At the beginning of October, Yingkou was crisp in autumn, and the dock was busy, Tang Tingshu and Xu Run were a little tired, but they didn't have much to rest at this time. It is strange that they said hello to Li Yuzhen of Dashang Silver Furnace before coming to Yingkou, but they did not tell the specific date.

"Runli, what do you think of this camp?" After Tang Tingshu got off the boat, he looked at the dock and turned to Xu Run beside him and asked.

Xu Run was somewhat surprised, Yingkou was very different from what he imagined.

"I didn't expect it to be so prosperous! Foreigners gather, all industries Boxing, I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it. ”

"Yes! That's how I feel. Tang Tingshu also sighed. The headquarters of China Merchants Steamship is in Shanghai, and it is very lively, but today I saw the scene of Yingkou Wharf, but it is not much inferior to Shanghai.

Not far from the dock, the road is open, and there is a row of European-style four-wheeled carriages parked on the side of the road, all of whom are Chinese, but they are wearing a black tuxedo suit, and their manners seem to be trained. The carriage has a license plate number - Tian Ji No. 5.

The coachman was in his thirties, and when he saw the two of them, he hurriedly stepped forward to say hello.

"Do you two want to go into the city? Why don't you take my carriage? ”

Tang Tingshu and Xu Run glanced at each other and said, "How do you calculate the money?" ”

"Wherever you go in the city, you will have one silver coin per person."

The two of them said that it was expensive enough, but they were not bad for money, so they got into the carriage. Because it is not an enclosed carriage, the roof just has a retractable awning. The two were not separated from the coachman, and the three of them chatted.

"I ask, what are the wooden pillars on the side of the road?" Xu Run looked around curiously.

The driver smiled and said, "That's the pole that supports the telephone line." ”

"Phone line?" Neither of them had heard of it, and they were puzzled: "What is the phone?" ”

"Oh, this thing is also a new thing in us, it is said that the foreigners have not yet invented it. If you want to say that the usefulness of this thing is actually simple, that is, I am in one place, you are in another place, as long as there is a phone, we can talk and chat. ”

"Wouldn't that be more convenient than a telegraph?" Tang Tingshu exclaimed.

"Telegram?" The coachman smiled and said, "We don't have a telegram here." However, the people of the big merchants said that as long as it takes a while, we will also have a telegraph here, but it is a wireless telegraphy. The coachman said with great pride, and a complete posture of pride.

"Wireless telegraphy?" Tang Tingshu and Xu Run were shocked in their eyes. "Where can I make a call?"

"The bigger ones are the telephone and telegraph offices, which are all opened by big businessmen, and there are many telephones in them, and they can also help with postal things. There are also some small households that specialize in telephone business, and their telephones are fewer, usually only one or two, and the big businessmen give them the name of public telephone. Whether it is a telephone office or a public phone, it is billed by time. The price is not cheap, nor is it expensive. But if you have a family member away from home, you can listen to a voice and say a few words, and your heart is also warm, isn't it? ”

"Can I get through anywhere on the phone now?"

"Of course not, the northernmost can only go to Anshan, to the west to Panshan, and to the east is the big stone bridge. However, it is said that next year it is said that it will be able to reach Liaoyang, and then go north to Shengjing and Fushun. ”

"Anshan?" Several other place names have been heard by both of them, but Anshan is a little unfamiliar.

"Anshan is the Dashang Iron and Steel Plant, and the Dashang has built a new city over there, because there is a thousand lotus mountains with good scenery over there, plus Tanggangzi Hot Spring, so many dignitaries and celebrities have bought houses and land there."

Xu Run was very interested in real estate, and said with a smile: "In this case, you can also buy one in the past, and the land price will rise in the future, which will also be an income." ”

After hearing this, the coachman smiled and said, "I don't need to buy it, and it's not bad to live in Yingkou." My brother works in a steel factory in Anshan, and if he wants to buy a house, Dashang Yinlu provides low-interest loans, but each household is limited to one set. ”

"The steel mill still takes care of the house?"

"What about a house? And insurance. Medical insurance, pension insurance, work-related injury insurance, maternity insurance, as long as you work in Dashang, Dashang will be fully managed. When you reach the age and retire, you will receive a pension, and if you get sick and go to a designated hospital, Dashang will also partially reimburse the medical expenses. By the way, there are children going to school. If you want your children to have a well-paid job in the future, instead of gaining fame, then you can go to a school affiliated with a big business, where you can receive a free nine-year education. If you pass the graduation, you can enter the big business. Of course, this is not forced. ”

"How so? How much money does the big merchant cost? Tang Tingshu was surprised.

"Of course I can't say how much money it will cost, but the chairman of the big business once said. If you don't solve the problem of living, pension, education and medical care, how dare your own employees spend money. If you don't even dare to spend money on your own employees, who are we selling our products to? ”

Wang Yi said something similar, but only if this policy is effective in a closed market environment. Otherwise, economic globalization blindly encourages consumption, blindly increases social welfare, and leads to a sharp increase in local labor costs, and most industries will inevitably move out or go bankrupt. Therefore, Wang Yi did give the benefits of four insurances, and also gave a low-interest loan for the first house. But to be honest, there are a lot of insurances, but in fact, there is not much money. It's just that most people suddenly live this kind of secure life, and of course they will feel much happier in life. If you just wander at the bottom of the big business, it is not a problem to live, but it is impossible to have more money. The way to improve your life is simple, either you study hard, specialize in a certain technology, and get a patent fee. Either you have to get enough diplomas and work experience, pass the guò open recruitment exam, and move up to management. Or go out and set up your own door.

Everyone wants to make a lot of money, but he doesn't work hard, he is lazy to eat all day long, and he waits for death, Wang Yi will not pity this kind of person at all.

Talking all the way, Tang Tingshu and Xu Run became more and more shocked the more they listened, the business experience of this big businessman was completely different from their cognition. Some of them sound ridiculous, but when you think about it, it makes sense. Later, at some point, both of them fell silent, leaving only the coachman himself talking.

About half an hour later, the two of them went directly to the headquarters of Dashang Silver Furnace. Today's Dashang silver furnace is much more magnificent than when it was first established. Four floors, glass turnstiles, heavily armed guards.

The carriage stopped about fifty meters away from the Dashang Silver Furnace, and the coachman said a little embarrassed: "Two, the Dashang Silver Furnace has arrived, but you two can only get off here, the street in front of the Dashang Silver Furnace is forbidden for carriages to enter." ”

Tang Tingshu smiled and said, "Yes." "Then he gave the coachman three silver dollars, two for the fare and one for the tip." It's hard all the way and I've had a sip of tea. ”

"Yo, thank you so much! If you need to call the above number, our company will send such a carriage to pick you up. ”

The driver handed over a business card with the driver's name, number, and company phone number.

After the coachman left, Xu Run smiled at Tang Tingshu and said, "General Office, the service of this car dealer can be regarded as a home." If the coachmen in it were to be like today, it would be difficult to make money or not. ”

Tang Tingshu nodded and said with a smile: "We have opened our eyes this time." ”

Because both of them were carrying suitcases, before they could reach the gate of the Dashang Silver Furnace, the guard came up and gave them a military salute.

The two didn't know what kind of etiquette it was, so they could only laugh. To be honest, with the status of the two of them today, if they want to change places, they will definitely turn their faces and leave. But it's strange today, after arriving at Yingkou, the two always feel like they are a little shorter, and even their tempers are much gentler unconsciously.

"I'm sorry, the company stipulates that because you carry a big suitcase, I can take the liberty of asking, are you two looking for someone or handling business?"

"What's the difference?"

"Oh, if you're looking for someone, then please leave your luggage in our storage first. After our front desk staff confirms that the person you are looking for is in the company, the two of you can retrieve the suitcase. ”

"What if it's business?"

"If you use a suitcase to deposit and withdraw money, we will have a specialist to take care of the business, and you two will not have to wait in the front hall. If it is a small business, the suitcase should also be kept in the safekeeping. ”

Although the guards didn't explain the reason, I think everyone knows the reason, it's for safety. Otherwise, if you bring a big suitcase, if you bring guns and ammunition in it, what do you want*? In these years, bandits are rampant, not afraid of 10,000, but also afraid of what happens.

"We're looking for someone." Tang Tingshu said at this time.

"Then please come and call me in the hall, and the other go to the teahouse over there to rest."

Li Yuzhen was in a meeting, and suddenly the male secretary said that someone was looking for him, and he couldn't figure it out for a while, and then when he heard that it was Tang Tingshu, he thought about it for a long time before he suddenly realized, and hurriedly went downstairs to greet him.

"Brother Jingxing, Brother Runli, long admiration, under Li Yuzhen, general manager of Dashang Silver Furnace."

"Don't dare to be, don't dare to be. Fortunately, fortunately! ”

Tang Xu and the others smiled on their faces, and looked at Li Yuzhen while greeting each other. found that this person is very young, but his temperament is very unique, without the sharp edge of ordinary young people, subtle and calm, but with a gentle force.

Before Li Yuzhen took refuge in Wang Yi, he was also under Li Hongzhang for a short time, but he was just an idle job, so naturally he didn't have the opportunity to meet Tang and Xu. Tang Tingshu is six years older than Xu Run, and he is already forty-five this year. Average-looking, somewhat emaciated, with a mustache, dressed in traditional Qing clothes. Xu Run looks much more handsome and has a beard.

Under the leadership of Li Yuzhen, the three of them went to the general manager of Dashang Yinlu to run the company, and at this time, a male secretary served tea.

Li Yuzhen said with a smile: "Welcome to the two of you, I hope you will forgive me for my disappointment." ”

"It was also the two of us who took the liberty of coming directly without having time to inform in advance. Shame, shame! ”

The conversation began, and both sides were tentative.