Shanghai, a bustling metropolis, is not only China's most important window to the outside world, but also an important economic capital.

It is no exaggeration to say that if Shanghai's economy coughs, the economy of the Republic of China will be seriously ill.

After the successful conclusion of the industrial and commercial consultative meeting held in Nanjing, although no reporters were able to enter the venue that day, it was obviously unlikely that the contents of the meeting would be kept secret. Not only was it not able to keep it secret, but it also spread so quickly that well-informed business people everywhere soon heard a little about the wind god.

On this day, Xiafei Road, the most developed and prosperous commercial and trade area in the French Concession, is still full of people and is very lively.

However, if you have a heart, you can feel that the prosperity is obviously coming, and the owners of the shops can hardly hide the anxiety and worry in their hearts.

Miao Qiaowei, the owner of the Ruichang cloth shop, was very irritable pacing back and forth in the shop, looking out of the shop from time to time, as if he was waiting for someone and news.

After a while, Sandezi, a college apprentice of Ruichang Cloth Shop, hurriedly walked into the shop from outside, panting.

Seeing Sandezi coming back, Miao Qiaowei couldn't wait to ask: "How is it, what is the reaction of those printing and dyeing factories?" ”

Sandezi wiped the fine sweat on his forehead with his hand, and replied without bothering to drink saliva: "The shopkeeper, it's up, it's all up." The prices of all kinds of monochrome cloth and flower cloth have all risen, and now the major printing and dyeing factories are not ready to ship, all waiting for the price to continue to rise. ”

Syllable!

"These bastards, just heard some news that is not even sure whether it is true or false, so they hoard goods and raise prices." Miao Qiaowei scolded angrily, not that he was worried about the national economy and people's livelihood, but that the price of this colored cloth would rise, and the sales of his cloth shop would inevitably be greatly affected. Profits will also be greatly reduced.

"The shopkeeper should not be a problem with the major printing and dyeing factories, I heard that it was because the price of the next shipload of grey cloth rose in Fujiwara Trading Company, and they had to increase the price." Sandezi told all the news he had heard in the market, and he was able to sit in the position of a university apprentice, that is, a senior brother, in the Ruichang cloth shop. To a large extent, it is because he is clever and good at probing and collecting various market news.

After more than ten years of operating a cloth shop in Shanghai, Miao Qiaowei can be regarded as a person who has seen some strong winds and waves, and immediately said: "Since this is the case, it will rise, and we will also rise!" Dashun, immediately changed all the price tags on the counter! ”

Dashun, the second apprentice of the cloth shop, did not change the price tag as soon as possible, but asked Miao Qiaowei: "Shopkeeper, what price to change?" ”

Miao Qiaowei groaned. Just as he was thinking about how much to increase the price of various colored fabrics, there was a sudden noise on the street outside the shop.

"Outside, outside, Wang Shaoshuai called on all industrial and commercial people in my country to start a war against foreign goods!"

"Outside, outside, Huiyuan Bank set up an industrial investment department, pointing at foreign goods from all over the world!"

"Extra, extra. The inter-provincial autonomous government has ordered the customs to generally increase import tariffs by %5, and the prices of various imported foreign goods have skyrocketed! ”

As the newsboys outside the hawker ran through the street waving newspapers. The entire Xiafei Road was like boiling water, boiling all at once.

"Oh my God, what is Young Marshal Wang doing here?"

"No wonder I have heard that the price of many things has increased in the past two days, and it turns out that the import tariff has increased. No, before the price has risen to the sky, you have to hurry up and buy some to prepare for home. ”

"It's over. After this is over, the price of all kinds of imported foreign goods is bound to rise in an all-round way, so how can we, the shops that operate foreign goods in the concession, live? ”

Before Miao Qiaowei could recover from the shock, suddenly a group of people poured into his cloth shop and shouted anxiously, "Boss." I want to buy cloth! ”

"I want one!"

"Bring me two!"

Everyone was afraid that they would not be able to buy the goods, so they simply took out the banknotes and asked Miao Qiaowei for cash to buy cloth.

Miao Qiaowei, who reacted, immediately stopped everyone and shouted: "Forgive me, the inventory of the small store has been emptied, and there is no goods to sell, please go to other stores to have a look!" ”

"Nonsense, there are so many cloths on the counter, is this also called no goods to sell?" Someone immediately rebuked angrily.

Miao Qiaowei also reacted quickly, and said without changing his face: "I'm really sorry, the cloth on the counter has been booked by other guests." I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen, the shop is temporarily closed, so please go and check it out at another store. ”

Miao Qiaowei can be regarded as a shrewd businessman who has been rolling in the shopping mall for many years, so he naturally understands that the increase in import tariffs by the autonomous government of the Southern United Province will inevitably cause the price of various goods to skyrocket rapidly, and how can he be in a hurry to sell cloth now.

Miao Qiaowei asked Sandezi and Dashun and a few other guys to persuade the customers who poured into the shop to leave, and then temporarily closed the shop, but at this time, a person walked in from outside the cloth shop, and said to Miao Qiaowei with an anxious expression: "Father, no, you must not close the door now!" ”

It was Miao Qiaowei's only son, Miao Kejun, who came in, and his words made the guests who were about to leave stay.

Miao Qiaowei suddenly sank his face and scolded angrily: "You are not in the academy, what are you doing here?" What does it mean not to close the door, nonsense! ”

"Father, how about you listen to me and then decide whether to close the business or not?" Miao Kejun said anxiously.

Seeing his son's solemn look, Miao Qiaowei looked at the large number of guests who were still crowded in the shop, and said to his son, "Come in and talk." With that, he turned and walked to the back of the cloth shop.

After Miao Kejun walked into the cloth shop, Miao Qiaowei immediately asked, "Say, do you know any news?" ”

Miao Kejun nodded and replied, "Does my father know about Chen Yanli, the famous dye tycoon on our beach?" ”

"There is no one who does our family business who doesn't know Chen Yanli, I heard that he went to Nanjing to attend the industrial and commercial consultation meeting some time ago, can it be that you can get any news from him?" Miao Qiaowei looked at his son with suspicion.

"Yes, not really." Miao Kejun replied, "Father, I remember telling you before, Chen Yanli's eldest son, Chen Han, and I were classmates in the school, and he told me some news I heard from his father, so I rushed back. ”

This is a bit credible, Miao Qiaowei's eyes suddenly lit up, and asked, "Tell me, what news have you heard from Chen Han?" ”

Chen Han told me that at the industrial and commercial consultation meeting, many people reminded Mr. Zhang Jian, who presided over the Department of Industry and Commerce of the United Provincial Autonomous Government, that if the tariff is raised, the price of imported foreign goods from various places will inevitably skyrocket, which may trigger panic buying. Therefore, after deliberation, they decided that everyone would join forces to mobilize a large number of various materials in advance to stabilize prices. Miao Kejun replied.

Hearing the news, Miao Qiaowei said very disapprerovantly: "I thought what you wanted to say, I'm afraid this is just their wishful thinking, once this wave of price increases blows, how can the little materials they prepared in advance be able to stabilize prices." ”

Seeing his father's attitude, Miao Kejun immediately became anxious, and hurriedly persuaded: "Father, you must not hoard goods to add fuel to the trend of price increases, Chen Han said that Wang Shaoshuai attaches great importance to the action of the Department of Industry and Commerce, and if anyone obstructs and resists, I am afraid that the autonomous government will be recorded, and it will really be a disaster!" ”

This concern is really not groundless, Miao Qiaowei's expression was solemn, his eyes flashed, and he didn't make up his mind after thinking about it again and again.

Afraid that Miao Qiaowei would insist on going his own way, Miao Kejun persuaded again: "Father, what kind of character is Wang Shaoshuai, even foreigners say that they will clean up, if we disobey his will, can we still have a good end?" ”

Thinking of Wang Mo's tough style, a trace of fear flashed in Miao Qiaowei's eyes, and after thinking about it, he finally let out a long breath and said, "Forget it, since this is what Wang Shaoshuai meant, it is indeed impossible to disobey." We ship Ruichang cloth at a flat price, which can be regarded as a helping hand for the self-government. ”

Afterwards, Miao Qiaowei and Miao Kejun walked out together and announced to the many customers who were still crowded in the cloth shop that the price of all the cloth in Ruichang Cloth Shop would not increase until the inventory was sold out.

Originally, Miao Qiaowei was still a little painful, so much money in his hands flew like this, but less than an hour later, he was extremely glad for his wise decision.

"The 10,000 pieces of cloth of Pan's Printing and Dyeing Factory have entered the city, and they are supplied to everyone in unlimited quantities and at a low price, so don't listen to the rumors of price increases!"

Soon, the staff of the autonomous government shouted in batches in the densely populated streets and alleys of Shanghai to calm the people's minds, followed by a large number of various materials brought into the city.

Not only has there been such a turmoil in the cloth market, but also in the rest of the imported commodity market, and the owners of those shops in Shanghai who deal in imported foreign goods can be said to be bitter.

Compared with the bitterness of Chinese shop owners, foreign banks and merchants from all over the world are wailing.

The office building of the Ministry of Industry of the French Concession was surrounded by a large group of foreign managers from various foreign firms, three floors inside and three floors outside, which was really exciting.

"We protest, strongly protest against the Chinese raising tariffs without authorization!"

"The Ministry of Industry and Bureau cannot do nothing, and must stand up to stop the Chinese from harming the interests of all civilized countries!"

"That damn warlord, we will never tolerate him interfering so grossly with the freedom of trade!"

"Protest, we strongly protest!"

Foreigners from all over the world waved their fists excitedly, vigorously condemning Wang Mo, who ordered the tariff to be raised, and even clamoring to send troops to the Far East to teach China a hard lesson.

At this time, the directors of the Ministry of Industry did not dare to stand up and respond, or did not know how to respond, if there was a way to suppress Wang Mo, a damn arrogant warlord, I am afraid that they would not let Wang Mo take back the customs, so that they fell into the current predicament.

In fact, China's tariffs have only increased by %5 this time, which is far worse than the import and export tariffs of other countries. It's just that foreigners in various countries are accustomed to plundering huge profits under low tariffs that are almost non-existent, and now they can't stand it with just a slight increase in tariffs.

For these colonists who are robbing the whole world, those who do not want to be plundered by them are criminal, barbaric, and should be suppressed and eliminated.

Therefore, after this incident, Wang Mo was even more unpopular with foreigners from all over the world, and could even be said to be hostile. (To be continued......)