In August 1882, the cloud of war once again enveloped the world.
A crisis involving multiple major powers is unfolding in Cuba, and in other parts of the world, people are preparing for war.
Humanity's fragile peace seems about to be shattered.
However, for the vast majority of ordinary people, they may see the crisis of war, but for them, no matter whether the war breaks out or not, they have to live day by day.
For some people, war means new opportunities.
A heavy rain last night made the streets of Daxing, a seaside city, cleaner. The refreshing golden morning sunshine shone on the balcony windows.
In the bathroom, the hot water sprayed from the shower pipe raised up mist. After a simple wash, Li Pingcai wiped the mirror with his hand, and then his eyes fell on the newspaper - Revenge! In the name of the empire!
When he saw this news, he thought thoughtfully for a while before walking out of the bathroom.
From the half-open window came the sounds unique to the community in the early morning: the crisp ringing of bicycles, the chatter and laughter of housewives queuing up to buy the first batch of freshly baked bread, the laughter of children, the footsteps of the crowd, and the delivery of milk.
and the sound of three-wheel pickup trucks unloading the morning newspapers...
There are all kinds of sounds that are common in all communities here at 6 o'clock in the morning.
"Honey, don't you want to eat a little more?"
Catalina asked when she saw that her husband had already eaten the eggs.
"Just a glass of milk, a piece of bread and an egg. And I like to eat your boiled eggs."
Li Pingcai said while peeling the hard-boiled eggs.
"The eggs are always hard-boiled at home."
"Actually, it's very simple. Boil the eggs in hot water for 3 minutes to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. The trick is to gently put the eggs into the hot water with a spoon to avoid them from colliding with the bottom of the pot and causing cracks.
"
Katerina said with a smile.
"But you can't eat it right away at this time. After it cools down, the egg white has completely solidified, and the yolk will be naturally half-cooked and runny..."
When Catalina explained the technique of boiling eggs, Li Pingcai just listened with a smile. She was from the local upper class, and her family owned a farm of tens of thousands of acres outside the city.
Of course, like many upper-class families in Montevideo, or Daxing, they will find a Chinese husband for their daughter. He should preferably be an army officer or a good civil servant. A businessman like him, well,
It is also a good marriage partner.
This is a very common phenomenon in the Ming Empire. Many Spanish families maintain their traditional status and wealth by marrying Chinese military officers and civil servants. The empire's top officials have always been happy to see this happen. After all, this kind of integration is beneficial.
ruling.
A Spanish upper class that accepts the rule of the Ming Dynasty and is willing to integrate into the Ming Dynasty is beneficial and harmless to the rule of the empire. Moreover, this is also a transfer of wealth and social status. As conquerors, the Ming Dynasty people are in this process.
Became the owner of wealth.
The world itself is like this, and in the end the conqueror will get everything...
After finishing breakfast and saying goodbye to his wife, Li Pingcai drove to the factory - the Alfonso Iron Factory, which was once located in the city, built a new factory outside the city two years ago. The new factory has a larger building and even more machines.
There are more than 300 units.
As soon as the car drove into the factory, the roar of the machinery could be heard. After parking the car, Li Pingcai went directly to his father's office.
The worker who worked in Yingtian back then has now become the boss of Xingye Iron Factory, and Xingye Iron Factory is the largest private iron factory in Daxing and even Hebei.
"Here comes Pingli."
Seeing his son come in, Li Tieliang smiled.
"You're here just in time. Let me show you the new product of our factory. This is..."
"Dad, have you read the newspaper?"
While talking, Li Pingcai put the newspaper in front of his father.
After looking at the front page of the newspaper, Li Tieliang frowned and said.
"Is it the "Cuban Crisis" again? It's really a good life, but what kind of war are we fighting!"
Dad's words made Li Pingcai smile.
"Dad, if there had been no war, what would have happened to our Li family today!"
Yes, without the war, there would be no Xingye Iron Factory today - its predecessor, the Alfonso Iron Factory, was an enemy property disposed of by the military. The Li family "rented" this factory for almost no money.
.
"Why……"
His son's words made Li Tieliang sigh.
"Aren't I worried about your brother? If your brother is safe, he is in the navy and on the ship. If there is a fight, he..."
Li Tieliang pursed his lips and did not continue. He touched the "service badge" on his chest, as if he was praying for God's blessing in his heart.
Thinking of his eldest brother who was serving on a navy warship, and looking at the worry on his father's face, Li Pingcai said.
"Brother will definitely be safe. Dad, what I want to tell you is that since there is going to be a war, the market demand for steel will definitely be more in the future. You see, after we conquered Brazil, in just a few years, the steel output
It’s doubled and a half. Steel is needed everywhere in new railways and municipal governments. Now is a good opportunity!”
Li Tieliang looked up at his son and said in surprise.
"You mean setting up a steel plant?"
"Yes, it's a steel plant. The most profitable business right now is still a steel plant!"
His son's words made Li Tieliang take a breath.
"I'm talking about Pingcai. You can get a lot of money from setting up a steel factory. Our family doesn't have such a big family property."
Although in the past few years, the Li family has long been in trouble, but if you can build a steel plant... how much money will it cost!
"If you don't have any money, go borrow it."
"Our new factory still owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in loan from the bank."
Li Tieliang shook his head repeatedly and said.
"You can't take this step too big. If you take a big step, it will be easy..."
"If you don't take bigger steps, how can you run faster?"
Sitting in front of his father, Li Pingcai said.
"There are many people in Daxing who are willing to invest in factories. Based on the reputation of our Xingye Iron Factory, as long as we set up an iron factory, there will definitely be people willing to invest in it. I have asked someone to calculate that to build an iron factory with an annual output of 100,000 tons, the total investment will be only about
1.2 million yuan, of which about 700,000 yuan is needed to buy equipment. Our family will first provide 100,000 yuan, and then raise 600,000-700,000 yuan in equity. After the factory starts construction, we will use the factory to borrow 500,000 yuan from the bank, which will be enough to turn the steel plant into a whole.
It’s done…”
Looking at his son talking freely in front of him, Li Tieliang felt a little uncomfortable. What this son thought and did was beyond his comprehension.
"Dad, the net profit from one ton of steel is about 10 yuan right now. A 100,000-ton iron plant can make millions in profit in a year! It only takes one year to almost recoup the capital!"
Looking at his father, Li Pingcai said a little excitedly.
"Last time we didn't have the capital and missed the opportunity in vain. Now that the opportunity has come again, we can't miss it again!"
"This this"
Faced with his son's wild thoughts, Li Tieliang thought about it in his mind for a while and hesitated.
"You have to think about this. What can you do with this technology? We are all amateurs in ironmaking."
"Dad, it's such a big factory now. It's not just a workshop like in the past. You can't make anything by yourself!"
Li Pingcai put his finger on the newspaper and said.
"We just recruit directly. Even if the domestic workers go to big factories, we will go abroad to recruit."
This chapter has been completed!