Of course, everything the old man could think of, Su Ming had already calculated. It's because merchants pursue profit and a pawnshop very much relies on connections and reputation. It involves reselling transactions, so it's impossible to refuse such temptation.
"The younger generation is truly formidable."
The old man wiped the water off his mustache, came out from behind the counter, and invited Su Ming to sit down for tea.
He had no doubt that if this young White man wasn't in urgent need of money, he could easily sell it to the Royal Family himself, in which case it wouldn't have anything to do with him. However, the Royal Family is often slow in paying and sometimes uses land or goods for barter, which isn't what the young man wants.
As for why he came to a pawnshop instead of a western comprador company, the old man figured it out because comprador companies are often middlemen and can't immediately come up with enough cash to buy the jewelry.
Didn't the young man say it? He urgently needed money to buy a ship and go out to sea, so he wants cash.
The old man himself also had a ship, and although he knew that looking for a lost ship was like searching for a needle in a haystack, whether it was to rescue people or salvage goods, the sooner the better.
"Shopkeeper, you're too kind, but I wonder if this business could be done?"
Su Ming smiled faintly, lifted the teacup, blew away the froth, and took a sip. Tasting genuine tea again felt as if a lifetime had passed.
"Young friend, you are straightforward. How could this old man not appreciate it? I am interested in taking up this business, but might I ask.....?"
"Originally, there was one more piece in this jewelry. My ancestor sold one to exchange for a fleet and traveled across the seas. However, now times have changed, and I am in urgent need of money, so I am willing to transfer the treasure to Uncle for ten thousand."
The old man stroked his mustache, and as he addressed him as 'young friend,' this White man immediately called himself 'nephew.' Are Westerners also fond of creating close relationships like this? The speed at which it happened was too quick.
Even though these words gave him goosebumps all over, the price was just right at his psychological price point.
The so-called ten thousand was, of course, not copper coins but US Dollars.
The offer was ten thousand dollars, and he had already pointed out the sales channel. The jewelry itself was world-class. Having run the pawnshop for more than fifty years, the number of jewelry he has seen is uncountable, so he was confident he wouldn't be wrong.
This young man was using the pawnshop as a broker, not for pawning. There might be something fishy, but missing the opportunity given by heaven would bring regrets.
The old man's expression fluctuated, and he even pulled out a few strands of his mustache, but in the end, he nodded and smiled while speaking to Su Ming, "Good, would dear nephew accept a Citibank draft?"
Su Ming also smiled. It was settled, much easier than he had imagined. He still had many tricks up his sleeve.
"Naturally."
"Then let me make some preparations."
The old man sent the accountant to handle things, while he stayed and chatted with Su Ming.
"Hahaha..."
They looked at each other and laughed. Although they were clearly of different races, they talked happily in the language of the Celestial Dynasty, creating an odd scene.
................
The pawnshop was not big, but it had deep roots. It's unclear which Chinese business association was behind it, but they immediately produced a ten thousand dollar draft.
After politely declining the old man's invitation to stay for a meal, Su Ming headed to the nearby Citibank and exchanged it for cash.
Wearing a flashy Hawaiian floral shirt and holding one hundred bills of one hundred dollar denomination each, with Franklin smiling at him.
Actually, in this era, there was another currency called the Gold Yuan Certificate, directly linked to the Federal Reserve's gold reserve, and one note was equivalent to ten thousand US dollars. But now, for the United States, Hawaii was just the countryside, and such large bills couldn't be spent at all.
Hawaii wasn't considered a city yet; it was just a slightly larger town.
A ten thousand dollars at this time was almost equivalent to eighty thousand in Su Ming's era. The business of a space-time profiteer is truly terrifying, as Su Ming made over 100 times in profit.
The pawnshop certainly did not lose either, as they could sell it to the Hawaii Royal Family for more profit. However, Su Ming did not have an official identity, so it was inconvenient for him to engage in disputes with the Royal Family.
The Royal Family would not lose either, as nobles are still nobles, and this jewelry, transcending time, symbolizes face and status. Having lost their identity as the rulers of Hawaii, they now needed face.
It could be said this was a transaction that satisfied all parties.
Next, Su Ming planned to get a formal identity.
At that time, the United States did not have population censuses and identity verification. In the 1920s, the Vital Registration System was introduced, with detailed records of a person's birth, growth, and death filed with the state population statistics offices.
After 1939, President Roosevelt began to implement the Social Security Number system, which essentially acted as a form of identification. It was essential for tax payment and pension contribution.
Hawaii's situation was more special. It only became a US state in 1950. At this time, it wasn't clearly defined as either a colony or a puppet country; it was a unique existence.
Hawaii's people themselves rose up and overthrew the feudal monarchy, willingly embracing the United States.
As for why some people saw that the army that staged the uprising was all White? American warships cruising around the outer seas? Some people in black suits moving stealthily?
You must have mistaken it! Do you dare to say that in front of twenty thousand Navy Corps?
Su Ming appeared very young now. As long as he pretended to be an American born in Hawaii, he could get a real identity record, traceable and verifiable, just by spending some money.
It's safe to say all the preliminary preparations were completed. He could soon go to the mainland United States and set up his plans.
He returned to the small cargo ship, where Bird was still waiting for him. Lying on a deck chair, with his fishing rod by his side.
The butler and workers weren't there; they were probably still out selling goods and eating. The sea breeze rustled his gray hair, making him seem even older.
"Bird."
The captain collected his fishing rod and rubbed his eyes strained by the sea glare: "Ah, it's a nice day, isn't it? Well, then let's go."
"You pick the place, then. I'm going back to the United States in a few days, choose something with a bit more character."
"Indeed, a young person staying here too long will become lazy. It's too comfortable here. Let's go try that 'Lock and Mooc'?"
Bird smiled and nodded with that British gentlemanly demeanor, as if he were going to a banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Su Ming wasn't omniscient. He had no impression of this so-called Lock and Mooc, so Bird led him into Honolulu City to a small local restaurant.
And then he realized, Slade hadn't not encountered this before; it would just have a name change in the future.
In the future, its full name would be called——Hawaiian-style meat, chicken, egg, and gravy over rice, referred to as Hawaiian Loco Moco Rice...
It did represent a kind of Hawaiian cuisine. The main population in Hawaii consisted of Americans, Japanese, Chinese, and locals, so they brought together various food features from different ethnicities to form this hodgepodge.
The taste was okay; at first bite, it was somewhat like Sichuan cuisine but with seafood, fruit, and cream flavors. But it was already better than Cindy's stew.
Su Ming added another wish to his list: after reaching New York, have a proper authentic Chinese meal.
As for now, it was just expanding his intelligence reserve, reminding himself to best avoid trying foods he couldn't understand the names of in the future.
Bird enjoyed his meal, not noticing the sympathy in Su Ming's gaze.
What good is wealth if you have spent decades of your life eating fish and chips and stargazing, unable to enjoy life even under the rule of British dark cuisine?
Running around on the battlefield a few days ago, Su Ming made do, but now, with money and leisure, who wants to eat this mixture of East and West, sea and land stew?
"Waiter!" Su Ming snapped his fingers twice, like a typical American, to get the attention of the local waiter, and then he ordered again: "Two orders of grilled lobster, and give me a Martini, shaken, not stirred."
Su Ming had long wanted to taste the favorite drink of 007. If it's the favorite drink of the world's best special agent, then the best mercenary should try it too.
However...
The server's face was full of confusion, as if he didn't understand at all.
Bird laughed and resolved the waiter's awkwardness, asking him to change the Martini to a Pineapple Plum Sake, sending him away, and then he quietly explained to Su Ming.
According to him, the Martini cocktail was invented around 1850, and since Hawaii wasn't very developed, it lacked the ingredients. Martini required gin and vermouth, and the best production places for these two liquors were the Netherlands and France, quite literally on the other side of the Earth.
Since there were many sailors here, rum was the most common, but the mariners favored Cuban rum, which was too strong and unsuitable for mixing cocktails.
In his view, Su Ming most likely came here due to the prohibition to enjoy himself, but to drink the drink with regional characteristics to make the trip worthwhile.
Su Ming forced a smile, hoping that this beverage would not be like the 'Lock and Mooc'...