138 Chunmei
Today is the last day of the exhibition. The hesitant foreign buyers who wanted to drag things out until the last minute to negotiate lower prices finally couldn't sit still anymore and went into the negotiation room to sign contracts.
But after 4 p.m., the negotiation room became quiet.
Guan Yuehe had just seen off the foreign businessmen with the factory manager of a factory in Northeast China. Seeing that no one was waiting outside the negotiation room to sign the contract, she moved her hands and feet slightly.
I greeted my French-speaking colleague next door, and we shared our biggest order of the day and how much foreign exchange it would earn for the country.
This wasn't their first time attending the Canton Fair, but they heard that there were many more types of electronics and home appliances in the first phase this year, and that there were also more clothing styles in the third phase than in previous years. It was a pity that they didn't have time to go out and browse.
Guan Yuehe also felt it was a pity. Although they were all quite free now, no one could say for sure whether another group of foreign businessmen would come to sign orders later, so no one thought about going out for a stroll.
However, Guan Yuehe is more looking forward to visiting the Friendship Store tomorrow than going to the Canton Fair.
My colleague, who is fluent in French, knows more about the Friendship Store. When she heard that she wanted to buy Coke to take back, she said, "It's one dollar a bottle, and it's a glass bottle, so it's not easy to carry. You might as well buy an imported appliance to take back with you."
Despite thanking her colleague for the kind reminder, Guan Yuehe decided to take the cola back with her.
She doesn't need any large appliances at home right now. Besides, even if she bought them, they wouldn't make much difference. Power outages have been getting worse lately; before, the power rarely went out while watching TV at night, but now it might cut out halfway through a show. It's really annoying.
Guan Yuehe was thinking that she would go to see Chunmei first tomorrow morning. If Chunmei was free, they would go shopping at the Friendship Store together. Anyway, Guan Yuehe had a hundred foreign exchange certificates on hand!
Before she came to Guangzhou, she wrote to Chunmei saying that she was also attending the Canton Fair and specifically said that she must meet her.
When she arrived in Guangzhou, she was busy for the first few days. It wasn't until two days ago, when there were no more meetings in the evening, that she asked her colleagues on the organizing committee for help inquiring about which guesthouse the students from Yunnan Province selected from universities to work as translators were staying at.
Having received confirmation, she went to the guesthouse last night to look for the translator, but was told that the translator had not yet returned. So she asked the staff to help deliver the letter to Chunmei.
If Chunmei is not available...
"Yuehe! I knew it was you!"
Chunmei suppressed her excitement, knowing the occasion was inappropriate, and didn't rush over to hug and spin the person around. But as she strode over, she couldn't completely control her volume, and her classmates all looked over.
Guan Yuehe didn't hear the two words "Yuehe" that she called out, she only heard the last sentence, and she hadn't heard Chunmei's voice for so long that she didn't notice the person coming towards her from the side and behind.
However, her colleague heard her and gestured for her to turn around, saying, "That woman is calling you."
Guan Yuehe turned around, her mouth agape in surprise. She suppressed her excitement and exclaimed, "Chunmei!"
In this setting where foreign businesspeople come and go, everyone keeps in mind the rule of maintaining a proper image; it's not appropriate to be loud or to excitedly hug them directly.
So, the two old friends, who hadn't seen each other for eight years, walked towards each other, extended their hands in tacit agreement, and shook hands to greet each other as if they were meeting for the first time.
The handshake lasted a little longer than expected, with all four of their hands clasped tightly and their eyes shining with excitement.
Judging from their tone of voice alone, you couldn't tell that they were overjoyed.
"It's so nice to see you again!"
"How come you haven't changed at all?"
They spoke almost simultaneously, and after they finished, they looked at each other and laughed.
Chunmei squinted for a couple of seconds and then confirmed that the person with her back to her was Guan Yuehe.
That figure, resembling a white poplar tree, looked so familiar.
Judging by appearance alone, it's impossible to say that nothing has changed. But some people are just that amazing; even after many years, they can tell at a glance whether the other person's feelings for them have changed.
Chunmei didn't forget the important matter. She glanced at the location of the negotiation room behind Guan Yuehe and quickly explained, "My classmate and I have finished our translation internship and were planning to travel around and buy some local specialties to take back. I was passing by here and thought I might run into you... I'm pretty lucky."
"I won't talk to you anymore. You go ahead and do your work. I'm going shopping with my classmates. As you said in your letter, we'll meet at my guesthouse tomorrow morning. Are you free tomorrow?"
Guan Yuehe nodded quickly, "I was just thinking of coming to see you tomorrow morning. If you're free tomorrow, we can go shopping at the Friendship Store together."
Chunmei's eyes lit up, and she clicked her tongue in admiration, "I knew I could get away with this. I'll be waiting for you at the guesthouse tomorrow morning!"
"good!"
Chunmei shook their clasped hands and said with a smile, "It's so nice to see you! I've prepared ten sheets of paper to tell you, so be sure to come see me early tomorrow!"
"Yes! I can get up at five o'clock!"
Chunmei suppressed a laugh, "It doesn't have to be that early. Getting up at 5:30 is fine too."
—
Chunmei walked back to her classmate and saw Xiao Guan circling around her colleague.
Xiao Guan is still as funny as ever.
"Chunmei, do you know that comrade?" After looking for a while, the classmate realized that the woman was a staff member of the organizing committee, in charge of contract signing in the negotiation room.
Two days ago, she was assigned to work as a translator at a shoe factory in the province. When it was time to sign a contract, she went to the negotiation room with the factory manager and the foreign businessman. She happened to see that woman seeing the foreign businessman out of the negotiation room next door.
She has a friend who studies German, and she can understand a few simple everyday phrases. When she heard the woman speaking fluent German, she took a second look at her.
Chunmei was still immersed in the joy of reuniting with her old friend, and her voice involuntarily rose at the end of her sentence, "Yes, she was my roommate when I was studying at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University."
The classmate was somewhat surprised. Chunmei's roommate? Then isn't that also a member of the People's Liberation Army? Besides, shouldn't she be learning English?
However, she quickly found a reason: nowadays many people learn foreign languages on their own, and it's not uncommon for college students who study English to learn another language as well.
While browsing the exhibition, the classmate noticed that Chunmei had bought three of many items.
"You bought so much? It's all food." The classmate couldn't help but gasp in amazement.
They were the first batch of graduate students admitted after the school resumed the college entrance examination. Most of them had been working for several years, so they could still receive a salary during their studies, but there were no bonuses.
Chunmei was the only student in the class who had served in the military and remained a cadre after her demobilization. Logically speaking, her previous salary wasn't low. However, she lived a very frugal and simple life, only spending money extravagantly on things like sending letters.
Now that she's buying so many things for the first time ever, several of her classmates find it strange.
Chunmei didn't explain much.
She could tell at a glance that Yuehe definitely didn't have time to come out and browse the exhibition; she had only bought some groceries, which Yuehe definitely wanted to eat.
The other document is to be sent to Shenghua. I also want to mention to Shenghua that she and Yuehe met in Guangzhou!
The classmate glanced at his watch and suggested, "Hey, let's go check out the clothing booths. Didn't we get a flyer at the guesthouse a few days ago? It's for the Zhuoyue brand sportswear, what's booth number T again?"
After discussing it, everyone decided to split into two groups. Those who wanted to buy groceries could continue browsing the agricultural and sideline products exhibition, while those who wanted to go to the clothing booths could go first.
The classmate led the way and walked forward, when suddenly he saw that Chunmei had followed as well.
Seemingly noticing her classmate's confusion, Chunmei said out of the blue, "I'll go see if Director Zheng of Zhuoyue Garment Factory is here."
The classmate was shocked, "You have a classmate who's a factory manager? Your classmates are really impressive. One of them got into the Ministry of Foreign Trade and was featured in the newspaper, and now you have another one who's a factory manager. Zhuoyue brand is so famous, Zhuoyue Garment Factory must be a big factory, right?"
Chunmei: "...Factory Director Zheng is not my classmate."
Moreover, you just met the student who joined the foreign trade department.
Although none of the girls in their dormitory had ever met Director Zheng, thanks to Xiao Guan, Director Zheng was indeed one of their dormitory's guides.
Ever since she received the brochure for the Zhuoyue Garment Factory at the guesthouse, she had been eager to see what Director Zheng looked like!
—
"This is our Factory Director Zheng Xingmin." Section Chief Long pointed to Zheng Xingmin, who had just walked over, and then explained to the puzzled Zheng Xingmin, "This lady came over and asked if our Factory Director Zheng was here, and who he was. She said she just wanted to know what you look like."
Zheng Xingmin glanced at the woman with bright eyes in front of the booth. Her husband and brother-in-law were both soldiers. She had grown up in the military compound with her sister and brother-in-law since she was a child. She could tell at a glance that the woman in front of her was also from the military.
But no matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't figure out why this woman would specifically ask for her name.
Chunmei stared intently at the legendary Factory Director Zheng, and pursed her lips.
Our Factory Director Zheng looks especially approachable!
"Comrade, do we know each other before?" Zheng Xingmin racked her brains but couldn't remember. She had an exceptionally good memory and could remember people and things accurately, but she really couldn't recall when she had met this female comrade.
Chunmei couldn't help but laugh at the thought of what she was going to say later.
Section Chief Long's eyes were filled with mixed emotions. He initially thought it was a purchasing agent from some factory coming to discuss cooperation with their factory manager. But when he had the manager brought back, the guy was just grinning like an idiot.
What the man said next made him laugh too.
“Hello, Director Zheng. My name is Qin Chunmei. Guan Yuehe and I were classmates in college and roommates. Yuehe often mentions Director Zheng of Zhuoyue Garment Factory in our dorm. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree at a university in the provincial capital of Yunnan Province and am here as a translator for the Yunnan Provincial Foreign Trade Delegation to participate in the Canton Fair. After receiving the promotional leaflet for Zhuoyue Garment Factory, I thought I had to come and see what Director Zheng, whom Yuehe often mentions, looks like.”
After Chunmei finished speaking in one breath, her eyes suddenly caught sight of a reporter taking pictures with a camera next to her. She stared at Zheng Xingmin expectantly and asked, "Can I take a picture with you? My college roommates must also be curious about what Director Zheng looks like."
Zheng Xingmin rarely looked so bewildered: "..."
Section Chief Long, who was standing next to him, was also stunned for a moment, then quickly turned around and chuckled to himself.
Section Chief Guan really doesn't forget to promote Zhuoyue Garment Factory no matter where he goes!
Zheng Xingmin snapped out of her daze, both surprised and pleased. "Of course, Chunmei, it's a pleasure to meet you."
While laughing, Section Chief Long called to his colleague in charge of publicity at his factory, "Xiao Li, come over and take a group photo of our factory director and Comrade Chunmei."
Comrade Xiao Guan's classmates are just as outstanding as her, and they are all very interesting.
Author's Note: [Laughs out loud]
I'm back from my business trip. I'll update again tomorrow at 10 PM. [Keep it up!]
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