Feng Zhiyang | traditional social daily life Life and death of the

famous businessman Xu Run in the late Qing Dynasty had this passage in hischronology:

My uncle talked about Feng Shui, and Guan Qingcheng knew everything. Itwill cost more than $ 100,000 in 23 years, and refreshments and sedan chairscost 20 to 30 yuan per day. The total cost of mountain search is 10,000yuan, accounting for more than 100 places in the mountain. For example, ifthe high-impedance Dongxing public is buried in Zhanyong, the cost is 3,000 yuan. ZengBozu's Jiaqing Palace was buried in Qianhouhoulong, and Bo Zuyun's palace,palace and palace were buried in fallen wood. Each mountain cost about 500 to600 yuan. Zeng Zuqing's Gong Li was buried in Houshan, Mawan Village for20,000 yuan. The ancestor Zhai Cheng buried Shijiaozui in Macau for 20,000yuan. These two mountains are the highest in the city, so the cost is alsothe largest. My first grandmother, Tai Fu Rong, is buildingBeiling. My second grandmother, Li Yiran, buried three stones. My firstuncle, Zu Yizhong, and his wife, Zhang, buried the top of NanpingVillage. These three mountains cost 1,000 yuan each. The first YuboHotel is located in the south of Beicun. It costs 3,000 yuan. The uncleburied Yalu Mountain, the native name of the Buddha, paid 2,000 yuan; and YaluMountain buried Mrs. Wu at a cost of 1,000 yuan; and Yalong Mountain, twoLongshi Mountains, a longevity base, 2,000 yuan. Rongcun's cousin Zhangwas buried in Shizhaopo, Shitang Village, for 1,000 yuan; with your own life inXizhapo, about $ 500. Tian Yu's second brother was buried in his hometownBanzhangshan for 500 yuan. Even Mr. Feng Shui's salary also shared morethan 100,000 yuan. According to this book, there are still 93mountains. (Xu Yun: "Xu Yu Zhai Chronicle Autobiography", editedby Shen Yun: "Chinese Modern Historical Series sequel," 50th edition,Wenhai Press, 1978, pp. 18-20)

Xu Yun's works are placed in the first year of Tongzhi And between1862. It is speculated that "used more than $ 100,000 in 23 years"should refer to "within 23 years" before 1862. This is the samechronology. Eight years of Xianfeng (1858), Xu Run married his wife andhad children. His employer, Baoshun Foreign Company, raised Xu Run'smonthly salary to 50 yuan. Before that, Xu Run's salary was 28yuan. When Xu Runchu joined Baoshun Ocean Bank, "his monthly salarywas 10 yuan." "More than 100,000 US dollars" was 2000 times XuRun's monthly salary of "50 US dollars". He was then the comprador ofBaoshun Ocean Bank without any concerns. If Xu Run's wages no longer rise,he no longer engages in commercial trade, and no other income, then Xu Run willneed to work for at least 160 years to accumulate the huge funds his unclespent in "two or three years".

Xu Run's uncle is the famous "China's First World Expo" XuRongcun. In 1851, at the first World Expo held in London, England, XuRongcun sent "Rongji Lake Silk" to participate and win theprize. The Chinese businessman has had a global perspective since themid-19th century, and his little-known side is "Feng Shuitalk". In just two or three years, he spent tens of thousands ofdollars on more than 100 attractions. From the above, it can be seen thatXu Rongcun purchased more than 100