The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

"Listen to the radio!"

"Listen to the radio!"

In the period of the Republic of China, the common people ate dinner very early, and they had finished eating before it got dark. The reason is simple. When it gets dark, you need to turn on the lights, which will cost you electricity or gas. Eating early can save you a considerable amount of money.

Whenever it was dark, the low-level people in Tianjin would go out with small benches and listen to the radio in nearby shops. This is their rare time for leisure and entertainment. With the exhaustion of a tiring day, listening to a few pieces of cross talk, Beijing opera, and pop songs seems to be enjoying a fairy life.

Yuan San'er brought the young daughter-in-law who just married last year, and happily came to the grocery store at the entrance of the alley. The door was full of people, extending from the steps to the street. On both sides are stalls selling mahua, sugar piles, melon seeds, and sugar water. People often buy some food, and the business of the stalls is pretty good.

Since Japan provoked riots in Tianjin, Tianjin's economy has been hit hard, and the lives of the people at the bottom have become more difficult. Although Yuan San'er was reluctant to spend money, he still said to his wife: "Xian'er, do you want melon seeds or mahua?"

Xian'er looked at the snack stand, swallowed, and said with a smile, "What are you spending that money for? You can just listen to the radio. I'm pregnant now, so I save the money for our child. Wouldn't it be better for him to study in the future?"

"It's only when you're pregnant that you need more supplements," Yuan San'er walked to the melon seed stall without waiting for his wife's objection, took out two copper coins and said, "Weigh some melon seeds."

"okay!"

The stall owner didn't mind the lack of money, so he grabbed a handful of melon seeds and put them on the weighing pan, picked and picked them, and raised the scale beam and said, "The scale is booming!"

Yuan San'er hurriedly picked up the melon seeds with his clothes on, and took them back to his daughter-in-law like offering a treasure: "Xian'er, try it quickly, these melon seeds are delicious."

"Yeah. Third brother, you eat too." Xian'er's pretty face blossomed into a smile.

Small citizens have the life of small citizens. A broadcast and a handful of melon seeds are enough to make them feel satisfied with life.

"Jiuda Refined Salt, a well-known brand in China, proud to be a domestic product exported to Southeast Asia!"

"One bowl moistens the throat, two bowls make you feel lonely, three bowls dry your intestines, and four bowls make you sweat lightly. All the injustices in your life are dissipated in your pores... Cheng Yuxin Tea House Tianjin Branch Grand Opening, authentic Huicha time-honored brand, Mr. Hu Shi It's okay to drink."

"..."

The advertisement was broadcast for three full minutes, and someone complained: "Now there are more and more advertisements on the broadcast!"

Someone next to him immediately retorted: "Mr. Zhou runs a broadcasting company and listens to music and cross talk for free, so why don't others advertise?"

"That's right, it would be better to have more commercials. If there are no commercials, the broadcasting company will be closed and go out of business. Where can you go to listen to the program!" Everyone echoed.

Today there are mainly two broadcasting companies in Tianjin. In addition to Zhou Hexuan's China Broadcasting Company, Shanghai has also opened a branch in Tianjin. But the common people still prefer to listen to China Radio. Firstly, everyone is nostalgic, and secondly, the programs of China Radio are more interesting.

After the advertisement ended, there was an excerpt from Peking Opera. Yuan San'er listened cheerfully, and looked at the daughter-in-law around him from time to time, feeling that life was full of flavor.

Suddenly, a strange but familiar voice came from the radio: "Hello, everyone, it's time for Gossip at 7pm, and I'm the host Zhou Hexuan..."

"Wow!"

The people in front of the shop became agitated. Although they were just ordinary people, they had long admired Zhou Hexuan's name. Not to mention broadcasting, last year Zhou Hexuan transported several shipments of grain to Tianjin and sent them to the disaster areas in the north.

"It's worth it this time, Mr. Zhou will do the broadcast himself!"

"He is a university scholar and a big shot, and he actually came to make fun of us."

"Mr. Zhou is a very kind person. I heard from relatives in Shandong that someone has set up a tablet of longevity for Mr. Zhou."

"Blind Liu, a fortune teller at the entrance of the alley, said that Mr. Zhou is the reincarnation of Wenquxing, that's amazing!"

"My nephew is still studying in Mr. Zhou's Hope Primary School. He eats rough-faced steamed buns every day at noon. That kid has not only grown strong, but also learned a lot. He can read every word in the newspaper."

"..."

I only heard Zhou Hexuan's voice continue to come from the radio: "Since January, the topic of most concern to Tianjin people is undoubtedly the increase in tram prices. Today we specially invite a few guests, Ph.D. from Harvard University, Tsinghua Law School Mr. Chen Daisun, welcome Dr. Chen to China Radio Station!"

Chen Daisun said: "Hello everyone, I am Chen Daisun."

Zhou Hexuan added: "There is also Mr. Tao Menghe, a doctor of London University and an internationally renowned sociologist. Welcome Mr. Tao."

Tao Menghe smiled and said, "Hi, listeners, my name is Tao Menghe."

Zhou Hexuan continued: "The last one is Mr. Zhang Xiruo, a master of Columbia University in the United States and a professor of the Department of Political Science of Tsinghua University. Hello, Mr. Zhang!"

Zhang Xiruo said: "Mr. Zhou, hello everyone, I am Zhang Xiruo."

After the introduction of the three guests, no matter they are ordinary people or white-collar middle-class people, they are all in awe of this program. They are all doctors and masters from well-known western universities. It is hard to see them, so it is a blessing to hear them chat.

Zhou Hexuan started to get to the point: "Mr. Tao, what do you think of the price hike in Tianjin?"

Tao Menghe said: "This price increase is unreasonable. I have studied Chinese social issues for a long time. The economic income of ordinary people in Tianjin is completely inconsistent with the fare after the tram company's price increase. In fact, Tianjin The fare of the tram has risen several times in the past ten years, and it is already 12% higher than the fare in Beiping.”

Zhou Hexuan asked Chen Daisun again: "The reason for Tianjin Tramway's price increase this time is that it has suffered serious losses, and only by raising prices can it maintain its operations. Dr. Chen, you are an expert in economics, finance and finance. Please tell me the details. .”

Chen Daisun talked eloquently: "Tianjin Tramway Company was established in 1904, that is, 28 years ago, and the tramway was officially operated in 1906. The annual income of the tramway company is stable, and all investment has been recovered as early as 1912, and the income of the remaining 20 years They are all pure profits. As of last year, the gross profit of Tianjin Tram Electric Lamp Company was close to 4 million yuan, and it is impossible for them to lose money."

Zhou Hexuan asked: "The gross profit of 4 million yuan is a lot! Did all this money go into the pocket of the tram company? Did you pay taxes to the Tianjin government?"

Chen Daisun explained: "The money paid by the tram light company to the Tianjin Municipal Government is not called tax, but service fee. The actual service payment last year was about 120,000 yuan. But in sharp contrast to this, when the tram passes through the concession, A "pass fee" needs to be paid to each concession. The "pass fee" paid to the French Concession last year alone was as high as 740,000 yuan!"

Zhou Hexuan concluded: "That is to say, the Belgians who run a tram company in Tianjin only paid 120,000 yuan in taxes to the Tianjin Municipal Government, but paid 740,000 yuan in tolls to the French Concession?"

"Yes, that's it," Chen Daisun said, "The tolls paid by the tram company to the concessions amount to about 1.6 million yuan a year, but the service fee paid to the Tianjin Municipal Government is only 120,000 yuan."

Zhou Hexuan asked Zhang Xiruo: "Mr. Zhang, is this in line with common sense?"

Zhang Xiruo was straightforward and not afraid of offending people, and said angrily: "This is completely unreasonable! Trams are public utilities, and trams occupy a lot of street space, which belongs to all Tianjin citizens. Not only that, trams often hit people Hitting and killing ordinary people has brought personal danger to ordinary people. Therefore, as compensation, the tram company should not charge exorbitant fares. At the same time, it should pay taxes to the government to improve the municipal environment and the lives of citizens. This is called For the people, use it for the people. Why do you start a company on Chinese land and pay only 120,000 yuan in taxes normally, but pay 1.6 million yuan in tolls to foreign concessions? It’s pure bullying!"

In the past, ordinary people only thought that the price increase of trams was unreasonable, but they couldn't explain why it was unreasonable. Now listening to several scholars and professors explaining the truth, they instantly understood the inside story, and they all cursed out of anger.

"It's too embarrassing, how can there be such a thing?"

"Foreign devils are not human!"

"I will definitely not take the tram in the future."

"Whoever says not to sit, I will sit, and I won't give them money if they sit!"

"Fares up, prices up, prices up every day. The tram company has raised fares five times since I can remember."

"..."

I only heard Zhou Hexuan continue to say: "No wonder the consuls of various countries in Tianjin support the tram company's price increase. It turns out that they are in the same group. The more the tram company raises the price, the more income the concessions of various countries will have. This is a joint effort to bully Tianjin. common people."

"Isn't it?" Zhang Xiruo said, "Otherwise, why would the consuls of Japan, France and Italy rush to send diplomatic notes to the government? It's all driven by interests."

Chen Daisun also said: "I must first make one thing clear. The contract signed between the Qing government and the tram company established the business scope of the tram company. The tram company can only operate within 6 miles from the center of the Drum Tower. The tram sections are all illegal operations. As far as I know, the expanded tram section has not been approved by the Chinese government. It is also because of this that the tram company pays so little service fee to the Tianjin Municipal Government.”

"Hehe, it turned out to be an illegal operation," Zhou Hexuan said with a smile, "I heard that the tram company is doing such illegal things, and it's not the only one."

Zhang Xiruo said: "Yes, because copper dollars must be used to buy tickets for tram rides, this makes the tram company the largest copper dollar changer and turnover dealer in Tianjin. Due to the large amount of copper dollars hoarded, they have sold these copper dollars at high prices since 1920. Mitsui and Mitsubishi in Japan were smuggled to Japan to manufacture arms and weapons.”

Zhou Hexuan said angrily: "That is to say, the guns used by the Japanese Kwantung Army to invade the Northeast are probably also made of copper coins used by Tianjin people?"

Chen Daisun said: "It is true. The tram company's actions not only supported Japan's invasion of China in essence, but also caused a large amount of copper to flow out, disrupting China's financial market. Although the Tianjin Municipal Government has repeatedly banned the export of copper coins, the tram company and Japan The transactions of foreign banks have not stopped, and the smuggling of copper coins has been going on quietly."

Speaking of this, the people in Tianjin who were listening to the radio were all furious.

"It turns out that the tram company is so bad that it colluded with the Japanese."

"Don't take the tram in the future. Every copper dollar we cast is making guns for Japan."

"Take the tram again and you will be a traitor!"

"Let's go and remove the tram tracks 6 miles away from the Drum Tower. They were built illegally and did not pay taxes to the government!"

"Yes, the road belongs to everyone, so why don't you pay taxes if you use it for the tram company?"

"Down with the tram company, down with the traitors!"

"..."

The turmoil of tram price hikes in Tianjin was instantly raised to the level of saving the country.

When the commissioner sent by the Nanjing government arrived in Tianjin, what he faced was a strike by all industries in Tianjin. Citizens and students took to the streets to parade. The tram tracks 6 miles away from the center were all removed.

This incident was known in history as the "anti-tram national salvation movement", or "April 4th patriotic wave", "April 4th Tianjin strike".