1928: The rise of giant merchants

After Wang Ji's singing ended, the excitement in the Paramount Ballroom dropped sharply, and not many people paid attention to this new little girl on stage.

Zhou Xiaohong took the microphone a little shyly. After several encouragements from Wang Ji, she plucked up the courage to sing on stage.

In 1920, she was born in a family named Su in Changzhou. Her original name was Su Pu. Pu is an uncut jade, which means natural and innocent.

Zhou Xiaohong has eight brothers and sisters in her family. She is the second eldest child, so her baby name is Justice.

In 1923, she was secretly abducted by her uncle Gu Shijia, a heavy smoker, and brought to the Wang family in Jintan County, where she was renamed Wang Xiaohong.

After the Wang couple divorced, she was given to a family named Zhou in Shanghai and changed her name to Zhou Xiaohong.

In 1928, the Zhou family became increasingly poor. Her adoptive mother was forced to work as a domestic servant to make ends meet, while her adoptive father, who was addicted to opium, wanted to sell her to a brothel as a prostitute. Fortunately, her adoptive mother rescued her in time and avoided a greater disaster.

She loved to listen to other people singing since she was a child, and often hummed songs along with others. Because of her beautiful voice and extraordinary musical talent, she quickly became famous in the school's song and dance troupe.

In 1931, Zhou Xiaohong was spotted by Li Jinhui who was passing by by chance and joined the Mingyue Song and Dance Troupe.

This year, the Mingyue Song and Dance Troupe toured across the country with the support of Ye Luo. Zhou Xiaohong starred in the musical "Special Express", and the song "Special Express" sung by her was also recorded.

Wang Ji was invited to perform on stage tonight. As we all know, it was because Ye Luo, the second young master behind the Paramount Ballroom and Ye's Dance Industry, was in the audience.

Li Jinhui was very optimistic about Zhou Xiaohong, and she was Wang Ji's close disciple. After many negotiations with the person in charge of the Paramount Ballroom, he finally helped Zhou Xiaohong get the opportunity to perform this time.

The ignorant Zhou Xiaohong held the microphone and started singing. Her voice was clear and like the sound of nature, which quickly attracted the attention of many dancers in the audience.

It's hard to imagine that such a thin and petite girl who looks like she is only eleven or twelve years old has such a high singing talent.

"Is she a child star trained by the second young master?" Rosemary was also conquered by Zhou Xiaohong's singing. She couldn't help but clapped her hands and smiled, "It sounds so good. No wonder you don't even want to talk about serious matters."

"Yes." Ye Luo smiled and looked at the stage, speaking concisely.

This is Zhou Xuan, the most popular golden-voiced singer and movie queen in the future Republic of China, and the first amphibious actress in the Republic of China.

With two leading movie stars, Butterfly and Ruan Lingyu, withdrawing from the film industry, Yip's Film Company also needed a new pillar to support the talkie film market.

Rosemary secretly looked at Ye Luo, and it could be seen from his eyes that he had high expectations and confidence in this little girl.

She is only eleven or twelve years old, but who knows where she will go in the next ten years of her life.

If someone else was praising Zhou Xuan, Rosemary would just think he was bragging.

But Ye Luo's performance in this way gave people a very strong persuasive power.

After singing the song, the audience burst into applause. Zhou Xiaohong conquered the guests with her strength and received praises no less than those of her teachers.

After that, it was the normal performance of the Mingyue Song and Dance Troupe.

Wang Ji held Zhou Xiaohong's hand and walked towards the trembling little Loli.

The bodyguards around Ye Luo blocked them out like an iron wall.

Ye Luo waved his hand and motioned to go to the private room to chat.

Rosemary followed curiously.

After entering the private room, the bodyguard closed the door and only three beauties of different ages and Ye Luo were left in the room.

"Hello, Second Young Master." Wang Ji poured a glass of foreign wine for Ye Luo, and then softly taught Zhou Xiaohong how to greet Ye Luo and the other two.

Zhou Xiaohong held the wine glass in her small hands, followed suit, and walked to Ye Luo with some fear. She then shouted: "Hello, Second Young Master~"

Although she is only twelve years old, the rudiment of beauty can already be seen from her facial features.

The little guy's experience was quite miserable. He had been sold back and forth for several years, and he almost ended up in Hualiu Lane because of his unreliable uncle.

"Everyone, sit down. Don't be afraid. I'm not a cannibal." Ye Luo took the wine glass, drank it down, and touched Zhou Xiaohong's head.

The little guy shrank even more and leaned straight into Wang Ji's arms.

Wang Ji smiled helplessly, hugged her, and kept apologizing to Ye Luo: "Second Young Master, please forgive me, Xiaohong's temperament is a bit introverted and she doesn't understand the rules."

"It's okay. It's not like you don't understand my character. Am I that kind of person?" Ye Luo waved her hand, "She sings very well. Does Boss Li have any plans for her in the future?"

Historically, Li Jinhui still couldn't hold back and didn't want to raise Zhou Xuan and extract value from her, so he sold her directly to the Xinhua Opera Society in 1934.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Xuan became an instant hit in the Xinhua Opera Society. EMI and Victory Records also recorded many of her songs such as "The Wind in May" and "Ding Zhu" into records.

These songs were welcomed by the public through radio broadcasts and record sales. In the same year, Zhou Xuan ranked second in a singer competition jointly organized by various radio stations in Shanghai, and thus won the title of "Golden Voice" and began Her glorious journey as a singer.

"I haven't decided yet, but I'll let her walk around with me first." Wang Ji shook his head and said, "Xiaohong's character is too introverted and she can't perform alone."

"Yes. If you like, I can let her sign with Ye's Film Company and Dance Company and treat her like a normal child star."

Ye Luo tapped the table with his fingers.

Wang Ji was stunned for a moment and then said: "Second Young Master"

"Don't worry, she's not going the route of a singing and dancing girl." Ye Luo knew what she was thinking. Although Ye's film and dance industry were considered a clean stream in the entertainment industry of the Republic of China.

But the entire industry was still filled with foul smells, and countless unspoken rules eroded the actresses.

Wang Ji was well aware of this, so he was very worried that the innocent Zhou Xiaohong would be polluted by these things.

After all, there are people in the entertainment industry who like this!

The second young master is not, but there is no way to guarantee that everyone below is like this.

"That's good." Wang Ji patted his perky chest.

Ye Luo smiled and said, "If you are still worried, I will take her in as my sister. Now you are relieved, right?"

"Second young master~ I don't mean that." Wang Ji hurried over to toast a glass of wine. She deeply admired Ye Luo in her heart, and thought that her reaction just now made Ye Luo unhappy, so she hurriedly smiled.

She was just worried about some people in Ye's dance industry and Ye's film.

But it was not easy to say this to the second young master.

Rosemary watched this scene with a smile and found it very interesting.

She had a deep understanding of the corruption in the entertainment industry. Sassoon \u0026 Co. was also involved in the entertainment industry. Those actresses and singers basically became playthings for her brothers and sisters.

But now, looking at Ye Luo and the actresses under his company, it seems that they have a good relationship.

The longer I stay with him, the more I feel that this person is very interesting, like a treasure, always able to bring people all kinds of surprises.

"The name Zhou Xiaohong is too common as a stage name, let's change it." Ye Luo looked at the little girl who was gradually relaxing her vigilance towards him, smiled and touched her head and said, "How about Zhou Xuan?" (End of this chapter)