Zhang Jian, who had been to Jinan, and Zhang Shizhao, who came to Jinan for the first time, were deeply impressed by the appearance of Jinan. Zhang Jian lamented the great changes in Jinan City, and Zhang Shizhao found that the inland city also has such a clean and tidy place.

They were also very happy with the accommodation and dinner. All the guests were arranged in the guest house of Huayuan Industrial. The reception dinner was also held here.

A beautifully shaped four-story gray building is called a guest house, which is indeed somewhat wronged. Accustomed to Western-style buildings, Zhang Shizhao is very appreciative of this building with a Chinese-style cornices and arches on the top floor, but the exterior walls are painted with pale yellow paint. The appearance is still secondary, the key is that the structure and interior of the room opened his eyes, except for Zhang Jian, Lu Runzhen and other four "respectable" guys who live in the large room that is said to be the most advanced only for Shangguan inspection, the rest of the people's rooms are the same: the long corridor is exactly the same room on both sides, the door is painted dark red wooden door, on which is pasted a red paper cut into vertical strips, on which the name of each guest is written with a brush, but it is not afraid to go to the wrong room. Pushing open the door, there was a small room, with white floors and floors covered with pale white wooden planks. There is a hidden wardrobe where you can store your luggage; In the center of the room was a large bed covered with snow-white sheets, which could sleep more than two people; A Western-style desk with an electric desk lamp, with pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the table; Two Western-style easy chairs are placed near the window, and in the middle of the two chairs is a small round coffee table painted crimson, and on several sides are placed a round glass ashtray, a box of cigarettes and matches. and a plate of washed grapes; There was a pot of flowers blooming on the marble windowsill behind him, but Zhang Shizhao couldn't tell what the name of the flower was. Not to mention, it's this pot of flowers that makes the clean and tidy somewhat dull room immediately come alive. What surprised Zhang Shizhao the most was that there was a separate bathroom in each room. Not a traditional barrel bath, but a Western-style shower! Not only that, but the shower room is also equipped with a flush toilet, which is convenient, and you don't even need to go out.

"Just looking at this 'guest house', you can get a glimpse of the strength of Huayuan Industrial ......" sitting on an easy chair. Zhang Shizhao picked up the cigarette on the table and looked at it for a while. I tore open the seal, took out a match, and lit it, "It's kind of interesting." Unexpectedly, the city of Jinan has a full of foreign Huayuan, and it is said that there are many foreigners working in it...... Well. Foreigners are the ones who will enjoy it the most. No wonder Huayuan built the guest house so luxuriously...... Well. It tastes good......" Zhang Shizhao took out a puff of cigarette and picked up the cigarette case again to look at it.

There was a knock on the door, "Oops, Mr. Zhang." I'm making jokes again. I won't use the flush toilet in there, ......" Without waiting for Zhang Shizhao to respond, Kong Fanyu ran in sweating and interrupted Zhang Shizhao, who was tasting the taste of Jinan Cigarette Factory's products.

Next door to Zhang Shizhao lives Mr. Kong, who "disgraced" the Jiangsu and Zhejiang business groups.

"You," Zhang Shizhao pointed at Lao Kong with his finger and nodded a few times, and came to Kong Fanyu's room to "solve problems" for him.

"I see! Strange, how did the water come from? Kong Fanyu suddenly realized, "Don't laugh at me, I really haven't seen this thing!" Foreigners' stuff is delicate......"

"Brother Kong really hasn't used it?" Zhang Shizhao was a little strange. The people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang in his impression are soft and devastating, and they love to enjoy themselves, no more hard-working and tenacious than their hometown Hunan. Since this brother who was punished for throwing confetti runs a factory, he must have used it luxuriously, but he didn't expect that the brother would see a flush toilet for the first time.

"Strange tricks, tricks and tricks......" Kong Fanyu hid his embarrassment.

"Hahaha," Zhang Shizhao pointed at Lao Kong Dalu and smiled, "You, if you reject strange and clever things, why do you have to come all the way here to participate in any kind of investment promotion?" After speaking, Zhang Shizhao immediately left Kong Fanyu's room.

Zhang Shizhao, who is a literati rather than a politician at heart, returned to his room with the urge to write an article, always feeling that something was blocked in his throat and wanted to shout out. Sitting in front of the bookcase, fiddling with pen, ink, paper, and inkstone for a while, I finally sorted out my thoughts. So I spread out the paper and began to write.

He had been in Shanghai for more than a year and had extremely mixed feelings about Shanghai's many concessions. On the one hand, he hated the foreigners for taking the opportunity of victory to plunder the country and establish a country within a country. On the other hand, he lamented the ability of foreigners to govern. Whether it is the French Concession or the Anglo-American public concession, the most important feature is that it is very orderly, not to mention the rigor and open-mindedness of its laws, and the most obvious manifestation is that the streets are neat and clean. As soon as the rental world is opened, it is immediately a scene of chaos and dirty. Is it true that Chinese are born to like dirty mess as foreigners say? Zhang Shizhao didn't believe it at all. This returned to Jinan, whether it is the management in front of the railway station, or the cityscape he saw when he walked around, or the Huayuan Group Guest House with a Chinese appearance and Western interior, all of them have the advantages of Shanghai Ocean Field. There is no shadow of foreigners here, it is all done by Chinese people. It is enough to prove that the Chinese do not like dirty messy and have enough ability to govern our cities well.

Jinan was under the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, not a place managed by foreigners. Is it written like this for the Manchu Dynasty? Zhang Shizhao wrote two pages, stopped writing, and frowned and thought about this question. Is there any difference between the Jinan government and other places? He couldn't write anymore.

Also having the same feeling as Zhang Shizhao is Zhang Jian. At this moment, he was saying to Lu Yanzhen, who came to his house to chat, "Looking at this post house, it shows the greatness of Huayuan Industry." I have long said that industry should not only focus on Brother Kong Fang, but also focus on the transformation of society...... Originally, I thought that Dasheng Yarn Factory was doing well, but it seems that there is a sky outside the sky! We're on the right track. ”

Lu Yunzhen was holding a copy of "Merchants Conference Agenda" in his hand, and originally wanted to chat with Zhang Jian about business, but Zhang Jian's eyes were outside the business.

Zhang Jian's series of practices in Nantong - building schools, building nursing homes, and doing social welfare have been greatly praised. But Lu Yunzhen did not approve. Running an industry is to make money, you are not an official, why bother about the affairs of the government? That will get the support of the government, but everything needs to be done, how much profit can your Dasheng yarn factory support?

"Brother Ji, this "Agenda" is well compiled! It's so convenient and practical! It's clear where to go and what to do on a given day. It's even clear who lives on several floors and which No. 1 room! Looking at the big from the small, Huayuan is really terrifying! ”

"That's a natural ......" Zhang Jian was about to say something grandiose, when someone outside shouted Lu Yanzhen's number, and Lu Yanzhen immediately jumped up, "It's Chunru who is here!" Pure Confucian! Pure Confucian! I am here! ”

It was Xu Wenfu who came.

Lu Yunzhen didn't care about greeting his old friend, so he introduced Zhang Jian and Xu Wenfu first. Xu Wenfu has admired Zhang Jian, a talented man in Nantong, for a long time, and praised Zhang Jian as the pride of Jiangsu scholars, and Rong Naigong Zhang Jian is very useful.

"Mr. Ji Zhi, tomorrow I will visit the commodity fair, and the location is in the school. Can you take the time to give a talk to the teachers and students? The teachers and students of the school have admired Mr. Ji Zhi for a long time. Xu Wenfu took the opportunity to invite.

"Zhang is a businessman. How dare you get an axe? Zhang Jian's face was full of red light.

"Mr. Ji Zhi is humble! Who doesn't know that Mr. Lu Dao Jizhi is the champion of Enke? To talk about business. He is also a real Confucian businessman! Hearing that Mr. Ji Zhi is in his hometown and is determined to transform the society, Xu is very admirable! This time, the investment promotion will be held for more than ten days, and there is time. Xu has promised the teachers and students of the school. I would like to ask Mr. Ji Zhi to talk about it for them. The teachers and students of the school were quite concerned about the new policy of the imperial court. He is even more concerned about the constitutional monarchy advocated by Mr. Ji Zhi. Don't hide it from Mr. Ji Zhi, Xu Mou has been in the West for a long time, and he is very much in favor of the implementation of a constitutional monarchy! Mr. Ji Zhi can't help but give Xu this face! Xu Wenfu didn't care about the first acquaintance. An invitation was immediately sent to Zhang Jian.

Advocating a constitutional monarchy is what Zhang Jian is willing to do, and when he meets a fellow practitioner, Zhang Jian immediately became interested, "Since this is the case, Zhang is better than obeying his fate respectfully." Hehe. ”

"Thank you, Mr. Ji Zhi." Xu Wenfu took a deep look.

"Brother Pure Confucian, you don't ask about Ling Gongzi's situation, as soon as we meet, we talk about the new policy constitution, it seems that Brother Pure Confucianism is also interested in politics." Lu Yanzhen said with a smile.

"The dog is working under Brother Lu, so why are you worried? Ha Lu Ha. Neiko heard that Brother Lu came to Jinan in person, and wanted to set up a family banquet to invite Brother Lu back. I think this meal is indispensable. Why don't you set it for the night after tomorrow? Mr. Ji Zhi must appreciate the light. I know that tomorrow night, Bai Fantai will have a banquet for distinguished guests from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and maybe Yang Futai and Long Junmen will also attend, so Xu has to push it and put it the day after tomorrow. Ha Lu Ha. ”

"Really? Are both Lord Yang and Admiral Long going to attend? Zhang Jian became interested, "I heard that the rise of Shandong industry is mostly due to the work of Admiral Long Qian, but is it true?" ”

"This is true," I couldn't help but think of my daughter Xu Si, Xu Wenfu couldn't help but feel resentful, but he was a gentleman and couldn't bear to waste Long Qian's merits, "Although this person is in the military, he does have a good way to do business." ”

"Hmm, Ling Aike has found her in-laws? You can't miss this wedding drink. Lu Yunzhen thought of Xu Wenfu's smart and beautiful daughter.

"Xiao Si is not out of the boudoir yet...... When the time comes, I will naturally invite Brother Lu to have a cup of wine......" Xu Wenfu's expression darkened.

The next morning, Xu Sizheng, mentioned by Lu Yunzhen, was making the most final preparations with his classmates in the exhibition hall.

It is not easy to find a hall of thousands of square meters in Jinan to be the main exhibition hall of the China Merchants Association. Fang Shengyuan and Zhou Xuexi thought about it, and there was only one suitable place, that is, the auditorium that had been completed in Shandong University Hall.

Xu Wenfu was very much in favor of holding a business promotion conference. Therefore, the arrangement of the auditorium as an exhibition hall became a matter of the school. Teachers and students were mobilized, and in accordance with the requirements of Huayuan Industry, under the guidance of the engineers of Huayuan Technology Research Institute, it took three days to transform the empty auditorium into a labyrinthine exhibition hall.

Today, the auditorium is divided into more than a dozen rooms of various sizes with wooden planks, each of which is filled with different kinds of goods, from beautifully crafted carriages to round mirrors used in women's boudoirs. Since the day before yesterday, the exhibits have been sent one after another, and the relevant display boards and product introductions have been placed in their proper places and have been double-checked. The lights were also checked after the darkest of the days, and when all the lights were turned on last night, the teachers and students involved in the event had a dream-like feeling.

"I can't imagine that we have such a magical product in Shandong......" This is the common feeling of teachers and students.

Now, Xu Si stood in the exhibition hall again, walking slowly along the booth. After the self-confidence letter, she felt a pressure that she had never felt before.

The pressure comes from the father as well as from the mother. Her father's interrogation of her made her feel his suspicion and concern, and her mother's long conversation with her afterwards made her realize that she was indeed out of line. Even in today's increasingly popular world. The correspondence between a girl in a boudoir and a man who has already married is still a serious matter.

It was only when her mother pointed out the danger that she felt the danger.

He didn't reply to the letter, and she didn't write again. While she breathed a sigh of relief, she felt lonely like never before.

She still couldn't help but pay attention to the man. The "Fifth Town Newsletter" on my father's desk often had news of him: he had gone to inspect the troops, he had gone to the military academy to teach, he had gone to a patrol battalion in a certain place to review the exercises, and he had a meeting with the commander of the German garrison in Laizhou...... Father is right, he is a person who does big things, he is very busy, where will he take care of a little woman?

Thinking that he may have forgotten about himself a long time ago. Xu Si's heart ached inexplicably. This feeling. She never had. Mother said that soon, someone from her hometown in Suzhou would come on a blind date, and she was immediately angry. Don't let him come. Leave my business alone. He's coming. I'm not going to see you either.

Do you have to let your father decide your life?

Having an awkward quarrel with his parents, Xu Si still participated in the preparations for the investment promotion. The father did not stop it. She was assigned to the information group and was in charge of the posters. Some introduce products, and some express their welcome to merchants. The academy takes into account her strengths. Now, six of the more than two dozen hand-painted posters in the exhibition hall are by her.

In the ink painting, I remember the ...... of Jiangnan" The euphemistic melody floated through his heart, and Xu Si heard the gongs and drums outside the venue, indicating that the guests from Jiangsu and Zhejiang had arrived. Outside the exhibition hall, a welcome hall was arranged, and it is said that many high-ranking officials will come today, will he come? If you do, should you greet him? Did he really forget the girl with whom he had exchanged several letters?

Today, she is still dressed in men's clothing.

She resisted the urge to go out and watch, and stayed in the empty exhibition hall. The classmates all ran out of the hall to watch, but she didn't. It wasn't until the sound of deafening firecrackers sounded half an hour later, and several officials in official uniforms rushed into the hall that Xu Si took a few steps forward and looked towards the crowd, but he didn't find anyone in military uniforms.

Zhang Jian, accompanied by Bai Ruiting, the political envoy of Shandong, Ding Weiji, the prefect of Jinan, Huayuan, and the principals of Zhongxing, entered the brightly lit exhibition hall and was immediately attracted by the dazzling array of goods.

"Oh, it's really an eye-opener for Zhang...... "The product of Huayuan Vehicle Factory was faced, and a total of eight samples of four-wheeled and two-wheeled carriages were placed in front of him. The main purpose of his trip was to see the products of Huayuan Textile Factory, but the carriages of different shapes still attracted him.

"The countryside is not applicable at the moment. But cities are really a powerful tool for transportation. Except for the rubber tires, the rest of the parts are made by Huayuan. In terms of tires, the United States has bought relevant technology, and at the end of this year, Huayuan's first rubber products factory was established in Qingzhou. Zhou Xuexi introduced.

"It's really good. I don't think it's inferior to foreign products. Zhang Jian nodded again and again.

"In fact, these things have been sold to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, maybe Mr. Ji Zhi has used them." Fang Shengyuan smiled and said, "Mr. Ji Zhi, what do you think if we build an assembly plant in Shanghai or Nanjing in a joint venture and transport the parts to another place to complete the final assembly?" After all, truckload transportation is too much of a hassle. ”

"Ah, great idea." Zhang Jian noticed the price tag hanging on the car, "I don't think it's expensive, it's more than 30% cheaper than the imported one." The gentry of Jiangsu and Zhejiang will flock to it. His heart moved, and he noticed Fang Shengyuan's proposal, this is a money-making business, riding a carriage is more comfortable than riding a sedan chair, "If I buy land in Nantong to build a factory and buy your parts to assemble, is it okay?" ”

"Absolutely." Fang Shengyuan glanced at Zhou Xuexi, "I can't ask for it." That's a both, right? Ha Lu Ha. ”

"Brother Hunting, then let's come down and have a good talk?"

"That's exactly what I mean." Zhou Xuexi smiled and said, "Brother Ji is walking here, this is the booth of ZTE Pharmaceutical." ”

"Oh, I can't imagine that Huayuan Group can produce so many Western medicines!" Looking at the rows of Western medicines placed in front of the glass counter, Zhang Jian was very surprised.

"This is a product of ZTE." Zhou Xuexi explained with a smile, "Compared with traditional Chinese medicine, Western medicine has its own magic, and now at least among the staff of Huayuan and Zhongxing, Western medicine is not excluded." ”

"It's not easy, it's not easy."

Looking at the booth all the way, Zhang Jian was more and more shocked by the richness of Shandong's product line.

On the other side, Lu Yunzhen was surprised by the variety of furniture produced by Shandong Industry.

"Lord Zhang," Lu Yunzhen said to Zhang Lianfen. "I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect that the furniture could be made like this!"

Accustomed to how many years have not changed, whether it is a wardrobe, a bed, a table and chairs, or even a dresser in the boudoir, there is a program. But the dozens of brightly colored and novel pieces of furniture in front of him subverted his cognition. Several pieces of furniture only learned the purpose of the road after reading the introduction.

"Mr. Lu stayed at Huayuan Guest House last night, how did he feel? We make all the furniture. In fact, the furniture factory belongs to Huayuan Group, but in front of Jiangsu and Zhejiang merchants. Zhang Lianfen believes that Huayuan and ZTE belong to one family.

"Not bad. Not bad. I can't believe that furniture can be painted in this color. Lu Yunzhen pointed to a two-story bed and said.

It was a pink children's bed, a new product from a furniture factory, which had not yet been introduced to the market, "and it was made for children. Pretty again. It also saves places. Isn't it? ”

"Not bad, not bad! If it's convenient, I'd like to take one back. Lu Yunzhen thought of his two grandchildren resting on this bed. My heart itches.

"Ha Luha, absolutely. This kind of furniture can be disassembled and reassembled, and it is very convenient to transport it back and reassemble it. ”

"Okay, I'll leave it to Mr. Zhang." Lu Yanzhen nodded.

There was a "poof" sound, and then a puff of white smoke came out, Zhang Shizhao understood that it was the flash of the camera, and looked at the frightened Kong Fanyu with some disdain, and secretly cursed in his heart. Kong Fanyu was obsessively lingering at Huayuan Textile's booth and refused to leave, and the price list of gauze surprised him, because the price was more than 10% lower than him.

"Oh, this gentleman," Kong Fanyu couldn't help but ask the Huayuan staff who were standing in front of the counter as commentators, they were all wearing the same costumes and were easy to identify.

"What questions do you have gentle?"

"Can you give me this price?" Kong Fanyu was a little skeptical about the authenticity of the price.

"Oh, of course. This is the retail price. If it is wholesale, it is lower than this. ”

"Why is this happening? Is the price of your cotton low? ”

The staff noticed that Zhang Jian, who was accompanied by President Zhou, was standing not far away, "No, a lot of lint is purchased from Jiangnan, and the output of Shandong is still low." ”

"Arrested," Zhang Jian also noticed, "how much does your company pay to workers?" Because he has a deep officialdom background, he has circled 100,000 acres of fertile land in Nantong alone, and built a cotton planting base, and he does not believe that his cost will be lower than Huayuan.

"It's complicated." Zhou Xuexi groaned, "In my opinion, Huayuan and Zhongxing are not low in terms of salary, and those who have just entered the factory are no less than three pieces of silver, and the company also manages meals and provides accommodation, if it is the most senior engineer and technician, it is about to catch up with the salary of my president." Ha Lu Ha. Zhou Xuexi smiled happily, he understood the secret of Huayuan and ZTE cost, the cost of management, the cost of efficiency, the cost of quality is not empty words, and it is not three or five years to run an industry by himself.

Zhang Jian shook his head, not believing it at all. His Dasheng yarn factory is also famous in China, and recently due to the increasing expenses outside the main business, he is also ready to cut his salary, "Oh, your company's ready-to-wear is really trendy, these clothes, I'm afraid they are only for foreigners, right?" Ah, Brother Zhizhi uses a real person to try on clothes, which is really unique. Zhang Jian avoided the topic just now, and his eyes fell on the ready-to-wear booth, where there were more than a dozen "models", of course, all young men, wearing different clothes from each other, except for two traditional kaftans, the rest were all dresses.

"Where, didn't Mr. Ji Zhi see what my company staff was wearing? It doesn't matter if the clothes are dressed in a Han costume or a flag costume, whoever wears it counts whom. Like this one," Zhou Xuexi pointed to a tall "model", "This dress was born in the military uniform of the Fifth Town, and it was only slightly altered." I think that the clerical positions of the company, including the teachers of the school and the clerks of the government, are very suitable. It's entirely our own invention, and foreigners don't have such clothes. ”

"I'm afraid that the officials of the government can't wear it, after all, they have the face of the imperial court. But the staff of the company wore it, and it was really spirited. It's just ......" It was Bai Ruiting who spoke, he swallowed the second half of his words back, and found more and more that dragging a pig's tail-like braid on the back of his head was really ugly, no wonder all the officers and soldiers under Long Qian cut off their braids! This has attracted the attention of Yang Futai, will it cause the interference of the imperial court? Isn't it a trivial matter that those revolutionary parties that are making a lot of trouble overseas are clamoring for the easy to cut and defend and restore my brilliant Han costume?

Xu Si saw her father walking over with a group of people, including Lu Yunzhen, whom she knew, and quickly dodged. If Lu Yanzhen recognized himself, he really couldn't study in the academy anymore. (To be continued......)