1928: The rise of giant merchants

October 10, the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928).

Tianjin, Marshal's Mansion.

"Hahahahahaha——"

Han Qing laughed loudly, put down the newspaper and said to Feng Zhi: "Well done, these old scholars, the Manchu relics are holding on to the dance halls in Beijing and Tianjin every day, and they ask me to close the dance halls every now and then. Now they are even scolding them in Shanghai. It’s a pity that they have encountered a tough fight this time! Look at the newspapers. Aluo is so cruel. Not only did he directly go out and scold them, but he also dug up so much black material and reported it. People never thought that for a little money, they would be kicked directly onto the iron plate!"

"This little brother is indeed extraordinary. I don't know what his Black Cat Dance Hall is like, but it's a pity that I didn't go to visit it when I was on the beach." Yu Fengzhi pursed her lips and chuckled, and she also felt about Ye Luo's senses. Very good. Although the Shanghai delegation failed to meet him, there were news and reports about him all around. In addition to the extremely active Ye's Charitable Foundation in the north, all were positive rumors.

Yu Fengzhi has a good impression of this kind of Chinese businessmen who save the country through industry and serve the people through industry.

Originally, when she invested in Paramount, she was also interested in the reputation of Lu Yusheng and Yongxing Company in Shanghai, but now she saw that Yongxing Company was not as good as they imagined.

When it comes to the Black Cat Dance Hall, Han Qing feels a little guilty and embarrassed. Thanks to Ye Luo, he reunited with Miss Zhao Si after a long absence. The two are now in private contact, hoping that this relationship can be accepted by Yu Fengzhi and Zhao Qinghua. .

Han Qing is not in a hurry now, after all, Zhao Yidi is only 16 years old.

"It's a pity that such a talented young man, why does business have to do something like a movie and dance hall? If he can focus on industry and domestic products, maybe he can save the current extremely decadent domestic product market." Yu Fengzhi sighed.

Hearing what she said, Han Qing quickly explained to Ye Luo: "We have all misunderstood this second young master! It's not that he doesn't want to do it, but that he is unable to do it now."

He told Ye Luo's concerns, his idea of ​​starting a dance hall and other businesses to accumulate capital, and the factory handover agreement with him.

Yu Fengzhi couldn't help but nodded and said with a smile: "In that case, Han Qing, why don't you take action and help this little brother relieve the pressure. Although we have shares in Paramount, I now hope that he will be able to work as soon as possible. Make money, and then make those light industrial factories bigger and stronger from your hands!"

"Yeah, I almost forgot!" Han Qing slapped his head, "I only cared about having fun myself and didn't do anything for him. But this time the scolding war between Paramount and Black Cat Dance Hall ended with many and mixed people. I have a special status, and if I help him at this juncture, it might make him resented by the Jinling National Government."

"Yes, you should not come forward to support him directly. In this way, doesn't his Ye's Charity Foundation have a branch in Tianjin? He made a private donation of 50,000 yuan in the name of our husband and wife. People who understand will understand. And the Winter Emperor, I can recognize her as my god-sister, which can be considered as helping him solve a small problem." Yu Fengzhi said with a smile.

"Okay, that's a good idea. Let's do it. I'll send him a telegram later." Han Qing nodded.

Northeastern University, open course on architecture.

"Before class today, I want to talk to you about the Shanghai-style architecture in Shanghai." Lin Huiyin spread out his handouts, looked at the more than two hundred students who came to attend the lecture, and suddenly said, "As we all know, Shanghai-style architectural culture has been around since 1843. On November 17, Shanghai gradually emerged as a port after its official opening. At that time, foreign goods and foreign capital poured into the Yangtze River gateway, opened travel inns, set up docks, demarcated concessions, and opened banks. Since then, Shanghai has entered a turning point in its historical development. An inconspicuous seaside county began to move towards the largest metropolis in the Far East."

"Now, 185 years have passed, countless Shanghai-style buildings are popular in Shanghai, and there are countless landmark buildings. As a practitioner in the construction industry, if I can design and build a building that sensationalizes the whole country in Shanghai, I will definitely feel a great sense of accomplishment. .”

When Lin Huiyin said this, he blinked,

"As for me, I was honored to be invited to Shanghai to design new buildings when I returned to China this year, and the two buildings designed by my husband and I have also been completed."

"Teacher Lin, what kind of building is it?" the students asked curiously.

"Ye's Guangming Cinema and Black Cat Dance Hall." Lin Huiyin closed the lecture notes and said calmly, "I am an old friend of Ye Luo, the boss of Ye's Investment Company. He and Sicheng were classmates at Tsinghua Academy. This person has extraordinary conversation and outstanding ability. , is a Chinese businessman who is very enthusiastic about industrial undertakings. Maybe you don’t know much about him, but you must have heard about the recent dance hall turmoil.”

Lin Huiyin was very angry when she learned about the quarrel between Ye Luo and Chen Zhengde a few days ago, and the fact that Yongxing Company deliberately slandered and insulted the Black Cat Dance Hall. However, her ability was limited and she could not help Ye Luo in the mall.

After thinking about it, I chatted with my husband all night, and even sent telegrams to Xu Zhimo and Hu Shi. After several conversations, I decided to rectify Ye Luo's name and help him during the lecture, at least to let the students know that he was a Chinese businessman who was determined to rejuvenate the country through industry. , rather than a black-hearted businessman who only wants to make money as written in newspapers and magazines.

No matter what business he does, at least he is not purely making money as a comprador.

". He is the Chinese Consul of the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, the Chinese Director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau, a member of the General Chamber of Commerce Committee, and the president of the well-known Yip Charitable Foundation. Everyone loves to watch "The Burning Red Lotus" "Temple" is a script he wrote and filmed by his film company."

At the same time, North China Cinema.

"Boss, the billboard at the door has been erected. Is it okay to look like this?" The worker looked at the big billboard and felt a little worried.

Luo Mingyou looked up.

Today is the day that North China Cinema introduces the fifth episode of "The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple". This series of ghosts and martial arts movies pioneered this system. After becoming popular in the south, it became even more popular in the north.

They like this kind of upright, martial arts, and movies with strong colors of gods and ghosts, and every time they are shown, they are almost sold out.

As Ye Luo said, anyone who cooperates with him can make money.

And Luo Mingyou also deeply felt another thing, which was also the other half of Ye Luo's unsaid words——

Anyone who goes against him will be doomed.

Luo Mingyou was very happy that day that he took the initiative to settle the feud with Ye Luo, and went to the United States with Li Minwei to purchase sound equipment, and officially reached a cooperation with Yip's Film Company.

Now, Ye's Dance Company has been criticized by all parties, and Ye Luo has also strongly responded to these people's smears.

As a partner, Luo Mingyou knew that he should step in and take sides. If he pretended to be dead, it would easily lead to the breakdown of the relationship.

The huge billboard says very straightforwardly——

If you want to watch a movie, watch "The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple"; if you want to dance, go to the Black Cat Ballroom.

Then the page was divided into two, one half was a promotional poster for the movie, featuring the heroine Xia Peizhen, and the other half was a promotional advertisement for Black Cat Dance Hall, featuring the promotional model Lu Xiaoman!

Now is the hottest moment when celebrities from all walks of life are besieging Black Cat Ballroom. Openly supporting Black Cat Ballroom in front of the cinema will easily make those celebrities annoying and affect the sales of the film.

If the North China Cinema Company was attacked by someone with this little pigtail, Luo Mingyou would lose a lot of income. Even so, he still did it resolutely.

"No problem! We are partners with Ye's Investment Company, and it is our duty to support his companies. If anyone has any objections, just ask them to come to me directly." Luo Mingyou waved his hand.

Peking, Beiyang Theater.

Today there is a public charity performance by the Meng Family Theater Troupe. Before the performance begins, the theater is bustling with activity and the theater is full of fans.

Watching Peking Opera is one of the favorite pastimes of Peking people, not to mention that the one on stage today is the Winter Emperor Meng Xiaodong!

It was this benefit performance that gave the police who maintained public order a headache. The theater was full, and the walls outside were lined with theatergoers who wanted to see the Winter Emperor!

It felt like half the people in Beiping City were rushing over.

Soon, the first performance of "Zhulian Village" opened.

Li Keyong, played by Meng Xiaodong, appeared on the stage stroking his beard and shocked everyone when he said: "I will tell my old roots with my virtuous brother."

"good!!!"

There was thunderous applause and continuous cheers from the audience.

This benefit performance not only featured the Meng Family Troupe, but also many famous Peking opera actors from the Beijing and Tianjin areas took turns to perform on the stage. They were all friends called by Meng Xiaodong to support the scene.

All ticket sales from the benefit performance will be donated to the Yip Charitable Foundation!

The performance ended successfully, and Meng Xiaodong returned to the stage after leaving the stage, which immediately caused a burst of exclamation.

"Thank you all bosses for your full support today. Today's benefit performance is to raise funds and make a small contribution to disaster relief in many places in the north. Secondly, it is to help my friend, Mr. Ye Luo, the president of the Ye's Charitable Foundation, clear his name. .As we all know, a few months ago, Ye’s World opened in Shanghai. I was invited to perform and was fortunate enough to get to know Boss Ye. In my heart, Boss Ye is an upright person.”

Meng Xiaodong's words were photographed and recorded by countless reporters.

She is the famous Winter Emperor and a goddess in the hearts of countless people, but now she openly sides with a businessman and a man. With this act, it can be said that she has put her career on the line!

These remarks will surely stir up countless disturbances in the Peking Opera circle and Peking, and will also plunge her into a deep whirlpool.

Meng Xiaodong knew what would happen if she did this, but she still did it resolutely.

She never looked back and worked hard regardless of her own safety.

Because not long after she returned to Tianjin, she had been harassed by Sun Chuanfang. Thanks to Ye Luo's relationship management and the protection of Hanqing and his wife, she didn't have to run away like before.

Her husband in name is still overseas and unable to do anything.

She had had enough of living like a duckweed.

Caressing the string of crystal clear necklaces around her neck, Meng Xiaodong looked dully towards the south, completely ignoring the various voices and questions in the audience.

"My brother's kindness cannot be repaid by me."

Ye Luo looked at the telegram sent by Meng Xiaodong, read it softly, and then sighed.

Originally, this farce was a good excuse for Ye Luo to sound the clarion call for counterattack, but unexpectedly, Lu Yusheng found so many trolls to spray him. After the situation spread, the public relations of Ye's Investment Company did not stop to work hard. People from all walks of life across the country and themselves Celebrities with whom they had connections were the first to strike back.

In this way, just by digging up dirt and counterattacking, the sixteen people who signed the letter were overwhelmed. All the insulting articles that had been written all over the place disappeared. Only Chen Zhengde's Republic of China Daily remained strong and continued to support Paramount. , discrediting Black Cat Dance Hall.

This troll is quite powerful. Not only is he angrily criticizing Ye Luo, but he also continues to hire people to start a war with Shenbao and Xinwen. He says that they are big newspapers, but they publish unfavorable articles about dancers lamenting their lives, and shabby articles all day long. Just like a pornographic tabloid!

It wasn't enough to fight against the two giants in the newspaper industry. He also wanted to fight against Yu Qiaqing and the General Chamber of Commerce Committee, saying that Yu Qiaqing was a trash businessman and the General Chamber of Commerce was shielding Ye Luo. They were all the same!

But there was no need for Ye Luo to take action at this time.

The dancer article that Chen Zhengde angrily denounced was a real dancer's autobiography written by Ye Luo under Wang Ji's instructions and published in major newspapers and magazines. Wang Ji also tearfully performed it on a radio interview program.

There is this passage in Wang Ji's "A Dancer's Narrative":

"Among so many dancers, everyone has their own status and family environment, but there is one thing that can be believed. If it were not for the poverty of the family, who would be willing to live as an innocent girl? Why do you want to be hugged by others? This is nothing more than being driven by the whip of life and enduring the pain to sacrifice. At the same time, you must also know that except for the dancing girl who has lost all her conscience and surrendered to herself, she has no idea about the life of being hugged by others. One who doesn’t hate anyone and hopes to get out of the pit of fire as soon as possible.”

This passage goes straight to the hearts of the dancers and their families.

If an innocent girl had no money and was too poor to do anything, who would be willing to go to a dance hall and be hugged and intimated by strange men?

And such a miserable group needs to be snarled by a troll like you!

Chen Zhengde really didn't expect that so many people would spontaneously side with Ye Luo, and that Ye Luo's counterattack would be so effective and powerful!

When he realized that this opponent was different from the past and was very difficult to deal with, his headquarters of the Republic of China Daily had been smashed by the troublemakers. Some troublemakers threw stones at his office window, went to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau and shouted to ban the Republic of China Daily!

On the other side, Ye Luo, who was at the center of the incident, did not go out and confront them head-on. Instead, he took the initiative to go to the municipal government office, admitted his mistakes to Zhang Dingyao, Zhang Qun and others, and gave suggestions for rectifying the dance hall industry.

Zhang Dingyao knew the root cause of this scolding. Seeing that Ye Luo was more successful than Lu Yusheng, he was happy to resolve the dispute as soon as possible.

And now he has been suffering from chronic diseases and has no intention of dealing with such nonsense in the business world.

After leaving the office, Ye Luo knew that the overall situation had been decided. This battle was won smoothly, and the follow-up would just depend on how Paramount would decline and close down.

He also noticed that Zhang Dingyao often coughed and had a sullen look on his face. It seemed that his chronic illness was gradually getting worse, and it was not long before he left office.

As soon as this person leaves, Zhang Qun will take over, and the position vacated by Zhang Qun, the deputy mayor's throne, will give Ye Luo's uncle, who is keen on career, a chance!

Moreover, the issue of chronic diseases is also Ye Luo's trump card against Yongxing Company.

He asked Shi Jianqiao to send him to Lin Ruxian at No. 31 Xiafei Road, and then attend the wedding banquet of Fan Erdi and Fan Juli with her tonight.

At the wedding banquet, it was a good time to talk about Jing Ruishan's death.