Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 441 Working Part-Time (Part Two)

Ali looked out the window at the scenery, things he couldn't see in the village.

I'd always heard stories about how great certain places were, and now that I see it, it's true. The outside world is indeed incredibly diverse and wonderful. I wonder what surprises await me in the capital.

There are many trains along this route, both passenger and freight. Tehran's population has grown from a few hundred thousand to four hundred thousand, requiring large quantities of food and other necessities to sustain its inhabitants. Therefore, food supplies in Mazandran are of paramount importance.

Not only food, but also a large volume of goods produced in Tehran's factories enter Mazandran. As Iran's wealthiest province, and also located on the Caspian Sea, Mazandran's port facilitates the export of Iranian goods to Russia.

Sitting on the train for a long time can be boring, and many people soon fall into a deep sleep. Those who arrived early in the morning take the opportunity to sleep for a while so they can be alert and do their own things later.

In his dream, Ali made a lot of money, got married, bought a house in the city, and settled down. He even chuckled to himself, completely baffled by the dream. Faruz had no idea what kind of dream the kid was having.

Woohoo! Woohoo!
Finally, after a three-hour journey, the train arrived in Tehran. They disembarked with their luggage, and Ali, seeing this city a hundred times larger than Pisa, felt that everything was different.

"Let's find a place to stay first."

After Hafiz finished speaking, he led them to the Shahar House in the North District. It was a building that combined an inn and a tavern, with more than a hundred rooms, and because it was well-informed, it was also known as the Beginner's House.

They booked several rooms and put their luggage down. The group then had lunch at the tavern and inquired about job opportunities.

"The museum in the eastern district is currently recruiting construction workers, paying 6.5 riyals a day. We could give it a try."

Hafiz shared this news with everyone, explaining that the project was highly recommended by the Shah, who said it was to raise awareness of the land's history.

This is a priority for the Iranian Ministry of Education and construction will proceed rapidly. Museums will be built not only here, but also in Persepolis, Isfahan, and Baghdad. The artifacts must be properly protected; he certainly doesn't want to see these things in the British Museum.

"Oh right, there's a porter job at the city's central hospital that pays 4 rials a day. I think Ali could give it a try."

Upon hearing this, Ali quickly said he could handle the job. Faruz didn't say anything, just told him to go and do the work, saying there might be some unexpected benefits.

The next day at dawn, Hafez led them to the construction site of the Tehran Museum. The foreman quickly hired them, paying them 6.5 riyals each per day. Ali went to the hospital, where, in addition to moving hospital supplies, he would also move corpses. This would earn him extra rewards, as no one else was willing to move corpses.

Ali doesn't care about that, as long as there's money. Besides, the morgue is quite cool, so it's not bad to stay there.

On the first day, Ali moved dozens of boxes and ten corpses, earning not only 4 rials but also an extra 3 rials as a reward.

"Hey new here, where are you from?" a porter asked Ali during a break.

“I come from Mazanderland.”

“Mazandran, that’s a nice place. But right now, Baghdad and Baku are still the most desirable places.”

According to these people, Baghdad, as a newly emerging city, offers great opportunities for everyone. Whether working or starting a business, one can save a considerable amount of money after a few years.

Baku, on the other hand, is a newly developing city in Iran. Thanks to its local oil, anyone can earn a lot. Especially those working for the oil companies; even the worst earners can make at least 320 rials a year.

320 riyals—Ali was envious of this income. His family only earned a little over 600 riyals a year from farming. This person earned 320 riyals a year; if things went any higher, he might earn even more.

"With so many applicants, won't it be very difficult to get hired?"

"Of course, every recruitment drive attracts a huge number of people, even locals can't keep up, let alone us."

Thinking about this, Ali took the money and returned to his lodgings. His father and the others also returned. They had made a good profit today, and the foreman was willing to pay them. They could save up a considerable amount of money in a month or two, and then they would have money to renovate their house.

There are many migrant workers like them; the migration of rural residents to cities is perfectly normal during industrialization. On the one hand, agricultural machinery penetrated rural areas, including steam threshers, freeing up a large amount of labor; on the other hand, the use of chemical fertilizers greatly increased agricultural output, allowing grain to feed more people. A baby boom ensued.

To make ends meet, many people chose to sell their labor for wages. They would use the money to buy food and furniture, which boosted the domestic market. Now that transportation is so convenient, things that were once desired can now be done.

In Baghdad, for example, one-fifth of the city's more than 200,000 residents are long-term migrant workers. They regularly travel to the city to work and return to their villages during holidays. They do the most menial jobs, such as cleaning streets and carrying goods. Some of them take the opportunity to learn a trade and become carpenters or blacksmiths.

However, they still place great importance on their children's education. Compulsory education is gradually becoming universal in Iran, requiring every child to complete their studies. The expansion of universities and secondary schools in recent years has also made many realize that higher education levels offer greater opportunities for upward mobility. Therefore, they encourage their children to attend university, even though tuition is expensive, it's manageable with a bit of effort.

Of course, Ottoman workers are also a significant part of this workforce. The number of Ottomans working in Iran has increased to 119834, more than doubling in three years, demonstrating Iran's strong appeal to the Ottoman people.

They are scattered throughout border cities and major cities between the two countries, and Ottoman communities are beginning to emerge. They speak Persian, practice Shia Islam, and are economically dependent on Iran. What the Ottomans cannot give them, Iran can.

Within the Ottoman Empire, Iranian capital also increased significantly to 6800 million rials. Its reach extended throughout the Ottoman territory, even reaching as far as Tunisia and Tripoli, where Iranian trading posts were established. In the Levant, Iranians competed with the French for local trade markets; in Egypt, Iranian merchants bought cotton and other commodities; and in Kostantinye, Iranian-owned enterprises made substantial profits. Under the Treaty of Baghdad, Iranian capital was protected alongside British and French capital, meaning that even if the Ottomans wanted to resist, the government would not intervene. Moreover, Iran cared for the Ottomans more than the Ottomans themselves, at least ensuring their well-being.

(End of this chapter)