I am a local in North America

Chapter 65 After the Bonus Arrives (5300 words, please continue reading!)
Before leaving the law firm, Su Jierui stopped by the glass door, turned to Quinn Hodgson, and asked how the $2000 legal fee would be paid.

The response he received was that the law firm would send the bill to his email address once the transaction was fully completed.

Hearing that there was no need to spend money for the time being, he breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he was short of money right now. He had just prepaid the $6800 registration fee for the bass fishing competition, and he might still need to buy a professional bass boat and various fishing rods. He felt a pang of pain, as this was a considerable expense.

On YouTube, he earned over $5300 today using both new and old videos, and gained over 11000 new followers.

However, the curve representing the flow rate clearly shows that the peak has passed and it is slowly declining, giving the impression that the benefits brought by maritime rescue and container shipping will soon be exhausted in a few days.

Short video platforms like TikTok generate very little advertising revenue from the views themselves; they primarily earn money by accepting commercial advertising orders from the platform.

In contrast, for YouTube, viewers in Europe and America can earn around $10 from watching 1000 long videos.

Viewers in other countries and regions can earn an average of about $2 per 1000 views. However, long videos are difficult to attract viewers, while short videos are more likely to go viral.

Su Jierui's videos had over 500 million views the day before yesterday and over 170 million views yesterday. The old videos he filmed can still generate a steady stream of revenue.

With a large enough fan base and the ability to create viral content, there is actually an opportunity to make a lot of money.

There are many top content creators on YouTube who have achieved financial freedom by becoming internet celebrities. Unfortunately, the reasons for their popularity vary widely, and many content creators follow suit. Only a very few are able to replicate that kind of success.

Thinking about how the director said they had already started working hard to edit the episodes, Su Jierui felt a gentle tickle in his heart, and he was looking forward to the release of Season 7 of "Living Alone in the Wild".

With so many streaming platforms broadcasting at the same time, even if only a small portion of the audience is interested in him, he can still rake in a huge wave of traffic.

He had a premonition that this might be the opportunity for him to truly become an internet sensation, but it might not be enough.

Therefore, he hopes to add a few more tracks to diversify his development, and also wants to take advantage of opportunities like the Bass Bass Fishing Competition to further increase his exposure and earn more eye-catching titles, like rare titles on equipment for game characters, in an attempt to stand out from many other content creators in the same track.

He should try to save money by cutting expenses and looking for more opportunities to make money. Maybe after announcing the discovery of a gold mine, he can use his own money, along with the money from his parents and grandparents, to cover the initial investment for the exploration and development of the gold mine...

……

For the containers in the Aleutian Islands, the lawyer in charge, Layton Verick, is still communicating with the cargo owner and insurance company.

Due to the cross-border nature of the case, coupled with the inefficiency of insurance companies, it will likely be difficult to reach a conclusion in the short term.

Enjoying life quietly, a few more days passed.

On Monday, January 12th, around 11:1 AM, Su Jierui suddenly received a call from the Bass Bass Fishing Competition program team. The girl he had previously spoken to said on the phone:
"Hello, is this Jerry Sue?"

“...It’s me, no doubt.” Su Jierui quickly replied.

The voice continued to come from the other end of the phone:

"We learned this morning with great regret that one of our longtime comrades, a regular competitor, passed away unexpectedly in the hospital the day before yesterday... due to the recent flu. He was an outstanding competitor who won the runner-up title in a bass fishing tournament a few years ago."

"Therefore, Mr. Su, you will be replacing him in position 58. Please arrive at the registration location on January 20th to register. I will send you the specific address and hotel information via email."

"Do you have any other questions?"

Su Jierui's heart skipped a beat. He thought about how there seemed to be a lot of obituaries lately, and considering his sister Arou's speculation, he felt he should be a little more careful when going out these days.

He composed himself, cleared his throat, and immediately asked:
"What equipment do I need to bring? Will the bass fishing boat be provided by the production team, or do I need to provide it myself?"

The girl on the other end of the line remained calm and patient as she explained:

"The equipment list will be detailed in the email. To facilitate the participants' travel, starting with this year's bass fishing competition, we will provide bass fishing boats. Hotel accommodation and meals are also included in the registration fee."

Su Jierui felt the pressure on his shoulders lighten considerably: "Okay, thank you..."

The Bass Bass Fishing Championship is a business. It doesn't make money from the entry fees of the participants. Instead, like "Solo in the Wild," it is recorded as a program and sold to TV stations and video websites around the world. At the same time, fishing tackle and bait brands provide sponsorship.

Upon learning that he wouldn't need to buy a bass fishing boat, Su Jerry felt as if a large sum of money had returned to his pocket. At the same time, travel would become much more convenient, as he wouldn't need to rent a pickup truck or van and drive all the way to Florida.

After hanging up the phone, he belatedly felt a few seconds of regret for contestant number 58 who had to withdraw from the competition, a mix of happiness and a strange feeling.

He whispered to himself:
"I hope some players will withdraw, but I don't want it to be in this way..."

However, he managed to become a substitute and secure a formal entry ticket.

Previously, when Su Jierui searched for related information online, he also found that other members complained that the "Bas Bass Fishing Competition" should be renamed the "Millionaire Bass Fishing Competition".

Because most of the professional competition slots are snapped up by wealthy fishing enthusiasts who have their own small circles and maintain close relationships with the organizers, it is very difficult for ordinary people to get a spot.

That makes sense. Participating in such a competition requires ample time and a one-time registration fee of $6800. While the prize money of $20 for the champion is high, the odds of winning are only 1 in 80.

The average angler wouldn't gamble away two or three months' worth of living expenses; the odds of winning are too low. It's better to take that money to a casino in Las Vegas and have some fun, where the odds of winning are at least a bit higher.

Some netizens have also mentioned that they were ranked first in the candidate list and received a call from a formal participant a few days before the competition started.

The other party stated that if he was willing to pay a reward of $5000, the official contestant would voluntarily withdraw and give him the spot in the competition.

The netizen who posted this was clearly not wealthy. Feeling sorry for the $5000, they didn't choose to pay it. Instead, they angrily exposed the matter online.

After reading it, Su Jierui realized that this incident also suggested that there might be some shady dealings involved, such as scalpers grabbing seats in advance and then reselling them at a premium.

He was willing to pay an extra $5000 to try his luck for the $20 prize, since the odds were very high, but unfortunately the scalpers never called him.

It's okay now; I've already gotten an admission ticket in advance through my connections.

Once he decided to participate in the bass fishing competition in Florida, Su Jerry immediately got busy, checking his email and then burying himself in Amazon to order fishing rods, bait, fishing lines, waterproof clothing, and other equipment.

After comparing several platforms, Su Jierui found that the prices on Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms were cheaper, but the estimated delivery time was longer, which might not be enough to make the delivery in time...

Although Su Jierui is already 23 years old and his sister Arou is 20, the elders in the family are still worried about the two of them.

She's always worried that they won't eat well at home or that no one will help with cleaning, clearly still treating them like children. It's a very happy thing, but it also makes the siblings feel quite helpless, even though they actually do all the things.

On the afternoon of the 12th.

The familiar sound of keys turning came from outside the door. Grandpa and Grandma came over with bags of vegetables and meat to cook dinner for the two siblings.

As soon as Grandma entered the door, she skillfully began assigning tasks, directing their grandfather to sweep and mop the floor. Then, she smiled and said to Su Jierui and Arou:
"Tonight I'll make you braised beef brisket with potatoes, radish and pork rib soup, oyster omelet, stir-fried green peppers and shredded pork with edamame, and two more vegetable dishes. Is that enough for you?"

“We just came from your sister Ah Xin’s place. Little Pipi has really grown up. He actually sat there reading for more than half an hour. He’s not as lively and active as he was when he was little.”

"Time flies, it's like one day in your life you'll hold your little child in your arms for the last time, and then he'll grow up..."

These words would have been very poignant for any parent, but Su Jierui and Arou struggled to grasp their impact. Having only recently grown up, they were eager to begin living their own lives. Su Jierui, with a smile, took the shopping bag from his grandmother and said:

"If Liu Bei had these dishes back then, he wouldn't have needed to visit Zhuge Liang three times; Zhuge Liang would have come on the first visit. Let's make a smaller batch; we probably can't finish it all. I'll prepare the rest for you."

His grandmother quickly waved her hand:
"You don't need to bother. How hard is it to cook a meal? You've lost weight from overwork. Take a break. When does the University of British Columbia start its semester?"

"...It's been more than half a month since I finished, and I've already gained four or five pounds."

Su Jierui took the bag and walked into the kitchen, then said:

“Some people have already gone back to school, but I only have a few months left before graduation, so there’s no need for me to stay at school all the time. I’ll take some time in a couple of days to drive back, and then I’ll prepare my graduation project. I’ll occasionally take some time to discuss it with my professors. I’ve already come up with most of the ideas while I was recording ‘Living Alone in the Wilderness’…”

While I was helping wash and chop vegetables, my phone, which was on the kitchen counter, suddenly vibrated and the screen lit up.

Su Jierui peeked at the screen and saw that a text message showed a transfer of $760,000 to his Citibank savings account.

His hand, which was holding the vegetable leaf, trembled instantly, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"Wow... my prize money has finally arrived! A million-dollar prize, but the organizers withheld 24% in federal taxes, so I've got $760,000 in hand so far!"

Grandpa Su, who was bending over mopping the floor, immediately straightened up upon hearing this, his eyes lighting up, and urged:
"Huh? It's only a little past 4 o'clock, they haven't even gotten off work yet. Don't just stand there, quickly ask your agent to schedule a signing date with the bank!"

“I’ve already taken care of all my asset documentation. I was worried about inconveniencing you these past few days. My friend invited me to his vacation cabin, but I didn’t dare go. It would take five or six hours to drive back, and there’s no airport nearby. It would be too much of a hassle to rush back.”

"If I can finish my work tomorrow or the day after, then I won't delay. I can even take some time to visit the beaver ranch again. Last time I went, it got dark very quickly, and the streetlights weren't working. It was pitch black and I couldn't see anything..."

……

Agent Ariel Connor was also worried that the deal might change, so she arranged a face-to-face interview as soon as possible through her acquaintances at the bank.

The next morning, Su Jerry drove to his grandparents' house to pick them up and headed straight to Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Seattle.

A manager, dressed in a well-tailored suit and with a perfectly styled haircut, was responsible for assessing their eligibility for loans.

The old man's house is worth about $135 million. The couple also has a total of $72 in cash and investment funds, most of which are deposited in Wells Fargo to buy wealth management products and earn interest. In addition, they own the fishing boat "Fuyou" and have excellent credit.

Although Su Jierui's salary slips are currently pitifully low, he has no negative credit history and is still considered a high-quality customer by banks.

Under the manager's guidance, Su Jierui signed the loan and guarantee contracts on the spot, opened an account at Wells Fargo, and transferred the $65 down payment into the new account for temporary supervision. In addition to the previous $5 deposit, the total was $70.

This is equivalent to reducing the down payment to 20%, with a total loan term of 40 years. The transaction is then essentially complete, and all that's left is for the bank to release the funds.

Grandpa Su seemed even more anxious than Jerry Su. Before leaving, he deliberately leaned closer and asked his agent, Ariel Connor:
"Did you ask for us just now how long it would take to complete the entire process, release the loan to the seller, and sign the contract for the property transfer?"

Ariel Connor raised her wrist, glanced at the exquisite women's watch, and replied with a smile:

"Today is Tuesday, and there are three business days left this week. I will urge them to process this transaction as soon as possible. If we are lucky, it may be completed before Friday, and at the latest, it will be finished next week. At that time, I will notify you to complete the transfer registration. The taxes and fees will be around $7, which, as mentioned before, will be borne by the buyer."

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Su turned to look at Su Jerry and asked:

"$7... Do you have enough money here? Or should I help you pay? We'll build a house on your ranch for our retirement, so it's only right that we help you out a little."

Looking at the rapidly shrinking balance in his mobile banking account, Su Jierui finally understood how fast money could be spent. He used to think that $2000 was enough to live a carefree month, but now he felt utterly exhausted.

“I have enough money here for now. Ms. Connor, could we use the key to the Beaver Ranch? I’m planning to take my grandparents there again; they’d like to visit.”

A brief moment of hesitation flashed across agent Ariel Connor's face, before she smiled and said:
“No problem. Other houses might not work, but the beaver ranch… is a special case.”

The situation is indeed special.

Apart from the timber which is somewhat valuable, there's nothing else there; it's essentially a "rough ranch."

……

The visit to the beaver ranch was uneventful.

The only new discovery was when Su Jerry actually entered the gold mine area and unexpectedly found several rather large "dog heads" of gold.

The small ones are about the size of a baby's fist, while the large ones are as big as a plate, with an estimated weight of over ten kilograms!
While it is said to be distributed along the ancient riverbed, most of the gold sand is actually concentrated in the same area.

It appears that countless years ago, this was an erosion pool beneath a waterfall. The water flow eroded the gold veins upstream, carrying gold nuggets and gold dust downstream, making this erosion pool an excellent place to collect gold, containing the largest gold deposit in the vicinity.

As time passed and the world changed, the waterfall almost disappeared, turning into a gently flowing stream. But the gold remained buried underground, and due to its secluded location and the limitations of technology in earlier years, it was never discovered.

This discovery brought considerable surprise to Su Jerry, as the large concentration of gold dust and nuggets greatly reduced the difficulty of mining, making it a type of gold mine with very low mining difficulty.

Gold sands are extracted using only water and washing machines, without the need for chemical refining, resulting in minimal negative impact on the ranch itself and a dramatic reduction in mining and reclamation costs.

If you're willing to spend more time and hire more people, you could even use a gold pan to slowly pan out the gold from the ground in a primitive way.

This means that certain cumbersome procedures can be avoided, and one can avoid being held back by certain difficult environmental protection departments and agencies.

With the beaver ranch almost in hand, Su Jerry inevitably began to consider his next steps. On his way home, he even thought that if he encountered significant obstacles while mining for gold, he would seek help from the "Lancaster family," with whom his family had a close relationship.

This family wields considerable influence throughout Washington state, having produced a congressman and a secretary of state in its history.

The American pilot whom Su Jerry's great-grandfather saved had also climbed to the rank of brigadier general before retiring, but he had already passed away in the early 90s. His descendants, members of the Lancaster family, were mainly busy with business and lived near Queen Hill, a traditional "old money" area in Seattle.

Having lived in Seattle for over half a century, Su Jerry could certainly find some outside help, but it wasn't necessary until he actually encountered trouble.

If the Lancaster family were to actually help, a portion of the gold mine's profits would certainly have to be shared; this is not as simple as "writing a letter of recommendation to the headmaster of a private school."

Jerry's great-grandfather had saved the life of a Lancaster family pilot, who in turn helped Jerry's great-grandfather and grandfather settle in Seattle and provided them with some start-up capital.

Over the years, the old favors that maintained the relationship between the two sides have long been exhausted. By the time of Su Jerry's generation, there was little contact with the younger generation of the Lancaster family, and they could no longer shamelessly bring up the old history.

Grandpa Su and his wife had no idea what their beloved grandson was thinking about. On the way back, he kept planning his new future in his later years and decided to adopt the construction plan of a "heavy wooden house". The main reason was that it would save some money and the labor and decoration costs would not be as high as those of a traditional villa.

After worrying about things for only a short while, Su Jerry stopped worrying about things that hadn't happened yet.

Seeing that his grandparents were looking forward to life after moving to the beaver ranch, and that they said they would find a construction team to do a simple renovation of the lakeside holiday cabin once the transfer of ownership was completed, he felt satisfied with that.

As for how to appease his parents... Su Jierui felt it was better to hide for the time being and leave it to his grandparents and Arou to handle. He had already booked a flight to Florida.

……

(End of this chapter)