Tianxingfu

Heavenly Prosperity is a novel inspired by the rise of Dalian merchants in the early twentieth century and modeled on the history of the century-old Tianxingfu trading house. Founded by the Shao family, Tianxingfu originated in the ancient city of Jinzhou in southern Liaoning and flourished in the Northeast. Brothers Shao Qinjian and Shao Laowu carried on the wishes of their father and older brothers. Though they made their living fishing, they never forgot their principles. After a fortunate fishing season, the Shao brothers earned a sum of money selling their catch, which gave them the idea to go into business. They founded the Tianxingfu trading house in Jinzhou, southern Liaoning. During the war between Japan and Russia at Port Arthur, Shao Laowu met the collaborator Liu Yutian, who helped him make a fortune from the conflict. Shao Qinjian, meanwhile, headed north and opened up trade routes through the port of Vladivostok. His devoted wife, Ma Lanhua, who had stood by him through hardship, was willing to stay in the Northeast and help Liu Peizhi, the head manager of Tianxingfu, establish a branch in Harbin. She also helped the family acquire ten thousand hectares of land in the Northeast, laying the foundation for Tianxingfu’s success.