1928: The rise of giant merchants

The arrival of foreigners unexpectedly pushed the opening ceremony of Ye's Automobile Company to a climax.

During the Republic of China, the leaders of all major business industries were foreign firms. Starting from the late Qing Dynasty, being a comprador for foreigners meant having unlimited money and power.

However, the declining Chinese businessmen and domestic products have always been able to survive in the cracks and are not welcomed by others.

Over time, even most consumer groups prefer to use foreign products and are less willing to use lower-quality domestic products. This situation did not gradually change until the 25-year Five-Sa Movement.

The real boycott of foreign goods began 10 days later when Jinling took the lead in issuing a general order on domestic goods.

Following Consul General Patton and George were the three tycoons and Yu Likui.

The four of them got out of the luxury car and saw that the opening ceremony of Ye's Automobile Company was quite deserted. It was completely incomparable with the huge crowds of people when Huo Tianhong's new stage opened. The four of them looked at each other and smiled, feeling more and more that their judgment was correct. .

"Tsk, how come there's no receptionist at the opening ceremony to serve tea and water? It's too shabby!" Zhang Wanlin shouted, attracting little A Qiao's attention.

Xiao Ah quietly shook her round fan, raised her beautiful eyes slightly, and saw these four gangster tycoons who were not dealing with her own men. She knew that they were probably here to cause trouble, and her face was as cold as ice, but she still went out to greet them.

"Hey, isn't this the eldest sister of Fengming House? Why are you here to serve tea and water?" Zhang Wanlin continued to sneer, "If the business of Fengming House is not good, the eldest sister can come to work in our red house, I promise. You make a lot of money!"

The Red House is a brothel owned by Zhang Wanlin, which is exclusively for the entertainment of gangsters from all walks of life.

Xiao Ah Qian snorted coldly and covered her face with a round fan: "I'm happy~ Not to mention serving tea and water to the second young master, I'm also very happy to wash my feet and put on my shoes. I don't know where the wild dog came from. There are dogs barking in front of the door and it stinks so much.”

"Little Ah Qiao!" Zhang Wanlin was nicknamed "Wild Dog" when he was on the streets of Shanghai in his early years. It was an insult. After becoming a tycoon, he was most afraid of others mentioning this past incident. He was going to teach little Ah Qiao a lesson, but was interrupted by Lu Yusheng on the side. Stopped.

"Second brother, we are here to discuss business today. Don't mess around." Lu Yusheng came up in a polite manner, bowed and smiled, "Please show us our seats, elder sister."

"I don't dare to take it." Xiao A glanced at the rogue scholar and Huo Tianhong who always looked calm behind him. These two are the most difficult gangsters. As for Zhang Wanlin, he is just a brainless bastard.

Several people walked into the hall and happened to see Consul General Barton grabbing Ye Luo's hand and kept mumbling something in foreign languages.

"Ye! It's unbelievable! The changes in the U.S. stock market are exactly the same as what you wrote in that paper. The high trend has fooled a group of economic experts! Especially the three stocks you recommended to me, all of them made money. !”

Barton has been busy making money from the US stock market recently. He dubiously invested 30,000 pounds in the early stage, and it doubled in more than half a month!

Now I regret not believing Ye Luo's words.

He plans to personally go to the United States in the near future to do the business in person and make a big fortune with his family's capital!

A few days before leaving, I heard that Ye Luo's automobile company had opened. He quickly called George and came to congratulate him with gifts.

"I just analyzed it using theoretical knowledge. I didn't expect it to be so accurate." Ye Luo smiled and shook his head. It seemed that Barton had completely fallen into the trap he designed.

The U.S. stock market reached its most glorious moment in 1928, with the Dow Jones Index soaring to 300 points in the first half of the year!

Not to mention Barton, if you bring a dog to the stock exchange to buy and sell stocks, you can make a small fortune.

But Barton doesn't think so.

Ye Luo proposed this idea long before the stock market rose, and also designated three stocks that he was bullish on, and they all came true one by one.

In the eyes of outsiders, this is a proper stock god.

Foreigners admire talented people and even fear the God of Wealth!

"Ye, I heard that you are selling a Chevrolet 490. This car has entered the obsolete market abroad." Button did not make Ye Luo's matter a high priority like before. He implicitly mentioned, "If you have If you are interested, I can find some well-known brands of cars in the UK and let them cooperate with you. I also know Henry, the boss of Tailai Company, and he will be willing to share some profits with you. "

"Haha, thank you for your kindness, Consul General." Ye Luo raised his eyebrows. It's a pity that most of the Chinese present can't understand English. Otherwise, when these words are spoken, it will cause terrifying ripples in the Chinese circle.

The foreign consul general is willing to let the foreign bosses give profits to the Chinese bosses.

How strong is this relationship and what is its background?

President Yu Qiaqing of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce may not be so proud.

"What are they chattering about?" Zhang Wanlin was impatient to wait.

The four of them have a good relationship with the Public Security Bureau of the French Concession, but they are not very familiar with the Ministry of Industry Bureau of the Public Concession.

I’ve seen a lot of foreigners, and maybe they were the actors invited by Ye Luo to support them.

"Won't the second young master come and personally help my eldest brother arrange the car purchase?" Lu Yusheng glanced at Huo Tianhong, who was expressionless, and was also a little anxious.

Huo Tianhong came here mainly to buy a car for his lover Lu Lanchun. As for Ye Luo's car company, he didn't like it.

"Boss Lu, Boss Zhang, didn't you see my second young master talking to the Consul General? If you can't wait, you can just go up and interrupt." Xiao Aqiao said with a coquettish smile, her eyes were as charming as silk, she can understand foreign languages. , is proud of his man.

That's the Consul General of the British Consulate in Shanghai!

The leader of the British foreigners in Shanghai.

In front of the second young master of the family, one has to treat each other warmly and interact as equals.

"What consul general? Isn't the consul general Mr. French?" Zhang Wanlin frowned.

Lu Yusheng was not stupid, and elbowed him hard: "Second brother! The eldest sister is talking about the British Consulate!"

"Hiss—" No matter how arrogant and brainless Zhang Wanlin is, he still doesn't know what this identity means.

"Hey, look at my memory, I forgot that the three bosses don't understand foreign languages." Xiao Ah Qian covered her mouth with a round fan and smiled brightly, "This consul general just said that he would let Boss Henry of Tailai Company give up profits to the second young master Ala Woolen cloth."

"The more I talk about it, the more outrageous it becomes. You think I'm stupid." Zhang Wanlin sneered. How many years have the three of them fawned over foreigners from the Public Directorate and the French Consulate?

Not to mention giving away profits, if the other party is willing to do some business for them, that is a great gift!

It is not too unusual for Ye Luoneng to know the British Consul General.

Which tycoon has never interacted with upper-class foreigners?

But friendship is friendship, and business is business.

Giving profits is not just an acquaintance!

He doesn't believe it!

"Miss Shu is right, the Consul General is talking to A Luo about the issue of park use rights." Xu Zhimo came up and said.

He is a famous literati and poet in Shanghai, and he will not joke about his reputation.

Hearing his agreement, the expressions of the three tycoons changed slightly.

Huo Tianhong rolled his eyes and realized that the news might be true.

Ye Luo is the hidden comprador of the foreigners, and he is not the consul George. The real backer behind him is actually the consul general!

The commotion that was originally planned seemed to have to be slowed down.

"It's so noisy, Ye, are you friends over there too?" Barton turned to look at Huo Tianhong and the others.

"No, they should be here to cause trouble." Ye Luo shook his head and smiled, "I don't know them very well."

"Oh!" Barton knew that the Chinese were not united within themselves, especially among the businessmen groups, who were engaging in intrigues and internal strife.

He had heard before that Chinese businessmen came to the Ministry of Industry Bureau to complain in order to overthrow their competitors.

It seems that these three guys who look like Chinese from the old times are this kind of people.

"You! Get out! Now!"

Barton walked up to Huo Tianhong and could see that this fat man was their leader.

He pointed at Huo Tianhong's nose and yelled angrily.

The lively hall suddenly fell silent.

"What do you mean?" Zhang Wanlin was also startled by the sudden rebuke.

Xiao A quietly retreated away. When she saw Barton's eyes widening with anger, she knew she had the effect she wanted.

"Consul General Barton told you guys to get out!" Lu Xiaojia jumped out and gloated, "Boss Huo, don't you understand? I've said something. If you don't get out, we'll call the Concession Patrol Room!"

"Let's go!" Huo Tianhong's face was ashen. He didn't expect that he would be so powerful here.

"Ouch, ouch, I don't know why, but my knees are a little sore." Lu Xiaojia was still sarcastic at the side. He was mocking the embarrassing incident when Huo Tianhong was taken to the military camp and beaten severely by him, and he had to kneel all night.

Seeing the three tycoons and Yu Likui walking out of the hall in despair, everyone present realized that Ye Luo was not as powerless as they thought without the support of the Ye family.

Xiao A quietly took advantage of the opportunity and began to publicize the fact that Ye Luo and Consul George were classmates at Cambridge University.

"I'm sorry, Ye, for making you unhappy." Barton returned to Ye Luo, "It's almost time for me to leave. Don't worry, I have already sent someone to negotiate the issue of the park use rights you mentioned. The tax payment on April 18th At the annual meeting, all your requests will be met.”

"Thank you very much, Consul General Barton." Ye Luo smiled and sent him out.

"Ye, you can think about the car business I just mentioned," Barton mentioned again before leaving.

"Okay, I will consider it." Ye Luo nodded and watched George and Barton leave.

He didn't even consider going into the British car business.

In other words, the reason for making the Chevrolet 490 this time is just because it is profitable and because there are no domestically produced cars.

His goal has never changed.

Industry saves the country and industry rejuvenates the country.

Even if he is just a businessman, he must promote the trend of domestic products.

If imports exceed exports, a country's domestic products will gradually disappear.

There is always something more important than money.

It’s just that the current technology and technology do not support him to develop domestically produced cars.

Light industry is still weak, let alone heavy industry.

Ye Luo watched the car drive away. The road ahead was still long.

How easy is it for a giant businessman to rise?

But that's why he's going to do it.

"I'm sorry, everyone, for disturbing everyone's interest in buying cars. Ye Luo has nothing to offer in return. Anyone who buys a car today will receive a 10% discount, and the discount will be credited to me." Ye Luo returned to the hall and said loudly.

There was a burst of applause and cheers.

10% off, that can save a lot of money.

"The second young master is mighty!"

"Brother Ye Luo, you are so majestic." Lin Rushian walked up from behind, biting his ear and smiled, "I didn't expect you are also familiar with the British Consul General, right?"

"Sister-in-law doesn't know a lot of things." Ye Luo laughed.

"Then another day when you come to offer incense to your elder brother, we will have a good chat." Lin Ruxian winked at him, "I will take your little girlfriend away."

"Sorry for bothering you, sister-in-law!" Ye Luo was grateful.

He couldn't stand it when Bai Xiuzhu, a young lady dressed like a girl, lost her temper. He had better wait for a few days to calm down before going to apologize.

"Miss Lin is really charming to the core. I heard that when a woman like this swallows a man, she won't even spit out his bones." Little Ah Qiao came over at some unknown time and said with a low smile.

"It's so sour, so sour. What kind of jealousy are you feeling?" Ye Luo pinched her nose and stretched out her hand to scratch the tip of little A Qiao's beautiful nose. "My name is Mrs. Jing, what are you Miss Lin?"

"Why am I jealous? All I'm thinking about right now is how to tie you to their bed more securely."

Xiao Aqiao's cheeks were slightly red and she whispered flirtatious words.

"Okay, okay, are you exhausted today? You will also order a car later, and the payer will fill in my name." Ye Luo reached out and pinched her round and fleshy face.

"I heard that those are cars bought by rich people for their concubines, right?"

"Don't you like it?"

"I like it! I'm so happy!"