North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 20 Let You Cut Yourself
"A steam-powered saw?"

Jason held a cherry wood pipe in his mouth and said, "I've heard of it, but I don't think anyone in the Bay Area uses it!"

A Zu replied, "No one's using it yet, which is a good thing. We might just get the upper hand again!"

After thinking for a moment, A-Zu asked again, "Does anyone know where I can buy a steam engine? New or used, as long as it works."

Anna continued, "As far as I know, Mr. Thompson, who took the last authorized production license today, has steam engines for sale. But... as everyone knows, Mr. Thompson's machines are not cheap!"

A Zu waved his hand: "As long as he has the goods, I will find a way to make him cut himself!"

"Cut yourself with a knife? Li, you are too cruel! Why did you let Thompson cut yourself?"

That afternoon, A-Zu invited Thompson to the shipyard.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, A-Zu got straight to the point: "Mr. Thompson, as an authorized manufacturer of foot-operated sewing machines, I hope to establish a long-term and good cooperative relationship with you."

Ever since he met A-Zu yesterday, Thompson had been surprised that the newly established Huamei Industrial Company would actually put a young Chinese person in the front line, and naturally he felt contempt for it.

But Thompson became even more upset after this young Chinese man extorted several thousand dollars from him that morning with just a thin piece of paper called an authorized production license.

What I didn’t expect was that I was invited to Jason’s shipyard in the afternoon to discuss business. It seemed that this young Chinese guy was still at the forefront?
"Ahem!" The pot-bellied Thompson cleared his throat. He ignored A-Zu and said to Jason beside him, "Mr. Jason, I'm curious, is your shipyard now also run by the Chinese?"

Jason spit out an eye roll and shrugged, "Lee, you're my boss now!"

"What...did I hear it wrong?" Thompson looked shocked!
Even if A Zu had been standing at the front desk during the auction yesterday and this morning, businessmen like Thompson would have just thought that this Chinaman was just a young man with good speaking skills promoted by Vic and Jason.

At best, he's just a Chinese guy who's a little smart!

Who would have thought that this young Chinese guy would be the boss of Huamei Company?

"Thompson, you heard me right, Lee. He's the boss of me, Vic, and Huamei Company! Do you understand?"

"It's unbelievable! You and Vic are willing to let a yellow-skinned... Chinaman be your boss!"

Thompson thought he had been very polite. After all, he had just obtained the authorized production license from Huamei Company. He didn't want to offend anyone and cause trouble.

"Enough!" Jason interrupted Thompson angrily: "It's my honor to have Li as my boss!"

"If you keep insisting on this boring topic, I think we wouldn't mind talking to someone else. Thompson, you're not the only one selling steam engines in the entire Bay Area!"

"Oh, Jason, my old friend, please don't be angry!" Thompson immediately perked up when he heard about the steam engine and said with a smile, "I'm just curious. A Chinese boss... Haha, I wish you good luck!"

Jason's face flushed and he was very angry.

But A-Zu looked calm, as if they were not talking about him.

He understood that in this era, discrimination and contempt for the Chinese were everywhere!
Even including white people like Harley and Jason, who didn't hold preconceived notions and discriminate against themselves at the beginning? And the Chinese workers behind them, and all Chinese people!

This isn't any one person's fault; it's the trend of the times. There's no other way except to slap them in the face with force and completely change their mindset.

Being angry, furious? That's useless!
A Zu said calmly, getting straight to the point: "Mr. Thompson, I'm planning to buy two steam engines with about 20 horsepower. Please give me a price!"

Hearing that there was a real business opportunity, Thompson's face was filled with smiles. "Mr. Li..., if you want to buy a steam engine, finding me, Thompson, is the right choice!"

"A 20-horsepower steam engine normally costs $1,500! Since I hope to establish a long-term relationship with your company, I'm willing to sell two brand-new steam engines for... well, $2,800! Believe me, that's a pretty good price."

"Two for $2,800?" A-Zu raised his eyebrows. "Mr. Thompson, are you serious?"

"Of course it's a very serious offer! What's the matter, Mr. Li?"

"Haha!" A-Zu laughed sarcastically. "As far as I know, the price of a brand new 20-horsepower steam engine on the market is no more than 1,200 US dollars."

"Mr. Thompson, quoting such a price shows that you are very insincere!"

"No, no, no!" Thompson shook his head quickly. "One thousand two hundred dollars! That was last month's price! Mr. Li..., you know, steam engines are becoming increasingly scarce. They're used in shipbuilding, gold panning, mining... everywhere..."

"Two thousand dollars!" A-Zu interrupted him. "Two brand new twenty-horsepower steam engines, two thousand dollars. In addition, Mr. Thompson needs to send some spare parts that I need!"

"What...two thousand? Are you kidding?"

"Don't be so quick to refuse!" A Zu waved his hand: "Mr. Thompson, listen to my idea first. After listening, it's not too late to refuse!"

Thompson shook his head firmly: "No matter what you say, it's impossible...!"

A-Zu interrupted him again: "Today, the three of you just got the license to produce foot-operated sewing machines! But, at over a hundred dollars a sewing machine is too expensive. Most people can't afford it, right?"

"Ah? Uh...what do you want to say?" Thompson didn't intend to listen any further, but A-Zu's words hit the spot.

"I want to say that sewing machines are too expensive, so not many people can afford them, which seriously affects sales. But I have a way to make sewing machines affordable for more people!"

"Mr. Li, are you serious?" Thompson's appetite was immediately whetted.

"Absolutely authentic! Mr. Thompson, do you want to hear it?"

"Of course I will listen, if what you say is true."

A Zu smiled and said, "My solution is to pay in installments!"

"Installment payment?" Thompson and Jason were confused again.

"Yes! Installment payments! For most people and families, shelling out over a hundred dollars at once to buy a sewing machine is undoubtedly a very difficult thing. But... with just a down payment of twenty or thirty dollars, you can take the sewing machine home, and then pay ten dollars a month for a year. Isn't that much easier?"

"Ah? This...!" Thompson and Jason were stunned!

(End of this chapter)