The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 449 All the hard work comes with joy
"In Cuba, besides the Spanish governor, there is the independence army! But the leader of the independence army is also a Spanish plantation owner..."

"It's just dog-eat-dog? Let me guess, those plantation owners are all wealthy people who made their fortunes in Cuba. Since they are far away from the Spanish mainland, their political status is extremely low. But they have made a fortune, so they are not willing to give up." Chen Zhengwei sneered.

"Mr. Chen, you have a very sharp eye!" Juan exclaimed. Chen Zhengwei saw the truth at a glance.

This incisive political insight is surprising.

He knew all this because he had been in Cuba frequently in the previous ten years, but Chen Zhengwei knew it just by listening to the beginning.

Chen Zhengwei was very familiar with this method. It was similar to his own method of killing people and setting fires to gain amnesty, except that what they were seeking was bigger.

In other words, they never thought about independence from the beginning, they were just fighting for political status and rights.

Anyway, those who died were the slaves at the bottom.

Chen Zhengwei thought for a moment and said, "Is the Independence Army short of weapons?"

"Yes. During the previous ten years of war, the Spanish navy had been blocking maritime trade, making it difficult to transport weapons in."

Chen Zhengwei was thinking about this. In fact, both the plantation owners who supported the Spanish governor and those who supported the independence army had a group of Chinese laborers in their hands.

Although the two sides have now ceased fighting, they can first sell a batch of weapons to the Independence Army in exchange for the Chinese laborers in their hands.

Then he would kill several high-ranking officials of the Independence Army and provoke them to fight again. When the Independence Army's business was almost done, he could ask the Spanish Governor to send out the remaining Chinese laborers in exchange for stopping the sale of weapons to the Independence Army.

If they disagree, then beat them.

"Ask them, use weapons and ammunition to exchange for people! A Remington rifle is 6 dollars, and a bullet is 10 cents. Exchange them for those Chinese workers! I can transport the weapons in and trade on the spot!"

Juan was stunned for a moment, then immediately agreed: "Then I will help Mr. Chen contact them!"

After Juan left, Chen Zhengwei took out the map book from the cabinet and looked at it for a while.

Shit, Cuba is too far away.

Otherwise there wouldn't be much trouble.

Yan Qingyou came up and knocked on the door: "Brother Wei, you don't look very well, who made you unhappy?"

"Those Cubans are such idiots!" Chen Zhengwei cursed, "I f*cking wanted to spend money to buy the Chinese back from there, but they just ignored me!"

"The Chinese in Cuba are really miserable. They only earn 3 dollars a month... Compared with them, the Chinese in San Francisco are living in heaven." Ayou said immediately. He had just heard about the situation from the workers.

"Brother Wei, what if they don't sell it?"

"If you don't sell it, it means you haven't been beaten! I'll ask Juan to contact them again." Chen Zhengwei cursed.

"Brother Wei, those laborers are in the square, do you want to meet them?"

"Gone! Give them a bath and have the doctor check them out. If there's nothing serious, send them to the farm. Aren't there still people short at the arsenal? Have them pick a batch and see if there's any that can be used."

"Also, it's 1880 now!" said Chen Zhengwei.

"Yes, the New Year is coming soon. Ah Hu has informed those associations, and this year each association will send people to perform lion dance for seven consecutive days, it will definitely be lively and bustling." Ah You followed.

"Is this the question I'm talking about?" Chen Zhengwei glared at Ayou.

"I mean, it's time to raise the wages! Previously, the wages of Chinese workers were raised to $20, and it's been a year. It's time to raise the wages! Notify all factories in San Francisco that the minimum wage for Chinese workers will be $25 from now on."

“劳务公司那边仍然抽10%。公司拿2美元50美分，劳工拿22美元50美分。”

"If anyone has a problem, let them raise it! But even if they have a problem, the price will still go up. Those foreigners can get more than 30 dollars, while the Chinese workers only get 25, which is still a lot lower than them."

"What about those people on the farm? Are they also given 25?" Yan Qingyou asked.

You should know that there are many Chinese working for Chen Zhengwei, in weapons factories, farms, and other industries in San Francisco. Not counting the people in security companies and security companies, there are tens of thousands of people working in these farms and factories. They have to pay an extra 50,000 to 60,000 yuan a month, and 700,000 to 800,000 yuan a year.

"Here! Remember, each of them owes me 80 US dollars, and interest will be charged! Pay it off in ten months, including principal and interest, a total of 100 US dollars!" Chen Zhengwei said without thinking.

"In addition, the income of the security company and its henchmen will also increase by 5 yuan."

"Brother Wei, isn't this too much?" Yan Qingyou asked worriedly.

You have to know that including the security company and its people, Chen Zhengwei has to pay out an extra 120,000 to 130,000 yuan a month.

Especially the people in security companies and security companies, they pay a lot.

The security company's men earn $35 a month, and they can get extra money for their work outside.

The same goes for people in security companies.

After six months of training, the salary is $35 per month, including food and accommodation, and there are subsidies for field work.

"They can only consume if they have money! In addition, the land in Los Angeles also needs to be sold. How can they buy it if they have no money? When the time comes, we will take out some land to sell to them. Only then will they feel at ease when they have houses here." Chen Zhengwei said.

He had been thinking about this matter for two days, and now he had more than 4000 people under him, more than 8000 people in the security company, and more than 1 workers in factories and farms.

The salary we pay them every month is over 700,000, and these are just the Chinese.

Including people of other ethnicities in the factory, he has to pay out millions in salaries every month...mainly because there are too many security companies and people in the security company.

His income in San Francisco, including clubs, factories and farms, was only over one million a month.

After deducting the money paid to the Investigation Bureau and Customs, as well as the money used to produce weapons and bullets, there isn't much left.

Fortunately, he still has a large number of industries in Chicago, and slot machines are gradually spreading across the United States, with profits exceeding two million a month.

This means he doesn't have to worry about money in the short term.

However, if we want to develop Los Angeles, expand the security company, and maintain the navy, we will still need to invest a lot of money.

That's why he attaches so much importance to opening up the South American arms market.

"Brother Wei, you are a living Bodhisattva! If people outside know about this, they will have to kowtow to you twice." Yan Qingyou said with a smile.

"I'll go spread the news right away!"

"Let the scholar come over!" said Chen Zhengwei.

……

At this time, in addition to the group of laborers, there were also the thugs who brought them here, as well as a number of Chinese people who were watching the fun.

Among them, those workers with higher reputations were asking the Chinese who were watching the excitement nearby about the situation.

The news I got was exactly the same as what I heard on the road.

Life here is much better than on the Cuban plantations.

This makes many people feel like they are dreaming.

“This is really a happy ending after all the hardship!”

"You are lucky that Master Wei brought you back!" The Chinese who were watching the excitement nearby also understood the general situation and said with a smile.

"Who is Wei Ye?" the laborers asked. "We have been hearing people talking about Wei Ye along the way, and they have been curious about him for a long time."

"Master Wei is Mr. Chen, and Mr. Chen is Master Wei! Not only in Chinatown, but in the whole San Francisco, even in the United States, Master Wei is like this!" said a Chinese worker with a thumbs up.

"If you stay here long enough, you'll definitely be able to meet Master Wei!" Hearing them say this, the laborers became even more curious and started asking around, eventually piecing together some pieces of information.

Mr. Wei’s name is Chen Zhengwei, and he is said to be very young.

The Chinese workers in San Francisco did not have a good life to begin with. They were bullied everywhere, had their wages often docked, and some were even beaten to death, but the police did nothing.

Later, this Lord Wei took his men to fight from one street, and then all the way to Chinatown and then to San Francisco.

Since then, life has become much better for Chinese Americans.

It can be said that Chen Zhengwei is a legendary figure throughout the United States, and not just among the Chinese.

After piecing together these fragments, they became even more curious about Chen Zhengwei.

Yan Qingyou also came over from the club at this time.

"Brother You, Brother Wei is not coming?" Yan Qingyou's henchman asked when he saw that there was no trace of Chen Zhengwei behind Yan Qingyou.

"Brother Wei is so busy! This little thing is not worth his appearance!" Yan Qingyou said immediately, and then smiled and said: "But there is a great thing today!"

"Brother You, do you want a salary increase?" a thug asked with a grin.

Yan Qingyou kicked him directly and said, "Damn it, you said it before I even said it. What else can I say?"
Yan Qingyou suddenly felt bored. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, so he kicked him twice more.

He said to the workers who came over: "You are so lucky. You got a salary increase right after you arrived."

Hearing this, the Chinese people in Chinatown who were watching the fun also gathered over.

"Brother You, what do you mean by that?"

Yan Qingyou looked around and saw that there were three layers of people inside and outside. Then he smiled and said loudly: "Brother Wei said that from now on, the minimum wage for all Chinese in San Francisco will be increased to 25!"

"Of course, the labor company still has to take its cut. Just like before, 10%."

Hearing this, everyone was stunned, and then ecstatic: "How much can we get in a month?"

“25减掉一成，能拿22美元50美分啊！比原本多了4美元50美分！”

"Thank you, Master Wei! Thank you, Brother You!" The Chinese people immediately looked delighted and their faces were full of smiles.

How much more meat can you eat if you earn an extra $4 a month?
"Starting from next month! I have to talk to those factory owners soon!" Yan Qingyou said with a smile. He was also happy to see those Chinese people so happy.

After all, he came out from among these people.

It was by chance that I met Brother Wei, and then we have come to where we are today.

These newly arrived workers were also infected. Although I don’t know exactly what happened... it seems to be a good thing.

These workers began to look forward to their future life in the United States.

Soon, the news that the Chinese workers would get a wage increase spread to Chinatown, and the whole Chinatown was filled with joy.

In the Ningyang Guild Hall, Lin Yuanshan was handling some matters in the guild hall when he heard a commotion outside and called for someone to come and ask.

"Vice President, I just asked around, and they said... Master Wei said that the minimum wage for Chinese workers in San Francisco will increase by $5!"

"Everyone's price has increased?" Lin Yuanshan was stunned.

"Everyone's price has increased!" The people in the guild looked at Lin Yuanshan's expression cautiously.

You have to know that if the wages of all Chinese workers are raised, the bosses in Chinatown will have to pay a lot more.

"Why are you looking at me? This is a good thing!" Lin Yuanshan waved his hand to signal the other party that he could go out.

He raised the wages of all Chinese people, and although he had to pay a lot more every month, his business was now twice as big as before, so even if he paid more, he still earned more than before.

And everyone knows that the most popular person in the whole of San Francisco is Chen Zhengwei.

He has so many people under him, he has to pay out more than 100,000 this month.

"Mr. Chen, what are you thinking?" Lin Yuanshan thought for a moment but couldn't figure out why Chen Zhengwei would take the initiative to pay so much more money.

"You have so much money!"

Ever since Chen Zhengwei created Chinatown, he has been doing things in an increasingly grand manner.

The Chinese in Chinatown also benefited.

……

"Contact United Steel Shipyard, I want to talk to them!" Chen Zhengwei said to Rong Jiacai.

"Brother Wei, are you going to buy them?" Rong Jiacai was a little surprised. The United Steel Shipyard is the largest shipyard in San Francisco.

"That's right. Although I bought a batch of ships from the British, we still have to build them ourselves. We have a great demand for ships! Whether it's to bring people here from the Qing Dynasty... or to continue fighting the US government!"

"Our current territory is only California, but there will be more and more Chinese people, and security companies will become bigger and bigger. Sooner or later, we will not be able to support them. Even if we add the neighboring states of Nevada and Oregon, it will not be enough. In terms of potential, how can we compare with the US government?"

"So we must open up overseas markets," said Chen Zhengwei.

When Rong Jiacai heard this, he also understood Chen Zhengwei's thoughts.

Chen Zhengwei's foresight is unmatched by ordinary people.

Although Chen Zhengwei had bought the Salitto Shipyard before, it was only a medium-sized shipyard with three dry docks that could build up to three ships at the same time. It had no experience in designing and building large steam ships.

The largest ship ever built was a cargo ship with a displacement of 5000 tons.

Chen Zhengwei had them start work as soon as he bought the shipyard, building two cargo ships. So far, only half of them have been built, and it will take at least another half a year before they can be launched.

This made Chen Zhengwei not very satisfied and did not meet his needs.

So they set their sights on United Steel Shipyard.

This shipyard is not only the largest shipyard in San Francisco, but also has experience in designing and building warships.

Several ships of the US Pacific Fleet were designed and built by them.

"I'll contact them when I get back!" Rong Jiacai nodded and said, "Brother Wei, the equipment at the weapons factory has been installed and debugged. Do you want to go and take a look?"

"I'll go and take a look in a couple of days. But the drug laboratory hasn't figured out the method to cultivate Penicillium yet?" Chen Zhengwei asked about another thing.

In fact, he recruited a group of people from Yale University in July and August.

Knowing that the mold on fruits such as oranges and grapes can reduce inflammation after being isolated, they have only isolated Penicillium in the past six months.

However, the method of large-scale cultivation has not yet been developed, not to mention the subsequent large-scale extraction, purification and manufacturing processes that need to be designed and verified.

This progress made Chen Zhengwei very dissatisfied.

"Let Da Poland and Xu Yan continue to recruit people in Chicago and New York, or go directly to the school to recruit and bring the teachers here for me!"

"You can use some tricks! It's not just about money, women, status, everyone has weaknesses."

"Pharmaceuticals, chemistry, shipbuilding, engineering... We want all kinds of talents!"

(End of this chapter)