Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 118 I will say that these low castes are sensible

In Malaya, the Malays and the Chinese can compete with each other, but in terms of strength, numbers, and even organization, the Indians are the most pitiful, have the least say, and have the lowest status.

Although there were a large number of Indians in the British Army, especially in the police force and the Royal Malayan Regiment,

But they are all Sikhs, the Indians from Baotou. These Indians in Perak are all low-caste Hindus and Mummies, and people don't want to play with them.

If they really had no other way to survive, Indians would not get involved in disputes.

Val found that the Chinese were getting angry now. Apart from lying down, surrendering, and accepting the beating and punishment, Val had no other options. They didn't even have the will to resist.

But fortunately, Zheng Yi seemed to have a pretty good attitude towards him.

Zheng Yi offered Val a cigar and sat down next to him, saying, "Actually, if you hadn't come to me, I would have thought of finding you. Are you the leader of all Indians in Perak? Can you control Indians in other states?"

Val: "I wouldn't say I'm in control, but... I do have some prestige."

As they were talking, Li Lili brought two cups of tea from the secretary's office and placed them one after another. Zheng Yi gestured for him to drink from them, and said with a smile, "This is black tea from Fujian. What do you think? How does it compare to Indian tea? Are you used to it?"

Val quickly took a sip, then forced a smile and said, "I'm used to it, I'm used to it. I think it tastes better than Indian tea."

Zheng Yi suddenly started to talk about something else, saying, "In 1848, a British plant hunter named Robert sneaked into China disguised as a foreign merchant. He stole more than tea tree seedlings from Fujian and planted them in Kolkata, India.

Later, they tried to plant tea seedlings and tea trees produced in Calcutta in various parts of India. Finally, they grew Indian tea in Assam, which they believed to be of the best quality and the closest in taste to Chinese tea. Do you think it tastes similar?

Val: "I see. So, Chinese tea is the ancestor of Indian tea. They do taste somewhat similar."

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "It should be only a few points at most. After all, it has been so many years. However, it was because of this tea that the British began to import opium into China on a large scale to make up for the trade deficit, marking the beginning of China's history of humiliation."

"As for India, as far as I know, it was precisely because of tea cultivation that the British captured a large number of serfs and put them on plantations. It is said that only 35% of tea growers in the tea plantations could survive for more than ten years, and their wages were as low as 5 shillings."

"More than that, because the British love your Assam tea, while Assam tea is civilizing the world, it also brought the worst famine in Assam's history. There are no statistics on how many people starved to death, but a conservative estimate is probably hundreds of thousands."

"Both our countries are victims of this thing."

Val: "Professor Zheng is absolutely right. Most of the Indians in Malaya come from the northern region, especially Assam."

Zheng Yi: "We were all sold here as piglets in the beginning. Even I was sold here as a piglet about three years ago. I was bought back by the Li family for fifty yuan, which saved my life."

"I heard that you Indians are also sold into mines and plantations, and we are not allowed to grow rice and grain.
They were also enslaved, bullied, and left home at a young age. They could only return home when they were old and unable to work, and they didn't even have much money left.

Val smiled bitterly and said, "We Indians and you Chinese had the same starting point in Southeast Asia, but now there is a world of difference.

Among the Chinese, not only have we seen tycoons like Mr. Chen and Mr. Li, but we have also seen world-class scientists like Professor Zheng."

"Look at Penang today. It's truly enviable. Meanwhile, we Indians, haha, are still still planting rubber and digging tin. There's not a single outstanding individual. Even rubber and tin are almost gone. Many people want to return home, but they don't even have the money to buy a boat ticket. It's incomparable, incomparable."

Zheng Yi said, "They're all pretty much the same. We Chinese also grow rubber and dig tin, and we're better off than those Malays who only know how to chant. Whether it's our circumstances, our lifestyles, or even the jobs we do, we Chinese and Indians are very similar."

“Honestly speaking, I think Chinese and Indians can become friends. It is easier for us to understand each other, and you are more disciplined.
Penang is undergoing construction and is in urgent need of labour. If you Indians are short of work, you are welcome to come and work in Penang."

Val was stunned and asked, "You, you welcome us Indians to come to Penang to work?"

Zheng Yi: "Of course, Indians, like us Chinese, are hardworking and able to endure hardships. However, there is a condition: you Indians coming to Penang must at least be able to speak standard English. Otherwise, communication will become a problem. That is of course not acceptable, don't you agree?"

Upon hearing this, Val was a little disappointed. In fact, there are not that many Indians who can speak English.

Zheng Yi then added, "Of course, I know most of you Indians can't speak English. I personally suggest that you establish a small government in Perak."

"I can make the decision to evacuate the Chinese and Chinese workers in Perak. Many of the plantations and rubber estates there are owned by us Chinese.
I can make them sell all these properties to you Indians, so that you can be your own masters."

Val: "But...we don't have any money."

Zheng Yi: "I can lend you money and provide you with loans. Also, as far as I know, Perak is particularly suitable for growing palm oil. To show our sincerity, we Chinese can completely withdraw from the operation of palm oil plantations and let you Indians do it."

"As for the conditions... your bulk futures and spot trading can only be done at the Penang trading center.

All products must go through the Port of Penang. I promise you, whether it is rubber, palm oil, or tin, whatever price we Chinese offer, you Indians will pay the same price. We will never force down the price.
But you are not allowed to engage in a price war with us, otherwise I will kill you."

Val quickly said: "Of course, we are definitely, definitely, we are only responsible for production, we don't understand sales matters,
We are so grateful to you Chinese for helping us with sales. Professor Zheng, I can swear to be loyal to you forever..."

Zheng Yi interrupted quickly, "Don't say that. I don't need your loyalty. We are equal, mutually beneficial, aren't we?
If you are willing to establish a regime and a self-governing government, I can provide you with weapons and loans, and I can also help you negotiate with the colonial government. You can also pay taxes."

“Come to think of it, you Indians make up almost half of the population in Perak, the same number as the Malays. They just farm a little bit, how can they compare to you?
Is it just that you lack weapons? Why is the Sultan the nominal supreme leader of Perak? Why are you outsiders and should be ruled by the Malays? "

"In addition, Kedah is known as the Malay rice capital. If you Indians are willing to go to Kedah to grow rice, I am willing to cooperate with you.

I will harvest whatever you grow, and I will pay you a high price. I can even charge you twice the price of rice imported from Siam."

Upon hearing this, Val knelt down in front of Zheng Yi without saying a word, made the sign of the cross on his chest, and then performed a very clumsy Chinese three bows and nine kowtows ceremony. Zheng Yi did not try to stop him.

"Professor Zheng, I can assure you that we Indians in Perak will always be your and the Chinese in Penang's most loyal friends.
If you are willing to give us weapons, I will kill the Malays in Perak and even Kedah, and this revenge can be put on us Indians."

Look, I said that the lower castes here are sensible.

(The map of Malaysia is shown above. Alor Setar is the capital of Kedah, and Ipoh is the capital of Perak)
(End of this chapter)