My Gold Rush Career Begins in 1984

Chapter 172 Long-term Cooperation
Zhou Jingming was eager to sell his gold for two reasons. First, the current price was the best it would be in the first half of the year. Second, he calculated that with the current 49 people, each earning 600 yuan a month, their monthly salaries would amount to 29,400 yuan.

The 1,742 grams of bluish-green gold I have on hand, at the agreed price of 33.6 yuan per gram, can only be sold for about 58,000 yuan. With what I have left, it can only support the mine for at most two months.

If Peng Yuanchao, Li Guozhu, and others also bring their own people, the number will be even greater, and they can only hold out for a month or two.

With a large operation comes large expenses, that's for sure.

That's why there aren't many Jin bosses who can expand their businesses significantly, and even fewer who can truly be called Jin bosses.

Of course, with more people, the amount of gold earned each day will also increase; it's a process of making a big profit with a small investment.

For an ordinary gold prospector, six hundred a month is about twenty yuan a day. If the market price were still around thirty yuan a day last year, Zhou Jingming would definitely not pay wages in the current way.

Not only are they provided with food, but they also get one day off every week. Even if the weather prevents them from working, they still get paid normally. In addition, Wu Yang and the other guys who lead the work get 800 yuan a month, plus 20 grams of gold, which is quite an expense.

Now, a gram of high-quality gold can sell for around forty yuan, which means that if he pans out a gram of gold, he can get around twenty yuan, which is quite a good deal.

Zhou Jingming was very confident in the mining site he had chosen. Given the grade of the minerals in the pincer-shaped mountain pass of Haxionggou, even if the gold prospectors worked for a month, the average daily yield per person would not be less than one gram, but would only be higher. With more people involved, the combined income from each person would be quite considerable.

Of course, there is another reason. At this time, gold prospectors have not yet flooded into the Gold Rush Valley, so things are not so complicated. The control over gold trading by the authorities is also at its weakest, making it the easiest time to sell the gold in hand.

Zhou Jingming even considered selling off all the remaining high-quality gold while the gold price was good.

Unfortunately, it seems there aren't many gold buyers nowadays, and those who are are generally not very wealthy.

Inside the room, beside a low table on the carpet, under the dim yellow light, Zhou Jingming was conducting a transaction with the buyer, facilitated by the gaunt young man acting as an intermediary.

This buyer had a little more money on hand, carrying over 10,000 yuan, and was preparing to buy 300 grams from Zhou Jingming.

The scales were set on the table, and Zhou Jingming was slowly pouring the rock gold from the oil paper bag onto the tray when suddenly two armed men burst in…

He immediately stopped what he was doing, turned to look at the two people, then at the middleman and the buyer on the other side, and asked, "What are you planning to do?"

The buyer on the other side was also terrified and hurriedly put the 10,080 yuan on the table into a bag.

Seeing his flustered expression, Zhou Jingming guessed that he was probably not with the two people who came in. So, he turned his head to stare at the two people who came in, and his hand quietly reached for the pistol tucked in his waistband.

Wu Yang stood guard outside with a hunting rifle. When he entered the room, the door was already closed, so he couldn't see what was happening inside.

Zhou Jingming knew that if something really happened, he would have to deal with it on his own this time, and he couldn't count on Wu Yang for the time being.

Seeing Zhou Jingming's wary expression, the gaunt young man raised his hand to signal him: "Don't rush..."

Then, he stood up and went to greet the two men, saying to the middle-aged man in the mink coat who was in the lead, "Brother Sun, what brings you here? We're arranging their transaction; it's not appropriate to come in at this time..."

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun waved his hand and looked at Zhou Jingming: "Brother, don't panic. I'm here to talk to you about something. You can continue the transaction. We'll talk after the transaction is completed."

Zhou Jingming frowned slightly: "Even if you had something to say, you shouldn't have barged in like this. You could have easily informed one of your men beforehand!"

“I know I was being presumptuous. I just came back from hunting in the mountains and heard from the people down below that someone was selling gold. They also told me about your situation, and I was afraid of missing out, so I came here without permission…”

Seeing Zhou Jingming's gaze fixed on the hunting rifle he was holding, he realized that this was indeed not reassuring, and quickly handed the rifle to the man who had followed him: "You get out of here right now!"

The man took the hunting rifle, turned around and opened the back door, but suddenly stopped.

Outside the door, Wu Yang stood at the back doorway, holding a hunting rifle, ready to come in.

The man was startled when he opened the door and saw the dark muzzle of a gun.

Upon seeing this, the middle-aged man surnamed Sun looked at Wu Yang with a strange expression.

When Zhou Jingming saw Wu Yang, he felt even more at ease; Wu Yang was even more astute than he had imagined.

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun glanced at Wu Yang, then at Zhou Jingming, realizing that the two had come together. He quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand... I, I'll go out first, and we'll talk after you've finished your transaction."

As he spoke, he was the first to leave the house.

The man carrying two hunting rifles followed them out.

Seeing this, Zhou Jingming nodded to Wu Yang, who then stepped back and closed the back door that led directly into the wilderness.

Only three people remained in the room.

The gaunt young man sat back down at the low table: "Shall we continue the transaction?"

Zhou Jingming nodded slightly.

The buyer wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and sat down again at the low table.

Things proceeded smoothly thereafter. Three hundred grams of gold were weighed using a small balance and handed over to the buyer. Zhou Jingming also received the ten thousand and eighty yuan.

The buyer dared not linger. He stuffed the gold, which was in an oil paper bag, into his pocket, opened the door, peeked outside, and then hurriedly left.

No sooner had that man left than a middle-aged man surnamed Sun, dressed in a fur coat, came in and sent the skinny young man away, closing the door behind him.

There were only the two of them in the room, so Zhou Jingming wasn't afraid at all.

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun sat down at the low table and offered Zhou Jingming a cigarette. Zhou Jingming didn't take it, but instead took out a pack of Honglian cigarettes from his pocket, took one, and put it in his mouth: "I have my own!"

Who knows if the cigarettes he offered were tampered with? We were in someone else's hideout, so we couldn't just accept them.

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun knew that Zhou Jingming was being cautious, so he didn't mind and lit the cigarette he hadn't offered.

Zhou Jingming didn't want to beat around the bush: "Just say what's on your mind!"

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun nodded: "Then I'll be frank. According to the rules, buyers and sellers who come here to conduct transactions are all guests. We cannot pry into their backgrounds, and even if we do, we must keep it a secret for both parties."

After all, we act as intermediaries, facilitating transactions between the two parties and earning a commission, so we don't offend either side.

However, people always strive for better opportunities. In business, no matter how you do it, you want to earn more. Taking a cut and adding some sex work are all small profits.

Over the past two years, I've made quite a few trips to the south and even made a connection with a big boss in Hong Kong who deals in gold and jewelry and wants a lot of gold.

"Brother, you're a big boss, I can't miss this opportunity, so I've been busy looking for you. My only goal is to see if we can establish a long-term partnership. Whatever gold you find, I'll buy it all."

So that was the purpose!
Those who can establish themselves in such places, manage gold transactions, and engage in prostitution are mostly powerful figures or big bosses who have cultivated connections to gain a foothold.

The relationships involved are complex and intertwined.

It's common for some people to be dissatisfied with the income from their hideout and want to expand their operations in hopes of earning more.

Zhou Jingming didn't find it strange.

He looked at the middle-aged man surnamed Sun and said, "Just like you said, business is business no matter how you do it, and gold is gold no matter who you sell it to. It's not impossible for you to do business with me."

I'm just curious, how did you come to the conclusion that I'm the big boss?

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun frankly said: "The people below have seen some things in the town. There aren't many gold prospectors coming to Tiemaike yet. You've recruited dozens of people all at once. They came into the mountains so early. They must have already selected a mining site, and a good one at that. There aren't many foremen or gold bosses who can gather so many people at once."

Also, you were here last year. Although I didn't see you, the people down here did. With so many gold prospectors coming and going, you'd inevitably hear stories about the Gold Rush Valley, and many of them were rumors about you.

Zhou Jingming shook his head slightly: "I'm sorry, I'm not the big boss you're talking about!"

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun smiled slightly: "I believe that you are not now, but you definitely will be in the future."

"Since you think so highly of me, it seems like I'd be ungrateful if I didn't agree."

Zhou Jingming took a deep breath: "Cooperation is possible, but the premise is that the price is right. Since Brother Sun knows my situation, he should also know that there are dozens of people who rely on me for meals, so the price can't be too low."

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun pondered for a moment and said, "Let's stick to what you agreed on today: forty-eight yuan per gram for high-quality gold, and the same price thereafter. What do you think?"

"That's a good price, but the price of gold changes every day. Last year, the purchase price was only sixteen yuan, but this year it has become twenty-four yuan and forty cents. Even if the market price hasn't doubled, it's not much different."

Nobody can say for sure whether it will go up or down. If it stays at the current price, I'll lose money if it goes up, and Brother Sun will lose money if it goes down!

Zhou Jingming looked at the middle-aged man surnamed Sun very seriously: "It's not impossible to reach a cooperation agreement, but it has to be based on the market conditions."

"That makes sense! It's reasonable to price according to the market price."

The middle-aged man surnamed Sun's expression brightened: "So, brother, you agree?"

"Why would I disagree with such a good thing?"

This time, Zhou Jingming only brought 1,742 grams of gold to sell. Several buyers came and went, but he only sold 800 grams. It was a piecemeal process that took a lot of time, and he still hadn't sold it all. Zhou Jingming was also having a headache.

If a buyer could take a large quantity at once, it would save us a lot of trouble.

But then the middle-aged man surnamed Sun asked, "Brother, do you still have gold?"

"There are still some..."

After a brief consideration, Zhou Jingming decided to take advantage of the good prices and sell all the gold he had on hand. The money would be used to maintain the operation of the mine this year: "I'm just afraid that Brother Sun won't be able to handle it all at once."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man surnamed Sun widened his eyes: "Is there that much? Tell me, can I afford it? If I can't afford it now, I can at least prepare the money. I still have some connections here."

Zhou Jingming estimated that last year, after working in Xiao Peninsula and Haxionggou until Peng Yuanchao and others left, he had 4,867 grams of placer gold. On the trip to the mine to clean the mine shaft, he got another 713 grams of placer gold, for a total of 5,580 grams.

Now, having brought those gold nuggets out and sold them, I still have 942 grams left.

Since we're going to make a move anyway, it's not good to keep hiding it.

Zhou Jingming stated frankly: "There are 5,580 grams of high-quality placer gold and 942 grams of the rock gold that was just sold."

Upon hearing this number, the middle-aged man surnamed Sun's eyes widened. He picked up the paper and pen on the table and started calculating. His lips twitched. "Two hundred and ninety-nine thousand four hundred and nine... To be honest, I really can't come up with that much money all at once. However, I can take the rock gold you have now. As for the rest, give me half a month. We can trade after half a month. What do you think?"

"Okay. However, we can't be so unruly as we were today. Also, the transaction venue has to be changed, and it can't be in your place anymore..."

“I understand… You can’t be too careful. You can come to Timbuk again when the time comes, and you can decide the time and place.”

"can!"

(End of this chapter)