A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Chapter 3: The Gate to the New World

Chen Guangliang returned to the Fangua Lane shantytown.

After wiping my body and changing my clothes, I went to my second uncle's house nearby to have dinner together.

"Second Uncle"

"cousin"

I saw a little girl about thirteen years old making a fire and cooking. She was Yang Xiuchun, the eldest daughter of my second uncle.

They use a wood-burning stove and the kitchen is outdoors in the alley, which is the case for all the residents here.

There was no tap water nearby, and a bucket of tap water cost one cent, so everyone had to draw water directly from the Huangpu River and Suzhou River. Only a few people could afford tap water.

"Cousin, this is my meal money today."

Chen Guangliang handed Yang Xiuchun two ten-cent coins with the words "ten coins equal one yuan" written on them.

As soon as Yang Xiuchun took the money, he said cheerfully, "Cousin, I'll go get the change for you."

"Don't bother looking for it. From now on I'll just eat according to the standard of two dimes. Isn't this because my appetite has grown again?"

Chen Guangliang touched the head of his cousin Yang Xiaohu who came forward, and chatted with his cousin Yang Xiuchun about family matters.

"That's impossible. What's the big deal about eating a little more or a little less? How can I charge you five cents more? I think you've been pulling a cart for a few days and you've become extravagant."

Yang Xiuchun said some harsh words and tried to get the money.

Chen Guangliang directly pulled her arm and said, "Cousin, you're making it difficult for me. I just want to eat more. Can't you just prepare a little more for me? Be obedient and don't forget that I am your brother."

Yang Xiuchun glanced at his cousin suspiciously. In the past, his cousin would never hold his arm so closely.

"Okay, I see what you mean!"

Only then did Chen Guangliang let go and sat on a bench outside to chat with his second uncle.

There is naturally no dining room in the house here, it is just a sleeping room, so everyone eats outside with a table and stools.

My second uncle smoked cheap cigarettes, puffing up smoke, which was a way to relieve fatigue after pulling the cart for a day.

"How many have you run away today?"

"One dollar and two cents"

My second uncle put down his cigarette and said in surprise, "You are so lucky, you surpassed me, a master, on the fourth day."

A net profit of 70 cents a day is a very high income.

In fact, my second uncle's family conditions are still "good". My second aunt can earn 18 yuan a month in the textile factory, my cousin can also earn 10 yuan a month as a child laborer in the textile factory, and my second uncle can also earn about 15 yuan a month pulling a cart. Only my nine-year-old cousin is a freeloader.

Yang Xiuchun, who was standing by, also pricked up his ears and listened with great interest.

"Well, there's a triangle order, from Zhanpu Road Bridge to the Racecourse."

My second uncle didn’t say anything else. After all, you don’t get that kind of luck every day.

What's more, my nephew now needs 9 yuan a month just for food, which is already a huge burden.

You have to know that according to the standard living expenses of ten yuan, "food" can actually only account for 60 to 70%; because in addition to food, they also need to pay 80 cents of "housing rent" every month, and there are other miscellaneous expenses.

"Brother Liang, are you done with work?"

"Yes, Afeng!"

A young man about the same age as Chen Guangliang took the initiative to come forward and say hello. It was Chen Guangliang's good friend Lin Feng in this shantytown.

Lin Feng was very interested in Chen Guangliang's rickshaw job and kept asking for information. He almost said, "Take me with you." "It's more comfortable for you guys to pull a rickshaw. The more you work, the more you earn, and you don't have to endure so much anger."

"Of course we don't get humiliated. We also get humiliated by the police and the guests. It's the same everywhere."

"That's much better. Brother Liang, you don't know that I was beaten by a foreigner yesterday. I really want to fight him back."

Who believes it!

This is a concession, and the foreigners are really rampant. Of course, the most arrogant ones are the "red-headed Indians" and those policemen who are accomplices to the evil.

"Why, Afeng, you want to pull a rickshaw too?"

Afeng is also very tall and strong, and he started growing a beard at the age of seventeen.

Chen Guangliang is actually over 1.7 meters tall. He is not very tall, but he looks very strong.

When Lin Feng heard this, he immediately said happily: "Yes, I want Brother Bad to give me some pointers and bring me into the industry!"

After saying that, he looked at Yang Qingshan carefully. After all, this 'second uncle' was not so easy to talk to.

"If you want to get into this business, you must at least be familiar with the terrain and roads of the concession, and know the famous buildings and shops on the streets, so you must prepare yourself in this area first. Then, when I am familiar with this business, I will be your guide."

"Okay, no problem. I'll get you a pear. You guys go ahead and get busy!"

Looking at Lin Feng who was happily leaving, Yang Qingshan frowned and said, "Guangliang, are you really planning to bring him into the industry?"

Chen Guangliang said seriously: "Second uncle, I want to buy my own rickshaw, and even set up my own fleet. What does it matter if I have one more brother? The more people like this, the better."

Yang Qingshan was stunned for a moment, then said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Your second uncle has been pulling a rickshaw for seven or eight years, and he still hasn't bought a rickshaw of his own!"

Although their family's current income is decent, that's because his wife has worked in a textile factory in recent years and their daughter can also start making money.

Chen Guangliang said confidently, "Uncle, under normal circumstances, I can buy a rickshaw of my own in just two years. But you can't do things this way. As long as I save up thirty dollars, I can invite others to join. If ten people can't get it together, then twenty people can. Isn't that much faster?"

Xiangzi did not dare to borrow money from loan sharks who paid only one cent of interest. Even when someone suggested that he could invite others to join his business, he turned a deaf ear to it. Such a person is destined to be miserable.

For Chen Guangliang, "inviting people to join" is the most normal means. If someone is willing to lend "one percent interest (for ten months)", he would dare to lend it.

Yang Qingshan was stunned. He then said, "Why would they join us? You're the one pulling the cart."

As expected, the thinking of these little people has become rigid, and it is very difficult for them to get rich!
Chen Guangliang explained, "Uncle, think about it. The rent is 9 cents a day, which is dollars a month. If I promise to pay you a share every month, for example, if you invest dollars, you can get dollars a month. In half a year, your investment will be recovered. You will also have a % stake in the car, and I will continue to pay you. This money is much better than keeping it with Boss Wang!"

Like a flash of lightning, 'bang' focused Yang Qingshan's brain and opened the door to his new world.

After a long while, Yang Qingshan said excitedly: "Your second uncle also has some savings. If you invite people to join you one day, count me in!"

Yang Qingshan has always valued his nephew. He has studied in a private school for several years and is full of energy. Isn't this the definition of "both literary and martial"?

What's more, he has seen his nephew's progress in the past four days.

At least in the business of rickshaw puller, his nephew is much better than him.

"Well, I'll work harder and earn some capital first."

Although he can recruit people to join, Chen Guangliang actually needs to have certain connections and status, otherwise why would others believe you?

Although my second uncle is an old hand in the industry, after all, only I can be the one in charge!
So, next Chen Guangliang will work hard in this field.

In fact, Chen Guangliang also knew that in the rickshaw industry, competition would become extremely fierce in three to five years. The number of rickshaws would double, and the number of rickshaw pullers would double, leading to fierce competition in the industry.

So if you want to get ahead, you have to seize the time, otherwise it will be difficult to miss the opportunity.

(End of this chapter)