North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 13 Are You Human?
"I think I've found a solution to the startup capital problem!"

Hearing A Zu say this, everyone present was confused and looked at him blankly.

"Lee, what are you talking about? Have you found the funds? Is there a gold mine hidden in Vic's house?"

"That's right! There is a small gold mine right here!"

As he spoke, A-Zu walked over to a hand-cranked sewing machine, patted it gently, and said with a smile: "Look, this is the gold mine!"

"Li, are you crazy about money?"

"Azu, did you not sleep well last night? This is just a sewing machine, how can it be a gold mine?"

Ah Zu smiled happily: "In your eyes, this is just a sewing machine! But when I finish the transformation, it will be a gold mine!"

Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, A-Zu carefully examined the hand-cranked sewing machine, pondered for a moment, asked for paper and pen, and wrote down a shopping list on it.

"Mr. Jason, please buy these things according to the list."

Jason was asked to purchase supplies simply because he was probably the only one present who still had some US dollar cash in his pocket!
Jason looked down at the list of supplies clearly marked with dimensions and requirements, frowned, and said, "Lee, you have to tell me, what exactly do you want to do?"

A Zu patted the sewing machine at hand and said, "I want to modify this sewing machine!"

"Renovate the sewing machine? Then what?"

"Then... just wait and see, someone will naturally bring the money to our door!"

"Miss Vivian called you Mr. Divine Charlatan. It's really just a wrong name, not a wrong nickname. You are just a weirdo!"

Although crickets were chirping in his mouth, Jason still drove the carriage out to buy things.

At the same time, A-Zu picked up paper, pen and ruler, lay down and started drawing the design.

While drawing the design, A-Zu asked, "Ms. Anna, since you run a tailor shop, you should have connections with suppliers of sewing machines, right?"

Anna nodded calmly. "Of course! We've already contacted Mr. Thompson, Mr. McCoy, and others who supplied the machinery and equipment."

"Then please ask them to come here promptly at 2 p.m. and tell them you have a big business deal to discuss."

Anna looked at him puzzledly, then at her husband beside her, completely confused as to what he meant.

Vic nodded and said, "Go ahead. Although I don't understand what Li is trying to do, there must be a reason for him to do this."

Anna did as she was told and went out.

A quarter of an hour later, A-Zu finished drawing the design, but Jason still hadn't returned.

So he first drilled two holes in the cast iron base of the hand-cranked sewing machine.

After the hole was opened, Jason came back with the supplies.

There are not many supplies on the list, and they are all very common things, so it is not difficult to buy them all.

Without any help from others, A Zu first made a stand for the hand-crank sewing machine using hardwood.

Install the hardwood pedal under the bracket and use a spring to provide a reset mechanism for the pedal.

Then install the flywheel on the inside of the bracket and connect the pedals and flywheel with a crank.

Remove the hand-crank mechanism of the hand-crank sewing machine and connect the flywheel and the machine head spindle with a belt.

The transformation was almost complete! A-Zu sat down and tried to operate the sewing machine himself.

"Da da da……!"

The extremely familiar foot-operated sewing machine immediately started running steadily!
With just a few simple steps, you can transform a hand-crank sewing machine into a foot-operated sewing machine, completely freeing your hands and greatly improving your sewing efficiency.

But even such a simple improvement was not invented until ten years later in 1859 by Singer. With this improved invention patent, Singer gradually developed into a global industrial giant and became synonymous with sewing machines!
But just because there was one more Li Zunian in this era, the future industrial giants were destined to find it difficult to rise, and Singer Company became the second unlucky guy under A Zu's hands.

As for the first unlucky guy, it must be Levis!

Although everyone present didn't understand what A-Zu was going to do before, as soon as he completed the transformation and stepped on the pedal, everyone immediately understood!
Even the dullest person would immediately understand the huge business opportunities hidden in converting a hand-crank sewing machine into a foot-operated one!
"Oh My God!!! Lee, you are an absolute genius!"

"Li, what made you think of changing the hand crank to a foot pedal? Compared to you, we are all as stupid as pigs!"

"A-Zu, not only did you think of this, but you also completed the transformation so quickly. Are you still a human being?"

Anna saw this scene as soon as she went upstairs after entertaining the guests. The moment she saw the foot-operated sewing machine, she couldn't take her eyes off it!
"Mr. Li...!" Anna walked up to him, her voice trembling slightly: "Can I try?"

"Of course! It was originally improved for you!"

A Zu smiled and stood up to let her sit down.

Anna carefully placed her feet on the pedals and tried to move them gently.

"Da da da……!"

The familiar voice sounded again!
Compared with a hand-crank sewing machine, Anna feels that not only her hands are completely freed, but it is also more labor-saving and the operation is more stable.

Anna's cheeks flushed with excitement. She looked up at A Zu with admiration and said, "Mr. Li, this is the greatest invention for us tailors!"

Not only her, Daisy was also standing behind her mother. There was also a bright light in her beautiful pupils, and the look she gave A-Zu was completely different!

Before, because A-Zu saved her father, her eyes were filled with gratitude, but now there was a lot more admiration in them!

Everyone gathered around the newly improved foot-operated sewing machine, talking a lot and looking extremely excited.

"Lee, you're right. This sewing machine is a gold mine! If we can produce this kind of sewing machine, we will definitely make a fortune!"

"No!" A Zu shook his head and said lightly: "We will not produce this kind of foot-operated sewing machine!"

"Huh? Why?"

After hearing what he said, everyone felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over their heads!
A-Zu's words completely shattered everyone's fantasy: "Producing sewing machines is not a simple matter. We also need a fully equipped machining plant. Do we have the funds? Do we have the time?"

Everyone was speechless at once, unable to utter a single word!
Seeing everyone's constipated expressions, Zu just grinned.

After years of mechanical research, improving the sewing machine seemed like a small experiment, a piece of cake. Opportunities to make money were everywhere, so there was no need to focus on the tiny niche of sewing machines.

"Come on, cover this sewing machine with cloth and load it onto the carriage. Take the jeans samples with you as well, and we'll go to the city hall."

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(End of this chapter)