1928: The rise of giant merchants

Seeing Ye Luo, Zhou Xiangsheng was actually a little confused.

Standing in front of him was the famous second young master of the Ye family, the first of the four young masters in Shanghai.

He was a kid from a top-notch rich family who was born with a golden key in his mouth and had nothing to worry about for the rest of his life.

He was from a poor family and dropped out of school at the age of 13 to work on the beach. He was completely different from the same world.

During the day, he was still sighing at Xiangsheng Automobile Dealers, thinking about how to survive in the cracks of a bunch of foreign auto dealerships. Unexpectedly, he received a call from Fengminglou. It seemed that all the problems he was troubled by had a solution!

"Second Young Master, Boss Zhou, you guys chat slowly while I go get someone to prepare some tea." Little Ah Qing has just recovered from a serious illness, and there is still a faint blush on her pretty face.

Two grown men were discussing business in her boudoir, and she could neither eavesdrop nor lie on the bed to rest, so she was ready to find an excuse to leave.

Ye Luo shook his head, took Xiao Aqiao's hand, and asked her to sit down next to him.

"Just ask her sister to do the menial work of serving tea and pouring water. The disease will be cured, so don't mess around with it." Ye Luo glared at her and gently kneaded the little Ah Qiansu under the table. Small hands.

Little Ah Qiao's heart felt as sweet as eating sugar. She leaned closer, pursed her lips and smiled softly: "Then I eavesdropped on the side without being polite. Boss Zhou won't blame me."

"Don't dare, don't dare, the eldest sister is joking!" Zhou Xiangsheng stood up and clasped his fists. Who among those who work on the beach in Shanghai doesn't know the reputation of the eldest sister of Fengming Tower?

He is the owner of a small car dealership, but he doesn't dare to dislike this or that.

However, Ye Luo showed him his relationship with Xiao Aqiao so straightforwardly, which made Zhou Xiangsheng a little surprised and a little flattered.

"Boss Zhou, I took the liberty of inviting you here this time because I actually want to discuss a business deal with you." Ye Luo took the Biluochun that Xiao Aqiao brought over and took a sip.

Zhou Xiangsheng didn't dare to ask little Ah Qiao to help pour tea, so he stood up and poured a small cup. When he heard this, he couldn't help but look at Ye Luo: "Second Young Master, please tell me, if there is anything I can do to help, I am obligated. "

"If Boss Zhou is well-informed, he should have heard that I plan to open a car rental agency myself." Ye Luo got straight to the point, took out the checkbook from his suit pocket and pushed it in front of him, "But reopening is time-consuming and labor-intensive. So I plan to buy one. Boss Zhou, your Xiangsheng Automobile Shop, please give me a price."

"Second Young Master." Five years ago, Zhou Xiangsheng was interested in the car dealership business. He and his cousin bought five used Nissan Black Dragon vans from the British Central Automobile Company with the money they had saved over the past decade, and they were listed as "Xiangsheng Automobile" OK" started a car dealership business.

But in the old caravan, customers with a certain status would not sit in it at all, so he would go to the docks, train stations, ordinary restaurants, theaters and other places to drive around or wait for customers, using the half-baked English he learned at the Licha Hotel. To recruit foreign sailors and soldiers.

Over the past five years, under his careful management, Xiangsheng Automobile Shop has gradually got on the right track and has become somewhat famous.

Although he is now facing ruthless squeeze from foreign car dealers, and the capital chain will soon be broken, and the company will go bankrupt, but after all, it is his hard work for so many years, so he can just sell it at any time.

Moreover, the other party was the second young master of the Ye family. If it was a car dealership for free, how could he pay a large price to buy his own Xiangsheng Automobile Dealership, knowing that it would not make any money.

"Boss Zhou. I don't need to say more about how difficult it is to run a car rental business in Shanghai." Seeing his hesitant look, Ye Luo smiled faintly, "You have to go through foreigners to purchase cars, and you have to go through foreigners to sell cars. Is it better to do car rental business? Foreigners have the final say. Boss Zhou, what you are actually doing is a job-forsake business, which is not very profitable. This year, the Automobile Trade Association has introduced new policies to squeeze out Chinese businessmen."

"Just a few days ago, I heard that several more car dealerships have closed down." Seeing his expression, Ye Luo became a little hesitant and continued to strike while the iron was hot. "In the fifteenth year of the Republic of China, there were four or five Chinese car dealerships in Shanghai, large and small. There are ten companies, but none of them are serious about selling and renting cars. They are all engaged in the 'job-hunting' business. It has only been two years and they have already gone bankrupt."

"The British company Tailai Automobile Company and the American company Yunfei Automobile Company are the two giants in the automobile industry today. With these two mountains pressing down on them, if you do this, Boss Zhou, you will never be able to compare with foreigners."

Bada——

A kerosene lighter lit up a spark.

Xiao Aqiao helped Ye Luo light a cigarette.

Zhou Xiangsheng sighed heavily and looked up at Ye Luo: "Second Young Master, I didn't expect you to know so much about the car dealership business! You're right, as long as Yunfei and Tailai are here, our Chinese car dealership will never be able to lift its head! Their imported cars are cheaper than ours, all kinds of expenses are cheaper than ours, and their cars are better than ours. There really is nothing they can do.”

"The most irritating thing is! The Automobile Trade Association has also issued a clear rule that drivers who drive cars with foreign dealers can pay cheaper for gas than drivers who drive cars with Chinese dealers! This, this is too bullying!"

Zhou Xiangsheng became angrier and angrier as he talked. He wanted to curse, but when he looked up at Ye Luo and Xiao Aqiao, he held it back.

These days, both the middle class and the lower classes have strong patriotic sentiments.

Although he, Zhou Xiangsheng, is a dishonorable businessman, he is also an upright Chinese!

He couldn't stand it when Chinese people were suppressed by foreigners in Chinese cities!

I can't take this breath!

Ye Luo also talked about Zhou Xiangsheng's family history.

This time even little A Qiao was shocked.

The second young master actually knows this little-known boss Zhou so well!

At first glance, it seems that a lot of effort has been spent on sending people to investigate.

Zhou Xiangsheng did not expect that Ye Luo not only knew the car dealership business well, but also knew his own details.

His intuition told him that the smiling second young master in front of him was different from the rich young man from Shanghai he had seen before.

He really wants to do the car dealership business!

"Second Young Master! Let me tell you the truth. I can see that you really want to try the car dealership business, but because of this, I can't sell Xiangsheng Automobile Dealership to you!"

Zhou Xiangsheng smiled bitterly.

"You're right, the business of 'touting' is dead. I can't send you into a pit of fire."

The so-called "job-throwing" business is to drive a black car.

There are regular drivers in Zhou Xiangsheng's car dealership. They are responsible for transporting and dropping off passengers, while Zhou Xiangsheng is responsible for soliciting customers. The business division of labor is clear. When money is made, the driver's salary is paid first, and then the car dealership reserves it.

It's a pity that most people still choose to take trams and rickshaws. The best time to do business is later. When it gets late at night, many customers in brothels like Fengming House will go to the hotel with their girls in their arms. Their business It’s almost here!

Nowadays, people who take taxis are either rich, out of vanity, or a minority.

Otherwise, just "throwing out" business would be enough for Chinese car dealers like them to make a living.

This is the only gray area that foreigners don't touch much, because they find it embarrassing.

However, the world is so difficult that Huashang Automobile Co., Ltd. cannot achieve any decent results at all.

"Who said I was going to do a 'throwing-off' business? I just said it wasn't profitable. Haha, Boss Zhou, I want to do the same thing as a foreign car dealer, sell cars and rent cars. Why, don't you think so?"

Ye Luo looked at him with a smile.

"This, this" behavior is no different from giving money in Zhou Xiangsheng's eyes.

But he didn't dare to brush off the second young master's nature.

Judging from his submissive expression, Ye Luo could understand.

After all, no one can see the general trend of the future.

"Besides, I don't want to buy Xiangsheng Automobile Dealership, kick you out, and do it myself. I don't have the time to run an auto dealership." Ye Luo took the checkbook back, took the pen handed over by Xiao Aqiao, and swiped the He wrote a row of big characters, signed his name, tore off a piece of paper and pushed it in front of Zhou Xiangsheng's eyes.

"50,000 oceans. If Boss Zhou is willing to accept this check, then from now on, I will be the big boss of Xiangsheng Automobile Company, and you, Boss Zhou, will be the general manager of the automobile store. All matters in the automobile store will be handled by you. Everything remains the same.”

Ye Luo put away his pen and checkbook and looked at him with a smile.

"But what business I do in the future and how I do it, I have the final say."

50,000 oceans!

An employee of a foreign company has not eaten or drank for 25 years, and only has this little money!

Zhou Xiangsheng entered the business world in 1919. After nine years of ups and downs, his deposit in the bank was less than 30,000 yuan.

He subconsciously wanted to say "consider it", but Ye Luo gave him too much!

50,000 Dayang was also stunned by little Aqiao.

She ran Fengming House, and after working hard for a year, she only made a profit of 60,000 yuan. This little enemy just wrote casually and almost gave away her hard-earned money for a year.

What kind of car business is this? Is it that profitable?

"Second, second young master, did you write an extra zero?" He reached out and grabbed the check and asked.

"I didn't write much." Ye Luo blew out a smoke ring, "The boss agreed that week."

"Agree! Of course I agree! Second Young Master, it's not Boss Zhou now, it's Manager Zhou. Oh no, just call me Xiao Zhou." Zhou Xiangsheng is really afraid of poverty. He has been in business for many years and has met many wealthy people. He has been working hard to become that kind of little rich man. Unexpectedly, this night, inexplicably, his lifelong wish came true.

At this moment, there was no question in his mind about whether he could make a car or not. Xiangsheng was his lifelong endeavor.

He is now the Second Young Master’s man! General manager of Xiangsheng Automobile Co., Ltd.

"Manager Zhou is joking. You are about the same age as my father. How can I call you Xiao Zhou?" Ye Luo's bottom line was actually 100,000 yuan.

Even without his intervention, Xiangsheng Automobile Dealership could develop into the largest Chinese auto dealer besides foreign auto dealers in the future. By the eve of the war, Xiangsheng Company's stock capital had reached 500,000 yuan, with 230 cars, 22 branches, and employees With more than 800 people, they are the real car kings of Shanghai.

Ye Luo is just investing money.

Of course, he couldn't wait that long to win the Xiangsheng Automobile Dealership.

"Tomorrow, when I complete the Ye's Investment Company and arrange everything properly, I will acquire Xiangsheng Automobile Company in the name of Ye's Investment Company. In the past few days, Manager Zhou can still publicize it everywhere, saying that I, Ye Luo, am willing to contribute to the Chinese automobile industry. I would like to contribute, and I am willing to purchase any auto dealer that is on the verge of bankruptcy at a fair price as long as it has a good business and does not have serious financial and liability problems."

Ye Luo poured herself a cup of tea,

"After that, Manager Zhou will follow me to do the first business, no problem."

"No problem, no problem. Second Young Master, if you really want to buy Chinese car dealers in large quantities, you don't have to pay a par price at all. I know a few old brothers. Their car dealers are almost dying. Let alone a par price, they are willing to pay a low price. A cheap sale.”

Zhou Xiangsheng was now Ye Luo's man, so he naturally put himself in his camp and began to make suggestions for him.

The profit-seeking nature of businessmen is fully exposed.

It's not that he is only interested in profit, it's just that shopping malls are like battlefields, and you still have to take advantage of them, not to mention that this is also an act of giving help in times of need.

"The price can be negotiated. I, Ye Luo, don't need that much money, and I won't take advantage of someone's misfortune." Ye Luo shook his head. During the Republic of China, media and information were underdeveloped, and reputation was more important than anything else. It's hard to buy a good reputation with a lot of money.

"Second Young Master is benevolent and righteous!" Zhou Xiangsheng clasped his fists in admiration.

He had seen many businessmen who took advantage of others' misfortune, and he could understand it. This was the first time he saw Ye Luo, a businessman who really did business with the purpose of saving the country through industry and saving people through industry.

The two talked some more about the car dealership business. Seeing that the night was getting late, Zhou Xiangsheng left first in a wise manner.

Ye Luo yawned and glanced down at little Aqiao, only to find that she was like a little daughter-in-law who was being insulted, with a resentful expression on her face.

"What's going on? If anyone makes our eldest sister unhappy, I'll beat him up." Ye Luo put his arms around little A Qiao's shoulders, letting her lean against him, and gently pinched her nose with his other hand.

"It's me!" Xiao A sighed quietly. Seeing Ye Luo's face full of doubts and blushing, she bit her lip, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I wanted you to stay the night, but, but..."

"That one is coming"

When it comes to such embarrassing things, the eldest sister, who has always been bold and bold, has become Xiaojiabiyu.

Ye Luo suddenly realized that he thought of something.

That was the emergence and introduction of sanitary napkins -

Since the Republic of China succeeded the late Qing Dynasty, feudal ideas were still relatively stubborn. Many people regarded menstruation as an ominous sign, and women's status was not high.

The customs of binding feet, corseting the breasts, and changing sex during menstruation have gradually changed in the past few years.

Last year, the government launched the massive "Big Breasts Movement", and women who didn't free their breasts were even fined.

Being at the forefront of fashion, Shanghai Beach has naturally become a trend.

However, underwear that became widely popular in later generations, which was called "prosthetic breasts" during the Republic of China, has not yet appeared in China.

Sanitary napkins are still called menstrual pads, and cotton products can only be used by women with a good family background. In fact, in the United States, the first sanitary napkin brand "Kotex" has appeared.

These are all good businesses that can make a lot of money.

Ye Luo's business empire will take shape step by step. In the early stage, he must accumulate a lot of capital and reputation. In the mid-term, he will move into light industry. After he has huge assets and business network, the people he can contact will be more high-end. At that time, he will consider " "Every man is not guilty but he is guilty of carrying a jade".

But now, it's very early. The second young master wants to do business, and Lu Yusheng has almost turned it into a "classic joke in Shanghai".

Even if he has some success, can he still compare with the Ye family, which has a big business?

Xiao Aqiao snuggled into his arms and saw that he suddenly lost his voice. She thought that Ye Luo was spoiled by the news and was in a worse mood.

She didn't want to find any other little sisters to sleep with the second young master. With this thought in mind, she gritted her teeth and suddenly turned under the table and reached out to unbuckle Ye Luo's belt.