Chapter 44: A Tricycle?

Returning to the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm, Li Chao happened to be there as well. He anxiously asked, "I heard you went to talk to Gu Zhuxuan about the revenue share. Why didn't you let me know in advance so I could have Section Chief Smith step in? I guarantee he wouldn't dare to pull any tricks."

The Transportation Section of the Municipal Council specialized in matters of this sort, and Gu Zhuxuan would certainly have given them face.

However, Chen Guangliang also had his concerns. He wondered if involving Smith over such a trivial matter would leave the foreigner with a poor impression—thinking he was incompetent and had to bother him with everything, which would be detrimental to future cooperation.

Therefore, whatever could be resolved independently was best handled independently.

"The matter is resolved. We don't need to give any revenue share to Gu Zhuxuan. Besides, disturbing Mr. Smith wouldn't be very good either. Not only would it make Mr. Smith feel troubled, but it would also genuinely offend Gu Zhuxuan. If Gu Zhuxuan resorted to petty tricks afterward, we couldn't possibly bother Mr. Smith with every single thing."

Chen Guangliang's words surprised Li Chao, and they likewise astonished He Xiangdong, Zhou Xinggao, and Lin Feng.

The matter was resolved just like that?

Curious, Li Chao asked, "How did Gu Zhuxuan agree to it?"

Chen Guangliang smiled and said, "He has the intention of winning me over. Besides, we've only been open for a little over three months, so things just worked out."

Li Chao knew the matter couldn't be that simple!

However, he understood his business partner, who possessed a very sharp mind, so he did not press further.

After chatting with Li Chao about many things, he took his leave.

Li Chao was now very dedicated to the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm, which was a good thing for Chen Guangliang.

As Chen Guangliang's ally and close friend, their cooperation would continue indefinitely.

In the future, there was even a high probability that Li Chao would resign from his position at the Transportation Section and join the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm.

Once Chen Guangliang branched out into other industries later on, Li Chao would be the most ideal candidate to succeed him as general manager.

......

"Professor Zhang."

"Little Chen, I've brought you a magazine. *Camel Xiangzi* is already being serialized in the semi-monthly magazine *Life*."

Chen Guangliang took the magazine and invited Zhang Qihua to sit down in the office and drink tea.

Flipping through the pages, he indeed saw the serialized manuscript of *Camel Xiangzi*. Chen Guangliang said, "I believe this will undoubtedly generate a huge social response... and of course, Professor Zhang's literary skills go without saying."

At this, Zhang Qihua generously remarked, "I owe it all to the subject matter you provided me back then; otherwise, I would never have thought of writing such an article."

He Xiangdong, who was pouring the tea, felt a twinge of curiosity. He hadn't expected his boss to understand such subjects as well; he truly was a man of vast erudition.

The abilities his boss had displayed so far already included reading English newspapers, reading and calculating, and understanding economics, and now a knowledge of literature was added to the list.

Chen Guangliang smiled. "I merely hoped someone would speak up for our rickshaw pullers, not that I truly understand literature!"

In front of intellectuals, one had to appear concerned about the country and the people; otherwise, how could there be any common language?

True to form, Zhang Qihua chimed in, "Indeed, the rickshaw pulling trade involves long-term physical labor, leading to all sorts of physical ailments, yet the pay is low. However, writing an article alone cannot solve such problems. One can only hope to draw the government's attention, urging them not to let rickshaw licenses be concentrated in the hands of large firms, so that every rickshaw puller has the right to own their own pulling vehicle. Shares are certainly a good alternative, and more realistic too, since almost no one can afford to buy even a single rickshaw outright."

He added the final sentence because he knew that the equity system of the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm allowed many pullers who couldn't even afford a rickshaw to truly enjoy the right of 'owning' one.

This was undoubtedly a benevolent act, which was why he also admired Chen Guangliang's character.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Guangliang said, "Actually, drawing public opinion and attention is very helpful for improving the living conditions of rickshaw pullers... Moreover, I have a modification plan for rickshaws. Once implemented, it can at least eliminate the physical injuries suffered by rickshaw pullers."

"What plan?"

Zhang Qihua could not help asking.

Yet, upon second thought, he realized this might be someone else's commercial secret.

Chen Guangliang said, "Merging the bicycle and the rickshaw. Of course, I must ask Professor Zhang to keep this confidential for me, because I currently lack the strength to implement this plan, but within three to five years, I will definitely accomplish it."

A thought flashed through Zhang Qihua's mind: a fusion of 'bicycle and rickshaw'—that would mean the rickshaw puller rides a bicycle to pull the rickshaw behind!

Was that realistic?

Still, he trusted Chen Guangliang deeply and said, "Naturally! I certainly didn't misjudge you, Little Chen. You are a genius with a heart eager to help others."

How shameful!

Chen Guangliang's original intention in letting rickshaw pullers buy into the firm was merely to achieve more with the least amount of money;

Yet now, in the eyes of many, he was performing a great good deed.

Even those rickshaw pullers felt deeply grateful to him!

"You flatter me."

.........

Three days later.

Chen Guangliang sat in his own rickshaw, heading toward Jing'ansi Road (West Nanjing Road) and Yuyuan Road. Today, he was going to inspect a plot of land.

He could hardly contain his joy. For the first time across both of his lives, he was going to purchase a plot of land—and land in Shanghai at that. Just thinking about it was exhilarating enough.

Upon arriving at the site, he instructed the rickshaw to wait on the spot, hiring it for the entire shift.

Soon, Chen Guangliang arrived at the plot for sale.

According to the newspaper, this plot of land measured a full three mu and seven fen, equivalent to six basketball courts or one-third of a soccer field.

A real estate agent wearing glasses introduced, "Mr. Chen, this plot of land has一直 remained vacant. The original owner is an Englishman who is now preparing to put it on the market. The news had just broken when you called!"

Chen Guangliang nodded and said, "My rickshaw firm is expanding recently, so I am specifically looking for a suitable base... I am very satisfied with this land. What is the specific price?"

This was a fine piece of real estate!

Although the truly expensive land in Shanghai was currently concentrated around the Bund, this plot would also become a commercial center in later generations.

Presently known as Jing'ansi Road, four or five years later it would be called West Nanjing Road. In later generations, West Nanjing Road was a street lined with shopping malls, featuring buildings such as Jing'an Temple, Hang Lung Plaza, Meilongzhen Plaza, and CITIC Square.

Of course, this particular plot of land was sandwiched between Yuyuan Road and Jing'ansi Road, falling under the category of Yuyuan Road, located in the section west of Jing'an Temple, spanning a full three mu and seven fen.

"5,200 silver dollars. This is the price demanded by the British owner, and it's non-negotiable! If he weren't returning to his home country, I believe this price could be even higher."

Chen Guangliang immediately calculated in his mind: the unit price was only 1,400 silver dollars per mu, which was dirt cheap.

Of course, it was worth noting that although this was also within the foreign concession, it already fell under the category of 'roads built beyond the boundaries' (where the concession expanded outward through road construction, with disputed substantive ownership). Situated in the hinterland between the western end of Jing'ansi Road and Yuyuan Road, that was why the price was so low.

"Are the documents complete? Can the title be legally transferred?"

"You can rest assured about that. The owner is still in Shanghai, and the land deeds (certificates) are all in his hands."

"Good. Let's set a time to go to the law firm together and sign the contract."

Since they were contracting with a foreigner, he naturally had to bring along Li Chao, whose English was much better than Chen Guangliang's.

"No problem. Mr. Chen is a straightforward man. Of course, this plot of land definitely has immense appreciation potential."

"Haha, it's for my own use; no matter how much it appreciates, I won't sell it."

In reality, Chen Guangliang was grinning from ear to ear inside.

Although this plot was on the periphery, within three years time, multiplying its value severalfold would be an absolute certainty.