Ye Hai

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ye Hai (叶海)
Alias(es)	Mister Ye Hai; Mr. Ye Hai
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Green Gang; Puxi branch under Jiahai Hall 2
Occupation/Role	Green Gang hall leader; master of Golden Orchid Nunnery 2 8
Status	Alive 50
First Appearance	Chapter 2 (mentioned); Chapter 3 (on-page debut) 2 3

Background / History

Ye Hai came from Under the Sky Lantern, a small town near Puxi City. Orphaned through famine and wartime turmoil, he arrived in Puxi alone after the city opened its port. He initially worked on the docks, then made his first fortune through the coercive purchase or seizure of smuggled “small goods.” 15

Over the following decade, Ye Hai expanded into numerous businesses, used his wealth to enter the upper ranks of the Green Gang, and cultivated followers through generosity. His territory grew through both patronage and violent gang methods, transforming him from a destitute hoodlum into a respectable figure in the organization. 16

By the time Xu Yi arrives in Puxi, Ye Hai operates Golden Orchid Nunnery as a Green Gang stronghold. He has connections in the Militia Corps, the Constabulary, and reportedly the foreign concessions; unlike ordinary street enforcers, he presents himself as a refined businessman who drinks wine, discusses commodity trade, and avoids public displays of violence. 2 3

Personality

Ye Hai presents himself as calm, cultivated, and committed to the Green Gang ideals of benevolence and righteousness. He teaches Xu Yi to dress well, read newspapers, understand market conditions, and build influence through merchant alliances rather than simple protection fees. 4 10

Behind this persona, Ye Hai is calculating and opportunistic. He held a share in Candied Zhang’s opium trade while publicly condemning it, and he deliberately sent Xu Yi into the dangerous Jing Family affair hoping hardship—or failure—would make the young disciple more useful and shield Ye Hai from consequences. 8

He values ambition, intelligence, ruthlessness, and usefulness in his disciples. Ye Hai repeatedly motivates promising followers by suggesting that Golden Orchid Nunnery may eventually pass to them, while retaining control through favors, information, and promises of advancement. 4 45 49

His long-term ambition is to leave behind gang and opium money for legitimate industrial wealth, social respectability, and entry into high society. He sees control of Lingtong Hall as a route to “clean” profits and eventual class mobility. 49

Abilities & Influence

Underworld Leadership

Ye Hai commands Golden Orchid Nunnery and maintains broad connections across Puxi’s criminal, commercial, and official spheres. 2 3

• Uses the nunnery’s outer courtyard to manage gang affairs and receive disciples. 2
• Has sufficient local influence that the Zhang Family assumes Xu Yi’s intervention represents Ye Hai’s authority. 5
• Holds influence with the Militia Corps, Constabulary, and foreign concession figures. 3
• Built and expanded his power through business ventures, generous patronage, and gang violence. 16

Commercial Strategy

Ye Hai views monopolization of supply chains—not protection fees—as the real source of wealth. 4

• Advocates uniting local merchants under Green Gang control. 4
• Seeks to control supply channels, maintain market order, and take a percentage of commercial profits. 4
• Identifies Lingtong Hall as a valuable industrial asset because of its cash flow, low debt, and potential future stock-market value. 48
• Plans to place his own accountants and business aides inside Lingtong Hall through Xu Yi’s relationship with Jing Tao. 50

Manipulation and Patronage

Ye Hai uses encouragement, resources, and apparent moral guidance to bind disciples to his interests. 4 48

• Took Xu Yi in through a recommendation from their shared hometown and trained him in gang principles. 2 4
• Praises Xu Yi’s intelligence while assigning him politically useful and dangerous work. 3 4 10
• Promises to help Xu Yi become a constable in the British Concession, a position that would expand Ye Hai’s influence there. 48
• Keeps Lu Bolin loyal by framing succession as a possible reward for service. 45

Equipment / Items

• Golden Orchid Nunnery — Ye Hai’s Green Gang base on the Green Shore River; its incense hall is used for disciple acceptance, promotions, and major gang affairs. 2
• Jiaobei — Wooden crescent divination blocks he uses before Guan Sheng Di Jun’s statue. 8
• Purple-clay tea set — Used in the tea hall where he receives disciples and discusses business. 3 8
• Elephant God Cup — An expensive foreign religious cup gifted by Lu Bolin; Xu Yi identifies it as a powerful Spirit Remain. 45 48 50

Relationships

• Xu Yi — Master and disciple. Ye Hai recognizes Xu Yi’s intelligence and ambition, trains him in gang and business affairs, but also treats him as a tool for risky schemes. 3 4 8 50
• Ye Miao — His only daughter, nicknamed Ashui. Ye Hai is aware of her habit of bullying Xu Yi and becomes furious when she refuses to return to school after being bullied. 3 45
• Lu Bolin — Eldest of Ye Hai’s seven disciples. Ye Hai provided the resources and connections behind Lu Bolin’s foreign work and cultivates him as a potential successor. 42 44 45
• Jing Tao — The young head of Lingtong Hall whom Ye Hai outwardly claims to support; privately, he seeks to install his own people in her company through Xu Yi. 10 50
• Guan Sheng Di Jun — Ye Hai formally worships Guan through the Golden Orchid Nunnery incense hall and seeks divine affirmation through Jiaobei divination. 2 8

Story Role / Major Arcs

Xu Yi’s Recruitment and Early Assignments

Ye Hai accepts Xu Yi as a disciple through a recommendation from their hometown, trains him for roughly half a month, and sends him to conduct Green Gang business in the 38th Shop District. 2

After Xu Yi successfully handles Hongfa Fruit Firm, Ye Hai tests his understanding of territorial control and teaches him that commercial monopolies are more profitable than simple monthly protection payments. 3 4

Candied Zhang and the Jing Family Affair

Ye Hai publicly praises Xu Yi for eliminating Candied Zhang’s opium operation, though he privately resents the loss because he held a share in that business. 8

He then assigns Xu Yi to aid Jing Hesheng and Jing Tao, framing the mission as an act of Green Gang righteousness. In private, he expects the dangerous assignment to break Xu Yi or teach him to abandon rigid moral principles. 8 10

Lingtong Hall Scheme

After Xu Yi survives and helps Jing Tao regain Lingtong Hall, Ye Hai regrets missing the chance to infiltrate the factory during its instability. He offers Xu Yi a possible constabulary position in the British Concession while considering how the disciple’s new connections can benefit him. 48

Ye Hai ultimately proposes placing experienced accountants and company assistants inside Lingtong Hall under the guise of helping Jing Tao, intending to erode her authority and establish his own influence within the factory. 50

Foreign Trade and Opium Ambitions

Ye Hai receives Lu Bolin’s reports on overseas labor contracts, Griffin Firm operations, and potential opium routes. He considers major expansion but recognizes that imperial and foreign interests limit what a Green Gang leader can control. 43 44

He seeks a transition from illicit opium profits to legitimate industry, believing control of Lingtong Hall could let him become a respectable entrepreneur rather than a gang intermediary for foreign interests. 49

Notable Quotes

“The most profitable business in this world is monopoly.” 4

“You must strive onward!” 4

“In this world, people have always respected fine clothes before they respect the person wearing them.” 4