The little details of the Daizhou business in my memory

I was born in the chaotic early years of the Republic of China. Although I am not from a business family, my two older brothers went to the city as apprentices to do business and were influenced by it. From a young age, they had a basic understanding of the business situation in the county town. In addition, I have also been apprenticing in the city since I was 16 years old, so I have some understanding of my brother's businesses such as "Jushenglong", "Heheyi", and "Ruishengxiang". Based on my memory, I would like to narrate the following for the benefit of the readers.
At that time, the "Jushenglong" commercial bank was the largest and most influential bank in Dai County. According to current research, there were also several banks such as "Ruiji", "Yongshenghou", "Yongshengchang", and "Rishengchang" at that time, but it seems that people only knew that there was one "Jushenglong" bank in the city. At least all I heard from my childhood was' Ju Sheng Long '. The "Jushenglong" in my memory is located east of Sipailou on Dang Street in the county town, facing south with three spacious Western style storefronts. All are made of western-style blue bricks, and the edges of the roof, shop doors, and windows are all made of imitation European style brick arches. The upper edges of the windows and the grand curved shop doors are carved with patterns of blue bricks, which can be described as a combination of Chinese and Western styles. The windows were also Western style window frames and installed with square glass, which was extremely rare in the county buildings at that time. The shops of urban commercial banks were generally Chinese style tile houses, and the doors and windows were mostly Chinese style louvers without glass. But 'Jushenglong' has transparent windows and doors. Due to its unique and magnificent construction style, as well as being the business where my brother's apprentice worked, it left a deep impression on me at that time and will forever remain in my memory.
Before the July 7th Incident, the "Jushenglong" business had developed into a specialized bank with a large scale and a large number of employees, reaching over 20 people at its peak. Becoming the largest bank in the city of Daiju. My elder brother Huang Ji, also known as Juchuan, was born in the second year of the Republic of China (1913) and in the sixteenth year of the Republic of China (1927). At the age of just 14, he was promoted from Nanjiazhai Village to become an apprentice under the "Jushenglong" program. After three years of apprenticeship in the business, he became a formal clerk, but due to his family's poverty, he never had any shares. Due to my young age at the time, I had limited knowledge of the other shopkeepers and the specific business operations, internal management, and other aspects of "Jushenglong". After the fall of Daixian, the commercial situation in the city became extremely poor. Except for Jinghuo Bank, most other industries were on the brink of crisis, either shrinking their storefronts, reducing their staff, or closing down. The once prosperous "Jushenglong" bank was also unable to "stand on its own" and was forced to close down. My elder brother Juchuan also left "Jushenglong" in helplessness and accompanied his family member Huang Changfu to "Shaanxi and Bashi". He traveled around Baotou and Hohhot, and later settled in Hohhot. He worked at "Yijuchang" (silver account) in Hohhot, but was soon dismissed due to lack of permanent residence. Later, he worked as an accountant at the "Juchengke" warehouse and shoe store in Hohhot. After liberation, he worked in the business world and passed away in Hohhot in 1973.
During the Republic of China era, the "Hehe Yi" Jinghuo Bank was a well-known commercial bank among Jinghuo Bank in Daizhou City. Located on the east side of Danan Street in the county town, with a large storefront, mainly engaged in silk, cloth, and daily necessities. But they don't sell food. Business is thriving and has a significant impact. It is one of the remaining dozen or so Beijing freight shops after the July 7th Incident. In 1937, his elder brother Huang Wei (styled Jingchuan) became an apprentice of "Hehe Yi". After three years of apprenticeship, he became a formal store clerk, but never held any shares in the store. Ten years later, in May of the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947), his second brother Jingchuan also went to Hohhot with his family to seek refuge with his eldest brother Juchuan. Prior to this, the "Heheyi" Beijing Goods Store had already closed down. My second brother Jingchuan used to work as a clerk in the "Four Synthesis" shoe store where I worked in Hohhot. After the liberation, he returned to his hometown and worked at the Chengguan Supply and Marketing Cooperative. After the public-private partnership in 1956, he worked at the Chengguan Supply and Marketing Cooperative in Daixian County until retirement. I don't know much about the specific situation of "Hehe Yi" Jinghuo Bank.
Ruishengxiang "is also one of the famous Jinghuo stores in Daizhou City. Located in front of the east gate of Sipailou on the east street of the county city. The scale is relatively large, and there are also many personnel in the store. Mainly engaged in silk, fabric, and footwear department stores, but not in food. The shopkeeper Liu Tianjie (from Shilipu Village in this county) is my biological uncle. When I became an apprentice at the "Deji" Beijing Commodity Store in the 28th year of the Republic of China, I was sponsored by "Ruishengxiang" Liu Tianjie. The shopkeeper Liu Tianjie had four sons, the eldest son was born (the second son died young), the third son was three young, and the fourth son was four young, all of whom worked at "Rui Sheng Xiang". After the Japanese arrived, it was difficult to do business, so "Rui Sheng Xiang" closed down and Liu Tianjie returned to Shilipu Village with his whole family.
Fuxingrui "is a small grocery store in the city of Daizhou. The transaction is very small, only two blue cabinets. Mainly engaged in daily necessities such as shoes, socks, hats, etc. Fuxingrui is located at the mouth of Weigoukou in the county town. Please remember the specific location next to the tailor shop next to Jia San, the shopkeeper of Shilipu. There are three people in the store. Two shopkeepers, one with a 'place of residence', no assistants. The main shopkeeper Li Ziyuan (from Kunxian County), the second shopkeeper Li Jing'an (living in Liulijing, Dongbei Street, this city), and the shop assistant Liu Wencai (from Kunxian County). When I was in "Deji", "Fuxingrui" had a decent business and was operating normally. However, after the Japanese occupied the county town, "Fuxingrui"'s small business became increasingly difficult to do. In addition, the big shopkeeper Li Ziyuan was old and unwilling to do it. Liu Wencai also returned to Kun County, and "Fuxingrui" subsequently collapsed. The second shopkeeper Li Jing'an later moved to the south corner of Gulou West Street (now part of Southwest Street) and joined a tailor shop located at the corner of Carbon City Street. At that time, this tailor shop was jointly operated by four people, including Erheng, Siheng, Runyue, and Li Jing'an, until it became a public-private joint venture after liberation.
Jujinglong "is located on the west side of Jushenglong, with the main shopkeeper Wu Huaide (from Nanjiazhai Village in this county, nicknamed Hongwa, also known as Hongwa Laocai)." Jujinglong "is also a silk and satin shop in Beijing, mainly engaged in the business of silk and fabric. When I was in" Deji "," Jujinglong "was also good at buying and selling. Later, in the year I went to Hohhot (1947), 'Ju Jing Long' had also gone bankrupt. The shopkeeper Wu Huaide returned to the village and later passed away in the village. I have three sons and two younger brothers. The eldest son Wu Yongyong, the second son Wu Liuliu, the third son Wu Yongshou, the eldest brother Wu Huailiang, and the second brother Wu Huaibao are all located in Nanjiazhai Village.