Let’s not talk about Baotou for now.
At noon the next day, the news that the Chahar Independent Group was going to publicly auction five million shares of the Baotou Tea Trading Company to the whole of China spread quickly through major newspapers. Once the news spread, it immediately triggered a nationwide uproar. There was a great uproar, especially among the wealthy merchants who had retreated from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai to the rear areas. The reaction was the strongest.
Due to the war and chaos, factories were shut down, industries withered, and the entire industrial and commercial system was almost completely paralyzed. In such troubled times, it was not easy to find a project that could generate reliable returns. Even Confucius and Song Dynasty Such a wealthy family cannot find many reliable industrial investment projects.
Of course, it must be explained that the eldest son of the Song Dynasty has no interest in doing anything in the industry. His only interest is to be the largest comprador in China and make huge profits by buying foreign goods. Because of this, he and Kong Xiangxi, the eldest brother-in-law, are not interested in doing anything. The relationship has never been very harmonious, because Kong Xiangxi prefers to run industry.
Last night, Kong Xiangxi played mahjong all night with a few friends and had just returned to Kong Mansion.
During the Republic of China, the mahjong culture among the upper class was very strong. You only need to look at the articles written by the so-called literary masters during the Republic of China. Whether it was Xu Zhimo, Hu Shi or Cai Yuanpei, there were a lot of articles written by them. Regarding the plot of playing mahjong, we can know the prosperity of mahjong at that time.
As for socialites like Lu Xiaoman and Tang Ying, businessmen like Kong Xiangxi and Song Ziwen, and warlords like Lu Yongxiang and Zhang Bangchang, they are even more inseparable from mahjong communication. Marshal Zhang is also obsessed with mahjong and will gather his subordinates every once in a while. Friends play mahjong all night long, and the winning and losing results are huge.
Kong Xiangxi played mahjong all night outside. After returning home, he only felt pain in his waist and back. Feeling that his body was getting worse as he got older, he secretly swore in his heart that he would never play mahjong all night again, and would only play until the early morning at most. It's time to stop, otherwise this old bone really can't hold on.
Kong Xiangxi was sighing when he suddenly saw Kong Lingkan coming out of the gate whistling.
"Hey, why are you at home, you little brat?" Kong Xiangxi couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
No wonder Kong Xiangxi was surprised, because Kong Lingkan said that Young Master Kong was the only boy among the three sisters of the Song family. He could be said to be loved by thousands of people. Even Chairman Chiang was extremely fond of this nephew. It was precisely because of this that Kong Lingkan was raised. With his arrogant temper, not even Kong Xiangxi could do anything about him.
When Kong Lingkan graduated from Shanghai St. John's University three years ago, Kong Xiangxi was still serving as the Minister of Finance, so he took advantage of his position to get a special secretary for his son. This so-called special secretary was actually specially designed for Kong Lingkan. It was no big deal. It's just a name to get a good salary, that's all.
But Master Kong didn't like him at all, so he made all kinds of troubles.
Kong Xiangxi really had no choice, so he gritted his teeth and set up a Central Trust Bureau, and handed over a huge sum of one million yuan from the Ministry of Finance's account to Kong Lingkan to take care of it. Although Master Kong was arrogant and domineering, he was still capable. , immediately after taking office, he called a group of his classmates and teachers from St. John's University to join him in business partnership.
Not to mention, after half a year, the Trust Bureau has really been put into a good shape.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. The Battle of Songhu broke out soon. The Central Trust Bureau was transferred to Hong Kong, and Kong Lingkan also went to Hong Kong. Hong Kong was a British concession, and no one here protected Kong Lingkan, but Master Kong still He behaved as recklessly as he did in Shanghai, only to be deported by the British on any pretext.
The job at the Central Trust Bureau could no longer be carried out, and Kong Lingkan had been humiliated in this incident. Kong Xiangxi wanted his precious son to go to the United States to avoid the limelight. He had even contacted John, the director of Harvard University. For the sake of Kong Xiangxi’s donation, Harvard University was willing to accept Kong Lingkan to study abroad without taking the exam.
According to the historical trajectory, Kong Lingkan returned to Chongqing to see his parents and was about to leave for the United States.
However, in this time and space, things have changed due to the appearance of Xu Rui, a time traveler.
"Dad, you're back home." Almost at the same time, Kong Lingkan also saw Kong Xiangxi, and immediately stepped forward and hugged Kong Lingxi's arm, pulling him into the door, as if he was afraid that he would run away.
"Hey, don't pull, don't pull, don't drag me down." Kong Lingxi was no match for his son's youth and strength. He stumbled several times and almost fell down, but Kong Lingxi followed behind. The driver reacted quickly and stepped forward to help him. Only then did Minister Kong Da avoid falling onto his butt.
After breaking free from his son's clutches, Kong Xiangxi said angrily: "Little bastard, what is going on? I see how excited you are."
"Good thing, great thing!" Kong Lingkan said with great joy, "Your son and I have the opportunity to show off our great ambitions!"
"Exhibiting grand plans?" Kong Xiangxi was actually quite disdainful in his heart, but on his face he didn't want to dampen his son's enthusiasm and asked, "Then tell me what great things are going on?"
Kong Lingkan didn't say much. He just grabbed the newspaper on the stone table next to him and handed it to Kong Xiangxi. Then he turned the newspaper to the front page. Finally, he pointed at the headline and said, "Dad, read this first!"
Kong Xiangxi took the newspaper, took out his reading glasses and slowly put them on the bridge of his nose.
Kong Lingkan became impatient, grabbed his reading glasses and put them on immediately.
"You kid, why are you in such a hurry?" Kong Xiangxi muttered, but there was nothing he could do. Then, Kong Xiangxi's eyes fell on the newspaper, and then his heart was shocked and he was speechless. Xu Rui actually wants to publicly auction the 5 million shares of Baotou Tea Trading Company held by the whole country
Before Kong Xiangxi finished reading, Kong Lingkan said urgently: "Dad, Jinsui is the territory of our old Kong family. Such a big piece of fat cannot be taken advantage of by others. No matter what method is used, we must use these five million shares Eat it, Dad, you don’t know that this Baotou Tea Trading Company is a golden chicken that lays eggs.”
"I know, I know, I know that Baotou Tea Trading Company is a golden egg, uh no, a golden rooster." Kong Xiangxi nodded repeatedly and continued, "But son, can you let me finish reading this article first? Then Can we, father and son, sit down and have a good chat again?"
Kong Lingkan said angrily: "Then look faster."
"Okay, hurry up." Kong Xiangxi adjusted the myopia glasses on the bridge of his nose and read this article again.
The article was written by Lao Dao, the chief reporter of Ta Kung Pao. The wording was precise, the writing was powerful, and the writing was sophisticated. However, these were not the things that attracted Kong Xiangxi. What attracted Kong Xiangxi the most was the article itself, or the content mentioned in the article. He immediately My son was attracted by the public auction organized by Xu Rui.
I didn’t expect, I really didn’t expect, that auctions could be played in such a way
Unexpectedly, really unexpectedly, this Xu Rui is not only good at fighting, but also so good at business. This guy is simply an all-rounder! It's a pity that the eldest daughter is already married and the second daughter is very naughty. Otherwise, Kong Xiangxi would really like to try whether it is possible to recruit Xu Rui as his son-in-law. If he can have a son-in-law like Xu Rui, it will be enough to keep the Kong family standing for fifty years!
However, this idea flashed through his mind, and after a while, Kong Xiangxi finished reading the article.
"Dad, how's it going?" Kong Lingkan said eagerly, "Hurry up and send a telegram to the bidding secretariat in Baotou in the name of the Minister of Industry of the National Government, and then say hello to the Eighth Route Army Office in Chongqing and say Baotou Tea Our old Kong family has taken in all the five million shares of the trading company!"
Kong Xiangxi smiled bitterly and said, "Son, you think things are too simple."
Kong Ling exclaimed: "It's not that I think things are too simple, but that things are so simple! Among the Shanxi merchants, although our Kong family's background is not as good as that of the Qiao family, Hou family, and Lu family, when it comes to reality The three of them combined may not be able to match our Kong family’s influence in terms of influence. If our Kong family wants to acquire these five million shares, who dares to compete with us?”
"This is not a matter of Shanxi merchants." Kong Xiangxi said angrily, "Shanxi merchants have long since declined. As far as the entire Chinese business community is concerned, they have no influence. The Qiao family, the Hou family and the Army are nothing. ? What a century-old name, you and I don’t pay attention to them at all, it’s true."
"Not a Shanxi merchant?" Kong Lingkan was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Who is that? Is it Yu Qiaqing? Du Yuesheng? Or uncle?" At this point, Kong Lingkan suddenly clapped his hands and said firmly, "Yes, it must be my uncle. As far as the current Chinese business world is concerned, he is the only one who can compete with you."
Kong Lingkan's uncle was naturally Song Ziwen, the eldest son of Song Dynasty.
Kong Xiangxi shook his head and said: "Your uncle has strong financial resources and is indeed your father's strong enemy. However, regarding Baotou Tea Trading Company, your uncle is really not your father's opponent, because no matter what, you and I were once Jin Shang leader, after all, Suiyuan Province is still the territory of our Shanxi merchants, don’t you think so?”
Kong Lingkan became a little impatient and said angrily: "This is not right, that is not right, who is it?"
"Who else is of course Xu Rui, the leader of the Chahar Independent Regiment." Kong Xiangxi said, "Let me tell you, this guy is not a good person. Don't talk about me. At the beginning of this year, your uncle went When Shanghai was mediating the riot in the concession in Gujunying, Xu Rui was taken hostage, have you forgotten?"
Kong Lingkan really forgot about this. He was busy with so many things every day, who would remember this
After recalling it carefully, Kong Lingkan nodded and said, "That seems to be the case."
Kong Xiangxi added: "Xu Rui, if you don't even pay for your uncle and uncle, how can you pay for your father and me? You asked me to forcefully purchase five million shares of Baotou Tea Trading Company. This Aren’t you embarrassing me?”