Coming out of the Hankou Railway Station, Wang Tieniu was shocked by the city in front of him, which was described in simple language as having many buildings, many people, and many cars, and there were too many new things in the city.

Wang Tieniu pulled the corners of his clothes, the clothes that were decent in the countryside seemed to be uncoordinated when they arrived in Hankou, and the countrymen were inevitably a little nervous when they entered the city.

Fortunately, I didn't lose anything all the way south, and the money in my personal pocket was still there. And his most precious "luggage" was not lost, and he was firmly holding it.

"Dad, there is a rock sugar gourd, I want to eat a rock sugar gourd." Wang Goudan took his father's hand and excitedly pointed to the rock sugar gourd vendor not far away, the hawker's voice was very loud, and it was very attractive to children.

Wang Tieniu looked back, a little fat man was holding a string of rock sugar gourds in his hand, and the other hand was led by another big fat man.

"Chin guy!" The little fat man stuck out his tongue proudly and pointed to the shabby clothes of Wang Tieniu's father and son.

"Bunnies don't learn well!" The big fat man slapped the little fat man on the head, and scolded in his mouth, "You've only been in the city for a few days?" You must remember that you can't forget your roots, and your father is also from the countryside. ”

"Children are not sensible, hehe." The big fat man smiled apologetically after scolding, and nodded at Wang Tieniu, only to see that he was wearing a suit, looking decent and bright, and it seemed that he should belong to the "NEW-MONEY" type of small citizens.

"It's fine!" Wang Tieniu also smiled kindly, looking at the fat man in front of him who was less than a meter away, and his heart felt a little warm. In an unfamiliar city, it is not easy to meet a kind gaze.

"That. How does the U.S.-China Bank go? Wang Tieniu asked.

"Coincidentally. There is a business hall nearby. It's near our company, I'll take you there, just drop by. ”

The big fat man laughed.

Along the way, the big fat man had a friendly attitude, saying that he worked in a trading company, and he seemed to be doing well, and he could wear a suit all day long, looking like a new successful businessman.

His broken Mandarin also confirms that he is from Guangdong. In recent years, the small commodities produced in Guangdong have spread to the entire southern customs union area along with the southern railway network, and the "nouveau riche" with Guangdong characteristics have also spread along with the goods.

"In the capital area, we Cantonese people do the biggest business, like our hometown of Foshan's small hardware, toothbrushes, bottles and cans and other things are very good to sell here, which is much better than Shanghai, where Zhejiang people have also built a lot of factories in the past two years and grabbed a lot of business."

The big fat man complained. When he learned that Wang Tieniu had come from Henan, he enthusiastically asked if he wanted to work in his company's newly opened factory in Wuhan.

"I appreciate my brother's kindness. But I'm going to take a boat to the South Seas soon. My brother made his fortune in Borneo. ”

Wang Tieniu refused with a smile. The attitude is not humble or arrogant, thinking: The big fat man in front of him still owes the little fat man. It doesn't seem like a lie, but it's too enthusiastic, and people have to be wary.

Although Wang Tieniu has a rough name, he is not a rough person. He especially told this Cantonese guy that his brother had made a fortune in Nanyang, and he had arrangements and plans.

"Go to Nanyang, there are a lot of opportunities over there, but it's hotter." The big fat man continued, Wang Tieniu's words made him even more interested, and he told Wang Tieniu to be careful of the natives over there when he arrived in Nanhua.

"Last year, I was doing business in Jinzhou, and I was robbed by the natives on a delivery trip, and I lost tens of thousands of yuan, and I was scolded by my old cousin, otherwise I would not have been sent to Wuhan."

The big fat man said angrily.

"Old watch?" Wang Tieniu was a little puzzled. I thought to myself. Unexpectedly, as soon as I arrived in Hankou, I met an enthusiastic fat man, who had also been to Nanyang. Nanyang is really not peaceful!

"My cousin is my cousin, he is my boss. To tell you the truth, there are many people in our family, and we are also a little powerful in Nanyang in China, I have dozens of cousins and cousins, and I have everything, and I am relatively poor. ”

The big fat man explained.

"And then?" Wang Tieniu asked.

"Later?" The big fat man remembered that the incident in Nanyang had not been finished just now, so he said, "Later, my old cousin was very angry, and I found a few old cousins who were officials and old cousins who served in the army, and leveled the natives in that place." ”

"Flat? What does it mean to be flat? Wang Tieniu was still puzzled.

"Wouldn't it be peaceful to take people away, take possession of land, and build farms or mines on it?" The big fat man didn't care, and his tone seemed to be saying a very ordinary thing.

"When I left, the place had been turned into a rubber plantation, run by several companies, with an area of 100 hectares, right? hectares know, right? ”

The big fat man said again.

"One hectare is 100 meters squared, and 100 hectares equals 1,500 acres."

Wang Tieniu replied quickly.

"I really haven't seen it, brother, you are knowledgeable, not illiterate people." The big fat man stopped and looked at Wang Tieniu, smiled and nodded. "With your arithmetic, it should be possible to do accounting in our company."

"It's a pity, I'm going to Nanyang." Wang Tieniu said with a smile.

The two pairs of father and son walked and talked all the way, the big fat man stopped, and Wang Tieniu also stopped.

"Knowing arithmetic can also mix well in Nanyang, and is more valued by the boss than in those illiterate. My family also has a business in Borneo and this is my business card, in case ...... You'll need it too. ”

The big fat man took out a business card from his pocket and gave it to Wang Tieniu, today he was in a good mood, took the little fat man out to go shopping, met another pair of "fleeing" father and son, and talked for a few minutes, it seems to be a kind of fate.

"Then, the bank has arrived!"

Wang Tieniu stood at the door of the bank's business hall, looking at the back of the fat father and son who met in Pingshui, they got into a car and slowly drove out of sight, and the enthusiastic voice of the big fat man echoed in his ears: "The bank has an agent ticket service." ”

What a funny fat guy who seems to have good luck on his own. Wang Tieniu thought to himself.

"Hello, what business do you want to handle?"

The young female bank clerk in a skirt amazed Wang Tieniu's heart for a moment, and he remembered today's task.

Look through the counter. The glass windows are bright and transparent. Much more atmospheric than the small pawnshops in the township. It's really a bank. Wang Tieniu secretly thought to himself: Are all women in big cities like this? Putting aside the appearance, can you still work in a bank?

"Money order cashing." Wang Tieniu put the bill of exchange with the residual warmth of his body on the counter, and looked at the female clerk with a new style in front of him without blinking.

The money was so important that it was the hope of their father and son, and he had to watch closely, even though he knew that the bank would cash it out to them.

"Do you want to withdraw or deposit the remittance from Nanyang in our bank?"

The serious female clerk looked up at the man in front of the counter, who had a bag on his shoulders. Holding a child in his hand and a dusty face should be a traveling person. There are too many of them, especially in the business hall where she works, because the train station is nearby.

Overseas Chinese remittance and exchange has always been the most competitive business of the Bank of America and China, and the man in front of him probably does not know how great the bank he is working for is not known, and it is estimated that only the company in China will value women and provide opportunities for the development of female professionals.

"Our bank has branches all over the world, and it is very convenient to exchange money, and it only takes one fiat currency to open an account."

The female staff's words reminded Wang Tieniu. I don't have an account, so why don't I open one?

"This money can also be used in Nanhua? Don't have to take it out? He asked.

"Of course. One yuan account opening is a policy launched by our bank to benefit the people. Other banks rarely do such small business. Depositing money in our bank is not only safe and convenient, but also interest-bearing. ”

The female clerk patiently analyzed.

"I heard that I can buy a ticket to the South Seas here?" Wang Tieniu asked.

"We are a bank, not a shipping company, but because it is close to the railway station, many customers have to take a ship, so the bank and the shipping company cooperated, so that the shipping company set up a business point here, that, in the next room."

The female clerk explained with a smile.

I saw that she was skillful, and under Wang Tieniu's expectations, she quickly finished the business.

Wang Tieniu took the ink-smelling notebook, checked it, found that the numbers on it were correct, and carefully put it back in his pocket.

I came to the room next to the business hall, and there was indeed a counter of the shipping company in it, and there was a lot of business in this room, in addition to ferry tickets, you can also buy train tickets.

"Wuhan to Borneo Island Machen Port, third-class 90 yuan legal currency, sleep in a chase shop. Package to eat, three meals a day, rice and radish. First take our steamship China Merchants from Wuhan to Shanghai and then transit, and then take the ship of Nanxing Steamship Company to Borneo. Well, the ship is scheduled for this afternoon, otherwise it will have to wait until the day after tomorrow. ”

The person from the shipping company explained to Wang Tieniu.

From his words, it can be understood that the relationship between China Merchants Steamship and the Bank of America and China is getting closer and closer, and at the same time, China Merchants Steamship has done a great business, and can send a ship from Wuhan to Shanghai every other day, and they have close business contacts with the ocean-going giant Nanxing Steamship Company.

Of course, Wang Tieniu wants the cheapest third-class cabin. I thought: There are dried radishes and rice in the third-class cabin, and the tube is enough, so those people in the second-class and first-class cabins are estimated to eat like landlords.

Coming out of the business hall, Wang Tieniu teased his son. "Dog, we're going to make a big ship soon, aren't you happy?"

"Wow, we're going to take a big steamer!"

Wang Goudan screamed excitedly, attracting the attention of passers-by, and many people smiled at the father and son with understanding, because Wuhan is one of the starting points of the inland area to go to the South Seas, and there are many people who go to the South Seas, and the people of Wuhan are not used to seeing them.

A meal of oily dry noodles and a Wuhan duck neck, this is the most extravagant meal of father and son in Wuhan, and it is also the only meal.

It is unimaginable that Wang Tieniu and his son, who have never even seen Dajiang, appeared at the Hankou wharf, looking at the shock of the steamers!

The whistle from the river almost frightened Wang Tieniu, he couldn't help but take a step back, plucked up his courage again, hugged his son, and tried to squeeze towards the dock.

"The China Merchants steamship China Merchants will depart for Shanghai, and friends who go to the South Seas will also get on board."

Someone on the dock shouted at the tin canister and yelled for passengers to board the ship.

Even louder than the tin cylinder were the concrete pillars erected on the pier, on which four loudspeakers were installed, and in different directions, they constantly broadcast announcements about the preparation of the ship.

Broadcast!

It adds a modern atmosphere to the Hankou wharf.

Wang Tieniu understood as soon as he heard it, first of all, he wanted to go to Shanghai on the China Merchants Ship, and then change to a bigger ship to go to the South Seas when he arrived in Shanghai. Anyway, that's what people said when he sold tickets at the bank.

This relationship between the bank and the shipping company is somewhat strange. Until years later. Only then did he realize that what happened that day in Hankou was just a special case, not every fat man was so enthusiastic, not every bank was the American-Chinese Bank, and not everywhere there was a China Merchants steamer.

"Line up! Line up! Don't squeeze! ”

There was some chaos at the scene, and someone tried to cut in line, but he was immediately knocked down with a stick by the policeman who maintained order next to him, and he was honest immediately. The policeman nodded in satisfaction.

The policemen were dressed in pitch black, and the rubber plates on their hands and arms were also black, so they didn't look easy to mess with, but their rough movements were an effective guarantee of order.

If Situ Nan saw this scene, he might think that the sticks of the Japanese once made the Chinese learn to line up to get on the bus. Chinese people have to go a long way in the process of changing from peasants to citizens and from citizens to qualified citizens. Japan, which claims to be a civilized country in Asia, has only taken two steps ahead.

If Situ Nan came to the dock, he would definitely be more emotional, recalling a familiar picture in his memory.

In fact, like most of the new cities in the South. The people of Wuhan are learning to line up more and more, and the citizens' suzhì is much higher than that of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

This is in stark contrast to Beiping, the representative of the traditional cities of the north. That city has been in the Republic of China for more than ten years. After several ups and downs, many people have changed, but the mud-walled wooden houses have not changed, and the cow and horse-drawn carriages on the streets of Bada Hutong do not seem to have changed. Not only is it not as good as Wuhan and Shanghai, but also compared with Tianjin next door, the soil has to be slag.

"Huiyin, you see, Wuhan should be the most modern city in China, compared to foreign big cities, it is not much better, the domestic changes are really big!"

A man in a suspender suit stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the modern pier in front of them, and not far behind them was the world-famous Yangtze River Bridge. (Foreigners thought China couldn't afford to build the Yangtze River Bridge, but the Chinese succeeded.) ）

"yes, if it weren't for the time, I'd like to stay a few more days." Lin Huiyin said with a smile. Immediately, she went to Shanghai with her fiancé. Shanghai will be a new starting point in their lives, a beautiful career plan and a marriage.

"I thought that the first thing I did when I joined Mr. Mao Yisheng's firm was to build a second Yangtze River bridge, but I didn't expect to plan a real estate project in Shanghai."

Liang Sicheng said with a smile.

"Aren't we inexperienced? In addition, Mr. Mao has set up his office in Shanghai, which shows that he is very ambitious, not only for bridge engineering, but also for the best architectural planning in China. ”

Lin Huiyin said. The two of them had to worry about something in Shanghai before they had time to go to Nanjing to work on the second Yangtze River bridge project.

"Shima is also in Shanghai, and soon he will be able to meet his old friends in Shanghai again. Hehe. Liang Sicheng smiled casually, but the smile on his face stopped for a moment, a little unnatural.

"Yes, there are bad friends in Shanghai, and many of the friends who stayed in Beiping have gone to the south, who made the north sluggish?"

Lin Huiyin said with emotion. In her plan, they were supposed to return to the North and maybe even teach architecture at Northeastern University. So far, I can only live up to Zhang Shaoshuai's kind invitation.

After all, his father Lin Changmin also served in Wuhan, didn't he? Well, even his father-in-law Liang Qichao doesn't seem to object to his two working in the south, even though he himself stays in Beiping all the year round.

The young couple stood on the deck and chatted, inseparable, and seemed so compatible, as if they had crossed the ocean to study, and spent days and nights together at sea.

"Although we sometimes have differences, there is one thing I think you agree with, that China's future lies in the south." Liang Sicheng Dao.

"I agree, because there are many strong women in the south, and women can get ahead. If my achievements surpass yours in the future, you have to accept this reality! ”

Lin Huiyin said confidently, smiling and quipping Liang Sichengdao.

Doodoooo -

The ship's horn sounded, and the ship was about to pull anchor and set sail.

In the astonishment of Wang Tieniu's father and son, a well-dressed lady led her dog and swaggered onto the ship from the first-class passenger lane, while the third-class passengers had to line up in an orderly manner.

"Dad, why don't we go over there?"

Wang Goudan asked strangely, his eyes looking directly at the beautiful dog.

Wang Tieniu thought for a while, originally he wanted to encourage his son to be a capable person, and those who have the ability can take the Kangshun channel, but later thought that in case his son remembered that he was a person with no ability, he had to say: "Because I didn't bring a dog!" What is a human-like dog, it's the person just now! You know? ”

Wang Goudan was a little dazed when he heard this, and he didn't seem to understand.

There is also a sanitary check in front of the entrance of the ship, where the crew takes out combs to check for disheveled guys, and passengers with long beards and dirty hair are checked for lice. There was an unlucky guy who had his head shaved and was so angry that he scolded the crew for having no conscience, and the people next to him laughed.

Wang Tieniu was still a little apprehensive, but after watching a little farce, his mood relaxed.

After checking the third-class Chase shop, Wang Tieniu is satisfied, although the Chase shop is very crowded, the people are a little mixed, but it is much more spacious than taking the train, the naughty king dog egg can be turned over on the Chase shop, which makes the passengers laugh at the shop, and everyone regards this kid as a pistachio.

In the world of the poor in third class, innocent little children can reduce the annoyance of the journey, because life is only so much fun in the eyes of the child.

Wang Tieniu took his son to the deck to "let off the wind", took a big boat to gallop on the Yangtze River, broke the water and moved forward, the scenery on both sides of the river kept regressing, and the blue sky and white clouds overhead, what a rare experience, I have never experienced this turtle from the Central Plains.

Although still a little dizzy.

Wang Tieniu thought to himself.

"There are also people up there, that aunt is so beautiful, can we go up?"

Wang Goudan pointed to the second deck and asked his father.

"Beautiful women can deceive, and children especially can't get close to beautiful aunts, so we don't go up." Wang Tieniu was silent for a while.

"Oh!" Wang Goudan nodded incomprehensibly.

Although Jiang Feng was a little big, the conversation between the father and son below still vaguely fell on Lin Huiyin's ears, and she turned around and smiled at Liang Sicheng: "Am I really lying?" ”

"Yes. For thou art as cunning as a bird, and hast deceived my heart, and I am willing, and obsessive, and unrepentant. (To be continued......)