Chapter 23

New book uploaded, seeking collections, seeking recommendations.

"Jason, how is this rubber wheel made? Is there a physical sample? This can also be patented."

"Jason, how are rubber shoes made? Have they been patented?"

"Jason, have rubber gloves and condoms not been patented yet? It's not too late now, go and apply for them quickly."

After Zhu Jishi introduced a few rubber products from the future, Kosper William pulled him aside and asked incessantly. This manager of the Bank of Baring, when it came to business matters, showed no signs of being stiff or dull, but rather a shrewd businessman skilled at spotting business opportunities.

"By the way, Jason, do you know where this rubber comes from and how it is produced?" After understanding the general methods and uses of rubber tires, rubber rain boots, rubber gloves, and condoms, the excited expression on Kosper William's face turned serious. "If vulcanized rubber really has so many uses, can its production keep up? If the output of rubber is too low to meet the large-scale production needs of rubber products, the value of the vulcanized rubber patent will be greatly reduced."

Zhu Jishi nodded. After all, a businessman is a businessman, and he immediately saw the key link in the rubber industry chain. He thought for a moment and said, "As far as I know, rubber comes from a plant called the rubber tree. By cutting the outer skin of the rubber tree, the latex that flows out, after coagulation and drying, becomes rubber. This rubber tree is native to South America, and countries like Brazil, Peru, and Colombia have wild rubber trees. I think since the rubber tree is a tree, it should be possible to plant it artificially in similar environments."

Planting rubber trees seems to be a good business opportunity. Historically, many wealthy Chinese merchants in Nanyang made their fortunes through rubber plantations. Zhu Jishi mused to himself. However, he currently did not have the resources to get involved in the tree planting business. He wondered if Kosper William would be interested in spending ten to eight years on this big business.

As the saying goes, "It takes ten years to grow a tree." From collecting seeds, cultivating seedlings to growing trees that can be tapped, the entire process takes no less than ten years. How could it compare to selling heroin for quick money?

Kosper William looked at Zhu Jishi with eager eyes, "Jason... I dare say, planting rubber trees will definitely become a truly profitable business! This business is much bigger than the 14-year (21 years in the U.S.) patent monopoly for vulcanized rubber. Why don't we do this rubber business together? Don't sell the vulcanized rubber patent to the Bank of Baring. We can convert the patents for rubber wheels, rubber rain boots, rubber gloves, and rubber condoms into investments. I will raise another 10,000 pounds in cash, and we will establish a rubber company together. You will own 50% of the shares, but the general manager of the company will be me. What do you think?"

10,000 pounds! By 1842, Zhu Jishi knew very well how valuable 10,000 pounds was. Due to his frequent leaves, he now earned at most 2 pounds a week from the Omen Hospital, which was about 8 to 9 pounds a month. By this calculation, he earned only about 100 pounds a year, and 10,000 pounds would be equivalent to 100 years of his income.

"But my pharmacy also needs funds..."

Zhu Jishi hesitated. He no longer planned to continue his job as a doctor, which earned him only 2 pounds a week. Although this income was equivalent to more than ten times that of an average British worker—British workers of this era were truly miserable, working like cattle day and night, earning only 4 to 6 pence a day, and 30 to 40 pence a week, equivalent to 1.5 to 2 shillings, while 12 shillings equaled 1 pound.

In comparison, even famous doctors in the future who ran private clinics in Europe could not earn more than ten times the income of an average worker, and most of their income went to personal income tax.

The British Empire of this era also had personal income tax, but the tax rate was absurdly low. Those with an annual income exceeding 150 pounds paid only 1 shilling, and those with an annual income between 60 and 150 pounds paid only 3 pence... Compared to the high income tax rates of 50% or more in future European countries, the current British tax system was a paradise for the bourgeoisie and the middle class!

"Pharmacy? Jason, is it a pharmacy that sells heroin?"

Upon hearing Zhu Jishi mention opening a pharmacy, Mrs. Duran immediately perked up. She had seen the miraculous effects of morphine hydrochloride and diacetylmorphine with her own eyes. If these were sold in a pharmacy, making money would be inevitable.

Kosper William frowned, "What is heroin?"

"It's diacetylmorphine, and I named it heroin." Zhu Jishi thought of a certain French youth who had been poisoned and explained somewhat guiltily, "This drug has a wide range of applications. It can relieve almost all kinds of pain and can also be used to treat depression and asthma. I have conducted some experiments at Omen Hospital, and the results have been very promising."

"Ah, I see..." Kosper William pondered, "It sounds similar to opium. If used as collateral, well, it's not easy to evaluate. By the way, Jason, how much money do you need to open a pharmacy?"

The pharmaceutical industry of this era had not yet developed, so a pharmacy with a pharmaceutical workshop was not a big business. In comparison, the vulcanized rubber business was much larger. Whether it was tires, shoes, gloves, or condoms, factories needed to be set up for production, similar to textile mills, requiring substantial capital.

Hearing this question, Zhu Jishi thought for a moment and casually quoted a figure, "About... about 5,000 pounds."

"5,000 pounds? So much?" Kosper William, who was more experienced in business, calculated and said, "You don't need that much. I have handled several loans for pharmacies, and none exceeded 5,000 pounds. Those were large pharmacies. If you want to open a small pharmacy, 2,000 pounds would be more than enough."

Zhu Jishi was taken aback again. 2,000 pounds would be enough? That would be equivalent to 6,000 taels of silver, which wouldn't even be enough to open a decent Chinese herbal pharmacy?

"Jason, why don't we co-invest in a pharmacy?" Mrs. Duran suddenly suggested, "2,000 pounds can be raised. I have 500 pounds in savings, and I can get 500 pounds from Isabella. Dr. Blumstein also wants to invest in some business, and 500 pounds is not a big amount for him."

"I can also invest 500 pounds," Kosper William added. His family owned textile mills in Britain and large cotton plantations in the southern United States with thousands of slaves, making them a prominent family. If he could raise 10,000 pounds to partner with Zhu Jishi in the rubber business, an additional 500 pounds was nothing.

"Since Kosper is investing, it seems the pharmacy business will be profitable. Jason, why don't I also invest 500 pounds?" Will Heming also smiled and patted his pocket. His father, who ran a potato farm in Ireland, had given him 1,000 pounds, hoping he would use it to buy a major's commission. Unfortunately, Will, a wastrel, had lost his future in a duel, so the money was still intact.

In this way, Zhu Jishi successfully raised 2,500 pounds in cash for his pharmacy.

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