The First Chamber of Commerce

Name: The First Chamber of Commerce
ISBN: 9787550226630

Hanchuanzi (Wang Yuerui)Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. · ChinaMar 2026

3.6

Word count: 215K words
Chapters: 18
ISBN: 9787550226630

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Summary

With vivid, lively prose, the novel recreates the grand and tumultuous pioneering era of modern Chinese business. From financial storms and confrontation with foreign merchants to stock market disasters and defiance of government bans, the story unfolds across the page with sweeping momentum, leaving the reader exhilarated and deeply stirred. A generation of business tycoons steps off the page, so vivid and lifelike that before long you will suddenly recognize in them the shadows of many of today's familiar merchants.

Editor's review

First Chamber of Commerce turns business history into a novel that breathes. It is not content to catalogue events; it lets financial turmoil, commercial rivalry and institutional friction settle on concrete people: some seize the window through boldness, some are forced to turn when the rules suddenly change, and some weigh again and again between interest and principle. The book advances through dense conflict, offering both the thrill of commercial warfare and the complexity of business decisions. For today's readers, what matters most is not recreating old legends but recognizing those recurring business problems: how credit is built, how the boundary between business and government is drawn, and how to protect cash flow and morale when risk arrives. Read as historical fiction, it gives a story; read as a business parable, it reflects reality.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of fiction who enjoy commercial rivalry and modern historical settings and seek strong plotting.
Business operators who want to understand commercial risk, government-business relations and market rules through fiction.
Nonfiction readers interested in local business history and portraits of entrepreneurs.
Book club members who want stories to spark discussion of business ethics.

Not a good fit for

Business history researchers who prefer rigorous archival scholarship and reject fictional narrative.
Readers of management books seeking systematic tools and practical methods.
Light readers with little interest in commercial conflict and complex struggles of interest.

Reading tips

Clarify the historical background and main character relationships before entering the specific commercial plot.
Pause at key decisions, write down your own choice, then compare it with the characters' trade-offs.
Read alongside modern and contemporary business history materials, and note the difference between fiction and historical fact.
After finishing, do a themed review around credit, risk and the business-government boundary.

About the publisher

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 1993

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.

版权信息
引言
第一章上海滩钱业大佬衣锦还乡
第二章赌气二十年，好友成冤家
第三章伍挺举邂逅葛荔，甫顺安当街受辱
第四章抢劫鲁家不成，章虎火烧伍家
第五章孤注一掷，伍挺举借贷赶考
第六章科举梦碎杭州，三兄弟共赴上海滩
第七章投奔鲁家，甫顺安更名换姓隐身世
第八章筹建商会，甬粤两大商帮争雄
第九章伍挺举一语解开鲁俊逸心结
第十章博弈商会主导权，鲁俊逸再被推到浪尖
第十一章商会选举一波三折，鲁俊逸成黑马
第十二章上海滩流氓艰难起步
第十三章天使花园，伍挺举的心灵震撼
第十四章印度饥荒，伍挺举看准大米商机
第十五章小谷行叫板米业巨头，两大商帮斗法
第十六章峰回路转，书呆子首战告捷

FAQ

Is this a historical novel or a business management book?

It is a novel set in an early era of business founding, focused on characters' fates and commercial conflict, not a management textbook. Readers can gain an intuitive understanding of business risk, credit and government-business relations, but if they need specific tools and methods, they should read management books as well.

Can I understand it without business experience?

Yes. The novel moves through characters and conflict and does not require professional background. If you are unfamiliar with the finance, equity and other plot points, first grasp the characters' motives and situations; afterward, a little relevant historical background will make your understanding more complete.

Is it suitable for a book club to read together?

Yes. The book touches on credit, trade-offs of interest, rivalry with foreign merchants and rule changes, which readily prompt discussion from different standpoints. It is best to focus each session on one decision question rather than merely retelling plot.

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About the author

Hanchuanzi (Wang Yuerui) Author · Chinese · 1962

Hanchuanzi, whose real name is Wang Yuerui, was born in 1962 and is a Chinese writer, screenwriter and translator currently living in Haikou. His work spans a wide range of subjects. He is known for the long historical novel series Zhan Guo Zong Heng: Guiguzi de Ju, as well as for works such as Aoguo: A Complete Account of the Most Tumultuous Years in the History of the Republic, which focuses on social change, and The Art of Love, which deals with intimate relationships. Thirty-nine of his works are held in the collection, and categories such as otherworld fantasy indicate that he writes for different readerships. Zhan Guo Zong Heng: Guiguzi de Ju has sold more than one million copies and is a useful entry point for understanding his historical narrative style. In addition to writing, he also works as a screenwriter and translator. Because public information about his life and education is limited, this profile does not elaborate further and instead briefly outlines the themes of his works, the direction of his writing and his influence on readers.