The Jade of the Republic of China

In the early morning, Shen's garden.

Shen Yutong had been busy at the Fengxian Saltworks for more than a week, and only returned home last night, and was woken up early in the morning by the chirping of birds outside.

He opened the window and looked into the back garden, only to see that it was his father, Shen Xingzhi, sitting in the birdcage under the tree.

Ever since the old man became a shopkeeper, he fell in love with the hobby of raising birds and amusing them, just like the old and young in Beijing.

This indigo chin is the old man's new favorite, it's the size of a palm, but its cry is extremely loud, fortunately it's clear and melodious, it's not annoying, on the contrary it's like a beautiful piece of music.

Shen Yutong smiled, put on a fox fur cloak, and went downstairs to Shen Xingzhi.

"Daddy, morning!"

Shen Xingzhi glanced at his son, and asked with a smile, "How is the development of refined salt?"

Shen Yutong said: "Very well, the machine will be in place next month, and trial production should be possible."

"Okay, okay." Shen Xingzhi smiled happily when he heard the words, and responded several times, "Our Shen family has lived on salt for generations, if we can make a breakthrough in salt production, break the monopoly of foreigners on refined salt, and let the common people eat refined salt, You can also afford refined salt, which can be regarded as a matter of benefiting the country and the people, worthy of the ancestors. Yutong, Dad didn't send you abroad for nothing."

Shen Yutong smiled and said, "I also want to thank my father for sending me abroad."

Shen Xingzhi glanced at the youngest son again, the more he looked at him, the more he felt that he was an outstanding talent, and at the same time he was proud, but he couldn't help but think of what the fortune teller said back then.

As far as he knew, during these years in England, his youngest son was more playful in the first year, and occasionally dated and danced with girls. After that, he devoted himself to his studies and never had any romantic affairs.

In the past few months after returning to China, he, as a father, was even more shocked. Not only did his son have a more mature and stable personality, but he seemed no longer interested in parties and fun. He was also declined by his former friends who invited him to dance and play ball. Changsan Shuyu He has never set foot in a single step, and rarely even goes to the opera garden, as if he has devoted himself to the construction of the refined salt factory.

This is naturally a good thing, don't worry about him causing some troublesome affairs.But thinking that his son is too young and has reached the age of marriage, he can't give up eating because of choking because of the illusory peach blossom robbery, and he really won't even let him touch his breasts.

The old man coughed lightly, stroked his white beard and said, "Yutong, you will be 22 years old after the new year, and it's time to consider starting a family. We are a new-style family, and we don't play the game of parents' orders. Your wife, you Choose by yourself, and let us have a look after you choose.”

Shen Yutong listened to his father's words, and smiled nonchalantly: "Don't worry, Dad, are you still afraid that I won't find someone I like? It's just that my mind is now on building a refined salt factory, and other things should be put aside for the time being. I You're still young, don't worry."

Shen Xingzhi thought of this at first, and casually mentioned that he didn't intend to be that annoying old father, and of course he wasn't worried that his son, who is so talented, couldn't find a partner. He was relieved to hear that he planned to focus on his career for the time being. , nodded and said: "Okay, anyway, you arrange your own affairs, Dad just reminded you."

Shen Yutong smiled and nodded.

The father and son were chatting, and Shen Yuan also got up and went downstairs. Holding a new newspaper that smelled of ink in his hand, he walked over and said, "Father Yutong, what are you talking about?"

Shen Yutong said: "Talk about refined salt."

Shen Yuan nodded and smiled: "Father, I have already seen the refined salt refined by Yutong. It is of the same quality as foreigners. Now we are waiting for the machine to come back and try to produce it after improvement. As long as the output can increase, our Shen family's salt can change the current situation. The habit of the common people to eat earthen salt and coarse salt."

Shen Xingzhi picked up a piece of grass, teased the indigo chin of the birdcage, shook his head and said, "Making refined salt is a long way to go, and producing it is only the first step. When it is produced, it will be the job of traditional salt merchants. By then, it is estimated that there will be a long way to go." It's going to be a tough fight."

Shen Yuan was all about making refined salt with her younger brother, and only wanted to break the monopoly of foreigners, but she didn't think much about it.

The salt industry is the most strictly controlled industry by the government. No matter who is in power, he must pay close attention to the salt tax. Official salt and private salt basically have a fixed sales route.If their Shen family transforms from coarse salt to refined salt, as long as the price is not much different, dealers and people will definitely choose their Shen family's refined salt, thus changing the current sales situation.

At that time, the interests of traditional salt merchants will be affected, and the Shen family may become the target of public criticism.

He was frowning and pondering, only to hear Shen Yutong say: "So when we open a refined salt factory, we must first get government support."

Shen Yuan nodded: "That's right, I'll make a trip to Beijing when I turn around."

Shen Xingzhi added: "There is still salt transportation. If the salt is produced, the biggest problem is that it cannot be transported out."

Shen Yuyan hummed, as if thinking of something, picked up the newspaper in his hand and said: "Two days ago, Bai Qinghe went to the pier to see off people, didn't he almost be assassinated? I heard that a little shoe shiner saved him. I read in the newspaper that Li Yongnian may be the mastermind behind it."

Shen Xingzhi played with the chirping gadgets in the birdcage, as if he wasn't surprised, and said in a low voice, "Bai Qinghe was originally Li Yongnian's adoptive son. After establishing his own family, his momentum has almost surpassed him in the past few years, and the wharf business is nothing more. , the most important thing is that Bai Qinghe accounts for half of the transportation of tobacco and soil from the public concession and the Chinese world. How can Li Yongnian sit still, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and sooner or later, the two will have a winner."

Shen Yutong had heard of Bai Qinghe's name, but after all, he hadn't been in Shanghai for the past few years and didn't know much about the situation in Shanghai, so he could only listen to his father and brother talking about it without saying a word.

Shen Yuan frowned: "I don't care how they fight, but we have to rely on their wharf for our salt ships to ship, so please don't affect our salt shipments."

Shen Xing shook his head indifferently: "Selling soil is the most lucrative business today, and the two of them fight will only affect the soil merchants, and have little to do with us, so we just don't stand in line." He sighed, and solemnly The matter said, "Opium is not a good thing, and selling soil is a business that kills offspring. You brothers must not get involved in this stuff."

Shen Yuan said righteously: "Dad, don't worry, I hate people who eat opium the most, and I will never get a little bit of it."

Shen Xingzhi nodded, then squinted at his younger son, as if waiting for him to make a statement.

Shen Yutong laughed and said: "Father, I studied chemistry in England, so I know very well that opium is not allowed, so you don't have to worry about me."

Shen Xingzhi laughed, of course he wasn't worried that his son would get addicted to drugs.

After all, the son's calamity is peach blossom calamity.

In the Shen family garden, the father is kind and the son is filial, and the brothers and friends are respectful. In another big house in Shanghai, a new day has begun.

Meng Liansheng had a good night's sleep on the first night in Bai mansion, woke up in the morning, and had a sumptuous breakfast with the housekeeper and servants.

When he rescued Bai Qinghe that day, he was only sure that he was a big shot and didn't know his identity. He stayed in the hospital for two days and only after reading the newspapers did he know that he was the famous Shanghai tycoon Bai Qinghe.

Bai Qinghe is not an ordinary businessman, he was born in the grass, made his fortune in the wharf, and Yantu helped him reach the top.Although he is not a member of the Qinghong gang, he is also following the gang line, killing and arson are commonplace.

In the troubled times, it was like this. Some people took off their official uniforms and turned into bandits, while some bandits put on military uniforms and turned into soldiers.

Back then, two soldiers from Meng Liansheng's hometown were fighting, and one of them was a bandit.

All in all, Bai Qinghe has a bad reputation in Shanghai Bund.

But the life of the people in the Bai Mansion is obviously going well. The maids are all red-faced, and the servants in the nursing home are also strong. Breakfast includes porridge, vegetables, and big meat buns.

Meng Liansheng ate his first breakfast in the Bai mansion, and then followed Uncle Zhong to the living room of the residence to say hello to Bai Qinghe.

Bai Qinghe had also finished his breakfast and was sitting on the sofa drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.Sitting next to him was a tall young man with a suit and leather shoes, parted hair with pomade, well-groomed, not handsome, but quite dignified.

This person is exactly Bai Qinghe's confidant, Lixin's second head, Sun Zhidong.

He was talking with Bai Qinghe about the assassination at the pier: "Brother, I have found out, the person who did it this time is Li Yongnian. Do you think we..."

Bai Qinghe stared at the newspaper in his right hand, took a sip of coffee with his left hand, and said without raising his head, "I have my own plans for Li Yongnian's affairs, so don't make up your own mind."

The man nodded awkwardly: "Understood."

Sensing someone approaching, Bai Qinghe put down his coffee cup, turned to look at Meng Liansheng, and smiled softly at him.

Meng Liansheng said respectfully, "Good morning, sir!"

Bai Qinghe nodded: "Xiao Meng, you don't have to be so cautious, there are not so many rules in the Bai Mansion." He looked him up and down again, and asked with concern, "Are you used to it when you first came here?"

Meng Liansheng said, "Well, it's pretty good."

Bai Qinghe patted the shoulder of the man next to him, and said, "Zhidong, this is the child who saved me."

Sun Zhidong raised his head, glanced at Meng Liansheng lightly, with a careless look, and the corner of his mouth curled up, jokingly said: "So it's you, little brother, you're lucky, you saved my elder brother from a small injury, and in exchange for future food and drink Spicy and good value."

Meng Liansheng twitched the corners of his mouth, showing a embarrassed expression.

Bai Qinghe glanced at Sun Zhidong, frowned and said coldly: "Stop talking nonsense, Xiao Meng is my savior." Then he said to Meng Liansheng, "Xiao Meng, this is a good brother who worked hard with me and is also Lixin's manager. Just call him Brother Dong."

"Brother Dong." Meng Liansheng called out respectfully.

Sun Zhidong waved his hands indifferently, obviously not paying attention to this honest-looking kid.

Bai Qinghe said: "Okay Zhidong, you go and do what you should do, you don't have to worry about Li Yongnian's affairs."

Sun Zhidong raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Okay brother, by the way, why didn't you see Zijun? Every time I come, I hide."

Bai Qinghe said: "It's not like you don't know that Zijun is afraid of life."

"I'm not a stranger either!"

Bai Qinghe waved his hand: "Who told you not to please children."

Sun Zhidong laughed casually, put a cigarette in his mouth, put his hands in his pockets, and walked out swaggeringly.

Uncle Zhong stepped forward and said, "Sir, do you think it would be appropriate to arrange some work for Xiao Meng?"

Bai Qinghe glanced at Meng Liansheng's left arm, because he was wearing a padded jacket, he couldn't tell why, but he had seen how deep the wound on that arm was, it had only been three days, and it was obviously too early to recover.

He set his eyes on Meng Liansheng's face again. The young man's expression was calm, still restrained and submissive.

Now that the child knew his identity, he didn't try to repay him with any kindness at all. He clearly regarded himself as a servant of Bai Mansion dutifully.

Bai Qinghe lamented his honesty and honesty in his heart, and said softly: "Xiao Meng still has injuries on his hands, so don't rush to give him a job, just take him to get acquainted with the mansion."

Uncle Zhong laughed and said: "I think so too, the family is not short of staff now."

After that, he took the people down.

Although Meng Liansheng was a servant, his status was a bit special. Everyone in the mansion was very warm and friendly to him—after all, without him, Bai Qinghe might have died, and these people in the mansion probably couldn't find better jobs.

In addition, Meng Liansheng had a pure and harmless face, not good at words, and a restrained personality. Anyone who saw him couldn't help feeling a little bit of compassion.

In the evening when the twilight fell, he did nothing but get to know the [-] or so people in the mansion, and he also received a bunch of food for feeding.

After having a sumptuous dinner, seeing that he was already familiar with him, Uncle Zhong ignored him and let him go to rest in the garden alone.

The long rainy days in the south of the Yangtze River finally cleared up today, and the sunset covered half of the sky, making the garden of Bai Mansion more and more lush.A few chubby little maids who had eaten dinner stayed in a corner of the garden chatting because they had nothing to do.

Meng Liansheng couldn't get close, so he stayed by a flower garden in a daze.

It's just that he didn't stay there for a long time, then he felt a rustling sound behind him, and when he turned his head, he saw a small head suddenly retracted into the bushes.

After a while, he leaned out cautiously, met his gaze, and retracted again.

Meng Liansheng thought for a while, walked to a nearby palm tree, stretched out his hand and tore off two tender palm leaves. After a minute, the two leaves in his hand turned into a living grasshopper.

He waved the grasshopper towards the bush, and finally that little head poked out again, it was just a pink face, still timid.

This timid little boy is none other than Bai Zijun, the young master of Bai Mansion.

Meng Liansheng raised the corners of his mouth and smiled at him.

His smile has always been harmless to humans and animals, and it is quite confusing, making people have no doubt that he is a harmless young man.

Bai Zijun obviously let go of his heart because of his smile. After hesitating for a moment, he seemed to have gained courage. The little guy finally emerged from the bushes tentatively and walked up to him step by step. His eyes looked curiously at his hand. That straw grasshopper.

Meng Liansheng delivered the grasshopper to him.

Bai Zijun opened his eyes wide, showing some surprise, and whispered, "Is it for me?"

Meng Liansheng nodded.

Bai Zijun finally let go of his heart and smiled, held the grasshopper and looked around curiously, then asked, "Will you do anything else?"

Meng Liansheng nodded, and picked off a few more tender palm leaves. Under Bai Zijun's curious eyes, he conjured up a nimble little snake.

"Wow!" Bai Zijun exclaimed.

Meng Liansheng brought the little snake in front of him, and said softly, "Put your finger into its mouth."

Bai Zijun tilted his head suspiciously and stuffed his white and tender index finger into the mouth of the little snake. Meng Liansheng pulled it lightly, and the little snake's mouth suddenly tightened.

He chuckled lightly, "Bite it!"

Bai Zijun was startled, and quickly pulled back his hand, but the more he pulled, the tighter it became.Because I quickly realized that this was not a real little snake, I just found it funny and couldn't help giggling.

"Brother Meng, it's really fun." The child said childishly.

At the same time, Uncle Zhong, the housekeeper who was looking for someone in the garden, saw the happy scene not far away, and couldn't help saying to himself in amazement: "I really raised my eyes and came out from the west. The young master met Xiao Meng." I’m not afraid of life at all.”

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Xiaomeng's new life

new beginning of the story