America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 274 Scrap Gold

Zhang Ailun instructed Dave to smooth things over with the judge and notify the people from Azure Company to come and file a lawsuit, while he himself went to notify the Beggars' Sect disciples in the Kilimanjaro Mountains to bring over the Magee gang and the truck driver.

During this time, I also received message notifications from Rachel Kim and Johnson.

Johnson: Boss, the 20 tons of waste electronics have been refined. The gold and precious metals are all extracted. There are 1600 grams of gold, and with today's gold price at $74, the recycling value is about $118,400. The total value of the other precious metal scrap should be around $70,000 to $80,000. Refining all 20 tons of scrap will yield a profit of nearly $200,000. It's a pity that manual operation is too laborious; it requires working through the night, and there were many operational errors that wasted a lot of resources.

Zhang Ailun: Transport those precious metals to Parker's suburban site and wait for the sales manager to contact other metal recycling companies. Remember to be there to observe their transactions. When the time is right, I'll let you replace him. In the future, if Jin Ruiqiu and her team acquire similar electronic waste, there's no need for manual refining; they can buy it directly from them at market price and refine it through sorting and filtration several times.

Johnson: Really? Boss! Don't worry, I'll definitely study hard and pay close attention!

Stir-fried squid is a must.

Of those old employees of Parker Company, apart from Reco who is relatively reliable, the rest are all old hands who have amassed a lot of money through abuse of power. Although they still have some use now, the leader doesn't plan to touch them. But once the Beggars' Sect disciples have mastered all the techniques, he will find a reason to fire them and let them leave their jobs.

You were laid off by your boss because you violated the latest company rules by stepping into the office with your left foot first.

He wasn't afraid of their protests or causing trouble at the company; the leader simply didn't want to settle scores with them later, and it wasn't like he couldn't bring up old grievances. If they insisted on staying at the company and enjoying the bonuses, then the leader would have no choice but to send them to jail on charges of theft. Unless absolutely necessary, the leader didn't want to bother those veteran employees, after all, he was quite easy to talk to.

If you don't want to be dignified, then I'll make you dignified.

Zhang Ailun chatted with Qiao Sen for a few more minutes, telling him to bring the gold and his Rolls-Royce Cullinan over, then exited the chat. He then opened the message from Jin Rachel, the short-tailed dog.

Rachel Kim: Mr. Kim, we've taken care of those 20 tons of electronic waste, worth a total of two hundred thousand US dollars. We agreed on a 30/70 split, so sixty thousand US dollars of that is ours. Our team didn't dare rest for a moment on the task you assigned us; we worked overtime! We didn't even have time to deliver chicken wraps.

Zhang Ailun: I always keep my promises. I will definitely give you the $60,000. Your burritos are quite good. I'm also planning to sign a delivery contract with you. From now on, breakfast and lunch can be delivered to Parker's and the recycling station on the street, respectively. We'll offer a monthly delivery package at market prices. You can discuss this with the company's logistics manager and Dominic. You won't be shortchanged.

With improved living conditions, the food expenses for the Beggars' Sect disciples also need to be addressed. After all, two meals a day don't cost much. Moreover, the sect leader only provides these meals to employees working at the recycling station and the company.

If a Beggar Clan member wants to compete for a higher position, they should diligently collect jars, cultivate their skills, and then they can directly get a promotion, a raise, and a stable job.

Isn't this a kind of class leap?

Rachel Kim: Don't worry! Mr. Kim, this is a big business opportunity, and I'm definitely happy to cooperate with you. However, we might not have enough manpower, and we'll need to recruit some more Mexican chefs later. I guarantee that the meals will be authentic Mexican-style burritos and regular meals, not just chicken wraps. Maybe we can even take over a few chain restaurants and establish a firm foothold here. Then people will have to call me Mr. Kim, hahaha!

There is still a dream, what if it comes true?

If you can't be a street tycoon, then be a restaurant mogul.

Zhang Ailun: You'd better figure out how to get the necessary permits sorted out. I don't want my people eating food prepared in unfinished buildings and makeshift carts. Eating it once in a while is fine, but if they eat this every day, they'll definitely complain. You can talk to the Parker Company manager and Dominic about the specifics.

Rachel Kim: OK!

After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhang Ailun waited by the roadside for a while before Qiao Sen arrived with his men in a van and a Rolls-Royce. Upon seeing the leader, Qiao Sen immediately got out of the car, carrying a black knitted bag, and handed the car keys and gold to the leader.

"Boss, this is gold extracted from electronic waste. It's more than the amount of gold we extracted from discarded mobile phones last time we collaborated with Modern Brothers."

Zhang Ailun accepted it without changing his expression. It felt heavy in his hand, weighing 3.2 kilograms.

The leader, being a man of the world, knew that this amount of gold was nothing compared to the treasure of the sunken ship, and immediately took out $20,000 in cash and handed it to Johnson.

"Distribute this money among the other team members who participated in the work. You don't need to worry about Short-Tailed Dog. Once I sell the gold, I'll have someone give them the $60,000."

Zhang Ailun said, "You can go to Parker's suburban factory now to start your training."

"Thanks, boss." Johnson chuckled as he accepted the $20,000 bill. After chatting for a few more minutes, he turned and got into his car, driving away to begin his internship at Parker Corporation.

Zhang Ailun took out his phone to ask about the progress of the Beggars' Sect disciples at the mountain camp. He learned that they were on their way and would need some more time, so he also inquired about the progress of Dave's work.

Dave: The court has already issued a summons for the trial of the board of directors of Azure Corporation, but not only are they unrepentant, they even tried to bribe the Supreme Court Justice! They even had people intercept the Justice on his usual route to work, trying to get money to say good things about him. The Justice was furious and flatly refused.

The Supreme Court of the Southern District of Los Angeles is a seventy-year-old man from Texas. In his youth, he tried many vicious criminals and suffered retaliation for it. The most dangerous time was when he was almost killed by a black man driving a dump truck, but he survived it all.

It's said that the old black man later escaped from prison, was wanted across state lines, arrested by Utah state police, tried, and sentenced to death. Whether he truly escaped or was transported there overnight is unclear.

Anyway, the Grand Master has never seen many talented people who can successfully escape from prison. Those who have the opportunity don't need to, and those who have the idea don't have the ability.

The justice was also awarded the title of honorary judge and even made cameo appearances as a judge in several Hollywood movies.

Aside from eating, drinking, and walking his bird, he has nothing else to do every day. He has no children, receives a salary, and is already in a semi-retired state. The court rarely needs him unless there are major incidents; he's practically a golden figurehead.

He also recently received a retirement grant from the Hamburger Foundation. Dave handled the process; the two have a very good relationship, and you could say he considers Dave his mentor.

Jesse worked part-time at the nursing home for a few days, and they also introduced him to an old lady who was the Supreme Court Justice's ex-girlfriend. The two are now dating, and it's said that this crazy idea was suggested by Sieg during a private chat among a few people.

That heartless Siegfried is capable of using any trick in the book.

But the most despicable company is Azure, which is unrepentant and attempts to bribe the judge with dirty money!

Is the Supreme Court Justice that kind of person?

The Grand Justice is such a person who hates evil and has an overflowing sense of justice. He's already in his seventies or eighties. What else could he possibly be after?

How much money are you willing to pay?

The evidence is irrefutable; no amount of money can change anything. The person suing you is richer than you.

Zhang Ailun: How much money do they want to bribe the Supreme Court judge with? Dave: Their board wants the judge to handle their case leniently, to avoid being charged with unfair competition and hiring a murderer, and they want to bribe the judge with $500,000! Plus a retirement apartment in the city center. Its market value is around $1.6 million.

Zhang Ailun: Damn, these people are really rich, they must have gone all out, right?

The leader of the guild only gave the councilor a second-hand, fully furnished apartment when he asked him to do something.

However, their efforts were in vain; their desperate struggle only resulted in evidence of bribing the judge. It's unclear which brilliant strategist came up with the idea, but once they're actually in jail, money won't be of any use.

How can you prove that your money is your own?

After chatting with Dave for a few more minutes and telling him to continue with his business, Zhang Ailun learned that the court hearing wouldn't start until around 11 a.m. at the earliest. So, he took advantage of the time and drove to Old George's Pawnshop.

I arrived at the pawn shop with practiced ease, parked my car at the entrance, and went inside. I saw several customers selling items, nothing particularly novel—just watches, snuff bottles, and baseball cards. The items were valued between $500 and $2000.

Old George rambled on and on, eventually squeezing the value down to an extremely low price, successfully recovering the money from the customer and making a profit of several thousand dollars!

Zhang Ailun waited a while until Old George saw off the guests, then handed him the gold in the bag. "This is gold that my men extracted from some electronic waste. It weighs 1600 grams and has a market value of $118,400. Just give it to me at the original price. Anyway, gold prices will definitely continue to rise, so you'll still make a profit."

Old George trusted the Grand Master very much. After checking the authenticity with the equipment, he decisively accepted it and didn't plan to haggle over the price again.

He asked, "How's your business with Coulson in Las Vegas going? I couldn't reach him yesterday when I messaged him. Andrew said he's changed owners at several of his pawnshops."

Old George was a little puzzled. "Could this guy have turned his back on us after making money? He's already a billionaire?"

Zhang Ailun smiled and said, "He is indeed a billionaire, but a debt-ridden one. That guy was tricked and ripped off. He has mortgaged all his assets. The antique worth 60 million was fake, the villa was fake, and even Old Hei was fake."

"Black people are fake too? Or were they just a few white people pretending?" Old George couldn't hold back any longer.

"How could that be? Their identities are fake, but their lineage is real. They're just a few internationally wanted criminals. If my men hadn't arrested him, they were planning to go to Genting Highlands in Malaysia to scam other people next," Zhang Ailun explained.

Old George couldn't help but lament the wickedness of human nature. Fortunately, he was primarily focused on making money from ordinary customers and never considered trying to find a bargain, much less go all-in on buying antiques.

Fortune favors the bold, and fortunes can be lost in the same way. Seeing two old friends suffer heavy losses, one going bankrupt, old George couldn't help but consider retirement.

"Wait here, I'll go and get you a receipt." Old George turned around, took the gold, and went back into the hut. He came out shortly after with the receipt and transferred $118,400 to Zhang Ailun's savings card.

He reminded her, "I've already transferred the money; have you checked your account?"

Zhang Ailun had already received the message notification and nodded, "I've received it."

"Coulson's finished," old George sighed again. "Didn't he ask you for money to try and make a comeback? He just vanished into thin air. Did the casino guys chase him down and sink him to the bottom of the sea?"

"No, he's doing just fine. I gave him $500,000 and introduced him to an Indian man whose family owns a casino. He's going to Laredo to develop his business. If he's really capable, he'll probably be able to rise to prominence through the casino soon. Anyway, he's just a nobody right now, and he's got a lot of energy to fight for." Zhang Ailun smiled.

This can be considered an investment, after all, the other party was able to start from scratch and amass a fortune of tens of millions, which already surpasses 99% of people.

Once bitten, twice shy. If this guy succeeds again, he'll probably evolve directly!

The leader needs this kind of talent.

"Laredo isn't a great place; I went there when I was young. But it's a sure way to make money! You can make money in any business there." Old George shook his head.

The two chatted for a few more minutes. When a new customer arrived, Zhang Ailun received a text message from a member of the Beggars' Sect, greeted Old George, and then turned and left.

He drove the Rolls-Royce to the old bridge arch camp to meet the Beggars' Sect disciples, and met the truck driver and Maggie's gang.

Looking at Maggie and his group, Zhang Ailun wondered why they all seemed to have gained weight in the past two days.

Is the food at the mountain campsite really that good?

What do they take the Grand Master's labor camp for?!

With witnesses and physical evidence in hand, Zhang Ailun boarded the car and carefully preserved the original videotape as evidence. He also asked them how they had been these past few days.

"It's great. I hit it off with Dr. Jerry right away, and he even helped me quit smoking. I'll never touch that kind of stuff again," Magee said honestly. "I'm ready to spend a few years in prison for rehabilitation, then come out and be a good person, marry Manny, open a small shop, and live a normal life."

Who is Manny?

Oh, it's Magee's ex-girlfriend, the girl who could fit a fist in her hand and exhale smoke rings while hanging out on the streets.

Zhang Ailun had almost forgotten about this matter and immediately asked the Beggars' Sect disciples if they had taken care of it properly.

The Beggars' Sect disciple replied, "Boss, we helped Magee contact her girlfriend, but she wasn't in Las Vegas; she went to San Francisco. We brought her over and settled her at the mountain camp. She received treatment from Dr. Jerry, which helped her successfully kick her drug addiction, and she's currently in good condition. We're planning to send her to live in a small town and have found her a job. But we still need your funding to help her buy a house."

"How did Jerry manage that? How could he help people quit drugs so easily? Isn't he a psychiatric hospital attending physician? When did he learn the tricks of drug rehabilitation centers?" Zhang Ailun was surprised.

"Because addicts seek both mental and physical stimulation, but Dr. Jerry's injections are 1.7 times more potent than those used for smoking marijuana or drug use, so they lose interest in smoking marijuana or even group sex."

"However, it will take a long time to successfully quit drugs. She currently needs to inject the drug developed by Dr. Jerry every day. After a few months of natural injections, coupled with daily exercise, she will definitely get out of trouble. But it is said that in the early stages, she will also experience morning sickness and the side effects of seeking sexual pleasure and stimulation. After that, she will gradually desensitize and return to the needs of a normal person." The Beggar Clan disciple presented the theory confirmed by Dr. Jerry.

"So this side effect is turning addicts into sex addicts...?" Zhang Ailun was completely stunned, speechless.

Damn, I really can't trust Jerry's research findings too much.

(End of this chapter)