所城劉家名揚四方的“貨棧生意”

劉正中 松青

如今在毓璜頂公園玉皇廟前的碑廊里有兩座石碑，它們是《毓璜頂記》和《重修毓璜頂記》。石碑的背面詳細(xì)記載了咸豐十一年、同治五年、光緒十九年，煙臺工商界500多名商家和個人，為重修毓璜頂工程的募捐明細(xì)，其中不乏貨棧商號的大家。

煙臺貨棧生意的興起最早可以追溯到近兩百年前。清朝末期，當(dāng)時運河長年失修淤塞，漕船難以運米進京，道光六年（1826年）清廷下令改運河為海運，并予以漕船者可“八成裝米，二成搭貨”，免其納稅并沿途可做小生意的恤商政策。改為海運的煙臺，成為南北海上交通必經(jīng)之地，貨棧生意如雨后春筍遍地開花。最初的貨棧人在海邊搭起窩棚，給船家看管貨物；后期隨著煙臺的開埠，那些講信譽、腦子靈活、態(tài)度好的看貨人，逐漸在西南河?xùn)|岸、面市街、北馬路一帶設(shè)立起自己的看貨倉庫，又稱為代理棧，貨棧生意逐漸成為當(dāng)時社會主流經(jīng)濟模式并逐步發(fā)展起來。隨后，在1899年，煙臺商會根據(jù)經(jīng)營規(guī)模、納稅狀況以及對社會公益事業(yè)貢獻度而評出的“八大家”商號中，其中5家是做貨棧生意，3家來自于所城的劉家和張家，其中東家劉懷奎的洪泰貨棧首屈一指。

說起劉懷奎，可能所城里的老人們無人不知，他不僅參與公益事業(yè)毓璜頂?shù)闹匦薰こ蹋€獨自斥資擴建增修了煙臺歷史文化象征的魁星樓，而所城里南門外大名鼎鼎的劉子琇舊居，其主人劉子琇便是劉懷奎的第四個兒子，他和弟弟劉鳳鑣雙雙中舉，分別受職于南北兩地，為當(dāng)?shù)刈隽瞬簧僬儯粝录言挕?p>

而另一個同樣來自所城里劉家的東興貨棧，東家劉兆億更以“熱心公益，樂善好施”而聞名。他在大連設(shè)立“宏濟善堂”、創(chuàng)辦“泰東日報”，還倡導(dǎo)并出資建設(shè)了“西崗天后宮”。在煙臺，劉兆億在南門打挖了“雙眼井”，解決了所城里附件居民的吃水問題，開辦了“彭城小學(xué)”（后來演變成建昌街小學(xué)），并定期搭建粥棚向乞討者和窮人免費發(fā)放粥飯和實施救濟。劉兆億一生的善舉實難詳盡闡述，也正因他的大公無私，在當(dāng)時獲贊了“劉大善人”的美譽。1925年劉兆億去世，此事轟動了煙臺和大連兩地，送別隊伍不僅包含政府官員和商界人士，還有自發(fā)組織的受過劉兆億恩施的窮人們，隊伍長達10華里。

貨棧經(jīng)濟的發(fā)展無疑為商業(yè)奇才提供了展示本領(lǐng)的舞臺，也讓煙臺形成了以所城里為中心的多種商業(yè)模式。東門外的二馬路、三馬路興起了商紳們的住宅；里弄內(nèi)優(yōu)雅僻靜、垂柳茂竹，是長袍馬褂、文人墨客的天下；北門外成為美食的天堂，會賓樓、丹桂街匯聚了當(dāng)時餐飲行業(yè)的翹楚，吸引全國各地的名流來此品酌……當(dāng)時的多元素并行，在煙臺發(fā)展史留下了輝煌璀璨的一筆。

Nowadays there are two stone tablets in the corridor in front of the Yuhuang Temple in Yuhuangding Park， which are inscribed with The Record of the Yuhuang Summit and The Record for the Renovation of the Yuhuang Summit. The details of donations for the renovation of the Yuhuang Summit from over 500 businesses in the industrial and commercial sectors in Yantai in the 11th year during the reign of Xianfeng， the 5th year during the reign of Tongzhi and the 19th year during the reign of Guangxu， including some big warehouse stores.

The development of the warehouse economy undoubtedly provided a stage for remarkable business talents to display their capability and allowed Yantai to form diversified business patterns centering around Suochengli. Residencies of businessmen and gentries were built in Ermalu Road and Sanmalu Road outside the East Gate. Dotted by drooping willows and luxuriant bamboos， the alleys were elegant and quiet， full of men of letters in long gowns. The area outside the North Gate became a paradise for food with Huibin Building and Dangui Street gathering the best stores in the food industry at that time， attracting celebrities from all places throughout China to come and savor...Various elements coexisted at that time， leaving a splendid and shining mark in the history for the development of Yantai.