Chapter 2 behind the scenes boss

"Seventh Sister, it's not that I don't want it. I also know that foreign silk is at least two grades higher than native silk. However, Seventh Sister, one must always stick to one's purpose and credit. Let's go, isn't that a repeated villain? People want to ask me, what can I say?" "Uncle, the so-called one moment, the other moment, the world is changing every day. I grew up in Shanghai, how could I have thought that Shanghai would become like this? People are Western, making progress in everything, you don't understand For example, Mr. Zuo's western expedition, if you didn't buy Western arms for him, how could he succeed?"

"Seventh sister, you misunderstood, I'm not saying that Yangsi is bad—" "I know, and I didn't misunderstand." Qigu's grandma rushed to say, "I mean, people have to know the trend, and if they don't know the trend, they fall behind. When you think of catching up, it's too late. Uncle, Thank you for doing Ying Chun such a favor, our husband and wife are sincere—" "Seventh Sister, Seventh Sister," Hu Xueyan hastily interrupted, "If you say such things, it will appear that we are not close friends." "Okay! I won't say it. But, Uncle, I really worry about you." Grandma Qigu said, "The situation is not good now. I heard that the French are planning to block the passage of merchant ships with warships. As soon as Yangzhuang doesn’t move, little uncle, what do you do with the cocoons and silk that cost millions of silver?”

"This, this news, where did you come from?" "It was said by the foreign doctor who treated me." "real?" "When did I lie to my uncle?" "Oh, oh," Hu Xueyan hurriedly apologized, "Seventh Sister, I made a mistake." "Uncle, people, sometimes you have to take risks, and sometimes you have to be safe. Uncle, let me say something ugly. People in Baixiang said, 'If you have a bed with a broken quilt, you must protect your family'. Uncle , what is your net worth now?" Hu Xueyan was silent for a while, then sighed and said, "Seventh sister, why don't I know? But sometimes, I can't help myself."

"I don't believe it." Grandma Qigu said, "The career was created by you alone, and no one can be your master." "Seventh sister, you don't quite understand this. There are many constraints in the invisible. For example, if I want a new silk reeling factory, how many people will come to me and beg me, saying, 'If Mr. Hu Da doesn't give us a hand, Instead, kick it in the back, and we, the people who make silk, have no food to eat.' This way, your heart will not be hardened." Grandma Qigu didn't expect that his words would be said first, which was equivalent to preemptively sealing her mouth.Of course, Grandma Qigu would never stop there, she had to talk to persuade him.

"Uncle, according to you, it's like saving people from a well. Do you want to do it or not? Besides, new-style silk reeling is a trend, and now it's only sold in foreign villages, and there will be more factories in the future. Everyone likes the material of foreign machine silk weaving. If you can’t make silk, no one wants it at all, just look at the cloth. The foreign cloth is thin, white and thin. Who doesn’t want to wear a foreign shirt in summer? Wool blue cloth is only worn by country people. In a few years, country people will not wear it. wore." "It cannot be generalized."

"Why not? It's the same thing." Grandma Qigu went on to say, "It's one thing to save people from the well to see if you can do it or not, and it's another thing if it's worth saving. , fell into the well and drowned, which is a pity. If he was a skinny and consumptive man, he would not live for a few years if he was rescued. A consumptive ghost whose days are numbered." Her analogy seems to have some truth, Hu Xueyan thought to himself, it is useless to just reason with her, just talk about your own difficulties. "Seventh sister, you really can't be 'two-faced', 'being a teacher's wife and being a ghost'. You say, if I, Hu, are such a person, I will definitely lose my wealth."

Grandma Qigu couldn't refute him, her thoughts were running wildly in her mind, and suddenly she had an idea, and she asked: "Uncle, according to what you said just now, it's not that you don't want to build a new-style silk reeling factory, but there are restraints and you can't do it." ,Yes or no?" "yes." "Then the restraint is gone and you can do it, can't you?" "The same can be said." "Well, I have a way, and you won't be restrained." "Tell me about it." "It's easy, little grandpa, just don't show up."

"Yes—" Hu Xueyan asked, "Is it a secret boss?" "right!" Hu Xueyan's heart moved a little, but it was a big matter, so he had to think about it carefully.Seeing this situation, Grandma Qigu knew that things were turning for the better, so she couldn't let go, and immediately thought for a while and said: "Uncle, the situation will get worse very quickly, if you don't think of a way early, if you find something is not good, just go It's too late to make amends. A few million silver is not a small amount. Uncle, even if you are the 'God of Wealth', I'm afraid you can't bear this risk."

Naturally, these words should not fall on deaf ears, and Hu Xueyan couldn't help asking: "Which one should I call to do it?" When it comes to entrusting someone to come forward, things will be easy to handle. Grandma Qigu said: "I was thinking, it's best to invite Fourth Sister Luo. My body is paralyzed and my brain is not bad. I can also help her with ideas. .” "Once she comes, what will the family do?" Hu Xueyan said, "Unless Seventh Sister, you can get up, it's almost the same." "I can't. Either—" she mused. "You mean Ying Chun? But everyone knows the relationship between Ying Chun and me. His appearance is almost the same as my own. This kind of deceit is not appropriate."

"I'm not thinking about Ying Chun, I'm just thinking about where to find a reliable person." Grandma Qigu paused and said, "Grandpa, think about it yourself, if there is really no one, I have someone .” "Then, tell me." "No! You must think about it first, uncle." Hu Xueyan thought to himself that Gu Yingchun's participation is indispensable for this matter, and he can't show up. If Grandma Qigu recommends someone, it will be like Gu Yingchun's hand, and that will be more reassuring. When he changed his mind like this, he didn't think about his own people at all, "Seventh Sister," he said, "I don't have anyone. If you have someone, let's talk about it, or we can talk about it later!"

This is forcing her to recommend a virtuous person.Grandma Qigu understood that Hu Xueyan was aggravating her responsibility, so she reconsidered and was sure that there would be no mistakes, so Fang Shi said: "My fifth brother will do it right." You Wu has retired for a long time, and not many people know him in Shanghai shopping malls, but he still has influence in the Cao Gang, so it is possible for him to step in and Gu Yingchun as his assistant. "If Fifth Brother is willing to come forward, I will have nothing to say." Hu Xueyan said, "We will discuss it carefully when Ying Chun comes back." Gu Yingchun made a special trip to Songjiang and invited You Wu to discuss face to face.But Hu Xueyan has only one sentence: things must be done in secret, and he completely retreats behind the scenes to avoid unnecessary disturbance. "If you want people not to know, you have to do nothing about it." You Wu said very frankly, "However, after the scene comes out and the raw rice is cooked, it's okay for people to know about it." "This is also the truth, but when the time comes, let me have something to evade." "Uncle, if you don't admit it, what can I do?" Grandma Qigu said: "When the time comes, you go to the capital, and even the roots of your ears will be clean." "Yes, yes!" Hu Xueyan nodded again and again, "I will avoid it when the time comes." This means that Hu Xueyan has completely accepted the advice of Gu Yingchun and his wife in this big business.Buying silk and collecting cocoons, in all Hu Xueyan's business, the scale is second only to the bank and the pawn, but the bank and the pawn have a joint name, and they are in regular business, so there is a head in the system. Only Hu Xueyan is responsible for directing and dispatching banks and pawnbrokers, and he can call them at any time as long as he needs them. Fukang's backhand; the storehouses for storing silk and cocoons are not enough, so his pawns have to work together; when selling foreign villages to negotiate business with foreigners, Gu Yingchun is indispensable.The "hands-on" of the silk shop and the cocoon shop are only in charge of part of his own business, and his level is low, and his status cannot be compared with Mi Benchang's group of "big guys". Over the years, Hu Xueyan has always wanted to find someone who can cover the overall situation and entrust this part of the business to him, but he has not been able to do so.Now he thinks that Gu Yingchun should be a suitable candidate as a matter of course. "Ying Chun, now I have done what you said, and the way I do things in the future will be very different from before. Since this is the case, I will leave the matter of silk and cocoons to you." Hu Xueyan added, "It is the most important thing to do. I'm afraid of being tied up, especially when dealing with foreigners. Whether it's cooperation or competition, it's important to be well-informed and make a quick decision. If you don't have the full authority to make decisions, and you still have to discuss with me at a critical moment, you will definitely lose. They've got it all together." His reasoning was very thorough, and his sincerity was even more touching, but Gu Yingchun felt that the responsibility was too heavy and dared not agree, but Grandma Qigu remained silent, she seemed to feel the same as him, so she became more cautious. But he didn't dare to refute it, because he insisted on refusing to allow it, which meant that he was not sure about engaging in new silk reeling, and he tried his best to persuade others to do it.That alone doesn't make sense. So he said: "Uncle, I am very grateful that you think highly of me. Considering how many years of friendship we have, I have absolutely no reason to refuse. However, the business of several million in and out a year involves a wide range. Guang, I haven't fully figured it out, and I dare not take on such a big responsibility just by knowing a little bit." "This is of course the truth." Hu Xueyan said, "However, I want you to take the helm, and someone will do the following things. Most of the people who specialize in this industry have been with me for many years. You talk about it for a day or two, and you will understand the tricks immediately." "If I come to take over, of course I have to do it." Gu Yingchun said cleverly, "Everything should be done step by step. After I help Fifth Brother finish the purchase of two new silk reeling factories, Let's talk about the second step, okay?" "It should be done like this." Grandma Qigu echoed, "Besides, this year's silkworm busy period is over. Except for the new silk reeling factory, the rest may as well be run according to the old rules. The most important thing now is, my uncle Get rid of what you have in hand." Her words, the most important thing is the last sentence, she is still afraid that the situation will change, the market will get worse and worse, and the best policy is to get rid of the goods and seek cash.But Hu Xueyan's thinking was just the opposite. He felt that if he had set up a new-style silk reeling factory, he would have nothing to worry about, so why not give it a go with foreign businessmen? When Hu Xueyan was doing business, he was consulted by Zhou Zhibo in advance, and he was not ashamed to ask, but when he really had to make a decision, he made his own decision in his heart.His nature is just like this, and in addition to being influenced by Zuo Zongtang in the past ten years, he has understood the truth of Yue Fei's saying that "the beauty of using it is in one mind", so Grandma Qigu didn't think too much about it, and she didn't express her opinion. , just nodded to show that I heard it. "Now let's talk closer." Hu Xueyan said, "Since Brother Wu is invited to come forward and look like it, I think we need to make two contracts." "Yes, it should be." You Wu replied, "I also want to see how many things I have to do and how much responsibility I have to bear. Only the contract can see clearly." "Fifth Brother," Hu Xueyan said immediately, "You have misunderstood a little, I don't want you to be responsible. Please come out, and Ying Chun is here, so you don't need to be responsible. I hope the factory will develop well, and you will be considered a step old Fortunately, we also benefit from your light." "Grandpa, you're talking the wrong way..." "Hey, yo, everyone, don't say polite words." Grandma Qigu was impatient, interrupting You Wu and said, "Now I just ask my uncle to say, how about two contracts?" "One is which two factories to buy, how much money is needed, how much is needed to start up, and how much is needed to start work and frequent turnover in the future? Calculate the total, make a contract with Fukang, and set a quota, within the quota , withdraw money at any time with the booklet. As for the details, I will explain to Lao Mi, which is very convenient." "Yes." Gu Yingchun said, "Let my grandpa tell Lao Mi to draft the contract draft. I will tell you the amount after I have settled the contract. Now I would like to ask the second one." "The second one is the raw materials in the factory. You have to calculate carefully how many cocoons you need, and write a contract that I will pay for the cocoons on credit with Han Chenguang." Hu Xueyan specially instructed, "This contract should be simple, let alone written The name of a new-style silk reeling factory. I just think of it as a cocoon shop. You bought cocoons with me. What are you using them for? You don’t need to tell me, and I’m not qualified to ask you. Do you understand what I mean?” "Why don't you understand?" Gu Yingchun looked at You Wu and said, "In a word, don't implicate my uncle's name in the new silk reeling factory." "In this way, we must first obtain Zhang Buzhao and open a cocoon shop." "That's right." Hu Xueyan said, "It's all in line with the rules." "Okay, I'll take care of it." Gu Yingchun asked, "What else do you want from my uncle?" "I'm fine. I want to ask you, what else do you want to talk to me about?" "I can't remember it for a while. When I remember it, I will ask my uncle for instructions." "Don't just talk about the new silk reeling factory." Grandma Qigu interrupted and said, "The batch of silk in my uncle's hand can no longer be placed." "Yes!" Gu Yingchun said, "There is a good price to sell." "certainly!" Hearing this sound, Grandma Qigu felt relieved.But Gu Yingchun knew in his heart that "good price" has different interpretations from different people. Some people think that it is a good price if they can keep their capital, while others think that the price is not good if they don't earn enough.Hu Xueyan's good price is by no means a good price in Grandma Qigu's mind. While we were talking, the Transit Bureau sent someone to see Hu Xueyan. It turned out that Zuo Zongtang sent a letter, which stated "Arrival within two days" and engraved with the big purple mud seal of "Governor of Liangjiang". You know it's an emergency even if it hasn't been opened.Sure enough, Hu Xueyan opened the letter, pondered for a while, got up and said, "Ying Chun, you accompany me to Jixianli." "Jixianli" refers to Fukang Bank.Mi Benchang went out on business, and Zhou Xiaotang, the second group in charge of the general account, sent more apprentices to find Mi Benchang separately, and at the same time led Hu Xueyan into a very luxuriously furnished secret room that was only opened when he came, and served him personally. attentive. "Xiaotang," Hu Xueyan ordered, "go and do your work, I have something to talk to Mr. Gu." After Zhou Xiaotang repeatedly quit, Hu Xueyan showed Zuo Zongtang's letter to Gu Yingchun.It turned out that there was a flood in Shandong this year, and the Qihe, Licheng, Qidong and other places where the tributaries of the Yellow River pass through were all severed. The Yellow River was rolling and the disaster was serious.Chen Shijie, the governor of Shandong Province, promised to "replace relief with work"-use the victims to rush to repair embankments, and pay wages in lieu of relief.The cost of work and materials was huge. In addition to a large sum of money allocated by the Ministry of Finance, many wealthy provinces had to share the aid. Hu Xueyan begged for help, and said in the letter: "Shandong River is in serious trouble, and the court ordered it to help, and the business plan is to start work instead. Can you lend me 200,000 yuan?" "Really!" Gu Yingchun was greatly moved, "The wealth of the two rivers is well known throughout the country, but they don't even have 400,000 silver. One can imagine how poor the country is." "I don't know when I will be able to pay back the two hundred thousand silver," Hu Xueyan said. "No!" Gu Yingchun immediately objected, "Now is not the time for my uncle to actively lose." "Oh, what's wrong?" "Of course it's inappropriate. First, there is no edict to persuade everyone to donate money for relief. Why should my uncle volunteer? It seems that the money is inexhaustible. Secondly, the market is not good. My uncle's donation is 200,000 yuan. Everyone has seen it." Jealousy; third, defense is tight now, and military expenditures are huge. If someone goes up and persuades a rich businessman to submit his service, he will be the first one to find my uncle. At that time, the amount of submission is probably not enough for 200,000. Uncle, This limelight must not come out!" The last sentence was so straightforward that Hu Xueyan couldn't help but listen, "That's fine." He said, "Please write a telegram immediately and ask where to pay." So Gu Yingchun took up a pen and wrote: "Jiangning made Taiwan's yamen, secret. I received a letter and handled it according to the order. The payment was made in Jiangning and Jinan, and I begged for instructions. The professional Hu Guangyong kowtowed." After reading it, Hu Xueyan added the word "that is" under the word "begging", and then handed it over to Zhou Xiaotang, who sent someone to the transit bureau to send it. At that time, Mi Benchang had already been found, and Hu Xueyan asked, "The five hundred thousand silver was allocated by HSBC?" "yes." "Not moving?" "Untouched." Mi Benchang said, "But the interest of one quarter will be deducted first, it is not a whole number." "Understood." Hu Xueyan said, "I have already allocated the purpose of this money. Mr. Zuo borrowed two hundred thousand from me, and I will give the rest to a cocoon company." These two uses were beyond Mi Benchang's thought. His original plan was to use the money to earn "silver money". Through a small bank opened by his cousin, he reported more for less. Get some extra money.This time, the wishful thinking failed, and it was disappointing, but there was still a redeeming idea in my heart. Because of this, I have to ask: "Why did Mr. Zuo borrow money from Mr. Da?" He said, "What is the use of Mr. Zuo, two hundred thousand?" "It wasn't him who borrowed it, but the Jiangning Fan treasury." If it was Zuo Zongtang's private loan, he might not be able to use so much for a while, but in the short term, it could still be turned around, and the public loan would be useless. "Where is the cocoon shop?" He asked again, "Which cocoon shop is it? What is the name of the shop?" "I don't know the name yet." "Mr. Big," Mi Benchang was even more surprised, "I don't even know the name of the family, so how could I borrow such a large sum?" "Actually, it's not borrowing from someone else, it's for our own use. You still need to draw up a draft contract." Hu Xueyan turned around and said, "Ying Chun, please tell Lao Mi about the situation. The draft is ready and the contract is signed. I'm ready to go back to Hangzhou." Mi Benchang kept silent, and felt very uncomfortable when Gu Yingchun detailed his plan to buy a new silk reeling factory, because he thought he was Hu Xueyan's first "big guy" and his status was higher than Tang Zishao.Moreover, Si had a close relationship with the bank, so he hadn't been able to hear about such a major event beforehand, so he was naturally jealous. "Just watch it!" he said in his heart, "'Turn the dog food bowl upside down, and everyone can't eat it.'"