After all, the embarrassing time is still a moment, more joy.

Under Situ Nan's recommendation, the mayor and senior officials of the Meihua Department warmly greeted Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng, two couples in the architectural field, and their reputation reached a higher level.

Lin Hui and his wife were quiet and did not like to socialize, so after dealing with the guests, they took aim at Situ Nan's collection of books. They have always heard that Situ Nan has a rich collection of books, not to mention the collection of Chinese and foreign masterpieces, as well as many unique ancient books and antique treasures.

Situ Nan complied with the request of the talented and beautiful couple, opened the library of Kadoorie Gardens to them, and then did not see the couple come out until the banquet was over, and it seemed that they were happy and intoxicated.

Lu Xiaoman, who likes to be lively, dances to the accompaniment of music, the crystal chandelier sprinkles golden light, the marble floor is shiny, reflecting Lu Xiaoman's wonderful figure, and behind him is a cheerful jazz band.

The jumping steps, the graceful figure, the gorgeous cheongsam, the blush on the face, May Day is not telling people that this is an elf dancing, and the charm of the former campus queen has not faded, attracting the attention of the audience.

The popularity surpasses that of Tang Ying, a local courtesan in Shanghai.

It's just that Wang Geng, who hugged Lu Xiaoman and danced, felt that Xiaoman's dance movements were enthusiastic, but he didn't feel the heat in her heart, after dancing with his wife, he sat on the chair next to him, and was later called upstairs by Situ Nan to the railing upstairs, his eyes kept paying attention to the eye-catching figure in the lively crowd in the dance hall below, and from time to time he slipped a trace of loss.

"You're the master, why don't you go down and greet the ladies below?" Wang Geng asked Situ Nan.

"Standing upstairs and looking at the scenery is also a unique experience. You can see the magnificence and hypocrisy of human nature. I'm long past the age of enthusiasm. Maybe I'm in my forties or fifties. ”

South Szeto Road.

Wang Geng shook his head slightly. I don't know much about Situ Nan's words, Situ Nan is only in his thirties, but his tone of voice at this time is old.

In fact, he has never understood his boss - what kind of person Situ Nan is, unfathomable of course, more calm, the more lively he is, the more calm and lonely he seems.

Among the people Wang Geng knew, Situ Nan was undoubtedly different from all the people he had ever seen. He couldn't say what the difference was.

He believes in Situ Nan, Situ Nan is good to him Wang Geng, and he is kind to Wang Geng, but he is not very keen on forming gangs and factions, coercing him to repay him or something, so he Wang Geng has been sitting in Shanghai in the past few years, sitting firmly in his seat, and living a good life, what he can repay is hard work. conscientious, which is also in line with his Wang Geng's character.

"Did you see that little girl? The one in the light cyan cheongsam! "Situ Nandao.

Wang Geng looked down. said: "Tang Ying, the little girl of the Tang family, has been to the house twice and has a good relationship with Xiaoman. What's wrong? Wang Geng glanced at Situ Nan suspiciously.

"Beilu and Nantang, I can see them all today."

Situ Nan nodded, as soon as he heard the Tang family, he knew who it was.

The old man of the Tang family studied medicine abroad, and he was quite famous in Shanghai, he was a high-minded person and was not keen on politics, but his son Tang Yulu was a political star, favored by Song Ziwen, and was placed in Shanghai as the deputy mayor.

Mayor Yang Yongtai is not good at economic construction, and the Greater Shanghai Construction Plan and the Shanghai Baoshan Xingang Project are more Tang Yulu cooperating with the US-China Consortium, and his ability has gradually been recognized by the US-China Consortium and the top management of the Zhi Gong Party, so it is not surprising that Tang Ying appeared in Kadoorie Garden.

Needless to say, Tang Ying's beauty is needless to say, sixteen or seventeen years old, it is the cardamom years, her figure is slender, and she has become a famous courtesan in Shanghai's upper class society under the cultivation of her family, and it is natural that she is popular.

It's like a peacock who has just learned to turn on the screen! Situ Nan secretly commented. Of course, he is basically indifferent to teenage middle school girls, no matter how good Tang Ying is in the eyes of others in this era.

Could it be that Situ Nan is interested in the little girl of the Tang family? Otherwise, how could you ask about this?

Wang Geng saw Situ Nan's gaze fall on Tang Ying, and couldn't help but wonder in his heart, but he heard Situ Nan's faint voice: "A peacock bird like this that has learned to open the screen, if she is suddenly locked in a cage, will she be very uncomfortable and want to fly out all the time?" After all, she has already enjoyed the taste of being pampered, and may be addicted. ”

Wang Geng didn't quite understand why Situ Nan asked like this, so he nodded: "Of course." ”

"Will she complain about the people who put her in a cage? Even if she is given fine clothes and food, she will not be grateful, but always wants to break out of the cage and go outside to find freedom. Even if the result may not be what she expected, she has not experienced wind and rain, how can she know where to be safest and reliable? ”

Situ Nan said again.

People upstairs look at the scenery, and people downstairs look at the scenery upstairs.

Lu Xiaoman danced a few dances, his face was slightly sweaty, and sat down in the seat next to the dance hall. Just as Tang Ying also came to sit down, she took Lu Xiaoman's hand and whispered, "Sister Xiaoman, have you paid attention?" Mr. Wang and a gentleman upstairs have been watching you? After speaking, he quietly pointed in the direction of Situ Nan Wang Geng. In fact, she still has a sentence in her heart, Mr. Wang and the gentleman upstairs not only look at Lu Xiaoman, but also look at themselves, but they are not too embarrassed to say it.

Lu Xiaoman looked up and happened to see what Situ Nan and Wang Geng were saying, and then Wang Geng thought about something, his body was frozen, and then Situ Nan walked away.

"What? Are you interested in Mr. Szeto? That gentleman is a dragon who can't see the end! Lu Xiaoman turned his head and teased Tang Yingdao.

"Where?" Tang Ying distinguished, her eyes couldn't help but look upstairs again, Situ Nan had already walked away, she was a little lost, that gentleman was handsome, he was very chic and charming when he played that guitar, in short, it was much better than those young masters who could only brag and eat, drink, prostitute and gamble on the beach.

Situ Nan came to a reception room and happened to see the German Hans pestering Zhang Xiaoruo, Dasheng Group is the largest textile group in Asia, consuming tens of thousands of tons of various dyes every year, BASF wants to enter the Asian printing and dyeing market naturally pestering Zhang Xiaoruo.

Unfortunately, Hans's enthusiasm was rejected by Zhang Xiaoruo, who instead sold Hans a new generation of automatic textile machines made by Dasheng, although BASF was sniped by Meihua Chemical in the Asian market. But in Europe, South America, etc. It has a good relationship with local textile companies. With the support of the Germans, Daisheng looms will spread from Asia to the world.

Hans casually agreed, but he didn't think so.

Seeing Situ Nan come in, Hans complained to Situ Nan: "Maybe it is a mistake to give up the shares of the joint venture company, and it is even more painful, if Dasheng does not actively respond to BASF, it will be difficult for BASF to cooperate with other Chinese-funded textile companies." ”

"Are you complaining about unfair competition between the United States and China?" Situ Nan joked, "Maybe you can ask Shenxin Textile Factory." They are the second largest Chinese-owned textile mill. ”

"Really?" Hans nodded, mentally jotting down the words.

But I know in my heart that in the early years, it was okay, and the Chinese-funded industry was not competitive, but now the economy of the Republic of China is more open to the outside world, but more market share is monopolized by the US-China consortium. German-funded companies are already weak in the international arena, and it is becoming more and more difficult to compete with the US-China consortium in China.

Judging from the US-Chinese consortium's withdrawal of shares in the joint venture, the Chinese are reluctant to share the domestic market with outsiders. Of course, this is the common customs territory of the main domestic guide. As for the northern market, the competition is fierce. Hans didn't think BASF could get in.

Hans chatted for a few words and walked away.

Zhang Xiaoruo pouted at Hans's distant back: "The Germans are whimsical, do you think the Rong family will cooperate with him to import German dyes?" ”

"Don't you have the answer yourself?" Situ Nan asked rhetorically.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Yes. If the Rong family eats inside and out, they don't want to get a loan from the American Chinese bank, a textile machine from the Dasheng loom, an imported cotton from Duncan & Co., a freighter from the Nanxing Steamship Company, a freight train from the railway company, and electricity from the Meihua Electric Power Company! ”

Zhang Xiaoruo can casually list the means of striking the enemy commercially, and said confidently.

To put it bluntly, although the Rong family in Shanghai is large and influential in the textile industry and flour industry, it is not Meihua that has a decisive influence in the economic field after all. Zhang Xiaoruo also said that, if he really wants to suppress national capital enterprises, he is also worried, such as banks, railways and other enterprises, they operate independently, and they may not be willing to take action easily.

Unless—Situ Nan spoke.

Situ Nan asked about the situation of Dasheng Group, and Zhang Xiaoruo told Situ Nan that the textile business of Dasheng Group has spread to India, and some Indian enterprises actually import spinning yarn from Dasheng Company.

"Wouldn't it? British textile mills haven't jumped out against it? Situ Nan asked in surprise.

"The factories below Dasheng all use the new automatic looms we have developed, which are four or five times more efficient, and the local labor is cheaper, and the export of spindles to India is much cheaper than the local spindles in India."

Speaking of this, Zhang Xiaoruo smiled, a little proud, "It's ridiculous to say, it is Jardine Matheson that imports spindles from us, and they have sold Chinese goods to British territory in recent years." Swire also joined later, you know, Swire is stronger in shipping, and seeing that Swire is so positive, I had to hand over some freight orders to Swire, and the Southern Star Steamship Company complained about me a lot. ”

"Well done! The textile industry is the magic weapon of the British, and it is really relieving that the big students can copy the hometown of the British. Situ Nan gave a thumbs up.

"I have a headache right now, should I export looms to India? The Tata family offered to buy 500 automatic looms from us, and they were very ambitious, and I am afraid that giving them advanced machines will be detrimental to our competition. But you want to make money from the machine. ”

Zhang Xiaoruo hesitated.

There are not only foreigners who want to buy textile equipment from Dasheng Loom, but also the princes of the Republic of China, such as Zhang Zuolin, who is engaged in industry in Northeast China. He imported machinery and equipment not only from Japan, but also from the south all kinds of machinery and equipment, arsenals, gunpowder factories, aircraft and artillery, either from foreign powers or from the enemy of the south, the Zhi Gong Dang government.

In short, if you dare to sell, I will dare to sell!

Zhang Zuolin wants to build a textile factory in Fengtian, Zhang Xiaoruo did not hesitate to "export" hundreds of looms to the Northeast, anyway, the textile market in the Northeast has always been monopolized by Japanese companies, and Dasheng has not been able to enter it, so why not train Zhang Zuolin to compete with the Japanese.

"It's the trouble of happiness."

Situ Nan nodded in understanding and glanced at Zhang Xiaoruo, to say that the leaders of the Dasheng Group didn't know how to choose, Situ Nan didn't believe it, probably because someone objected. Zhang Xiaoruo just wants to share the internal opposition through his own mouth.

"Although Dasheng started as a weaver. But you can't keep lingering in the low-end industry, right? You can make a lot of money by squeezing workers. But there should be a higher pursuit. I have always encouraged enterprises to enter the equipment manufacturing industry, Dasheng loom has made a good start, and we must boldly move forward. I wouldn't be surprised if one day Dasheng became a car like Ford. ”

Situ Nan encouraged.

"Cars?"

Zhang Xiaoruo's eyes lit up, and he smiled slightly, "Coincidentally, I also happen to have a plan for a car."

Dasheng loom company can invent a new generation of automatic looms, leading foreign textile equipment enterprises. I have accumulated a lot of experience in manufacturing machines, and it is not out of reach to look at Ford cars again.

In addition to Dasheng, there are also many domestic automobile manufacturing enterprises, such as the Song family's Shanghai Business Machines Company has been importing cars from the United States for domestic sales, in order to reduce costs, it also imports auto parts to be assembled and sold in China, and the sales volume is not bad. Very typical comprador.

After the success of the tractor field, Wuhan Wudou Tractor Factory, which has something to do with Situ Nan, is not willing to be lonely and enters the field of truck production.

The Nanjing Jinling Automobile Plant, which has a military background, also produces automobiles, including other automobile-related enterprises. There are about a dozen cars in China, but the scale is not large. The technical content is not high, and the quantity, technology, and capital are not comparable with Detroit.

Under the guidance of Situ Nan, intentionally or unintentionally, Dasheng has embarked on the road of Toyota, and Zhang Xiaoruo has received great encouragement from Situ Nan.

Situ Nan suggested that Zhang Xiaoruo lead Dasheng's automobile project team to the United States for inspection, and Situ Nan would contact Chrysler and other automobile giants to cooperate with Dasheng.

Wang Geng came back to his senses and was no longer Situ Nan. He cleaned up his mood, went downstairs and came to Lu Xiaoman's side, and saw that there were some wrinkles on the shoulders of her cheongsam, and gently smoothed it, and her movements were very gentle.

Lu Xiaoman was moved in an instant, and wanted to say something, but he couldn't help but say it, turned his head slightly, and didn't look at his eyes.

It's not that I don't know about him, it's just that he's too busy!

"The atmosphere is good tonight, you dance well and the people are good." Wang Geng said. Three good words are used in a row, and there is no flowery rhetoric, but it says sincere appreciation.

"I haven't jumped for too long, and my movements are rusty." Lu Xiaoman shook his head slightly.

"Then let's do another dance!" Wang Geng bowed slightly and bent his knees, stretched out his hand to plead.

"Good!" Lu Xiaoman nodded and walked onto the dance floor hand in hand with Wang Geng.

At this time, the music became soft, and the knots became lingering and ambiguous, Lu Xiaoman hugged Wang Geng's waist, leaned his head lightly on his chest, and unconsciously sank into a certain atmosphere, but he was very angry in his heart, and the face of another man actually appeared, at that time, she and he also hugged each other under the accompaniment of beautiful music.

Situ Nan came out of the reception room, in a good mood, came to the corner, and was accidentally bumped in by a delicate body, and was soon bounced away and fell to the ground.

Afraid that it was an assassin, he reacted instantly, clenched his fist with his right hand, gathered strength, and found that it was Tang Ying.

"Are you alright?" Situ Nan asked, pulling her up.

"Nope." Tang Ying shook her head, tidied up her clothes that were a little messy, and looked up at Situ Nan, Situ Nan's eyes were very calm, and there was no heat when other men looked at her.

"In order to apologize, I asked Miss Tang to admire her face and dance with me?"

Situ Nan asked with a smile.

Tang Ying nodded, and was pulled into the dance floor by Situ Nan, and then felt that her head was foggy, and she didn't come back to her senses until she got into her brother's car and left Kadoorie Garden.

Goodbye Situ Nan, it's been a few years later.

Lu Xiaoman got into the car, Wang Geng handed her a few thin brown paper bags, and when she opened them, she saw that they were vinyl records.

"Seeing that you like those tunes tonight, I went to Situ Nan's music room and stole them." Wang Geng said with a smile.

"Huh?" Lu Xiaoman's eyes widened in surprise, "Thank you!" He was a little worried and asked, "Mr. Situ won't look for you, will he?" ”

"It's okay! He has more records, hundreds of them, and a few fewer may not be found. ”

Wang Geng didn't care and waved his hand, "If you like it, I'll take you there." Anyway, the owner of Kadoorie Garden was not there for the next few years, and Ruan Lingyu's mother and daughter and servants were at home on weekdays. ”

"That's not necessary!" Lu Xiaoman said.

Holding a few records in his hand, his attitude gradually cooled down, and the two of them sat in the carriage without saying a word.

When I got home, the phone rang, and the servant said that he was looking for his wife.

Lu Xiaoman immediately ran to the phone, and heard Xu Zhimo's voice on the phone: "Mei, I miss you, I miss you so much that I can't sleep." ”

"I miss you too." Lu Xiaoman turned his back to Wang Geng and whispered. From time to time, I turned my head to look at Wang Geng, afraid that Wang Geng would come over.

"Humph!" Wang Geng saw that Lu Xiaoman seemed to be hiding from himself talking on the phone, and he felt bored for a while, but he pretended not to see it, stomped his feet vigorously, and walked into the study without saying a word.

There was an extension on the table, Wang Geng wanted to pick it up several times, listened to who Lu Xiaoman was talking to, and put the phone down.

On the other end of the phone, Xu Zhimo asked Lu Xiaoman: "Mei, can we meet tomorrow?" ”

"Yes." Lu Xiaoman agreed.

"Then see you in the morning, at the old place!" Xu Zhimo said.

"Not in the morning, I have to get up at noon. I'll go to the theater in the afternoon to find you. Lu Xiaoman put down the phone.

The two secretly talked a lot of love words, and her heart was crisp and numb, which was very good. Humming a little tune, I went to the studio to paint.

Lu Xiaoman likes to paint, and has opened a studio at home, and Liu Haisu said that she has a good talent, but she lacks perseverance, and a painting took several months to finish.

The next day, Xu Zhimo had dinner with Hu Shi and them in the morning, and learned that Lin Huiyin and Liang Sicheng had been back in Shanghai for a while, but they had been unable to leave the architectural office, but they went to the university on weekends. That's when I got in touch with friends from the cultural festival.

Hearing this news, Xu Zhimo suffered from gains and losses.

After meeting Lu Xiaoman in the afternoon, the chaotic attention shifted to Lu Xiaoman.

Lu Xiaoman didn't tell Xu Zhimo that he saw Lin Huiyin and Zhang Youyi last night, and after watching the play, the two finished eating in the restaurant, and lingered in the hotel room until the evening.

"Mo, I can't stand it, I want a divorce!" Lu Xiaoman stared at Xu Zhimo's eyes and said.

Xu Zhimo was stunned, he was the first person in a divorce case in China back then!

Nodding his head, he said firmly: "Okay!" That's great! (To be continued.) )

PS: Masquerade Ball, in memory of the esteemed Master Liang Hongzhi.