Chapter 570 Far East 2 (make up for yesterday)
While he was thinking, two young women in red and white dresses walked into Class A and came to Zhu Zhankui.
"Brother Zhu, is this Shanghai? There are many foreign warships on the sea."
Miao Sanniang spoke.
"Once you enter the Wusong River, you will reach Shanghai. There are concessions from powerful countries such as Britain, France, and Germany in Shanghai. It is normal for foreign warships to appear on the sea."
"The foreign devils are evil! I get angry when I see them! When I was in Jinkou, I wanted to teach them a lesson and burn down their church, but unfortunately the government stopped me!
The foreigners are doing evil! The Qing court is not a good thing either. The foreigners oppressed the people, and they not only did not uphold justice, but also helped the foreigners arrest people. I was really blind before, and I still wanted to support the Qing and destroy the foreigners!
Brother Zhu, I have figured it out. The Qing court is finished and there is no hope. If we want the common people and sisters all over the world to live a stable life, we have to rely on ourselves. The Qing court does not dare to be enemies with foreigners, so we will do it ourselves. As long as foreigners dare to oppress our brothers and sisters, we will help them get justice! "
Miao Sanniang said through gritted teeth.
"It is not only about fighting against foreigners and helping the people, but the immigration mission is also very important. At present, people in various parts of the Far East are living in poverty and starving everywhere. If we make an extra effort and send one more immigrant to South America, we can save one more life, especially women and girls of childbearing age. In troubled times, there are countless girls abandoned by their parents because of poverty and hunger. They are all victims of troubled times.
The empire implemented a constitutional system and advocated equality between men and women. In addition, the problem of gender imbalance in the native region has always existed. Paying more attention to the immigration of women and girls and rescuing more women and girls of childbearing age is far more important than burning down a church or killing a foreigner.
Sanniang, you need to change your mindset. Don't always think about fighting and killing. Put your focus on women's immigration affairs. In the field of women's immigration, the role you and Hei'er can play is irreplaceable. According to His Majesty's evaluation when he heard about your deeds, the role you two played in leading women's immigration affairs is no less than that of an Imperial Army regiment-level unit.
The people are the foundation of the empire. As long as the immigration operation continues smoothly and the suffering brothers and sisters are liberated, the empire will not be afraid even if hundreds of thousands of foreign troops come, let alone a few foreign missionaries. "
"Brother Zhu is right. The lives of foreigners are not as important as our Chinese lives! For the sake of our brothers and sisters who have immigrated to our home country and have a better life, we will let them go for now."
Miao Sanniang said seriously.
"Oh, by the way, there is something I want to tell you. There is news from the mainland that you will be arranged to return to the mainland for training, and by the way, the land and houses that should be allocated to you will also be implemented. What do you think?"
"We have just been transferred to Shanghai with Brother Zhu. The situation has not been opened up yet and we lack strong manpower. It is not appropriate to return to our home country at this time. We should report to our home country and postpone it for a while. After we finish the work in Shanghai and everything is on track, we will go back for training."
Lin Heier replied.
"Me too."
"Then I'll bear with you for a while. I'll give you feedback on your ideas to the local authorities. There shouldn't be any problem."
"Brother Zhu, Shanghai is a mixed bag. The various gangs and secret societies are backed by foreigners. I'm afraid it's not easy to deal with them."
Lin Heier reminded.
"Don't be afraid. After we get off the boat, we will meet Minister Liang and Chief Huang and listen to their opinions first. If they have no objection, I will invite the leaders of various gangs and secret societies to have a private meeting in the name of Yongxingtang to test their attitude. Then, based on the results of the meeting, we will divide and respond. We will win over those who should be won over and eliminate those who should be eliminated. With the support of the imperial government behind us, we are not afraid of any disturbances they may stir up."
The ship docked at the port, and Zhu Zhankui and his party walked towards the base set up by the Han Kingdom in Shanghai. Not long after they left, a group of men dressed in various clothes and with different hairstyles, dressed as businessmen, got off the ship and walked towards the direction of the International Settlement.
The International Settlement was formed by the merger of the British and American Concessions in September 1863. It covers an area of more than 9 mu. After entering the concession, you can see rows of Gothic buildings on both sides of the street. In the middle of the street, there are small vendors hawking their wares, European men and women in suits and dresses, but more are ordinary Chinese people in tattered clothes.
When Zhao Deyuan, Zhao Fuqing, father and son, and their long-term business partners Chen Delin and Li Binggui walked on the streets of the International Settlement, they saw a scene of division where prosperity and poverty coexisted.
On the edge of the street, hundreds of refugees who had fled famine from other places sat under the houses on the street, placing porcelain bowls with cracks on them, numbly repeating the same movements and words, begging in the street.
"I thought I would see a different scene after entering Shanghai, but who knew that ordinary people were living the same life as in my hometown, with thin and worn clothes, pale and thin faces, running around all day, but unable to get a full meal. The fate of this court is over."
A man in his thirties with a short beard and long clothes said disappointedly, "Brother Delin, the prosperity of the International Settlement belongs to the foreigners, not to Shanghai or the ordinary people of Shanghai. No matter how prosperous the International Settlement is, it has nothing to do with the ordinary people, and it cannot change the reality of the poverty and suffering of the ordinary people."
Zhao Fuqing said.
“No matter how prosperous a city is, it cannot be as powerful as a country. If the Qing court was the same as the Han country, would the lives of ordinary people be so hard? Would foreigners still dare to oppress them at will?
Even those Indians wearing turbans were second-class citizens in the British colonies. But when they came to the International Settlement, they rode on the heads of the Chinese people. I was furious when I saw them! "
"Brother Delin, calm down. Shanghai is a good place. If it were a peaceful and prosperous time with a developed economy and people living and working in peace and contentment, it would be a paradise on earth. Now, the country is in turmoil. Not to mention ordinary people, businessmen like us are not doing well. If it weren't for Mr. Zhao and Shopkeeper Zhao's help and providing a channel for purchasing goods, directly importing grey cloth from Songkhla and Lanfang at a fair price, facing the competition of low-priced cotton cloth from Japan and the United Kingdom, our factory might have gone bankrupt two years ago. It's not like now. Not only has the factory expanded in scale, but also several large printing machines and dyeing machines have been imported from Hanguo in South America. A large textile factory was jointly established in Shanghai.
We can't control national affairs, but running the new Shanghai textile factory smoothly and providing low-priced cloth to the people can also be considered a contribution to the country, don't you think? "
"That's right. The most important thing is to open the textile factory first."
Chen Delin retracted his gaze and turned to look at Zhao Deyuan and Zhao Fuqing, father and son, on his left, and asked, "Mr. Zhao, Shopkeeper Zhao, the Shanghai Textile Factory was established by you two, and the Zhao family is the major shareholder of the textile factory. Delin has something to discuss with you two."
"Delin, we have been working together for so many years, and we have never treated you as an outsider. It is true that the Zhao family is the major shareholder, but when we invested in the cooperation, it was agreed that you would be responsible for the daily management of the Shanghai Textile Factory. The Zhao family is only responsible for paying, and you will make the decision on all major matters. If you have any ideas, just do it."
Zhao Deyuan said with a smile.
"Mr. Zhao trusts Delin, which is a blessing for Delin. But recruiting people for the factory is a big deal, so I still need to ask for your opinions."
Chen Delin said calmly, "This is what I think. There are many refugees on the streets of Shanghai. They lack food and clothing and are often driven away by the police in the concession. The Shanghai textile factory has just been built and is in need of workers. Some positions with low technical requirements can be opened up to recruit a certain number of refugees, which can also be regarded as a way for them to make a living."
"Delin's idea is very good. Doing business is the same as being a human being. We have the ability to help more poor people. Just go ahead and do it. Fuqing and I will return to Lanfang after the textile factory is running normally. You will be in charge of the Shanghai Textile Factory. You will be in charge of similar matters in the future. You don't need to ask Fuqing and I for our opinions."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao."
Chen Delin thanked Zhao Deyuan for his trust and support, then turned around and walked forward. After a while, he came to a group of refugees. He first sent away the Indian patrol who was driving the refugees away, and then shouted to the frightened refugees: "Everyone stop, don't be afraid, the Indians have left, listen to me.
I am Chen Delin, the owner of Zhenhua Textile Factory. I also grew up eating at other people's houses when I was young. Now, Zhenhua Textile Factory has just been built and is in need of workers. Those of you who are strong enough can go to Zhenhua Textile Factory for an interview. Those who pass the interview will be employed as workers in the factory and receive a fixed salary every month. Zhenhua Textile Factory is in the western part of the International Settlement. It doesn't matter if you don't know the way. You can find out by asking people nearby.
I have 5 taels of silver here. I will ask the waiter to buy a few carts of steamed buns. Everyone can eat them first to regain some strength. Then we can go to the factory for the interview. Do you understand?"
"Mr. Chen, you are such a good man, a living Buddha. I kneel down to you."
"Boss Chen, I don't want any wages. I beg you to let me go in and work. Just provide two meals a day for me, my brother and my sister. My brother and sister are 8 and 6 years old, and they can help with the laundry and cooking. They are not a burden."
As soon as Chen Delin finished speaking, hundreds of refugees knelt down, crying and expressing their gratitude.
"Everyone, get up. I was born into a poor family too, and I understand everyone's difficulties. Let's get up, get through this difficult time, and things will get better."
Chen Delin's eyes were red, and he hurriedly stood up to support the people who were kneeling down. When he saw the guys running over, he shouted, "Shunzi, Zhuzi, why are you still standing there? Didn't you hear what I said just now? Take 5 taels of silver. No, just take 10 taels of silver, rent a few carts, and go to the nearby shops to buy steamed buns. Remember, only buy steamed buns, not steamed dumplings. Steamed buns are cheaper than steamed dumplings. 10 taels of silver can buy an extra cart of steamed buns. Go and do it!"
"Hey, boss, let's go now."
The two waiters were used to Chen Delin's way of speaking and trotted away quickly.
"Everyone, listen to me. I'll buy some steamed buns later. Everyone will have a share. Eat slowly and don't choke. If you work in the factory, you will get a monthly salary. If you do a good job, you will get a bonus at the end of the year. It's true that I, Chen Delin, am a businessman. I don't just care about money. As long as you work in the factory, you will get paid. There is no reason to work without getting paid.
Also, let me tell you that the immigration base set up by the Han State at the port has increased the immigration quota to 6000 people per month, and the frequency of the transport fleet has also increased to twice a month. If you fail to pass the interview, don't give up hope and go to the port immigration station. If you pass the immigration review there, it is much better than working in a factory. If you meet other refugees, you can also talk to them. We are all miserable people. It's not easy for everyone in Shanghai. We can help each other. Just help, otherwise the foreigners will look down on us. "
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Chen. We will listen to you."
While he was thinking, two young women in red and white dresses walked into Class A and came to Zhu Zhankui.
"Brother Zhu, is this Shanghai? There are many foreign warships on the sea."
Miao Sanniang spoke.
"Once you enter the Wusong River, you will reach Shanghai. There are concessions from powerful countries such as Britain, France, and Germany in Shanghai. It is normal for foreign warships to appear on the sea."
"The foreign devils are evil! I get angry when I see them! When I was in Jinkou, I wanted to teach them a lesson and burn down their church, but unfortunately the government stopped me!
The foreigners are doing evil! The Qing court is not a good thing either. The foreigners oppressed the people, and they not only did not uphold justice, but also helped the foreigners arrest people. I was really blind before, and I still wanted to support the Qing and destroy the foreigners!
Brother Zhu, I have figured it out. The Qing court is finished and there is no hope. If we want the common people and sisters all over the world to live a stable life, we have to rely on ourselves. The Qing court does not dare to be enemies with foreigners, so we will do it ourselves. As long as foreigners dare to oppress our brothers and sisters, we will help them get justice! "
Miao Sanniang said through gritted teeth.
"It is not only about fighting against foreigners and helping the people, but the immigration mission is also very important. At present, people in various parts of the Far East are living in poverty and starving everywhere. If we make an extra effort and send one more immigrant to South America, we can save one more life, especially women and girls of childbearing age. In troubled times, there are countless girls abandoned by their parents because of poverty and hunger. They are all victims of troubled times.
The empire implemented a constitutional system and advocated equality between men and women. In addition, the problem of gender imbalance in the native region has always existed. Paying more attention to the immigration of women and girls and rescuing more women and girls of childbearing age is far more important than burning down a church or killing a foreigner.
Sanniang, you need to change your mindset. Don't always think about fighting and killing. Put your focus on women's immigration affairs. In the field of women's immigration, the role you and Hei'er can play is irreplaceable. According to His Majesty's evaluation when he heard about your deeds, the role you two played in leading women's immigration affairs is no less than that of an Imperial Army regiment-level unit.
The people are the foundation of the empire. As long as the immigration operation continues smoothly and the suffering brothers and sisters are liberated, the empire will not be afraid even if hundreds of thousands of foreign troops come, let alone a few foreign missionaries. "
"Brother Zhu is right. The lives of foreigners are not as important as our Chinese lives! For the sake of our brothers and sisters who have immigrated to our home country and have a better life, we will let them go for now."
Miao Sanniang said seriously.
"Oh, by the way, there is something I want to tell you. There is news from the mainland that you will be arranged to return to the mainland for training, and by the way, the land and houses that should be allocated to you will also be implemented. What do you think?"
"We have just been transferred to Shanghai with Brother Zhu. The situation has not been opened up yet and we lack strong manpower. It is not appropriate to return to our home country at this time. We should report to our home country and postpone it for a while. After we finish the work in Shanghai and everything is on track, we will go back for training."
Lin Heier replied.
"Me too."
"Then I'll bear with you for a while. I'll give you feedback on your ideas to the local authorities. There shouldn't be any problem."
"Brother Zhu, Shanghai is a mixed bag. The various gangs and secret societies are backed by foreigners. I'm afraid it's not easy to deal with them."
Lin Heier reminded.
"Don't be afraid. After we get off the boat, we will meet Minister Liang and Chief Huang and listen to their opinions first. If they have no objection, I will invite the leaders of various gangs and secret societies to have a private meeting in the name of Yongxingtang to test their attitude. Then, based on the results of the meeting, we will divide and respond. We will win over those who should be won over and eliminate those who should be eliminated. With the support of the imperial government behind us, we are not afraid of any disturbances they may stir up."
The ship docked at the port, and Zhu Zhankui and his party walked towards the base set up by the Han Kingdom in Shanghai. Not long after they left, a group of men dressed in various clothes and with different hairstyles, dressed as businessmen, got off the ship and walked towards the direction of the International Settlement.
The International Settlement was formed by the merger of the British and American Concessions in September 1863. It covers an area of more than 9 mu. After entering the concession, you can see rows of Gothic buildings on both sides of the street. In the middle of the street, there are small vendors hawking their wares, European men and women in suits and dresses, but more are ordinary Chinese people in tattered clothes.
When Zhao Deyuan, Zhao Fuqing, father and son, and their long-term business partners Chen Delin and Li Binggui walked on the streets of the International Settlement, they saw a scene of division where prosperity and poverty coexisted.
On the edge of the street, hundreds of refugees who had fled famine from other places sat under the houses on the street, placing porcelain bowls with cracks on them, numbly repeating the same movements and words, begging in the street.
"I thought I would see a different scene after entering Shanghai, but who knew that ordinary people were living the same life as in my hometown, with thin and worn clothes, pale and thin faces, running around all day, but unable to get a full meal. The fate of this court is over."
A man in his thirties with a short beard and long clothes said disappointedly, "Brother Delin, the prosperity of the International Settlement belongs to the foreigners, not to Shanghai or the ordinary people of Shanghai. No matter how prosperous the International Settlement is, it has nothing to do with the ordinary people, and it cannot change the reality of the poverty and suffering of the ordinary people."
Zhao Fuqing said.
“No matter how prosperous a city is, it cannot be as powerful as a country. If the Qing court was the same as the Han country, would the lives of ordinary people be so hard? Would foreigners still dare to oppress them at will?
Even those Indians wearing turbans were second-class citizens in the British colonies. But when they came to the International Settlement, they rode on the heads of the Chinese people. I was furious when I saw them! "
"Brother Delin, calm down. Shanghai is a good place. If it were a peaceful and prosperous time with a developed economy and people living and working in peace and contentment, it would be a paradise on earth. Now, the country is in turmoil. Not to mention ordinary people, businessmen like us are not doing well. If it weren't for Mr. Zhao and Shopkeeper Zhao's help and providing a channel for purchasing goods, directly importing grey cloth from Songkhla and Lanfang at a fair price, facing the competition of low-priced cotton cloth from Japan and the United Kingdom, our factory might have gone bankrupt two years ago. It's not like now. Not only has the factory expanded in scale, but also several large printing machines and dyeing machines have been imported from Hanguo in South America. A large textile factory was jointly established in Shanghai.
We can't control national affairs, but running the new Shanghai textile factory smoothly and providing low-priced cloth to the people can also be considered a contribution to the country, don't you think? "
"That's right. The most important thing is to open the textile factory first."
Chen Delin retracted his gaze and turned to look at Zhao Deyuan and Zhao Fuqing, father and son, on his left, and asked, "Mr. Zhao, Shopkeeper Zhao, the Shanghai Textile Factory was established by you two, and the Zhao family is the major shareholder of the textile factory. Delin has something to discuss with you two."
"Delin, we have been working together for so many years, and we have never treated you as an outsider. It is true that the Zhao family is the major shareholder, but when we invested in the cooperation, it was agreed that you would be responsible for the daily management of the Shanghai Textile Factory. The Zhao family is only responsible for paying, and you will make the decision on all major matters. If you have any ideas, just do it."
Zhao Deyuan said with a smile.
"Mr. Zhao trusts Delin, which is a blessing for Delin. But recruiting people for the factory is a big deal, so I still need to ask for your opinions."
Chen Delin said calmly, "This is what I think. There are many refugees on the streets of Shanghai. They lack food and clothing and are often driven away by the police in the concession. The Shanghai textile factory has just been built and is in need of workers. Some positions with low technical requirements can be opened up to recruit a certain number of refugees, which can also be regarded as a way for them to make a living."
"Delin's idea is very good. Doing business is the same as being a human being. We have the ability to help more poor people. Just go ahead and do it. Fuqing and I will return to Lanfang after the textile factory is running normally. You will be in charge of the Shanghai Textile Factory. You will be in charge of similar matters in the future. You don't need to ask Fuqing and I for our opinions."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao."
Chen Delin thanked Zhao Deyuan for his trust and support, then turned around and walked forward. After a while, he came to a group of refugees. He first sent away the Indian patrol who was driving the refugees away, and then shouted to the frightened refugees: "Everyone stop, don't be afraid, the Indians have left, listen to me.
I am Chen Delin, the owner of Zhenhua Textile Factory. I also grew up eating at other people's houses when I was young. Now, Zhenhua Textile Factory has just been built and is in need of workers. Those of you who are strong enough can go to Zhenhua Textile Factory for an interview. Those who pass the interview will be employed as workers in the factory and receive a fixed salary every month. Zhenhua Textile Factory is in the western part of the International Settlement. It doesn't matter if you don't know the way. You can find out by asking people nearby.
I have 5 taels of silver here. I will ask the waiter to buy a few carts of steamed buns. Everyone can eat them first to regain some strength. Then we can go to the factory for the interview. Do you understand?"
"Mr. Chen, you are such a good man, a living Buddha. I kneel down to you."
"Boss Chen, I don't want any wages. I beg you to let me go in and work. Just provide two meals a day for me, my brother and my sister. My brother and sister are 8 and 6 years old, and they can help with the laundry and cooking. They are not a burden."
As soon as Chen Delin finished speaking, hundreds of refugees knelt down, crying and expressing their gratitude.
"Everyone, get up. I was born into a poor family too, and I understand everyone's difficulties. Let's get up, get through this difficult time, and things will get better."
Chen Delin's eyes were red, and he hurriedly stood up to support the people who were kneeling down. When he saw the guys running over, he shouted, "Shunzi, Zhuzi, why are you still standing there? Didn't you hear what I said just now? Take 5 taels of silver. No, just take 10 taels of silver, rent a few carts, and go to the nearby shops to buy steamed buns. Remember, only buy steamed buns, not steamed dumplings. Steamed buns are cheaper than steamed dumplings. 10 taels of silver can buy an extra cart of steamed buns. Go and do it!"
"Hey, boss, let's go now."
The two waiters were used to Chen Delin's way of speaking and trotted away quickly.
"Everyone, listen to me. I'll buy some steamed buns later. Everyone will have a share. Eat slowly and don't choke. If you work in the factory, you will get a monthly salary. If you do a good job, you will get a bonus at the end of the year. It's true that I, Chen Delin, am a businessman. I don't just care about money. As long as you work in the factory, you will get paid. There is no reason to work without getting paid.
Also, let me tell you that the immigration base set up by the Han State at the port has increased the immigration quota to 6000 people per month, and the frequency of the transport fleet has also increased to twice a month. If you fail to pass the interview, don't give up hope and go to the port immigration station. If you pass the immigration review there, it is much better than working in a factory. If you meet other refugees, you can also talk to them. We are all miserable people. It's not easy for everyone in Shanghai. We can help each other. Just help, otherwise the foreigners will look down on us. "
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Chen. We will listen to you."
