shadow of britain

Chapter 120 Real Estate Tycoon

1500 pounds, this amount of money is not considered a small amount of money in Britain in the 19th century, or even in the world.

In London, [-]% of people earn less than [-] pounds a year.

If you are engaged in high-income industries such as construction and machinery manufacturing, a diligent skilled worker can get an annual salary of about 60-100 pounds depending on the type of work and technical ability.

As for some jobs that require a certain level of knowledge, such as company employees, etc., you can also obtain a stable annual income of more than 70 pounds.

And if he is engaged in the textile industry, which is an extremely competitive and low-income light manual labor industry, then even a middle-aged man who is free from disasters and diseases can only get a salary of about 30-50 pounds at most.

The lower profit margins in the textile industry also drove factory owners to employ a large number of female and child laborers.

According to them, the amount of labor in the textile industry is not large, and it is a waste of labor to hire adult male workers.

But in fact, you can see their ghosts just by looking at the wages. The wages of female workers are usually only half of that of male workers.

As for child labor, their price is not even a third of that of adult male workers.

And because of lack of physical strength, child labor and female workers are easier to manage than adult male workers. A supervisor with a whip can make the looms in the factory squeak and squeak.

But if they employ a group of adult men, most textile factory owners would not dare to play this kind of 'hard core management'.

Because most of them still remember the "Luddite Movement" that smashed their machines and burned their factories more than ten years ago.

It is also because of this that the British textile factories in the 19th century can be said to have proved with practical actions what kind of place is called 'brother don't go, it is a black factory'.

That is to say, £1500 is roughly equivalent to 15 years of income for a skilled craftsman, 20 years of income for a decent company employee, and 50 years of lifelong labor with a skilled literate housemaid. contract, or a generous payment of a year's salary in a textile factory with [-] child laborers.

Arthur walked behind the real estate agent, Elder and others. He looked at the two receipts in his hand, thought carefully, and then realized that he seemed to have become a very important person in an instant. Richmond of Greenwich.

Agares leaned over to look at the two bills, and the Red Devil pushed his monocle, and he whispered.

"Arthur, how do you feel? I told you earlier, it is better to have wealth than to have a conscience! Come on, hurry up, let's buy a high-end small villa first, and then hire a housewife to take care of your daily life Maid, don’t forget to rent a high-end carriage and a well-dressed skilled driver. Finally, remember to hire a good French cook. food!"

When Arthur heard this, he pinched his fingers and calculated, and couldn't help frowning.

"Although I don't know the housing prices in London, I know that just renting a high-end carriage will cost at least 80 pounds a year. If you add a skilled coachman, this is a net expenditure of about 150 pounds a year. The French in your mouth The cook and the housemaids are estimated to add up to this amount. With this kind of money spent, it may not be long before I have to become poor again."

But the Red Devil obviously didn't care so much, he persuaded: "My dear Arthur, how did you become poor? Aren't you already planning to become the underground king of the East End of London?
A little rascal like Fred can afford to run a detective agency, so what if you take his plate and get two cooks and maids?
Arthur, look at me, don't look at me now. When I was in hell, I went out with countless attendants, and I brought my little brothers all over the street to yell.Whoever I let eat has what he has to eat, and whoever I ask to move out tomorrow will have to move out.

A big shot should look like a big shot!Arthur, you listen to me, just this once, you have been busy for so long, shouldn't you enjoy yourself? "

Arthur glanced at the Red Devil. Just by looking at the smile on this guy's face, he knew that there must be nothing good in his belly.

He said: "Enjoy enjoy? I am noncommittal about your request. But you are right about one thing. If I had listened to you, I would have become a big shot by now."

The Red Devil grinned and rubbed his hands: "Who said it wasn't? So you've figured it out?"

Arthur took out his pocket and lit a cigarette: "Thought it out? If I had figured it out back then, my portrait would have been plastered all over the streets of Great Britain by now, and a string of zeros would have to be added under the portrait. If anyone caught me , he can really enjoy it.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Arthur raised his legs and followed in the footsteps of Elder and others.

Seeing this, the Red Devil couldn't help but widen his eyes. His swollen right eye was attached to Arthur's back, and its size was almost like a small villa.

He scolded: "Arthur! You fucking! Why don't you figure it out? The reason for your poverty is not your lack of ability, but your priority of earning money after your conscience!"

Everyone's footsteps stopped at the entrance of Central Street, the most expensive house in Greenwich District. The real estate agent walked up to Arthur with a smile on his face, and introduced him with a nod and bow.

"Mr. Hastings, I heard that your budget for buying a house this time is 1500 pounds?"

When Arthur heard this, he felt a little uneasy. Even though he thought 1500 pounds was a lot of money, based on the painful memories of his previous life, he still had great doubts about whether he could buy a good property next time. doubts.

Although Greenwich is a suburb of London, it is also a suburb of the Capital Region. The housing prices here should not be too low, right?
Arthur pretended to be calm and said, "You can introduce it to me, just get a small one. I need two rooms, one for me to live in, and the other for the fat gentleman next to me."

Hearing this, the real estate agent couldn't help laughing and said, "Sir, you really know how to joke. I can't find a two-bedroom apartment in Greenwich that costs 1500 pounds. Introducing new locations that take you to the City of London, Westminster or a few West End locations.

There are many new spacious apartments in the West End.As for the houses in the Financial City and Westminster, although they are a bit smaller, they are located there after all, and most of the people living there are upper-class gentlemen from the political and banking circles, which will definitely help you expand your social circle. helpful. "

"Can I afford a house in Westminster and the City?"

"Of course!" The real estate agent had just finished speaking when he suddenly found a drop of water on his face. He quickly pulled out the umbrella he was carrying with him, opened it and stepped forward to cover Arthur's head: "Mr. Hastings, This way please."

"Ah... is that so?" Arthur couldn't help straightening his waist when he heard this, he straightened his collar subconsciously, and then put his hands behind his back, looking like a leader going to the countryside to inspect "Then tell me about this little house in Greenwich first."

Unexpectedly, when the real estate agent heard this, instead of introducing it, he politely stuffed the umbrella into Dumas' hand.

He said shyly, "Sir, please help me hold the umbrella for Mr. Hastings. I'm looking for something in the bag."

He took out a brand new document from the small leather bag he was carrying, then leaned forward respectfully and said to Arthur: "Mr. Hastings, do you see this house with a gray chimney and a red roof at the entrance of the street?" Yet?"

Arthur took a look at the house. It was a two-story wooden building. Judging from the brand-new white exterior walls, the house should have been renovated in the past two years.

And judging from the number of windows, at least four families can live in it, not only Arthur and Dumas can live here, but even Elder and Darwin can come in and make a bed.

Arthur nodded: "It looks pretty good, let's go in and have a look?"

"No, no, don't worry." The real estate agent pointed to a three-story apartment building in front of him and said, "I also represent that building, and it is also listed for sale."

Arthur saw it, touched the stubble on his chin, and said, "I just want to buy a house to live in, an apartment or something. I haven't considered it yet. I haven't decided whether to buy a house to collect rent. "

Elder on the side couldn't bear the rain and squeezed under the umbrella, he muttered and said, "That's right! London's votes are worthless, if you want to invest in fixed real estate, it's better to go back to the countryside and get a farm. "

Unexpectedly, Arthur just shook his head after hearing this: "I haven't thought about the ballot at all. The money for voting has nothing to do with me."

Elder couldn't help frowning when he heard this, and he slapped Arthur on the back of the head: "Are you stupid? Why don't you want the free money?"

"Of course I want the free money." Arthur raised his eyebrows and said, "But according to Scotland Yard's internal regulations, no matter how rich the police are, they can't get the right to vote and stand for election, so the amount of real estate has no politics for me. meaningful value."

Hearing this, the real estate agent laughed and said, "So you are a police officer from Scotland Yard? But it's nothing, even if you don't have the right to vote, you can still rent out the property! Although house prices in London are rising slowly , but the rate of return on rent out is not low at all.”

"Really?" Arthur looked at the three-story apartment in front of him, and seemed a little tempted: "Then let's go and see the apartment first?"

Just as he was about to take a step, the real estate agent interrupted him again, and he said, "No, no, Mr. Hastings, you misunderstood me."

"What's the matter? Aren't you going to show us the apartment in front of you and the small two-story house in front of you?"

The real estate agent smiled and took out the document in his hand. He pointed to the apartment, and then pointed to the small detached house next to him.

"Mr. Hastings, what I mean is, if your budget is 1500 pounds, start from the second-floor detached house next to you, go to the apartment in front, and add a grocery store in between. shop.

How about this, even if I suffer a bit, these three houses will be sold to you for a total price of 1500 pounds.

If you think this price is not bad, then sign this document in my hand.At noon today, I went to discuss the details with several landlords. We can go to the notary office to trade and transfer the title in the afternoon, and you can move in directly with your bags at night.

As for the apartment building, you don't have to worry about vacant rooms, that apartment building is full now, and you can collect rent as usual every month.How do you like this? "

(End of this chapter)