Wei Ruolai

Wei Ruolai

Family and Early Life

Ruolai grew up in Ji'an Jiangxi, an impoverished rural area in the mountains southwest of Shanghai. He was the younger of two brothers, and his father Wei Jien was a farmer. He was betrothed to Niu Chunmiao, a neighbour girl, when they were both children. According to Chunmiao, Ruolai was a timid and naive child, still wetting his bed at age seven and nearly carried off by kidnappers who tempted him with tanghulu. His childhood nickname was (puppy?). According to his brother he was a clever child, who excelled at school work. In the late 1920s he and his brother Wei Ruochuan travelled to Shanghai together in order to seek work, and for Ruolai to study. Their father remained behind in Jiangxi. Nothing is known of the boys' mother.

Career

Worked as a typesetter in Shanghai while studying accounting and finance at Lixin Accounting Institute, a night school.

Temped for "Hengmei Trading Firm" i.e. Qian Shaoling's axe gang, as an accountant.

After completing his accounting studies, in December 1930 Ruolai was employed at the Central Bank of China in Shanghai, as senior advisor Shen Tunan's personal assistant.

Resigned from the Central Bank (date?).

Travelled back to his home province of Jiangxi, and worked briefly in an accounting role for a local shopkeeper.

Started work for the Communist Jiangxi Soviet Bank, as Deputy manager.

Relationships

Father: Wei Jien

Elder Brother: Wei Ruochuan

Best Friend: Wen Youtian

Landlady in Qibao Street, Shanghai: Aunt Zhou

Employer and Shifu: Shen Tunan

Friend and comrade: Shen Jinzhen

Childhood betrothed: Niu Chunmiao (betrothal later cancelled amicably)

Superior at Jiangxi Soviet Communist Bank: Lei Ming

Throughout the Series

When the drama commences Ruolai is 23 years old.

In episode 1 he clambers up the outside of the Qibao St building to avoid Aunt Zhou. (Climbing skills!)

At his job interview with Shen Tunan he says his strengths are calculating and his good memory.

Quotes

"In prosperous times (the Central Bank) should be a mudloach ... In chaotic times, the Central Bank would be a snakehead fish." Episode 2, from 8:51.

Appearances

Appearances

Episode	Appearance	Time stamp	Notes
Episode 1	major		initial voice over / moonlighting for Mr Qiao / arriving home to Qibao St / At Shanghai Stockmarket with Aunt Zhou / hailing rickshaw, meeting SJZ / returning home, sad feels / heading to the Central Bank / registering for exam / FIRE!
Episode 2	major		finishes exam and leaves / helps others escape, fights fire / job interview with STN / leaves Central bank, sad feels / return to Qibao St / research montage incl. at stock exchange / gate crashes Shen Christmas party / asks SJZ to pass message to STN / second interview with STN / GUN!
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 11
Episode 13
Episode 14
Episode 15
Episode 16
Episode 17
Episode 18
Episode 19
Episode 20
Episode 21
Episode 22
Episode 23
Episode 24
Episode 25
Episode 26
Episode 27
Episode 28
Episode 29
Episode 30
Episode 31
Episode 32
Episode 33
Episode 34
Episode 35
Episode 36
Episode 37
Episode 38