1928: The rise of giant merchants

Opening a bank is Ye Luo's long-established goal, and it is also an indispensable part of his grand business empire.

It's just that competition in the financial industry is fierce now. There are countless state-owned and private banks in various places, and there are many banks in Shanghai. It is not easy to break out of the encirclement.

In addition, during the warlord wars in the past few years, each warlord opened a bank and made a lot of money. Some even issued their own currency locally, which led to a very chaotic domestic monetary system.

After the Second Northern Expedition and the nominal unification, the president explicitly prohibited anyone from opening a bank privately without reporting it to the Central Ministry of Finance. Only the Central Bank of the Nationalist Government had the power to print currency and regulate the market.

Therefore, when he first started doing business, Ye Luo couldn't do it even if he wanted to, otherwise he would hit the muzzle and wait to die.

However, after Song Ziwen packed his father-in-law Zhang Mouzhi, brother-in-law Zhang Yuanbei and sister-in-law Zhang Anyi to Ye's house and asked Ye Luo to take care of them, the relationship between Ye Luo and the first financial tycoon in the Republic of China became closer.

Song Ziwen also intended to cultivate Ye Luo to become his direct descendant, so the two often maintained communication and communication.

Before going to Suzhou City, Ye Luo won the goodwill of the Bei family, and he also transferred Bei Zuyi back to Shanghai and became the current general manager of the Shanghai Branch of Huaguo Bank, as well as the China Industrial Bank Shanghai, whom he met at the Black Cat Ballroom last time. Liu Tizhi, the general manager of the branch, and Chen Guangfu, the general manager of Shanghai Commercial and Savings Bank, who have always had close contacts.

After half a year of operation and preparation, Ye Luo's connections and influence in the banking industry could no longer be underestimated, and he was waiting for a good opportunity to propose the idea of ​​opening a bank to Song Ziwen.

"Why, the Consul General thinks I can't do it?" Ye Luo chuckled and looked at Verdi.

Fan Erdi laughed and shook his head: "As long as it is what you want to do, I believe there is nothing you can't do. But I do have a small suggestion."

"Oh? Please speak." Ye Luo smiled.

Fan Erdi glanced at Fan Juli and then looked at Ye Luo: "We can work together to open a bank. With my reputation in the French Concession and China, all procedural problems will disappear. In addition, your country is very strict about joint banks in the concession. Tolerance."

That would be equivalent to establishing a Sino-foreign joint venture bank.

Ye Luo pondered for a moment, nodded and said: "This is indeed a good method. If the bank headquarters is set up in the French Concession, I think business management will be much easier. I just don't know what your needs are?"

"I hope to invest in this bank. Of course, don't worry, Ye, I'm not interested in finance at all, so I just want basic shares. The only thing is that I want Fan to work in the bank and not stay in the Consulate General." Fan Erdi smiled. Said, "You also know her abilities. She is a waste of talent and time in the Consulate General."

Ye Luo probably guessed Verdi's intention.

He may want to borrow Fan Juli's hand and use his own bank to launder large amounts of money. Likewise, with the support of the French Consulate General in Shanghai, the new bank will far surpass other domestic banks and rival HSBC and Citigroup in terms of power and status.

There are advantages and disadvantages to letting Fan Erdi take a stake. The biggest advantage is that no matter what the future relationship between him and Song Ziwen is, during the "National Advancement and Private Retreat" movement, this kind of joint venture bank will definitely not be targeted by the National Government.

The downside is that you have to be wary of Verdy at all times.

If it were US Consul General Gao Si or British Consul General Patton, Ye Luo would have to think carefully, but if the other party was Verdi, then there would be no problem.

Because this seemingly tall French young man died of illness in Paris in 1932.

Fan Juli also accompanied him to France at that time and basically never returned to China. Her impact on the joint venture bank was extremely limited.

Ye Luo took a deep look at them and replied with a smile: "That's the best."

"Haha, that's great. With Ye Luo's ability, I believe our bank will attract more money than HSBC Citigroup!" Verdi beamed, and he had no doubts about Ye Luo's ability to make money.

His biggest asset is still tumbling in the U.S. stock market, and he is making money many times faster than anyone else in the family. All of this is thanks to Yello.

After briefly chatting about the matter, Ye Luo stood up, called Shi Jianqiao and Cao Fan, and drove away from the French Consulate General in Shanghai.

Back at Ye Mansion, the smiling mahjong quartet in the hall were still laughing and joking.

Ye Qingqing, Bi Yunxia, ​​and Zhang Anyi are the three regular partners, and the remaining one is sometimes Xiao Aqiao, sometimes Lin Ruxian, sometimes Bai Xiuzhu, and occasionally even Li Shuzhen will come over for a few guest appearances.

Ye Qingqing is a non-stop boss. In order to continue to expand her "money bag" reserves, she even invited Lu Xiaoman, Ruan Lingyu and Hu Die to guest appearances, and she wanted to pick up all the women around her second brother.

But today, the last one was Tang Ying, whom Ye Luogang met a few days ago.

"Hey, the busy man is back." Ye Qingqing teased her second brother while reading the cards. She was the only one who dared to act coquettishly towards Ye Luo now, "I thought you were going to sleep in the company every day, second brother."

"You girl, you play mahjong day and night, why don't you find a serious job to go to work? Sooner or later, the Ye family will be left empty-handed by you! It's a waste of money, a waste of money."

Ye Luo smiled and took an apple and started to chew it. He spoke mercilessly in a series of words, angrily complaining about his biological sister.

"Let me help you find a job tomorrow."

"How can I play mahjong every day? I usually have a lot of activities." Ye Qingqing chuckled, "And with the way I play, the money I spend every day is less than what you, my second brother, earn."

"You are so proud of yourself!" Ye Luo sat on the sofa and called Xiaoli to deliver the new product he had just made to the mahjong group of four, "Then what else do you do besides mahjong?"

"Watching movies, playing mahjong, dancing and singing. These are all properties in your name, second brother." Ye Qingqing chuckled, "Ye's big world is really something you never tire of."

Tang Ying listened to the brother and sister bickering, feeling both novel and interesting and envious.

She and her brother Tang Fu are also siblings, but she has been very strict in her upbringing since she was a child. She dare not talk to her brother like this. An elder brother is like a father, and she must always give her brother enough respect.

"Ladies and madams, this is the new drink from Er Shaoye's company. Try it." Xiaoli came over with five glasses of sparkling Coca-Cola.

Tang Ying looked at the strange dark drink and picked up a glass curiously: "Second Young Master, what kind of drink is this?"

"This drink is called Coca-Cola. It is a carbonated soda that is popular overseas. It has a refreshing and sweet taste. I guarantee that you will not be able to put it down." Ye Luo asked Xiaoli to get a cup for herself, and took a big gulp, letting out a happy sigh.