Chapter 39: Water Bottle

When Martin headed out for his morning run, he made sure to carry some cash with him. As he traversed the neighborhood, he noticed a surge in new dealers, distinct from the past when most traffickers were white. Now, they were predominantly black.

Martin had no interest in getting involved with them, so he skillfully evaded them, making his way to the northern part of the community. There, he spotted Scott, who was moving towards his grocery store with an unusual gait, carrying a bag.

Curiously, Martin inquired, "Injured again?"

Scott halted and enthusiastically replied, "I've found a new job with great income! Mark my words, Martin, I, Scott Carter, will soon be a wealthy man." Martin was perplexed by this sudden turn of events but chose not to delve deeper, simply asking, "Do you have modeling clay in your store?"

Scott continued toward the store, saying, "Yes, come along. What do you have in mind, you clumsy fool?"

Martin responded vaguely, "Just a small toy to bring joy."

An hour later, at Carter's house, Martin cleared the table, opened the bag of clay, and began shaping it according to his vision. However, reality didn't align with his intentions.

Harris, after finishing the dishes, approached and examined what Martin had crafted. It resembled a large ball with an appendage sticking out, somewhat resembling a coiled snake. Harris exclaimed, "Martin, did you just mold a piece of excrement?"

Martin paused and asked, "Is it really that terrible?" Harris shook his head, regarding Martin with a look of disbelief. He called out, "Elena, Martin needs your assistance."

Elena emerged from the room, ready to help. Martin hesitated for a moment, then gestured with his hands to convey a height of about thirty centimeters, saying, "Something like this, in the form of... a complete wooden fence."

Elena surveyed the chaotic mess Martin had created, immediately grasping the situation. "I get it," she said.

Martin chimed in, "I've prepared a special water bottle for the Woman Association's rally and protest."

Elena swiftly got to work, crafting a prototype with remarkable speed, using a carving knife for intricate details.

Martin then directed her, saying, "Add a straw at the top."

Elena questioned, "Are you sure this is a water bottle? I'm not very familiar with this, don't play tricks on me."

Martin replied earnestly, "It's definitely a bottle." He gestured towards the side, saying, "And design a line on the column, 'my body my choice"

Having recently paid attention to the Methodist Church, Woman Association, and the Hulks Mansion due to Martin's influence, Elena inquired, "Is this appearance and slogan designed for liberals specifically?"

Martin explained, "I'm aiming to make it a favorite among liberals while keeping it unique."

Elena expressed surprise, "You understand business?"

Martin confessed that he was unfamiliar with business and had always been adrift in life. The kettle's design and slogan were borrowed from the entertainment industry. In his previous life after 2015, he couldn't recall the exact year, but Kendall Jenner had used a similar water cup. The slogan, originally from Hollywood, was later associated with Me Too. Unfortunately, the bottle appearance couldn't be registered for a design patent.

Elena fetched a hair dryer to expedite the drying process while Martin continued contemplating monetization.

Elena, with her arms crossed, asked, "So, what's your plan, idiot?"

Martin responded simply, "First, I'm a true liberal, and I need broad recognition, especially among California liberals."

Before he could finish his sentence, Elena's middle finger was already aimed at him.

Martin continued, "Second, sell it to liberals and make some money."

Elena questioned, "Are you sure about this?"

Martin nodded, convinced that the equal rights water bottle was essential after his discussion with Kelly Gray.

Elena added, "The straw should be removable so that customers can use it both ways."

Martin was rendered speechless, thinking that Elena was squandering her talents.

He changed into formal attire, grabbed a briefcase, packed the kettle, and instructed Elena, "Where's the skirt I bought for you? Put it on; you're my assistant now. Keep your language in check."

Elena changed and followed Martin out.

The two first visited the Marietta Theater Company and, through Jerome's assistance, found a prop master associated with the theater group. They used the clay model as a reference and paid him to create a prototype using hot-melt resin.

Jerome inspected the peculiar water bottle and wondered, "How can something like this be made?"

Martin, not knowing how to explain the commercial purpose, pointed at Elena, saying, "Captain, she underestimated my potential and insisted on using me as the model to turn it into a daily essential."

Elena cursed silently.

Jerome glanced at the kettle, feeling a deep sense of inadequacy. He decided to skip further discussion, stating, "Is it done? Let's go."

Martin drove to Duluth.

After inspecting various products produced by the companies he had shortlisted during his previous research, Martin identified a suitable candidate: an import and export company named Gulf Trading, known for its may water bottle they offer.

The company was relatively small, established for many years, and had a solid reputation.

The owner, Rashid, with an accent in his English, inquired, "Mr. Davis, we can certainly meet your needs when it comes to small commodities. May I ask which product you're interested in?"

Martin went straight to the point, "I want to customize a kettle."

Rashid probed further, "Could you provide specific requirements?"

Martin stated, "I need the lowest possible price and high-quality materials, including the shell, which must meet U.S. standards. I don't want any risks of poisoning if it's used universally."

Rashid considered for a moment and requested, "Do you have any samples or drawings?"

Martin presented the sample crafted by the prop master.

Upon seeing the distinctive pink kettle, Rashid's lips twitched slightly in bewilderness . He remarked, "This material won't do."

Martin was straightforward, "The samples are flexible. The first batch will consist of 10,000 units. Give me a quote."

Rashid performed some calculations and proposed, "5 U.S. dollars."

Martin shook his head, "An Asian company across the street quoted 1.5 U.S. dollars for the same thing." He raised a finger, "This is just the first batch."

Rosad factored in the costs, "We've never produced this type of bottle before, and the mold cost is substantial."

After some negotiation, they settled on a unit price of $3, including customs clearance, transportation, and storage.

Martin contacted the law firm he had previously used, and a professional lawyer drafted the contract. He paid a $4,500 deposit.

During the car ride back, Elena's suppressed worries resurfaced, "Idiot, if you can't sell $30,000 worth of goods, you'll end up broke again, and you'll face a hellish business lawsuit."

Martin reassured her, "The final balance has a two-month payment period, so we should be fine. I'm doing my best to pique the Club's interest. Even if they're not interested, I can still sell within the club. They'll surely find it intriguing."

He turned to Elena with a grin, "If all else fails, I can always return to the boxing ring."