Tang Tingshu and Xu Run stayed at the Wanguo Hotel at night, which is a huge courtyard with a combination of Chinese and Western styles. The main building is a six-storey building with a Chinese-style appearance, much like the Beijing Friendship Hotel in later generations, surrounded by exquisite gardens. The hotel is built facing the sea, and most of the main windows of the rooms are facing the sea.

The two of them live in the sixth-floor Presidential Suite, which is lavishly decorated and opulent. At this point, it was already dark, and the surrounding lights were lit up. The sea in the distance was dark, but the courtyard was bustling with activity, with a small Western orchestra playing and many foreigners dancing below.

Tang Tingshu was browsing in the study room of the suite, and the books on the shelves were all very exquisitely made, and they seemed to be some Western translated books, such as "On the Spirit of Law", "The Origin of Species", "On the Power of the Sea", "Logic", "History of Europe", "General History of Britain", "General History of France", "General History of Germany", "On War", "On the Wealth of Nations", ......

Unlike traditional books, the text in these books is arranged horizontally, and all are read from left to right, with punctuation, small text, and coloring book inserts.

Xu Run walked over at this time and said with a smile: "Brother Jingxing, why are you so fascinated?" ”

"Runli, look!"

Xu Run took Tang Tingshu's book, opened it, and was amazed at first sight.

"This book looks a little awkward, but it's really exquisite."

"Yes, the books here are different from our usual typography, the words are small and clear, I don't know how they are printed."

The two were talking, when they suddenly heard someone knocking on the door, Xu Run walked to open the door and saw that it was Li Yuzhen.

"Come in, Treasure." Xu Run was very polite.

"Oh, what are you two talking about?"

Tang Tingshu also greeted Li Yuzhen, and Xu Run asked with a smile at this time: "Yuzhen, this time I can be regarded as Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, and I am curious about what I see." The books in this study are unseen in ancient and modern times, and I don't know how they are printed? ”

After the three of them took their seats, Li Yuzhen smiled and said: "These are all books published by our Dashang Culture Company, but they have not been produced for a long time, if I remember correctly, the time is about half a year." As for why the text is small and clear, and there are color illustrations, I can't tell you the specifics, but I heard that it is a new technology of copper and zinc plates, which seems to be similar to photography. ”

"I see, so why isn't it on the market?"

Li Yuzhen said with a smile: "It is estimated that the production capacity of the printing plant is used to print books for affiliated schools and industrial offices, and our chairman is most concerned about education and scientific research, and any good things will be used there." This Wanguo Hotel is also the property of our chairman's friend's family, otherwise we wouldn't have seen these books. ”

Tang Xu glanced at each other, looked at each other and smiled, and said in his heart, this chairman is alternative enough.

"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot, there are a few bosses below who want to meet with the two, and I also know that the two of them have been on the boat for a day, and they are physically tired, so I don't want to agree, but those few people are enthusiastic, and I can't refuse, so I still hope that the two of you can take the time to go down to meet, and it can be regarded as a face for the little brother." Li Yuzhen said very politely.

When Tang Tingshu and Xu Run heard this, they also knew that he was humbling himself. However, when they saw the local celebrities and wealthy businessmen in Yingkou, the two couldn't ask for it, so they agreed without hesitation. They are all comprador businessmen, with exquisite faces and long sleeves and good dancing, which is a matter of course for them to deal with communication.

Not long after, Tang Xu and the others went out of the room under the leadership of Li Yuzhen and took the elevator downstairs.

The party in the garden continued, and Xu Run walked at the end, carefully observing the situation inside. There are lanterns hanging everywhere, and the Western band is in charge of playing in a corner, and the music is not cheerful, but very peaceful. On the east side of the venue, there is a row of long tables covered with white cloth, on which are placed silver rectangular plates, and there are many kinds of small Western snacks that are easy to eat, which look extremely exquisite. On the table farther away, there was something else to eat.

Li Yuzhen knew that Xu Run was curious, so he said: "Our chairman calls it a buffet, there is a dinner plate over there, if the two of you are hungry, you can eat it at will." ”

Xu Run nodded, and said that there were still a lot of tricks.

There are some people in the venue who are dancing with their shoulders around their waists, but the two of them have seen a lot of this scene, and they don't feel that it is immoral. But more people are holding a glass of champagne and chatting with their acquaintances with different expressions.

Some people had already seen Li Yuzhen at this time, so they immediately put down the female companion who was chatting hotly, and greeted the other party in surprise.

"Manager Li, you're finally here." The speaker was a fat white man, in his forties, not tall and with a mustache, accompanied by a fashionably dressed young woman who looked like a well-known singer from a Shanghai Tang nightclub in the early 20th century.

"Boss She, everyone, I'm sorry to keep you waiting." Li Yuzhen politely apologized, then turned around and introduced, "These two are Mr. Tang Tingshu, the general office of the China Merchants Bureau, and Mr. Xu Runli Xu, the general office of the China Merchants Bureau." ”

Li Yuzhen began to introduce the people in front of Tang and Xu, and this fat man She was the owner of the local Wanguo Hotel. At this time, She Fatzi walked up to Li Yuzhen and said in a low voice: "Yuzhen, hurry up, look at Miss Qiu Er over there, her eyes are like nailing to you." If you don't say hello again, you're going to have to chop us up. ”

Although She Fatzi's voice was small, everyone in front of and behind him could hear it clearly, and they couldn't help but laugh gloatingly.

Li Yuzhen also sighed, deliberately pretending to be on the guillotine, "Hey! That's it! If the brother unfortunately falls into the hands of the thief, there are three long and two short, remember to burn three pillars of high incense for the brother during the New Year's holiday, kowtow three times, and it will not be in vain for you and my brother. ”

She Fatzi and the others laughed and said: "I will also kowtow to you three times, and I will be able to offer you as a father." Okay, don't get cheap and sell well, if Miss Qiu Er takes a fancy to us, let's make it happen. ”

Tang Tingshu and Xu Run naturally don't need Li Yuzhen to accompany them, if he is there, some things are not convenient to say, most of the people present know the background of the two, that is the governor of the dynasty Zhili, the confidant of Li Hongzhang, the minister of Beiyang, who is in charge of the trade affairs of Hebei, Shandong, and Fengtian. Divide a little business casually, which is enough for most people to eat for half a lifetime.

Li Yuzhen left the crowd and walked towards the opposite corner of the venue. There was a group of young girls sitting over there, one of them was obviously beautiful, but although this woman was like a peach and plum, she was also as cold as ice. There were some Chinese and foreign men gathered around, but there were very few who dared to come forward and talk to them. And those who dared to step forward were only under the woman's eyes, and then retreated.

Next to Li Yuzhen, there were three men dressed as scholars, whose eyes kept falling on that side, and one of them said: "Guan Guan Ju Dove, in Hezhizhou." My Fair Lady, Gentleman. I don't know whose girl that woman is? ”

One of the people next to him smiled: "Don't think about it." She is the second girl of Qiu Huangshan, a giant businessman in Fengtian, who grew up in a foreign country since she was a child, and her vision and knowledge are not comparable to ordinary people. ”

The other person obviously suffered a loss, and said with a smile: "There are many flowers and thorns, and your hands are tight, I think you should forget it." ”

After Li Yuzhen heard this, he felt a sense of pride in his heart for no reason, pulled out his waist, and walked towards that side in a chic manner. As a result, before Manager Li came closer, a Cheng Biting Jin was killed next to him.

"Hello Second Miss."

There were four people who came, all of whom were young, the oldest being only twenty-five or sixteen, and the youngest one was in his early twenties. Among them, it was the oldest person who spoke, who looked very handsome, and his clothes were either rich or expensive, and he was by no means an ordinary person. Holding a folding fan in his hand, it is a typical image of a scholar in the Qing Dynasty.

Li Yuzhen frowned when she saw this, and subconsciously stopped.

Miss Qiu Er looked at the four of them and hurriedly got up to return the salute.

"I've seen Zeng Gongzi, all sons."

Just when Li Yuzhen was wondering about the identity of the other party, the three boys behind him spoke up again.

"Who are those four people?" The kid who was interested in Miss Qiu Er before asked with a little dissatisfaction.

"Shhhh

The man was stunned for a moment, and then whispered, "What's the origin?" ”

"Hunan Zeng's family!"

Not to mention that the person was surprised, even Li Yuzhen was taken aback, the Zeng family was a famous family that stomped on his feet in the history of the late Qing Dynasty, and the government and the opposition had to shake and tremble. Seeing that Miss Qiu Er was talking happily with that Zeng Gongzi, Li Yuzhen suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, shook her head secretly, and turned around to leave.

"Mr. Li, please stay!"

Miss Qiu Er saw Li Yuzhen and hurriedly shouted. The Zeng Gongzi who was talking to her frowned, faintly with a hint of displeasure.

Li Yuzhen heard the girl call herself, and thought that she would leave like this, so she fell in love. He was calm and fast, and he didn't have the idea of gaining or losing in an instant, so he bowed slightly and said, "Second Miss is good." ”

"Why did you rush away when you saw someone, Yan'er is so worthless to take care of?" The woman who was as cold as frost in the past rarely showed resentment in her eyes.

Li Yuzhen raised the corners of her eyebrows, and said in her heart that this Miss Qiu Er was quite dissatisfied with herself, and she clearly sowed discord.

Hearing Miss Qiu's words, Zeng Gongzi snorted coldly and walked over with the other three companions to greet Li Yuzhen.

"In the Xia Zeng Discipline, dare to ask Mr. Daming."

No matter what later generations say about the Zeng family, the Zeng family's tutor is indeed not comparable to ordinary people. This former judge is talented and intelligent, and is known as a young talent. He is the second son of Zeng Guofan's brother Zeng Guoquan, who is the current governor of Shanxi.

Because the former Shengjing general Chongshi was bewitched by Wang Yi's back, he went to the Beijing division and prepared to take advantage of the drought and disaster year to transfer the victims from Shanxi, Shandong, Zhili, and Hubei to fill the border. Later, the two palaces approved the matter, and Zeng Jiguan was sent by his father to deal with immigration matters. Of course, at his age, he can't afford to take on the position of supervisor, so he just helps.

Although Li Yuzhen didn't know who Zeng Jiguan was, Zeng Guofan's son Zeng Jize, he had heard of it, so he also guessed the identity of the other party.

"It turned out to be Zeng Gongzi, Jiu Yang!" Li Yuzhen replied with a smile on her face.