Chapter 334: Chapter 332: Cooperation Intention
"Besides that, there are horse farms around our town. You could talk to them and ask if they can build a simple track or something so that people can come and enjoy. Let them set their own prices."
"There are also nearby ranches. People can be organized for visits. Forget about my place—I have too many cows there, and it would be troublesome. However, some small family ranches could be visited. Cows could be slaughtered on-site for sale, or barbecue parties could be held at the ranches. These are special attractions and could be a lot of fun."
As Jiang Hai continued to list out these ideas, Mayor Wallis was stunned.
He had never imagined that a small town, which seemed to have almost no unique features, could hold so many business opportunities in Jiang Hai's eyes. Of course, these weren't originally Jiang Hai's ideas—he came up with them after looking into the domestic tourism industry.
In China, while it isn't as exaggerated as saying a bag is a mountain or a ditch is a river, it's not much different.
Winthrop, though it might seem unremarkable to others, was, in Jiang Hai's opinion, a place with beautiful mountains and rivers. With just a little improvement in basic infrastructure, it could easily become a prime tourist destination. Who needs history and culture when relaxation is the main attraction?
"Is it really that easy?" Mayor Wallis asked, sipping his coffee. He sounded doubtful.
"It really is that easy. To be honest, the town is entirely in your hands. If you want, we can develop two features that no other place has. One is a gun shop. Of course, we can't sell guns to tourists, but we can build a shooting range where they can shoot. You know, our main target will be Asian tourists. Most Asian countries prohibit guns, so tourists can't even touch real ones there, but they can here. This will bring in a huge income. Our gun shop currently charges one dollar for five bullets. Imagine when we charge one dollar per bullet here. They'll be happy to shoot."
Mayor Wallis's eyes were growing brighter by the minute as he listened. Jiang Hai's enthusiasm was contagious.
"One dollar per bullet? Oh my god, that's a bit too shady." Cindy Clive couldn't help but cover her mouth.
"It's not shady. In my country, no matter how much money you spend, you can't shoot a gun. But, to avoid trouble, we'd need to install cameras, security devices, guards, and staff in the gun store. Trust me, all that money will be recouped. For a big ... it's fine to touch a gun. Forget about six yuan per bullet—ten or twenty yuan would be no issue. After all, they've never experienced anything like it before."
"Guns are dangerous, but if it's really as you say, it could be a huge source of income. Didn't you mention there were two features? What's the other one?" Mayor Wallis asked slowly, his eyes narrowing.
"Iroquois," Jiang Hai said simply.
"Them?" Mayor Wallis was confused at first. He thought Jiang Hai might want to capture them for exhibition—impossible, since Jiang Hai wasn't that type of person.
So perhaps he wanted to open an Indian reservation for visitors? But how could the Iroquois agree to allow outsiders into their territory, to be treated like curiosities? That was unthinkable.
Mayor Wallis was now even more perplexed. Why had Jiang Hai brought up the Iroquois?
"Specialties. Iroquois handicrafts, American ginseng from the mountains—these are all valuable items. That's the feature. If possible, we could hire a few Iroquois who are willing to guide tourists into the mountains, which would generate a significant income. But even without that, just selling handicrafts and American ginseng will be more than enough for us to make a fortune."
Mayor Wallis, who had been confused by the mention of the Iroquois, suddenly clenched his fists. Why hadn't he thought of that?
The Iroquois were still willing to trade with outsiders, especially since he had some ties with them. If they could improve their lives, it would be a win-win situation.
"I have to admit, those scientists were right—Chinese people are among the smartest in the world. I didn't quite believe it before, but now it seems saying you're second is an understatement," Mayor Wallis said, letting out a long sigh of relief. "I'll write these ideas down and report them. I think the state government will remember your contributions. Your tax revenue will probably be reduced by at least 2% in the future." He took out a small notebook, ready to jot down everything Jiang Hai had suggested.
"No, no, no. I think you've misunderstood," Jiang Hai quickly waved his hand. He didn't want his ideas to become someone else's political capital. He wasn't the type to do something without personal benefit. "I'm not interested in the state government's credit. These ideas are for our town, so let's skip the state and handle it ourselves."
Politics in the United States was more decentralized. Except for major issues, states, cities, and counties were mostly independent in decision-making. Unlike in China, where everything needed to be reported to higher-ups, the mayor of Winthrop had the authority to make changes as long as the public supported it.
Now, hearing Jiang Hai's words, Mayor Wallis was starting to feel more energized. It was true—the state could implement these ideas, but they might not have the same urgency. Doing it themselves would ensure progress, and even if the state wanted to intervene, they would have to respect the town's autonomy.
"But all of this requires a lot of money," Mayor Wallis hesitated. What Jiang Hai was proposing—building a hotel, a shooting range, an Indian store, a dock—required significant funds.
For a town government that couldn't even come up with $100,000 to repair the town's school after it collapsed last winter, raising such an amount was out of the question. Even if they went to the bank for a loan, it was unlikely they'd get the necessary funds.
"The town might not have it, but I do," Jiang Hai smiled. "The town has land, people, and opportunity. We can cooperate, but I want to make one thing clear: with the money I invest, I will expect shares and dividends. No one else should be jealous of that."
Jiang Hai wasn't shy about his intentions. He had over 500 million dollars in the bank. If that money stayed there, it would only lose value. Instead, he wanted to invest it—secure a steady income, and most importantly, improve Winthrop. If the town became more prosperous, Jiang Hai would benefit too. It was a win-win situation.
"But…" Mayor Wallis hesitated. "These things require a lot of funding."
"I'll cover it," Jiang Hai assured him. "We'll invest together. You provide the land, I'll handle the construction, and we'll divide the profits. For the Shore Villa Hotel, I'll handle the funding, but I want 70% of the annual income. The rest can be divided between the town government and the people. I won't ask for management rights—I'm just in it for the money. The same goes for the shooting range and the Indian store."
"I can't accept 70%," Mayor Wallis said firmly. "If you're covering all the costs, it's reasonable for you to have a share, but 70% is too high. Let's say 40% at most."
"Of course, my lawyer will handle the details. We can meet soon and settle this. I'm not sure when I'll have other opportunities to invest, so I need a decision quickly," Jiang Hai said, smiling. He knew 40% wouldn't work for him, but this was just part of the negotiation.
He wasn't a professional, but his lawyer Moses Adams specialized in corporate mergers and acquisitions. He'd been invaluable lately, and now Jiang Hai was relying on him to navigate this deal.