Chapter 40 New Company Opening

He Changyi has started a new company!

Following his foreign-owned company in Moscow, He Changyi opened a new company in Vladimir, named Huanyu International Trading Company.

—The name sounds impressive, but the number of employees is currently 0.

Having learned from her previous experience of starting a business, this time it went much more smoothly. He Changyi skillfully applied for a business license from various government agencies in Vladimir, attaching detailed and rigorous application documents that were at least two inches thick.

Even with the most demanding standards of Moscow's officials, there was nothing wrong with it, let alone in Vladimir, a city that is neither a political nor an economic center.

In less than a month, He Changyi successfully obtained the business license for the new company and rented a small shop of more than 100 square meters in the city to display all the product samples.

As a newly established company, the store was quiet when it first opened, with few customers. Even when people did come in, they were mostly attracted by He Changyi's foreign face rather than by the customers.

It's worth noting that the population of Zhongguo, a city with a heavy industrial economy, is so small that you could count them on one hand.

However, although there are no Chinese people in Vladimir, Chinese goods have already flooded the entire market.

Like elsewhere, most of the imported Chinese goods are of rather poor quality, including faded leather jackets, down jackets with feathers, and sweatpants of varying lengths... The variety is so vast that it could be the subject of a low-quality goods expo.

This has led to a very poor impression of Zhongguo among the locals, even though most of them have never been to Zhongguo in their lives and have never seen a living, breathing person from Zhongguo.

Inferior products ruined Zhong Guo's reputation.

Even some shops in Vladimir have put up signs saying "This store does not sell Chinese products".

The predecessors cut down the trees, and the successors expose them to the scorching sun.

He Changyi's business had only just begun when a huge rock of prejudice and stereotypes blocked her way.

However, she was not discouraged.

So what if there are obstacles ahead? We can just overcome them by building roads through mountains and bridges over rivers.

Even if high mountains block the way, as an old resident of Zhong, I've always heard the story of the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains.

Impressions can be reversed.

Sooner or later, when people in Vladimir mention Chinese goods, they will only think of the phrase "high quality and low price".

As He Changyi walked down the street, locals turned their heads to look at her, and curious children followed her from a distance, seeing an East Asian with black hair and black eyes for the first time.

He Changyi took out an extra-large package of Big Big Bubble Gum, smiled, and waved it at the children, like teasing a stray cat with a cat treat. The children couldn't resist and crowded around, asking curious questions:

Are you from China?

Why did you come here? Are you here for tourism?

Why do you look completely different from us?

Do you speak Ethnic language?

"You're so beautiful. Are you a movie star from Jong-kook?"

He Changyi put a piece of pink bubble gum in each child's mouth while patiently answering their questions.

“I am from China, but I am not here for tourism. I am a businessman. I have many high-quality and inexpensive Chinese goods here. You can tell your family that there are no better goods in the entire city of Vladimir than mine.”

A blond, blue-eyed boy recklessly said:

“But my father said that Chinese goods are terrible! You sell us garbage and disposable products, steal our foreign exchange, you are a combination of Grandet and Sherlock!”

The little girl next to him, who looked like a doll, tried to stop him.

"You can't talk like that, it's rude! You even ate the candy she gave you!"

The little boy's face turned a little red, but he was reluctant to spit out the sweet and fun bubble gum in his mouth, and said with his neck stiffened:

"I'm telling the truth! She wanted to give me the candy!"

The little girl shrieked:

“Sasha, that’s not the truth! You’re trying to cover up your rudeness! I’m going to tell Grandma!”

The little boy got impatient and tried to push the little girl away.

"Nastya, you can't accuse someone because of a stranger! We are one nation!"

Nastya, not to be outdone, angrily reached out and tried to pry Sasha's mouth open, shouting:

"Spit out the candy she gave you!"

Sasha kept his mouth tightly shut, but in his panic, he stretched his neck and swallowed the chewing gum.

Seeing that the two children were about to fight, He Changyi reached out, grabbed them by the back of their necks and separated them, one in each hand, as if she were holding a cat.

"Alright, kids can't fight, at least not in front of me. You can have an MMA match in front of your grandmother when you get home."

Nastya let out a loud "humph".

"Even Grandma can't stop me! Sasha, even if you beg for mercy, I won't stop!"

Sasha, with a pained expression, rubbed her stomach anxiously and said:

"I swallowed the chewing gum... Will it stick in my stomach?"

Nastya laughed loudly at him, and in doing so, blew a huge bubble.

"You idiot! Your intestines will get all stuck together with bubble gum, and you'll never be able to eat sausages and cheese again!"

Sasha burst into tears.

"I don't want to go to the hospital!"

He looked at He Changyi through teary eyes.

"I apologize, please take me to Jong-guk and have the factory remove the chewing gum from my stomach..."

He Changyi: ...

Ugh, my head hurts.

She had to take the crying Sasha and several other children who had come to watch the commotion to the new office, where the shelves were filled with all sorts of goods, even more than the largest local store.

The children ran wild as soon as they entered the office, wandering among the shelves and using their imaginations to read the Chinese labels they didn't recognize.

"It's canned food! But what flavor is it?"

"I've heard that people in China eat cat meat, so this must taste like cat meat!"

"That's terrifying, how could anyone eat a cat?"

The child carrying the canned food hurriedly put it back on the shelf, wiping his clothes with his little hands.

"This is not cat meat."

He Changyi's voice rang out as she walked over unhurriedly.

The children all craned their necks to look at her, asking with a mixture of curiosity and worry:

“How can you prove it’s not cat meat? My dad said you even eat dogs, that’s so cruel…”

He Changyi raised an eyebrow and deliberately revealed a sinister smile.

"Because it's not made with cats or dogs, but with children—yes, we sometimes eat human flesh."

"ah--"

The children were so frightened that they scattered and ran away. The most timid one's legs gave way and he fell to the ground, crawling on his hands and feet as fast as he could.

He Changyi laughed so hard she almost fell over. She hadn't laughed so heartily since she started from scratch again.

Among the group of terrified children, only Nastya remained calm, saying with a hint of disappointment:

"You bunch of idiots! There's a picture of the food on the can. This is braised pork, made with pork! And it's really delicious!"

He Changyi asked her curiously, "How did you know?"

Nastya proudly raised her head.

“My grandmother once helped Zhongguo. She stayed there for a long time and even learned authentic Zhongguo cuisine. If we could buy pork, she would make braised pork.”

Sasha, clutching her stomach, added:

"Although my dad hates Jong-kook, he always eats the most braised pork."

Nastya was the eldest of the children, and her words were very persuasive. The children who had scattered and fled gathered back together with some doubt, but they still kept a distance from He Changyi.

A child asked timidly:

"I've never tried Jong-guk cuisine before. Is it good?"

Nastya said with certainty:

"It's so delicious! Jong Kook's dishes will dance on your tongue, and after eating them, you'll forget the cold and feel happy and joyful!"

Sasha also said:

“My dad hates Jong-kook, but he would never refuse Jong-kook’s cooking.”

Upon hearing this, the children looked at He Changyi with expectant eyes, their expressions resembling those of Puss in Boots.

Faced with a group of blond, blue-eyed Slavic children who are as exquisite as figurines, even the hardest heart would melt.

He Changyi heated the braised pork can in a double boiler, and after opening the lid, each person received a piece of meat.

While the other children were still examining the pieces of meat in their hands to see if they were made of cat or dog meat, Sasha had already stuffed the whole piece of braised pork into her mouth, chewing it loudly and making indistinct noises.

"It's so delicious! I love braised pork! I love Jong Kook's cuisine! I want to eat it every day!"

Nastya ate much more politely than Sasha, taking small bites.

After hearing Sasha's words, she said disdainfully:

"Sasha, you ate her food again, and you haven't even apologized for what you said!"

Sasha blushed and mumbled:

"Yes, she offered it to me... I didn't want it... I just don't want to waste food..."

Nastya angrily shoved Sasha, then turned to He Changyi and said frankly:

"Madam, I apologize on his behalf! I'm sorry, Sasha is a gluttonous fool!"

Nastya is so cute! Her pink and white face is all puffed up with anger, and she's acting like a little adult as she solemnly apologizes to He Changyi.

He Changyi's hands were itching to touch the face of the lifelike doll, but she ultimately restrained herself.

She crouched down, looked Nastya in the eye, and spoke to her with the same respect one would show an adult:

"Thank you. But it's not your fault, you don't need to apologize."

He Changyi couldn't resist and gently touched Nastya's soft, golden hair.

"You are a brave female warrior, and your family must be very proud of you."

Nastya's face turned red, and she smiled shyly. Then she turned around and fiercely pulled Sasha, who was peeking into the can to see if there was any meat left.

"Apologize!"

Sasha was pulled so hard that she staggered and her cotton-padded coat was askew to one side. Nastya dragged her to He Changyi's side.

He Changyi stood up, a half-smile on his face, and looked down at Sasha.

"Is the braised pork delicious?"

Sasha's face turned as red as an apple. She dared not look at He Changyi, staring at the ground, stammering as if she didn't know what to say.

Nastya pushed him hard again.

"Be a polite child! Apologize now!"

Sasha finally couldn't hold back any longer and said in a low, quick voice:

"Ma'am, I'm so sorry..."

Before He Changyi could speak, Nastya forcibly lifted his head and shouted into his ear:

"Are you a mosquito? Speak louder!"

Sasha had no choice but to raise her head, increase her volume, and hum to He Changyi:

"Madam, I'm so sorry..."

Seeing that the child was about to cry, He Changyi generously let him off the hook, nodding to indicate that he had heard.

“I understand your bad impression of Zhong Guo, but you need to know that the world is big, and even people from the same country can have completely different personalities and temperaments.”

Sasha whispered:

“Just like Nastya and me… Although we share the same parents and grandmother, I’m not as rude as her…”

Nastya said dismissively:

"Great! I don't want to end up like you!"

Among the children watching nearby, one of them whispered:

"So you're different from other Chinese people; you don't eat cats or dogs, and you're not a bad person..."

He Changyi nodded.

"Yes, use your own eyes to see, instead of just listening to what others say."

From the very beginning, He Changyi was not angry because of what the children said.

In fact, this represents the thoughts of a large portion of the people in Vladimir.

The unscrupulous traders, driven solely by the pursuit of high profits, dumped countless inferior goods into Rus', directly leading to the locals' perception of Rus' as a backward country producing counterfeit and substandard products.

Moreover, the newly rich speculators themselves have terrible conduct, gambling, soliciting prostitutes, and abusing their wealth. For the people of E'guo who have only come into contact with these speculators, this has worsened their impression of the entire Chinese people.

But impressions can be changed.

He Changyi gave each child a sample can of food so they could take it home and share it with their families.

After all the children had left, Sasha, shameless as ever, peeked out from the doorway and stammered:

"Could I have another can of braised pork flavor? I want to take it back for my grandmother to try..."

Nastya appeared from behind him, reached out and grabbed Sasha's ear, saying rudely:

"You shouldn't ask others for gifts! Especially when it's something you're selling!"

Then, Nastya took out a stack of rubles from her pocket and handed them to He Changyi with a touch of shyness.

"This is all my pocket money... Ma'am, can this buy a can of food?"

He Changyi took the money without counting it, and handed the can of braised pork directly to Nastya. When he withdrew his hand, he couldn't help but touch her pink face.

Ah, it feels just as good as I imagined!

Nastya, clutching the can of food, bowed happily to He Changyi, then grabbed Sasha's hand and ran off.

"Hurry home, Grandma can have authentic Zhongguo braised pork today!"

Sasha suddenly remembered something and, while running, turned around and shouted at He Changyi:

"Please ask the factory how to remove the chewing gum from my stomach! I don't want to go to the hospital!!!"

He Changyi watched the children leave, feeling extremely cheerful, and hummed a song as she returned to her office.

Just then, the door to the next office opened, and a large, bearded Slavic man asked shyly:

"Hello, perhaps this is a bit presumptuous, but I smell a delicious aroma coming from your room... If it's food you cooked yourself, that's fine, but if it's something for sale, could you sell it to me?"

Upon seeing this rarely seen neighbor, He Changyi's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically promoted the idea:

"Of course, this is Jong-kook's canned food, it's fantastic, everyone loves it—how many do you want to buy? What flavor?"

The burly, bearded man, who had initially been worried that this was not a common dish for sale, immediately became excited upon hearing He Changyi's words and said:

"That's fantastic! Give me one of each flavor!"

When the new company made its first sale, Nastya and Sasha returned to their residence in the steel mill's residential area.

"Grandmother! Look what I brought back!"

Nastya rushed into the house excitedly and showed the canned food in her hand to her grandmother, who was lying in bed due to illness.

Grandma slowly sat up, took out her reading glasses from the bedside table, put them on, and squinted at the words on the can.

"A family living in a coal mine?"

Sasha, who was a step behind, asked curiously:

"Do you understand Chinese?"

Grandmother said kindly:

"Yes, my colleagues Zhong Guo taught me a lot back then. They were all very excellent and eager to learn."

When asked about the sudden appearance of the canned goods from Zhongguo, the grandmother inquired with Nastya and Sasha, who told her that a female merchant from Zhongguo had come to Vladimir to open a shop.

"Oh, I haven't seen Zhong Guoren for many years, and I haven't spoken Chinese for a long time either. I don't know if she can understand me."

As she spoke, Grandmother cleared her throat and said in a somewhat strange tone:

"Hello, I am your comrade from the alliance."

Nastya and Sasha excitedly asked their grandmother to teach them Chinese, their voices almost piercing the roof.

At that moment, an impatient male voice rang out.

"Nastya, Sasha, what are you doing?!"

It was my father's voice.

Sasha shrank back a little and whispered, "We're chatting with Grandma..."

Nastya was much bolder, disdaining to lie, and honestly said, "We are learning Chinese!"

Dad entered the bedroom, frowned, and said to Grandma in an annoyed tone:

“Mother, I’ve told you many times that times have changed and you can’t use outdated thinking to face the world today.”

He pointed to Nastya and Sasha.

"At the very least, children should learn English, not useless Chinese!"

Grandma took off her reading glasses and sighed softly.

Sasha, like a little quail, dared not speak, but Nastya disagreed with her father and immediately retorted:

“You’re wrong. Chinese is very useful too! And you shouldn’t talk to your grandmother like that!”

Her father came over and roughly ruffled Nastya's long hair.

"My wretched little tiger! Don't stay here, go find your mother!"

Nastya made a face at her father, grabbed the can of food, and headed out. Her father saw what she was carrying and asked curiously:

"What's this?"

Nastya held it up so he could see the Chinese label clearly.

"This is Jong-kook canned food! I bought it!"

Sasha boldly added:

“We’ve all eaten it, it’s delicious, just like the braised pork that my grandmother used to make.”

Upon hearing this, Dad's face darkened, and he criticized:

"How could you eat this kind of junk outside?! Throw away the canned food, who knows what's in it? It's bad for your health!"

Nastya quickly clutched the can of food to her chest and argued:

"No, this is a good can of food! And she's a good person, unlike those bad Korean businessmen!"

The father tried to take the can of food from Nastya's hand, but she nimbly escaped, leaving him only able to shout helplessly:

"Go eat bread, don't eat this! I don't want to take you to the hospital in the middle of the night!"

Nastya's voice carried from afar.

"No! I want to eat it!"

Sasha ran after Nastya, asking her with some concern:

Aren't you afraid Dad will get angry?

Nastya raised her chin and said fearlessly:

"I'm not afraid, because I'm right! I won't be a coward!"

Sasha muttered to herself:

"That's because Daddy never hits you..."

Nastya found her mother in the kitchen and handed her the canned food.

The mother asked curiously, "Little one, what did you bring back?"

Nastya said, "This is a can of Jong-guk food that I bought with my allowance. It's braised pork flavored, just like the Jong-guk dishes my grandma used to make! There's so much, so much meat in it!"

Mom said with surprise:

"Great! We haven't seen meat on our table in ages. We can have a real feast today!"

The mother put down the can, wiped the water off her hands on her apron, bent down and kissed Nastya on the cheek.

"Well done, my good girl!"

Sasha, envious and unwilling to accept it, said:

"But Dad won't let us eat this canned food..."

Mom waved her hand dismissively and said:

“Your father is a kitchen idiot. I’m the one who calls the shots here. He has no say!”

She also gave Sasha a peeler and asked him to peel all the potatoes in the large bowl.

Sasha said unhappily, "Why do I have to do all the work... Why don't you let Nastya do it..."

Mom patted Sasha on the head.

"Because I can't let you become an idiot like your father. Hurry up, my little soldier, you're too slow."

At dinner, everyone's plate had a large spoonful of braised pork and potatoes, except for Dad.

Dad glanced to his left, and Nastya gracefully scooped up a plump piece of braised pork with a spoon.

—Humorous, look at her plate, it's full of braised pork, with potatoes just used as garnish.

Looking to the right, Sasha, like a little pig, had buried her whole head in the plate and was munching away.

Dad looked down at his plate, which contained only potatoes and sliced ​​pickles.

Even though he considered Jong-kook's canned food to be garbage, faced with blatant discrimination and the strong aroma wafting from it, Dad couldn't help but protest:

Why didn't I get braised pork?

Without looking up, Mom dipped a potato in the meat gravy with her fork, put it in her mouth, and squinted her eyes happily.

After putting down her fork, she slowly and deliberately spoke:

"Nastya bought the canned food, Sasha peeled the potatoes, and I cooked dinner—darling, what did you cook this time?"

Dad instinctively looked at Grandma.

For this dinner, my bedridden grandmother made a rare appearance at the restaurant to dine with the family.

Clearly, Grandmother did nothing for this dinner.

Before her father could speak, Nastya asked her grandmother first:

How do you like the taste of the canned food?

Grandmother said with a smile:

"Although it contains a lot of potatoes, it's almost exactly the same as what I ate in Jong-guk. It's such a nostalgic and delicious treat."

Sasha lifted her face from the plate, wiped her mouth with her sleeve, and said bluntly:

"Luckily we didn't listen to Dad and throw away the canned food, otherwise we would have only potatoes for dinner!"

His father glared at him, and the words he was about to say were swallowed back down.

He ate the potatoes silently, but the oil made them soft and delicious, unlike the dry mashed potatoes he usually ate.

but……

Why not give him a piece of braised pork?

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Author's Note: My internet connection lagged, causing the update to fail. My little red flower (a metaphor for a poorly written post)! I'm so angry I could faint! [crying emoji]