Chapter 41 Bleak foreign field (6-2)

Gu Yingchun was very enthusiastic about this matter, so he discussed with Grandma Qigu first to see how he should speak to Hu Xueyan. "I don't know the situation of the new silk reeling factory, but the foreign silk is better than the local silk, that's what a layman can tell." "If something is good, there is no fear of not being sold." Gu Yingchun said, "My uncle wants the best in whatever business he does; now that the best thing is there, he doesn't want it, which is a bit strange." Grandma Qigu thought for a while and said, "I'll tell him."

"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, a person must always stick to purpose and credit. I have always disapproved of new-style silk reeling, and now it's the other way around. If you do it yourself, 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 now? They are Western and progress in everything; you don't benefit For example, Mr. Zuo went west, if you didn’t buy Western arms for him, how could he succeed?” “Seventh Sister, you misunderstood, I didn’t mean that foreign silk is not good——”

"I know, and I didn't misunderstand." Qigu's grandma rushed to say: "What I mean is that 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 was wrong." "Uncle, people, sometimes you have to take risks, and sometimes you have to be safe. Bai Xiangren said, 'If you have a bed with a broken quilt, you have to protect your property'. 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, "You created your career by yourself, and no one can be your master." "Seventh sister, you are not very clear about this. There are many constraints in the invisible. For example, as soon as I want to build a new-style silk reeling factory, how many people will come to me and beg me, saying, 'You, Mr. Hu Da, don’t give us a hand. , but kicked in the back, we 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. You can do it, can't you? Besides, new-style silk reeling is a trend, and now it's only sold in foreign villages; in the future, there will be more factories, and everyone likes the material of foreign machine silk weaving. There is no one who wants to make silk by the local method; the cloth is thin, white and thin, who doesn't want to wear a foreign cloth shirt in summer? Wool blue cloth is only worn by country people, and in a few years no country people will wear it anymore. "" This cannot be generalized. "

"Why not? It's the same thing." Grandma Qigu went on to say, "It's one thing to see whether it's worth it or not to save people from the well; it's another thing if it's worth saving. It is a pity that a person fell into the well and drowned; if he was a skinny and consumptive man, he would not have a good life for a few years if he was rescued. A consumptive bastard whose days are numbered." Her example 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."

Qigu's grandma couldn't refute him: her thoughts were running wildly in her mind, and suddenly she had an idea, and asked, "Little grandpa, 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, you can do it, right?" "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, "Being the boss in secret?" "right!" Hu Xueyan's heart moved a little, but this is a big matter, so he must think about it carefully. Seeing this situation, Grandma Qigu knew that things had turned for the better, so she couldn't relax, and immediately thought about something again. "Uncle, the situation will go bad very quickly. If you don't think of a way now, it will be too late to fix it when you find out that something is wrong. A few million silver is not a small amount; Uncle, even if you are the 'God of Wealth' , I’m afraid I can’t bear the risk.” Naturally, these words should not be ignored; Hu Xueyan couldn’t help asking: “Which one should be called 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, so I can help her with ideas." .” "Once she comes, what will the family do?" Hu Xueyan said, "Unless Seventh Sister can get up, it's pretty much the same." "I can't. Either..." she mused. "You mean Ying Chun?" But Ying Chun's relationship with me is known to everyone, and his appearance is almost the same as my own.This kind of deception 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, "Little uncle, think about it for 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 recommended someone, it would be the same as Gu Yingchun getting involved, and that would be more reassuring. With such a change of mind, he didn't think about his own people at all, "Seventh Sister," he said, "I don't have anyone. If you have someone, we can talk about it, that will be more reassuring. This is forcing her to recommend a virtuous person.Grandma Qigu understood that it was Hu Xueyan who was putting more weight on her responsibility; so she reconsidered and was sure that there would be no mistakes, so she 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 the fifth brother is willing to come forward, I will have nothing to say." Hu Xueyan said: "When Ying Chun comes back, we can discuss it carefully." 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." You Wu's words are very frank: "However, after the scene is set out, the raw rice is cooked, and it doesn't matter if people know about it." "This is also true, but when the time comes, Just 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 Beijing and clean your ears. "Yes, yes!" Hu Xueyan nodded again and again, "I will avoid it then." This means that Hu Xueyan has completely accepted the advice of Gu Yingchun and his wife in this big business.Spinning cocoons is the third largest business in Hu Xueyan's business after the bank and the pawnshop. However, both the bank and the pawnshop have a joint name and are in regular business, so there is a head in the system. "Grasp the general manager", but Hu Xueyan himself is in charge of the operation of Silk Cocoon.People in banks and pawnbrokers, as long as they need it, can call it at any time. For example, lending money to "buy greens" requires the help of Fukang in Huzhou and other places; The pawns have to work together, and Gu Yingchun is indispensable when selling foreign villages to discuss business with foreigners.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 I will do it differently in the future. If this is the case, I will leave the matter of silk and cocoon to you." Hands are tied, especially when dealing with foreigners, no matter whether it is cooperation or competition, it is important to be well-informed and make a quick decision. If you do not have the full authority to make decisions, and you still have to discuss with me when it is critical, you will definitely lose. It's done." His reasoning is very thorough; his sincerity is even more touching, but Gu Yingchun felt that the responsibility was too heavy and dared not agree; Qigu's grandmother was silent, and seemed to feel the same as him, so she became more and more cautious up. But he didn't dare to refute it; because he insisted on refusing to allow it, it meant that he was not sure about engaging in new-style silk reeling, so why did he try 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 followed me for many years. I asked them to gather together and follow me. If you talk about it for a day or two, you will understand all the tricks immediately." "If I come to take over, of course I have to do this." Gu Yingchun said cleverly: "Everything must be done step by step, and I will help Fifth Brother to finish the matter of buying two new silk reeling factories first." 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 at the moment is to get rid of the goods in the hands of my uncle as soon as possible." The most important thing about her words 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 the present.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 for 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 keep things close." Hu Xueyan said, "Since Fifth Brother is invited to come forward and look good, 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 immediately interfaced: " You have misunderstood a bit, 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 lucky, and we will also benefit from your credit." "Grandpa, you're talking the wrong way..." "Hey, yo, everyone, don't say polite words." Grandma Qigu was impatient, and interrupted You Wu and said, "Now I just ask my uncle to say, how about two contracts?" "One is to buy those two factories." , How much money do you need? How much do you need to start a business? How much will you need for future work and regular turnover? Calculate the total, sign a contract with Fukang, and set a certain amount. Within the amount, you can withdraw money at any time. As for the details , I will explain to Lao Mi, it is very convenient." "Yes." Gu Yingchun said: "Please ask my uncle to tell Lao Mi to draft the draft of the contract; I will tell my uncle after I have settled the amount of the amount. Now I would like to ask for the second one." "The second one is the raw materials in the factory. You have to calculate carefully how much cocoa you want, and write a contract that I will pay for 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 compliance with the rules." "Okay. I'll take care of it." Gu Yingchun asked, "Do you have any instructions 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. I will ask my uncle for instructions when I think about it." "Don't just talk about the new silk reeling factory. Grandma Qigu stepped in 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." "Of course!" 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 if they can keep their capital, it is a good price;Hu Xueyan's good price is by no means a good price in Grandma Qigu's mind. While talking, the Transit Bureau sent someone to see Hu Xueyan. It turned out that Zuo Zongtang's special envoy sent a letter. After opening the envelope, I knew it was an urgent matter. 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; at the same time, he led Hu Xueyan into a very luxuriously furnished secret room that was only opened when he came, and served him personally. Very accommodating. "Xiaotang," Hu Xueyan ordered, "go and do your work, I have something to talk to Mr. Gu." After Zhou Xiaotang repeatedly withdrew, Hu Xueyan showed Zuo Zongtang's letter to Gu Yingchun.It turned out that there was a small disaster 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, and in addition to a large sum of money allocated by the ministry treasury, many wealthy provinces had to share the relief; Liangjiang shared 400,000 taels, but the Jiangning treasury could only collect half of it, Zuo Zongtang had no choice but to ask Hu Xueyan for help. Begging for help, the letter said: "Shandong River is in serious trouble, and the court ordered it to help, but 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 the 200,000 silver." When will I be able to pay it back?" Hu Xueyan said, "It's better for me to repay the service." "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 very bad. My uncle's donation is 200,000. Everyone I am jealous. Thirdly, the defense is tight now, and the military expenditure is huge. If someone goes up and persuades a wealthy businessman to serve him, he will be the first one to find my uncle. At that time, the amount of service I am afraid is not enough to pass 200,000. Xiaoye 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 draw up a telegram immediately and ask where to pay." So Gu Yingchun took up a pen and wrote: "Jiangning Taiwan Yamen , Secret. I received a letter from you, and handled it according to the order. The payment was made in Jiangning and Jinan, and I begged for instructions. Hu Guangyong, the professional road." 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 200,000 yuan from me, and I will give the rest to a cocoon bank. "These two uses were beyond Mi Benchang's mind; his original plan was to use the money to earn "silver money", and through a small bank opened by his cousin, he would report more for less. , Get some "extra money". This time the wishful thinking failed, and I was disappointed, but I had 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 Zuo Zongtang borrowed it privately, he might not be able to use so much for a while, but in the short term, it can still be turned around; public borrowing would be useless. "Where is the cocoon shop?" He asked again: "Which cocoon shop is it? What's the name?" "I don't know what the name is." "Mr. Big," Mi Benchang became more and more surprised, "I don't even know the name of the family, so how could I borrow such a large amount?" "Actually, it's not borrowed 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 was silent, and felt very uncomfortable when Gu Yingchun elaborated on his plan to buy a new silk reeling factory; because he thought he was Hu Xueyan's first "big guy" Above 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. "Look at it!" He said in his heart: "'Turn over the dog food bowl, everyone can't eat it.'"