Wei Ruolai
| Name in Chinese | 魏若来 Wèi Ruòlái |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Doggie (狗牯仔 gǒugǔzǎi) |
| Hometown | Ji'an |
| Age | 26 |
| Blood type | O |
| First appearance | Episode 1 |
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.
Trivia
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 |