America 1869: A Doppelganger Every Day

"Chang Sheng, everyone who could leave has already left. We've only been here for a few months, paid off the fare, and we don't have enough money to go back home, or even to other countries. We can only stay in the west."

"I heard from the villagers who stayed that those who stayed either had to find their own way to make a living or join those farms or mines."

"However, making a living on our own is very dangerous. People from our Great Qing Dynasty are very ostracized here. Of course, the most crucial thing is that we have no money, so even if we have skills, it's useless."

"However, farms and mines are not good options either."

"The people here don't treat us like human beings at all; they treat us like slaves."

"Whether it's a farm or a mine, you have to be prepared to be suppressed and bullied."

"Relatively speaking, mining is very dangerous, but if you grit your teeth and persevere for about six months, you should be able to earn enough money to return home."

"But I'm not satisfied with this."

"If you come out and do nothing, and instead slink back home in disgrace, won't you be laughed at to death?"

"Although farms are not very dangerous, they don't earn much money either. If you really go to a farm, you probably won't have a chance to leave for three to five years."

"In my opinion, why don't we go to the mine and give it a shot?"

"If we can hold on for a year or two, we'll be able to return home in glory."

"I'll never come to this awful place again."

1869, April 6.

Sacramento, California, the terminus of the Pacific Railroad.

The last batch of railway workers who came from the Qing Dynasty couldn't return home because their working time was too short and they didn't earn much money. They also didn't have the money to travel to other countries.

They only had two choices left.

One option is to join a farm, and the other is to join a mine.

Of course, there is a third option.

"Hey, Chinamen, I'm a new rancher. If you're willing to come with me to develop my new ranch, I can pay you $15 a month each. But obviously, there are conditions to my higher pay than other ranchers."

"This salary will not be paid until after next autumn's harvest."

"Of course, I can cover your food and lodging during this process."

The speaker was a white man.

Although the other party was speaking English, there were actually a few people in this group who could speak English.

Even if they can't speak, they can understand the general meaning.

Besides the group of dozens of laborers who had only been here for a few months, there were also dozens of laborers who had been here for one or two years. The reason they hadn't made a choice was also because they didn't have any money.

However, compared to the laborers who have only been here for a few months, the reason they have no money is because of health reasons or because they have sent all their money back to their home countries.

A few of them who could understand English quickly translated for everyone.

The young man who had just spoken shook his head and said.

"Isn't this just getting something for nothing?"

"I don't believe they owe me more than a year's worth of wages. If you believe me, then go ahead and go with me. I'm not going."

"Chang Sheng, why don't you come to the mine with me?"

Li Changsheng smiled and shook his head as he spoke.

"No."

"The mine is too dangerous."

"I think I'll go to the farm instead."

"Other farms might only give you $12 at most, and some might only give you $10 or $8."

"Although it will take more than a year for this $15 salary to arrive, it's still better than the others."

"Most importantly, he provides food and lodging, so at least I don't have to worry about food and lodging for the time being."

As Li Changsheng spoke, he walked towards the white man.

The young man's expression froze, and he looked around at the people.

"You guys don't believe that either, do you?"

Fortunately, three people stood behind him, indicating that they did not believe him.

The rest of the people all followed Li Changsheng.

On the other side, more than half of the dozens of people also walked toward the white man.

Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, Li Changsheng exchanged a few words with the other party in fluent English.

Then he turned to look behind him at the expectant Chinese laborers.

"This is Mr. Grant. He is telling the truth and is willing to sign a contract with us. Mr. Grant immigrated from Europe."

"But Mr. Grant has become a full U.S. citizen and has acquired thousands of acres of land under the Homestead Act."

"We only need to help him cultivate the land and start planting, and we will receive a corresponding salary."

"Of course, the initial living conditions may be somewhat poor, and we will need to work together to meet them."

"But Mr. Grant also said that as long as we can help him open up the land, he can hire us at the current price for a long time."

"Dog Egg is right. We can't make money on other farms, and going to the mine is dangerous. We might as well take a gamble."

"Those who want to come along, please come with me."

The people who had just walked over all followed behind.

Dog Egg and his group hesitated for a moment, too ashamed to follow, and stayed where they were.

However, after this incident spread, some people who originally wanted to leave stayed.

Sure enough, white men came to recruit Chinese laborers on the second, third, and fourth days. By the fifth day, Gou Dan and his men had left with these white men one after another.

After getting off the railway, hundreds of Chinese laborers who had not found work were all taken away by five white men.

When they met again, they discovered that the five white men had chosen apprentices who were sitting right next to each other.

What they didn't know was that these five white men were now gathered together.

With them was another person, Li Changsheng, who spoke fluent English.

Opposite them, another white man, was another person.

The white man held a contract and placed it in front of the six people.

"You five have a total of 800 acres of land. I can decide to give you $1000 as collateral, using the future ownership of all your land as collateral."

"But in five years, you will need to pay me back $3000. If you can't pay it back, you will have to hand over all the land to me."

"If you are unable to continue operating the land during this process, you can also hand over the land to us in advance for your management, in accordance with the supplementary terms."

"In either case, this money can be wiped out."

"Of course, if you refuse to comply with the contract, we also have the right to hold you accountable."

"If you agree, then sign it."

Without hesitation, the five people signed their names, took their contracts, and left with Li Changsheng.

After they went outside, the six of them went to a secluded corner, and then a new white man appeared out of nowhere.

Li Changsheng handed over one hundred US dollars to the other party.

"Take this 100 yuan, first obtain American citizenship, and then take a ship to the Qing Dynasty."

"In my memory, I still have quite a few family members."