1928: The Rise of Giants

After Wang Ji finished singing, the heat in the Paramount Ballroom dropped sharply, and not many people paid attention to the little girl who had just come on stage.

Zhou Xiaohong took the microphone shyly, and after Wang Ji's encouragement several times, she finally mustered up the courage to go on stage to sing.

She was born in 1920 in a family surnamed Su in Changzhou. Her original name was Su Pu, where Pu means unpolished jade, and it means natural and pure.

Zhou Xiaohong has eight brothers and sisters in her family. She is the second oldest, so her nickname is Yi Guan.

In 1923, she was secretly abducted by her opium-smoking uncle Gu Shijia to the Wang family in Jintan County and changed her name to Wang Xiaohong.

After the Wang couple divorced, she was given to a Zhou family in Shanghai and changed her name to Zhou Xiaohong.

In 1928, Zhou's family became increasingly impoverished. Her adoptive mother was forced to work as a maid to make a living, and her opium-addicted adoptive father wanted to sell her to a brothel as a prostitute. Fortunately, her adoptive mother rescued her in time, thus avoiding a greater disaster.

She loved listening to people singing since she was young and often sang songs along with others. Because of her beautiful voice and extraordinary musical talent, she soon became famous in the school's song and dance troupe.

In 1931, Zhou Xiaohong was spotted by Li Jinhui who happened to pass by and joined the Mingyue Song and Dance Troupe.

This year, the Mingyue Song and Dance Troupe toured around the country with the support of Ye Luo. Zhou Xiaohong starred in the musical "Special Express", and the song "Special Express" sung by her was also recorded into a record.

Wang Ji was invited to perform on stage tonight. As everyone knows, that's because the second young master Ye Luo, the big boss behind the Paramount Ballroom and Ye's Dance Industry, is in the audience.

Li Jinhui was very optimistic about Zhou Xiaohong, who was also Wang Ji's last disciple. After many negotiations with the person in charge of the Paramount Ballroom, he finally helped Zhou Xiaohong get the opportunity to perform.

Zhou Xiaohong, who was still in a daze, held the microphone and started singing. Her voice was clear, like the sound of nature, and soon attracted the attention of many dancers in the audience.

It is hard to imagine that such a thin and petite girl who looks only eleven or twelve years old has such a high talent for singing.

"Is she a child star trained by the second young master?" Rosemary was also conquered by Zhou Xiaohong's singing. She couldn't help clapping her hands and laughing, "It's so beautiful. No wonder you don't even want to talk about business."

"Yes." Ye Luo looked at the stage with a smile and spoke concisely.

This is Zhou Xuan, the most popular golden-voiced singer and movie queen in the future, and the first dual-role actress in the Republic of China.

As two of the leading movie stars, Butterfly and Ruan Lingyu, retired from the film industry one after another, Yeh's Film Company also needed a new pillar to support the sound film market.

Rosemary glanced at Ye Luo secretly, and could tell from his eyes that he had extremely high expectations for this little girl and was very confident in her.

She is obviously only eleven or twelve years old. Who knows where she will go in the next ten years of her life?

If someone else had praised Zhou Xuan, Rosemary would just think he was bragging.

But Ye Luo's performance gave people a very strong persuasive feeling.

After the song was finished, there was thunderous applause from the audience. Zhou Xiaohong conquered the guests with her strength and received praise that was no less than that of her teacher.

After that, the Mingyue Song and Dance Troupe performed as normal.

Wang Ji held Zhou Xiaohong's hand and walked towards this side with the trembling little girl.

The bodyguards beside Ye Luo blocked them out like an iron wall.

Ye Luo waved his hand, indicating that they should go into the private room to chat.

Rosemary followed curiously.

After entering the private room, the bodyguard closed the door casually, leaving only three beauties of different ages and Ye Luo in the room.

"Hello, Second Young Master." Wang Ji poured a glass of foreign wine for Ye Luo, and then gently taught Zhou Xiaohong to greet Ye Luo and the others. Zhou Xiaohong held the wine glass in her small hands, followed closely, walked to Ye Luo with some fear, and called out crisply: "Hello, Second Young Master~"

Although she is only twelve years old, her facial features already show the outline of a beauty.

The little guy's experience was quite miserable. He was sold from one place to another for several years and almost ended up in a brothel because of his unreliable uncle.

"Please sit down, don't be afraid, I'm not a bad guy who eats people." Ye Luo took the wine glass, drank it all, and touched Zhou Xiaohong's head.

The little guy shrank even more and leaned straight into Wang Ji's arms.

Wang Ji smiled helplessly, hugged her, and kept apologizing to Ye Luo: "Second Young Master, please forgive me. Xiaohong is a little introverted and doesn't know the rules."

"It's okay. You know my personality. Am I that kind of person?" Ye Luo waved his hand. "She sings very well. Does Boss Li have any plans for her in the future?"

According to the original history, Li Jinhui couldn't help but raise Zhou Xuan and then exploit her value, so he sold her directly to the Xinhua Opera Society in 1934.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Xuan became an instant hit in the Xinhua Opera Society, and EMI and Victory Records also recorded many of her songs, including "May Wind" and "Dinging", into records.

These songs became popular among the public through radio broadcasts and record sales. In the same year, Zhou Xuan ranked second in a singing competition jointly organized by Shanghai radio stations, and thus won the title of "Golden Voice", starting her glorious singing journey.

"It has not been decided yet. Let her go around with me first." Wang Ji shook his head and said, "Xiaohong is too introverted. She can't perform alone."

"Yes. If you like, I can let her sign a contract with Ye's Film Company and Dance Company and treat her as a normal child star."

Ye Luo tapped the table with his fingers.

Wang Ji was stunned for a moment, then said: "Second Young Master"

"Don't worry, I'm not going to be a singing and dancing girl." Ye Luo knew what she was thinking, although Ye's film and dance business was already considered a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry of the Republic of China.

But the entire industry is still filled with corruption, and countless unspoken rules are eroding the female stars.

Wang Ji was well aware of this, so he was very worried that the young and innocent Zhou Xiaohong would be contaminated by these things.

After all, there are people in the entertainment industry who like this!
The second young master is not like that, but there is no way to guarantee that everyone below him is like that.

"That's good." Wang Ji patted his perky chest.

Ye Luo smiled and said, "If you're still worried, I'll take her in as my godsister. Now you'll be relieved, right?"

"Second Young Master, I didn't mean that." Wang Ji hurriedly came over and toasted him with a glass of wine. She admired Ye Luo deeply in her heart and thought that her reaction just now made Ye Luo unhappy, so she hurriedly smiled apologetically.

She was just worried about some people in Ye's Dance Industry and Ye's Films.

But it’s not easy to say this to the Second Young Master’s face.

Rosemary laughed at the scene, finding it very amusing.

She was well aware of the corruption in the entertainment industry. Sassoon & Co. was also involved in the entertainment industry, and those actresses and singers had basically become playthings for her brothers and sisters.

But now looking at Ye Luo and the actresses under him, it seems that they have a very harmonious relationship.

The longer I stay with him, the more I feel that this person is very interesting, like a treasure who can always bring people all kinds of surprises.

"Zhou Xiaohong is too common as a stage name. Let's change it." Ye Luo looked at the little girl who was gradually relaxing her vigilance towards him, smiled and touched her head, and said, "How about Zhou Xuan?" (End of this chapter)