Chapter 68: Loss-Making Business (Updated! Please Give Me a Monthly Pass!)

“How many laborers do you need?”

Liang Yao asked how many workers Vanderbilt needed. He was now eager to immigrate more workers from the Qing Dynasty.

Since Vanderbilt was interested in recruiting some Chinese workers, he was also happy to do this favor for Vanderbilt, and it was a convenient favor.

"one thousand."

After thinking briefly, Vanderbilt came up with what he thought was a bold number.

Based on his inspections in San Francisco these days, he roughly estimated the number of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco to be around 5,000.

His number is already one-fifth of the number of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco.

"If you don't have one thousand, you can have seven or eight hundred people. I will find a way to fill the remaining labor gap myself."

Vanderbilt added immediately.

"Compared to your huge project, one thousand laborers are too few. How about two thousand young and strong laborers?

Within eight months, I will bring you 2,000 young and capable laborers, but it will only cost Mr. Vanderbilt a few more trips to the immigration office. "Liang Yao reported a number that made even Vanderbilt dumbfounded.

Recruiting two thousand workers in eight months? Vanderbilt couldn't believe this number.

"Are you really sure you can recruit two thousand workers within eight months? If possible, my project in Nicaragua will start early next year." Vanderbilt said incredulously.

"If you don't trust me, we can sign a contract. If I fail to perform, I will fully compensate you for your losses. There are only two conditions." Liang Yao said.

"What two conditions?"

When Liang Yao talked about this, Vanderbilt also knew that he was fully confident.

"The first condition is that you need to draft an employment contract for the workers and show it to me, including the employment period, their salary and other issues, so that I can send someone back to recruit workers with your contract."

"no problem."

"The second condition is that I need large steamships. As you know, my global shipping company only has a few merchant ships of several hundred tons, and only two of them are steamships, and they are relatively old steamships. These ships There is no way to safely cross the Pacific to reach Qing Dynasty.”

Liang Yaotu showed up and asked Vanderbilt for a steamboat.

"You promised that as long as I give up the shares of your shipping company, you will give me corresponding compensation. If you want compensation, please compensate me for the four steamships parked in San Francisco Port.

As far as I know, with the exception of the James Day, the other three steamships cost no more than two hundred thousand dollars, and the share you promised me was worth much more than that. After careful calculation, you still made a lot of money. "

Vanderbilt looks towards the Port of San Francisco, and the excellent location of Tingtao Garden offers a panoramic view of the entire San Francisco Bay.

Four large steamships of more than 1,000 tons stand out in contrast to the small ships of several hundred tons in the port.

Liang Yao was right. Except for the James Day, which was positioned as a luxury liner and cost as much as 250,000 US dollars, the other three steamships were both passenger and cargo steamships, and their costs were not high. They were all under 10 US dollars. About fifty to sixty thousand dollars.

"Are you sure? Since you know the cost of steamships, I think you should know that the total cost of these four ships is only more than 700,000 US dollars, and the shares I promised you are worth more than 1.5 million. Dollar!"

Vanderbilt said incredulously.

"Sure, for the remaining price difference, I will place shipbuilding orders directly at your and your friend's shipyards."

If Liang Yao hadn't been in a hurry to use the ship, he wouldn't have made a loss-making deal with Vanderbilt.

"I can't compensate you for the James Day. I need to take it to Nicaragua. I can compensate you for the remaining three steamships now, but what about the crew on them?

Do you have enough crew to sail these steamships? Training skilled crew members and captains is a hassle and takes time. "

Vanderbilt spoke out about his concerns.

"They will sign a new employment contract with me and become employees of Universal Shipping Company. Mr. Vanderbilt, I don't think you would mind if I poach you?"

The problem that Vanderbilt is worried about is also the problem that Liang Yao is worried about.

He bought Vanderbilt's ship just because he was in a hurry, and he couldn't afford to wait for the time to train the crew. The best way was to package and hire the crew together with the ship.

"As long as you agree to one condition, it'll be fine."

Vanderbilt's captains and sailors were some of the best in the business, and it would be harder to give up these crews than his own ship.

In this regard, he also made his request.

"You said it." Liang Yao said.

"About my unfulfilled son Coney, he has always been a worry for me." Vanderbilt confided his feelings to Liang Yao, "I'm worried that after my death, the Vanderbilt family will have no heirs. Decline, so I want Kony to practice by your side and learn something from you.”

Vanderbilt paused and continued.

"I am not negotiating business with you as a businessman, but as a father. I haven't begged anyone for a long time. I hope Kony can change his ways and regain his direction in life."

Vanderbilt's voice grew quieter, perhaps feeling a little embarrassed to beg a young man less than half his age.

Poor parents in the world, the Vanderbilt family has indeed not been able to escape the curse of being rich for only three generations.

Among the second generation members of the family, the second son Coney had no future and the younger son George Washington died in the Civil War. The eldest son William Henry later showed his talent in business and pushed the Vanderbilt family to glory. peak.

But this is just a reflection of the past. After William Henry's death, the Vanderbilt family fell into a state of having no successors. No one in the third generation of the family could carry the family's backbone, and the Vanderbilt family finally became gilded. Times are fading rapidly.

In terms of family education, the Rockefeller family has done far better than the Vanderbilt family. The family has survived six generations of ups and downs, breaking the curse of being rich for only three generations.

"It's okay to let Kony stay with me, but how do you plan to let Kony stay with me? As my employee or as my partner?" Liang Yao asked.

"Become your employee." Vanderbilt thought about it seriously and said, "Maybe as peers, you should have more in common. Although I like to beat him, I also know that he won't do it. The only thing that can change my mind is to vent my anger and emotions.”

Vanderbilt finally decided to let the second son of the Vanderbilt family work for Liang Yao, which would also put more restraints on Kony.

"As long as you can convince him to sign an employment contract, I have no problem with that."

As he said this, Liang Yao took out a piece of white paper from his desk.

"Don't worry, I will definitely be able to convince him."

Vanderbilt stretched his muscles and said confidently.