Logan, may I be your business partner?”
Logan answered earnestly, “You’re absolutely suited to be an actress!”
Never mind her current drama queen mode.
Annie was already stunning enough to stand out among handsome men and beautiful women, with a spark that lit up the room.
They say a glow can sustain a person! People before and after such a glow are completely different.
After her rise to infamous fame, she settled down to study acting, piano, dance, and literature, cultivating her temperament… Simply put, she was now stunningly exceptional, with a star quality!
Seeing Logan ignore her, Annie was not about to give up.
She blinked, the watery sparkle fading from her eyes, turning her face gently to the side, her neck forming a graceful, yielding curve. Yet her gaze, like a hook, pierced straight into Logan’s eyes from beneath thick lashes.
“Even so, I still want to be your partner!”
“Look, your new designs need someone to wear them to know where to tighten or loosen, right?”
“Your finished products need someone to wear and advertise them, right?”
“I can do it, wholeheartedly cooperate with you.”
A smile curled at her lips, her eyes shimmering like spring water, “Imagine, a bra model who makes the public drool but only wears it for you… undresses it for you alone…”
“I can even invest all my savings—$1,000—if you give me just a small share, is that okay?”
By the end, she sniffed, voice thick with emotion, looking so pitiful it could soften even the hardest heart.
Logan’s tone remained steady, “Very good, I do need your full cooperation...”
He emphasized only “working,” not “shares”!
Annie, furious at this clearly shady “good man,” tore off the bra and threw it hard at Logan’s face.
Tsk!
Watching a beauty strip off her bra is truly a delight; when she became utterly bare, for a man, it was like finding the truth!
Faced with the truth, Logan maintained his absolute spirit of exploration.
He sighed as he caught the flying bra, “I need to invest at least a million dollars in this. How could I ask you to bear such pressure?”
“How much!?” Unsurprisingly, Annie transformed into a shouting Statue of Liberty at New York Harbor—unclothed, of course.
What does a million dollars mean?
Logan, the scoundrel, paid her only ten dollars per photo—would it take eternity to reach a million?
Annie’s eyes suddenly brightened.
She looked at Logan, feeling he was glaringly unscrupulous!
That was the golden light of wealth!
Then...
Logan was overwhelmed by the truth!
...
[What serious man spends all day thinking about women’s chests? So once again, I confirm Logan is a pervert.]
—Excerpt 4 from Richard Hudson’s 1959 autobiography, Amusing Ourselves to Death.