North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 127 You Want to Die...! (5,000 words)

Fu Shanxiang, the only female top scholar in five thousand years of history! Although she was the top scholar of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, her knowledge and talent, as well as her stunning beauty, were undeniable!
As the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's Prime Minister, personally appointed by Hong Xiuquan, Fu Shanxiang assisted Yang Xiuqing in handling government affairs at the Eastern King's Palace. Many of the enlightened social reform policies implemented in the early Taiping Heavenly Kingdom originated from Fu Shanxiang!
As the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rapidly degenerated and fell into corruption, Fu Shanxiang also became the Eastern King's personal possession.

In another timeline, after Wei Changhui massacred the Eastern King's Mansion, this unique female scholar, who was the only one to achieve the highest rank in the imperial examinations, disappeared without a trace.

Most likely, he died a horrible death at the hands of Wei Changhui.

However, there are other legends that Fu Shanxiang foresaw Yang Xiuqing's fate and made arrangements for his escape in advance, thus escaping to safety sooner.

However, no matter what, this beautiful and talented female scholar, who was the top scholar in the imperial examination, led a tragic life and only had a few short years during which she briefly displayed her extraordinary talent.

Having reverted to her female identity, Fu Shanxiang gave a slight bow to Azu: "Mr. Li, it was not that I deliberately deceived you! If it weren't for this male disguise, Shanxiang probably wouldn't be alive today!"

That's the truth!
Especially in the crowded and narrow cabins of a ship, after drifting at sea for two or three months, surrounded by strong young men.

It's easy to imagine what would happen if a beautiful and charming woman were to be caught in the middle of these men.

Ah Zu looked the extraordinary woman up and down: "Miss Fu, as I said, here, men and women are treated equally! Especially someone as talented and beautiful as Miss Fu, here, you will surely have the opportunity to show your talents!"

"I have already signed a contract with Huamei Industry, and I am at Mr. Li's beck and call!"

Azu was sizing her up, and Fu Shanxiang was also secretly sizing up the young man in front of her.

Among Chinese people, the young man in front of me is considered quite tall, slightly thin, and of above-average appearance.

But Fu Shanxiang had never seen such demeanor and temperament in this young man in her entire life!

How to put it? It's that kind of elegant demeanor where you have everything under control, yet you also feel like a gentle breeze, and you unconsciously want to get close to him!
"Only someone like this could build such a vast empire on the other side of the ocean in just over a year, right?"

In the days since arriving on the other side, everything here has broadened Fu Shanxiang's horizons.

Here, there are none of the elaborate rituals of the Qing Dynasty, none of the male chauvinism of the Qing Dynasty, and none of the decadent, aging atmosphere of the Qing Dynasty.

Here, everything felt refreshing; the omnipresent vitality and the vibrant atmosphere made her fall in love with everything here.

Including this young boss who made her feel like she was basking in a warm spring breeze!

Azu thought for a moment and said, "Vivian, let Miss Fu join the secretariat as well. Let her be your assistant, so she can learn English from you and get familiar with everything here."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

"And another thing!" Ah Zu added, "Miss Fu, you have been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood and are a learned person. You should also make good use of your strengths!"

Fu Shanxiang's eyes sparkled: "Sir, please just make the arrangements. Shanxiang will do her best!"

Ah Zu said, "Miss Fu is new here, so the job I've assigned you isn't anything complicated."

"Among the Chinese laborers who arrived in this new continent, although men were the majority, there were also quite a few women!"

"Currently, there are over a thousand Chinese women working under our Huamei Industrial Group, and that number will continue to grow. The vast majority of them are illiterate!"

"If they are illiterate, they can only do the simplest and most tiring manual labor, and there is no future development to speak of."

“We organized night schools for those male Chinese laborers. Everyone was required to attend the classes and learn at least 1,500 characters. Only those who could read and write were considered to have successfully completed literacy and were eligible for promotion to higher positions.”

"But the female Chinese laborers were not very enthusiastic about attending night school, and the actual effect of literacy campaigns was not good after a year."

"Therefore, Miss Fu, I hope you can become a female teacher and find a way to help all the female Chinese laborers achieve literacy!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Shanxiang immediately felt a heavy burden on her shoulders!
But the feeling of being valued so much right after arriving is just wonderful!

Therefore, Fu Shanxiang said resolutely, "Mr. Li, I will do my best!"

“Very good!” Azu liked Fu Shanxiang’s attitude of taking the initiative: “The task of literacy education for all female Chinese laborers is arduous. With you, Miss Fu, taking the lead, I will naturally provide you with some assistants.”

"If this matter is accomplished well, it will change the lives of tens of thousands of women. Miss Fu, you will have done a great deed!"

Fu Shanxiang smiled faintly: "If this matter is accomplished, then everything will be arranged by Mr. Li. I dare not take credit for it!"

"Hehe!" Azu smiled and said, "Vivian, take Miss Fu downstairs and make arrangements. Let her stay in your original room!"

Vivian had been living with Azu for a long time, and her original room had been vacant. It would be most appropriate for Fu Shanxiang to move in now.

Vivian winked at Azu: "Okay, Azu!"

After Vivian left with Fu Shanxiang, the knocking sound on the door rang out again soon after.

"Come in!"

Daisy led a tall, thin, and well-mannered young white man into the study.

"Hello, brother-in-law!"

This young man who speaks so fluently is none other than Daisy's genius brother—Jones Moore!
"Pah, don't talk nonsense...!"

Daisy's pretty face instantly turned bright red, and she punched her younger brother hard.

"Sis, didn't you say you wouldn't marry anyone but your brother-in-law? Why are you shy now?"

Jones winked at his older sister with a grin.

"Do you want to die...? When did I ever say that...?!"

Daisy's pretty face turned bright red, and she rained blows on her little brother with her small fists.

"Hehe...!" Azu watched the siblings bickering quietly, and after they finished, he said, "Jones, I heard you didn't even go to Harvard University, but you want to work for me?"

"Hehe!" Jones, ever the friendly fellow, lay on the desk and grinned at Ah Zu, "Going to university is all about making money! What's the point of my four years of university if I can't make a fortune with my brother-in-law?"

“That makes sense!” Azu agreed wholeheartedly. “You can come with me if you want, but what do you want to do?”

"Hehe, I'll do anything my brother-in-law arranges!"

Ah Zu pondered for a moment and said, "I want to start a Huamei Bank. Do you have the confidence to make it happen for me?"

"Bank...? Me...?"

Jones was completely stunned!

"Brother-in-law, I just graduated from a church school, and you want me to start a bank? Even if I dare to agree, are you sure you can trust me?"

He kept calling him "brother-in-law," which made Ah Zu quite comfortable!
"It's not like I'm asking you to handle this alone. You're the general manager, and we're recruiting banking professionals. You'll mainly be responsible for supervision, so you'll learn on the job!"

"Also, I'm assigning Carnegie Jr. to you as your deputy. You two young people, go ahead and do your best!"

"I'm prepared to give you two million dollars in start-up capital. As long as you're bold and hardworking, it doesn't matter if you lose money."

Daisy couldn't help but interject, "Boss, are you really comfortable letting this kid and Carnegie go and run a bank?"

"Why are you worried?" Azu said with a smile.

"But one of them is eighteen and the other is only fifteen, and they have absolutely no idea how to run a bank...!"

Azu smiled and shook his head: "I told them to learn diligently, venture boldly, and work with confidence. As long as these two young people are willing to work and learn, and with the assistance of the professional talents we recruit, I believe they will be on the right track very soon!"

“This…!” Daisy and Jones exchanged a glance, both hesitant.

"It's only two million US dollars in start-up capital. Even if we lose it, it's no big deal. We can just consider it tuition!"

Azu added, "Jones and Carnegie Jr. are both extremely intelligent guys, and I believe they won't let me down...!"

"Beep beep beep...!"

At that moment, the knocking sounded again.

"Come in!"

The person who pushed open the door was none other than Carnegie, who had grown more than half a head taller in the past year!

At fifteen, young Carnegie was at the age where he was growing rapidly, and with the abundant food provided by Huamei Industrial, the boy grew quickly and became very strong.

"Hi, Boss! What do you need me for?"

Over the past year, Carnegie Jr. has been running errands for Azu and has become very familiar with Huamei Industrial. Whether it is people or things, as long as it does not involve secrets, Carnegie Jr. knows most of them very well.

"Of course I need to talk to you about something important!"

So Azu repeated what he had just said.

"Starting a bank...? I'm the deputy general manager...? And the general manager is Jones...?" Like Daisy and Jones, young Carnegie simply couldn't believe his ears!

"But I...I'm only fifteen years old...! Jones is only three years older than me...and we don't know anything about running a bank, do we?"

"Heroes have always emerged from among the young. Although the two of you are only thirty-three years old combined, I believe you are smart enough. As long as you work hard, you will definitely be able to do a good job!"

Ah Zu then changed the subject: "Besides, no one in the entire Huamei Industrial Group knows how to run a bank! Rather than letting others make mistakes, it's better to let you two kids go and try it out. At least you'll learn faster than others!"

"That's true...!"

Jones and Carnegie Jr. nodded at the same time.

"What is it?!" Daisy glared at the two little ones. "If you don't handle this well, see how I deal with you!"

Jones and Carnegie both shrank back at the same time!

"That's settled then!" Azu said. "Little Carnegie, from today onwards, you don't have to follow me around anymore! Jones, you better stop grinning all the time!"

"The general manager and deputy general manager of East West Bank should act like a general manager and deputy general manager!"

"Daisy, allocate them some money and let them dress up nicely, at least to look like bankers!"

"Pfft... two teenage bankers...!" Daisy couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst out laughing.

"Ahem, so what if he's in his teens?" Jones said sternly. "My brother-in-law didn't start his business at eighteen either; he built such a large empire in just over a year!"

"How can you compare to me... to the BOSS?"

"Why can't we compare? I'm taller than my brother-in-law, and I look more mature too!!"

Foreigners grow up so fast. Although Jones is only eighteen years old, he looks about the same age as a Chinese person in their early twenties.

“Alright, alright!” Azu continued, “You can choose any of our vacant properties in California. I’ll give you a month, and I want to see East West Bank open for business!”

"no problem!"

"Besides the headquarters in San Francisco, I want to see all the branches in every town and city in California established within three months!"

"Brother-in-law, we can definitely do it!"

Jones and Carnegie readily agreed, and then the two of them went out arm in arm, beaming with joy.

Watching their retreating figures, Daisy said worriedly, "Boss, isn't it too hasty to entrust such an important task to these two kids like this?"

“We can’t afford to be careless!” Azu shook his head slightly: “We really don’t have any financial talent right now! Jones is good at math, he’s a natural at finance! Carnegie is familiar with the entire Huamei Industrial Group, and although he’s young, he’s exceptionally reliable in his dealings with people and things.”

"Like I said, it's better to let these two kids try things out than to let others make mistakes! If they succeed, that would be great, but if they don't, consider it tuition."

"Now that we've expanded so much, we must seize every opportunity to cultivate talent! Especially Jones and Carnegie Jr., I have high hopes for them."

Daisy was slightly relieved: "So, the boss really gave them two million dollars in start-up capital? Isn't that too much?"

“If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it to be the biggest bank in all of California! Two million dollars isn’t actually a lot for a large bank.”

"But, boss, could you please not spend money so extravagantly?"

Daisy said with a pained expression, "Although we have mountains of dollars and gold in our vaults, the expenses of the entire Huamei Industrial Group are also enormous!"

"The salaries we pay out each month alone amount to nearly a million dollars! And our company is expanding rapidly, with our monthly expenses getting bigger and bigger!"

"If someone like you, BOSS, spends money like water, even filling several vaults wouldn't be enough!"

"Hahaha!" Azu laughed heartily: "Little Daisy, our housekeeper, you're already feeling the pinch of the money spent?"

“Yes!” Dai made no attempt to hide her miserly nature: “You gave Mr. Lincoln and that advisor a full million dollars!”

"During this period, we've spent over three million US dollars on expanding shipyards, pharmaceutical factories, arsenals, machinery factories, smelters, mines, military camps, and building model villages, among other things!"

"Building a bank now will cost another two million dollars!"

Daisy, with a serious expression, said, "Boss, I have to remind you, if it weren't for the gold mine and penicillin, our Huamei Industry would have gone bankrupt long ago!"

"Hehe!" Azu put his hands behind his head and looked at Daisy with great interest: "Little Daisy, my housekeeper, you have to believe me, every penny I spend will generate several times or even dozens of times its value!"

“I don’t believe it!” Daisy said. “At least, I see no value in the millions of dollars that were spent on Mr. Lincoln and that staff officer.”

Azu stood up and stroked Daisy's chestnut hair: "Little Daisy, one day you will see that the million dollars we invested in these two gentlemen was the investment with the highest return!"

"Really?" Daisy was a little incredulous.

"Of course it's true. When have I ever missed it?"

"Furthermore, we will continue to invest in these two gentlemen!"

"Little Daisy, whether it's dollars or gold, they're just symbols of wealth! And wealth is nothing more than a symbol of material possessions and power!"

“Plain dollars and gold, which cannot be eaten or drunk, are actually worthless when piled up in vaults!”

"Only by transforming them into the material and power we need can their true value be realized!"

Azu continued, "The million dollars spent on those two gentlemen was actually a conversion of wealth into power."

"Power brings us more wealth! Of course, power itself is also a kind of wealth! Without power to match our wealth, we can't hold onto any amount of dollars and gold!"

"Do you understand what I'm saying, little Daisy?"

"Oh...!" Daisy seemed to understand but not quite, after such a long and convoluted passage. Then, she naturally buried her head in Azu's chest and said with exceptional tenderness, "My BOSS, whatever you say is right!"

Azu lifted Daisy's head and kissed her deeply once again!
“Hmm…!”

Daisy's delicate body tensed up instantly.

After a passionate kiss, Daisy's body went limp, and she clung to Azu.

"Boss, you...you, Vivian, Victoria, Monica, are...are you all together?"

Daisy pressed her burning face against Azu's chest, and wrapped her arms tightly around Azu's waist.

"Hmm...how did you know?"

"I knew it! The way they look at you has changed!"

"Why is it different?"

"They all look at you like they're looking at their own man! But... I...!"

As she spoke, Daisy's tears began to flow without her realizing it.

"But, Boss, don't you like me?"

"How could that be? My little Daisy is my favorite!!"

"You're lying!" Daisy's tears soaked Azu's clothes. "You clearly liked Vivian the most, then Victoria, Yuma, and Monica, and lastly, lastly, I came... Otherwise, why didn't you want me?"

"I'm afraid your old man will beat me up!"

"How could that be! My father dreams of marrying me off to you as soon as possible...!"

"Really?"

"of course it's true!"

“But your whole family are devout Baptists, and according to doctrine, polygamy is absolutely forbidden!”

“Boss, don’t you know?” Daisy raised her tearful eyes.

"what do you know?"

"I...I have converted to the Mormon Church!"

"Huh?" Azu was taken aback: "You really converted?"

"Um……!"

"Then what are we waiting for!" Azu breathed a sigh of relief: "We want...we want it now...!"

(End of this chapter)