Chapter 54: Chapter Fifty-Three: Buying a Ship

Jie Ke didn't expect Su Qing to say that, and for a moment he was dazed, while Fabuliaoqi immediately reacted, incredulously asking: "Really?"

Su Qing nodded, saying nothing.

Seeing this, Fabuliaoqi blushed and nodded repeatedly: "Willing, we are willing to work for you." Having seen Su Qing's generosity, he was wholeheartedly willing.

After saying that, he kept giving his good brother Jie Ke meaningful looks.

But Jie Ke seemed not to notice, looking at Su Qing with a serious expression and asking: "Why us?"

Su Qing smiled slightly and explained: "Although our time together has been short, I can see that you are both kind people, and I appreciate that."

"Thank you!" Jie Ke fell silent for a moment, then shook his head and politely declined: "I don't plan to stay in Dayingguo, so I might not be able to work for you."

"You..." Upon hearing this, Fabuliaoqi beside him looked at Jie Ke with frustration, not knowing what to say.

"Who told you the workplace is in Dayingguo?" Su Qing said with a surprised expression: "I'm going to Yingguo, and as my employees, you naturally need to come with me."

Saying this, he seemed to think of something and smiled: "Don't worry, before leaving I'll give you 20 pounds as a settlement allowance."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jie Ke immediately changed his attitude, eagerly standing up and saying: "I am willing to work for you."

Fabuliaoqi also stood up, his expression excited, and replied: "I am willing too."

Seeing this, Su Qing stood up to calm them, had them sit down again, and said: "In that case, from now on you are my employees."

After a while, the two finally composed themselves.

Jie Ke couldn't help but ask: "Su... boss, what does our company do?"

"Not certain yet!" Su Qing shook his head and drank the wine in his cup.

"Not certain?" Jie Ke was a bit dazed, what does "not certain" mean, you as a boss actually don't know, are you joking?

Su Qing waved his hand to interrupt Jie Ke's thoughts, saying: "Alright, stop thinking about it, I have something I want to ask you!"

"What is it?" Jie Ke gathered his thoughts and said.

"Do you know where to buy a ship?" Su Qing said, adding: "Not a small fishing boat, but a large cargo ship."

Jie Ke nodded and smiled: "You've asked the right person; I and Fabuliaoqi were working at the port three days ago and happened to hear someone selling a ship, which turned out to be a cargo ship."

"Yes, that ship is huge, we saw it with our own eyes." Fabuliaoqi wanted to impress the boss, immediately stood up and patted his chest: "If you're interested, I and Jie Ke can get in touch!"

"Okay." Su Qing nodded in agreement, then took out two pounds from his pocket and handed them over, saying: "Now that you work for me, you can't dress so casually; here, take this to buy a proper outfit."

"Thank you, boss." Fabuliaoqi smiled as he took it, feeling more and more that he had indeed followed the right person.

"It's getting late today; you can contact them tomorrow." Su Qing glanced at the sky and turned his head, asking: "Is there an inn nearby?"

Jie Ke stood up and said: "Yes, we'll take you there now..."

Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was the next morning.

Su Qing washed up, packed, and carried his luggage downstairs.

Just as he reached the lobby, he saw that Jie Ke and Fabuliaoqi were already there.

At this time, they had changed their attire, no longer in coarse linen clothes but in a smart suit, looking energetic.

"Boss, we've already made contact." Jie Ke saw him and immediately stepped forward, saying: "We've arranged to meet at ten in the morning."

"Alright, have you had breakfast?" Su Qing nodded and asked.

"Not yet!" Fabuliaoqi interjected.

Su Qing waved his hand: "Then let's go together!"

After a simple, hearty breakfast, the three went to the agreed-upon port and met the cargo ship's owner.

He was a middle-aged man with white-streaked hair and dark skin, his complexion somewhat sallow, his eyes bloodshot; upon seeing Jie Ke and the other, he said: "You've come!"

"Mr. Fedeli, this is our boss; he wants to buy your cargo ship." Jie Ke said quickly.

Fedeli nodded, perked up, and looked at Su Qing enthusiastically: "Are you sure you want to buy my ship?"

"Certain, but before buying I want to see your ship with my own eyes." Su Qing said.

Fedeli immediately said: "Of course, follow me."

Under his guidance, the three quickly reached a corner of the port and saw the cargo ship for sale.

The cargo ship's exterior looked well-maintained, with no signs of rust or peeling paint, showing that its owner surely took good care of it; the hold is huge, enough to fit one or two basketball courts.

Fedeli caressed the hull as if stroking a lover, introducing: "I bought this ship five years ago; it can carry 150 tons of cargo, and I usually cherish it, spending a lot of money each month on maintenance, the engine..."

At the end, his face showed a pained expression: "If it weren't for the company's bankruptcy, I wouldn't want to sell it!"

"Then, how much are you asking for it?" Su Qing estimated that the ship's 150-ton capacity could easily hold over a thousand adults, so he was quite satisfied and asked.

"Twenty thousand pounds, no negotiation." Fedeli said without hesitation.

A skilled worker earns only ten pounds a week, so twenty thousand pounds is not cheap; Su Qing shook his head.

Fedeli's heart tightened; he hated to sell the ship, but his debts were pressing so hard he could barely breathe.

This month alone, this is the fourth time someone has come to view the ship; all previous attempts failed because of the twenty-thousand-pound price.

If this attempt fails too, he'll be devastated.

"Eighteen thousand pounds, that's my lowest price." Fedeli gritted his teeth and said: "Otherwise I'd rather not sell."

Su Qing pondered for a moment and nodded: "That'll do, since I've taken a liking to this ship! However, I have a condition: I'm going to Yingguo and need to hire a captain and some related personnel to sail the ship there."

"Well..." Fedeli felt a wave of relief, seeing that the deal was shaping up, but he didn't immediately agree, instead hesitating: "I am the ship's owner, with very rich sailing experience, and the ship's former crew are still around; if you don't object, we could hire ourselves, with wages possibly a bit lower."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing fell silent.

Fedeli beside him showed a pleading expression; the company's bankruptcy left him in debt, and his former crew had also lost their jobs, their lives now being very difficult, desperately needing work to support their families.

"Alright, let's settle it like that. Wages will be reduced by ten percent from what you previously had." Su Qing said.

Fedeli immediately rejoiced: "No problem, boss, completely fine."

After settling everything, things went very smoothly thereafter.

Together they went to the notary office in the city, the two signed the contract, and Su Qing paid the pounds on the spot.

When leaving the mansion, Selinna had prepared thirty thousand pounds for Su Qing, plus some jewelry; even after spending eighteen thousand pounds, a large amount remained.

After settling the ship's matter, Su Qing relaxed as well.

First I went to see Fedeli's crew members, then I confirmed the departure time with Fedeli, and then I stayed all day at the inn waiting.

Time flew by, and soon it was April 10, the date of the Titanic's departure.

Su Qing walked out of the inn, watching the crowds surge on the street, and thought:

"Yingguo, Lu Si, I've arrived."