Tianzhu: The Record of Foreign Stories in the Republic of China

Chapter 13 Kite (2)
Zhong Ming was taken aback, knowing that his master was still angry about beating him in the kite competition, he bent his knees and wanted to kneel on the ground again.Zhao Fengnian turned around, supported him, and said: "Mr. Zhong, what are you doing? Learn from a teacher, there will always be a day when you become a teacher."

Zhong Ming couldn't stop crying and said: "Master, I..."

Zhao Fengnian slowly closed his eyes, waved his hands and urged: "Let's go, I'm an old teacher, and I can't teach you anymore."

Zhong Ming heard him call "Mr. Zhong" to himself, and knew that the master's mind had been decided, and the fate between the master and the apprentice was over, although he felt reluctant to give up, he couldn't say anything, so he had to tidy up a few clothes, bid farewell to the master, and said goodbye. Tears left.

Looking at his gradually fading back, Zhao Fengnian couldn't help moistening his old eyes, sighed and said: "Silly boy, Master is not a narrow-minded person, why would you be so upset about the fact that you beat Master in the kite competition? Just followed Master, you can only be an apprentice for the rest of your life!"

Half a month later, a new "Broadly Advertised Art Kite Club" suddenly opened on Paoma Street.When Zhao Fengnian inquired, it turned out that his apprentice Zhong Ming opened the shop.This kid is really promising!It's just that Paoma Street and Yipu Street are just across the street, and this kid opened a shop there. Is it obvious that he wants to steal the business of my Zhaoji kite shop?Zhao Fengnian couldn't help scolding his apprentice cheerfully in his heart.

Unexpectedly, less than three days after the widely advertised art kite club opened, several familiar kite lovers came to complain to him.It turned out that these people knew that Zhong Ming had won the kite competition championship, and seeing that he opened a kite club, they wanted to ask him to make some kites for flying.Unexpectedly, Zhong Ming said disdainfully: "How much profit can I make by selling a kite to you? Didn't you see the sign outside? This is the Art Kite Club, which is widely advertised, and it's not a piecemeal way." Next to the kite shop. If you want to buy a kite, please go to another shop."

Zhao Fengnian turned pale with anger, and scolded: "You bastard, is there anyone who looks down on people like this?" Then he turned his face and said kindly to the old customers, "You guys, don't be as knowledgeable as him, I have a lot of kites in this shop, you can pick a few at random, and they will be given away to you without charge.” After hearing what he said, everyone felt at ease.

Seeing off these old friends, Zhao Fengnian also kept muttering in his heart: Zhong Ming, a brat, opened a kite shop but didn't sell kites. What kind of medicine does he sell in his gourd?

Just as he was wondering, he heard someone shouting from outside: "Master Zhao, your apprentice is flying a kite at the pier by the river, why don't you go and have a look?" The place is full of traffic and people all day long, what kind of kite does this kid fly there?Curious in my heart, I left the kite shop, wanting to see what happened.

Above the crowded pier, a kite with a fairy basket has already been raised high.The fairy was made bigger than a real person, and her appearance was also beautifully painted. She had a graceful figure, and when the wind blows, her waist seemed to really twist. She was holding a colorful flower basket in her hand, she really looked like a descendant. Fairy, aroused applause from the ground.Zhao Fengnian followed the kite line and looked down. The kite flyer was really chiming. He thought to himself: What kind of tricks does this kid fly a kite in a place with so many people?
Not long after, I saw a "Peng" gliding up the kite line, and touched lightly under the flower basket carried by the fairy.The bottom cover of the flower basket opened with a sound, leaking countless colorful pieces of paper, like colorful butterflies flying all over the sky, spilling down one after another.

Here, Yue Yongde will explain to you what is called "touch" in kite making.Skilled kite artists will make a kind of kite reciprocator. When flying, hang the reciprocator on the flying line. The reciprocator is blown to the kite by the wind. It falls off, the sides are closed so that it cannot be exposed to the wind, and it slides back down again.This kind of shuttle is what we commonly call "touch".In the process of kite flying, you can use the "touch" function to touch the mechanism, so that the kite can make the goddess scatter flowers, set off fireworks or other actions.

Let's say that Zhong Ming resorted to a trick of "Fairy Scattering Flowers", sprinkled countless pieces of paper all over the sky, and the onlookers below stretched out their hands to catch it, not knowing what it was.Zhao Fengnian also picked up one, but it was a colorful leaflet with two lines of advertising slogans: Xiulin Decheng Rice Shop will open tomorrow, with a [-]% discount for rice purchases. There are lottery tickets.

It was only then that Zhao Fengnian suddenly realized, no wonder this kid opened a kite club but didn't sell kites, no wonder this kid named his shop "Guang Er Advertisement Art Kite Club", it turned out that he specialized in using kites to advertise for merchants in order to earn money. Take generous advertising fees.It was a good kite, but he made it smell like copper.Zhao Fengnian couldn't help looking down on this apprentice.

The next day, Decheng Rice Shop opened, and there was an endless stream of people who came to buy rice, and the business was surprisingly good.As a result, Zhong Ming and his well-known Art Kite Club became an instant hit and became famous.

Xiulin City is located on the edge of Hunan and Hubei, on the south bank of the golden waterway of the Yangtze River. It was originally a traffic fortress between the north and the south, and a place where merchants gathered.In order to increase the popularity of their shops and develop their business, more and more merchants ask Zhong Ming to do kite advertisements.Zhongming may use a large board kite as an advertising carrier to directly print the advertising language on the kite, or use a dragon kite with a slogan under the head to promote the business, or use "touch" to distribute advertising leaflets, and the business volume will be large at once Increase, business is getting better and better.Sometimes even the provincial city chamber of commerce will invite him to advertise any activities held by the chamber of commerce.

Although there was an additional kite club in the city, the scope of business was different from that of Zhaoji Kite Shop, so the two shops did not form a competitive situation.The business of Zhao Ji's kite shop is still tepid and passable.Zhao Fengnian's life was just so unsalty.

In the winter of this year, the Japanese army divided into two groups and approached the Hunan-Hubei border area from both water and land routes. The national army collapsed without a fight, and Xiulin City fell immediately.

The Japanese army implemented a high-pressure policy in the occupied areas, and the people who disobeyed even slightly were charged with anti-Japanese crimes.All of a sudden, there was a bloodbath in Xiulin City, all industries withered, everyone was in danger, and the common people were living in dire straits.

At the end of summer, when the war stopped for a while, Japanese businessmen entered Xiulin, some opened factories, some opened shops, and some opened shops. After winning a short-term military victory, they intended to implement an economic blockade.Among them was a Japanese businessman named Hisashi Suzuki, who forcibly occupied the meeting place of the Xiulin Chamber of Commerce and opened an Oriental department store.In order to crowd out other Chinese shops, the prices of commodities were extremely low at the beginning of opening.Because the oriental products are more exquisite than those in Chinese grocery stores, and the prices are lower, it naturally attracts some Chinese people to patronize.

There are also some insightful people who have seen through the tricks of Japanese businessmen and stood up to call on the people to unite and boycott Japanese products.Because Suzuki Hisashi has an unusual relationship with the Japanese army commander Kozuka Teichi who was stationed in Xiulin City, and Kozuka Teichi also owns some shares in the department store, the Japanese army is extremely sensitive to those who take the lead in boycotting Japanese goods. Immediately arrested and shot for anti-Japanese crimes.Since then, the Chinese dare not speak out.

In May of the following year, because the business of the department store was not as prosperous as he had imagined, Hisashi Suzuki decided to hold a large-scale celebration event on the first anniversary of the company's opening, taking the opportunity to advertise and expand its influence.In addition to gongs, drums, lions and art performances, advertising kites are also planned to be released on the spot during the celebration. First, to attract the attention of the audience and increase popularity. Second, to enhance the advertising effect and make the business of the department store boom.

As soon as Suzuki Hisashi inquired, there were only two people who made the best kites in Xiulin City, one was Zhao Fengnian from Zhaoji Kite Shop, and the other was Zhong Ming from the well-known Art Kite Club.He also found out that when Xiulin merchants do kite advertisements, they usually go to Zhong Ming.But Suzuki said that his department store is no different from ordinary Chinese stores, and must invite the best artistes to fly the best kites to produce the best results. Therefore, the two masters of kites should be invited at the same time to combine their efforts. Together we will make the biggest, best and most special advertising kite ever.As soon as the matter was explained, the secretary took the translator and went down to make arrangements.

It was already three days later that Zhong Ming walked into Zhaoji Kite Shop with Suzuki Hisashi's invitation letter and 100 yuan silver coins. "Hey, Master Zhong, you're here." Zhao Fengnian was busy in the store, when he looked up and saw him, he hurriedly raised his hands to say hello, he said politely, but his face had already darkened.

Zhong Ming smiled wryly and said: "Master, don't embarrass me. In front of you, Zhong Ming will always be an apprentice." Zhao Fengnian waved his hand and said, "No, my old man only sells a kite for fifty cents, and you have a kite At least you can earn dozens or even hundreds of dollars, but a bad old man like me can't teach such a promising apprentice like you."

Zhong Ming smiled wryly again, pretending not to hear the sarcasm in his words, he handed him a bag of silver coins together with Suzuki Hisashi's invitation letter, and said, "Master, Japan's Toyo Department Store is going to hold a journal recently. Their boss, Hisashi Suzuki, wants to ask us to make an advertising kite for him, which will be released at the site of the celebration. Here is 100 yuan in silver coins, which is regarded as a deposit from Mr. Suzuki. After the event is completed, there will be another important remuneration."

The corner of Zhao Fengnian's mouth twitched, amused: "Isn't it your job to advertise for rich people? Why do you want to involve me, a bad old man?"

Zhong Ming pointed to the invitation letter and said: "Mr. Suzuki named us master and apprentice to go into battle together. He said that only by combining the strength of our two kite masters can we create a unique kite and show that Dongyang Department Store is different. style."

Zhao Fengnian turned his mouth away: "Mr. Suzuki, Mr. Suzuki, you are quite affectionate."

Zhong Ming blushed and was speechless for a while.Zhao Fengnian stuffed the invitation letter and the 100 yuan silver dollar back into his hands, and said with a sullen face, "What if I don't want to accept Suzuki's business?"

Zhong Ming looked serious, and said seriously: "You know the relationship between Mr. Suzuki and the Japanese Army Major Kozuka Teichi. Mr. Suzuki said that if the master refuses to honor the face, he will let the Japanese Army Major Kozuka Teichi give an order. People in Xiulin will no longer be allowed to fly kites, and violators will be arrested and shot as anti-Japanese crimes.”

Zhao Fengnian was so angry that his face turned red, he slapped the table and scolded angrily: "It's unreasonable, it's unreasonable, it's a death penalty for Chinese people to fly kites in their own place, this, what kind of robber logic is this!"

(End of this chapter)