1928: The rise of giant merchants

Shiliupu Wharf, the largest gateway in the Far East, is a lively area that cannot be ignored on the Pudong map.

Ye Luo looked through the ferry window at the No. 1 Pier of Shanghai, which was bustling with people and mixed with people.

Densely packed, capable dock workers in tattered blouses shouted horns and boarded the ship to unload boxes and carry loads.

At the port, a strong man stood on a few wooden boxes, holding a loudspeaker, and shouted at the top of his voice: "We're hiring, we're hiring, ten bucks a day, including food and shelter."

Listening to the noisy shouts and passing through the layers of crowds, Ye Luoneng could vaguely see landmark buildings such as the Jinling Grand Theater, the Far East Racecourse, and the Sassoon Building that were quite familiar in his memory.

Shanghai Beach in 1928 was bright and magnificent.

Western style, Shanghai style, high-rise buildings, ten-mile foreign market, drunkenness and feasting, under the splendid neon lights, countless people worked together to compose a mottled and splendid prosperous Ukiyo-e that uniquely belongs to this era and this city.

"Hey, young man, did you see that we are going to the pier in a while? Don't mess with those people in suits and top hats."

With a gentle push on his arm, Ye Luo's thoughts instantly came back from his memory.

The middle-aged man next to him, who was also wearing a suit and had a big belly, grinned. The man's name was Chow Tai Fook, a fellow Shanghainese he met by chance on an ocean liner, and he took good care of him along the way.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Chow Tai Fook cupped him with his hand again.

"If you offend them and get beaten up, don't blame uncle for not reminding you then."

"Are they very powerful?" Ye Luo raised the brim of his suit hat with his hand, revealing most of his young and handsome face, which immediately caused many beautiful cheongsam ladies around him to whisper.

"Awesome, of course! Those people are members of the Federation of Labor. Did you see that they all have the badges of the Hudong Office on their chests? Does Ye Yuqiao, the president of the Federation of Labor, know? In Shanghai, except for General Lu, foreigners from the concession, Chairman Ye is the one outside the public affairs bureau and the Ministry of Industry bureau.”

Chow Tai Fook secretly stretched out his right hand and gave him a thumbs up, his face full of admiration and fear.

"That's really awesome." Ye Luo smiled and didn't seem to care.

"Young boy, don't take what my uncle says to you seriously." Seeing the expression on his face, a smile flashed in Chow Tai Fook's eyes, and he began to teach with earnest words,

"It seems that you have been studying abroad for many years, right? It is indeed a good thing for young people to study more and have more experience, but if you want to get ahead in Shanghai, it is not enough to just read a few books. No matter what you do back in Shanghai At work, you can’t get around Chairman Ye’s labor union.”

"Isn't employee recruitment under the control of the General Affairs Office? Is the Labor Federation still responsible for this now?" Ye Luo showed a hint of curiosity.

This is a bit different from six years ago.

"Isn't this just recruitment? Do you really think the General Affairs Office is responsible for finding a job in Shanghai? Now that you want to settle down in Shanghai, remember to register with the Labor Federation as soon as you get off the dock."

Chow Dafu rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm from Shanghai and I want to go?" Ye Luo became more and more curious.

"What's wrong with Shanghainese? Even if you're from Jinling, you still have to go to the Labor Federation office to register and pay money. This is the rule! President Ye, do you really not know?"

Chow Dafu glanced around, leaned close to him, and whispered,

"Does the Knife Gang know how to cut? President Ye used to be a member of the Knife Gang! In Hudong, if you look for anyone on the street, whether it's a rickshaw driver, a dock worker, an employee of a foreign bank, or a teahouse lady, they all have something to do with the Knife Gang. !”

"Oh! I understand. You can get away with being a gangster." The smile on Ye Luo's mouth became even thicker.

"You are seeking death! Young boy, are you really desperate for your life? Have you seen this, the wedding invitations sent by laborers." Chow Tai Fook was so frightened that he quickly covered his mouth, took out a bright red invitation card from his pocket and photographed it on his face. On his face, he said, "Today is the big day for President Ye's youngest daughter. I don't know how many people on this ferry are rushing back to Shanghai to attend the wedding banquet. Are you afraid that others won't hear you when you speak so loudly?"

"Oh, no wonder there are so many people on this ferry. So those suits and top hats are coming to the pier to pick up people?" Ye Luo looked at the Shiliupu Pier getting closer and closer. More and more people in suits and top hats were coming and going, and The dock workers working on cattle and horses next to them formed a sharp contrast, "Uncle, is there anyone here to pick him up?"

"Of course there is. Uncle, I used to be one of the most prestigious people in Hudong. Otherwise, how would ordinary people get the wedding invitation from the Labor Federation?" Chow Tai Fook shook the wedding invitation in his hand and straightened his suit jacket with his hands, looking very expressive. To be proud, "You will follow my uncle in a while, and you can also see Miss Ye's wedding, and gain insights. My uncle also met some friends in the Hudong office, and after attending the wedding and dance, he will take you to pay homage to the mountain and put down roots." .”

"Thank you, uncle." Ye Luo nodded with a smile.

"Why are you so polite? We are all from abroad. If we can help, we will definitely help." Chow Tai Fook's smile became even brighter.

"Tuk-"

The long sound of the whistle drifted to Shiliupu Pier with the river wind.

Nissin Kisen Kaisha's ship "Yueyang Maru" slowly sailed in and docked properly. Hundreds of suitcase travelers who had returned from various places swarmed down and poured into the largest city in the Far East.

Ye Luo picked up his suitcase and followed Chow Tai Fook off the ferry.

I was only sixteen years old when I left Shanghai to study in the United Kingdom and the United States six years ago. Now that I have returned to my hometown again, the scene in front of me is both familiar and unfamiliar.

Seeing him looking at everything around him curiously, Chow Tai Fook remembered that he had the same look when he returned to Shanghai for the first time.

Chow Tai Fook smiled and said nothing, resisting the desire to introduce, and let the bustling Far Eastern city scenery naturally leave an indelible mark on the heart of this young man.

Seeing several top hats from the Labor Federation approaching, Ye Luo subconsciously lowered the brim of his hat and stood behind Chow Tai Fook.

"Uncle Zhou?" A tall hat glanced at them and then came up to them with a smile on his face.

"It's me, it's me, what do you call me brother?" Seeing him coming, Chow Tai Fook hurriedly clasped his fists to greet him.

The tall hat also clasped his fists and returned the greeting: "Hello, uncle. My name is Zhang Hai. Uncle Jiu sent me to pick up uncle."

"Ah, trouble, trouble. This is my nephew, and he also went to Miss Ye's wedding together." Chow Tai Fook pointed at him behind him, "Then Ah Hai, shall we go over now?"

"Well, as you know, uncle, the Labor Union is very busy right now, and we here have to be responsible for picking up and dropping off a lot of people." Zhang Hai deliberately said in a long voice, pretending to be embarrassed.

"Ah, I know, I know." Chow Tai Fook took out a pack of Hard Doors from his pocket. He had just boasted about his reputation with his junior student and couldn't lose face.

He put the cigarette into Zhang Hai's hand and looked at several black cars parked not far away. "Ah Jiu said he had a car to pick him up. Ah Hai, if you are too busy, we can drive there ourselves," he said. I won’t bother you to send it away. By the way, Ah Jiu is in good health? I haven’t seen him for many years, I miss him.”

"Ah, A Shunong is so polite." Zhang Hai's eyes narrowed into sharp corners, he smiled and held the bag of Hades tightly, and glanced at the car dealership not far away, "Uncle Jiu is in good health. Don’t worry, uncle.”

"Uncle, as for this car, Uncle Jiu arranged a car to pick up uncle. But uncle, I think I have to pick up a few foreigners today, but there is only one car. I also know that foreigners have a bad temper. Very, it will be difficult for us too. How about you, uncle, please work harder and take a rickshaw there first?"

Chow Tai Fook's face was slightly embarrassed when he heard this. He was about to refuse for the sake of shame, but the young boy behind him happily agreed.

The "nephew" all agreed. It seemed that Zhang Hai was not willing to lend him the car, so Chow Tai Fook could only nodded with a dark face.

After the discussion, Ye Luo followed Chow Tai Fook and others to the car dealership. Zhang Hai said hello to a rickshaw driver and ran to pick up the foreigner with a smile.

When he got on the rickshaw, before he could say anything, Chow Tai Fook, who was filled with gas, shouted: "Go to the Majestic Hotel."

"Okay, boss."

The two wheels of the rickshaw spun in a circle flexibly, and the spokes of the wheels turned softly, carrying the two people towards the center of Hudong.

"Cuna, Xiaochi, no matter how big or small. All he wants to do is please foreigners. Wait until I see Ah Jiu." On the rickshaw, Chow Tai Fook cursed in a low voice, angrily.

Ye Luo, however, admired the surrounding scenery with great interest.

The Dahua Hotel they are going to is located at the intersection of Aiwenyi Road and Gordon Road. It was built by Spanish designer Abelando Lafuente.

The hotel retains the original large lawn and garden of Maibian Garden. The main building is a fake four-story European classical building with a mixed structure of brick, wood and stone. It is supported by Ionian columns and equipped with large semi-circular arches. The land area is about 2000 square meters.

Because of its magnificent, graceful and luxurious style, it became a frequent gathering place for Shanghai's dignitaries and celebrities soon after its opening.

The Dahua Ballroom in the hotel is known as the largest ballroom in Shanghai, with singing and dancing all day and night, and the music never stops.

Only the most powerful dignitaries in Shanghai can hold personal weddings here.

"Two bosses, today the lady of President Ye's family is holding a wedding at the Dahua Hotel. The Labor Federation has blocked the road, so we can only stop here. I'm sorry." The rickshaw hissed and stopped at the Dahua Hotel. Not far from the crossroads.

Ye Luo looked up and saw a large group of black people in suits and hats walking back and forth in front of the hotel. Countless luxury cars were parked on Gordon Road. It seemed that celebrities from the entire city had come here in groups.

After getting out of the car, Ye Luo raised his hand and rewarded the rickshaw driver with a piece of ocean. His generosity made Chow Tai Fook startled.

The rickshaw driver walked away, and Chow Tai Fook pulled him into the crowd and headed towards the entrance of the Majestic Hotel.

There were too many people gathered at the Majestic Hotel today. The ladies in suits, hats, and cheongsam were sorted into different categories. They stood at the door of the hotel with smiles to greet guests. Guests of different statuses were greeted by different hosts.

The wedding invitations in Chow Tai Fook's hands were of the lowest quality. As long as their identities were checked, they could follow the crowd and enter the side hall to take their seats.

As for the highest-grade batch, there is a beautiful woman in charge of a beautiful cheongsam with bright high heels and a charming waist.

The woman's appearance is soft and charming, and she attracts the attention of countless men just by standing there.

Ye Luo naturally glanced a few times, and then was lightly patted on the arm by Chow Tai Fook.

"Don't look blindly, young disciple, that is Hua Mei from Fengming Tower, one of the four beauties under Shu Qiao, the eldest sister of Fengming Tower. I don't know how many men in Shanghai are staring at her. Don't mess around anymore. Look, be careful if someone digs out your eyes."

Chow Tai Fook looked like he understood his "young and energetic, admiring beauty" expression, but Hua Mei was not a woman that could be picked up by just anyone.

"When you enter the restaurant later, remember to be smart, look less, talk less, eat more and drink more."

On the beach, there are many heroes and the wind is turbulent. If you don't have any ability, you have to keep your tail between your legs, otherwise you will easily get killed.

"I know, but it seems like she is looking at me?" Ye Luo put down the suitcase in his hand with an innocent look on his face.

"My brain is so stupid, how could this be possible?"

Chow Dafu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The words he just cursed were swallowed back by the sound of Hua Mei's rapid footsteps of high heels.

He actually saw Hua Mei hurriedly pushing through the crowded crowd and running toward them with her pretty waist twisted.

Those tender eyes with a hint of resentment were really staring at the young boy next to him!

"Young Master~Second Young Master~"

Hua Mei's soft voice quickly spread among the crowd.

"Second Young Master? Is the Second Young Master back?!"

"Go in and tell the president! The second young master is back!"

"Quick, quick, quick! The second young master is home! Get out of the way, get out of the way!"

The sound of the crowd spread, covering up the lively sound of the wedding.

Ye Luo smiled, feeling good about going home.

Turning around to look, Chow Tai Fook's confused expression was quite interesting.

"Second, second young master?" Chow Dafu felt that his mind was in a mess and he could hardly speak clearly.

"Yes, thank you for taking care of me all the way, uncle." Ye Luo smiled and nodded, and took out a golden wedding invitation from his suit pocket, which clearly read "brother Ye Luo personally greets, little sister Ye Qingqing" , brother-in-law Lin Yuancheng invites us to a banquet." "Today is my little sister's wedding. Uncle, you must eat well and drink well."