Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 385: Family Friend's Home
"The imperial court has issued a decree that Chinese Americans should accept their fate. They can no longer stay in San Francisco."

Liao Zhubin sighed and said helplessly, "I am going to apply to the HSBC US office to return to Hong Kong to work.
The anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States is getting worse, and San Francisco is the area where white riots are most rampant. Brother He might as well sell off his property in the United States as soon as possible, bring his family and funds, and restart his business in Hong Kong. "

"What if I return to Hong Kong? The British colonial government and British businessmen control the economic lifeline of Hong Kong. It is not easy to restart business."

"Brother He doesn't want to go back to Hong Kong. Does that mean he plans to stay in the United States forever?"

"Haha, even if I lose face and want to stay in the United States, the foreigners will not allow it."

Ho Binghuan said self-deprecatingly, "The San Francisco City Government just sent someone to inform me that the Chinese medicine shop under my name is unsafe and ordered me to close all my businesses."

“If you want to accuse someone of something, you can always find a pretext for it.” Only a few months after the Chinese Exclusion Act was implemented, the U.S. government began to impose “Chinese fishermen tax,” “Chinese police tax,” and “laundry delivery tax” on the Chinese.

The number of exorbitant taxes and levies is exactly the same as that of the Qing government.

Brother He, forget it. The US government is determined to expel the Chinese. The imperial court has already given in and compromised. We can’t defeat them. We would rather lose some of our profits, sell off all our properties, and withdraw from the United States!”

"I can't bear to see my ten years of hard work go to waste!"

"What can I do if I am unwilling? When I first arrived in San Francisco ten years ago, the Americans often pointed fingers at the Chinese with braids and laughed at them. Why didn't I listen to your advice and insisted on cutting off my braids? It was because I saw my wife walking down Chinatown and being laughed at and humiliated by a group of white women staring at her bound feet!"

Recalling the discriminatory treatment he and his family suffered when they first arrived in the United States, He Zhubin said excitedly, "I cut off my braids, put on western clothes like foreigners, and was called a fake foreigner by my compatriots. The outside world is undergoing earth-shaking changes, and the court and Manchu and Han ministers are still clinging to the same things from hundreds of years ago. How can such a court resist the invasion of foreigners, and how can it protect the people living overseas?"

After a pause, He Zhubin picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all, then said solemnly, "Binghuan, I have always admired your achievements in business, but some of your concepts really need to be changed. The world today is not like one or two hundred years ago. Merchants cannot succeed just by relying on the business experience of the older generation. Without the support of an enlightened and powerful government, even if you have made great business achievements in the United States like today, what will happen? The US government arbitrarily enacts a bill, and most of your life's hard work is lost!

Only by being pioneering and enterprising, taking the initiative to contact the outside world, quickly changing old ideas, keeping up with the pace of changes in the world, and making efforts in many aspects can we win hope for our family and career in this period of change that has not been seen in five thousand years.

To be honest, I think Binghuan is not as good as Azhen in this regard.

Although Azhen is a woman, her temperament and ability are not inferior to those of ordinary men. When she was fifteen or sixteen years old, she helped you manage family finances and business affairs. She is only eighteen years old this year and has graduated from Halls High School. She is about to become the first female college student in the mainland.

You are in your prime, full of vigor and vitality. Although there is no sign of it now, I bet that in twenty years, Azhen's achievements will surely surpass your father's."

He Binghuan was not angry when he heard Liao Zhubin comparing himself with his daughter. He knew his daughter's character best. Twenty years later, maybe she didn't do anything earth-shattering, but she would definitely not be content to be an ordinary woman who took care of her husband and children.

This was also what he was most worried about. His daughter was smart, decisive, and independent-minded. Although she often disobeyed his arrangements, he loved her the most among his twelve children.

It would be fine if she were a man, with a strong character, and could go out and explore the world, perhaps she could achieve something. But as a girl, how many families could accept her acting like this?
“It is not so easy to change the ideas that are formed over a lifetime.”

He Binghuan shook his head, his face full of sadness.

"I'm now forty, and I don't care about things like property and career as much as I did when I was young. My business in the United States was affected by the Chinese Exclusion Act, and losing some of it is not a big deal. But I'm worried that if I can't handle the follow-up events well, and if there are some hidden dangers left, what will happen to Ah Zhen and the other children in the future?"

"Don't worry about the children's affairs. The Liao and He families have been friends for three generations, and Enbai likes Azhen very much. If you have no objection, just help Azhen and Enbai get married. The Liao and He families will become relatives, and the affairs of the two families will be combined. If the He family encounters difficulties, the Liao family will definitely not ignore it."

"Eunbaek likes Ah Jung?"

Ho Bing-huan was busy with business affairs and seldom stayed at home. On the few occasions when he received guests at home, he saw his daughter and Liao En-bai together. Almost every time, it was his daughter who bullied the other party. It was rare to see the harmonious relationship between men and women.

Therefore, when Liao Zhubin said this, He Binghuan didn't quite believe it. "Haha, who can tell clearly what's going on between young people? Enbai and Azhen are both studying in American schools and receiving Western education. The two children have common topics and hobbies. Although Azhen is sometimes a bit strong-willed, Enbai is gentle. The two of them complement each other and are a good match."

"Ah Zhen has natural feet. Would your Liao family mind?"

"Brother Binghuan, why are you still holding on to your old stubbornness? Foot binding is a feudal custom. In South America, Japan, or Western countries, which country advocates foot binding for women?
Foot binding is a form of physical harm to women. In the Han Dynasty of South America, the law stipulates that forcing women to bind their feet is an illegal act, and the perpetrator must be punished by law regardless of their relationship with the woman.

Liao Zhubin felt that it would be difficult to change his friend's ideas in a short period of time, so he patiently said, "Chinese women who bind their feet are ridiculed and humiliated by foreigners. The next generation of young people should not be allowed to experience the humiliation of the older generation. Before Enbai expressed his love for Azhen, I liked Azhen very much. Where can you find a child with natural feet in this world? Except for the South American Han women, most of them have natural feet. In mainland China and Hong Kong, it is difficult for families with similar financial conditions to the Liao and He families to find girls with natural feet. So I considered at the beginning that if Azhen did not object, I would let Enbai marry Azhen.

Now, the two children are in love and we, as elders, don’t have to worry about it. As long as the two of us, the old brothers, arrange the children’s marriages, everything will be settled in the future.”

"Enbai is a good boy. I have always been very satisfied with him. However, Ah Zhen has not told me as a father what she is thinking. Brother Liao, let's put things on hold for now. I will get back to you after I have asked Ah Zhen for her opinion. What do you think?"

"Haha, it's okay. Eunbai and Ahzhen are in the backyard. Just call them over to ask."…………

"Uncle Liao, Dad, Enbai and I have something to discuss with you."

When she was called forward by the two elders, He Peizhen spoke first without waiting for them to ask questions.

"Daddy has something to discuss with you two. You should discuss it with daddy first. Okay, tell us what you want to discuss first."

"The Americans are expelling and persecuting our compatriots, and the Qing government is staying out of it. Enbai and I would like to ask Uncle Liao and Dad to gather the company employees and compatriots in San Francisco to assist the Han country's diplomatic embassy in the United States to properly transfer our compatriots to South America..."

He Peizhen relayed the news she heard from Liao Enbai to the two of them.

"Your Uncle Liao and I were just discussing this matter. Your Uncle Liao plans to leave the United States and return to Hong Kong."

Ho Bing-huan pondered and said, "The situation in the United States is turbulent. For safety reasons, Daddy is considering leaving the United States and returning to Hong Kong with your Uncle Liao. Before things are completely decided, Daddy would like to hear your opinion."

"The British are bullying Hong Kong. Those ruffians and gangs, under the protection of the British, are helping the tigers to oppress their compatriots. Dad and Uncle Liao can't stand the bullying of American foreigners. Why do they go back to endure the bullying of British foreigners? In my daughter's opinion, it is better to move to South America. Based on the open-minded and fair attitude of the Han government towards overseas Chinese and Chinese businessmen, and the strength of Uncle Liao and Dad, there is a chance to do a better and bigger business than in the United States."

"Uncle He, Dad, what Ah Zhen said is right. Nearly half of the Chinese students who studied in the United States were recruited by the Han government and returned to the Han country or European countries to continue their studies. Our school also has more than 20 students from South American Han countries who are studying abroad at their own expense. They also have relatives in their families who are engaged in business and trade in South America.

South America encourages business development and values ​​all kinds of talents. Compared with Hong Kong, I think going to South America is more suitable for Uncle Ho and Daddy. "

"You two are so in sync. Your uncle Liao and I are still discussing this, but you two have already made the decision."

He Binghuan smiled and said, "Dad has been conservative and cautious all his life. Now that he is over 40, he is open-minded for once.

Brother Liao, I can't go back to Hong Kong. I plan to follow the advice of Azhen and Enbai and move my family to South America. What do you think? "

"Enbai's mind is on that little girl Ah Zhen. The He family is moving to South America. Can I be so cruel as to separate them?
"

Liao Zhubin smiled bitterly and agreed to move to South America with the He family.

After the He and Liao families decided to evacuate the United States, the marriage of He Peizhen and Liao Enbai was also finalized naturally.

(End of this chapter)