"Besides, the current transaction price has increased by more than twenty percent compared to our previous estimate, but it's not quite thirty percent yet. Just here in our area, the land sold is enough for sixty households to build their own houses. If we squeeze a bit more and make the houses smaller, it could accommodate a hundred households."
"So, overall, looking at today alone, Douglas has seen an influx of no less than 150 households?"
Their land was very concentrated, starting from the southern outskirts and extending south along Highway 23. While it was true that they were major landowners, it was still just one direction, and a relatively narrow area at that.
But as Carter thought about it, he couldn't help but quip with a mix of amusement and incredulity, "Are these people out of their minds? At this rate of influx, even if the proposal is passed in three days, combining these two cities would add a minimum of 800 households, which is about two to three thousand people! Are their local banks not afraid of early settlements anymore?"
"Old Bass is barely cold yet, who dares to do this now? I asked them, and it's just that for the first three years, you can't settle early. After three years, you can settle all at once, but you'll have to pay a twenty percent penalty on the outstanding principal."
"So, what about our construction company?"
Despite the banter, Carter understood that at this point in time, no bank dared to stimulate people's emotions like before. Listening to Goodman's explanation, Carter asked somewhat ambiguously, "By the way, have you contacted that Mr. Fritz I mentioned before?"
"I had Mr. Ginas handle it over there, including finding clients for Pearson City's lumber. Now, they're mostly in touch with HT and Pearson, which makes it easier to say these things."
At Goodman's words, something seemed to click in his mind, and his eyes suddenly lit up. "You mean, can the construction company use the lumber from Pearson City?!"
"It's possible, I think this kind of thing can be consumed somehow. It can also be seen as stimulating domestic demand, right?"
···
···
"What? You mean 800 houses? I... I'm sorry, Mr. Griffin, are you sure you're not joking with me?"
In Ken Griffin's father's office in Florida, there was a sudden exclamation!
In an economic downturn, it wasn't good for large commodities like houses. High interest rates also meant consumers had to spend more on buying a house.
In such times, an unheard-of small town wanting to build eight houses was enough to surprise old Griffin. But the result was even more shocking, eight hundred houses?!
When he heard this number, Griffin's first reaction wasn't astonishment, but suspicion: Had Mr. Ginas not slept well, and was playing a prank on him?
But then again, it shouldn't be! This company called HT had already signed a very standard bulk purchase contract with his father-in-law. The first batch of purchases was to be made within two months, and there was almost no possibility of fraud. Especially after hearing from his successful father-in-law that the boss behind this HT was also well-known on Wall Street.
"I don't have time to joke with you now, Mr. Griffin. How about this, I'll give you the contact number of the person in charge, you can directly contact Douglas over there to coordinate!"
A moment later, a call came into Goodman's office.
And a moment later, there was a loud shout from Mr. Griffin's office:
"Evening! I'm going to Douglas tonight!"
"Don't get too excited, Mr. Griffin! Remember to prepare enough temporary housing for us and deliver it as soon as possible!"
"Okay, I'll go collect enough temporary housing immediately and guarantee it'll be in place within three days!"
After hanging up humbly, Mr. Griffin quickly called home:
"I'm not coming home for dinner tonight. I need to rush to Georgia tonight. I just received a big order for eight hundred houses! Thanks to my father-in-law and Ken for getting this order. Please remember to thank my father-in-law and then take Ken out for a big meal tonight. Ha ha ha, I gotta go, I'm busy."
After hastily dropping a segment of words without a head or tail, Mr. Griffin rushed out of the office:
"You three, hurry home and pack up your things. We're going on a business trip tonight! Also, later, in about half an hour, meet at the city center garden. We need to collect enough temporary housing to accommodate 3,000 people within three days!"
"That's the first task. There's also the supply of building materials for the guaranteed eight hundred houses later."
While Mr. Griffin in Florida was in chaos because of a phone call, Carter on this side felt more and more pressure.
"What is Mayor Benjamin doing? Why hasn't he stopped these people from coming in yet?"
"I heard it's those old stubborn guys in the council causing trouble, but I think it's almost over."
"And do you guys have time to deal with this? Our business is gone! Go to Blake Bank now and see what they plan to do next. I believe Mr. Blake won't ignore us!"
"What? You mean the investigators can't work anymore?"
"Yeah, it's all because of Jeff and his gang, slacking off every day. Do they really think Mr. Blake can't see it?"
After the DOG construction registration was completed, Blake Bank's next move was to cancel the investigators' work. Before the DOG recruitment notice was issued, the above dialogue was the most common phrase Carter heard these days, and there were more people congested outside the bank every day.
But they didn't have to wait too long.
On the fourth day of the Bass Bank shooting, the "Douglas Citizen Application Standard" was officially issued. The new regulations stipulated that as of June 1, 1980, foreign citizens could only apply for temporary residence permits. After paying taxes in Douglas for three years, they would automatically obtain Douglas citizenship.
On the fifth day, Pearson City also enacted similar regulations. The specifics were similar to those of Douglas. In the South and Central states where local protectionism prevailed, Pearsonians also didn't want outsiders to take their jobs.
And with the enactment of this rule, the entire southern part of Georgia boiled once again. Many families quickly mortgaged their homes, packed their bags, and drove their pickup trucks directly to Douglas or Pearson.
According to Chris, the manager of HT's No. 1 store next to Highway 23:
In the week before the new citizen law came into effect, the normally smooth national highway saw congestion for the first time in over a decade. Our restaurant's parking lot, which covers an area of two thousand square meters, couldn't bear the weight. Many people who couldn't find parking spaces simply parked in the fields on both sides or even on the roads. This undoubtedly added a lot of obstacles to people entering Douglas, but our business flourished because of it.