Introduction to the real-life model: Shen Wansan specially invited Wang Xingxing to be a private school teacher, came to Zhouzhuang and set up a school in Yinzibang. Wang Xing taught well and wrote well. Shen Wansan rewarded him with one yi of gold (20 taels or 24 taels at the time), which was a considerable reward. Shen Wansan understood the role of knowledge very well, and hoped that his children would be highly knowledgeable and able to deal with foreign businessmen so as to inherit the family business he had developed and make the Shen family invincible forever.