The Beacon of Laiyang Metal

Chapter 8 The Peace Hotel
  Wei Yuan observed along the way in the rickshaw and found that most of the policemen wearing black uniforms on duty at the intersection were armed with wooden batons. Only a few of them were leading the team and only had revolvers on their waistbands. Their firepower was pitifully weak.

Most of the men and women walking on the street, who seemed to be well-educated and well-off, were wearing long robes, and some were dressed in suits and windbreakers. Like Wei Yuan, they all traveled in rickshaws, and the rickshaw driver pulled the car in a hurry. Pass.

As for the cars on the road, they either belong to foreign companies or can only be purchased by politicians and wealthy businessmen.

Those who drive large trucks and pull rickshaws all wear short jackets and trousers made of blue-black or off-white homespun cloth. On a cold day, they reveal the lean and strong forearms and legs that are common among manual workers in this era.

In addition, the people seen on the street were almost all in navy blue and black except for the faded homespun clothes, and many of them were wearing puddings.

Even so, this was still the "Magic City" with the best economy at the time, which also shows that the quality of life of people in this era was generally not very high.

The rickshaw driver who was still trotting in front stopped, turned his head and said to Wei Yuan: Sir, the Peace Hotel has arrived.

Only then did he notice that on the street to his right was the "famous" Peace Hotel.

Above the entrance of the Gothic building, there are eye-catching gilt Chinese and English characters: Peace Hotel
  Peace Hotel, formerly known as Chinachem Hotel and also known as Sassoon Building, is located at No. 18, Zhongshan East st Road, HP District, "Magic City". It was designed by Jewish businessman Victor Sassoon.

The design style is Chicago School Gothic architecture, which is also the city’s business card of the “Magic City” in later generations.

The entire building has twelve floors and a height of 77 meters. It was the tallest building in the "Magic City" at that time. It overlooks the Huangpu River and the bustling Nanjing Road. It also has two of the earliest elevators and a roof in the "Magic City". garden.

When it first opened, the hotel was equipped with an air-conditioning system that was the world's leading technology at the time, as well as an in-room telephone that was not yet available in European hotels.

The combination of elegantly decorated guest rooms and suites with technology and the most luxurious and comfortable accommodation facilities was unique in the "Magic City" at that time and even in Asia.

The reason why the Peace Hotel is famous is not only reflected in the hotel hardware and luxurious decoration, but also the story behind it and the testimony of historical events.

In 1909, China, Britain, the United States, France and other countries held the Universal Anti-Smoking Conference here;
  In 1911, Sun Yat-sen went to Nanjing to take office as the interim president of the Republic of China. He passed through Shanghai to attend the welcome meeting, where he put forward the famous slogan "The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades still need to work hard";

In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Meiling held an engagement ceremony in the Meilu Hall of this store.

Mr. Qian and his wife, the two bomb and one star founders of the later Republic of China, got married here;

American General Marshall and Ambassador to China Stuart all lived here;

It was not until the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941 that it was occupied by the Japanese puppets.

There was a rumor in the "Magic City" at that time that no matter how much trouble you caused outside, as long as you entered the Peace Hotel, no one in black and white would dare to touch you.

It can be said that staying at the Peace Hotel at that time was a symbol of status and status. Of course, the room rate was definitely not cheap. Even the cheapest room price was 20 French currency, which was approximately equivalent to 20 current oceans.

You must know that the monthly salary of ordinary workers in the "Magic City" at that time was between ten and twenty-five yuan, which means that one night's stay was equivalent to a month's salary of ordinary people.

Take the price of goods in the "Magic City" in 1930:

大米一石14元，切面1斤0.07元，猪肉1斤0.28元，棉花1斤0.48元，煤炭1担0.14元，煤油1斤0.06元，肥皂1块0.05元，香烟1盒0.036元，茶叶1斤0.23元，活鸡1斤0.37元，鲜蛋1个0.027元，豆油1斤0.19元，食盐1斤0.043元，白糖1斤0.096元，细布1尺0.107元。

Therefore, the Peace Hotel was really not within the reach of ordinary people at that time.

For ordinary people, the Peace Hotel is a legendary existence. If someone says that they have stayed at the Peace Hotel, they will definitely arouse envious looks from around them.

Wei Yuan nodded, how much?

The driver hurriedly replied: The road is not far, just give me 2 cents!
  He took out the wontons and pan-fried buns he had eaten in the morning, and the change that the stall owner got back, without counting it, it must be more than 2 cents, stuffed it into the driver's hand.

They are all poor people struggling to make ends meet. If you can help them a lot, there is no need to worry about paying eighty cents; "It's all given to you, no need to look for it."

The coachman was slightly startled, then bowed with more respect and thanked him.

Wei Yuan then stood up, picked up the imitation leather handbag he used for business in his previous life, and got off the rickshaw.

There were two doormen in charge of greeting guests at the revolving glass door. They were dressed in Western-style clothes and had slicked-down hair. The waiters in suits and leather shoes saw Wei Yuan getting off the rickshaw and walking towards the hotel. One of them hurriedly stepped forward and bowed slightly. , "Welcome. Are you staying here, sir?"
  That's right, please help me arrange a guest room for three days first, and I can extend my stay later if necessary," Wei Yuan said stabbingly;

After saying that, he took out a big coin from his pocket and threw it towards the waiter. To say that this waiter was also a smart boss, he saw that Wei Yuan's suit made of satin-like fabric (synthetic fiber) was straight and elegant. .

Not to mention anything else, this was the first time he saw this satin suit without a trace of pleats. He skillfully took the "tip" from Wei Yuan and his tone became three points more enthusiastic;

So he immediately invited Wei Yuan to sit on the leather sofa where the VIPs were resting next to him, and he trotted to the front desk of the lobby to help with the check-in procedures.

I took the tea brought by the pretty waitress in the lobby and looked at the interior decoration of the hotel while drinking tea;
  The overall decoration presents a French style, with carved wooden panels on the walls, wooden floors with patchwork patterns on the floor, and thick handmade wool carpets, which feel as soft as stepping on cotton. Above, a huge crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling above, emitting a bright yet soft light.

In less than a cup of tea, the receptionist helped to complete the check-in formalities. Weiyuan paid a total of 70 yuan for the three-day room fee and the deposit, which was converted into the price at which he would buy Dayang later. Together with the deposit, the total was 3500 yuan. Soft girl, it’s simply a great value.

He took the room key, declined the receptionist's offer to take him back to his room, and took the retro-style mechanical elevator alone.

clack clack.
  After a while of mechanical gear business, the elevator door on the 8th floor opened, and he found his room number 8-808. The number was very auspicious. I hope this transaction can get off to a good start, Wei Yuan thought to himself.

The night is beautiful.

Wei Yuan stood with his hands behind his hands in front of the window in Room 808 of the Peace Hotel, looking at the brightly lit Huangpu River Bund not far away, thinking over and over in his mind what he needed to do for this trip.

The first thing is to get to know a few powerful big buyers or foreign banks. This is a must and the key to his trip.

If the goods I brought were just retailed by myself, I would probably have to sell them until the end of the Year of the Monkey. In addition, if I were to work alone, I wouldn't rule out that someone would take advantage of the money, and my safety would not be guaranteed.

You must know that in this era, human life is worthless, and the most indispensable thing is desperadoes.

The next step is to find a way to buy a property and use it as your base in this time and space. After all, there are people coming and going in the hotel, and if you stay there for a long time, you will inevitably be noticed by people who care about you.

jingle bell ~ jingle bell ~
  Suddenly the phone in the room rang, and the call was from the front desk of the hotel lobby;
  "Hello Mr. Wei, I'm sorry to bother you. The hotel will have a cocktail party at 7 o'clock tomorrow night. It will be hosted by the hotel chairman, Baron Victor Sassoon."

Celebrities from all walks of life in Shanghai will be present, and hotel guests are also invited. If you are interested, I can help you register.

Wei Yuan was startled for a moment, and then he felt happy. This was really a pillow for him when he was dozed off. He was worried about how to get to know these high-ranking people, and then such an opportunity appeared.

After regaining consciousness, he hurriedly said: "Of course, thank you Baron Victor Sassoon for the invitation. It is a great honor."

Seeing that Wei Yuan agreed to participate, the receptionist on the other end of the phone said again:

"Mr. Wei, we have registered you here. A waiter will deliver the invitation to the room later. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us."

"it is good"

Weiyuan hung up the phone.

(End of this chapter)