The ball was held at the Li Shunde Hotel, and the invited guests were not only foreigners, but also many well-known figures in Tianjin's industrial, business, political and academic circles. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

As soon as Zhou Hexuan and Zhang Leyi arrived at the door of the hotel by car, they encountered a strange incident.

I saw a few old men in suits, directing the coolies to carry the goods, and shouted again and again: "Slow down, slow down, don't break it!" ”

It was a strangely shaped umbrella, and the cover was decorated with colorful fabrics, and there were various words written with brushes on the fabric.

Wanmin umbrella!

"Boss Zhang, Boss Wang, what are you doing here?" Zhou Hexuan stepped forward and asked curiously.

Those two old men were Zhang Zhongyuan, the president of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, and Wang Yibao, the vice president, who were just elected as business leaders in September last year.

During the Republic of China, the chamber of commerce had great power and controlled the commercial activities of all walks of life. Under the General Chamber of Commerce, there are various guilds, such as Zhou Hexuan's underwear business in Shanghai, which is managed by the textile industry guild under the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber of Commerce is a fat sheep, not only domestic politicians are staring at, but even foreign consuls want to get involved. Every general election of the Chamber of Commerce is a struggle between the interests of all parties.

A few years ago, the Japanese wanted to meddle in the re-election of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, but they were strongly resisted by Chinese businessmen, and even the chambers of commerce and guilds in the south responded positively and launched a vigorous boycott of Japanese goods. As a result, the volume of commodity transactions in the Japanese concession in Tianjin has declined rapidly, and it has not slowed down until now.

These Chinese businessmen are all proficient, and there is nothing they can do with you on the surface, but secretly they make all kinds of stumbling blocks, and no matter how arrogant the Japanese are, they can only have bitter words.

"It turned out to be Mr. Zhou," Zhang Zhongyuan clenched his fists and smiled, pointing to the Wanmin umbrella and said, "This is the Wanmin umbrella jointly given to General Butler by the major guilds in Tianjin." ”

"Wan ...... Wanmin umbrella? Zhou Hexuan thought that he had a problem with his ears, Nima is now in the Republic of China, and he still has this thing.

Wang Yibao gave a thumbs up: "General Butler is a good man, regardless of his own safety, he led his officers and soldiers to save the people from the flames. Although we are businessmen, we are also grateful for the pictorial, and send a universal umbrella to wish General Butler a long and healthy life! ”

"Yes," Zhang Zhongyuan said with emotion, "The old man has lived most of his life, and he has never seen such a benevolent and righteous foreign general." The American soldiers under him are all well-trained and disciplined, and there has never been a harm to the people. Such a benevolent and righteous teacher should be greatly praised. Our Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce is also planning to petition the American Minister to let General Butler stay in Tianjin for a long time. ”

Zhou Hexuan really has nothing to say.

The Americans drove warships and planes, and without greeting them, they came to Chinese soil to garrison troops.

This is a national shame!

But Butler's small act of goodwill was able to buy the hearts of the Chinese people, and the people even hoped that the US military chief would stay here.

It can only be said that the Chinese people's requirements for the army are too low, and as long as they do not burn and kill the army, do not act as a prestige, and do not force them to buy and sell, they are a well-disciplined and benevolent army.

Of course, businessmen can't afford to be unprofitable, and the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce has even come up with Wanmin umbrellas, which must have another purpose.

Since the American GIs came to Tianjin, more than 4,000 people have purchased food locally, military camps and warehouses have been rented from Chinese, and soldiers have spent money unscrupulously. In just one month and a half, more than 20 new cinemas, bars, dance halls, bowling alleys, billiard rooms and underground casinos have been opened in Tianjin, and every family has done a prosperous business.

The gorgeous military uniforms of the Marine Corps have become the most beautiful scenery on the streets of Tianjin, with dark blue tops, light blue pants, white military caps and generous armed belts, which will attract onlookers wherever they go.

It can be said that since Butler came with the Marines, Tianjin is experiencing the most lively and prosperous period since the invasion of China by the Eight-Nation Alliance.

The businessmen in Tianjin naturally wanted to express their expressions and did their best to keep the US troops stationed.

Merchants from all walks of life in Tianjin constantly came to the hotel, and in addition to Wanmin umbrellas, they also prepared medals, pennants and other items for Butler.

Zhou Hexuan took out an IOU, quietly handed it to Zhang Zhongyuan and said, "Boss Zhang, look at this." ”

"IOUs? There's nothing wrong with that. Zhang Zhongyuan muttered.

Zhou Hexuan pointed to the English on the IOU: "The problem is in the signature, the name of the president and congressman signed by the US soldiers, this kind of IOU is invalid." ”

Wang Yibao was shocked and asked, "Mr. Zhou, where did you get these IOUs?" ”

Zhou Hexuan said: "You can find it in any store. ”

Zhang Zhongyuan and Wang Yibao looked at each other, and their eyes were full of panic.

More than 4,000 American soldiers spend money in Tianjin every day, and the daily cost of a soldier is at least $5 or more. If all the IOUs are invalid, you can imagine how many white IOUs will have to be made in a few months.

At least a deficit of a few million oceans!

As soon as the American soldiers left, the bosses who couldn't get the money would naturally go to their respective guild presidents, and the guild presidents would come to the General Chamber of Commerce for help.

And Zhang Zhongyuan and Wang Yibao, as the president and vice president of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, will definitely be anxious at that time, and maybe they will have to pay some money themselves.

Zhang Zhongyuan was stunned for a long time, gritted his teeth and spit out a few words: "Foreigner...... You can kill them all! ”

Zhou Hexuan said: "While the American soldiers have not left Tianjin, you should hurry up and collect all the IOUs." Don't startle the snake yet, and when you get the IOU, send it directly to General Butler. ”

Zhang Zhongyuan calmed down, and suddenly bowed and said, "Mr. Zhou, thank you here." If there is something in the future, the General Chamber of Commerce will definitely help! ”

"Well said, well said." Zhou Hexuan said.

He was just a gesture, but he was able to win the goodwill of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, and the deal was very profitable.

The Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of all businessmen in Tianjin, and they dare to be tough even the Japanese, and their energy can be imagined.

Zhang Zhongyuan and Wang Yibao are both old foxes, and they quietly walked into the hotel, and Wanmin umbrellas, pennants and other things should be given back. Even those IOUs, they didn't plan to take them out right away. As long as the guild presidents from all walks of life are summoned and everyone sits together for a meeting, the matter can be properly resolved.

Let those American GIs spend money vigorously, collect all the white slips they receive, and at the same time secretly observe the movements of the American soldiers. When the American soldiers were about to leave Tianjin, they directly took thousands of business people (counting the shopkeepers and guys) and took the IOUs to the middle of the road.

Hey, give me the money, you!

The picture was too beautiful for me to look at.

Zhou Hexuan followed the two business tycoons in, and when he walked to the banquet hall, General Butler personally greeted him, looking like a good man who was kind to the people.

"Wanmin umbrella, open!"

With a loud roar, the huge Wanmin umbrella opened, leaving Butler stunned on the spot.

What's that?