鄧永鏘（DavidTang） 中國會、上海灘創辦人
IoncelosteverythingIhad.Iwasjust20.Ihadgonetouniversity.MygrandfatherhadboughtmeaflatinLondon.Ihadaflashysportscar.Myparentsgavemeadecentallowance.Comparedwithmostofmyfriends,Iwasexceedinglywell-off.TheyallthoughtIwasrich.ButtheonlythingIwasreallyrichwithwasasensetogamble.Ilovedtheroulette.Ilovedallits37numbersroundthewheel-1to36inredandblack,andthenagreen0.Theywereallplacedroundeachother,apparentlyrandomly.London'scasinoswereflourishinginthosedays.Theywerehighlycontrolled,andanyonewhowantedtogotherehadtobeamember.Ibecamememberstonearly10ofthem.IadoredthePlayboyClub.Allthecroupierswereinstunning"bunny"outfits.IalsolikedtheRitz.Theyhadanextremelygrandgamingroom.Itwasstraightoutofafilm.WeallfeltlikebeinginMonteCarlo,theglamorousmeccaforgamblers-atleastatthattime.ButIlostmyfortuneandmywayinamuchlessglamorousway.
IhadaverygoodfriendinNorthernEnglandwhereIusedtovisit.InadingyandhorriblecasinointhedepressingcityofLeeds,Ilostandlostontheroulette.Ilovednumber15.Oneveryspin,IwouldbetmostofwhatIhadonthatnumber.Butitnevercame.Anditnevercame.IhadtakentothecasinoeverypennyIhad.Ihadpre-arrangedwiththemacreditline.Buteverypossiblefarthingwasusedup.IwroteoutchequeswhichIknewwouldbounce.Ifeltdejected.Iwasflushedwithfrustrations.Thosewhogamblewillknowthefeeling.It'sasickeningfeeling.Wewanttobeillwhenwereluctantlyleavethewheel-wewanttobephysicallysickforhavingbeensofoolishandreckless.
IwenttothelocalChineserestauranttoseeksolace.Itwasalargerestaurantcalled"Jumbo".Itwasdoingverybriskbusiness.Theownerwasstandinginacornerwatchingthebustlingcrowd.Ididnotknowhim.ButIknewhemusthavecash.SoIaskedhimifhewouldlendmesomemoney.Heasked,quiterightly,howhewouldknowhewouldbepaidbackandwhathewouldgetinreturn.ItoldhimIwouldwinthemoneybackforhimthateveningandgivehimaheftyinterestfortheloan.SomehowIcharmedhim.Helentmeseveralthousandpounds.Agreatdealofmoneythen.Idon'tknowwhyhetrustedme.Buthedid.AndIlosteverythinghelentme.Number15nevercame.Theballcontinuedtorollintootherslots.AndIcontinuedtoloseeverythingIhad.
MrKwan,theownerofJumbo,wasnotpleasedthatIwasnotabletopayhimback.ButhewassuchanicemanthatItookadvantageofhim.Itreatedhimasmylastcreditor.Ittookme2yearstopayhimback.Meanwhile,Ihadtosellmyflat.Ihadtosellmycar.IhadtoselleverythingIhad.Andstill,thebankchasedmeformoney.ItwasanexperienceIdon'tthinkIcaretorepeat.Ireallynevergambledagain.Imeangamblingbeyondmymeans.Inaway,youareonlyagamblerifyougambledbeyondyourmeans.Ifyoucanaffordwhatyoulose,youarenotreallygambling.
Buttherewasahappyaspectofthissadtale.IpromisedMrKwantodohimafavourifIwereeverableto.20yearsafterhelentmethemoney,Istarted"ShanghaiTang".Oneday,hetelephonedme."David,"hesaid."DoyouthinkIcouldaskyouforthefavouryousaidyou'ddomeifIasked?"Isaid,"Ofcourse.Whatisit?""Doyouthinkyoucangivemydaughter,whomyoufirstsawwhenshewasjustborn,ajobat"ShanghaiTang"?""Youmeanwhenyoulentmeallthatmoney?Ofcourse!I'dloveto,"Iunhesitatinglyreplied."Sendhertome."
Shecame.Igaveherajob.Shewasverygoodatit.Shewasverypleasant.Shestayedinthecompanyforalongtime.Iwasverypleasedtohavehadher.Tothisday,IremaingreatfriendswithMrKwan.AndIhatenumber15.