1928: The rise of giant merchants

October 19, the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928).

Little Aqiao's mind was filled with the word "equal wife" that Ye Luo said last night. After becoming pregnant, she did not dare to continue working day and night as before. She slept in late today, and when she woke up, she found something beside her pillow. Empty, Ye Luo has disappeared.

Not long after she got up, she heard a knock on the door.

"Qiao'er, are you up?"

This is the voice of Ye Luo's mother, Li Shuzhen.

Little Aqiao got up quickly: "Auntie, I'm up, I'll open the door for you."

"Oh, don't stop, don't move in bed!" Li Shuzhen pushed in, and behind him, he followed seven or eight kinds of kind middle -aged women. "What should I do if I move the fetal gas?"

Looking at the large number of people who suddenly entered the room, little Aqiao was stunned. Then she realized something and quickly lay back obediently, letting Li Shuzhen sit over and hold her hand.

"Come on, these are all experienced doctors and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. I'll let them take a look at you first." Li Shuzhen gently stroked the little Aqiao's belly, her eyes full of joy, "Xiao Li! Hurry up and get the shark fin bird's nest." Bring it to the Second Young Mistress!"

"Auntie, I..." Little Aqiao blushed when she heard the words "Second Young Mistress".

"You still call me aunt?" Li Shuzhen patted the back of her hand, "That little bastard A Luo told us early in the morning. This is a good thing. Don't worry, we will go to Xiuzhu's place to talk."

"Yes, Mom." Little Aqiao looked at her, her whole body felt warm, and suddenly she felt that all the worries that had been accumulated in her heart had disappeared.

At the same time, Joffre Road, Balkan Cafe.

Like Yeluo's popular dance halls, coffee shops are now also popular in Shanghai. They are a large-scale Shanghai-style architectural industry that emerged in the 1920s.

However, unlike Ye Luo's dance hall, the main customer group of the coffee shop is the middle class, as well as those ladies from the Republic of China who advocate petty bourgeoisie, and a large number of young intellectuals.

The first preparatory meeting of the Left-wing Writers Alliance was held at the Gongka Cafe in Hongkou, where a large number of left-wing writers often gathered. The main members were Mr. Zhou, Rou Shi, Xia Yan, Pan Hannian, Feng Xuefeng and others.

The main reason why coffee shops are so popular among intellectuals is that they represent modern and romantic culture, and have a progressive atmosphere that is different from the decadent Qing court.

At ten o'clock in the morning, as soon as Ye Luo arrived at the store, he saw Lu Yucai and others sitting in the back hall. They were chatting in low voices. There seemed to be some disputes. Ye Luo knew the person at the center of the dispute, the one who made the declaration. Well-known female reporter Chen Ruiqiong.

As soon as he sat down, Lu Yucai recognized him and stood up with a smile to say hello.

Ye Luo quickly shook his hand and returned the gesture with fists in his hands.

These writers were the ones that the principal later wanted to arrest and suppress in Shanghai. They were what he called "counterrevolutionaries." Several of them were later captured by spies across the country, tortured horribly, and even lost their lives.

He admires such people very much, but at this stage it is better not to have too much to do with this alliance.

Seeing that Ye Luo seemed to have something to do, Lu Yucai smiled and nodded in response and sat back down.

After hearing his introduction to Ye Luo, several people at the small table over there all looked at him with respect.

It can be seen that Ye Luo still has a high reputation and status in the minds of these people.

Originally, Ye Luo planned to go to the county town with Shi Jianqiao and Lu Meisheng to discuss the advertising painting with Zheng Mantuo today. However, considering the increasingly unstable public security environment recently, he gave up the idea of ​​going to the county town and instead invited Zheng Mantuo to liven up the concession. Get together at a coffee shop.

10:15.

Lu Meiseng and Zheng Mantuo arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed time, but saw Ye Luo already waiting there.

"Brother Luo, why are you so early!" Lu Meiseng asked in surprise, sitting down with Zheng Mantuo, "Let me introduce to you, this is Mr. Zheng Mantuo, the master of advertising painting. Mr. Zheng, this is the one I have mentioned to you many times. The second young master Ye Luo!"

"Don't take it seriously, I'm just a poor painter." Zheng Mantuo waved his hands repeatedly, sat down with a smile, and looked at Ye Luo, "Second Young Master, I have long admired your name!"

"Hello, Master Zheng. You have painted many monthly advertisements, but they were my favorite collections when I was a child." Ye Luo responded with a smile, "I am taking the liberty to invite you here this time. I hope you can help us produce Dragon Tiger." Rendan painted some promotional posters and vigorously promoted the only strong Sino-French pharmacy in the French Concession."

"Since it is the second young master's request, I am obligated to do so, but..." Zheng Mantuo also wanted to continue painting to make money.

Ye Luo smiled and took a sip of coffee: "Master Zheng, there is no need to worry about the Art Association and the Propaganda Department. I have already found Minister Bai Xiongqi of the Ministry of Military Affairs to intercede. As long as you are willing to go out and paint for my company, no one will dare to embarrass you." .”

"Is this true?" Zheng Mantuo had heard of the second young master's name, but he was just a businessman after all, and the person who blocked him was instructed by the former mayor Huang Yong, who was not a high-ranking official that ordinary businessmen could shake.

"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Zheng. Brother Luo has never made a mistake in what he said." Lu Meiseng smiled and comforted Zheng Mantuo.

The two of them lived very close to each other, so he knew very well how afraid Zheng Mantuo was of those who blocked him.

When the incident was at its worst, many soldiers lined up with guns drawn and came to the downstairs of his house. Zheng Mantuo was forced out of the ocean for ten thousand yuan, and he was lucky enough to escape. Otherwise, Longhua Prison would have been his final destination.

It was precisely because he knew how difficult Zheng Mantuo's matter was that Lu Meiseng thought of asking Ye Luo to help him, which would also allow Ye's Advertising Company to add another strong man.

"Master Zheng, since I dare to say this, I naturally have a way to help you solve your trouble." Ye Luo smiled and nodded.

Even if Zheng Mantuo was banned by Zhang Dingyao, he could still find opportunities to help him out of trouble, not to mention that it was his predecessor who did it?

"In that case, I will start helping the second young master draw when I get back today!" Zheng Mantuo was overjoyed and quickly expressed his stance.

Ye Luo took out two boxes of Dragon and Tiger Pills and pushed them to them: "This is our new health product, Dragon and Tiger Pills. The taste and effect are similar to the Japanese Rendan, but the price is cheaper and the effect is better. "

The two immediately picked up the small iron box, took out a few pills and tasted them

Lu Meisheng closed his eyes and smiled: "This tastes sweeter than Ren Dan. If it is effective, it will definitely be a hot seller!"

"Dragon Tiger Man Pill? I understand. Can I take this box back and study it, Second Young Master?" Zheng Mantuo savored the taste of the pill carefully. He was afraid that Ye Luo's products were not as good as others, and then wanted to use him The advertising paintings made a lot of money.

If he fails to meet Ye Luo's expectations, I'm afraid he will get angry again.

Now that he has taken Dragon Tiger Man Pill, he no longer doubts the competitiveness of the drug.

"Of course, please do so." Ye Luo nodded in agreement.

After all major matters were discussed, the three of them chatted for a while, and then Lu Meisheng and Zheng Mantuo left hand in hand.

It was approaching noon, and the arguments at the writers' party became more and more intense. Ye Luo looked at his watch. His next guest should be coming too.

Sure enough, within a few minutes, Huang Chujiu appeared at the door of the coffee shop with a hurried expression, sunken eyes, and a tired look.

The owner of the Sino-French pharmacy really couldn't bear it anymore.

Zhang Dingyao's crackdown on traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies was unprecedented, and he had no political connections, so he was just a doormat who was at the mercy of others.

Huang Chujiu has been using funds to fill the vacancies these days, but the turmoil caused by the dispute between Chinese and Western medicine is like a bottomless pit that cannot be settled with his little money.

Seeing Ye Luo sitting there, Huang Chujiu rushed over and knelt down with a snap!

"Boss Ye, please help me!"