During the Republic of China, playing mahjong became increasingly popular and could be called the quintessence of the nation.
By the 1920s and 1930s, mahjong was available in homes, teahouses, restaurants, casinos, brothels... everywhere, and countless people were addicted to mahjong.
Just like they joined forces in the opium business, Du Yuesheng, Huang Huangrong and Zhang Xiaolin also joined forces to open casinos. There were at least 1,500 brothels and casinos in old Shanghai. Mahjong was the main gambling tool. Shanghai was the largest mahjong gambling center in the world at that time.
Tianjin is China's second largest industrial city and financial center after Shanghai, and the second largest cannabis and gambling center after Shanghai.
But the gambling ecology of the two places is completely different.
Shanghai's casinos are mainly controlled by gangs and consortiums, while Tianjin's are run by gangsters and foreigners. Their main customers are out-of-office politicians, bureaucrats, warlords, businessmen and the middle class.
After Comrade Nikolai returned from the Soviet Union, he twice suggested that Chang Kaishen order a ban on mahjong, but he did not get support. Once, Comrade Nikolai personally led the guards to catch gamblers, and it turned out that four important people were presiding over the gambling game.
There are wives of officials, one of whom is the wife of his secretary.
According to newspaper records of the Republic of China, during his rule in mainland China, Chang Kaishen personally allocated funds to open mahjong factories in Shanghai and Fuzhou. Mahjong was regarded as one of the main export commodities and sold in important markets such as Japan, the United States, and Europe. Among the Nanjing government-sponsored overseas students,
Half of the people teach mahjong as a side job, charging more than 10 US dollars per hour. It can be regarded as a work-study program.
Although Xiafei Road is modern and fashionable, with many dance halls, cafes, and movie theaters, it also has many Chinese elements, such as teahouses and teahouses.
He Aying carried her handbag and went to the teahouse near the rental house as usual. Two familiar gamblers were already waiting.
"Hey, Sister Aying, you came early today." Mrs. Zhang greeted with a smile. She is the wife of a small businessman.
"Both daughters are not at home, and I have nothing to do after lunch." He Aying took out a few newspapers from her handbag and spread them out on the card table.
Mrs. Liu next to her said angrily: "Sister Aying also reads newspapers? You used to work as a maid. Did your master still teach you how to read?"
With an arrogant smile on her face, He Aying turned to one page of the newspaper, revealing a photo of Zhou Hexuan and Ruan Lingyu dancing. She tapped the table with her fingers and said: "Of course I can't read, so I want to ask you to help me take a look. This newspaper looks like
There are articles about my daughter.”
"What movie has your daughter made again?" Mrs. Liu picked up the newspaper and advised her kindly, "Sister Aying, I'm not telling you. Movie stars sound nice, but in fact they are just low-level actors who will wait until they are old.
It’s hard to endure when your beauty is fading. You have to take advantage of the moment when you are popular to be with a rich man to leave a way out for the future.”
Mrs. Zhang also said: "Yes, we women have no other abilities. We just want to see if we can marry the right person."
He Aying smiled without changing her face and said: "That's true, Mrs. Zhang, you will marry well. By the way, I heard that the principal wife of the Zhang family is ill and is about to die. Do you have a chance to correct her?"
"Haha." Mrs. Zhang laughed dryly, and her face became extremely ugly. She was just an outsider who could not see the light. Even if a few more wives died, it would not be her turn to straighten her out.
"Hey, all the ladies are here early." Mrs. Bai suddenly walked in, decked out in jewels, and she was the most glamorous among those present.
Mrs. Bai’s husband’s surname is not Bai, but Anatoly, a small Belarusian nobleman who fled to Shanghai. Anatoly was separated from his family during the escape, and later married Mrs. Bai as his wife, and he got along well in Xia.
Floo opened a White Russian restaurant.
The reason why people call her Mrs. Bai is actually ironic, she is Mrs. White Russian.
Mrs. Zhang was playing mahjong and said: "Come on, come on, let's pick a few handfuls first!"
He Aying smiled and said: "Don't worry, help me read the newspaper first."
Mrs. Liu held up the newspaper nonchalantly and read: "Yesterday, Mr. Zhang Qun, the mayor of Shanghai, held a dance party and invited party and government officials..."
As she thought about it, Mrs. Liu became surprised, raised her head suddenly and asked: "Sister Aying, your daughter is getting along with Mr. Zhou?"
"Don't talk nonsense about what's good," He Aying said with a proud smile, "My daughter is a self-motivated person. She goes to Zhou's mansion every day and learns standard Mandarin from Mr. Zhou. The two of them are just good friends.
, Mr. Zhou also helped Ah Ruan introduce other friends, such as Zhang Xueliang, Marshal Zhang, and Director Yang Hu and Yang. There are also many big names, whose names I have never heard of."
"hiss!"
The other three women gasped when they heard this, and their eyes immediately changed when they looked at He Aying.
Mrs. Zhang said flatteringly: "I would say that Ah Ruan is not an ordinary person. With his face and figure, he needs a great scholar to match him. Sister Ah Ying, just wait and enjoy the rest of your life. Mr. Zhou donates ten yuan a year."
There are so many millionaires."
"Not just rich people," Mrs. Liu said, "Don't you see who Mr. Zhou usually interacts with? I heard that Mr. Zhou and Marshal Zhang are brothers. Tsk tsk, the whole north is under Marshal Zhang's control!"
Mrs. Bai smiled and said: "When A Ruan and Mr. Zhou become good friends, I'm afraid Sister A Ying will not look down on us sisters, and she won't come to play mahjong for 50 cents anymore."
Mrs. Liu echoed: "That's right. Sister Aying, please don't forget us in the future. How do you say that the person who comes here is rich..."
"It's about wealth and honor, don't forget each other!" Mrs. Bai's Chinese language skills are pretty good.
"Yes, yes, yes, as long as we are rich and noble, don't forget each other." Mrs. Liu said.
He Aying suddenly became unhappy: "Why are you scolding me when I return my wealth to a dog?"
"Hahahaha!" several ladies laughed loudly.
That afternoon, He Aying lost more than ten yuan, but she felt very happy. She walked home slowly with her handbag and bought a lot of meat. When she was washing vegetables, she found that the silver bracelet she was wearing had changed color and turned gray. She suddenly realized that it was time to change the bracelet.
Sorry, this kind of low-end jewelry is not worthy of her status.
Not long after, my daughter Ruan Lingyu came home and smelled the aroma of braised pork and said, "Mom, are you making something delicious today?"
"Yes, let me replenish your health, and I will buy a chicken to make soup for you tomorrow." When He Aying spoke to her daughter, she used a completely flattering tone.
Ruan Lingyu said: "I won't go home for lunch tomorrow."
"Whether it's better to have dinner with Mr. Zhou or A Ruan is lucky," He Aying asked, "What did you do with Mr. Zhou today?"
Ruan Lingyu said: "It's nothing, I just learned to speak Mandarin with him. He also praised me for learning quickly and I have already learned the basics of Pinyin."
He Aying asked: "Didn't you do anything else?"
"No." Ruan Lingyu said.
"Hey, you have to take the initiative." He Aying was a little anxious.
Ruan Lingyu fell silent immediately, not knowing how to answer.
To be honest, Ruan Lingyu is living a very happy and carefree life these days. She doesn't have to think about anything bad. She likes this kind of life very much. Moreover, her fame is getting bigger and bigger, and she has the potential to be the number one actress in Shanghai.
, which made Ruan Lingyu feel a little elated.
For a long time, the first choice among Chinese film actresses is Yang Naimei, followed by Hu Die, and Ruan Lingyu is always ignored. This has something to do with their personality and background. Yang Naimei and Hu Die are more likely to cause trouble, while Ruan Lingyu is not so good at pleasing people.
Two years ago, Hu Die and Ruan Lingyu worked together on "White Cloud Tower". During the promotion, Ruan Lingyu could only stand at the back, while Hu Die was the center of attention. Although she doesn't like to argue, she doesn't feel comfortable being pushed down by others.
Now I'm finally getting over it.
The next morning, He Aying went downstairs to retrieve some newspapers and said to her daughter with a smile: "Look, Ruan, there is news about you again today. You are really famous!"
Ruan Lingyu didn't take it seriously at first, but when she saw the news headline of "Jing Bao", her face instantly turned pale.
The key words in that report were: maid origin, unmarried cohabitation, illegitimate daughter...