After Sheng Di exited, a man with gray hair, an extraordinary temperament, and a mandarin jacket came out of Sheng Youde's inner room and said with a smile: "Youde, you are still too strict."
Sheng Youde smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Jing, you can't be strict. Children must be strictly supervised and cannot be allowed to be lax."
Jinglao smiled and said: "Children, it's normal to make some mistakes. Didn't we all make a lot of mistakes when we were young? Relatively speaking, this generation of young people is much better than us."
Sheng Youde smiled bitterly: "Times have changed. In the past, we had the opportunity to make mistakes and correct them, but their generation is different. A small mistake can lead to a big mistake. At that time, the family and the country will be destroyed."
"So you had a backup plan and chose Lu Ming, right?" Jing Lao sat down in the chair where Sheng Youde usually sat without being polite.
Sheng Youde obviously respected this old Jing who suddenly appeared, as he treated his elders.
"Well, I do like him."
"Can he withstand the test? If one day old guys like us are gone, can he withstand the tribulation? People of their generation are smart and well-informed, but they have not endured much hardship." Jing Lao sighed.
road.
"According to my investigation, he is much better than Di'er. He can distinguish right from wrong and knows how to advance and retreat. Haha, he is Lu Yunfan's son." Sheng Youde laughed, his words full of appreciation for Lu Ming.
"It's a pity for Xiaolu. I wonder why he retreated so quickly. Was it really because of his wife?" Jinglao asked with a smile.
"Being trapped by love, retreating from the rapids is a good choice. Lao Yan and I don't have this problem, but..." Sheng Youde had a distressed expression on his face.
"I remember when you three brothers worked hard in Shanghai, you were as good as one person. I didn't expect it to end like this. But it's the same for me. Brother Zhongzheng has gained the upper hand..." Jing Lao sighed.
"Yes, the past is like smoke and cannot be looked back on." Sheng Youde sighed.
"Speaking of which, it's hard on you. Now Shanghai relies on you to support the crisis alone, and I can't do much to help." Jinglao blamed himself.
"Mr. Jing, if it weren't for your support back then, I wouldn't be where I am today. I will never forget this kindness." Sheng Youde said with a smile.
"What's wrong with me? Speaking of which, I owe you a debt now. I'll have to rely on you from now on."
"Don't take it seriously. I'll have a drink with Mr. Jing."
Sheng Youde said as he took out a bottle of expensive Napoleon and slowly tasted it with Mr. Jing.
If you are an older generation of Shanghai business people or senior members of the Kuomintang here, you will immediately recognize that the Mr. Jing mentioned by Sheng Youde is Zhang Jingjiang, one of the four elders of the Kuomintang.
This is no ordinary figure. Premier Sun called him a revolutionary saint, which shows his identity and status.
Since Mr. Sun started the revolution in the Tongmenghui, funds have been in short supply. Zhang Jingjiang played a huge role in this regard. After the establishment of the National Government, he should have been the first Minister of Finance.
The Zhang family is a giant in China's silk industry and representatives of Zhejiang merchants in the late Qing Dynasty. For generations, they have become extremely wealthy through silk business.
When Zhang Jingjiang was young, she spent 100,000 taels of silver to donate a candidate for a second-grade Taoist platform, and later served as the first counselor of the Legation in France. On the way to Paris, she met Mr. Sun, and the two hit it off and became lifelong friends.
Later, he became the main fundraiser and sponsor of the Republic of China revolution, spending all his wealth to raise funds for the Republic of China government. At the request of Mr. Sun, he founded China's first stock exchange in Shanghai.
It can be said that Zhang Jingjiang was the money bag of the Republic of China government and Premier Sun's right-hand man.
In the documentary records, Commander-in-Chief Chiang respectfully calls Zhang Jingjiang the second brother. In fact, the relationship between them is master and apprentice. At first, Chiang made a lot of money as a trader at the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Later, he followed Mr. Sun to join the revolution and even later founded
Huangpu Military Academy and became the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army.
It can be said that Mr. Chiang was promoted step by step by Mr. Jing, especially for the post of commander-in-chief of the National Revolutionary Army, which was only approved by his nomination as a veteran of the Kuomintang.
When Sheng Youde, Yan Hongdao and Lu Yunfan traveled from Huzhou to Shanghai to pursue their career, they first served as apprentices in the Zhang family's silk shop. Later, they gradually developed and opened their own businesses.
After Zhang Jingjiang arrived in Shanghai, she admired these three little fellows from Zhejiang very much, cultivated them with great efforts, and gave them strong support. Because she was devoted to the revolution and busy with official duties, Zhang Jingjiang gradually withdrew from the business world, leaving the silk business channel to the three of them. The three of them also
Living up to Mr. Jing's expectations, he made the business prosperous and became a prominent figure in Shanghai's business community.
Among the three, Lu Yunfan is the most talented, good at singing and dancing, and the most handsome; Sheng Youde has a long-term vision, strategizes, and has the best courage and ability to do business; Yan Hongdao is quick-witted and good at handling interpersonal relationships
, is a long-sleeved management talent who is good at dancing.
If these three people joined forces, they would be basically invincible in Shanghai, but things often backfired. Instead of getting closer, the three of them got further apart.
The Sheng family's status as the richest man in Shanghai today is directly related to Zhang Jingjiang's selection of Sheng Youde as the successor to the industry.
But Zhang Jingjiang never let Sheng Youde get involved in politics. In his opinion, what the Republic of China government lacked in Shanghai was not bureaucrats, but experienced and visionary business tycoons like Sheng Youde.
"Now Wang Zhaoming and Zhongzheng brothers cannot tolerate the Communists, and they have carried out the April 12 Massacre across the country, forcing the Communists to engage in armed riots to survive. Such a move can be
It’s just for the Japanese to take advantage of.”
"Fighting in the same room is the most heartbreaking thing. I just can't understand why Mr. Wang and Jiang have to do this." Sheng Youde said thoughtfully.
"No matter what he thinks, it is Mr. Zhongshan's will to unite with Russia and the Communist Party to support farmers and workers. As Mr. Zhongshan's successor, both Wang Zhaoming and Zhongzheng brother should resolutely abide by and pursue it. However, they betrayed Mr. Zhongshan's will.
, do the opposite." Zhang Jingjiang said, getting a little excited.
"Mr. Jing, please speak slowly and don't be angry. I heard that just because of this, Mr. Jiang dismissed you from your post and left you idle. It was too overbearing," Sheng Youde said angrily.
"I am so happy that I have no official position and am light. Now I have time to go out for a walk and see my old friends. Otherwise, how could I come to stay with you for a few days?" Zhang Jingjiang said with a smile.
"Lao Jing, the officials of the Republic of China government in Shanghai said that the explosions a few days ago might have been committed by the Communists?" Sheng Youde asked.
"No matter who did it, it shows that the Japanese are not welcome in China." Zhang Jingjiang put it bluntly.
"Jinglao, do you think the Japanese have a bigger plot against China?" Sheng Youde asked anxiously.
"That's for sure. There will be a war between China and Japan, but the longer it takes, the better it is for China. Since the founding of the Republic of China, there have been frequent wars. It has just been able to recuperate, and everything is waiting to be revitalized. The national power is too weak, and only industry can rejuvenate the country.
"Zhang Jingjiang said calmly.
Sheng Youde nodded and refilled a glass of wine for Zhang Jingjiang.
"To deal with the Japanese, we need strong financial resources. Fighting is actually more about economic strength." Zhang Jingjiang added.
"Then how should I deal with the relationship with the Japanese next? They are so aggressive now that Benjo Shige came to warn me." Sheng Youde said angrily.
"Youde, this is the main purpose of my visit today. I'm afraid I will have to wrong you in the future. The revolutionary cause must continue, and I can only leave the important matter of raising funds for the Republic of China government to you. You must learn to talk to the Japanese
When dealing with people, don't act out of emotion." Zhang Jingjiang said.
"I understand that for the sake of the national interest, my grievances are nothing if I compromise with the Japanese and play double-dealing." Sheng Youde said.
"By the way, I heard that this kid Lu Ming has connections with high-level officials in the United States? If you want to hand over the Sheng family's property to him in a critical moment in the future, do you also have the intention of taking advantage of the Americans?" Zhang Jingjiang said with a smile.
"His teacher, Mr. Frank, was a close friend and advisor to President Herbert Hoover. However, what I value is not exactly this relationship, but that this child has an atmosphere, a quality that can be used for important tasks, not to mention admiration.
Yi is gone now, even if Mu Yi is still here, I will still do this. This kid Sheng Di doesn't have enough eyesight and only cares about immediate interests, so I don't dare to give him this burden."
"Don't be too sad about Mu Yi. Why did she suddenly disappear? This mystery will be solved sooner or later. According to my judgment, the child is living well now, no problem." Zhang Jingjiang drank the glass in one gulp.
Medium wine.
Sheng Youde was stunned for a moment. He didn't know whether Zhang Jingjiang's words were comforting him or giving him some kind of hint.
Since Mr. Jing didn't say it clearly, he must have his reasons. In any case, this is a good sign.
Sheng Youde tried his best to suppress the excitement in his heart. With joy in his eyes, he looked at Zhang Jingjiang and said, "Jing Lao, it's getting late. I'll take you upstairs to rest."