The two neighbors who were chatting by the side of the road paused to talk about Zhang Agou as he walked by. "Now that Agou has made something of himself and is valued by the foreigners to help them with their affairs, he might become a big comprador in the future."
"Yeah, he's really landed on his feet. Just last month he couldn't afford to eat, and now look at him," the man said with a hint of envy in his tone.
Zhang Agou, overhearing the conversation behind him, walked with a more vigorous stride, feeling as if his bones had lightened by a couple of ounces.
"Agou seems ready for a break, but off he goes to run errands," remarked Uncle Hu, who sold Porridge at the entrance of the alley, greeting Zhang Agou with a warm smile. "Indeed, Mr. Sterry has so many tasks every day, and here I am, the one running around. It's tough serving these foreigners, but what can you do?" Zhang Agou replied, his tone a mix of complaint and pride, clearly pleased with his own importance.
"Busy times for the foreign masters, they must eat too. Here, I've made you some Porridge, just consider it a little something from Uncle Hu," said Uncle Hu, handing over a bowl of Porridge to Zhang Agou.
"If there's something you need, Uncle Hu, just say it. Your bowl of porridge is too good to be just a casual gift," Zhang Agou remarked, knowing well that the amiable Uncle Hu had something up his sleeve.
"Well, I heard that you helped out with that foreign company, Siweili, selling stocks? I heard buying their stock could yield a dividend of 5.4 cents every three months," Uncle Hu inquired cautiously.
Zhang Agou, not minding the slight error in the company's name, eyed Uncle Hu skeptically. "Uncle Hu, you do realize that each share costs 60 taels of silver. Can you really afford it?" he asked, somewhat incredulous.
Uncle Hu smiled, undeterred. "That's exactly why I'm asking you. I'm not sure if it's a reliable investment," he said, offering Zhang Agou a pack of good cigarettes as a gesture of goodwill.
Zhang Agou, accepting the cigarettes, softened his tone. "Our foreign company, Nanyang, currently operates two rubber plantations covering 4,000 acres. Rubber is selling at 31 cents a pound. If you invest now, you can just sit back and wait for the money to roll in."
"Agou, this rubber business sounds too lucrative. And your foreign boss is just handing out money? That doesn't sound like something a foreigner would do out of kindness," Aunt Zhang, a nearby cloth shoe seller, chimed in skeptically.
Hearing the doubt in her voice, Zhang Agou responded defensively, "It's because our foreign bank wants to expand. We're planning to develop two more rubber plantations, adding another 5,000 acres. We're short on funds, which is why we're offering this opportunity. If we had enough money, why would we share the profits? Right now, it's a chance not to be missed."
His explanation piqued the interest of the crowd, who began to gather around, eager to learn more about the investment opportunity with Willis Rubber Company.
Aunt Zhang, realizing the potential of the opportunity, quickly grabbed Zhang Agou's arm, her tone desperate. "Agou, forgive my earlier words. Please, for the sake of old neighbors, let bygones be bygones."
Zhang Agou, his ego boosted by her regret, magnanimously responded, "Forget it. We're all neighbors here; no need to hold grudges."
The crowd around them cheered, praising his generosity. "Brother Agou is truly generous!" "Indeed, a man of great virtue!"
Uncle Hu, seeing Zhang Agou basking in the adulation and remembering the business at hand, tugged at his sleeve. "Agou, you really must help me out this time. My life savings are counting on this."
Zhang Agou addressed the onlookers, "Alright, everyone. If you want to know more about this rubber investment, come back later tonight. For now, let's clear out."
As the crowd dispersed, Zhang Agou turned to Uncle Hu. "I can't promise anything, but I'll take you to our foreign bank. That's the best I can do."
"I'll get ready then," Uncle Hu replied, removing a chain from around his neck and retrieving a bag from beneath his Chaos stall, clutching it tightly. Turning to Aunt Zhang, he asked, "Sister-in-law, could you watch my stall for a bit? I'll be back soon. If you get hungry, feel free to cook up some Chaos."
"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of everything. Go on, and good luck!" Aunt Zhang responded, watching them as they headed towards the Willis Rubber Company located along the Bund.
As they left, Aunt Zhang considered whether to share the news with her relatives. Feeling a bit hungry, she decided to check Uncle Hu's Wonton stall for something to eat. Lifting the lid, she found only five raw wontons left, which irked her. "Stingy Hu, inviting me to eat and leaving only five wontons!" she muttered, deciding to cook them anyway. "I'll eat these five, but don't think I'm easily pleased."
As they made their way to the company, Uncle Hu and Zhang Agou talked about their lives. "You must be making a good sum from selling wontons," Zhang Agou remarked, observing the dusty road ahead.
"It's not the wontons, but the small plot of land back home that was forcibly bought by Liu Juren. That's what I'm relying on now. My son is grown and needs to settle down. I need to secure his future," Uncle Hu explained, his voice tinged with emotion.
After hearing Zhang Agou's question, Sterry continued to gaze out at the scenery and responded, "What happened with the task I asked you to handle?"
"I've gathered many people to spread the word that our foreign bank is now distributing rubber stocks to pay dividends. The news is practically on every street now," Zhang Agou replied.
Sterry listened intently. He knew Zhang Agou well—a man from the lower echelons of society with no formal education and little ambition, more adept at spreading gossip than any hard labor. But it was precisely such a man that Sterry needed to keep his finger on the pulse of the city, someone who could navigate local waters with ease when it wasn't convenient for Sterry himself to make moves.
"Zhang, you've done well, I can see that. Now, I have another task for you," Sterry said, turning to face him.
"Boss, just give your orders," Zhang Agou responded eagerly, grateful to be in the service of a boss who spoke better Chinese than he did.
"I want you to approach the leader of the city's main gang, ask them to help us promote our company's stock. Can you manage that?" Sterry asked, his gaze fixed on Zhang Agou.
"No problem, boss. Leave it to me," Zhang Agou said with confidence. Mingling with gangs was second nature to him, having been around them since his youth.
"Good. This time, you'll represent us. You can offer them three thousand taels of silver as a reward, but they must provide one hundred and fifteen people for four months," Sterry instructed.
Zhang Agou was momentarily stunned by the generous compensation. Five taels a month per person was nearly four times what an ordinary worker earned, and for four continuous months at that. He almost wondered if his boss was unwell.
However, Sterry had calculated everything carefully. To quickly make inroads, spending generously was essential. Whether it was paying a premium for an office building or offering high wages, it was all part of his strategy to signal to Shanghai that Willis Rubber Company was not concerned with petty cash; it had bigger financial muscles to flex.
"Boss, isn't the price a bit high?" Zhang Agou ventured cautiously, feeling it his duty to question.
"Do I need you to teach me business?" Sterry snapped, feeling the need to assert his authority.
"No, boss. I misspoke. I'll make sure this task is completed perfectly," Zhang Agou quickly backtracked, chastising himself internally for his overstep.
"You can collect the money from the Finance Department to carry out this task," Sterry said, dismissing him. As Zhang Agou left, Sterry couldn't help but appreciate the man's knack for understanding people—a useful trait that eased some of Sterry's own burdens.
Once outside Sterry's office, Zhang Agou's sycophantic demeanor dropped. He prided himself on his ability to read situations and people, a skill that had served him well. Lost in his self-assessment, he nearly collided with another figure around the corner.
"Zhang, don't you look where you're going?" Stocker, Sterry's butler, scolded in English as Zhang Agou nearly bumped into him.
"My apologies, Mr. Stocker, I didn't see you there," Zhang Agou stammered, reverting to his obsequious manner, even though he didn't fully understand Stocker's words.
Stocker, not fully grasping Zhang Agou's reply but understanding the apology in his demeanor, waved him off and proceeded to Sterry's office.
Inside, Stocker reported to Sterry, still looking out over the Huangpu River, "We've secured the rubber plantation in Sumatra for £50,000."
"That's a fair price for 3,000 acres," Sterry noted, aware that his assistant seemed uneasy about the cost. "The rising demand for rubber is spurring the development of many plantations. Securing one that's already producing rubber is difficult; it would have been impossible without a bit of local maneuvering."
Stocker nodded, understanding the strategic value of the acquisition.
Meanwhile, Zhang Agou, money in hand, pondered who in the local underworld could handle the task of promoting the rubber stocks effectively. His thoughts settled on Cai Asi, a well-known figure in the local gangs, who ran a popular casino.
After some inquiries, Zhang Agou met with Cai Asi at his casino. "Brother Agou, what brings you here today?" Cai Asi asked, recognizing the smaller man's unusual presence.
"There's a big opportunity I want your help with," Zhang Agou began, explaining the job and the generous compensation. He even displayed three fingers to emphasize the amount—three thousand taels.
Cai Asi, intrigued by the lucrative deal, agreed but warned, "Make sure the people you recruit aren't just any riff-raff."
"Brother Asi, you know I only deal with the best," Zhang Agou reassured him, handing over a deposit of 1,500 taels.
After securing Cai Asi's cooperation, Zhang Agou felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He decided to celebrate by visiting Uncle Hu for dinner and then perhaps enjoying some leisure time at Yichunlou with Xiao Mixian, to 'extinguish the fire' of a long day.
"Brother Agou, I'm seeking a reliable person, right?" Cai Asi began, hopeful for validation.
"This person is quite satisfactory," Zhang Agou replied after a careful assessment of the individuals Cai Asi had gathered.
"I, Cai Asi, am always meticulous in my undertakings. These candidates were chosen with care. No weaklings or frail souls among them. And don't be shocked—they might not look affluent, but they can definitely pass as ordinary folks, which is all we need," Cai Asi confidently praised the group he had brought along.
Zhang Agou nodded, seemingly convinced by Cai Asi's assurance.
As the conversation flowed smoothly, Cai Asi decided to probe a bit further. "Brother Agou, you mentioned Mr. Sterry... is there a chance I might meet him?"
Hearing this, Zhang Agou's demeanor shifted to one of increased vigilance. His current status was all thanks to his assistance to Mr. Sterry, and now it seemed Cai Asi was aiming to edge into his territory, a thought that unsettled him.
"Four brother, you know Mr. Sterry is swamped daily. I can't just arrange a meeting; we have to wait for a suitable time to approach him," Zhang Agou replied, masking his discomfort with a pretext of Mr. Sterry's busy schedule.
Cai Asi sensed Zhang Agou's reluctance but didn't press further. He understood the stakes—Mr. Sterry had become a prominent figure in Shanghai, especially now with the rubber market booming. Recent newspapers were abuzz with Sterry's plans to establish the world's largest rubber production park in Nanyang, a venture that had caught the eye of many, including Mr. McBian of Langley Company.
Mr. McBian, a figure of considerable ambition, had arrived in Shanghai in 1903. Initially, his ventures in various goods didn't yield much success until he noticed the rising rubber prices and saw a potential goldmine. Despite his enthusiasm, a lack of capital had hindered his initial efforts to capitalize on this commodity. Now, aligning with Sterry, who was well-funded, seemed a promising avenue to explore the lucrative rubber prospects further.
At that moment, Mr. McBian was in his office, receiving updates from his subordinates. "Boss, the Willis stocks haven't sold much yet. Most are just watching, waiting to see how things unfold," reported one of his employees.
"And Willis has been gaining quite a momentum. Even the ambassadors are aware a new rubber merchant has set up shop intending to establish the largest company. Shall we just watch them?" another subordinate inquired, hinting at potential actions they could take.
"Just focus on our tasks; don't worry about the rest," Mr. McBian responded tersely, hiding his frustration. He knew if he couldn't compete at the same level, he'd have to be content with what little he could scrape up behind the giants.
Meanwhile, at Willis Company, Sterry, along with his associates Felix and Stocker, were discussing their current standing.
"The visibility is fantastic—there's hardly anyone in Shanghai who hasn't heard of Willis Company," Sterry noted with satisfaction.
"We've already allocated 150,000 pounds, and remember, our total fund is only 600,000 pounds," Stocker interjected, his tone laced with concern. The rapid expenditure was a source of anxiety for him.
"Relax, Stocker. These are necessary early expenses. I predict we'll see substantial returns after the first dividend payout," Sterry reassured him.
"I certainly hope so," Stocker muttered, still uneasy.
Observing the heavy atmosphere, Felix attempted to lighten the mood. "Hey, don't just dwell on work. A bit of relaxation could do us some good, make us more effective."
"Relax? With such a large amount at stake?" Stocker raised his voice, clearly not in the mood for leisure.
Seeing the tension, Sterry intervened, "Let's go out, have a drink, maybe explore a bit of what they call the 'Oriental Paris'."
"Yeah, let's start with a drink and see where the night takes us," Felix agreed, eager to shake off the stress.
"Stocker, you sure you don't want to come along?" Sterry asked.
"I better stay and review the financial statements. Someone has to keep an eye on our funds," Stocker replied, half-joking yet serious about his responsibilities.
With that, Sterry and Felix headed to the Old Sailor, a nearby bar, where they settled in a quiet corner with two glasses of brandy.
"Do you know, Sterry, I once sought to meet a woman with bound feet, a relic of the Qing Dynasty? I had Zhang guide me. Guess where he took me?" Felix shared, trying to amuse Sterry.
"Where did he take you?" Sterry inquired, intrigued.
"To a brothel named Li Chun Lou. He introduced me to a young girl, barely this tall," Felix gestured, "Her face caked in thick white powder, lips dyed black. I was horrified. Only later did I realize she was just a 13-year-old. But her feet were indeed tiny, barely ten centimeters. I couldn't fathom how such a thing was possible."
"And then?" Sterry prodded for more.
"I gave the girl some money and scolded Zhang. I swore never to visit such a place again," Felix concluded, shaking his head at the memory.
Laughing, Sterry responded, "That's quite a story, Felix. But it's these experiences that make our stay interesting, don't you think?"
"I've heard about a reputable club on Huali Road, frequented by many distinguished ladies. Shall we check it out?" Felix suggested, ready for the next adventure.
"Sure, after we finish our drinks, let's head there and see what the night holds for us," Sterry agreed, eager to continue their exploration of Shanghai's nightlife.
Three months later, as scheduled, Willis Company issued a dividend of 5.4 cents per share, cementing its legendary status in Shanghai. The success of Willis Rubber Company sparked a frenzy in the market, driving the price of rubber and Willis's stock to unprecedented heights. The rubber boom, much anticipated by Edel, had arrived sooner than expected, turning the speculative eyes of the world towards the burgeoning industry.