Chapter 34: Heaven is unjust, I will translate
As usual, Elizabeth was in her home, leaning against the window to read a book quietly in the sunlight, and occasionally writing something on it with a pen. Suddenly, there was the sound of wheels and horse hooves outside the door, and she immediately put down her pen and account book.
Looking up, I saw Zhu Xianhai getting out of the car. These days, he always goes out early and comes back late, rarely at home, and no one knows what he is busy with.
After thinking for a while, she took a deep breath, opened the window and said.
"Hey, Steven, are you free tonight?"
What?
Looking up at Elizabeth, half of her body sticking out from the window, Zhu Xianhai felt that this scene seemed a little familiar, as if he had seen it in Water Margin.
Is this a date?
No, this is just normal interaction between neighbors. According to Elizabeth, this is just her way of expressing her feelings as a neighbor.
All right!
Don't think too much.
Although it was just dinner for two, it was very sumptuous, and red wine was also indispensable. Eating steak and drinking red wine with a beautiful woman by your side was indeed a pleasure.
Elizabeth was sitting opposite him, facing each other across the table. Her faint fragrance always filled his nose involuntarily.
But recently, Zhu Xianhai's mind has been a little confused, and there is nothing he can do.
More than a thousand people need to be settled!
Lights, lights flickering in the restaurant.
Staring at the dim light, Zhu Xianhai was distracted again.
Oil lamp!
Electric lights had not yet been invented in this era, and the whole world was using oil lamps. What is the most commonly used thing now?
Whale oil, of course.
Since the founding of the United States, the whaling industry has developed rapidly due to the demand for lighting. The commercial value of whale blubber is comparable to "bio-oil", which directly promoted the development of the US economy. Now it has reached its golden age - a fleet of more than 700 whaling ships crisscrosses the ocean, and American whale oil illuminates the world.
As the demand for whale oil gradually increased, the supply of whale oil became increasingly tight. The outbreak of the Civil War next year would become a catalyst for the skyrocketing price of whale oil in the United States. Since a large number of ships were requisitioned for war or transportation of logistical supplies during the Civil War, and private owners in the southern United States plundered and destroyed many unrequisitioned whaling ships, the number of fishing boats available for whaling was greatly reduced. The supply of whale oil became increasingly tight and almost unsustainable, and the price of whale oil rose wildly. To the point that many people could not even afford lighting facilities such as whale oil lamps.
It was at this time that a new business of extracting kerosene from petroleum to replace sperm whale oil for lighting came into being and quickly became popular.
The use of kerosene increased rapidly in the following years, which led to the rapid development of the oil extraction and refining industry. It was during this process Rockefeller, the world's first billionaire, emerged!
And now...the oil industry is just beginning!
If he gets involved in the oil industry now, not only will he be able to make money without any loss, he can even build an oil empire.
It is so easy to settle more than a thousand people.
But it certainly won’t work at the beginning!
Elizabeth looked at the man in front of her, and her woman's intuition told her that this man was a little absent-minded today.
Did I do something wrong?
"Steven, Steven, what are you thinking about?"
Elizabeth tilted her pretty face slightly to the side and asked with concern.
Only then did Zhu Xianhai realize that he had been distracted for who knows how long.
"Excuse me, I'm thinking about something."
"Are you in trouble? Can you tell me about it?"
Staring at her beautiful eyes, Zhu Xianhai wanted to hide it, but after thinking it over, he told the truth.
"Oh my God, these are not indentured laborers. Even if they were Brazilian slaves, they wouldn't have to suffer such torture. Damn those Brazilian slave owners!"
Elizabeth added, accusing Brazilian slave owners of cruelty.
"Anyone with a conscience in the Americas is well aware of the crimes of the Brazilian slave owners, but those people simply ignore them. Do you want to save them? How do you save them?"
"Um……"
Zhu Xianhai paused and said.
"It should be to buy out their contracts. If they don't want to, maybe we can resolve it through legal channels."
Of course, this is impossible. If the law is effective, what is the use of guns?
An eye for an eye, blood for blood!
"Let's hope that Brazilian judges still have a shred of conscience."
Elizabeth said somewhat uncertainly.
"But you have to be prepared. Those judges may not support you. In South America, everyone knows Brazilians very well. Brazil cannot do without slaves . Even until now, they still capture indigenous people in the rainforest as slaves. They have not banned or abolished slavery because of the lack of labor, especially ten years ago, in 1850, when Brazil announced the ban on the slave trade under pressure from international public opinion. The lack of subsequent slave labor has exacerbated the labor shortage in Brazil. Therefore, they can only do everything possible to introduce foreign immigrant labor to fill the vacancies. I think your compatriots are such victims. In this case, their judges may find it difficult to support your prosecution. What are you going to do then?"
Putting down the red wine glass in his hand, Zhu Xianhai was silent for a while, then spoke.
"If the law can't solve this problem, I think I will take measures outside the law. I think no one has the right to enslave others. If God doesn't stop them - then I will!"
"Even if it means sacrificing your own life, right?"
Zhu Xianhai didn't say anything. He hadn't even simulated it until now. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he didn't dare to face the result. He was afraid that he would back down because of the result .
Elizabeth smiled sweetly, and there was a bit more admiration in her eyes when she looked at Zhu Xianhai. Women love to fantasize, especially European women. They always imagine a perfect man like a knight, and Elizabeth is no exception.
And this knight must of course punish the good and promote the evil, and defeat evil.
The slave traders are definitely the evil ones. In contrast, Zhu Xianhai is naturally the knight. Although he knows that the opponent is strong, he still challenges the opponent regardless of everything, just for justice!
"Actually, compared to my own life, what I'm more concerned about now is what to do after rescuing them? There are so many people, where should I settle them..."
With his brows furrowed, Zhu Xianhai said helplessly.
"If this problem is not solved, what can we do even if we save them? Are they just going to die there?"
