Bookstore old traces

Author: Guo Fenyang, Ding Dong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-01-01
Features: Wang Yunwu feared the labor strikes at Commercial Press. Wang Yunwu, the renowned owner of Commercial Press, had a famous story about him: "When the boss coughed, his voice was mighty and full of vigor. It was known as 'Promotion Three Levels.' When he coughed, he would say 'Khan, Khan, Khan,' and must cough three times in a row, just like the sound of a large bell. Every day when he arrived at the press, a single cough was enough to make over 300 employees fall silent." (From "Autumn Study Notes"). However, there were also things that made the boss short of breath. Wang Yunwu first served as the director of the editorial department. "In terms of compiling and translating, dealing with two or three hundred scholars did not pose any difficulty," but "since the fifteenth year of the Republic of China, labor disputes between labor and management in Shanghai have been frequent, and the Commercial Press trade union was one of the most influential in the business world." Chen Yun was the executive committee member of the workers' union in the distribution department of Commercial Press. "Commercial Press" labor disputes gradually spread from the printing department, distribution department, general affairs office to the editorial department. "Commercial Press" General Manager was old and not good at speaking, and the other managers and associates could not afford to provoke the labor strikes. Therefore, Wang Yunwu had no choice but to step forward. "Afterward, whenever there were labor disputes, the management side would unanimously push me to negotiate, making me take on responsibilities that I should not have" (Wang Yunwu's "Mr. Cai and I"). Wang was in the limelight at "Commercial Press," but the continuous "labor strikes" made it difficult for him. Because "these negative things, occasionally taking responsibility was still bearable, but if they gradually became a daily occurrence, it would be too cruel for someone who needed to use their brain to deal with publishing plans and academic research" (ibid). Wang Yunwu considered resigning and later found a "scapegoat" He Bingxiu to take over his position as director, while he himself went to the "Social Science Research Institute" of Cai Yuanpei's "Institute of Social Sciences" to study crime. Soon after, "Commercial Press" owner passed away, and the board urgently asked Wang Yunwu to take over as general manager. Wang demanded a "general manager responsible system," and as a result, the owner of "Commercial Press" became "Wang." After the May Thirtieth Movement, the labor movement in Shanghai entered a low ebb, and the organization launched a strike at "Commercial Press" to revitalize the labor movement, with leaders such as Xu Meikun, Mao Dun, Yang Xianjiang, Chen Yun, and Zheng Zhenduo. Most of them were either internal or external editors of "Commercial Press," some of whom were also workers at "Commercial Press." The most dramatic one was Zheng Zhenduo, who faced his negotiating opponent, one of the management representatives, who happened to be his father-in-law Gao Mengdan. They agreed to handle business professionally and did not recognize each other during negotiations, only referring to each other as father-in-law and son-in-law when they returned home. Before the May Thirtieth Movement, the progressive people at "Commercial Press" launched the sister publication of the Communist Party of China's "Hot Blood Daily," titled "Daily of Justice." This anti-imperialist newspaper received support from the bosses at "Commercial Press." The publication was funded by the company's public funds, with the three bosses—Zhang Yuanji, Wang Yunwu, and Gao Mengdan—each donating 100 yuan. In the tide of the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal era, national capitalists were originally a force that could be united. During the strike after the May Thirtieth Movement, employees learned that the authorities were considering layoffs and secretly gathered to plot a strike and demand a raise. "Commercial Press" authorities discovered this and issued a notice: "We sincerely hope that the employees can understand the difficulties of 'Commercial Press' and urge them to be diligent and work together to overcome the crisis." The employees were not satisfied and decided to strike, with Chen Yun as the chairman.