Chapter 81 In the director's office of Jiaren Garment Factory, the director...

In the dean's office, just as the dean picked up the teacup, the door was pushed open by Guan Shengnan without any courtesy, followed by Professor Zhang with an angry face.

"Dean!" Guan Shengnan got straight to the point. "Why is it me who gets the spot at the Overseas Chinese Hotel? Cheng Xin ranked first in her major, and her grades and transcript are right there. What do you mean by that?"

The dean put down his teacup and put on a formal smile: "Student Guan Shengnan, don't get excited. The college has its reasons for making such arrangements."

He glanced at Guan Shengnan and said, "We understand that your grandfather is a senior diplomat, and you have been influenced by him since you were a child. The standard of receiving foreign guests this time is relatively high, and the college is worried that ordinary students, especially... um... students with no background, will be nervous on the spot and perform poorly, messing up things and affecting the reputation of the school. We are more relieved that you come from a family like this."

As soon as these words came out, Professor Zhang's face turned pale: "Dean! What you call safe is sacrificing fairness and sacrificing truly talented students? Do you know what level Cheng Xin is at? "

Professor Zhang looked directly at the dean and said, "She got full marks in English in the college entrance examination, and she ranked first in the college in her major! She gave up better options and came to our school out of trust and love. You are leaving such a student with solid professional knowledge and strong psychological quality unused just because you imagine that she has never seen the world? This is simply ridiculous! If you do this, aren't you afraid of discouraging all the students who really study hard and speak with their own abilities?!"

"You got full marks in English in the college entrance examination? You gave up a better choice?" The smile on the dean's face froze completely, as if he had been slapped in the face in public.

He had not expected Cheng Xin to have such a background and strength, and he had not expected Professor Zhang to expose it so mercilessly. A strong sense of shame instantly surged into his heart, making his face burn.

Guan Shengnan was shocked when she heard this, and she looked at Professor Zhang with a little more admiration. She immediately seized the opportunity: "Dean, I refuse this quota. Whoever deserves it will get it. Cheng Xin ranked first in the exam, so the opportunity should be hers! If I really wanted to rely on my family's connections to go this way, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. Wouldn't it be better to go directly to Capital Foreign Languages? Why should I snatch my classmates' opportunities here?"

The office was in a stalemate, and the dean was caught in the middle, feeling extremely embarrassed.

He thought of a compromise: "Since Professor Zhang and Student Guan are so insistent, let's do this. Add one more spot. Guan Shengnan and Cheng Xin, you two can go together. This way... this way is also safe, and we can take care of each other."

His words still revealed his concern for Cheng Xin's inexperience.

Guan Shengnan scoffed at the result, but fortunately she got Cheng Xin's place back. She shrugged indifferently, "Okay, one more is one more. As long as the college doesn't do anything shady and say one thing in public and another in private, it'll be fine. I'll go, just treat it as getting credits for the practical class."

She saw through the dean's little thoughts clearly and was too lazy to argue with him anymore. As long as Cheng Xin's place was returned, it would be enough.

After saying that, she left the office without even looking at the dean's embarrassed expression.

Before Professor Zhang left, he couldn't help but look back and said to the depressed dean earnestly, "Dean, students like Cheng Xin are what our college should cherish and be proud of. I hope that in the future, we will truly select people based on their moral integrity and ability!"

Cheng Xin returned to the dormitory silently.

Chen Yuan was sitting on the edge of the bed, her face puffed up with anger.

As soon as she saw Cheng Xin, she immediately stood up, her voice full of grievance and anger: "I didn't expect she was this kind of person! She is usually very righteous, but she did this kind of trick behind my back. She took away the opportunity of her classmates, and they are in the same dormitory. She is really good. I am so angry!"

Cheng Xin felt warm at heart when she saw Chen Yuan, who was sincerely standing up for her.

She walked over to Chen Yuan and sat down, patting her on the back gently, saying in a gentle voice: "Don't be angry, thank you for standing up for me."

After calming Chen Yuan down, Cheng Xin walked to the desk, sat down, and put down her schoolbag. She couldn't shake off the feeling of loss. The opportunity that should have been secured flew away inexplicably. This was not only a loss of opportunity, but also a denial of her efforts.

Cheng Xin took a deep breath and suppressed her surging emotions. She looked at Chen Yuan, who was still angry, and analyzed in a calm and rational tone: "But Yuanyuan, I think there may be another hidden story. You know Guan Shengnan's character. She is proud in her bones. She acts openly and honestly and never disdains to do anything behind the scenes. This is not in line with her style. The fact that she is on the list does not necessarily mean that she took the initiative to fight for it or manipulate it.

Cheng Xin recalled Guan Shengnan's straightforward personality, and her intuition told her that there was another reason behind the list.

After hearing what Cheng Xin said, Chen Yuan recalled Guan Shengnan's usual style of being aggressive and aggressive. The anger on her face subsided, but she was still skeptical: "But her name is written in black and white on the list! If she didn't grab it, did the college force it on her?"

"This is exactly what I want to find out." Cheng Xin stood up, her eyes becoming firm. "Instead of guessing here, it's better to go and ask directly. I'll go find Teacher Wang to inquire about the situation." She wanted to find out the truth.

In the office, Teacher Wang had a worried look on his face. When he saw Cheng Xin coming to ask about the list, he seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw and quickly explained: "Cheng Xin, you came at the right time! Don't worry, don't worry, there may be a misunderstanding! Guan Shengnan and your professor Zhang just went to see the dean. Maybe the college made a mistake! Wait for the news, there should be a result soon!"

Hearing that Guan Shengnan and Professor Zhang had gone to see the dean, Cheng Xin felt relieved. This confirmed her intuition that Guan Shengnan would not acquiesce to such injustice.

But how would the problem be solved? She was worried and decided to go to the college office building to take a look.

As soon as I walked to the stone steps at the entrance of the college building, I saw Guan Shengnan walking out quickly from inside, with a look of relief on his face after completing the task.

The two of them collided head-on.

When Guan Shengnan saw Cheng Xin, a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face.

She raised her hand and touched her nose. Her eyes were a little vague and she spoke dryly: "Well...well, the college made a mistake regarding the list. The place is still yours, don't worry." She was eager to distance herself from the matter. After all, she was affected by her family's connections. Guan Shengnan wanted to curse as she put the blame on herself.

Cheng Xin looked at her like this and became more certain. Guan Shengnan must have done something, and it was definitely not to grab a spot, but more like to fight for or clarify?

Her clear eyes fell on Guan Shengnan's slightly uncomfortable face, and she asked softly, "Were you the one who went to see the dean?"

Guan Shengnan immediately became like a cat whose tail was stepped on, and his voice became a few notes higher: "Who... who went to find him! I just went to ask about the situation! Anyway, the matter has been resolved, and the quota is yours, so don't think too much!"

She hurriedly said "I have something else to do" and left quickly, with her back looking like she was fleeing in a hurry.

Cheng Xin watched Guan Shengnan disappear in the direction she was heading. She felt warm and a little amused. This girl, she clearly helped, but she was too embarrassed to admit it. She could probably guess that the process must have been unpleasant, and Guan Shengnan didn't say it because he didn't want to burden her.

Just as I was thinking about it, Professor Zhang also came out of the building, with a hint of fatigue on his face, but his steps were relaxed.

"Professor Zhang!" Cheng Xin hurriedly went to greet him.

"Cheng Xin? That's perfect." Professor Zhang looked relieved. "The list is settled. It's your spot. Just prepare yourself."

"Thank you, Professor Zhang!" Cheng Xin bowed sincerely to express her gratitude. "I just met Guan Shengnan, and she also said that the college made a mistake." Cheng Xin asked tentatively, "Did you and Guan Shengnan go to find the dean together? I am really sorry to bother you for my matter..."

Professor Zhang waved his hands and sighed, "It's what we should do. Good students like you can't be buried. The dean... Alas, people who are used to being leaders have too rigid thinking, but this time I've taught him a lesson."

He changed the subject and his eyes became serious: "Although this matter has been resolved, I want to ask you, do you have any longer-term plans? For example, studying abroad?"

Cheng Xin was slightly startled: "Going abroad?"

"Yes." Professor Zhang's eyes were blazing. "With your talent, hard work and top professional foundation, it's still too narrow to stay in Shanghai. The country now encourages studying abroad. Although the quota is extremely precious and the competition is fierce, Hudan, as a top university, still has the opportunity to strive for a short-term exchange program from the Ministry of Education or a top university, even if it's just a year in your sophomore year. Although the economy is a big problem and the public quota is the first choice, if there is a slight chance, you must fight for it!"

He said earnestly, "Go out for a year and see what the world's top universities are like, and get in touch with the most cutting-edge academics and concepts. This will be a huge boost to your improvement! When you come back, with your ability and this experience, you can apply for a graduate program at any top university in the country, or be directly recommended by a tutor for further studies. It's almost a sure thing. Your platform and future will be countless times broader than they are now. Cheng Xin, you are one of the most promising talents I have ever seen. Don't be limited by the current framework. The world is big, you should go and try it out!"

Professor Zhang's words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples in Cheng Xin's heart.

Going abroad...the idea was too far away for her.

Her plan has always been clear: study hard, return to her hometown after graduation, and use the knowledge she has learned to help the village develop. This is her promise to Geng Yunye.

But now, Professor Zhang has opened a door for her that she never imagined. A wider world and deeper knowledge are really exciting.

But at the same time, a more realistic problem surfaced - Geng Yunye.

If you go abroad, it means longer separation and greater distance, separated by thousands of mountains and rivers and across the ocean.

What will their future be like?

This is not an easy choice.

On one side is the dazzling ladder leading to the world stage and the pinnacle of academia; on the other side is the simple original intention of taking root in the hometown and giving back to the hometown, as well as the inseparable emotional ties.

This was the first time Cheng Xin felt so confused.

She gave Professor Zhang a grateful smile: "Thank you, Professor! Your advice is very important. I will seriously consider it."

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A few days later, in the evening, the public telephone downstairs in the dormitory rang, and the dormitory manager leaned over and shouted, "302 Cheng Xin! Long-distance call!"

Cheng Xin ran downstairs quickly, her heart beating slightly faster.

"Hello?" She picked up the receiver.

"Xinxin?" Geng Yunye's familiar voice came, "I hope I didn't disturb you from reviewing?"

"No, I just finished eating." Hearing his voice, Cheng Xin unconsciously relaxed, with the corners of her mouth curled up, "How about you? Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten. I just came back from the factory. I called to ask you if you've decided on a date for your return from winter vacation. Geng Fang is getting married on the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. She wants you to join her for the fun and has mentioned you several times." Geng Fang and Cheng Xin are of similar age and have a good relationship.

Cheng Xin calculated the time in her mind: "It may be late, as I still have a few exams to take, and," she said with anticipation, "the translation practice at the Overseas Chinese Hotel mentioned earlier is scheduled for a few days after the exam. I estimate that I won't be home until the 17th or 18th of the twelfth lunar month."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for two seconds as Geng Yunye quickly considered the trade-offs between his schedule and his family arrangements.

"I see. Business is more important. I'll talk to Geng Fang. We'll give her a gift when you come back, the same. Remember to call me before you go home, and I'll help you move your luggage."

"Yeah." Cheng Xin felt more at ease and asked, "Is everything going well at the factory? Last time I heard that bell-bottom pants are selling well, and many people in our school are wearing bell-bottom pants now."

"Well, it went smoothly." Geng Yunye reported the results in concise sentences. "The market for bell-bottom pants has opened up, and new orders from Shanghai and Guangdong Province have been accepted. The production capacity can keep up, and the temporary workers in the neighboring village can get started quickly, so there is no problem in rushing the work. Several families in the village are preparing to start building new houses in the spring."

Cheng Xin felt happy and proud from the bottom of her heart: "That's great, Brother Yunye, you've worked hard!" His hometown was moving forward steadily in his hands. Not only was she happy for him, but the idea of studying abroad in her heart became more complicated.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

Cheng Xin held the receiver and organized her words several times, but the words "Professor Zhang suggested that I go abroad for an exchange for a year" were stuck in her throat.

She opened her mouth, but finally decided to wait until she got back to tell him in person: "As long as everything in the village is fine, I'll go back to see the new house. Our village must have changed a lot."

Geng Yunye keenly caught the moment of silence and the pause at the end of Cheng Xin's words. It was very rare for her to be hesitant to speak.

In a flash, Geng Yunye's memory and logic were working rapidly.

At this point in time, it is hard for Xinxin to talk about...

Is it that they are sent abroad to study at public expense?

Geng Yunye was probably sure that it was probably an extremely precious opportunity like a government-sponsored exchange. Only such a thing would make her bear such heavy concerns. The fact that her place in the previous life was replaced became a source of worry for her.

Geng Yunye's heart calmed down. He was not surprised at all. He knew better than anyone the importance of knowledge and vision in the future world. Xinxin was such a dazzling pearl, her light should not be limited by the region.

Studying abroad was the right path for her, and he would never and had never thought of becoming a stumbling block for her.

The only thing that lingered in his mind was a deeper worry: in a foreign country in the early 1980s, the environment was complex, communication was difficult, and outsiders were rejected. The person he held dear to his heart had to face a completely unfamiliar world alone.

Countless thoughts instantly formed in his mind.

It is almost impossible to get a study visa. It is impossible for ordinary people to go abroad in this era. What about business visits? Look for trade opportunities and arrange resources that she can rely on overseas in advance. Even if you can't be with her all the time, you should do your best to weave a safety net for her so that she can have something to rely on when she flies higher and more steadily.

Although his mind was in a state of confusion, Geng Yunye's voice remained steady: "Okay, I'll arrange everything at home when you come back. You can follow your ideas about things outside. I'm at home, so don't worry. I'll support whatever decision you make."

Cheng Xin's eyes were hot. Geng Yunye could always keenly sense her unspoken thoughts and give her the reassurance she needed most.

"I understand, Brother Yunye." Cheng Xin nodded vigorously and sniffed, "You should also take care of yourself and don't get too tired. Wait for me to come back."

"Focus on the exam and internship. I'm hanging up. I'll wait for you to come back." Geng Yunye ended the call neatly.

Hearing the busy tone in the receiver, Cheng Xin slowly put down the phone.

Let’s go home and talk to him face to face. Maybe everything won’t be that difficult.

Geng Yunye put down the receiver, and the calmness on his face was replaced by thought. He walked to the window, looked calmly at the lights in the village outside the window, and tapped his fingers unconsciously on the window frame.

"Going abroad..." He whispered to himself, his eyes dark. He began to calmly sort out the immigration policies of the early 1980s.

Foreign exchange is the biggest obstacle. The government has strict control, and the foreign exchange quota in the hands of individuals is not enough to even buy a plane ticket. His 500,000 yuan in savings and quarterly dividends are just a pile of waste paper when he arrives abroad.

Going to the black market is too risky. If something goes wrong, not only will the money go down the drain, but Cheng Xin might also be implicated. This is absolutely not acceptable.

Tourist visas are short-term and have limited number of entries. If you want to stay for a long time or even relatively freely, you need a reason that can convince the visa officer.

Even if he was lucky enough to get a short-term visa, what identity would he use to stay there for a long time? He couldn't stay in the country illegally forever, as that would be a time bomb for Cheng Xin. He needed a legitimate job or business activity abroad as a cover and support.

His fingers tapping on the window frame stopped, a sharp light flashed in his deep eyes, and a figure appeared clearly in his mind.

A bold plan took shape instantly.

Geng Yunye immediately turned around and sat down at his desk. He wanted to paint a tempting enough pie, a project that would attract the other party to deeply bind their interests with him and naturally solve his overseas identity and funding issues.

-----------------

In the conference hall of the Overseas Chinese Hotel, the dazzling crystal chandeliers softly shine on the polished long table.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is the cold street scene of Shanghai in winter, while inside the window is the gaming field involving major investments.

Around the long conference table, representatives of the Shanghai municipal government and several powerful local business people sat upright. The air was filled with the aroma of coffee and an invisible atmosphere of competition.

They have only one goal: to persuade Mr. Pete, a wealthy foreign businessman sitting in the guest of honor, to place his considerable investment intention in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, preferably in the field or region they represent.

Cheng Xin and Guan Shengnan, as translation partners, wore the hotel's uniform dark grey dresses and tied their long hair up, looking professional and capable. They sat quietly behind Mr. Peter, with notebooks and pens spread out in front of them, ready to take notes and interpret consecutively at any time.

Cheng Xin fluently and accurately translated an official's speech about the policy advantages of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, breathed a sigh of relief, and waited for the next speaker.

Mr. Peter cleared his throat and said with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, before we go into the discussion, please allow me to introduce a specially invited guest. He left a very deep impression on me at the Guangdong Province Exchange Conference. He brought an idea that I think has great potential. Let us welcome Mr. Geng Yunye, the head of Jiaren Garment Factory!"

Everyone's eyes were focused on the door.

The heavy door of the conference room was pushed open. A tall and straight figure walked in, his steps steady and powerful. The dark gray wool suit was tailored to fit him perfectly, outlining his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

The light from the crystal lamp fell on his angular face, adding a sense of depth and elusiveness.

Cheng Xingang had just finished interpreting Pete's opening remarks when she heard Geng Yunye's name.

She looked up and her heart stopped.

It's really him!

The pen in her hand fell on the notebook. Cheng Xin quickly picked up the pen and forced her eyes to focus on the notebook.

Guan Shengnan noticed Cheng Xin's loss of composure and stared at Geng Yunye.

Geng Yunye calmly took his seat amid the curious and scrutinizing gazes of the crowd.

Pete motioned for him to begin.

Geng Yunye glanced around and stopped at Peter: "Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Peter. I am Geng Yunye, from Jiaren Garment Factory."

There was a flash of contempt in the eyes of the business representatives. When will village-run enterprises be able to sit at the same table with them?

"Today, I will discuss with Mr. Pitt a product that is about to explode among young consumers around the world - high-performance professional sports shoes."

There was a slight chuckle in the meeting hall.

Peter leaned forward: "Mr. Geng, please elaborate."

Geng Yunye summarized the core in Chinese: "Most existing sports shoes remain at the wearable stage without any substantial auxiliary functions. In the future global sports boom, including next year's Los Angeles Olympics, athletes and fitness enthusiasts will need technology-enabled equipment, which is a huge blue ocean market."

After saying this, he turned his gaze to the translation seat and paused.

Cheng Xin immediately concentrated and translated the core pain points of the words into fluent English for Peter. Her heart was beating fast, but her professionalism made her voice steady.

Pete nodded attentively, interested.

Geng Yunye switched to fluent English, picked up the sketch, and gave Pete a more in-depth technical explanation. When he explained the key points, he would consciously pause naturally.

Cheng Xin was fully focused, writing quickly. Taking advantage of every pause, she quickly refined the advanced professional terms and performance advantages into concise and accurate Chinese, and translated it to the officials and businessmen present. This process was extremely challenging, and she demonstrated her top professionalism.

Geng Yunye finally summarized the cooperation proposal in Chinese again to ensure that everyone understood: "Jiaren Garment Factory has a mature production line and quality control, and is responsible for production implementation. Mr. Peter provides top material technology, design team and international marketing, and we will jointly create a new brand."

After Cheng Xin finished the accurate translation, the conference hall fell into silence.

The vision and blueprint, unheard-of concepts and precise grasp of trends demonstrated by Geng Yunye stunned those who despised him, leaving them shocked and impressed.

Peter stood up excitedly! He walked around the table and patted Geng Yunye on the shoulder, praising him sincerely.

Cheng Xin quickly translated the gist to the official: "There is huge potential, and we are very interested in in-depth cooperation!"

Pete turned to the audience, the formal smile on his face had long gone, replaced by the excitement that only came with facing a real business opportunity.

"Everyone, thank you for your detailed introduction. I think today's core agenda can come to an end."

He looked around at the government representatives and local businessmen who were still trying to sell their solutions and said, "Next, I need to have a more in-depth private discussion with Mr. Geng. The future of sports technology is extremely exciting!"

This sentence announces the ultimate winner of this investment competition.

The conference room suddenly fell into a subtle silence.