The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 255 I want to buy land, but I don’t want to pay
"When you go back, you will need to bring some goods, guns, bullets, ironware, food, textiles, tobacco, cigars and various alcoholic beverages, silver, gold, except for cannons. You can get them at a low price, so you are not at a disadvantage!"

“Anything you need in San Francisco, I can help you with.”

Rong Jiacai sat on the sofa in the casino office. This was originally Chen Zhengwei's office, but now Chen Zhengwei's office has been converted into a club.

The person in front of him is the captain of the ship, his surname is Lai, and his name is Lai Weizhen.

"How much for the gun and bullets?" Lai Weizhen immediately became interested. Although the other party gave him less than a thousand yuan, he could still make up for it with other things, which made him accept it.

We need some cargo to fill the ship's hold when we go back.

Among them, food is a must-buy, which is hard currency everywhere, and guns are also very popular.

"A pistol is five dollars, a rifle is six dollars, and bullets are two cents each! You can have as many as you want, enough to fill up a whole ship!" Rong Jiacai said with a smile, and then took out a piece of paper from under the coffee table.

Above is the price list of materials needed by these ship merchants, which he specially asked someone to prepare yesterday.

“Think about how much you need!”

"In addition, the profit from silver is also good. The Qing Dynasty is very short of silver. There is at least 30% profit, and it doesn't take up space!"

"You don't need to worry about customs. No one will check you. I can have someone take you to the ship."

Lai Weizhen had found out some things in Chinatown yesterday. Now, after listening to Rong Jiacai's words, he felt that the Chinese here are indeed doing quite well.

He had been here once before and knew that the status of Chinese people here was very low, and ship merchants like him encountered a lot of trouble at the port.

As for Hong Shun Tang...it only has a little influence in Chinatown.

It’s different now. The Chinese here are doing better than those in Southeast Asia.

In Southeast Asia, foreigners are still the superiors, while the status of Chinese is probably slightly better than that of the natives.

Hearing that it was Mr. Chen who single-handedly made the Chinese famous, he really wanted to visit Chen Zhengwei.

After all, there are many things to buy here nowadays. Although the distance is a bit far, the profit is good.

Moreover, it is relatively safe to follow the seasonal ocean currents as long as you avoid the two months when there are typhoons.

After a while, Lai Weizhen left with the paper. He needed to go back and think carefully about what goods to buy.

After the captain left, Rong Jiacai met with Schultz.

……

"Schultz, I need a lot of farms, large ones. Preferably planted with grapes, located near San Francisco and Red Tree City. The initial target is 50 square kilometers, and it would be fine if we could buy more."

Chen Zhengwei sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, holding a cigar in his hand.

"You heard it right, it's square kilometers. One square kilometer is 247 acres!"

"Great Poland should have done this, but he already has a lot of things on his hands! So I'll leave it to you!"

"I'll convince them!" Schultz nodded.

"Brett will send a lawyer to cooperate with you in this matter."

Brett next to him nodded to Schultz, whose law firm did just that.

"We used courtesy before force. We lowered the price by 20% based on the market price. This price is fair. They can use the money to open up land in other places. There are so many wilderness areas in the west. In fact, they have made a profit."

It was still the Western Frontier era, and by settling and cultivating the land, and then registering the land, one could legally own the land.

Land reclamation has been going on for decades. There is no wasteland around San Francisco anymore, but there are still many in some remote places.

"Try not to use violence, and if you do, try not to kill anyone. After all, we are a legitimate company, not barbarians. If someone really refuses to leave, give them a ride..." Chen Zhengwei continued.

"If there are those who are really hard to convince, please let me know!"

The ones who are difficult to convince are some wealthy people in San Francisco. If Chen Zhengwei comes forward in person, I believe they will give him face.

I will give it even if I die.

After making the arrangements, Schultz and Brett left together. Chen Zhengwei turned his chair and looked out the window.

The land he wanted to buy was far more than 50 square kilometers, he wanted to buy more.

But he didn't want to give money.

He was considering finding a suitable bank, and then using fake deeds and colluding with internal management to withdraw the bank's funds.

In this way, he has the land and doesn’t have to pay any money... After the bank goes bankrupt, he can buy it back.

Chen Zhengwei also plans to open his own bank, whose main business is to transfer money from the United States to China.

After all, there are tens of thousands of Chinese people in Chinatown, and at least hundreds of thousands of dollars flow through the bank every month. Not only can the bank charge a remittance fee, but the remittance takes at least two months. During this period, the money can be used for loans, which can generate considerable profits every month.

With this calculation, you can get a large piece of land without spending any money. The Chinese in Chinatown give you a sum of money, and then you use the money to lend it out and earn interest.

It's a win-win situation for at least three parties. There's no reason not to do such a good business.

What's more, banks can absorb large amounts of funds and collect interest on deposits.

At this time, depositors are paying money to the bank, rather than the bank giving them money.

In addition to large banks such as Bank of California, Wells Fargo, Bank of Nevada, and Anglo California Bank, San Francisco also has many small private banks or community banks.

Chen Zhengwei's target is these small banks.

To be more precise, it is a community bank.

"Brother Wei, the time is almost up!" Someone knocked on the door.

Chen Zhengwei glanced at the grandfather clock on the corner. It was 15:.
Then he stood up, put on his coat, took his hat and went out.

Today is the day for the association to elect its president. Although the result is beyond doubt, the ceremony still has to take place.

This is democracy after all!
……

In Chinatown, two young men in work clothes were drinking tea from large bowls at the door of a shop, with one foot on a stool, looking no different from the other Chinese workers that could be seen everywhere.

"There will be an election for the Chamber of Commerce today, and there's an 80% chance that the guy named Chen will be here. When he gets here, we'll just throw the explosives over to him." A young man spoke in a low voice with a cold look in his eyes.

"I never planned to leave San Francisco alive. Even if I die, I will bite a piece of his flesh off."

The other young man showed hesitation on his face and whispered, "We all know what the Chinese in San Francisco were like originally, and we also know what the old Silver Mountain was like... If he dies... this place will become like before."

The two were the two fish that escaped from Yixingtang. Everyone thought they had run away, and no one expected that they were still in San Francisco.

The two of them had been hiding here and there for the past few days, changed their clothes, cut their braids, and returned to inquire about the Chamber of Commerce election today. They guessed that Chen Zhengwei might come, so they waited here.

"I don't care about those things. A life for a life, a debt for a life. Single-eyed brother saved my life, I will avenge him even if I die today!" Another one turned around with a fierce look in his eyes: "If you are afraid, leave! Don't bother me here!"

"I'm not afraid! I just think he can't die!" said another young man with a conflicted look on his face. While hiding from place to place these days, he also heard a lot about what Chen Zhengwei had done.

"At least after he came, the Chinese in Chinatown are much better off than before and are no longer bullied."

"If he dies, maybe it will become the same again."

So he didn't want to kill Chen Zhengwei to avenge Shanyanzai, nor did he want to see his companions kill Chen Zhengwei. He couldn't abandon his companions and leave alone, so he was a little hesitant.

The other man looked at him coldly: "Have you forgotten the oath you swore when you entered the hall? You forgot, but I didn't. And Brother One-Eyed saved my life!"

"You know, that's not what I meant!" he argued.

"That's what you mean!" Another young man had a fierce look on his face: "Have you forgotten the oath you swore when you entered the hall? Let me ask you again, will you do it? Will you leave or not?" While the two were arguing, three carriages came from a distance.

The young man with a fierce look on his face didn't care about the people around him. He immediately reached into his waist and used his other hand to grab the fire starter.

But his hand was held down by someone.

"Can't kill him..."

"Let go!" The young man with a fierce look on his face was suddenly furious. He let go of the tube of explosives in his hand, then took out a dagger and stabbed it.

The other person was caught off guard and stabbed. He immediately lost his strength and was pushed down.

Then the young man with a fierce look on his face took out a lighter with one hand and reached for his waist with the other.

At this moment, Chen Zhengwei, who was sitting in the carriage, suddenly felt a little uneasy and suddenly felt panicky.

If he had never had this feeling before, he wouldn't be able to react immediately.

But he immediately realized that it was a sign of danger.

Chen Zhengwei's eyes quickly swept outside the window and instantly fixed on a person. He saw that he was holding something in one hand and the other hand was reaching into his arms.

A man fell to the ground nearby, with blood flowing out from his body.

Chen Zhengwei could almost see his next move, taking something out of his arms and throwing it towards him.

"Damn, dynamite!" Chen Zhengwei reacted almost instantly. He took out his gun, reached out of the window, and fired three shots at him.

Two shots hit the chest and one shot hit the forehead.

A hole appeared on the man's forehead and he immediately fell to the ground, with the fire starter and the explosive tube also falling to the ground.

"Damn, you want to blow me up with explosives?" Chen Zhengwei sneered.

Not to mention the danger detection, his own carriage was inlaid with iron plates. Did he want to kill himself with three tubes of dynamite?
However, the role of this danger detection is indeed very important. It can detect danger 4 seconds in advance. Combined with one's own predictive skills, it can lock on to the source of danger in a very short time.

It is almost impossible to have an accident.

Give yourself enough ammunition and you can single-handedly fight an entire army battalion in a complex environment like a city.

At this time, the two carriages stopped and the men in the carriages jumped off: "Protect Brother Wei!"

"Are you protecting me or am I protecting you? Why would you protect someone when they're dead?" Chen Zhengwei cursed through the window, then glanced at the person on the ground:
"These two are together, it looks like they are having an internal conflict, let's find out what's going on!"

Then he turned his eyes away.

It was just a small incident, but it made him a little angry.

After all, no one would be in a good mood if they were ambushed with explosives.

The Chamber of Commerce is not far ahead, and many people are outside.

They were startled by the gunshot just now, and when they saw Chen Zhengwei's carriage coming, they all moved to the sides.

"Mr. Chen!"

"Hello Mr. Chen!"

Chen Zhengwei got off the carriage, nodded to everyone, and entered the guild hall.

The wealthy businessmen sitting in the guild hall also stood up one after another.

"Hello Mr. Chen!"

He went straight into the meeting room. The deacons of the guild were waiting inside. When they saw Chen Zhengwei, they quickly stood up and greeted him.

"Are you not late? There was a little incident on the way." Chen Zhengwei said as he walked in.

"No, no, Mr. Chen is here just in time!"

"Let's get started! Voting is too troublesome, let's vote by raising hands! Is there anyone who disagrees with me being the president?" Chen Zhengwei sat directly in the president's seat and glanced at everyone.

Chen Zhengwei was in a bad mood right now, so his look was naturally not very kind, which made everyone's scalp tingle.

"This is America. We talk about democracy. If you disagree, please raise your hand."

"Mr. Chen is the popular choice as the president, and I will be the first to agree." Lin Yuanshan said without thinking.

"Yes, except Mr. Chen, no one can sit in this position."

"We definitely have no objection, we all support Mr. Chen!" Everyone spoke up immediately.

This election was just a formality, and everyone knew it.

"So the results are out?" Chen Zhengwei tilted his head and looked at everyone.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Chen will be the president of the guild from now on!"

"What about the vice president?" Chen Zhengwei asked.

"President, there is no good candidate right now, so I will take the position temporarily. If you have a candidate, we have no objection!" said Lin Yuanshan.

"That's you!"

"The other associations should have finished their elections these days, right?" Chen Zhengwei asked.

"President, each guild has different rules and election times. Some are two years, some are four years. Except for our Ningyang Guild, other guilds have either completed the election or have not yet reached the time for the election." A deacon explained.

"Why are we so slow?" Chen Zhengwei raised his eyebrows.

Everyone lowered their heads. This question was not easy to answer. Finally, Lin Yuanshan said, "Our election process is the most formal. All members vote to elect deacons, and all deacons elect the president. The president is elected by thousands of members, so it is a little slower than theirs."

"Hahaha, you still know how to talk!" Chen Zhengwei smiled.

"Contact all the associations and tell them that I want to hold a meeting with them." Chen Zhengwei said.

"There are too many guild halls in Chinatown, and they are too scattered, which is a complete waste of resources. I plan to unite all the guild halls and establish the Chinese Chamber of Commerce General Hall."

After hearing what Chen Zhengwei said, everyone looked at each other, wondering what Chen Zhengwei's intention was.

"All businesses are linked and connected by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. If someone encounters trouble in business, they can use the power of the Chamber of Commerce to solve it!"

“That’s the original purpose of each association being established, to help each other.”

He said these words so that these people could spread the word.

"I often say that if Chinese people want to gain a firm foothold, they need to go out! I went out, and you have to go out too."

“As more wealthy Chinese businessmen and people become rich, the influence of the Chinese will be greater!”

"So I will take the lead in establishing this chamber of commerce to centralize and integrate the business resources of Chinese people and help you go global!"

“Supply sources, channels, markets, funds, and even industry standards!”

"If you have good ideas, the Chamber of Commerce can provide you with support in this regard, help you contact sources of goods, contact sales channels, and even lend you money to expand your scale!"

Chen Zhengwei's eyes swept across everyone's face.

When everyone heard these words, their faces were moved.

(End of this chapter)