Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen

In the morning, people come and go on the streets of Jinan city.This is the most prosperous commercial street in Jinan, full of shops.The door of the Delombo store just opened, and one waiter was splashing water on the floor, while the other stood in front of the counter and looked at the door.The shopkeeper is in the back hall. Shouting pushed the door open and walked in. He was dressed in civilian clothes and trousers, and began to visit the market. When the waiter saw him coming in, he leaned over and asked, "Shopkeeper, what do you want?" Shouting raised his hand to say hello and smiled, "I'll just take a look." He walked along the counter, looking at every kind of cloth.He took a corner of the blue cloth and twisted it with his hands, looking at the top, and felt it with his hands.Then look again, and then look by the light of the door.The guy felt that this person was very knowledgeable, so he didn't dare to ask questions there.

Shouting looked up and down the guy's body: "Okay, young man, you are very energetic! What brand is this cloth?" The clerk hurriedly smiled and said, "Master Qing." "Oh—" Shouting nodded, "How much is it?" The clerk smiled: "Sir, here we sell by the ruler, and you have to go to the dyeing factory to buy the whole piece." "Oh, oh. Sorry, sorry." He walked in again. Here are all flower cloth, there are seven or eight varieties.He picked up the calico and asked, "What brand is this?" "Poppy, from Shanghai Liuhe Dyeing Factory. This cloth sells the fastest, and the color is vivid."

Shouting shook out the flowered cloth a little, flattened it towards the light at the door, looked around bit by bit from behind, and shook his head while watching: "Why is this cloth like this? How much is it per foot?" "Fourteen cents. Cheap!" "It's cheap, but it's too silky!" He took another kind of floral cloth, first twisted it with his hands, and kept nodding while twisting, "Man, what brand is this?" "Diao Chan, Tianjin opened a printing and dyeing factory. The cloth is strong, and the printing workers are acceptable, but ordinary people don't buy it, and it doesn't sell too fast."

"Why?" Shouting looked at the buddy, twisting the cloth with his fingers. "This cloth is good, but the price is expensive. Now the common people are very poor, and they still buy cheap things. It can't stand the poppies, but there are still a lot of poppies." "How much is a foot?" "Eighteen cents." The storekeeper of the cloth shop heard Shouting's questioning and came out to see what happened.He took off his flower glasses, recognized Shouting, and rushed to meet him. "I don't know who it is. The person who asked this question turned out to be shopkeeper Chen. Did you come out to see the market?"

Shouting exchanged pleasantries with him: "Is the business okay?" The shopkeeper said: "There is no way to do it now, just let it go!" Shouting nodded and asked, "What do you think of this poppy?" The shopkeeper said: "This brand of floral cloth sells well. It is good, but the cloth is too thin. I think the yarn count is not enough, and it is too thin. People buy it and wear it for a summer at most, and take it out to have a look the next year." , everything else is fine, but the printed flowers are rotten and full of holes. Shopkeeper Chen, you are an expert, what's going on?"

Shouting held the cloth and smiled: "One is that the yarn count is not enough to support the printing copper plate and squeeze it back and forth." When he said that, he pressed his two fists together, "When printing thin cloth, the color must be thin. Now printing These pigments on the cloth are acidic in themselves, and the most convenient and cheap way to dilute them is to mix sulfuric acid with water. The cloth is already thin, but if you squeeze the printing plate and add some acid, it will be really crisp in the second year Yes. It’s cheap, but it’s a scam!" Shouting shook his head and sighed.

The cloth shop owner followed Shouting forward.Shouting added: "In fact, it is not necessary to use sulfuric acid to dilute the color, and oxalic acid is the same, but oxalic acid is expensive, and imported ones are even more expensive. But then again, there are only two or three factories that can print cloth. If it wears out in one year, you have to buy it in the next year. If the cloth is too strong, it will not be sold in the next year. I am a dry dyeing factory myself, and I also hope that the clothes will rot early. If a The clothes have been worn for several years, how can the factory do it? But it must be close to each other, how can it be done in such a way!"

The shopkeeper's Dache was enlightened, and he kept nodding his head: "So that's what happened." Shouting said again: "Give me two feet, and I'll take it back to have a look." The man was tearing up the cloth, and Shouting asked again, "Why can't the cloth from Kaibu Dyeing Factory be sold?" The shopkeeper said: "Things are good things. Now this person buys things for cheap. I went to Tianjin this spring to buy 20 horses. Alas, I got them in my hands. It's cold today, so I can only wait for next year gone." Shouting asked again: "Have you seen any poppy sellers in Tianjin?"

The shopkeeper said: "Yes, it is also selling very well. It is under the nose of Kaibu Dyeing Factory. The Kaibu Dyeing Factory watched helplessly and was anxious. Now this person is not serious. No matter how good your cloth is, as long as you If the price is high, he won't buy it. Shopkeeper Chen, there's nothing you can do about it. This is a good thing, and it's just like this. It's the way it is now. " Shouting came out with the cloth, then crossed the road and entered another cloth shop. At ten o'clock, a Mercedes-Benz wooden car drove into the factory and stopped downstairs in Shouting's office.The car is persimmon yellow with chocolate color for the ribs and main frame.Dong Chu got out of the car and jumped up the stairs.

Shouting stood beside the printing machine, holding a floral cloth in his hand, discussing matters with several technicians.The printing machine stopped, and Shouting held the waste printed cloth and wondered: "What's going on? Damn, it's a bit evil." Mr. Wu entered the workshop, and he came to Shouting : "The shopkeeper, the third shopkeeper is here." Shouting didn't turn around: "You asked him to come here, I was just asking him something." A technician in his thirties asked: "Shopkeeper, can you try again?" Shouting looked at him and said, "Let's stop for a while, this start-up is 200 meters, Master Liu, this is too painful! Jin Biao, measure the waste of printing and see how much there is, and give it to the workers. Divide up!"

Jin Biao responded: "My shopkeeper, if this is full marks, it may not be enough." Shouting thinks he is stupid: "Say you are stupid, in front of so many people; call you smart, you are too stupid. First distribute to those children who have more. There are many people who eat, and few who earn money. In this way Those who can’t hold on to hunger will be divided first. The foreman doesn’t separate the hosts in each slot. I don’t even understand this little thing!” Jin Biao scratched his head and smirked and led the people there. Shouting asked the technician again: "Master Liu, how did you print before?" Master Liu was a little embarrassed: "Master Chen, in the factory in Nanjing, I used a monochrome machine to print over and over again. But here we have a new type of three-color machine, which prints several colors at once. This I've never run a machine like that, so—" Shouting raised his hand to interrupt him: "The German has been here to teach for so long, I can see that the printing is quite good! How come you won't know it when he leaves?" Master Liu said: "I haven't actually learned it, but I just feel that it's about the same. I saw that shopkeeper Chen was in a hurry to start work, so I said I learned it. In addition, I couldn't understand a word of German, so—" Shouting waved his hand: "The German said something, and Mr. Lu translated it. I think you understand it. This is good, a pile of scrap iron. Don't worry, wipe the sweat off your brow and move aside Go smoke. Being able to come here from Nanjing is enough to trust me, Chen Shouting. Don’t worry, let’s take it slowly. If it doesn’t work, I’ll call the Germans back from Shanghai and teach them again. Stay away from the cloth and go to the door of the workshop Go smoke a cigarette and rest." Master Liu walked away with a face full of shame.Behind him was a boy with a match ready to row.Dong Chu came over with his briefcase in his arms.Shouting pinched his cuff with two fingers: "Sir, I'm just going to find you. You said, Liuhe Dyeing Factory's cloth is so thin, but the flowers are so solidly printed, how did he print it?" Dong Chu said disapprovingly: "It's very simple, just adjust the bottom spring. Let those two old men from my factory come over later, and just adjust it." Shouting smiled: "Yesterday your brother sent those two people here. The bottom spring is high and the flowers are printed firmly, but the cloth is almost broken. No, I have to go to Shanghai, so I will let Liuhe Dyeing Factory Take these two components." He dragged Dong Chu to his office, then turned around and shouted, "You guys have to clean up the machine. Jin Biao, cut off the power. You all go to the cloth dyeing workshop, and you can't try again without me. That's it. Shunzi, make a pot of tea for Master Liu." Hearing the sound, Shunzi went straight to the thermos, and then ran back: "Master Liu, do you drink jasmine or Zhulan?" Master Liu was so ashamed that he could not respond: "You can do whatever you want." Shouting's office is very spacious, with a writing desk facing the door, a small reception area on the right, a Chinese-style mahogany round tea table, and four Western-style small armchairs.Shouting and Dongchu sat there drinking tea, while Old Wu's nephew Wu Wenqi stood outside the door waiting for orders. "Sixth Brother, something has changed about Liuhe Dyeing Factory." "What's the matter?" "Ah!" Dong Chu sighed, "This person really changes at will. Lin Rongxiang is my classmate for many years. He was a nice person at first, but now that the business has become big, no one is in his eyes. A few days ago When I went to Shanghai, he treated guests at night. Except for him and me, the table was full of foreigners, forcing me to speak English all night. He intentionally bluffed me.” "Let's not care about that, let's talk about the partnership. Even if he gets the man from the moon, it has nothing to do with us." "Now he is very familiar with the Germans and the British. In April this year, he opened a factory near Jing'an Temple. I told him about the partnership, and he said that if he was asked to sell the technology, he had to give He is a four-in-one man. This is too cruel!" Dong Chu stretched out four fingers when he said, "However, his printing technology is good even for the Germans." Dong Chu looked at the expression on Shouting's face Variety. Shouting didn't express his opinion, and took the pot to refill Dongchu's tea.He put the pot on the table and made up his mind: "40% is 40%, a total of three years, let's take the lead." "Brother Six," Dong Chu was already in a very difficult situation, and after exerting himself several times, he said, "What do you want me to say? He has changed it now, and it will take five years. Because the current flower cloth market is almost controlled by him, he No one is afraid. The Kaibu Printing and Dyeing Factory in Tianjin is so big, and the cloth is strong and well printed, I think it is almost too crowded for him.” Shouting said: "In the past two days, I also went out to have a look. The cloth from Kaibu Dyeing Factory is really good, but the price is high. Good things can't be sold at a good price, so there is really no way." Shouting stood up and walked around the house.He handed Dongchu a red tin packet of cigarettes, and lit the local cigarette himself.He suddenly turned around and said, "Five years is five years. Isn't he ruthless? We also have ruthless ones. As long as his mechanic comes, I can understand it at a glance. This time the Germans came to teach printing. , I listened to your brother, and Mr. Miao also told me, don’t let me always think about doing it myself, let the workers learn. That’s good, I didn’t learn at all. This time the technicians surnamed Lin came, not only me I can do it by myself, and I have to get a few smart guys to follow me from beginning to end. Then I will take the technology to your factory. The cloth printed in your factory is like a flower tiger, and it cannot be sold. Smash the brand. Third child, I still have spare money, you go back and tell your brother, let’s buy two more 30-foot large printing machines together, and work together. His 40% is probably only 10% left. All my life, I have been afraid of being respected by others, but I am not afraid of squeezing the right one. He squeezes us? We have learned that it is not always who squeezes whom!" Dong Chu stood up happily: "Brother Six still has more ideas. My brother is definitely willing." Shouting continued: "Third brother, we have to understand the situation. Cloth dyeing is about to become obsolete, and the technology is too simple. Now, a few local rich men in the countryside can open a dyeing factory if they make do. His workers just take care of the meal. , no wages are paid at all, plus working day and night, the cost is low, and the selling price is low. We can't stand it now. Dongchu, people can only live once, if they fall behind and want to be kicked out, It's too late. We are also dignified industrialists now. If these local rich people are squeezed to death, I think it would be better to just hit our heads to death! Third, we have to get some new gadgets and rush forward with all our strength. If it continues to be dyed, the road will become narrower and narrower. Our factory is too big, and a car like ours cannot run on the narrow road.” Dongchu agrees: "Yes, we have to move forward. Or what you said, we have to do something that others can't do." Shouting put out the smoke: "If you say one thousand, if you say ten thousand, you have to move forward. You contact Lin, and I will go to Shanghai as soon as possible. The more I think about it, the more I can't sit still. You just send a telegram to Lin." , I will go to Shanghai to meet him and see who he is." Dong Chu was a little hesitant: "It's fine to send a telegram. But, Brother Six, you have such a quick temper, and Lin is very arrogant. I'm afraid you'll mess up the deal. I think you'd better let Old Wu go. Or let Jiaju Please take two days off and let him accompany you." Shouting waved his hand: "No need, no need! It's okay, third child, I can bear it. What we accommodate is his ability, not him. When we become big, we are more proud than him. If we are happy, we Just ignore him! It’s okay, I’ll bear it. You go do it.” Dong Chu became happy: "Sixth brother, is this okay?" Shouting stuffed Dongchu's bag into his arms: "At the time when I was in Tonghe Dyeing Workshop, I was an apprentice with Master Liu, and that kid was not only arrogant, but also bad. After about a month, I personally resigned him. The surname Lin went to college, and he is knowledgeable and understanding. I bowed to the ground, and he can still sit on my head and shit? Stop talking nonsense here, and send a telegram!" As he spoke, he blasted Dong Chu out. After Dong Chu left, Shouting walked back and forth in the office, his brows were tightly furrowed, and he was smoking fiercely.At this time, Old Wu came in and said, "Shopkeeper, that Zi Wenhai is here, downstairs." Shouting was very surprised. He just raised his hand and wanted to blast out, but suddenly changed his mind: "Did he come by himself?" "Yes, the shopkeeper." "This old thief wants to open a dyeing factory. Okay, let's open it. Let He comes up. I'll see what he does for a living." Zi Wenhai was wearing a black Zhongshan suit, a pocket watch, and a civilized stick. Because he was overweight, his feet turned outward when he walked.Hearing that Shouting asked him to go up, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Shouting stood on the platform of the stairs and waited for him. Zi Wenhai took a few steps and took Shouting's hand when he came up: "Shopkeeper Chen, how are you?" He tilted his head to one side, and his movements were both elegant and decent. , with kindness in his tone. Shouting smiled: "Lawyer Zi, just by looking at your outfit, you can tell that you are someone. From what I can see, you are better than the few pieces of Jerusalem artichokes from the Nationalist Government." Zi Wenhai laughed: "Just kidding, kidding!" When the two entered the house, Old Wu's nephew Wu Wenqi brought new tea, poured it for the two, and then retreated outside the door, waiting for the call. Shouting handed him a cigarette, and Zi Wenhai bowed and blocked it with his hand: "I don't have such a good taste." Shouting lit a cigarette and looked at him while pinching his chin: "Lawyer Zi, there is no one in the Palace of Three Treasures." Idlers, if you have anything to say, let's just say it.You don't know me, so we don't have to make any detours. " Zi Wenhai propped himself up with a civilized stick, first looked at the round tabletop, and then slowly raised his head: "Shopkeeper Chen, how about this, from now on you will call me Wenhai, and I will call you Shouting. Is that okay?" Shouting smiled: "It's absolutely fine. You can call him Liu Zi." "Don't dare, dare not, I don't have the qualifications. Only an industrialist like Mr. Miao Handong deserves the alias of Shopkeeper Chen. Shouting, I have something to ask you for advice." Shouting stared at him with a smile: "Want to open a dyeing factory?" Zi Wenhai sighed: "Oh! Wenhai was alone in Japan, seeking the way of governing the country and protecting the people by law. After returning from his studies, he did not avoid thorns, spoke for the people, and upholding justice was the main priority. , exhausted physically and mentally, and fought for a lot of justice for the people in Shandong. Of course, I have to spend money in litigation, because I also have to eat. But often I win the lawsuit, but think that my fees are high, so they add bad words and say that I am a It's a scraper. I was very sad after hearing this, and deeply regretted that I was ignorant of current affairs and strayed into this trip. I have already passed the age of knowing my destiny, and I am discouraged and helpless when I receive this evaluation. I have never met brother Shouting. , I don’t know you. You just came to Jinan, so you don’t know me well. But just by your attitude towards me that day, I know what the people around you said to you. Brother Shouting, alas, there is really no way, good man It's hard to do!" As he spoke, he struck the ground with a civilized stick a few times, and his expression was also very depressed. Shouting followed suit and nodded. Zi Wenhai went on to say: "Over the years, people from my hometown and friends in the banking industry have persuaded me to join the industry many times. I was also inspired by the success of Mr. Miao Handong, you, and the Zhao brothers. , I feel that the industry is more reliable. I dye the cloth and give it to the merchants to sell. I don’t deal directly with the common people. I sell you to buy, but you will definitely not buy it if it is expensive. You can’t say that I’m scrapping the ground. Alright. So, I came to find my brother and asked if this dyeing factory can be operated? How to do it? Shouting, we have no grievances or enmity, there are many untrue words in the words of outsiders, please tell me the truth Let me know." He looked at Shouting with pleading eyes. While he was speaking, Shouting was very focused and never left Zi Wenhai's face for a moment.He touched the cigarette and turned it on, and said seriously: "Lawyer Zi, your son and Jiaju Dongchu are both classmates, and you are my elder. Since you come to ask me, I should tell you the truth. In Shandong In the province, people of my age, including Zhao Dongjun, dare not say that they know more about printing and dyeing than I do. Lawyer Zi wants to do this, and I think he can do it. Everyone has to wear clothes, and as long as they wear clothes, they must have colors. There must be a dyeing factory, so we can trade. Clothes without color are filial robes for mourning, not clothes. Ha..." Zi Wenhai also smiled: "Brother Shouting is really funny, I would like to make friends with such a person. Since my brother told me to be honest, then I don't need to go around the corner. Shouting, do you think about partnering up again?" A factory? Like a partnership between us?" Shouting didn't answer right away. He flicked the ash into the ashtray and said slowly, "Lawyer Zi, I want to open many, many factories, earn a lot of money, and compare with Miao Handong. Oh, Zi The lawyer also knows that I was born as a beggar. I am now a nouveau riche. I have made a fortune in my life and have not inherited anything from my ancestors. You have also seen that my new factory has just started. Almost all of my money has been spent, and now I have no money to partner with others. Lawyer Zi, I am in Jinan, and we are friends. Your ability is beyond my comparison. I can only make money if I can partner with someone like you to set up a factory. I won’t lose money, of course I wish for it. If I have money, the two of us together, plus the social status of Lawyer Zi, within a few years, colleagues in Shandong Province will have to bow their heads. Sigh!” He said embarrassingly Sincerely, with a look of regret on his face, he kept shaking his hands. Zi Wenhai pushed up his glasses: "I know Brother Shouting's financial resources, isn't this prevaricating me? Huh? Ha..." Shouting smiled lightly: "Lawyer Zi, I do business just to get rich. I don't care what others say. I will partner with whoever can bring me wealth. Prevarication? Prevarication?" Zi Wenhai nodded: "Since you don't have enough money, can you work as a manager in my factory? I'll give you 10% of the shares." Shouting laughed: "Lawyer Zi, there's no need for that. If you go to a dyeing factory, you must buy a printing machine. Even monochrome cloth, you won't dye it anymore, and you have to use a monochrome plate to print the color. Lawyer Zi, this printing machine is a new thing, I haven’t figured it out myself yet! I was in a hurry when you came. Look—” He walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and took out a piece of waste cloth to take Come here, "This is the calico printed by my new machine. These three colors are not the same at all. Can this be sold? What is the use of you hiring a shopkeeper like me? I am a person from the previous era. This one The treasurer of the times must not only be capable, but also educated. I am actually outdated, that is, to maintain." Zi Wenhai took it over and looked at it, and said, "As for whether it is printing or dyeing, I don't understand at all. How about this, brother Shouting, when the factory is established, you can often come and give pointers, right?" Shouting said bluntly: "No problem, we are here whenever you are called. However, since you are buying a printing machine, whether it is a German product or a Japanese product, he will come to teach you, and he will not leave. But I can help If you calculate the cost and price, even if you help, it won't be of much help." Zi Wenhai was very happy: "Shou Ting, you are an expert, I can feel more at ease if you can help me. I said, Shouting, is this printing machine better from Germany or Japan?" Shouting smiled: "Japanese products are cheaper, but compared with German machines, let's put it this way, Japanese products are just a small grass donkey, while German products are big mules. Although they can pull a cart, the small grass donkey can't drive the shaft. .In the long run, it is better to buy German machines.” Zi Wenhai was deeply touched: "It makes sense, it makes sense. After all, Japan is a rising industrial country, and its level is lower than Germany, which is normal. In this way, Shouting, I will go back. But you have to promise me one thing, give me For a while, let me treat you to a meal." Shouting stood up and shook hands with him: "You don't invite me, and I don't invite you either. Let's go out to eat—" Shouting looked away, "I saw that Liuzi Chen has only been here for a few days. Why did you start the lawsuit?" The two held hands and laughed. When Zi Wenhai's rickshaw driver saw him coming down, he hurriedly shook his seat.Zi Wenhai got into the rickshaw on his legs, with the driver supporting him.From the moment he got into the car, he kept waving to Shouting, and even waved his civilized stick to greet Shouting when he was about to leave the factory.Shouting smiled and sent them off politely. Old Wu also came out to see off the guests. He saw Zi Wenhai leaving the factory gate and asked, "Why did he come to see us?" Shouting smiled: "He wants to open a dyeing factory." Old Wu's expression was a little nervous: "If people like this come in in this business, can we still be quiet?" Shouting smiled lightly: "I said, Old Wu, this man has a place in life and a place in death. If you want to find death, you can't stop him, so you might as well let him go. You read the newspaper carefully, and when you find He’s recruiting workers in his factory, let me know right away.” In Concubine Ye Ming's Love Pavilion, the servants were busy tidying up inside and out, preparing to welcome Shouting.Downstairs, Yuan Yi was very happy, humming and arranging flowers. My aunt came over and said, "Yuanyi, your sixth brother can sit here for two hours at most, will you see any guests that night?" Yuan Yi didn't look up: "No, I'll treat Sixth Brother to dinner tonight." My aunt was upset, but she didn't say anything. Yuan Yi asked the servant next to him: "Do you know where there is a local tobacco shop? My sixth brother specializes in smoking local tobacco." That tone was like smoking local tobacco is a special skill. The servant said: "I know, after leaving our street, go east and you will find a tobacco shop." The aunt took it over and said: "The soil tobacco that your sixth brother smokes is not an ordinary tobacco. It is a good tobacco leaf specially asked for someone to roll it. That day he kept smoking downstairs and filled the room with smoke, but he was not at all. Choking. Your sixth brother's behavior is really unbearable! I didn't realize that day that I was your benefactor. If I did, I would be so ashamed that he couldn't get out of this door." Yuan Yi ignored her aunt's complaints, and said to the servant: "Go, go to the local tobacco shop and ask him to roll some of the best tobacco leaves. No matter how much it costs, just bring the cigarettes back." The aunt gave her a gouging look and walked away. The servant looked at his aunt, hesitant, Yuan Yi said: "Go!" The servant looked at his aunt again, and then took off the apron around his waist. Dongchu sent a telegram back.Shouting asked him to sit down: "The car is still faster! Are you done?" Dong Chu said: "It's done, but I didn't tell him the date, I just said the near future." "Well, I'll leave after I arrange things in the factory. Oh, I just thought about it, and I really can't leave for a while!" Dong Chu said: "It's okay. I'll let him know after we've settled down. Sixth brother, there's another matter, you have to explain it to me. Bai Zhisheng has been staring at the treat for the past two days. These bastards are pretty bad." , I think we should meet again." Shouting snorted: "No, let him think about it slowly!" "Sixth brother, this kid also sent back the money from my factory, and said he would never bother us again. It's all thanks to Miss Shen, who invited us so many powerful people." Shouting raised his eyes: "Dong Chu, he doesn't dare to take our money anymore, but other merchants still have to accept him. Tell me, what kind of worldly world is this! What a thing! Honest man There is no way to live at all. Whether you like it or not, you are forced to play with him. Return the **** Qinghong gang, hmph, these bastards are sensible." Dong Chu sighed: "We can't control so much, there's nothing we can do. When I was in college, I was doing business to save the country all day long, education to save the country. Sixth brother, tell me, we can also be considered to be in business now, who are we saving? None of us can save it. Sixth brother, try to be quiet!" Shouting waved his hand: "You brought those gangsters back to me, but I didn't see you. I'll go to see Shen Yuanyi in the afternoon, so I can thank him face to face." When Dong Chu heard about Shen Yuanyi, he immediately regained his spirits: "Sixth Brother, Miss Shen treats you very differently!" Shouting smiled self-deprecatingly: "You are not particular about what you said. Everyone likes beautiful women, and everyone is willing to look at them a few times. But she and I have nothing to do with men and women. I don't understand, I think It’s another way. I was drunk that day, and she took me home by car. Your sixth sister-in-law also met, and you were there too. Your sixth sister-in-law also said that she didn’t look like a prostitute, and she couldn’t see any crookedness. come." Dong Chu nodded: "My elder brother said the same thing. He said that Miss Shen was just kissing you, as if there was nothing else. Sixth brother, you can suppress the Jinan mansion that day. How many dignitaries wanted to invite her out to help Socializing and entertaining, a strong stage, I don’t know how many good things to say, let alone spending money. But that day, wherever you go, she follows you, and she still supports her with her hands. Those people are greedy and don’t say it. I don't know why this is." Shouting smiled and asked, "What did Jia Kui say?" Dong Chu slapped his thigh: "Hey, what Jia Kui said is more interesting. He said that Brother Six can find the right person if he is good. Brother Six, if Miss Shen really becomes our real sister, Jia Kui and I will also be happy." Just calm down and don't think about anything." Shouting raised his hand and slapped Dong Chu on the back of the head: "You two can live in peace and life!" Dong Chu took a sip of tea, and said with a serious expression: "Brother Six, just now I was sending a telegram, and I went to Takashimaya to get the bill of lading, and I saw a person going upstairs. The more I looked at it, the more I felt that person looked like Teng Jing Woolen cloth!" Shouting smiled: "The Takashima House is the headquarters of the Japanese in Shandong, and all the people who come and go are Japanese. The Japanese are all about the same height, you may have missed it. However, Tenjing's trading company also lives there People. Damn, if he comes to Jinan to make troubles, I have to deal with him!" Dong Chu said: "The Japanese are quite rampant now, as long as they don't provoke us, I think it's better to hide." In the afternoon, on the upper floor of Concubine Ye Ming's Symposium, Yuan Yi's chair was right in front of Shouting, and they sat very close to each other.she always laughs.They've been chatting for a while. Shouting wants to light a cigarette, Yuan Yi grabs the match like a child: "I'll light it!" Shouting listened to her and asked her to light a cigarette.Shouting took a puff of smoke and said, "Sister, I lost you that day..." Yuan Yi covered his mouth with his hands: "I can't say any more." Shouting also lost that roughness, and could only obey in front of her: "Okay, okay, sister, don't talk or talk. Let's talk about something else." Shouting smirked.After a while, he asked, "Is the army commander whereabouts?" Yuan Yi lowered her eyelids and nodded. "You didn't go to him?" Yuan Yi smiled wryly: "Hey, Sixth Brother, no matter whether it's a brothel or a kiln, they are all like brothels and tiles. Is there still white cloth in your dye vat?" She looked out of the window, then turned her head Come on, "Brother Six, let's not talk about these things, those things are over." Shouting was very concerned: "Where is this person now?" Yuan Yi smiled bitterly: "In Nanjing. He was a military student sent by the government to Japan. He studied field warfare. He never said it himself. I heard from his colleagues that the more complicated the terrain, the greater his ability. Later, he was invited by Zhang Shaoshuai, that is, those "overseas student generals" mentioned in the newspapers. This is also the first job in China. He had many classmates. Now the Northwest Army. He is now in the Ministry of National Defense, and it is said that he is a fat job." "Nanjing? I'm going to Shanghai in two days, or should I get off in Nanjing and meet him?" Shouting was very concerned. She shook her head: "A writer wrote an article about me. When he saw it, he immediately sent a letter asking me to go to Nanjing to look for him. Afterwards, there was almost one letter a day, but I didn't agree. Everything was in vain. It's over." She smiled wryly, shaking her head alone, "Sixth brother, I used to make an oath of eternal love back then, how do you ask me to meet him again now? I really don't have the courage." Shouting also sighed: "It's all caused by little Japan. Hey, sister, it's easy to say. We couldn't find him at the beginning, so we jumped into the sea in a hurry! We are sincere! Killing people is nothing but nodding, and I will die." No more, what else do you want me to do?" Yuan Yi shook his head in bewilderment: "Sixth brother, if I jumped into the sea to die for love, he might never forget it for the rest of his life, but now I am living in troubled times, reduced to prostitution..." Shouting hurriedly made an in-depth interpretation: "We don't live to wait for him! What the hell is the wind and dust? If there is no wind and dust, what does a woman live on? It's okay, I will go to Nanjing to tell him. The more complicated the terrain, the more dangerous it is. If you can't stand up to the Japanese devils, then you have no skills. When I arrived in Nanjing, I put him on the flat ground and wiped out his skills first. It didn't hurt my sister, but he has reason!" Yuanyi's mood improved a bit, she poured tea for Shouting: "Sixth brother, he will come to Jinan in a few days, can you accompany me to have a meal with him? Reality.Let's be brothers and sisters! "There was some pleading in her tone. Shouting put out the cigarette, laughed loudly, then slowly stretched his head over to touch Yuanyi's forehead, shaking and arching like a child.Shouting's voice was very soft, but extremely sincere: "Okay, sister, I am your brother!" Yuan Yi shed tears excitedly.She said: "Not only did I meet you, but I was also very close to Sister-in-law Liu. When I met Sister-in-law Liu that day, I wanted to give Sister-in-law Liu a piece of jewelry, but I was afraid that Sister-in-law Liu would think it was dirty, so I didn't dare. Six Brother, can you choose a day for my sister-in-law and I to go to the street? I want to buy a gift for my sister-in-law." Shouting smiled and said: "She was sitting at home drinking tea, and she got a girl for no reason, she should give you a gift. Girl, keep your money well and don't waste it. I've been busy these days , I can’t hold back. When I come back from Shanghai, we have to talk about it in detail. It’s not a good idea to always be in this kind of place.” Yuan Yi said meaningfully: "Yes!" A trace of sadness flashed across Shouting's face: "Sister, I see you happy, and I feel better. When I see you sigh, my heart hurts. Sigh!" Yuan Yi suddenly changed his tone, and said cheerfully: "Sixth Brother, Sixth Sister-in-law is already forty, and she is still so beautiful, she didn't know how beautiful she was when she was young!" Shouting smiled: "If she is not good-looking, can I marry her? I am bragging. I was a beggar. If it weren't for her, I would have frozen to death. This person is a fate. I dare to scold anyone, but I don't want to." Scolding her. It's not that I'm afraid of her, it's that I can't open my mouth. Ha..." At this time, Old Wu ran up with a thud, followed by his aunt.Shouting was very surprised, stood up quickly and asked, "How did you find this place? What happened in the factory?" Yuan Yi also stood up. Old Wu held a piece of paper in his hand: "Teng Jing sent someone to deliver it, and he invited you to dinner at Takashimaya tonight." Yuan Yi asked in surprise, "Japanese?" Shouting smiled coldly: "It's Japanese. Girl, don't worry, I'll ruin your life for the Japanese, and I'll have to skin Teng Jing again. Old Wu, you go back first and tell Dong Chu to let him Prepare the car and let him follow me at night." Old Wu went down. Shouting and Yuanyi stood there.Seeing a small lint on Shouting's left chest, Yuan Yi squeezed it off and threw it away, then swept it with his hand: "Brother Liu, be careful, the Japanese are ruthless! I hate them to death!" Shouting looked sternly: "This is not the three eastern provinces. You bastard, I'm holding a steel fork and waiting for him!" Takashima House is at the southeast corner of the intersection. It is a three-story red brick building with a high foundation. There are seven or eight steps in front of the door. Japanese men and women are all entering and exiting. In the evening, Shouting went into Takashimaya, and Dongchu sat in the car and waited.Dong Chu was wearing a peaked cap and sitting in the driver's seat.At this time, a Japanese drunk man came out of the room staggering here and there, and the maids stood on the steps and waved to him. The drunk came to the car and tried to cause trouble, and Dong Chu got out of the car.Dong Chu was tall and tall. He stood in front of the car. The Japanese looked up. Just as he was about to kick the car, Dong Chu yelled: "Baga!" The Japanese drunk was startled, and then saluted.At this time, a middle-aged Japanese man ran down the steps, also apologized to Dong Chu, and helped the drunk man go south. Dong Chu laughed too. Upstairs, Shouting and Teng Jing are sitting opposite each other.A maid dressed in a kimono snuggled up to Shouting, and was responsible for pouring wine and serving dishes for him, with a handkerchief in her hand, ready to wipe his mouth.She wanted to wipe it several times, but Shouting blocked it.On the table are some side dishes and two jugs of sake.Teng Jing was very happy and kept smiling at Shouting.Shouting said to Teng Jing, "Can I hug her?" Teng Jing pursed his lips and smiled: "You can do whatever you want with her." Shouting smiled: "Did you buy this?" Teng Jing smiled and shook his head: "No, they all came voluntarily, and they can dedicate themselves to the empire in any way." Shouting nodded: "Then I will make her dedicate herself. Ha..." 侍女羞怯地低着头笑。 滕井也笑起来：“陈先生，一别日久，还是那么幽默。我在青岛很想你呀！我对三木说过多次，在中国人里，陈先生是很优秀的。只是陈先生太固执，不肯与我成为商业上的伙伴。这实在是可惜。来，咱们干一杯！” 二人一饮而尽，侍女接着给寿亭添酒。 寿亭说：“滕井哥，我就是不明白，你们和我打交道，一次一次地总是吃亏，为什么还想和我合办染厂呢？” 滕井摇摇头：“那是我们的立场不同。如果我们站到一起，那就会让别人吃亏。是这样吗，陈先生？” 寿亭点点头：“滕井先生，咱们也是多年的朋友了，咱们在一起合办染厂的事，就到此为止，不要再往下谈了。我知道你的条件很优惠，甚至我不出钱都可以。但是，这事不能办。因为我太精明，不会受你的支使。你要在济南开染厂，应当找一个外行，如果那样，一切都好办。” 滕井点头：“你的话很坦诚，我是想找一个外行。今天我把陈先生请来，一是想见见老朋友，再就是我很钦佩你的才智。你卖给我工厂的时候，我就没想到鸽子会认家，可是你想到了，结果留给了我一座空厂。这怨不得你，尽管商社的人都恨你，我却不恨。商业就是商业，事情明摆在那里，是我自己没有看到。” 寿亭抬手制止：“别，这事咱得说说。你要是天天白面馍馍炖肉，把工钱再提高点儿，那些工人还不死心塌地地跟着你？好嘛，接过工厂没两天，你那工头就用皮靴踢工人，又骂他们是猪，他能不跑吗？我这边已经把人招齐了，你这一闹，那些工人全来了济南，你知道这给我添了多少乱！来，咱俩碰一个，算你给我赔礼了！” 滕井用手点着寿亭：“不管是不是这样，我都佩服陈先生。”他一仰脖把酒喝下去，“陈先生，你如果不与我合作，我的染厂一旦开工，可能对你不利，这一点你想到了吗？” 寿亭把盅子往桌上一蹾：“不光你，哪家染厂开工都对我不利。” 滕井盯着寿亭：“我的身后是整个帝国，那种财力不是哪一个人能比的，这一点陈先生想过吗？” 寿亭浅浅一笑：“想过。可是我琢磨着，你那帝国不能把所有的钱都用在一个染厂上吧？它还得鼓捣硫磺造炸药呢！滕井哥，听我的，还是找个外行吧，这样的人听话。我很难对付，也很难管束。你呀，就土地爷掉到井里——” 滕井问：“这是什么意思？” 寿亭笑道：“就别捞（劳）这个神了。” The two laughed. 这时，坐在车里的东初，看见来了两辆洋车。车到跟前，原来是訾文海父子从车上下来了。东初赶紧拉低帽檐。 訾氏父子让车夫把车停到远处去。他怕别人看见他来了高岛屋，于是快速上了台阶。 东初的嘴角上露出嘲笑。 家驹院子里，亮着灯，院子很大。 北屋的左书房里，二太太戴着眼镜给孩子们批改作业。她对哪一个孩子都很亲，看不出哪是她生的，哪是翡翠生的。这时，孩子们的作业还没做完，她自己在台灯下看书，不时地抬起头来看看孩子。 翡翠的房里，家驹正和翡翠下围棋。二人都身着便装。 翡翠落下一个子儿，抬眼看着家驹，偷偷地笑。家驹点上烟，进行“长考”，越看越不知道该把子儿下到什么地方，左右扭了扭脖子。翡翠说：“别下了，我看你的脖子不舒服。” 家驹笑笑：“没事。”说着把子儿落下。 翡翠说：“你要是下到这里，我就'征子儿'了，我看你好像心不在棋上。” 家驹推开棋，背靠在椅子上：“唉，是心不在焉。” 翡翠起身给他端来碗茶，放在家驹跟前，说：“我看你这些天情绪不高，是不是在洋行里干得不顺心？” 家驹抽着烟：“也不是，都对我挺好。自从离开了六哥，我就劝自己，尽快从染厂的影子里走出来，过一种平静的生活。包括来和你下棋，和老二出去看话剧看电影。可是，我好像那魂儿留在了染厂里，所以打不起精神。昨天我去见了苗先生，谈了一下午，苗先生也说我离开六哥不对。” 翡翠说：“那你就再回去，你整天这样无精打采的，都不像以前那个人了。” 家驹笑笑：“我再适应一段时间看看。我觉得时间长了，也就好了。我是想在洋行里，从另一个侧面帮帮六哥。” 翡翠说：“我给你捏两下脖子？” 家驹说：“不用，你就陪我坐一会儿吧！” 翡翠笑笑：“我看你这一段时间也没怎么看书。还是咱爹说得对，活到老，学到老。” 家驹说：“我以后在家不看书了。洋行里不忙，我在那里看，回家之后，也该陪着你俩说说话。跟着我，也没享了什么福。亏了你还大度，没弄得整天争争吵吵的，这就不错。当初我回国的时候，说要教你拉提琴，这些年一直也没空。我自己也忘得差不多了。等我恢复过来之后，我就兑现当初的诺言。” 翡翠很感动：“咱都老了，平平静静的，这就很好了。除了那回滕井朝咱家里打枪，我看周围的人都没我过得好。” 家驹笑笑：“你陪我出去走走吧。” 翡翠笑着：“等一会儿让老二陪你出去走吧，省得你光守着我，让她心里不高兴。” 家驹点头：“都不错，这没什么。前人的句子里，有'执子之手'和'相濡以沫'，这些境界我都体会到了。” 翡翠说：“家驹，自从你离开了六哥，好像一下子长大了，过去的那些玩闹也没了。我和老二在家里也说，你在六哥跟前，还觉得自己是个兄弟，是个小孩子，总是有个依靠。现在自己在外面做事，自己独当一面。从这一点来说，这也是好事。” 家驹无语，只是苦笑。 翡翠说：“那时候我刚到青岛，我和老二，俺俩整天怕你再弄个老三回来。现在俺俩不怕了。” 家驹却说：“你俩这是高抬我了。我远没有你俩想象的那么好。人毕竟是人，女人无所谓正派，正派是受到的引诱不够；男人也无所谓忠诚，忠诚是背叛的筹码太低。道德的力量是很有限的。当然，老三我是不会弄了。”家驹轻轻地笑。 翡翠努着嘴：“我过年的时候，把你这话学给咱爹听。” 家驹笑着说：“夫妻间的对话，是不加修饰的。咱说点别的吧，这快成了哲学讨论了。”家驹的茶凉了，他正要喝，翡翠忙拿下，倒进痰筒，又换了一碗来。 翡翠说：“老二听六嫂说，那沈远宜会弹琴，她说她也会弹，只是弹得不好。她想让我给你说说，看看能不能咱也买一个？” 家驹笑笑：“买一个可以，但是我在家的时候不能弹，她那个水平我知道，弹得很差。你要是让买，那你在家里听吧。哈哈！” 翡翠觉得自己挺有面子：“我能告诉她吗？” 家驹点点头：“我明天就从上海订一个，用六哥的话说，就是'这里还住着个弹棉花的吗？'哈哈……”说时，家驹学寿亭的神态。 翡翠也笑了。这时，有人轻敲门，家驹说：“弹棉花的来了。”接着高声说，“请进！” 二太太进来，见二人正在笑：“我来得不是时候？谁赢了？” 家驹伸手请她坐，翡翠站起来拉过把椅子：“坐，二妹。还没等下完，就说起你的那钢琴来了。” 二太太说：“我是随便一说，家驹知道我弹得不行。只是孩子们都上学去了，我和大姐在家里闷。” 家驹说：“对你这种谦虚，六哥有专门的评价。坐下。”二太太坐下了。家驹接着说：“那年在青岛，我和六哥闲遛，遛来遛去遛进了乐器铺，正赶上一个二十多岁的少爷在那里买三音号。那少爷虽是买，可是吹不响。出来门后，六哥说：'买这东西合适，就是吹不响，还能卖铜，比买胡琴划算。”' 二太太笑得眼泪都出来了。 翡翠拿过家驹的外衣，对二太太说： “你陪着他出去走走吧，家驹刚才说他有点闷。我去看着孩子们洗澡。” 寿亭从高岛屋里出来，上了东初的汽车。 东初问：“滕井放了些什么屁？” 寿亭说：“还没等他放出来，就让我给堵回去了。看来他是想在济南鼓捣点儿事。” 东初说：“你在上头看见訾文海了吗？” 寿亭说：“看见了，他那根文明棍我认识，就挂在走廊的衣帽架上。” 月色如水，二太太挽着家驹散步。 二太太说：“这些天你一直不太高兴，难得今天有这样的心情。” 家驹说：“我爹常对我说，平静是人生的最高境界。我现在还做不到，最多也就是安静罢了。” 二太太说：“我看这就挺好。这些年随着不断的陶冶，想起当初来，真觉得很幼稚。小布尔乔亚式的生活，多是些不切实际的幻想。现在我教教孩子们，陪着你和大姐说说话，不也挺好吗？” 家驹拍拍二太太挽着他的那只手：“人生却待中年后，炉火是看纯青时。我出洋的时候，十分鄙视中国文化。咱这也算老了，倒是觉得中国文化里，有很多精辟的人生见解。昨天在洋行里，看了胡适之新近的两篇文章，觉得很幼稚。又读了罗素在中国大学里的讲演稿，我觉得他还不如胡适说得透彻呢！” 二太太自谦：“你说的这些，对我来讲就深了一点。我也就是看看新月派的那些诗。” 家驹侧头问：“感觉怎么样？” 二太太说：“我觉得还行。” 家驹笑了：“你感觉行，这就对了。那些诗就是写给你这种水准的人看的。当年我看泰戈尔的那些诗，就觉得一句好。” 二太太抬着脸问：“哪一句？” 家驹说：“'亲爱的，不要未向我告别就走啊！'平白如话，很真诚。其他的我就没看出好来。” 二太太说：“徐志摩这是死了，要是不死，你这话让他听见，准得讨伐你。” 家驹笑着说：“徐志摩的飞机就撞在济南的白马山上，不用他讨伐，选一天，让东初开上汽车，咱们一块儿到那里看看，也凭吊凭吊你的偶像。” 二太太说：“一说东初，我倒想起来了，他太太兰芝，今天来了咱家，动员我去妇女建国会做点社会工作。” 家驹淡淡地问：“你怎么说？” 二太太说：“我没答应。我觉得那地方太乱，什么人都有，还有訾有德那样的男人。大姐也是这个意思。” 家驹说：“这就是成熟。做人要懂得'避'，有些人，你认识，不如不认识。” 二太太点头：“咱们走出来很远了，往回走吧。” 二人挽着，地上投下了夫妻的影子，大致也相当于新月派诗里的意境。