Chapter 330 Pretending to be a Returning Businessman in a Historical Novel (Part 3)
The little girl was completely dumbfounded when she saw the valuable foreign exchange certificate and the green banknotes with foreign language printed on them sticking out of her wallet.
She opened her mouth, unable to utter a single word, and could only subconsciously turn around and call out towards the inner office.
"Director Wang... Director Wang!"
After shouting, he turned back and said, "Please wait a moment, I'll call our director."
Soon, a middle-aged man wearing glasses, who looked to be in his forties, strode out of the office.
He first glanced at Zhou Jue, then at the foreign exchange certificates on the counter, and immediately put on a warm yet restrained smile.
"Hello! Hello! Comrade, I am the director of the guesthouse, my surname is Wang. Please feel free to tell me if you need anything!"
Zhou Jue calmly repeated what he had just said.
After listening, Director Wang frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed.
"International long-distance calls are no problem! We'll go to the post office right away to apply for a line for you!"
"As for food delivery, whatever you'd like to eat, as long as our kitchen can make it, we'll definitely deliver it to your room!"
Director Wang patted his chest and assured him, his attitude almost fawning.
This is exactly the effect Zhou Jue wanted.
What she wanted was this kind of "special treatment".
Only in this way can her identity as a "returning investor" be established quickly and unquestionably.
"Then I'll have to trouble Director Wang." Zhou Jue nodded in satisfaction: "I'd also like to try some hometown dishes during this trip back to China."
"No problem! We'll send you a special menu item later."
Under Director Wang's personal guidance, she was led to the largest and brightest room at the end of the second-floor corridor.
"Ms. Zhou, are you satisfied? If there's anything you're not satisfied with, please let me know!" Director Wang rubbed his hands together, standing at the door, not daring to come in.
Zhou Jue looked around, and something unexpected happened.
The room was very spacious and tastefully furnished, with a sofa, coffee table, writing desk, a large wardrobe with a full-length mirror, and even a toilet and bathtub in the bathroom.
"Very good." She turned around and looked at Director Wang at the door and the uneasy receptionist.
She suddenly smiled, took out a chocolate wrapped in a beautiful candy wrapper from her handbag, and handed it to the little girl.
"Please have this, it's a specialty from Southeast Asia, just a small token of my appreciation."
The little girl was so frightened that she waved her hands repeatedly and looked to Director Wang for help.
Director Wang was also taken aback, but then he realized what was happening and quickly smiled and said, "Miss Zhou, you're too kind. I can't accept this..."
"It's nothing," Zhou Jue said casually, with a touch of friendliness. "I'm new here, so I'll have to trouble you all a lot in the future."
She slipped the chocolate into the little girl's hand, then nodded slightly to Director Wang: "I'm a little tired and want to rest for a bit."
"Okay, okay! You rest, we won't disturb you any longer!"
Director Wang quickly pulled the little girl, who was still clutching the chocolate and staring blankly, out of the room and considerately closed the door behind her.
The room fell silent instantly.
Once outside, Director Wang instructed the young woman, "Prepare a menu of local specialties and deliver it to Miss Zhou."
"Yes, Director Wang!"
After giving his instructions, Director Wang left in a hurry.
Zhou Jue stood by the window, watching Director Wang rush out of the guesthouse downstairs, get on his bicycle, and apparently head to the post office or some higher-level unit.
She knew that the news about "patriotic overseas Chinese Ms. Zhou Jue returning to China to investigate investment" would soon spread throughout the small town.
She has already placed her first piece.
Zhou Jue didn't wait long in the room before there was a knock on the door, three times, neither too loud nor too soft.
"Please come in."
The door was pushed open, and Director Wang's face, beaming like a chrysanthemum, peeked in first.
"Ms. Zhou, Director Li from the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and Section Chief Zhang from the Investment Promotion Department have come to see you."
He turned to the side, and two men walked in behind him.
The man walking in front was a middle-aged man around fifty years old, dressed in a well-fitting gray Zhongshan suit, with his hair neatly combed and wearing black-rimmed glasses. He had a gentle expression, but his eyes revealed a scrutinizing quality.
Following behind him was a young man, probably in his early thirties, wearing a blue polyester shirt, with a handsome face and bright eyes, exuding an irrepressible enthusiasm and drive.
"Ms. Zhou, hello." The older Director Li extended his hand first, his face showing a formulaic yet just-right enthusiasm: "I am the director of the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, my surname is Li, and this is Section Chief Zhang from the Investment Promotion Section."
Zhou Jue stood up and shook hands with them respectively: "Director Li, Section Chief Zhang, please have a seat."
Director Wang quickly brewed the best tea in the guesthouse for the two leaders and Zhou Jue, then bowed and quietly slipped out, considerately closing the door behind him.
"I just heard from Director Wang that a patriotic overseas Chinese has returned to China. I didn't expect Miss Zhou to be so young. She is truly young and promising." Director Li picked up his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and broke the silence.
Zhou Jue smiled slightly: "Director Li, you flatter me. I came back this time mainly to fulfill my grandfather's last wish."
"Oh?" The young Section Chief Zhang immediately showed great interest: "What is Miss Zhou's ancestral home?"
“Our ancestral home is in the South,” Zhou Jue said, his gaze seemingly drifting to the window with a hint of reminiscence. “My grandfather left home when he was young and worked hard in Southeast Asia all his life. What he missed most was this land. He often taught us that we must not forget our roots in the country.”
These words were spoken flawlessly.
This not only explained why she, a "Nanyang person," could speak fluent Mandarin, but also elevated her motivation for returning to China to a level full of patriotism.
Sure enough, the smile on Director Li's face became more genuine.
"You're too kind, sir. The country will never forget any compatriot who cares about their motherland." He put down his teacup and got to the point: "I heard from Director Wang that Miss Zhou's trip back to China this time is for investment and research?"
“Yes.” Zhou Jue nodded, his demeanor composed. “My family mainly engages in trade overseas, and is also involved in the production and processing of some light industrial products. I came back this time, firstly to see the changes in our motherland, and secondly to see if there are any suitable business opportunities.”
"To do my part for the development of the country."
"Great! That's wonderful!" Section Chief Zhang exclaimed excitedly, leaning forward slightly. "Ms. Zhou, to be honest, although Yancheng is a port city, its industrial base is still relatively weak. We welcome your idea on behalf of all the people of the city!"
Director Li coughed softly, and Section Chief Zhang immediately realized that he had been somewhat out of line, so he sat up straight, embarrassed.
Zhou Jue took in their reactions and a smile curved his lips.
Just as she was about to add fuel to the fire, the system's voice rang in her mind.
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