A century-old wealthy family that rose from Shanghai

Chapter 208 Family Matters
On December 12, Chen Guangliang returned to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

This trip to Guangdong Province took a week, which was a very quick trip.

The day I returned to Shanghai happened to be Saturday morning.

Chen Guangliang first took a hot bath at home, then called various companies, and then went to the restaurant on the first floor for lunch.

"Master"

"Um"

The servants greeted him one after another, and Chen Guangliang responded in a friendly manner.

The Sunshine Garden villa already had four live-in servants, but during this time, nine more servants arrived, and only four remained.

As long as Chen Guangliang is not satisfied, he will immediately fire the servant and replace him with a new one; generally, those who can stay for three months are basically hired long-term.

This is also a manifestation of a 'probationary period'.

At the dinner table, Yang Hui said, "Today we're having Huaiyang cuisine, including crystal braised pork, dried shredded chicken soup, longan ham, and stewed crab meat with broth."

Among the dining options in Shanghai, Western food is undoubtedly the most high-end, and many wealthy people are proud to serve Western food when entertaining guests; followed by the most popular Cantonese cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, local cuisine, and Huaiyang cuisine; and finally, Hangzhou cuisine, Ningbo cuisine, Fujian cuisine, and Chaozhou cuisine.

At the Chen family, they usually cook Sichuan cuisine, Huaiyang cuisine, Ningbo cuisine, and local cuisine.

Chen Guangliang sat in the main seat and drank a bowl of chicken soup with dried shredded vegetables. He then said with satisfaction, "It's a bit lighter, just right!"

Yang Hui took the opportunity to say, "It's a chaotic situation out there. We don't have enough to eat or wear. We should try not to go out so far in the future."

She said this because she was worried about the backbone of the family, and her eldest son was not married yet.

Chen Guangliang smiled and said, "This world doesn't allow us to stay safe and sound by hiding in the concessions. Instead, we need to travel more and understand the national and overseas situations so that we can make the best judgments at critical moments. You've spent your whole lives teaching Guangcong not to cause trouble, and now you've scared him out of his wits."

Yang Hui said in a softer voice, "There's nothing wrong with living a peaceful life!"

Chen Guangliang didn't want to argue with the old lady. After all, he was the head of the family now, and she would not object if he really took the old lady to Hong Kong.

Instead, Chen Guangcong spoke up at this time: "Mom, when we were in the countryside, how could the poor live in peace? Who wouldn't want to bully you? If there was a natural disaster, many would starve to death, many would die of disease. And the rich can't live in peace either. Who wouldn't want to take advantage of the situation to rob you?"

Yang Hui didn't dare to speak loudly to her eldest son, but she raised her voice to her youngest son and said, "According to what you said, this person can't survive!"

Chen Guangcong said seriously: "Of course there is a way to live, but you have to think and work hard for everything, so that you can live like a human being."

After three years of training from his elder brother, Chen Guangcong finally made some progress.

Facing her youngest son's 'education', Yang Hui said angrily, "You little brat, you're still trying to educate your mother. After dinner, I think we should send the extra meat and vegetables to your second uncle's house. We are rich now, but don't forget those poor relatives in your hometown. Your father once said that we should never forget our roots."

Chen Guangliang frowned and said, "Didn't I have my second uncle and Guangcong arrange jobs for the relatives and friends who came to Shanghai in the car dealerships and factories? Why are you still interfering?"

It's not like he doesn't take care of his friends and relatives who come to him for refuge. If they have the labor, they can go to the Changjiang Car Dealership to pull carts. The rent at the Changjiang Car Dealership is low, so they can still make a living; or if they are smart, they can go to the Vitasoy factory to work as a worker.

Facing her eldest son's warning, Yang Hui lowered her voice and said, "Some of them are real relatives. Although they have jobs and no worries about food and clothing, they don't have a good place to live. Your second uncle and I will arrange to rent them a house. It's better for a few families to squeeze in together than to live in a shantytown. If these people go home and tell you about it, you will have face!"

Chen Guangliang still insisted on his opinion: "Everyone has lived in the shantytowns. In Shanghai, friends and relatives can help you by introducing you to a job. If someone has real skills, it's okay to help them. If they don't have skills, as long as they can eat and drink, they're good enough. Don't say I'm heartless. Even if my own brother is incompetent, I can't give him the life of a rich man."

Yang Hui could only say, "I know. I know what's going on!"

Chen Guangliang nodded and stopped educating his mother.

He gave Yang Hui 2000 yuan per month for household expenses, but he didn't have high demands on life, so he must have enough money.

After all, in this era, a family with an annual income of 400 yuan is already considered an ordinary working-class family (both husband and wife are working).

According to a survey conducted by the SH Municipal Social Affairs Bureau this year on 305 randomly sampled working-class families, in the consumption demand structure of a family with an average annual income of 400 yuan, residents' annual food expenditure accounts for about 53.2% of the total household consumption expenditure, while miscellaneous expenditure accounts for 24.6%, of which 2.40 yuan is spent on pure entertainment (movies, dramas).

In other words, the annual living expenses for an ordinary working-class family are only more than 210 yuan.

Therefore, Yang Hui still has sufficient funds, which enables her to further help her relatives.

After lunch, Chen Guangliang planned to take a short nap before going to the company.

Here, Chen Guangcong moved some vegetables and meat onto the tricycle, and then rode it towards his second uncle's house nearby.

Although Chen Guangliang also arranged bodyguards for Yang Hui and Chen Guangcong, Chen Guangcong sometimes did not ask the bodyguards to follow him for convenience, let alone when he was going to such a close place.

But he has learned to be smarter. When riding his tricycle, he would lower his hat and pass through the north gate with some caution and low-keyness.

"Is my second uncle home?"

"Guangcong is here, is your brother back?"

Yang Qingshan took the things with a smile, and then invited Chen Guangcong into his home.

The Yang family currently lives in a rented house, but they will soon be able to move to the newly purchased "Xincheng Garden", and their quality of life will be completely different then.

Moreover, Yang Qingshan is now a manager of a car dealership. He works five days a week and has a lot of freedom. His salary plus bonuses total 150 yuan.

"I came back this morning. We had lunch together at noon. I'm taking a nap now. I guess I'll go to the company this afternoon."

"He works really hard, and hardly ever gets a break!"

My second aunt joked, "I haven't started a family yet. When I do, I won't work so hard! I just don't know when your eldest brother will get married."

Chen Guangcong said respectfully, "He didn't mention this. By the way, where's my cousin?"

My second aunt shouted into the room, "Xiuying, your second cousin is here. You silly girl, you're so slow. I don't know what you're doing in the room!"

Chen Guangcong quickly said, "Second aunt, my cousin is a girl, and she's already so old. You shouldn't swear at her like that. Besides, our two families are considered respectable now. If outsiders hear this, they'll laugh at us!"

My second aunt was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "People who have studied are different. You look a bit like your eldest brother."

Then, he called Yang Qingshan and moved the meat and vegetables into the kitchen, leaving behind Chen Guangcong, Yang Xiaohu, and Yang Xiuying who had just come out.

"Entertain your cousin"

"I know, I'll just clean up a little bit, but you're out there making up stories about me!"

My second aunt wanted to say something but stopped herself and took it back.

When she got to the kitchen, she finally couldn't hold it in any longer and said to Yang Qingshan, "Do you think Xiuying and Guangcong are a possibility?" Yang Qingshan frowned and said, "They do get along well, but I'm afraid Guangliang won't be able to get over it!"

Second Aunt said immediately, "I don't believe it. Since ancient times, cousin marriages are common. If the child was really a fool, how could it have been passed down for so long? I think Guangliang didn't like Xiuying at the time, so he came up with this excuse. It's different now. I think Guangcong treats his cousin very well!"

Yang Qingshan thought for a moment and said, "Xiuying's attitude is also very important. Otherwise, why would Guangliang support them in their studies? To put it bluntly, this marriage is not up to us."

Although they are parents, they have a strong cousin who is training their younger cousins.

The second aunt said, "That's easy. Let the two kids talk first. If they both are interested, I don't believe that their elder brother Guangliang will be so good at breaking them up. Our daughter is studying and trying to be a lady from a wealthy family. How can she marry a poor boy so easily? Guangcong is different. After all, he is Guangliang's younger brother. He is studying and doing things like his elder brother. We can't miss this opportunity!"

Their current life is that of a middle-class family.

If I marry my daughter into the Chen family, not only will the relationship between the two families become closer, but our future life will also be better.

"That's true, but let's wait a little longer. Guangliang isn't married yet, so let's not talk about this for now. Once Guangliang gets married, we can go to my sister and test the waters. I'll have my sister tell Guangliang, so it won't be wrong."

"You're quite clever!"

Both the couple are interested, but what about the situation outside?

Chen Guangcong was talking with Yang Xiuying and Yang Xiaohu in the living room. After a while, he took the initiative to say, "Cousin, do you want to go to the movies this afternoon?"

A boy over sixteen years old is in adolescence.

Usually Chen Guangcong is either studying in class or helping out at the car dealership on the last day of the weekend. One day, he accidentally discovered that his cousin was also a very outstanding woman, and he admired her very much, but he could only keep it in his heart.

Yang Xiuying didn't notice this change, and just said cheerfully, "Okay, it's better to go by car. It's so cold to take a rickshaw today!"

Chen Guangcong smiled and said, "That's easy. We'll just make a 40000 phone call and we'll have the car."

Yang Xiaohu, who was already over fourteen years old, said, "Second cousin, don't you have a car at home? Why did you need a taxi?"

Chen Guangcong immediately clung to Yang Xiaohu's shoulders and said affectionately, "That car usually takes my mom out and us to school, so it needs to be given a break. Besides, the 40000 phone is very convenient. There's a call center near your door, and it'll be there in a few minutes."

Yang Xiuying also said, "Xiaohu's vanity is at work. He even boasted to his classmates that it was his own car!"

Yang Xiaohu blushed and said unconvincedly: "I don't believe you didn't say that?"

"Bah!" Yang Xiuying said, "You're still young and don't learn your lesson. You just like to lie and brag. I'll let my cousin teach you a lesson."

Yang Xiaohu was suddenly frightened. What he feared most was Chen Guangliang.

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangcong immediately followed Yang Xiuying's words, released Yang Xiaohu's shoulders, and then said seriously: "Xiaohu, you should change this. If others believe it and ask you to arrange a car to go out and play together, wouldn't it be exposed? Besides, we are studying hard now, and we want to make money with our own abilities in the future."

"Second cousin, I was wrong. Please don't tell me." Yang Xiaohu said with his head down.

Only then did Yang Xiuying say with satisfaction: "You are a good boy who corrects his mistakes. I will let you go this time. Second cousin, don't spoil him in the future!"

Chen Guangcong immediately said: "Well, Xiaohu is still young, take it slow."

It can be seen that Yang Xiuying does not have that kind of feeling towards Chen Guangcong, but rather has more of a brother-sister relationship with him.

Even on the way to the cinema, Yang Xiuying would ask Chen Guangliang in a roundabout way, which undoubtedly made Chen Guangcong feel a little jealous.

Of course, he also understood that the gap between him and his elder brother was indeed huge, and only by studying hard could he impress others.

In fact, Chen Guangcong did achieve some success. He has already started middle school. He completed the six-year primary school curriculum in two and a half years. Of course, this is understandable, after all, he has an adult mindset and also attended a private school for a year and a half as a child.

Chen Guangliang didn't care about the little ones' affairs. Anyway, he would always give his three younger brothers and sisters a lot of lectures when they got together.

He is even more strict with his younger brother, which is one of the reasons why Chen Guangcong was able to start middle school in the second half of this year.

According to Chen Guangliang's plan, Chen Guangcong would have to study until at least 1936 and graduate from high school. By then, he would be 22 years old and could go out to work.

On weekdays, Sundays, and during winter and summer vacations, they are asked to work and gain experience.

In the afternoon, Chen Guangliang came to the office building of Changjiang Real Estate.

During the one-week business trip, all companies operated normally and there were no problems.

In the office, after looking at the information about property assets, he felt more at ease.

Recently he has been thinking about one thing: how to protect his assets to the greatest extent possible during the War of Resistance.

Because Chen Guangliang knew that if he went to Hong Kong in 1937, he could only stay there until 1941, and he would have to seek refuge in Macau (he himself might have traveled around, and this was how his family was settled).

During this period, it is impossible to carry wealth with you.

If a large amount of assets were invested in the United States, they would also be frozen in 1941 and would not be unfrozen until several years later, and the specific losses would be unknown.

In this way, properties and land are definitely the best "value-preserving assets".

Even in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the property could have been sold in 1937. Even if it had been expropriated by the Japanese in 1941, it could have been taken back after 1945. This was because the land could not be moved away, and the property could not be completely destroyed.

The land and properties in Shanghai would be risk-free if they were quickly cashed out between 1945 and 1946.

The fifty villas on Xiafei Road, the Shangri-La Hotel, the Times Cinema, the Chen Mansion, etc., are all rich property assets.

Similarly, in a few years, we will also purchase a large amount of land and properties in Hong Kong and Sing Tao Island.

With these property assets as his "trump card", Chen Guangliang will be able to rise quickly after the war and make a comeback.

Of course, property assets can only account for one third.

You can still invest overseas, including purchasing real estate, depositing in overseas banks, purchasing overseas stocks, etc. Even if the funds are frozen for a few years, they will eventually be returned.

In addition, of course, you must hold hard currency such as gold jewelry, antiques, calligraphy and paintings.

Finally, of course, some businesses can be retained and controlled through remote control. And during that period, he could go to Shanghai and Chongqing, after all, he was not a traitor.

Chen Guangliang thought about these things seriously, trying not to take a wrong step.

As a businessman, it is natural for him to protect his property.

I will participate in the war of resistance, but I won’t spend all my wealth!
After all, both your Kong and Song families were able to leave behind so much property, so naturally he also had to retain his strength.

(End of this chapter)