Chapter Four: The Foreigner and the Woman

The weather in late April had grown somewhat warm and pleasant. Around noon, some rickshaw pullers would choose to take a nap beside their rickshaws.

Although a typical shift for a rickshaw puller lasted about ten hours, in reality, few could pull for that long continuously. Most of the time was spent waiting for customers and resting.

Even if you were given plenty of business, how many could physically endure it?

In the previous life’s story, “Rickshaw Boy,” it was said that a rickshaw puller in Beiping needed to save money for three years to buy a rickshaw, but Xiangzi, being healthy and frugal, only needed two years.

Having a strong physique was indeed better than anything else in this trade.

Chen Guangliang had been transported back nearly a week now. He was certain his body was undergoing a second phase of growth, as his appetite had increased by nearly a third. To avoid hindering this growth, he ruthlessly raised his living expenses.

Higher living costs meant Chen Guangliang had to pull more business to quickly save the "thirty taels" needed to plan a “partnership to buy a rickshaw.”

While waiting for customers, many chose to rest or even gather to gamble and chat.

Obviously, Chen Guangliang did not engage in such activities. He usually did two things:

First, he read newspapers, not only to keep up with the era’s information but also to practice traditional Chinese characters by sketching them on the ground. Fortunately, with a foundation in simplified characters and familiarity with most traditional ones, his learning was not difficult—indeed, quite simple.

Second, he cleaned his rickshaw. Chen Guangliang paid attention not only to his personal hygiene but also to the cleanliness of his rickshaw. Whenever he passed by the river, he fetched a bucket of water to wash himself and dampen his towel.

Cultivating good habits was beneficial for accomplishing great things.

“Hello, by car?”

Chen Guangliang’s words startled several rickshaw pullers and even surprised a foreigner.

He thought it was no big deal; after all, in his previous life, he had attended university and knew a few words from the CET-4 English exam.

The foreigner decisively chose to ride Chen Guangliang’s rickshaw.

“British American Tobacco Company, you know?”

The foreigner took out a pack of “Robber Brand” cigarettes to show him, fearing Chen Guangliang might not understand.

In the 1920s Shanghai market, there were many smokers and a wide variety of cigarette brands, with six dominating the market. The most prestigious was the Old Sword brand, commonly called “Robber Brand” because its box featured a fierce-looking pirate holding a knife. Next were the Red Tin Pack (nicknamed “British Brand”), Green Tin Pack (“Three Cannons”), and White Tin Pack (“Winch Brand” or “Blue Cannon”). The “tin pack” names came from the colored cigarette boxes lined with tin foil: pink for Red Tin, green for Green Tin, white for White Tin. These four were considered premium cigarettes, smoked by the wealthy. Mid-range was Qianmen, and lower grades were Hademen.

All six popular cigarette brands were produced by the same company—the British American Tobacco Company.

“Huangpu… South Suzhou Road?”

“OK.”

The foreigner happily lit a cigarette and was about to offer one to Chen Guangliang.

But Chen declined; he did not smoke.

This was not the first time Chen Guangliang had picked up a foreign customer, but he always enjoyed chatting with foreigners to improve his broken English.

Although foreigners looked down on rickshaw pullers, they wouldn’t mistreat someone who understood their language a bit.

Sometimes, after reaching the destination, foreigners would even give a few extra coins.

It was said that after seven in the evening in the French Concession, one could pick up foreign gentlemen heading to the Paramount Ballroom. They wore fancy Western clothes and suspenders, chatting happily in foreign languages while riding. Some would give extra coins upon alighting, which was the greatest joy for rickshaw pullers.

Chen Guangliang had not worked the night shift yet but had met a few foreign customers who routinely gave a few extra cents.

“Chen, study English, go foreign firm work… work, understand?”

“I know… I know.”

At the British American Tobacco Company, the foreigner John did not forget to “advise” Chen Guangliang, suggesting he learn English to work for a foreign firm rather than remain a rickshaw puller.

Chen Guangliang aspired to be a comprador for a foreign firm, as it would expand his business and network, though it was unrealistic for now.

Yet John’s words only strengthened Chen’s belief in the importance of learning English. Though he knew many words, normal conversation was difficult.

Watching John enter a European-style office building, Chen Guangliang pondered.

Currently, the British American Tobacco Company controlled eighty percent of the Chinese cigarette market and paid no taxes. But with the recent Northern Expedition victory, the Republic of China government had to tax the company to fund the military.

From what Chen knew of history, taxing the British American Tobacco Company involved a series of “battles”—the imperial powers would not yield easily. In these struggles, Du Yuesheng seemed to play a significant role behind the scenes, supporting strikes by his disciples, introducing the Nanyang Tobacco Factory to back strike funds, and employing clever tactics.

Although Chen was aware of this history, he was just a small character and soon shook his head and left.

On the way back, he avoided waiting for customers in unfamiliar places, preferring to keep moving while looking for passengers. This was practical experience because some patrol officers might “check licenses” when they saw unfamiliar rickshaw pullers.

Of course, the inspection was a pretext. Their real intention was to extort money, usually demanding a dime to let one pass.

The patrol officers’ monthly salary was only thirteen to sixteen taels, so they relied on extorting the lower classes to fill their pockets.

Thus, Chen Guangliang pulled an empty rickshaw, eyes and ears alert for customers.

He felt he had a “golden finger,” such as sharper senses and greater strength, which was excellent. Even if it didn’t mean earning more pulling rickshaws, he could still take risks when necessary.

Taking illicit shortcuts was a last resort.

Along the way, some taxi drivers honked wildly, and some police officers shouted at rickshaw pullers—this was a lowly profession.

“Kid.”

Hearing this term did not anger Chen but instead made him dash toward the voice like a dog chasing a bone.

He secured another fare!

A woman with a child of about ten years old got in together.

In the early 20th century, rickshaws could carry two adults, but later the government deemed it improper—a woman sitting on a man’s lap—and physically taxing on the pullers. So, eventually, only one adult passenger was allowed.

A fat woman with a ten-year-old child weighed much more than a single adult man, yet Chen Guangliang did not show any displeasure. However, when they reached their destination, the woman haggled over the fare, which was quite unpleasant.

As she left, the woman said, “Kid, you’ve got some strength. Want to pull private rickshaws at my place?”

“No thanks.”

“You’re ungrateful.”

The woman took the child and entered the apartment disdainfully.

Chen Guangliang pulled away, cursing the woman silently but soon forgot about her.

In this era, private cars were exclusive to the ultra-rich; taxis and buses were not yet widespread. So middle and upper classes in Shanghai mostly relied on rickshaws.

Rickshaws were divided into “private” and “public.” Private rickshaws were painted black, distinct from the yellow public ones, even though they were the same type.

Public rickshaws were yellow, appearing dirty and worn, though rarely breaking down.

Private rickshaws were polished and bright, with spotless white two-seater cushions, clean plaid cloths on the passengers’ knees, and large rain covers to protect passengers on rainy days.

The advantage of pulling private rickshaws was stability, but how demanding the owner might be was unknown.

Don’t think it was just about taking the master to and from work. One might have to chauffeur the mistress shopping or entertaining, ferry the young master and young lady to school, or even do housework—almost like a servant.

Therefore, pulling public rickshaws was the best choice, at least for now. The rickshaw trade had not yet degenerated as it would five years later.