1928: The rise of giant merchants

April 16, the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928).

Famous lawyer Feng Bingnan relied on the provision in the "Shanghai Land Lease Regulations" that there is no distinction between Chinese and foreign citizens in the definition of park services, and then analyzed it from multiple perspectives such as semantics and legal principles. The Ministry of Industry and Industry "has no power to prohibit Chinese or other nationalities. Enter the park under his management."

That morning, at the annual tax meeting held in advance within the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau, Director John George supported this statement and passed an important resolution on behalf of Consul General Sidney Patton.

The Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and the British Consulate General in Shanghai decided that starting from April 18, 1928, all parks within the boundary will be open to everyone free of charge, and there will be no such thing as a ban after June 1.

Parks open to Chinese include but are not limited to the four major parks (The Bund, Gujiazhai, Hongkou, and Zhaofeng).

After the announcement of this regulation, the entire public concession was boiling!

The controversy over "Chinese and dogs are not allowed to enter" has been a major issue that the Chinese community has been arguing about since June 1878 when "Shenbao" published an article calling for "please relax the garden ban".

And this historical problem that was once considered unsolvable was suddenly eliminated today!

As the incident unfolded and major news newspapers rushed to report on it, a new name was gradually mentioned——

Ye Luo, the second young master of the Ye family.

He is the real driving force behind this incident.

The Ministry of Industry and Industry will also post public notices outside on the opening day. The use rights of the four free parks are temporarily owned by Ye's Investment Company, which is responsible for the operation, maintenance and other daily work of the parks.

One stone stirs up a thousand waves!

Since Xuzhou pledged its second Northern Expedition, the Ye family has gradually disappeared from Shanghai. The arrogant labor union has suddenly been reduced by half, and its sphere of influence has temporarily retreated from the entire Shanghai to the public concession.

People from all walks of life in the upper class took action one after another, and a sense of crisis filled with dark clouds that threatened to destroy the city filled the night sky in Shanghai.

The Songhu Police Department, which had previously cracked down on rickshaws, suddenly stopped.

The rickshaw shop controlled by Yu Likui is once again glorious, and its resurgence is unstoppable. These days, it gradually replaces the Labor Federation and occupies the bustling areas of the French Concession.

No matter what class of people you are, you can all feel that the Ye family is about to slip from the top aristocratic family in Shanghai and become a second- or third-rate force.

It was under such circumstances that Ye Luo came out of nowhere and entered the eyes of countless people.

Public Settlement, Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce.

"President! If the four major parks are really open to Chinese for free, then our Zhangyuan business will be finished!"

At the impromptu meeting, an old man with white hair and beard coughed several times, his eyes widened with anger, and he spat droplets at Fu Xiaoan.

Also present were two other major Chinese parks - Xuyuan and Yuyuan. The owners of Yuyuan were Xu Li, the son of Xu Dishan, a private businessman in Yanguan, and Zhang Qian, a Ningbo businessman.

They invited Zhang Honglu, who was about to die, to argue with him in order to force Fu Xiao'an to stop Ye Luo from taking charge of the four free parks, so as not to shake the business of their three parks!

Zhang Yuan, Xu Yuan and Yu Yuan are high-end parks built by Chinese businessmen after the parks in the concession were closed to Chinese people. There are many facilities in the park, and a certain ticket fee is charged, which makes considerable profits.

Once the ban on parks managed by foreigners is lifted, it will inevitably have an impact on their private parks.

Fu Xiao'an is also having a headache about this matter.

But this was the decision made by Consul General Sidney Barton.

If it were placed in the Shanghai County area, he could still take charge of it, but that was a matter within the concession, and there was no room for him to interfere, either emotionally or rationally.

"Mr. Zhang, the second young master of the Ye family successfully lobbied the foreigners in the concession to open the public park to the public free of charge. This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people." Fu Xiao'an looked at the old man from the Qing Dynasty in front of him and said in a low voice.

"Okay! Okay! Okay! When you have nothing to do, your General Chamber of Commerce is very active in collecting membership fees. When something happens, just talk to me about benefiting the country and the people, right?"

Zhang Honglu pointed at Fu Xiaoan’s nose and cursed,

"Okay, Fu Xiao'an can't control it, so let's wait and see."

Zhang Honglu and others walked away. Seeing them leaving, Fu Xiao'an let out a long sigh. He didn't expect that Ye Luo could facilitate such a big event!

Ye Qingqing got married a month ago, and he also went to congratulate her. However, since the Second Northern Expedition, the Ye family has been sparse, and not many people are interested in dating anymore.

Unexpectedly, a Ye Yuqiao fell down and a Ye Xiaoer stood up.

Ye Xiaoer, who returned from studying abroad in the United States and the United States, has been in a turmoil in Shanghai recently. Ye Xiaoer, who wants to do the car business, is amazing.

At this time, Ye Luo was already aware of the free opening of public parks.

He knew that if this was done, he would win the favor of countless citizens, but it would also inadvertently offend a number of interest groups, especially those wealthy businessmen who were mainly engaged in private garden business.

But in the business world, there is always intrigue.

No permanent friends, only permanent interests.

Ye Luo had no intention of fighting with the Chinese businessmen, but the other party was really dissatisfied, and he didn't mind taking their property into his hands one by one.

"Brother Luo! Do you think it's appropriate to be here?" Lu Meiseng admired Ye Luo so much.

The large posters, banners, and standing giant billboards produced by Huashang Advertising Company were originally going to be placed in the four largest parks in the concession including the Bund Park!

This is too shameless.

There is also a row of small words below these billboards that read "Produced by Chinese Advertising Company". In two days when the park will be opened to the public, countless people will flock in and they will be able to see these billboards at a glance.

Their small advertising production factory may become famous in Shanghai overnight!

"You guys know more about this than I do, so I won't give any reference opinions." Ye Luo smiled and waved his hand.

Huang Liushuang, who was accompanying him, was also stunned.

She was hired as the first car girl of Chevrolet 490. All advertising posters showed her beautiful style, including swimsuits, cheongsams, dresses, OL suits, etc., which can be called a personal fashion show.

If the Chevrolet 490 is famous, then she will also be famous.

Now walking in the department store, Huang Liushuang can still hear some people talking about her name. In a short time, the popularity is no less than that of Ruan Lingyu and Hu Die.

This particularly moved her, who has been playing stereotyped roles abroad and always wants to break the shackles.

"Second Young Master, you are really amazing!" Huang Liushuang hugged Ye Luo's arm and admired sincerely.

"Really?" Ye Luo didn't pay attention to her expression and behavior at all. He stared at the erected billboards intently, thinking about the benefits these advertisements could bring.

The production cost of billboards is not expensive, but the expenses brought by the right to use the four major parks are not cheap, so you must make the best use of them.

Seeing Lu Meiseng and the others busy all morning, Ye Luo felt that things were almost done, so he sent Huang Liushuang back to the headquarters of Liangyou Pictorial, where she was staying temporarily.

The cost of renting a house in Shanghai is too high. Over the years in Hollywood, as a Chinese actor, Anna Wong's salary was only one-tenth of that of foreigners. Plus various expenses for maintaining personal connections, she was left with only a few hundred dollars when she returned to China.

If Ye Luo hadn't signed a ten-year "sale contract" with her in exchange for 30,000 yuan, she would have been unable to survive her little life.

This 30,000 yuan is the capital for her to restart her star journey, and she cannot waste it carelessly.

After bidding farewell to Huang Liushuang at Liangyou Pictorial, Ye Luo drove back to Ye Mansion.

At this time, the Ye Mansion had lost all its former aristocratic grandeur, and there were only a few people there, with no one visiting.

"Second Young Master, you are back." Xiaoli, who had always been lively and cute, stood at the door, looking as depressed as a flower that had faded away.

The increasingly tense atmosphere at home made her, the little maid, sense that something was wrong.

Ye Luo nodded with a smile, threw the suit to her, rubbed Xiaoli's head vigorously before stepping in the door.

The door pushed open on its own.

What came out was a young man wearing a Chinese tunic suit and pushing a trolley suitcase.

When he saw Ye Luo walking towards him, his eyes were evasive and a little embarrassed: "Second, second brother, are you back?"

"Aqun, are you going on a long trip?" Ye Luo nodded in return. This is his cousin who used to work in the Hudong office.

"Yes, yes, I want to move back to my hometown in the county and live with my grandpa for a while." Ye Qun lowered his head and said, "No, if nothing happens, I will leave first, second brother."

"Okay, be careful on the road." Ye Luo didn't hold back.

When I walked to the lobby, I found the usual laughing and playing card group of four sitting on the sofa chatting, and the mahjong table was gone.

The second concubine was knitting a sweater in her hands, while the third concubine was holding Ye Qingqing and chattering about the boudoir. The fourth concubine Bi Yunxia changed into a light-colored cheongsam. The heavy fruit swayed slightly with the movements of her hands. She was sorting out the previous things. Costumes.

"Second Young Master, why are you back so early? I, I'll make tea for you." Bi Yunxia saw him coming, blushed and folded the costume quickly, got up and wanted to leave, but was held down by Ye Luo .

"Mom, don't bother, just let Xiaoli come." Ye Luo sat down next to her and looked at Ye Qingqing, "Qingqing, you won't be playing mahjong today?"

"Don't fight anymore, quit it, quit it." Ye Qingqing sighed, looked at the second concubine, then at the third concubine, and then at the particularly deserted Ye Mansion.

In less than a week, the Ye family seems to have collapsed.

Everyone in the family was crying, as if they were dead.

After understanding the general situation, she will naturally not cause trouble to her parents at this time.

Today, the Ye family is waiting for the outcome of the war in the north, and everyone is worried. The women dare not ask the men about the specific situation. The men are also missing all day long, looking very nervous and extremely busy.

The only exception is Ye Luo.

"Second Young Master, do you want to eat a pear? I'll peel one for you." The atmosphere was a bit solemn. Bi Yunxia reached out to take the fruit, but her soft little hand was only halfway out when she was knocked away by the third aunt with a look of disgust.

Snapped!

"It's about time. It's unlucky to separate pears." The third aunt went to get the apples and glared at Bi Yunxia again, "No wonder she's an actor, she can't read a single word."

"Here, second young master, eat the apple in peace." She handed an apple to Ye Luo in a flattering manner.

"Thank you, Third Mom." Ye Luo took the apple, glanced at the naive and timid Bi Yunxia on the side, and her slightly red right hand that was secretly hidden by her, and sighed, "Little Mom, help me Peel a pear, I want to eat it. It’s okay, we don’t pay attention to this in our family.”

"Oh, okay, okay." Bi Yunxia hid her right hand, went to pick up the pear, and then pulled the fruit knife.

The hall was deserted again, except for the sound of Ye Luo chewing apples.

"Well, well, second young master, I, I'm either too talkative or just asking casually, what's going on in Ala's house?" The third aunt came over and smiled awkwardly.

"Peifen! Shut up!" The second aunt couldn't bear it anymore and angrily scolded the third aunt, "Don't disturb Luoluo's eating."

"It's okay. I know what you are worried about, Third Mom." Ye Luo finished chewing the apple, took the peeled pear from Biyunxia, ​​and took another bite. "There will be nothing wrong at home. I'm here."

"Hey, hey, let me just say, with the second young master here, how much can happen at home? Everyone is running away like a hozen, for fear of getting involved with Allah." The third aunt's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Well, the second young master is very powerful!" Bi Yunxia held the half pear that Ye Luo gave her and took a bite, her mouth full of sweetness.

"Qingqing, hey, you've been fine lately anyway. These tickets for the Bund Park will open on the 18th. You can take my little mom and the others to see it together." Ye Luo handed the tickets in his hand to Ye Qingqing.

"Thank you, second brother! I know you love me the most!" Ye Qingqing couldn't play mahjong at home, and Ye Yuqiao was worried that she would cause trouble outside. During the disguised grounding, Ye Luo was the only one in the entire Ye family who could disobey Ye Yuqiao's orders.

It was rare that he had free time today. Ye Luo went back to his room to rest. He had expected the changes at home.

Ye Yuqiao also realized the seriousness of the problem after having a long conversation with him last time.

The top priority is to get rid of any unclean people and things as soon as possible.

The group of people the Ye family was cleaning out included not only the original veterans of the Knife Gang, but also the borers that had been lying on the big trees of the Ye family sucking blood.

To break down and then stand up is Ye Luo's only advice to Ye Yuqiao.

On the contrary, Ye Luo's business is getting more and more prosperous, gradually setting off an unpredictable wave in Shanghai.