Capítulo 98: Chapter 38: Salvador Charm
Salvador, formerly known as "São Salvador" or "Bahia", is an important natural deep-water port on the Atlantic coast of Brazil and the capital of the state of Bahia. Situated on the eastern coast of Todos os Santos Bay, it is one of the oldest cities in Brazil, founded in 1549. Until 1763, Salvador was the capital of Brazil. The port here is wide and deep, capable of accommodating ocean liners and supertankers, and the nearby Campos Basin produces oil.
"Florence? That's a beautiful name! Isn't it, Mr. Braun?"
Zhang Hainuo nudged Otto gently with his elbow. Perhaps Otto was the least adept among the Baden aristocrats at presenting himself to women: before the age of 17, he was either studying at the noble academy or delving into his family's extensive library, and after 17, he lived among men in the navy, untouched by romance. As far as Zhang Hainuo knew, this 21-year-old young man still had a blank romantic life, a pity for someone with such a handsome face, refined noble demeanor, and extensive knowledge.
"Yes, beautiful indeed! It's a nice name!"
Otto clumsily complimented.
"Thank you!"
Florence, their newly hired female translator from the German Chamber of Commerce in Salvador, replied calmly. Although the initial looks of these two men had made her feel disdainful, she gradually realized that both of these handsome young businessmen spoke and behaved with refinement, especially the slightly younger one, who spoke awkwardly, quite different from the dandies she had encountered before!
"This fortress, I'm told, was built in 1643 to repel Dutch pirates!"
Florence led Zhang Hainuo and Otto up a gentle gravel slope, introducing them to this open-air fortress made of stones, with several ancient cannons positioned near the battlements.
Climbing the fortress, the unusually fresh sea breeze greeted them, and their sight opened up. From here, they could overlook the entire city of Salvador: situated on a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, the city was divided into upper and lower sections by a steep slope. The upper city offered a view of the bustling activities of the lower city below. The upper city boasted a collection of Baroque architecture, numerous small squares, public buildings, residences, and gardens. The streets were narrow and numerous, paved with various patterned designs in black and white stones. The lower city, near the port, was characterized by a bustling market, with houses and activities centered around the port and commerce.
"Salvador means 'Savior' in Spanish, named after Christopher Columbus's discovery of the American continent. At that time, Columbus led a fleet sponsored by Spain on a long voyage. After nearly three months at sea without sighting any other land, the sailors became anxious and suspicious, even mutinous, toward Columbus. Some even spread rumors and incited discord, attempting to kill Columbus. At this critical moment, a small island appeared in their view, and the new continent was found! Columbus confirmed his vision and escaped danger, so he aptly named the island El Salvador, the Savior!"
With her clear voice, Florence shared some historical anecdotes related to Salvador with the two out-of-town visitors.
Seeing that the somewhat stern attitude of the girl had softened considerably, Zhang Hainuo asked:
"Miss Florence, may I ask you a somewhat personal question? Did you move to Brazil with your family, or have you grown up here since childhood?"
Florence reached up to tidy her somewhat disheveled hair, which was a golden brown color and styled with waves.
"I was born and raised in Salvador. My parents are both Germans, and I attended a German school here since I was young, so I speak German better than Portuguese!"
"Have you ever been to Germany?"
"Not yet! I'd like to, but I've never had the opportunity! I heard... the war has ended!" Florence said calmly, but her clear eyes revealed an indescribable emotion.
"Yes, the armistice will be signed soon, the war is over!"
As he said these words, Zhang Hainuo felt deeply conflicted. It had been three years since he arrived in this era, and his service in the German Navy had given him an emotional attachment to this time and space. His comrades in battle, Fink Manor, and Anna...
Anna!
Zhang Hainuo softly called out this name in his heart. How much he wished to return to Fink Manor now and embrace his beloved. If he hadn't chosen this path in the first place, perhaps he would already be leading a peaceful life at Fink Manor.
But he never regretted his choice; this path allowed him to unleash his own value.
"Are there many shipyards in Salvador? How big are they?" Zhang Hainuo shifted his gaze to another direction, which was his main intention for coming to this vantage point: to learn about the shipbuilding industry in this important port and trade center in southeastern Brazil.
"Salvador has four large shipyards and more than ten small ones, all located upstream! Mr. Linke, do you see that large oil tanker over there? Less than 1000 meters to the north of it is the largest Gantt shipyard in Salvador, with over 300 workers capable of building 5000-ton ocean freighters!"
Zhang Hainuo took out a small brass telescope from his pocket. This 3x20mm telescope was his personal belonging, lightweight and portable, and he usually carried it with him on board. Strictly speaking, a 3x telescope could only serve as a sniper rifle scope or similar military telescope. It was far from adequate for commanding battles, but it was sufficient for observing a civilian shipyard from a high vantage point several kilometers away.
Zhang Hainuo observed silently for about two minutes before passing the telescope to Otto, who seemed to observe even more carefully than him.
Florence looked at these two men with a strange look. If it weren't for the fact that the war had ended, she might have mistaken them for military spies. What was so interesting about an ordinary civilian shipyard?
Zhang Hainuo ignored her curiosity and asked, "Is this the largest shipyard in Salvador?"
"Of course!" Florence replied confidently. "As far as I know, even the largest shipyard in Rio de Janeiro can only build ships of up to 8000 tons. If you want to buy larger ships, you'd better order directly from the United States or Britain!"
"It seems we've chosen the right place to invest in shipyards in Brazil!" Zhang Hainuo smirked mysteriously at Florence. "Can you keep this business secret for us?"
"Are you planning to invest in shipyards here?" Florence widened her eyes, seeming to find it hard to believe that these two young businessmen, although not lacking in demeanor, seemed not to have enough money to invest in a shipyard, and from their tone, this shipyard must be quite large!
"This is just a preliminary intention for now. We need to conduct further investigations before making a final decision! By the way, Miss Florence, do you happen to know someone familiar with these matters? We still need a reliable introduction!"
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