America's Road to Wealth

"...He looks really happy."

Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, New York.

In the corner of the hall, on the sofa in the rest area.

The mayor of New York, and the chairman of Smith Capital.

The two were surrounded by several bodyguards and sat in a sofa booth talking softly.

The speaker is Mr. Mayor.

Bloomberg's eyes were looking at Ted Lerner, who was beaming in the distance and chatting with many people.

He smiled and said the above sentence to Abel.

Opposite Bloomberg, Abel held a wine glass filled with Pinewood Chenin Blanc Viognier white wine produced in the Napa Valley region of California.

When it comes to wine and red wine, the first thing people think of is often produced in Europe, especially France.

But in fact, the United States, a country with a vast territory and abundant resources, has a climate in many places that is actually more suitable for growing wine grapes than Burgundy in France.

The quality of wine produced in many places in the United States is not inferior to that of Europe.

Maybe even better.

It’s just that old Europe takes up the word “old”.

Just like those luxury items.

European luxury goods seem to be more high-end than American ones, and more popular among wealthy people.

Wine is the same as luxury goods. The same principle applies.

At least Pinewood Winery’s Pinewood Chenin Blanc Viognier.

Abel felt that it tasted much better than Romanee-Conti and 82 Lafite.

Same thing, except actually for brand marketing.

Another country with vast territory and rich resources is China.

The wine grapes produced in certain places, coupled with the flavor-rich craftsmanship, can also produce wines with quality that is not inferior to that of old Europe.

But like American wine, it is not as good as old Europe in terms of branding.

So much so that it cannot be sold at a price that even its own people do not recognize.

"It should be something to be happy about." He took a sip of white wine.

Abel chuckled in response to Bloomberg.

"In his own field, Ted did quite well. This is something he should be happy about."

Bloomberg smiled.

Did Ted Lerner do a great job?

Haha, if you were really good, how could you go bankrupt so many times?

New Yorkers know it.

If it hadn't been for a good father, Ted Lerner might have been one of the many homeless people on the streets of New York.

Of course, Bloomberg would not say this to Abel.

Mr. Mayor smiled and said: "Let's talk about our affairs."

Abel nodded.

"After you were "attacked", many things suddenly went smoothly. Robert pursued the victory and killed many people."

Bloomberg looked at Abel and said seriously:

"It was originally expected that work that might not be completed until the end of the year. Now more than half of it has been completed. Most of the demolition and land acquisition contracts may be completed in May."

Abel knew that Bloomberg was talking about the Hudson Bay City Plaza in Manhattan.

This may be the most valuable real estate project in the United States after the 21st century.

Driven by a few local snakes in New York, it appeared earlier than parallel time and space.

Especially Abel, for building a spectacle in Manhattan.

He was particularly attentive to this aspect.

"This is really a good thing." Abel said with a smile.

The land in Hudson Bay involves hundreds of owners, large and small.

Among these owners, there are super giants such as Morgan and Rockefeller.

There are also some poor people who are currently receiving relief.

That's Manhattan, the only large-scale land currently available for development since the Gilded Age.

The complexity of its land rights, equity and debt rights would make any American real estate giant scratch their head.

It is precisely for these reasons that even though its location is so good and it is so big, it is still on Manhattan Island.

But not many businessmen are willing to develop it.

In parallel time and space, the New York government was also after the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008.

In order to boost New York's economy and make GDP look better. It took a lot of effort to push this project forward.

But even with the full push of the New York government, it took almost three years to barely succeed.

The construction time is quite long.

Until Abel crossed over.

None of the Hudson Bay Plaza projects have been completed yet.

Now, because of Abel's appearance, this project has been promoted by the New York City government earlier.

As Abel's influence, wealth, and status increased.

This year, through the "attack" incident.

There are also strong pushes from Bloomberg and Robert Morgenthau.

This project was officially launched in the face of huge resistance.

Seeing Abel's calm smile, Bloomberg also laughed.

Mr. Mayor said:

"I think we can now start discussing who will complete the construction of this project. This is a super lucrative deal, which is enough to attract any real estate company."

Tens of billions of dollars of investment are involved.

There is also a huge real estate project covering an area of ​​10.5 hectares in Manhattan Island, a place where land is at a premium.

There is too much oil and water here.

This is just the value and investment of the project itself.

Because apart from the project itself.

The entire Hudson Yards will also have key municipal projects such as surrounding supporting facilities and subway line reconstruction.

Taken together, the total investment could reach hundreds of billions of dollars.

At least 70 to 80 billion US dollars.

The New York City government is responsible for about half of it, mainly those municipal facilities.

This is definitely the largest single investment in the entire United States after the 21st century.

"First of all, we have to ensure the cost issue." Abel said.

"The money has to be taken out of our pockets. I don't want my money to go into other people's pockets in vain."

"So in terms of cost, we must ensure quality while keeping costs at the lowest possible level."

Bloomberg nodded.

There is no doubt that Mr. Mayor will also invest in it.

If others try to get involved in the project, they are taking advantage of Bloomberg.

Capitalists can tolerate anything.

I just can’t bear to make less money.

"Then what are your thoughts? Who will be responsible for it? Or, in other words, which real estate construction companies will be responsible for the construction. For such a large project, one or two real estate companies will never be able to handle it. Like Mr. Lerner, he is the most That means we can only afford about 3% to 5% share.”

Bloomberg’s words are actually very euphemistic.

Let alone 5% of the entire project.

Maybe even 3%, Ted Lerner's company has some support.

Even if the total investment is calculated as a minimum of US$70 billion.

3% also has $2.1 billion.

A real estate project with a construction cost of US$2.1 billion.

Since the birth of the entire Lerner Real Estate Group, all the projects it has built together are probably only worth this much.

The share given to Ted Lerner was purely based on human relations.

"certainly."

Abel said softly: "It is impossible for Lerner Real Estate Group to undertake such a large project. Some of the small projects inside can be left to him."

"Tell me about it," Bloomberg said. "There are only two of us here. Tell us your specific thoughts."

"I have an idea that is not very mature. If we use this idea, we may be able to keep the cost to a minimum."

Looking at Bloomberg, Abel said.

"Tell me what you think."

"I have learned about it." Abel said softly: "It is a large-scale real estate project. In terms of construction materials and tools, while quality is required, the cost is almost fixed and the fluctuation is relatively small."

Bloomberg nodded.

Even if he's not a real estate businessman, Bloomberg knows this.

In the United States, a country that industrialized so early.

The construction industry has developed over hundreds of years, and construction costs have long been transparent and industrialized.

The cost of building materials of the same grade will not change much after reaching a certain quantity.

1 million tons of cement and 10 million tons of cement, unless you open your own factory to produce it.

Otherwise, the difference in unit price between them will not exceed 10%.

"I checked the information and found that in the construction process here in the United States, one of the biggest factors affecting the construction cost is the compensation of workers."

"Worker's compensation?" Bloomberg frowned. "You want to operate on this?"

In the United States, construction workers work at a construction site 8 hours a day, 4 days a week. After deducting taxes and insurance, they can earn a net US$1,066.

This is the average.

In areas like Arkansas, which is the least developed, the numbers are lower.

But in New York...based on the average, this number increases by at least 50%.

In other words, the average construction worker in New York can earn about $1,500 per week.

With 14 days off a month, the monthly salary is as high as about US$6,000.

Annual salary exceeds $70,000.

This is the price in New York City, and New York is the largest city in the United States. Everything is more expensive, and wages are one level higher than elsewhere in the United States.

Other areas are not so exaggerated.

For example, the average median annual salary for construction workers in Illinois is $57,310.

This was followed by Hawaii at $56,240, Massachusetts at $53,230, New Jersey at $52,220 and Alaska at $50,450.

The lowest income was in Arkansas at $27,530, followed by Alabama at $29,360 and Mississippi at $29,450.

These are the medians.

The average annual median salary of construction workers in the United States is about $39,000.

Compared with the national per capita annual income (median) in 2001, which was US$33,500, it was 18% higher.

Of course, no matter which country you are in, construction workers are one of the most vulnerable jobs to be injured.

Most construction workers usually work outdoors in various climate conditions. The work itself is high-intensity physical work, and it is one of the types of work with the highest incidence of work-related injuries and diseases among all occupations.

It’s so hard work, so it’s normal to get a little more.

The construction workers in New York do get quite a lot.

Especially in Manhattan, that's a lot more.

"You don't want to take a pay cut on this, do you?"

Bloomberg frowned and said: "Those guys with wrenches, if we let them walk on the street, things will be very troublesome."

Raising salaries and benefits is very common in the United States, because every few years, trade unions in various industries come out to cause trouble and demand increased compensation.

Capitalists will give some positive responses to appease them.

But in some special times, such as economic crisis or something.

Of course, it is impossible for capitalists to increase their wages.

What to do? Pay cut?

no.

In the United States, salary increases are often necessary, but salary cuts are not allowed.

It looks great to only increase wages without reducing them.

But capitalists are not stupid either.

Since wages cannot be lowered, capitalists will directly choose to lay off workers...or simply go bankrupt.

If you are fired directly or the company disappears, it is not a salary cut.

If you lower your salary, you can choose to go out on the streets. Even if you lose your job or company, then you will lose the name of wandering.

Construction workers, no matter where they are, have always been a group with strong mobility.

Capitalists are not afraid of them, but Bloomberg is not just a capitalist.

"How is that possible? I also know the rules of the game. My idea is not to lower wages." Faced with Bloomberg's doubts, Abel said with a smile.

"As far as I know, there are construction workers in many places. Their monthly salary may not even be $500."

Abel said: "My idea is to replace 80% of the tens of thousands of workers who need to be used with cheap foreign workers. Then the remaining 20% ​​of American workers' compensation will be increased to the original salary." An increase of 20% on the basis.”

"My actuary told me that this can save 70 to 80% on workers' expenses."

"My legal counsel told me that there is absolutely nothing at the federal, New York state, New York City level that prevents us from doing this."

Bloomberg is not a fool, he can achieve what he has achieved now.

Coming from a middle-class background, he relied 50% on himself, 30% on luck, and the remaining 20% ​​on his Oilers pedigree.

Bloomberg immediately guessed the ingenuity of Abel's method.

"You mean... to use those 20% of high-paid American workers to deal with the dissatisfaction that may arise from other construction workers in the United States?"

"Yes."

"Win over some of them and let this part attack other parts within them." Abel smiled:

"This is a method recommended by the workers' mentors."

Bloomberg pondered for a while, then nodded slightly:

"It is feasible to a certain extent. But there are many problems that need to be solved in various aspects."

"It can save about billions of dollars." Abel said leisurely.

"I don't think it's a big problem," Bloomberg said immediately.

"Ha ha--"

Abel laughed and patted Bloomberg on the shoulder.

"There are still several months to go. This is really important and needs to be considered in the long term. And maybe we can save money while still maintaining quality."

"Um?"

Abel smiled slightly and said: "I know there is a country. They have always been very attached to the US dollar. They attach great importance to Americans' opinions of them. As long as we make good use of this, maybe we can let them make a lot less money. Would love to work for us.”

"Is there such a country?" Bloomberg was surprised.

"I'm just giving it a try. It's not necessarily possible if it doesn't work." Abel smiled.

Bloomberg nodded and was about to speak.

At this time, two girls appeared together outside the sofa where they were sitting, but were blocked by their security staff.

"Hi! Abel! You're back in New York, why haven't you contacted me!"

The gorgeous blond girl greeted Abel with a bright smile across the bodyguards.

Bloomberg took back what he was about to say.

Mr. Mayor smiled and looked at Abel with interest.

He looked at the two girls again, looking like they were watching a show.

"Forehead……"

Abel opened his mouth silently, not knowing what to say.

Looking at Abel who looked helpless.

Lydia quickly tugged at her cousin, hoping that she would stop as soon as she was satisfied.

This is too embarrassing and unladylike.

"Gentlemen, won't you invite us in? My feet are a little sore after standing all night." Amanda continued to say with a smile.

I have to say, Amanda is dressed in a beautiful dress, with her blond hair and blue eyes, and her smile.

It's just like those German noble girls from the European past and the Middle Ages, who were as noble, elegant, and beautiful.

Compared to Ikana, Amanda is actually more blonde.

Before Abel could speak, Bloomberg beside him said with a smile:

"Ah, this is poor hospitality on my part. House, please ask the two Miss Hesters to come in and take a rest."

Abel couldn't help but look at Bloomberg, who winked at him.

Bloomberg's bodyguards immediately dispersed, trying to let Amanda and Lydia into the sofa booth.

Edward was still blocking, but looked back at his boss.

That was all, and Abel could only nod.

Amanda and Lydia were let in.

"Oh, William. That's not very ladylike for your two nieces."

Not far away, Ted Lerner, who had just been chatting with many people, saw this scene.

He couldn't help but frown and said to William Hester next to him.

Coincidentally, the four generations of Hearst family leaders, including the founder, were all named William, with only their middle names different.

From this naming method, we know that the Hearst family is also a pure Ansa.

Look at Ted Lerner looking unhappy.

William Hester thought that you in the past would not dare to talk to me like this.

It's just that my daughter has become someone else's mistress. There's nothing to be arrogant about.

Thinking this in his heart, William Hester smiled and said:

"When children grow up, who knows what they think? We elders naturally find it difficult to control this. Ikana is so good, I think Ted, you should also have such troubles."

Ted Lerner was speechless.

William Hearst didn't say a single bad word, but he was telling Ted Lerner, "Your daughter is just his mistress."

In addition, Ted Lerner was only pretending to be powerful, but he did not dare to really get upset with William Hearst.

Hearst, a century-old wealthy man, is much more powerful than Ted Lerner in New York.

Ted doesn't really dare to conflict with the Hearst family unless Abel fully supports it.

In the past, Ted Lerner would not even dare to talk to William Hearst like this.

It was tonight that he was in the limelight, and he was full of justice. .

Only Ted Lerner dared to say what he just said to William, the head of Hearst. . .