The second volume is full of glory and splendor in the capital, and the spirit is full of vitality in the foggy city. Chapter 261 Wall Street
Subtitle of this chapter: Don’t worry, book friends, we are about to leave Xinxiang
Dinner was over and the gentlemen began to drink after-dinner drinks.
Our Master Yuan signaled with his eyes to Professor Chandler, who nodded knowingly and bent down to take out several documents from the briefcase at his feet.
Yuan Yanshu took it and flipped through it briefly, then handed it to Roosevelt and Kennedy Sr. There happened to be an extra spare part, so he gave it to Lieutenant Colonel Nimitz.
He said in a smug tone, "Gentlemen, take a look. This is the public opinion survey on 'Orphan of Famine' conducted by Big Data Consulting."
"In a sense, you are witnessing history. This is probably... no, this is probably the world's first public opinion poll!"
"Professor Chandler, you go ahead." Finally, he gave the opportunity to introduce himself to the professor.
"Ahem..." The NYU economics professor cleared his throat and said, "Gentlemen, this time we interviewed a total of 1,000 people in New York City. All of them were randomly selected based on their household registration information..."
"We conducted face-to-face interviews and categorized the respondents into the following groups based on gender, age, race, income, region of residence, and education level..."
"As you can see, the film is going to be a hit."
"But..." Old Kennedy frowned and asked doubtfully, "Neo, didn't you guarantee that 'Orphans of Famine' would be a hit? Why did you do this useless... that tedious investigation?"
"Joseph, how can this investigation be useless?"
Before Yuan Yanshu could answer, FDR answered for him.
The Dashu Consulting Company was actually founded by the two of them. However, Roosevelt had no idea how to conduct public opinion polls, so he gave it to our Master Yuan.
But Yuan Yanshu was not patient enough to do such "small things." So he discussed it with Professors Chandler and Adams, brought in a few NYU students, and started this polling company.
After Roosevelt glanced over the survey, he said with great satisfaction, "This will definitely be very useful!"
Opinion polls can certainly be useful, both in business and politics.
Moreover, our Master Yuan had already described to him the scope of application and broad prospects of public opinion surveys last time..
Here FDR tells JFK's father about the polls.
Yuan Yan turned around and asked the future commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet with a smile, "Chester, are you interested in taking a part in this movie?"
"Me? Investing in movies!" Nimitz was of course a little surprised when he heard this.
He subconsciously shook his head and refused, "Neo, forget it. I don't understand movies at all..."
In fact, this kind of reaction is normal.
For example, a few years ago, if someone told you that a certain virtual currency, which cost 3,000 RMB per coin, would increase to over 10,000 USD in a few years, you would definitely think that person was either crazy or out to scam you.
"Chester, did you see that?" Master Yuan pointed to the two people next to him and said, "These two are the investors of this movie."
He chuckled and said, "Chester, let me tell you a less funny joke. I dare to cheat you, but do I dare to cheat them?"
He thought to himself, I am not really trying to trick you, I am picking on you!
"this……"
Nimitz's background cannot be compared with the other two present.
He was not a wealthy second-generation like Major Patton and Major General Connor, but was born into a poor family in a small town in the Texas Hill Country. So much so that his biographer wrote: "His becoming the commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet is like sending a man to the moon, a miracle that can be achieved."
So naturally he doesn't care so much about small amounts of money.
"No need for this or that, Chester."
Yuan Yan glanced around and found that no one noticed them, so she raised three fingers, leaned over and said in a low voice: "Three thousand, let's say you invested three thousand US dollars..."
"Three thousand dollars?!"
This number is definitely not a small number for a naval lieutenant colonel who comes from a very ordinary family and has a family to support.
"Yes, the total investment is three million US dollars, so three thousand US dollars is 0.1%."
"Neo, I still don't want it..."
"Chester, don't refuse so quickly. Listen to my terms." Master Yuan waved his hand and said, "This is a gentleman's agreement between us. You don't have to actually take out the money. Just do me a favor and it will be considered as your investment."
Nimitz looked at the Chinese man carefully and asked cautiously, "Dr. Yuan, how can I help you?"
Hearing that the address had been changed, Yuan Yan suddenly became more serious and said, "Lieutenant Colonel Nimitz, please don't misunderstand me. It's not what you think. I just want to meet the officers of the US Marine Corps stationed in Shanghai."
He sighed, revealing a very complicated expression, one of reluctance , humiliation, resentment, fear, and sighing...
In short, he said with an expression that made people feel sympathy: "Chester, you also know that my country is currently a chaotic country with warlords and no order..."
"And Shanghai, where I live, is a chaotic place known as the 'Devil's City of the East'..."
"Besides... Chester, look at me." Our Master Yuan pointed at himself and said, "I'm just an intellectual. If I get bullied..."
In 1922, two anecdotes occurred at the famous Gong Stage in Shanghai. Huang Jinrong, the Green Gang tycoon and owner of Gong Stage, was beaten twice at his own theater.
In fact, this "Gong Stage" was built by Huang Jinrong to promote the famous actress Lu Lanchun. Because it was the first theater in Shanghai where male and female actors performed on the same stage, it was called "Gong Stage".
In order to support the star, Lao Huang asked his thugs to sit in four seats. Whenever he applauded, the others would cheer him on.
One day, a handsome young man suddenly booed loudly in the private room. This was tantamount to provoking trouble, and he was immediately beaten up by the thugs. It is said that Huang Jinrong even slapped him twice in the face.
Seeing that he did not have enough manpower, the young man had to leave in disappointment.
However, the next day, a large number of plainclothes military and police officers arrived at the theater, dragged Huang Jinrong out of his box, beat him up, and smashed the theater. These military and police officers also took him to the Songhu Garrison Command Headquarters.
It turned out that the young man who booed was the son of Lu Yongxiang, the military governor of Songhu, and Lu Xiaojia, one of the "Four Young Masters of the Republic of China".
In the end, it was Du Yuesheng and Zhang Xiaolin who stepped in to get through Lu Yongxiang's "connections" and released Huang Jinrong in exchange for three million yuan and the consent for the Lu family to invest in "Sanxin" (opium company).
Huang Jinrong had no choice but to admit that he was unlucky to encounter such a tough guy.
But good fortune never comes alone. On the day that Gong Stage reopened after renovations, Mr. Yuan Yanshu happened to be driving by with a friend and was blocked by the stream of people coming to congratulate him.
It's said he was in a bad mood that day, and seeing the road blocked made him even more upset, so he and his American friends got out of the car and beat up Lao Huang in front of everyone...
Ever since Mr. Yuan returned to Shanghai, people in the underworld have had a saying: red is better than making a fortune, and white is better than hemp.
The first sentence means that the influence of the Hongmen has overshadowed that of the Qingbang; the "baipi" in the second sentence of course refers to Mr. Yuan's pretty face, and "mapi" refers to Huang Jinrong who had suffered from smallpox. In Shanghai dialect, Jiutong is also called "mapi".
There was a saying in Shanghai at that time: It is better to mess with Uncle Huang from the Gang than to mess with the Second Prince from a foreign family.
The "foreign second prince" refers to Mr. Yuan Yanshu. Although he was the leader of the Hongmen Anliangtang, his backers were all foreigners, so everyone jokingly called him "foreigner." Because he had his father, the "half-step uncle," above him, and he had previously been the sage second prince, everyone called him "Second Prince" instead of "Big Brother."
——Excerpt from "Selected Anecdotes of the Republic of China - Shanghai Volume"
“Ding…ding…ding.”
The bell rang nine, and the party was almost over. Everyone stood up, said goodbye to each other and prepared to leave.
At this time, our Master Yuan had become much closer to the future Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet.
Nimitz stood up and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Neo. I'll write to you when I get back."
Yuan Yan suddenly stood up with a look of gratitude and said, "Chester, don't worry. I'll help you write the contract when we get back ."
The two shook hands and smiled at each other.
"Neo, I'm going to Washington in a few days..." FDR came forward and apologized, "I'm sorry, I may not be able to get back to New York in time to see you off."
Our Master Yuan naturally shook his head and said, "Franklin, you are too polite."
"Neo, then I'll be here to wish you a safe journey."
"Thank you, Franklin."
The two also shook hands...
At this moment, Yuan Yan suddenly stepped forward, stared into the eyes of the future President of the United States, and said in a low voice that only the two of them could hear: "Franklin, you have to take care of your health. If..."
"What I'm saying is, if you have any health problems, don't forget 'ZHONG YI'!"
FDR, startled, felt something was wrong and asked seriously, "Neo, what do you mean?"
"Franklin, I didn't mean anything." Master Yuan took a step back to put some distance between them, then smiled slightly and said, "I just wanted to remind you to take care of your health..."
Without waiting for Roosevelt to ask again, he turned to Kennedy Sr., extended his hand, and said, "Joseph, see you in Ireland."
"Neo, see you in Ireland!"
"beep……"
"squeak!"
"You blind bastard!" Kang Erduo cursed out the window and turned to say, "Second Master, wait a moment. Let me restart the car."
As he said that, he opened the car door and got out. He took out a shaft and began to start the car with difficulty.
There was no way around it. In 1921, people often strained their muscles or even broke their arms trying to start their cars.
Saturday, May 28, 1921, noon.
Miss Moman looked at Yuan Yanshu's handsome profile and said with some distress: "Boss, you are either going to dinner or cocktail parties these days. You really need to take care of your health."
"BOSS? BOSS! What's wrong with you?!"
Master Yuan, who was looking out the window at this time, found that the environment here seemed very familiar to him, and this place seemed quite important to him.
Just as he was racking his brains to figure out what this place was, he was interrupted by his female secretary. She turned around and asked, "Ai Si, what did you say?"
"What am I talking about?" Miss Moman said angrily, "I said, you're always taking me around. This job is totally not what a lady like me should do..."
She said confidently, "By the way, you're going to take me to Asia, so I want a raise!"
Our Master Yuan spread his hands helplessly and said, "Ai Si, you wanted to go to Asia..."
"I don't care. I want a raise anyway!" Miss Moman turned her face away angrily and said, "If you don't raise your salary, I won't go!"
You have to go, I haven't fucked you yet.
Yuan Yanshu has been too busy recently. Just like her female secretary said, "Either go to a dinner party or go to a cocktail party." She has not found a suitable opportunity to rough up this piece of tender meat right next to her mouth.
It would certainly be difficult for people a hundred years from now to understand. He was just returning to China, not going to the moon, so why did he have to say goodbye to so many people?
Yet, to some in 1921, going to China was not much different from going to the moon. Perhaps this was the last time they would see "NY's NY."
So these days, every American who has some friendship with Yuan Yanshu either comes to visit him like the Kennedys, or sends him invitations to banquets or cocktail parties.
The various invitations he received these days could be used to make a deck of 78 tarot cards.
Our Master Yuan also knew very well in his heart that sooner or later he would have to return to America, and if nothing unexpected happened, he would probably spend most of the rest of his life in this foreign country, which is across the globe from his hometown.
Even if he settles down on the West Coast in the future, New York-Washington on the East Coast is the economic and political center of the United States. He really can't neglect these old friends, as they are all his connections.
It's not that Yuan Yanshu is a Western-worshipper, but it's very difficult for him, a Serbian, to make some friends in America, where the anti-Chinese atmosphere is very strong, so he has to maintain them well.
"Alright, alright. I'll give you an extra $20 per week as an allowance while you're on your 'business trip.'"
"30 dollars."
"Twenty-five dollars."
"make a deal!"
“Puff…”
Just as the two were discussing the travel allowance, Xiaokang started the car and drove towards his destination.
"Second Master, please get out of the car."
Master Yuan got out of the car and was about to put on his top hat when he found that the building he was facing was a little strange, with obvious signs of repairs on the walls.
That’s right, this is the scene of the Wall Street BOOOOM incident on September 16, 1920, 23 Wall Street!
Not to mention 1921, even a hundred years later you can still see traces of the explosion here.
Yuan Yan suddenly sighed in her heart. If it weren't for the explosion, she might not have traveled through time.
Maybe I was just drunk.
Maybe I would still be working as a bank clerk in 2017.
No, it should be 2018 now!
I don't know how my parents and my girlfriend are doing. Are they still sad for me?
Wait a minute, so where the car just stopped is...
