After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 156 Thirteen Righteous Followers
Zhou Haoran is a businessman.

So he understands the businessmen's tricks best.

Mr. Liu said that the reason for naming it "Red Mansion Teahouse" was to commemorate the founder Cao Xueqin through the elements of "Dream of Red Mansions".

Such a reason is too far-fetched.

The teahouse does not charge commission and makes a profit from selling tea.

If you want to make more money, all you have to do is give it a more popular name to attract traffic.

The book written by Cao Xueqin is not called "Dream of the Red Chamber".

It's called "The Story of the Stone".

Because this book was too sensitive, it was strictly controlled by the Qing court. Later, Gao E and others revised it, deleting what should be deleted and adding what should be added, and created a new book, which is called "Dream of Red Mansions".

After the name change, "Dream of Red Mansions" became widely circulated.

Especially the hometown of Jiangnan culture.

Although books like "Romance of the West Chamber", "Dream of the Red Chamber" and "Jin Ping Mei" are all banned books, intellectuals have read them, and even young ladies in the boudoir would read them secretly.

The name "Red Mansion Teahouse" was chosen probably because they took advantage of the popularity of "Dream of Red Mansions" in Jiangnan area and wanted to take advantage of it!

If you say that this business has anything to do with Cao Xueqin, Zhou Haoran would definitely not believe it.

Upon asking, it turned out to be true!

Mr. Liu Zhengyue said that this business originated during the Kangxi period three hundred years ago.

Two hundred years ago during the Jiaqing period, this trade became widely popular in Jiangnan.

There were many teahouses at that time, and they all did this kind of business.

Liu Zhengyue said, "At that time, merchants had a very low status and lacked connections. They couldn't find scholars... so they went to teahouses to ask if they had such connections."

Zhou Haoran understood, explaining, "It was probably due to the environment. Scholars at the time often gathered in teahouses to drink tea. Over time, the scholars and the teahouses became familiar with each other. Teahouses were then able to connect scholars and merchants."

Liu Zhengyue smiled and said, "That's probably the case. Jiangnan is a tea-growing region, and teahouses are everywhere. The most famous teahouses all operate in this way."

Zhou Haoran nodded. "This is a win-win situation for all parties. The teahouse has gained prestige, the scholars have earned income, and the merchants have a partner. This is the market mechanism, the prototype of the platform economy. If it works well, it really has some of the seeds of capitalism."

"Later, this business became more and more prosperous."

"When was the name changed to 'Red House Teahouse'?"

"After the foreigners came."

"Late Qing Dynasty?" Zhou Haoran followed his train of thought. "After the Opium War?"

This Red House Teahouse is next to the famous Pujiang Hotel.

Pujiang Hotel is the Ritz-Carlton, which was built over a hundred years ago!

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Hotel was built by the British in China after the unequal treaty signed between China and Britain during the Opium War.

The harbor then began to grow from a small county town to the economic center of Jiangnan. Large numbers of merchants flocked to the concession to do business, further promoting the development of the harbor.

Although foreigners carried out colonial oppression, their exploitation of merchants was far less harsh than that of the Qing Dynasty. Merchants were also treated more fairly in terms of status, and they were no longer considered inferior to the scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans.

Only then did Honglou Teahouse have the opportunity to move south and develop in the harbor.

Is that right?

Zhou Haoran made a bold guess.

Liu Zhengyue's statement confirmed his suspicions: "Yes, the situation changed after the foreign invasion, and the Qing court's control over Jiangnan became increasingly weak. Because of this weakening control, books like 'Dream of the Red Chamber' and 'Jin Ping Mei' began to circulate more widely in Jiangnan, and were even sold openly in bookstores."

"So they started to piggyback on the fame..." Zhou Haoran was embarrassed to say it, "So the teahouse had a consensus to change its name to Red Mansion Teahouse."

Liu Zhengyue smiled and said, "That's basically it. The entire set of rules in the industry were basically established at that time. For example, the scholars invited to the Red Mansion Teahouse were all called 'Xiansheng'. If they were 'Xiansheng' who had passed the imperial examination, they were called 'Da Xiansheng'."

Zhou Haoran basically understood the whole situation.

Three hundred years ago, the industry took shape.

Two hundred years ago, the industry emerged.

A hundred years ago, the industry was established and the name "Honglou Teahouse" began to spread throughout Jiangnan.

Foreigners played a very important role in this process.

Zhou Haoran pondered, "With the arrival of the foreigners, the Qing government's control over Jiangnan weakened, leading to the rise of the Taiping Rebellion. Later, there was even the 'Southeast Mutual Protection' movement, with Jiangnan uniting to resist the Qing government. This was simply following orders rather than instructions. The subsequent overthrow of the Qing government also began in Jiangnan."

"Then I'm not sure, haha."

Liu Zhengyue was not telling him history.

He was just talking about the development history of the Red Mansion Teahouse business.

Zhou Haoran was much more educated than him and had his own analysis. "The Qing court's control over Jiangnan has weakened, which is a good thing for Jiangnan. It's like a break from the oppression. It will allow the culture, commerce, humanities, and thought of the Jiangnan region to develop significantly."

"It seems so?"

Old man Liu Zhengyue was speechless, but his cloudy eyes were full of admiration.

Zhou Haoran continued, "The most crucial point is that after the foreigners arrived, they established concessions in the seaports. For many people in Jiangnan, this provided a window to the world. The Westernization Movement, the Hundred Days' Reform, and the Xinhai Revolution all originated from Jiangnan. Even the Taiping Rebellion was carried out in the name of Christianity." Liu Zhengyue said, "Yes, it was the seaports. Many people could no longer stay in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, so they fled to the seaports. These were concessions, and the Qing government couldn't reach them."

"Is the Red House Teahouse also coming south to the harbor?"

Zhou Haoran pointed downwards, meaning this teahouse.

Liu Zhengyue smiled and said, "Jiangsu and Zhejiang are too prosperous. There are too many teahouses and they can't compete. Some people will have to move to other places to make a living. Plus, a large number of merchants are pouring south into the harbor, so naturally, the Red House Teahouse will move here."

After a pause, he couldn't help but continue, "Many opera troupes followed them. Yue Opera was one of those troupes that came south at the same time, and it developed locally in Haigang. Teahouses, opera troupes, and film companies have all collaborated in the past. I have photos with Wang Xinghua, Lu Lanchun, and Ruan Lingyu."

"So that's how it is!" Zhou Haoran finally understood the whole story. "So, this is a branch of the Red House Teahouse."

"No." Liu Zhengyue shook his head. "This is the headquarters."

"Headquarters? In this business, there are headquarters and branches? Not everyone can open a teahouse."

Zhou Haoran felt that the old man was really good at flattering others.

Liu Zhengyue was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Over the past hundred years, society has been extremely turbulent. First, the foreigners arrived, then the Taiping Rebellion, and then the Japanese invaders. Over the past few decades, many traditional things have been abolished. This industry has disappeared."

"The only place left is the Red Tower Teahouse, so it is naturally the headquarters."

Zhou Haoran felt somewhat sad.

However, judging by the Red Mansion Teahouse model, it is indeed no longer suitable for modern social structures. The status of merchants has been greatly improved, and scholars are no longer the high-ranking masters.

The disappearance of the industry is also in line with the historical trend.

Liu Zhengyue thought for a moment and said, "It seems that this is not the last one."

"No?" Zhou Haoran opened his eyes wide, "There's more? Where?"

Liu Zhengyue said, "We're the only one in Haigang. The concept of trademarks existed in the concession a hundred years ago. We registered 'Red House Teahouse,' and no one else can use the name. This is different from Jiangsu and Zhejiang."

Zhou Haoran asked: "Where else? Out of town?"

Liu Zhengyue wasn't sure. "I'm not sure about that. I just heard about it. But it doesn't seem to be called 'Red Mansion Teahouse' anymore. After all, it was a very prosperous business a hundred years ago. Even in this new society, there should be some traces left."

"If it's not called the Red Mansion Teahouse?" Zhou Haoran was curious, "Then what is it called?"

"They just used the name of the Red Mansion. I've only heard of the Red Mansion Club or the Red Mansion Club. But I heard they weren't run very formally, and they hired a lot of people..."

Liu Zhengyue shook his head, stopped talking, and sighed.

Zhou Haoran's expression changed slightly.

I immediately thought of something.

He had seen a lot of news similar to the Red Mansion in his previous life. There were places similar to the Red Mansion in many places.

It's just like what the old man said.

Unlike formal places like the Red Mansion Teahouse, those red buildings built by those people using the name of the Red Mansion hide many shameful crimes.

Liu Zhengyue said, "In the old days, the Red Mansion Teahouse had to cater to all kinds of people, so it was inevitable that they would work with some prostitutes. However, since the day I became an apprentice in the teahouse, I have only seen bookstores, nothing else."

"Bookhouse? What is this?"

Zhou Haoran is young after all, and he doesn’t understand the words from the past.

Liu Zhengyue explained, "In the industry, prostitutes are divided into different levels. The lowest is the pheasant, and the upper levels are the rooftop, the brothel, the second stage, the third stage, and the brothel. The brothel only sells their skills and not their bodies, and is more prestigious. Many movie stars in Huangpu Beach started out in brothels in their early years."

Zhou Haoran sighed and said, "I'm afraid some bad people will ruin the reputation of this Red Mansion."

"It's almost time for this business to die out anyway."

Liu Zhengyue said so.

But his tone and expression revealed an unwillingness that could not be concealed.

Staring straight at the young man.

Zhou Haoran understood what he meant, but was unwilling to answer. He asked, "Old man, how many gentlemen are there in our teahouse?"

Liu Zhengyue said, "There were many in the past, known as the 'Thirteen Righteous Followers.' Back then, the Red Gang and our own gang were at war for years, and our own gang was also plagued by internal strife. Every time, the 'Thirteen Righteous Followers' would mediate behind the scenes, advocating that peace brings wealth."

"Thirteen gentlemen?"

Zhou Haoran vaguely saw the scenery of the Red House Teahouse on Huangpu Beach during the Republic of China period.

Liu Zhengyue sighed and said, "But that was in the past. It's no longer possible now. Some are getting old, some are dying, or there are no disciples. The generation has been cut off."

Zhou Haoran asked tentatively, "I heard there's a Mr. Wei?"

"Yes, Mr. Wei." Liu Zhengyue nodded. "There's also a Mr. Sun, a Mr. Chen, and a Mr. Zhang. However, none of them came. They all gave up."

"give up?"

Zhou Haoran knew that the "Mr. Zhang" he was talking about should be Grandpa Zhang in the alley.

Liu Zhengyue said: "I don't see any hope."

(End of this chapter)