Chapter 6: The Careless Cousins
On the way back, Liang Yao played a cheerful ditty, and he finally gained a valuable piece of land with his words.
Sartre was far more generous than he imagined, leasing him 300 acres, or about 121 hectares of land. Sartre also helped them handle the detailed procedures for naturalization. He still had certain connections in California. These matters
It's not difficult for him.
Although the contract stipulates that the land must be purchased at the price of 1,200 ounces of gold within two years, otherwise Sartre will take back the land. The terms seem very harsh. But Liang Yao can accept that if he cannot earn 1,200 ounces here in two years
Gold, his gold mining journey has come to an end.
The price of one acre and four ounces of land in other places would be absolutely astronomical, but who calls this California? Liang Yao believes that these three hundred acres of land, especially the five acres next to the American River, are worth far more than 1,200 ounces of gold.
"Uncle Cai, there is gold everywhere in California. Why don't you go to the fields to pan for gold? It is more profitable to go to the fields to pan for gold than to do carpentry."
Liang Yao expressed his doubts. He did not understand why Cai Mingsheng, as the first batch of Chinese to arrive in California, did not join the rolling wave of gold rush.
If Cai Mingsheng were to strike for gold, he would have a first-mover advantage and become a 49-year-old miner, or even one of the earlier batch of miners.
Cai Mingsheng smiled bitterly, remembering that past event that he didn't want to recall.
“When I was in Peru, I mined silver day and night for three years in a dark mine. I still have nightmares at night, dreaming that I was buried in the mine and that I was beaten alive by the supervisor.
Death, of course, also dreamed of our hometown Xiangshan.
You have a great talent. I worked for my old employer for four years before I bought thirty acres of land from him. With just these words, you have acquired three hundred acres of land from him. You are a young man."
"I want 1,200 ounces of gold. This Sartre has a really big appetite. And these lands, although they can barely be connected together, there are too few lands next to the American River." Liang Yao felt that there was something wrong with it.
"The land on both sides of the American River is valuable. Although the land of the former employer is large, there is not much land on the American River. It is very rare to be able to give you five acres of land on the American River." Cai Mingsheng pulled the reins.
Slow down the speed of the horses so that the carriage can negotiate the uneven road ahead more smoothly.
"Second uncle, Brother Yao and the others were beaten by Gui Lao!"
As soon as he returned to his house on the outskirts of San Francisco, Liang Yao's good mood was completely gone.
After all, there are still people who cannot resist the temptation of gold and go out to mine gold privately.
"What a worry-free thing!" Deng Yan slapped Deng Wenshun in the face when he came back to report the news: "Did you go shopping in a gold mining area?"
"Brother Yao dug up a piece of gold nugget. Those old ghosts came to snatch the gold we dug for no reason. The piece of gold nugget we dug was half as big as a fist!"
Liang Yao had a straight face and said coldly: "Second uncle, you're going to the mining area, you're late, don't talk about gold, maybe your life will be in the mining area!"
"What are you doing standing there in a daze? Listen to Third Brother and fuck those fucking old men!"
Deng Yan hurriedly called on the remaining Deng brothers to rush to the gold mining area. Liang Yao also hurriedly loaded the flash cap gun, installed the flash cap, and rode on the gun that Cai Mingsheng lent him regardless of the pain in his buttocks and inner thighs.
An old draft horse set off in a hurry.
Muddy sewage, human and animal excrement everywhere, disgusting smell, disorganized tents, chaotic crowds, this is the situation in the gold mining area.
Covered in blood, Deng Wenyao curled up and lay in the filthy mud like a wounded caterpillar. No matter how beaten he was by gold diggers from all over the world, he still tightly protected the nugget of gold in his arms.
Willing to let go.
Among those who were violently violent, Liang Yao vaguely saw a few shadows dragging their pigtails.
Liang Yao did not hesitate, fired a shot into the sky, and then rushed into the crowd with Deng Yan and others, dragging the dying Deng Wenyao up.
Soon, they were also surrounded by a crazy crowd. Fortunately, Liang Yao saved a hand and told Cai Mingsheng to call the police chief of San Francisco. Of course, all this came at a price.
There are more than 10,000 gold diggers near San Francisco. The dozens of mounted policemen in San Francisco can't control them at all, and they don't want to. Many of them have even given up their monthly salary of only
A seven- to eight-dollar job, serving as a gunner for gold mining companies and teams.
Sheriff Flagg brought a dozen armed and murderous mounted policemen, which barely deterred the gold diggers.
Many of these mounted policemen had served in the volunteer force during the Mexican-American War, and had participated in the Mexican-American War three or four years ago. The chilling air exuding from their bodies and the revolvers in their hands attracted the gold diggers.
He took a few steps back involuntarily.
"Your Excellency, Sheriff, I'm very sorry to bother you with such a trivial matter. You should be drinking afternoon tea at this time, not in this dirty mining area. You are really a good and conscientious Sheriff. I have such a good Sheriff like you."
, what a blessing to all the people of California.”
Liang Yao's words made Flege feel like a breath of fresh air. Of course, Liang Yao also knew that his words were not enough to impress Flege, and Flege would not help him just because of his words.
While speaking, Liang Yao had already stuffed the bloody nugget into Flag's free left hand.
No one would refuse gold. It was not because of how much he loved the job that Flagg did not give up his low-paying job and chose to stay in this job like his colleagues.
Flagg knew that the law enforcement power in his hands could sometimes be exchanged for a lot of gold. There was no need for him to gamble his luck and dig out gold himself.
Flagg was very satisfied with the harvest from this trip. For the sake of gold, he rescued Liang Yao and led Liang Yao out of the gold mining area under the eager eyes of the gold diggers.
"This friend of yours is really stupid and bold, or brainless. The miners of San Francisco are more like a group of irrational thugs than miners."
After leaving the gold mining area, Flagg and his men put the Colt five-shot revolver they had been holding tightly into their holsters.
"Even us mounted policemen dare not enter this area easily. Today I risked my life to save your life."
"Chief Flag, is there a reliable doctor in San Francisco?"
Looking at the dying Deng Wenyao, Liang Yao interrupted Flagg. Flagg helped them, but they also gave Flagg gold. Flagg was by no means as noble as he claimed.
"You don't have your own doctor?"
Flagg was a little surprised. Almost every gold mining company and group had its own doctor. Their group actually didn't even have its own doctor, which surprised Flagg.
Liang Yao shook his head helplessly. Not to mention serious doctors, his group didn't even have a wandering doctor who could treat bruises. If he couldn't find a doctor, Deng Wenyao wouldn't be able to live long after he returned.
"Doctors from those gold mining companies will also treat people outside the company, provided you have enough gold or US dollars. But the doctors here are not very skilled. Many so-called doctors are actually just fishing in troubled waters to avoid the $300 investment fee.
Disciple."
Although the U.S. economy has stagnated in the past decade, all industries have been depressed, and the development of the entire American society has entered a bottleneck period. However, doctors are still a very respectable profession in the eastern United States, and there are not many doctors who can give up everything and take risks in California.
As for the three hundred US dollars, it is the investment fee to join the gold mining company. The investment amount can be as small as one or two hundred US dollars, or as large as seven or eight hundred US dollars. The specific investment amount depends on the size and strength of the company and the founder's storytelling level.
Certainly.
Of course, if you are a doctor, you can join any gold mining company and team without paying a cent.
"But you are lucky, Liang, you know me, and I know a doctor with superb medical skills and good medical ethics. The key is that this doctor does not accept gold or US dollars."
Flagg stroked the gold in his pocket and said slowly.
Liang Yao understood what Flege meant, so he gritted his teeth and gave Flege another ounce of gold.
Damn it, I haven't found a single grain of gold since I arrived in California, I just gave it away to others.
"Dr. Charles Robinson of the Boston Company, I will take you to see him."
Flagg, who received the gold, showed a satisfied smile.
Charles Robinson is about thirty years old, with a thin build and a haggard mental state that cannot conceal his harmonious facial features and handsome face.
Although Sheriff Flagg said that this doctor had very good medical ethics and did not accept gold, Liang Yao still gave up his remaining gold for the sake of his cousin's life.
"I don't save people for gold."
Charles Robinson's eyes full of stories just glanced at the gold in Liang Yao's hand indifferently. Then he concentrated on treating Deng Wenyao's wounds.
The value of some people can be measured by gold, while the value of some people cannot be measured by gold.
"The injury is not optimistic. You need to stay here for observation and treatment for at least half a month, or even longer." Charles said after cleaning his blood-stained hands.
"We will leave for Sacramento the day after tomorrow. Dr. Charles has done his best. You can go."
Captain Weber, the leader of the Boston Company, issued an eviction order to them. They could not delay their trip and their gold mining for a stranger.
"We just came back from Sacramento to buy supplies. Maybe we can get together, Captain Weber."
It seemed that Weber did not welcome them, and just as he was about to reject them, Dr. Robinson spoke first: "Let's go together, and we can take care of each other on the way."
Dr. Robinson had a high prestige in the Boston Company. Although the people in the Boston Company seemed to respect Captain Weber on the surface, Liang Yao could see that their admiration for Dr. Robinson was from the bottom of their hearts.
Liang Yao breathed a long sigh of relief. Deng Wenyao's life was half saved. If it weren't for Deng Yan and the other Deng brothers, he wouldn't bother to care about Deng Wenyao's life or death.
Back at their residence, Liang Yao didn't give them a good look. In just a few days, Deng Wenyao and Deng Wenshun regarded the articles of association of the Loyalty Society as waste paper and secretly hid gold. Unless this matter was dealt with seriously, it would be difficult to protect the other Deng Wenshuns.
The brothers do not take the Loyalty Association's charter seriously.
He is very short of manpower right now. Whether it is gold mining or starting a small business, he needs a lot of manpower.
Chapter completed!