North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 9 Play Another Game
After a little pretense, A Zu asked Jason, "Mr. Jason, given the current state of the shipyard, how long can it last?"

Jason smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I was cheated by that damn Jew Berg! A year ago, I spent almost all my cash on these cheap old wood and canvas."

“If it weren’t for the occasional repairs to old sailboats, the shipyard would have been unable to pay its employees and would have gone bankrupt long ago.”

"Even so, I still owe a lot of debt, about 13,000 or 14,000 US dollars. Repairing the old boat can barely cover the wages, and there is no profit. If there are no new boat orders, at most in a month or two, the creditors will sue me in court and force me into bankruptcy."

A Zu continued to ask, "How much old wood and old canvas are there in stock?"

"There are over two million pounds of old lumber, enough to build two large 200-foot clippers, or one giant 300-foot clipper!"

"That damned scoundrel Berger cheated me, but these old timbers are genuine, high-quality woods. Many of them are teak and pontianak... Of course, the main woods are oak, pine, and fir."

Jason paused and continued, "As for the old canvas, there are still over 400,000 pounds left, enough to replace the sails on every mast in the bay... Well, there should be some left!"

"Wow, so Serei!"

After hearing this, Vivian couldn't help but exclaim in Cantonese.

A Zu also gave a thumbs up: "Mr. Jason, you can eat so much shipbuilding materials in one go. I have to admire your courage!"

Jason continued shaking his head and grinning bitterly. "That scoundrel Berg told me this large batch of supplies was originally worth over $80,000. He sold it to me at the best price, just $30,000! I calculated it, and it should be a profit anyway...!"

A Zu ignored his nagging and turned to Vic and asked, "Captain, what is the specific situation of your debt?"

Vic had just been gloating, but when he heard A-Zu suddenly ask him, he turned around and smiled bitterly, his expression changing. "I borrowed a total of 26,000 US dollars from a Jewish bank. According to the loan agreement, it will be repaid over four years, 10,000 US dollars per year. There are still, uh... one and a half months left before the first repayment deadline!"

Ah Zu nodded and did a rough calculation in his head: "So, the annual interest rate on your loan is... around 20%? As expected of a Jewish guy!"

"20%? Is it that high...!!!" Vic himself had never figured out how much the interest rate was.

This guy, just rolled his eyes and figured it out? Is this true?

A-Zu crossed his arms, glanced at the crowd, and said, "Ladies and gentlemen! In other words, we must earn at least $25,000 within a month and a half to avoid bankruptcy for Jason and Vic!"

"I...we? Who are we?"

What does Jason and Vic's debt have to do with A-Zu and others?

Jason couldn't help it: "Mr. Zu, just tell me what you want to do?"

A Zu didn't answer, but turned to Vic and asked, "Captain, as far as I know, you own a shipping company, and your wife and daughter also run a tailor shop? And it's quite large?"

Vic was stunned and blurted out: "How do you know...?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and glared at Harley.

After staying together on the small wooden boat for more than half a month, Harley, this brainless guy, must have told this kid everything he knew!
A Zu pondered for a moment, stared at Jason and said, "Mr. Jason, if you want to avoid bankruptcy and ending up with nothing, I have two suggestions. Would you like to hear them?"

"Of course!" Jason's appetite was whetted.

"My first suggestion is... I'll buy all the old wood and canvas you have!"

As soon as these words came out, Vivian and Vic's eyes widened instantly and said in unison.

"What? Lee, are you crazy?"

Jason's bloodshot and cloudy eyes lit up instantly!

"You...are you telling the truth?"

But Jason's eyes quickly dimmed: "No, no, no, you are making fun of me! Where did you get the money from, a Chinese worker who just arrived ashore!" A Zu waved his hand: "Don't be impatient, just listen to what I have to say!"

"Mr. Jason, I'll still buy the wood and canvas you spent $30,000 on at the original price. But... the payment will be in a month and a half!"

Jason stared at Zu with suspicion. "Are you serious? You can raise $30,000 in just a month and a half?"

"Of course it's true! I plan to process these wood and canvas into products and sell them. One and a half months is enough time."

"Processed into products? What products?" Jason became interested and asked eagerly.

A Zu smiled and shook his head: "This has nothing to do with Mr. Jason! But I have a condition. I need to use some of the shipyard's space and equipment. I believe Mr. Jason doesn't mind?"

"Of course! As long as you can help me pay off my debts, you can use my space and equipment as you like."

A-Zu continued, "After paying off the debt, there will still be more than $10,000 left, which can support the shipyard for a while. Or... Mr. Jason can simply sell the shipyard and choose a place with simple folk customs to spend the rest of his life."

Jason shook his head firmly: "I love this shipyard, this is my home, I will never sell it!"

"If we don't sell it, it'll be difficult! The era of wooden sailing ships is gradually fading away. Given the current state of the shipyard, bankruptcy is inevitable sooner or later."

Jason let out a breath: "Oh... I know!"

Then A-Zu said, "If Mr. Jason doesn't want to go bankrupt and is determined to keep the shipyard, then you might as well listen to my second suggestion."

"Of course!" Jason pricked up his ears.

"My second suggestion is... join us!"

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"Use your old lumber and canvas as capital and join us! Follow my method, and by processing the lumber and canvas into products and selling them, I can not only guarantee you enough to pay off your debts and keep the shipyard, but also give you the chance to become a truly wealthy man!"

Jason's eyes lit up with hope: "You...are you telling the truth?"

“Absolutely true!”

A-Zu paused and said, "So, Mr. Jason, you make your choice! Do you want to just hold on for a while longer, or do you want to join us and create a new world?"

"I……!"

A look of struggle appeared on Jason's face. He puffed hard on his cherry wood pipe and didn't say a word for a long time.

He was very tempted by what A-Zu said, but it was indeed too risky for him to trust a young Chinese worker who had just arrived ashore!

"Jason!" Vic spoke at this time.

"Long-Hanged Jason, when did you become a coward? Ten years ago, the same Long-Hanged Jason who bravely ventured into the South American jungle alone, armed with a broken gun, and not only walked out alive but also with a huge bag of gold on his back, has he lost his eggs now?"

"You damn Prussian, shut up! I...!"

"Believe me!" Vic interrupted him, "Old man, believe me! Although Li is just a young Chinese worker, he is indeed a guy who is good at working miracles!"

"I'm able to come back alive, all thanks to Lee! Jason, if you trust me, then please trust him twice as much!"

"Bang!" Jason slammed his hammer on the table. "Alright, you've convinced me! Just like ten years ago, let's risk everything and play another round!"

Jason stared at A-Zu with a look of renewed fighting spirit and said word by word, "I'm in!"

(End of this chapter)