For the Jiangshan team members, no matter whether they have seen the world or not, no one can calm down in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
But at this moment, what attracted them more was the stunning night view of New York.
Seven people were crowded on two sides by two small windows, looking up and down at one another.
Empire State Building, New York Public Library, Metropolitan Museum, Central Park, high-density luxury jewelry stores...
Skyscrapers with lights shining into the sky, bustling streets that are so gorgeous that they appear as ghosts...
Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, where people make money on Wall Street with their left hand and spend money on Fifth Avenue with their right hand, has always been a well-known place in the short history of the United States.
"Fifth Avenue?" Wang Fulin looked at the colorful world outside the window: "Is this street famous in New York?"
Jiang Shan nodded: "It's equivalent to our Wangfujing in Yanjing."
Huang Yongyu shook his head: "It looks much more lively than Wangfujing."
"That's right," Wang Shixiang also thought, "If this spot had been left in Wangfujing, there would have been no one around."
"It's a pity," Huang Yongyu, who felt that he was not satisfied with what he saw, said regretfully: "Everything about this hotel is good, but it just doesn't have a balcony."
"You are really good at it," Jiang Shan, who has always been afraid of heights, couldn't help but said: "With a height of more than 20 floors, you don't seem to be worried at all?"
"It's not bad," Huang Yongyu said, "It's a bit hanging downwards, but it's fine when looking far away."
"I guess the suite should have a balcony," Yu Sigui thought: "But this room on the 22nd floor does not have a balcony probably for safety reasons."
Although it was already 11 o'clock at night, the comrades in the room obviously didn't want to suffer from jet lag.
In the one-room guest room, everyone found a place to sit down.
Fortunately, the owner of this house, Jiang Shan, is a comrade who does not stick to trivial matters.
Facing his revolutionary comrades who were lying or sitting, he simply sat on the bed with his legs crossed.
"New York, Manhattan area," Zhang Lu finally understood after arriving at the end of the field: "It turns out that Manhattan is just a district of New York. I always thought it was also a city."
"It's not surprising that you would think so," Yu Sigui said:
"Because Manhattan's reputation is so great, many people just talk about it. As time goes by, Manhattan's reputation also grows."
"It's a bit like having great achievements," Wang Fulin laughed: "But isn't Manhattan the largest district in New York?"
When we first arrived in the United States, everyone wanted to know everything.
"Actually speaking, Manhattan should be regarded as a small island on the east coast of the United States," Yu Sigui said: "New York, which consists of five boroughs, is the largest city in the United States."
Jiangshan: “The area of the Pujiang River is five times that of New York.”
After such a comparison, several comrades immediately understood.
"Manhattan is the smallest of the five boroughs in New York," Yu Sigui continued, "but it is the most developed."
"Although it claims to be the financial center of the world," Jiang Shan said with a smile, "but many years ago, Manhattan was also private land belonging to individuals."
"Private land?" Wang Shixiang looked at Jiangshan curiously: "Who is this big landowner?"
Just as Jiang Shan was about to speak, the doorbell rang.
"Director Zhang," he winked at Zhang Lu: "Do not open the door until you have a clear look. I made a special statement before going out. There will be no peace in New York right now."
"Who is it so late?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Lu, who had already walked to the door, asked quickly.
"It's me, Xiao Li. Director Hou wants to come over and see you."
"Hey, it's you," Zhang Lu quickly opened the door: "You guys can't sleep either?"
"I really can't sleep, so I came here with Xiao Li to take a look at the country." Hou Xijiu walked in with a smile and said, "I didn't expect you are all here."
"The director is here,"
Jiang Shan, who was coiled up like an immortal, quickly got up and started organizing: "Wait a moment, I will go next door to bring you a chair."
Jiang Shan was just about to leave when Director Hou pulled him back.
How can Comrade Jiang Shan do this kind of menial work personally?
So, Xiao Li took the first step and took action.
It didn't take long for the comrades in the room to get closer.
"Xiaojiang," Wang Shixiang was still thinking about the leading landlord: "Hurry up and tell me, who did Manhattan belong to in the past?"
"Well," Jiang Shan pointed to his feet: "The owner of the hotel we are staying in now is the former Manhattan landlord."
"Who?" Director Hou was surprised when he heard this: "Hilton?"
"It's not Hilton," Jiang Shan said: "Although the Waldorf Astoria Hotel is currently owned by Hilton, it was Astor, the founder of the hotel, who bought the entire Manhattan Island."
However, in the 21st century, Waldorf Astoria will be transferred to China's Anbang Insurance.
"Astor," Hou Xijiu tasted it carefully: "This man's wealth must be more than Hilton's, right?"
"You are right," Jiang Shan nodded: "The first richest man in the United States is Mr. Astor, and his fortune has even affected the development of the United States."
"So powerful," Wang Shixiang asked curiously: "How did he make his fortune?"
"Astor is actually a German. When he first came to New York, he was just a self-employed person selling flutes."
Jiang Shan has always believed that there is definitely a chosen one in this world:
"After staying for a long time, the 21-year-old Astor discovered that the nouveau riche in New York City especially like to wear fur.
So he opened a small shop specializing in imported furs from Europe.
Unexpectedly, as soon as his fur shop opened, the United States entered two consecutive years of extremely cold weather."
"What a coincidence,"
Huang Yongyu smiled and said: "It seems that this Astor is still a blessed person."
"It's not an ordinary blessing," Jiang Shan envied:
"After making a fortune from the rapidly expanding fur business, Astor started doing business with our country again.
Silk, porcelain, tea... Only when he handled these luxury accessories in the eyes of Westerners did he realize how fragrant the deal was.
Since doing business with China, Astor not only has his own fleet, but also his own army.
It is precisely because of the trading of these luxury accessories that he quickly grew to become the richest man in the United States.
Soon, he encountered another great opportunity, when Manhattan Island was announced to be sold at a low price.
At that time, the head of the Manhattan household was their vice president, and unfortunately the family had to cede land to protect itself.
Since Manhattan was already a prime location in New York at that time, no one could compete with Astor for this piece of fat.
As a result, Astor, who had just turned 41, was forced to start buying and selling real estate again.
Relying on this cornucopia of Manhattan, Astor naturally developed into a top businessman who advances and retreats with the U.S. government.
In order to dominate the domestic fur market, he even funded the use of his own army to consolidate border defenses and expand territory for the United States.
With the support of his abundant funds, the government forces completely took over the development rights of the west coast after fighting the British.
Later, in order to thank Astor for his support, the United States announced a bill banning the import of fur.
But even though he had obtained the monopoly on the fur business, Astor shifted all the focus of his business to real estate."
Hearing this, Hou Xijiu laughed: "We did some research before setting off.
Based on this survey report, we put the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York at the top of our list.
Now that I hear you say it, this decision is really the right one."
"The Waldorf Astoria is indeed very good," Jiang Shan said, "but its hotel positioning should not be in line with Jianguo Hotel's business philosophy."
"I can see it too," Hou Xijiu began to feel this way since he first stepped into the hotel door: "It... is really too luxurious."
"The Astor family started out in the fur business," Jiang Shan pointed out the window and said, "The customer positioning from the beginning was just like the Fifth Avenue downstairs, only doing business for the rich."
Hou Xijiu nodded: "In the early years, Li Hongzhang crossed the Atlantic to visit the United States. The hotel he stayed at at that time was the Waldorf Astoria?"
"Actually, the original Waldorf Astoria is not here,"
Jiang Shan suddenly thought of a good place: "After Astor's death, his two descendants built two Astor hotels, one large and one small, in order to increase their wealth..."
At that time, the cousins were among the richest men in the United States.
Later, because one of them got on the Titanic and could not get off, the other one naturally took on everything.
In order not to affect the family business, a connecting corridor was built between the two Astor Hotels.
Because there are many malachites inlaid in the corridor, it has a beautiful name - Peacock Gallery.
Gradually, the promenade became more and more famous, and eventually it became a fixed feature of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
No matter which city the Waldorf Astoria is built in, there will always be a peacock gallery."
"You mean," Director Hou asked, "a corridor can also become a feature of a hotel?"
"Yes," Jiang Shan nodded: "Since the original hotel land was sold to General Motors to build the Empire State Building, the Astor family rebuilt a 47-meter-high hotel. It is the Waldorf Astoria we are staying in now.
"
Speaking of this, Jiang Shan smiled and said: "Everyone is not tired, do you want to take a look at the Peacock Gallery piled up with money?"
Compared with the Peacock Gallery, which was famous for its food in later generations, this one is a long gallery filled with world-famous paintings and art clocks.
"Let's go," Director Hou responded first: "I'll go and take a look with you."
"We'll go too." Huang Yongyu and Wang Shixiang were also very interested.
Wang Fulin stood up at this moment: "What are you asking about? If something good happens, of course everyone must be mobilized."
So, in the middle of the night, a group of people set out excitedly towards the Peacock Gallery of Waldorf Astoria.
As soon as we set off from China, the entire team had a hunch that this trip was destined to be a job that only comes once in a while.
