Shen Wansan, a business giant in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty, had a wealth comparable to that of the country. Historical accounts of his life are relatively brief, with most of them focusing on his wealth. There are various theories about the year of his birth, some believe that it was 1296, others believe that it was 1330 or 1328, the exact year is not verified, but it is clear that he died in 1376.
Shen Wansan, formerly known as Shen Fu, was known as "Wansan" by the world because of his huge wealth. This name became better known in later generations. From Shen Wansan's life, it can be seen that he is both shrewd and hard-working, and his business territory has expanded overseas, accumulating an astonishing fortune. At that time, he had abundant assets and fields all over the world, and he could be called the richest man in Jiangnan. Zhouzhuang developed from a village to a town, and Shen Wansan contributed a lot.
In addition to the brief biography, the story of Shen Wansan is also widely circulated. Folklore has it that he was so wealthy because he owned a cornucopia. Although this statement lacks historical evidence, it is enough to show the huge wealth of Shen Wansan back then. There are also lyrics in film and television dramas to praise his way of doing business: "Urgent for what people need, need for what people need", which reflects that he is not only smart and good at managing money, but also pays attention to credibility and cares about customer needs, so that his business is prosperous. Although the film and television drama is not completely real, it also reflects Shen Wansan's excellent skills in generating and accumulating wealth. To this day, in southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang and Anhui, there are still stories about Shen Wansan's fortune, luxury life, business and family life.
Shen Wansan, a symbol of folk wealth, has grown from an ordinary person to a wealthy businessman, and his legendary experience is breathtaking. Although some believe that he became rich from a cornucopia, it is undeniable that his intellect and abilities are equally outstanding. However, the records of Shen Wansan in historical sources are not exhaustive, and there are many speculations about his origin.
There are legends about Shen Wansan's origins in southern Jiangsu, Anhui, and Zhejiang, so some speculate that he came from one of these regions. It is said that his father and ancestors moved to Zhouzhuang and later settled in Yinzibang, and thus began his road to prosperity. After accumulating a certain amount of wealth, he focused on Suzhou, which became the center of his life.
During Shen Wansan's life, he was found in Shenzhuang, Zhouzhuang, Nanjing, Suzhou and Yunnan. However, he always regarded Zhouzhuang as his base camp, and was reluctant to leave even if he was rewarded by the emperor. This is enough to show that he sees himself as a native of Zhouzhuang, and this is also the place where he has lived the longest. If his ancestral home is in Shenzhuang, then he is undoubtedly a native of Zhouzhuang. To this day, Zhouzhuang still retains his former residence, and whenever people mention this legendary figure, they will always think of this beautiful water town.
As for Shen Wansan's wife, there is no clear record in history. However, there are many legends about his marriage circulating among the people. It is said that Shen Wansan once had two wives, namely Zhao Xue'e and Lu Xiangchun. Zhao Xue'e is his childhood sweetheart's partner, and the two have a deep relationship. At first, Shen Wansan was just an ordinary farmer, but Zhao Xue'e had a soft spot for him and even followed him around. However, due to Zhao Xue'e's limited culture and mediocre ability, when Shen Wansan became rich, his surroundings began to be full of intrigues and tricks, and the relationship between the two gradually drifted apart.
And Shen Wansan's second wife, Lu Xiangchun, is a shrewd and capable woman. She met Shen Wansan at the husband selection conference and fell in love with him at first sight. Due to her background, she has been assisting Shen Wansan in business, giving him advice and achieving many important achievements. She is not only capable, but also business-minded, and a smart woman. However, these two women are only characters in folklore, and there is no exact record of the true identity of Shen Wansan's wife in history.