Back to the Republic of China to open a department store

Time to enter October.

In the past two months, Shimai's business was so good that it was "overwhelmed", which surprised Luo Xiazhi who thought this year would be an uneven one.

Last year, the harvest of autumn grains was in short supply, and then there was snow in winter, which made life difficult for the people in the Jianghuai area.

A large number of disaster victims poured into the city, especially in several districts in the Chinese community, which made the law and order extremely tense.

Who would have thought that starting this spring, all kinds of newly-built factories, especially those of foreigners, would spring up along the banks of the Suzhou Creek like mushrooms after rain, opening one after another.

From the wharf to the train station, there are "Namowen (Foreman)" everywhere with recruitment signs.When a foreigner got off the boat, he was dragged by the foreman to report to the factory before he had time to see the bustling streets of Shanghai.

Even later, some factories rushed to the wharf to snatch workers before they even started work, because they were afraid that if there were fewer people coming to Shanghai to break into the wharf in autumn and winter, they would not be able to find workers.Many children who were only in their teens were taken to factories as child labor and bonded labor.

It turned out that within more than a year after the end of the European War, production was resumed all over the world, and China's abundant raw materials, low tariffs, and cheap labor prices attracted the European powers that had temporarily withdrawn to turn around and invest in building factories.

The year before last, they started grabbing land in various parts of Shanghai. This year, the factory building was completed and formal production finally started.

Apart from Europeans and Americans, the Japanese are definitely the ones who open the most factories.

As a "victorious country", Japan took full advantage of the battle in Europe, eating up Germany and eating China.And because of the sale of goods to the European countries that participated in the war at that time and had no time to develop their economies, they made a lot of "war money".

If it is said that before the European War, the Japanese came to invest in Shanghai, that would not be considered a big blow, but still a bit of modesty.The arrogant appearance of the Japanese who came here this year almost suppressed the arrogance of the Europeans by three points.

In fact, there was no so-called "Japanese Concession" in Shanghai.The area in Hongkou District, which is called the "Japanese Concession" by the Shanghainese, is a territory that the Japanese forcefully occupied bit by bit by relying on continuous immigration from the late Qing Dynasty.In the end, the established "Japanese settlements" have been created, and it is difficult for Britain and the United States to control it.

Now that the Germans are being forced to hand over their seats in the Public Concession Bureau of Industry and Commerce, the Japanese turned their backs and moved the original Japanese settlements from Hongkou District to the coast of Yangpu District. But it is Taicang in Suzhou.

All kinds of factories invested by the Japanese are lined up along the Huangpu River.What cotton mills, silk factories, electric lamp factories, dyeing factories, quilt factories, even biscuit food factories, and even iron factories!

The Japanese also unceremoniously set up a Japanese police station in the northern area of ​​Shanghai to "protect Japanese overseas Chinese", as well as Japanese business materials and factories.It seems that there is a posture of including the entire Chinese world into its own sphere of influence.

This kind of economic invasion with the power of the whole country, Luo Xiazhi can resist with the strength of a family.Don’t say that his Shimai department store can’t do it. Even the members of the “China-Domestic Product Promotion Association”, which was booming a few years ago, under the attack of Japanese factories, many small factories have closed down one after another, and their combat effectiveness is not as good as before. .

On the other hand, the post-war economy gradually recovered, and foreign investment poured in. The city needed the injection of fresh blood more than ever.

Immigrants from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, Anhui and even Shandong with the "Shanghai Dream" knocked on the door of Shanghai one after another.With the "city identity" of workers, employees, and craftsmen, I joined this dreamy flower city.

Therefore, no one could have imagined that this summer, the business of the three major department stores on the main road broke the records of previous years, and even the Sakura department store, which had been tepid for many years, had a beautiful turnaround.

Relying on high-quality and cheap Japanese products, Sakura Department Store has harvested the wallets of a group of new immigrants who are eager to settle down in their new homes and buy various daily necessities.After all, the newcomers don't know the history of the "bastard department store", they only need cheap goods to meet their daily needs.

As for Shimai and Modern Department Store, no one would have guessed that their best-selling department this year would be the rooftop paradise upstairs.

Cheap tickets, novelty snacks and colorful decorations, plus wonderful opera, acrobatics and magic shows.You can directly experience the hustle and bustle of "Great Shanghai" and enjoy the unobstructed beauty of both sides of the Huangpu River for only a few cents.

In the eyes of new immigrants, here is simply a fascinating paradise.

The "department store" rooftop paradise, which has been launched for several years, has ushered in another wave of upsurge after many years.

Almost the entire summer, as long as it doesn't rain, the rooftops of these two houses will always be full of people from morning to night, and they even need to send special personnel to restrict the flow of people to ensure safety.

On rainy days, the small theater in Shimai Department Store and the movie theater in Qichongtian Hotel are good places to go.There are also teahouses, opera clubs, and dance halls in several nearby commercial streets that are also overcrowded all day long.

During this period, Luo Xiazhi slapped his head and asked Shimai International Travel to temporarily organize a "Shanghai one-day tour" project, pulling a dazzling European horse-drawn carriage to the pier, distributing posters and doing publicity.

The results turned out to be very good, attracting many tourists who came to Shanghai for the first time.

There were no minibuses or buses at that time.Luo Xiazhi asked people to drive a painted ordinary carriage, took four or five tourists at a time, and went to Chenghuang Temple, Dajing Pavilion, Chenxiang Pavilion and Joffrey Road, the Bund, and the racetrack - anyway, these scenic spots are not required ticket money.

Foreigners who have just arrived hold their burdens, eyes wide open and mouths wide open, looking at this colorful city, foreigners passing by on the streets, and rows of various shops, churches, and temples, they are speechless.

Finally, the handlebars pulled people to the entrance of Shimai Department Store in the middle of the main road, and these ignorant people were brought into a colorful "new world"...

In short, this group of urban "fresh people", whether active or passive, quickly integrated themselves into Shanghai's "sales treasury" and "Night Paris" in the form of "consumption".

"Tsubaki Yingko hired a good military advisor."

Early in the morning on the weekend, Luo Xiazhi, who was flipping through newspapers and magazines, gritted his teeth and clicked his tongue when he read the latest articles in the newspaper.

Sitting next to him was Gu Hanlin who was resting at home, but still kept reviewing official documents.

After so many years of hard work, Gu Hanlin finally changed from "Deputy Director Gu" to "Director Gu" shortly after the start of school this year, but he became more and more busy.

No, during this period of time, I have been arguing with Japanese overseas Chinese about the "Hongkou Japanese School" they want to build.

Putting down the document in his hand, Gu Hanlin took the newspaper and looked at the author's name - Hiroshi Nogi.

Then frowned.

"I've seen this man before."

"how?"

"The person who came to negotiate with me a few days ago and asked the Education Bureau to give Japanese schools preferential policies is him."

"They buy their own land and raise their own schools, and let the Japanese go to school themselves. Why do you want to mess with us?"

Rorschach said dissatisfiedly.

Gu Hanlin sneered, "Didn't you mention the 'Natural Science Research Institute' established by the Ministry of Education of Japan? Now it seems to be almost completed, and this is a high-ranking official in the institute."

"A research institute engaged in education, got together with Dachun Trading Company, and even opened an eye for Tsubaki Yingzi, so it can be seen that it is not a good thing."

Luo Xiazhi sneered and threw the newspaper aside.

This is the "Commercial News" issued today, and the second page published the "big article" by Mr. Nogi Hiroshi, with the title - "What is a Japanese product?"Why boycott? "

This Mr. Nogi raised three questions in total, and then made a subsection.

First, are the goods produced not on the mainland of Japan, but in Taiwan, Ryukyu, North Korea and other places, considered Japanese goods?

Second, are the goods produced in "Japanese-occupied areas" such as Qingdao and Manchuria in China considered Japanese goods?

Third, in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places, the Japanese invested in the construction of factories, but the raw materials used and the workers hired were all Chinese. Are the goods produced considered Japanese goods?

He didn't answer any of these questions, but finally concluded——

In recent years, factories invested by the Japanese in China have recruited more than 90.00 workers.[-]% of these workers are Chinese, and Japanese factories provide them with salaries and train them in skills.

A large number of Japanese factories and trading companies have provided jobs for Chinese workers and promoted the prosperity of urban commerce. These are all facts that can be seen everywhere.

The article ends here abruptly, but the main purpose and purpose behind it are clearly revealed—this is to put the brakes on public opinion for the "boycott of Japanese goods" that has lasted for many years, so that Japanese goods will become popular again. .

"Having said so much, it seems that the Japanese came to China to do charity. Isn't it because they have taken a fancy to our market and want to exploit our labor force?"

Luo Xiazhi shook his head contemptuously, "This kind of article is just to confuse some ignorant people."

People like me who scored [-]% in Ma Zhe's exam and memorized the surplus value formula by heart.They can see through the hypocrisy of their capitalists at a glance, and they are imperial capitalists with guns!

"You can see through this, but ordinary bosses can't see through it."

Gu Hanlin shook his head and sighed softly, "Look at the Sakura Department Store in the past two months. The business is so good that it seems that they want to make back all the money they lost in the past few years. Chun Yingzi even plans to open a store on Xiafei Road branch."

"Now I regret letting them kill dogs and kill Luo Muze."

Luo Xiazhi said regretfully.

"Although my second brother is very annoying, he really doesn't have much talent in business. He still eats inside and out, emptying out their Datsubaki Trading Company day and night. I once wondered if he was really an undercover agent lurking in Sakura Department Store. ...It's all right now, after his death, Sakura Department Store has lost these 'rats' and 'worms', and the business has improved to a higher level."

Speaking of this, Luo Xiazhi himself was dumbfounded.

"Toon Yingzi is now dealing with us even more unscrupulously. During this period, many employees of Shimai Department Store have been poached. The modern side is even worse. Three floor managers have been poached. Yesterday Li Zhaoye had a drink with me and said When I got up, I really gritted my teeth in hatred."

"Someone quits, don't you stop it?"

Gu Hanlin still vaguely remembers that when Modern Department Store just opened and the managers and subordinates of Shimai Department Store "resigned collectively", Luo Xiazhi was hit hard.

"Leave if you want. I never force people to stay here. And the Japanese can't get anything out of them."

Luo Xiazhi, who was no longer "Amon under Wu", waved his hand easily.

These people who were poached by Tsubaki Yingko were junior employees and low-level managers.After they leave, there will naturally be a new wave that can be promoted, and because they have passed the "test", they will definitely be more loyal.

After talking about the bad business, Gu Hanlin took Luo Xiazhi for a walk around the small garden at the door.

He is now good at tending flowers and plants, and the plants and trees in the yard are very quiet and far away, with a strong literati atmosphere.Compared with the European-style courtyards in the Luo Mansion and the Summer Palace, which were completely built by craftsmen, the small garden behind this small villa is extremely elegant.

"Two wintersweet plants and one red plum plant specially transplanted from the 'Plum Garden' the year before last are guaranteed to bloom this winter."

Gu Hanlin squeezed Luo Xiazhi's hand and walked to a laurel tree. Although it was only early autumn, he could already smell the faint fragrance of osmanthus seeds.

"When the flowers bloom around the Mid-Autumn Festival, let Aunt Li and Qiao Di come over and shake the sweet-scented osmanthus flowers, and make your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus flower dips."

"Then I'll have to wait."

Luo Xiazhi was also in high spirits, "Speaking of food, I plan to hold a 'Famous Chinese Snacks Gathering' on the rooftop around Mid-Autumn Festival, and earn some money before the weather cools down!"

Gu Hanlin has long been accustomed to his style of "three sentences are inseparable from the business classics".

"I heard that your mother likes your new 'god sister', almost every weekend let her go to Luo mansion for dinner?"

he asked tentatively.

Luo Xiazhi could hear the "smell of jealousy" in his words, and laughed out loud.

"If you want, you can also come to my house for dinner every weekend. My mother can't wait for the house to be lively every day. Besides, since Wen Fei has been recognized by my mother as a 'goddess', she is also yours 'Damn sister'. You are her cousin's classmate, so it's like 'kissing and kissing'..."

"Nonsense! Don't use idioms indiscriminately!"

Hearing that his words became more and more outrageous, Gu Hanlin simply covered his mouth.

Luo Xiazhi blinked twice, stuck out his tongue and licked his palm.

Gu Hanlin's pupils trembled.

This is in the back garden!

Not far from the back door, you can still hear the sound of cars passing by on the road.

He cursed secretly, then pulled Luo Xiazhi's arm, and pulled the giggling, smiling little lover into the door.

This "old man, old man" has been together for eight or nine years, and not only is there no danger of the "seven-year itch", the relationship has become more and more gluey.

Especially Luo Xiazhi, as a modern person a hundred years later, once opened up, Gu Hanlin, an "old antique", would often be dumbfounded.

By the way, Luo Xiazhi's newly appointed secretary, Miss Shu Wenfei, has been officially recognized by Bai Fenghuang as his "goddaughter".

Knowing that Luo Xiazhi didn't like her type, Ms. Shu didn't bother her much.She was originally from a wealthy family in Jinling, and she went to a Western-style school. She is a new woman in the new era, and she can afford it and let it go.

But Bai Fenghuang and Xiaoxiao liked her very much, especially Xiaoxiao.The person she admires most now, counting from Rorschach, may be Shu Wenfei.

She even directly planned to go to Shu Wenfei's Nanjing home to play after the winter vacation.It is said that her family also has a younger sister who is in high school, about the same age as Xiaoxiao, and is studying at Jinling Girls' Middle School.

Ms. Shu also lived up to everyone's expectations. After working as a secretary for several months, she is now more mature and calm than when she was young and naive when she just graduated.

The "Women's Production Department of Shimai Haberdashery" that she established by herself has produced the greatest benefits with the smallest investment.Not only was it launched quickly, but mass production had already begun in September.

The workshop of the production department is located in the vacant classroom of the Charity Girls School, and there is no need to buy another factory building.

In the beauty pageant at the end of last year, the contestants from the girls' school "told their life experience", which caused the whole Shanghai to cry for them. The result was that after the competition, the Charity Girls School received charitable donations several times that of previous years.

The school buildings and dormitories have not only been completely refurbished, but also expanded in scale, with a new teaching building and a dormitory building built.

Ms. Shu Wenfei unceremoniously asked Luo Xiazhi to give her a classroom on the first floor, which was used as a warehouse, a production workshop, a quality supervision department, and a female worker's lounge—of course, the rent was paid.

The production department does not provide board and lodging, but there will be a free lunch at noon. The premise is that the female workers must take turns to volunteer at the charity school after get off work, chop firewood for the school cafeteria, clean the yard, and feed animals.

Some female workers who bring their children to work can send their children to the temporary nursery, and the "temporary nannies" in the nursery are also taken turns by female workers who are not on duty.

After spending half a month recruiting and training, the women's production department officially started mass production.All products are billed by piece, and only qualified products that pass the quality inspection will be included in wages, and the more you work, the more you get.Many female workers brought dry food and worked until the school announced that the lights were turned off, and then reluctantly left.

As soon as these handmade products with the "Shimai" trademark entered the counters of department stores, they were loved by customers.Because they are not only high in quality and cheap in price, but also often "turn over the head", and the style is changed almost every month.

Shu Wenfei and a group of Shimai's salesgirls, as well as sisters responsible for editors of the fashion section of the magazine department, are the most cutting-edge "trend runners" in Shanghai. Flip pattern production.

Nowadays, all kinds of clothes and weaving products of "Shimai" have become the favorite of ladies in Shanghai.Walk into Shimai department store, if you don't buy one or two "Shimai" products, it will be "OUT"!

The beautiful report was presented to the meeting table of the board of directors, and the directors all expressed their approval of Shu Wenfei's ability, and even began to consider whether to expand the "Women's Production Department of Shimai Haberdashery" into a serious small factory.

Because Shu Wenfei has already taken over most of the work of the original secretariat, the secretary Zheng Jiesen also went to the rubber processing factory in Guangzhou to "semi-take root" with confidence.

Li Ye and Liang Shaolong returned to Shanghai long ago.

After investigation, they found that the rubber plantations in Malaysia are growing well, and the rubber planted already has economic value, and they can start to tap rubber.

What is even more surprising is that the hundreds of acres of rubber plantations that Luo Xiazhi later bought were close to Singapore. Recently, the Li family in Singapore started large-scale road construction, which caused a sudden increase in the flow of people and vehicles in what was originally a rural area. It has become an urban-rural fringe.

As a result, not only is the rubber produced easier to ship, but the land price of the entire piece of land has also doubled several times, which is simply a "joy from heaven".

Over there in Guangzhou, the factory has also begun to be renovated, and the rubber industry that Luo Xiazhi has been thinking about will soon develop!

"Lor Xia Zhi, you are still human!"

"boom!"

A heavy slap hit Luo Xiazhi's desk, shaking the stationery on the desk three times.

But not only Luo Xiazhi who was sitting behind the desk, but also Secretary Shu who just came in holding a folder, and even Li Ye who was sitting diagonally across from the desk and was reporting work, all had indifferent expressions. .

"Don't pay attention to him, continue..."

Luo Xiazhi waved his hand, signaling Li Ye to continue talking.

"The candidate for the new patch commercial actor has been decided after discussion. It's the black girl...cough cough, it's Miss Yu Meihui."

Li Ye pursed his lips in embarrassment,

Calling "Black Girl" and "Black Girl" every day with those girls, I almost forgot Miss Yu's real name.

"This is a new advertising script - "Fake Phoenix Traveling Time". At that time, Ms. Yu will disguise herself as a man and, with two female companions, embark on a wonderful journey in our Hong Kong department store branch, showing us in all aspects. The mall is the joy of eating, drinking, playing, having fun and shopping."

Time flies, and it has been almost a year since Liang Shaolong filmed the last advertisement "I have no reason not to live in 'Seven Heavens'", and it is time for a new advertisement.

Regardless of whether it's "men disguised as women" in Peking opera or "women disguised as men" in Yue opera, people in this era really like this tune, and Luo Xiazhi has not guessed the specific reason so far.

Although it has been ten months since the beauty pageant ended, the popularity of "Black Girl" is still rising.It is said that she also wants to participate in the second "Cabinet Sister Has You" competition that will be held in the summer next year, and she doesn't know if she will really be popular by then.

"The budget for this advertisement has already come down, and the manager, Nong, can meet with Director Hou in the afternoon to discuss the details. In addition, the boss of 'Jiahe Pictures' heard that Shimai wants to invest in filming, and expressed great interest in talking with you. Let’s discuss the specific details. So Mr. Shao will also attend the meeting in the afternoon.”

Secretary Shu added from the side.

"Very good, tell Yu Meihui not to go to work in the afternoon, get ready to dress up, and go to the film company meeting with me."

Rorschach was so excited that he was gearing up for it—you, the Japanese, are the only ones who can play soft advertisements and engage in cultural offensives?

snort!I can do it too!

Make sure my movie is released before your movie is made.

"Hey! Anyone see me?"

Liang Shaolong angrily started to slap the table again.

"Why, we're all working."

Luo Xiazhi couldn't stand his croaking, so he picked up the coffee on the table and glared at him while drinking.

"Why doesn't the new commercial allow me to be the leading actor? Am I not the chief male model of Shimai?"

Liang Shaolong yelled angrily, "Also——when did you plan to invest in making a movie? Why didn't you call me for such a fun thing? Luo Xiazhi, do you still have any humanity! Are you still a human being!"

Secretary Shu and Secretary Li sighed at the same time, bowed their heads and continued to sort out the materials.

"'Flying Dragon' ah..."

Putting down the coffee cup, Rorschach patted him heavily on the shoulder, deliberately calling out his "stage name", "The entertainment industry is very cruel..."

"What do you mean?"

Liang Shaolong frowned.

"You're old and not popular anymore... No professional 'investor' will use a male star who is not popular."

He said very seriously, "Accept the reality. Now the most popular 'chief model' of my company is no longer you. You——are out of breath!"

You are old, old...old...

I'm mad, I'm mad... I'm mad...

Until all three people in the office went out to work, Liang Shaolong, who was stimulated like never before, didn't get out of these two sentences...

The author has something to say: According to the data, in the 20s and 30s, the number of textile workers employed by Japanese companies in Shanghai had reached 20.I have already written a little bit... At that time, a large number of immigrants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang poured into Shanghai because of the increase in jobs, and became the current "Shanghai people".

The mother of Xiao Zhenzi in the Shanghai drama "Single Fire" was a private worker in a Japanese spinning mill, and the child laborer Xiao Zhenzi was beaten to death by a Japanese woman.

Thank you for your concern, I will continue to work hard!A preview of the next chapter "Shooting a Movie"

感谢在2020-11-1821:16:13~2020-11-1921:39:32期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angels of irrigation nutrient solution: 91 bottles of Qingtuan; 6 bottles of Downey;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!