Chapter 281 Hard-working people should be seen: Interested in being a partner again?
It must be said that the leader's care was truly like a spring breeze and rain, easily blowing away the chill.
On the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, Wang Xiao, who claimed to be unable to leave her house due to severe cold in her legs, was visited by Secretary Sun, who expressed the organization's care and concern for her.
Just three days later, on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Wang Xiao's leg pain and backache disappeared. Not only did she go out, she also boarded a plane and flew all the way to Shanghai.
It wasn't that she was in a rush to see the particularly round moon on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month in Pudong, but rather that the Lantern Festival was over, the Spring Festival was officially over, and everyone naturally had to put away their New Year's thoughts and get back to work.
Even Mr. Zhao, the wealthy businessman who had flown back to Singapore, flew to Shanghai again to see the new location of his hotel. As partners, Wang Xiao and Ivanov were bound to be there.
Shanghai was bustling with activity on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. The New Year was over, but the festive atmosphere lingered.
In the square, the lanterns, as tall as a three-story building, have not yet been removed and stand firm in the drizzling rain.
The vendor selling glutinous rice balls next door tended his coal stove, stirring the iron pot with a bamboo ladle, and the aroma of sesame mixed with steam wafted over.
A young man in a leather jacket leaned against a mobile phone and stood under the eaves shouting, "A shop on Huanghe Road! 88,000 a year! Small ones can't even make a living, I'm crazy! I might as well get a big one at the fish market and open a proper shop."
Wang Xiao leaned against the car window, listening to people haggling over prices with great enthusiasm. He turned around and smiled at Zhang Junfei: "Manager Zhang, you've worked hard."
Zhang Junfei was suddenly praised, and he almost felt a lump in his throat and his eyes well up with tears.
He stayed in Shanghai until New Year's Eve before rushing back to his hometown. After visiting the ancestral graves and paying respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year, he immediately rushed back to Shanghai.
During the Lunar New Year, construction work will definitely stop at the site, as so many workers will naturally go home for the holiday.
But shouldn't he maintain the network of connections he painstakingly built in Shanghai?
The boss broke her leg and is in a wheelchair; everyone knows that. Besides, given her status, a phone call to wish her a Happy New Year is enough.
He couldn't do it; he lacked connections. He had to do everything himself. He personally visited each of the department heads and clerks he had dealt with to offer New Year's greetings.
They didn't give any expensive gifts, just local specialties from home, and gave each family's children a New Year's money according to normal custom.
Not many, really not many. We're grateful that the family planning policy has been enforced for over a decade. Now, basically, each family has only one child.
After running around like this, it only cost a few thousand yuan in total.
The main theme is "Sending a goose feather from afar, a small gift but a deep sentiment."
Unexpectedly, his boss noticed his efforts.
Mr. Zhao, whom I just met at the airport, also praised me, saying, "Like general, like soldiers. Mr. Wang, you have many talented people under your command. Manager Zhang is very capable."
He had only flown to Shanghai once before the Lunar New Year and had a brief interaction with Zhang Junfei. At that time, he felt that this young man was a capable person.
Wang Xiao laughed and teased Zhang Junfei, "You'd better toast President Zhao properly at the table later. It's not easy to get President Zhao's approval."
Since General Manager Zhao had already decided to cooperate with the Chinese businesswoman in front of him and the Russian man who was just a background figure, he naturally didn't hold back his praise: "This is also thanks to your excellent guidance, General Manager Wang. It's a blessing for Manager Zhang to work for you."
The car full of people, in this atmosphere of mutual flattery and sycophancy, drove all the way to the intersection of Nanjing West Road, where they were stopped by a red light.
Wang Xiao looked out the car window with a smile, then couldn't help but widen her eyes: "What are they doing? Are they queuing up to buy stocks?"
She felt like the Shanghai stock exchange wasn't here, and that the stock market must be in a terrible state right now.
After last year's peak, this year's stock market can only be described as disastrous.
On January 19, the Shanghai Composite Index fell below 800 points during trading, Shenergy Co., Ltd.'s "8.18 defense line" was breached, and the market was in a state of panic.
As a result, the sadness did not lessen after the New Year.
On Valentine's Day, February 14th, the first trading day after the Spring Festival, the Shanghai Composite Index briefly surged to 818 points before turning downwards and closing at 779 points, fully demonstrating that the sweetness of love is always fleeting. The situation wasn't much better in Shenzhen, where the market saw its second-largest single-day drop in history.
Now, Wang Xiao is also curious about how the government will intervene to save the market.
Zhang Junfei, who was more familiar with the situation in Shanghai, quickly explained, "No, that's the US consulate. These are people queuing up for visas to go abroad."
Goodness, even though it's drizzling, it can't stop people from queuing up for visas.
The long queue stretched for at least a hundred meters, with people packed shoulder to shoulder, winding all the way to the street corner. People wearing padded jackets, wrapped in military overcoats, and clutching enamel mugs for warmth were crammed together, looking like a pot of boiling dumplings.
What rises up is all the white mist they exhale.
Unfortunately, the department store next to Wang Xiao and his group's car was displaying 21-inch Panasonic color TVs in an effort to attract customers.
The movie "A Native of Beijing in New York" is playing, and the male lead, played by Jiang Wen, is yelling: "If you love him, send him to New York, because it's heaven; if you hate him, send him to New York, because it's hell!"
The volume was turned up extremely high, and it could be heard clearly even inside the Volga sedan with its windows closed.
Wang Xiao felt a kind of magical realism-esque dark humor and couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.
But the upturned corners of her mouth clearly gave Mr. Zhao the wrong impression. As if he had finally found a kindred spirit, he began to complain in soft Mandarin with a Southeast Asian accent: "Mr. Wang, you've felt it too, haven't you? Chinese people are completely obsessed with going abroad, like they're possessed, they're crazy."
Wang Xiao is smiling.
Because the scene in the movie actually happened, when a young man wearing glasses was pushed out, he waved the English documents in a plastic bag in his hand and shouted, "No! The American people need me."
That's hilarious.
But after hearing what Mr. Zhao said, her smile couldn't deepen; instead, it remained the same: "Yes, after all, less than a hundred years ago, there were even more people queuing to board the ship."
“The people holding up the signs back then weren’t visa officers, but ‘coolie dealers’ from the mines in Southeast Asia. Those who went to Borneo to mine tin or to San Francisco to build railroads were all called ‘coolie dealers.’ Before boarding the ship, they had to put their fingerprints on and sign a contract of servitude. If they survived for more than three years, it was considered a blessing from their ancestors.”
She sighed softly, "I only learned how difficult it was for early immigrants to live in Singapore after reading 'Foggy Nanyang'."
What are you pretending for?
You are a Chinese person. When your ancestors went to Singapore, their plight was far more miserable and arduous than the people queuing for visas now. More people died on the ship than survived.
Now that you're living a good life, do you have the nerve to laugh at those who come after you?
Mr. Zhao looked embarrassed and annoyed that he had been humiliated in front of others. He subconsciously adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and retorted, "Back then, we had no choice but to try to survive. I think we can still live in China now, so why go abroad and make ourselves look so pathetic?"
Zhang Junfei rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking to himself, "Then what are you, a Singaporean, doing in China? Is it because you can't earn a living in Singapore?"
Wang Xiao smiled and said, "It's just about making money, there's no such thing as being humiliated. For example, you and I aren't from Shanghai, but we came because there were opportunities to make money in Pudong. They're the same; they think they'll have more opportunities to live a better life in America, so they go. As for being humiliated, when I'm vying for projects I like, I can use every trick in the book, even resorting to the most unseemly tactics—"
She laughed out loud, "I have no right to think they're pathetic. When it comes to making money and living a good life, no matter how hard you try, it's never shameful."
Mr. Zhao smiled and gestured out the window: "Unfortunately, it seems that the United States doesn't really welcome them."
In the direction he pointed, another person who had been refused a visa walked out dejectedly.
He added, "As far as I know, the rejection rate is very high."
Wang Xiao didn't take it to heart: "That's normal. When I wanted to be a boss back then, even among those who were already bosses, they still didn't welcome more people sharing the pie. But did I just give up and obediently retreat home?"
Mr. Zhao was stunned by her confident and assertive attitude and was speechless for a moment.
Wang Xiao's smile deepened: "Besides, even in America back then, did the Native Americans welcome European convicts? It seems they wouldn't have dared to. Perhaps the ones who truly had the right to refuse visitors were the Native Americans."
Mr. Zhao was speechless, but he could force a smile and ask, "So, is Mr. Wang interested in immigrating?"
He had seen many Chinese like this; in order to settle in Hong Kong, even a group of children of officials would behave in a disgraceful manner.
Wang Xiao looked surprised: "How could you think that? Is there anywhere more profitable than China right now? Mr. Zhao, you have to trust your own judgment. I guarantee that investing in Pudong is absolutely the best decision you've ever made, without a doubt. Because for at least the next thirty years, there won't be a better choice than China."
Mr. Zhao was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Mr. Wang, you seem quite confident."
“Of course.” Wang Xiao said seriously, “As a country that has fought against all five permanent members of the UN Security Council and has not been at a disadvantage, China has proven with facts that if a Chinese person wants to do something, there is nothing a Chinese person cannot do.”
Mr. Zhao continued to laugh heartily, and everyone easily moved past the unpleasant topic from before.
The car drove across the Yangpu Bridge, and the Huangpu River separated the two worlds of Pudong and Puxi.
Pudong today is a massive construction site in its entirety. Everywhere you look, there are gantry cranes, tractors and trucks, and orange-yellow mobile safety helmets, all bustling about.
Only the Oriental Pearl TV Tower stands quietly amidst the misty rain of Pudong, looking down on all others.
The car drove through the mud and arrived at the construction site of the fish market.
Don't get me wrong, it's not that Mr. Zhao's hotel is going to be located in the fish market, but it's already lunchtime, and it wouldn't be good to let people go to see their future hotel on an empty stomach.
As soon as he got off the car, Zhang Junfei ran into an acquaintance—the director couple of "Shanghai People in Tokyo." Yes, both of them are directors.
When Xiang Dong came to Shanghai to discuss cooperation, Zhang Junfei was also there and accompanied him on his travels, so naturally he was an acquaintance of Xiang Dong's.
He told his boss and then quickly went up to greet them: "Director Fu, Director Zhang, you two are here for dinner. Perfect timing, let's all come together. Let me introduce you, these two, Mr. Wang and Mr. Ivanov, are my bosses. This is Mr. Zhao from Singapore, who is opening a hotel in Pudong. When you two come to film next year, the Singapore Garden Hotel will be open."
Mr. Zhao was surprised by this unexpected delight, even though he had no idea what the two middle-aged directors opposite him were filming.
But no matter what they're filming, being able to be filmed there is a ready-made publicity channel. It would be strange if he didn't welcome this kind of advertising.
He immediately smiled broadly and took the initiative to shake hands with people: "If there is any need, I will definitely cooperate fully to ensure that Pudong presents itself as a new international city facing the world."
The director and his wife seemed a little intimidated by their posture and waved their hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no, no, we just came to check out the location and see how things are progressing. You can have your meal, we won't disturb you."
Wang Xiao wasn't about to let them leave, so he quickly pushed the wheelchair forward and warmly invited them, "No, no, no, it's so late, how can you leave? We'd like to ask the two directors, as well-known figures in the arts, to give us some advice. You see, it's just a simple meal. We're not throwing a lavish banquet on Huanghe Road to try and corrupt you two. Unless you think our restaurant is too simple."
The director and his wife couldn't take it anymore, so they had to be carried into the restaurant by Xiao Gao, Xiao Zhao, Liu Ba, and the lobby manager.
To be honest, Wang Xiao's description of this "delicacies" restaurant as simple was not an exaggeration; it was indeed a very ordinary, centrally-sized restaurant, even consisting of single-story buildings.
There aren't even any private rooms upstairs.
There's no way around it; building takes time. The real grand hotel is still under construction. This is just a temporary trial operation site, used to attract gourmets from Shanghai and some officials who come down to inspect the work.
Despite its simplicity, it was made with high-quality materials and the craftsman's skills were solid.
Wang Xiao smiled and invited the guests to order: "The head chef was poached from Jinning Grand Hotel. You two should also try their signature dishes."
She laughed as she spoke, "In order to poach talent, I offended the leaders of the Jinning Grand Hotel."
Really, Manager Huang, no, she's General Manager Huang now, we've known each other for many years.
When she went to the Jinning Grand Hotel last year, they even personally entertained her.
She went there again this year for the Spring Festival and stayed for several days, but General Manager Huang didn't show up at all, which shows how angry she was.
This also proves that the chef Zhang Junfei recruited has real skills.
The director and his wife couldn't resist the host's enthusiasm and reluctantly ordered steamed sea bass and cold shepherd's purse salad.
Even so, everyone ordered one dish, and the table was quickly filled with one dish after another.
River delicacies and vegetables are commonplace, but when oysters, Arctic surf clams, or even king crabs are served, at least Mr. Zhao can remain calm.
The guests' expressions changed when the final dish—braised bear paw—was served.
This dish is quite rare.
Those that can be burned are rare because the materials are unavailable, while those that have the materials don't know how to burn them; these are almost extinct.
Wang Xiao smiled and invited the guests to pick up their chopsticks: "Try it, Siberian bear, the bear paw tastes good."
Director Fu couldn't help but sigh, "Mr. Wang, this is truly a generous gesture."
Wang Xiao chuckled: "This is the restaurant's signature dish. We were worried that people from Shanghai wouldn't be used to it, so we're counting on you two to give us some feedback."
Her husband, Director Zhang, laughed: "What opinions could we possibly have? This is the first time we've ever eaten this either."
Mr. Zhao didn't feel neglected at all at the dinner table; on the contrary, he felt that Wang Xiao treated him like one of his own. They now needed to work together to win over the director.
In China, the circle is called the arts and culture circle, not the entertainment circle. This difference in name alone reflects the distinction between the two.
If you win over the directors, they'll reap the rewards.
At the dinner table, while eating bear paws, everyone discussed the scene details needed for filming the TV series.
Wang Xiao took on all the responsibility and actively promoted the project: "Our company is in contact with Michael Jackson for his concert in Pudong this year. Director, you two absolutely must come and film the scenes. He's a true international superstar; his presence will make a huge difference."
Director Fu exclaimed in surprise: "Michael Jackson? He's coming to Shanghai for a concert?"
“Yes,” Wang Xiao nodded. “His team has already made arrangements with us. We helped out with some things for his concert in Moscow last year, so we have a good relationship. Now we just need to see when the approval will come through so we can start building the stage.”
She pointed in the direction of the Oriental Pearl Tower, "Our idea is to use the Oriental Pearl Tower as a stage backdrop, which will create a brilliant effect."
She was going to do aerial photography, with a drone flying up to film. Wow! Just thinking about that scene is so amazing.
The director and his wife were also infected by her enthusiasm and nodded with a smile: "Okay, if he really comes to hold a concert, he must let us know."
Wang Xiao smiled and said, "Of course, I'm just waiting for 'Shanghai People in Tokyo' to become a worldwide hit. That way, next time you two want to film in Singapore, we'd like to invest again."
The director assumed she mentioned Singapore because Mr. Zhao, who was at the dinner table, was Singaporean, so he just laughed and didn't deny it.
Mr. Zhao was a bit confused. Although he smiled along, after finishing the meal and seeing the director and his wife off, he got into his car to look at the land allocated to the hotel and couldn't help but ask, "What, Director Fu and Director Zhao, do you have plans to film 'Chinese People in Singapore'? Is this your next project?"
He really needs to think carefully about how to make the most of the next opportunity to promote himself.
Singapore certainly doesn't lack tourists, but mainland Chinese tourists spend money like water, so who wouldn't welcome such guests?
The wheels rolled over the muddy ground, the rain stopped, and raindrops clung to the leaves of the camphor trees by the roadside, ready to fall.
Wang Xiao said casually, "Originally, there wasn't, but if you're willing to cooperate with us and act as an intermediary to introduce skilled workers from Beijing to work in Singapore, then maybe there will be."
Since things had gotten so far, how could she possibly wait for Yang Tao to come to her senses and team up with Zhang Junfei to seek cooperation with President Zhao?
The boss herself took over.
Wang Xiao smiled and said, "So, Mr. Zhao, are you interested in doing this business?"
Mr. Zhao was startled and replied without hesitation, "I only work in the hotel business."
Wang Xiao raised his hand, his smile undiminished: "Please don't rush, let me finish. You just said that Americans don't welcome Chinese people, so they refuse visas. But Singapore is different from the United States; Singapore is now actively recruiting talent."
Seeing that Mr. Zhao didn't seem to care, her smile deepened. "The standard for talent isn't necessarily someone with higher education or a high degree. Quite the opposite, I'm sure there are many university students in Singapore, so having a university degree isn't unusual. Don't you agree?"
Mr. Zhao did not deny that five or six thousand people graduate from university in Singapore every year, and it is normal for some majors not to find jobs.
There was another traffic light ahead, so the car stopped.
Wang Xiao twisted open her thermos and took a sip of red date and goji berry water. Sigh, the spring chill was still in the air; she needed to take care of herself.
After clearing her throat, she continued, "And highly developed countries like Singapore are in great need of skilled workers."
"Like Germany, which has become the engine of the European economy, I think it is related to its excellent vocational training system. Germans do not think that not going to university is a shameful thing; they are willing to go to professional technical schools to learn."
"This is something that would be difficult to achieve in other countries. Everyone hopes to go to university in order to achieve upward social mobility."
"It's the same in China. In China, if a student is qualified to go to university but chooses to attend a vocational school, they will definitely be considered crazy."
"But China's existing industrial education system has cultivated a large number of skilled workers, who are a treasure trove that can shine."
"I believe that once they go to Singapore, they can contribute to Singapore's economic development in suitable positions."
Wang Xiao tried again to sell, "Mr. Zhao, isn't that right?"
Unfortunately, businessmen are clearly not that patriotic.
When the car was started again, Mr. Zhao declined once more: "I run a hotel business, I've never worked as a middleman. It's a big no-no to suddenly switch industries. Besides, Mr. Wang, as far as I know, you've already arranged for those workers to work as construction workers and fruit pickers, earning much more than they do now, so there's no need to bother with that anymore."
Wang Xiao shook his head and said seriously, "It's different. Different people should go to different positions in order to be suitable and to play their best role."
"Construction workers and harvesters, frankly speaking, anyone with hands and strength can do these jobs; they earn hard-earned money."
"The talents of intermediate and senior technicians should not be wasted. Their skills are not innate, nor are they suddenly given divine skills in martial arts movies. Rather, they are the abilities they develop by accumulating experience little by little in their daily work, repeatedly pondering, figuring things out on their own, exchanging ideas with colleagues, and asking experienced masters for advice."
"Are you saying that their decades of hard work shouldn't be seen or valued? Why should their achievements be buried, and why should they be treated like those who just coast through their jobs and can only earn money by selling their physical labor?"
"Effort is never wasted. Every bit of effort should yield results, even if they seem insignificant to outsiders."
Zhang Junfei almost burst into tears upon hearing this. He quickly turned his head and stared wide-eyed at the willow branches outside the window that were just beginning to sprout green.
A banner in the distance that read "Building a Nest to Attract Phoenixes, Revitalizing Pudong" rustled in the spring breeze at the end of February.
He thought Mr. Tang was right; his efforts would definitely be seen, remembered, and valued by the boss.
Mr. Zhao was put on a pedestal and felt a little embarrassed: "Mr. Wang, you are a man of great integrity. The workers chose you to take over their factory, and I am completely convinced by that."
Wang Xiao waved his hand and said, "No, I have my own selfish reasons. Doing this will benefit me. As you know, the electronics city I'm planning to develop in Beijing will require a lot of workers to build the buildings, and the electronics city will also hire a lot of workers in the future."
"But not all workers are the same. Some are conscientious and responsible, while others are perfunctory and just try to get by. This is the problem that comes from eating the same pot of rice too much. Whether you do a good job or a bad job, it's all the same."
"What I want to show them now is that things are different. Whether you work hard or not, whether you develop your skills or not, the future is completely different."
"In this way, they see that mid- to high-level skilled workers can go to Singapore to continue working as skilled workers and earn high wages; this motivates them to work hard and strive for a better life."
Only then did Mr. Zhao realize that it was normal.
Any overly well-intentioned behavior makes him wary.
Because Wang Xiao is his partner in the hotel he's building in Pudong.
Women are prone to being overly kind at inappropriate times, and he doesn't want to find himself a useless partner.
He smiled, still politely declining: "Mr. Wang, your idea is excellent, and I fully support it. However, I do have limited energy and cannot act as an intermediary."
As he spoke, he tried to change the subject, saying, "We're almost there, aren't we?"
In the distance, under the gray sky, the gantry crane stood like a lonely giant, much like him in the vehicle at that moment.
Wang Xiaoyu smiled and said, showing no intention of letting him off the hook: "Actually, Mr. Zhao, becoming an overseas employment intermediary would benefit both of us."
She pointed ahead, "It will take at least a year or two to build the hotel. During that long period, it will only spend money, not make any. Production of any product takes time, except for readily available people."
"Sending the right talent to the right position benefits the talent, and we can both get a commission. Little by little, it adds up to a considerable sum."
“Of course—” Wang Xiao smiled, “Mr. Zhao, you are rich and powerful, you may not care about such a small amount of money. But money is one thing, connections and influence are another.”
She pointed to the construction site again, but this time, she wasn't pointing to the gantry crane, but to the mobile safety helmet. "Back in 1992 and 1993, when the real estate market was booming, many construction companies had to be all smiles to the contractors. Because they had workers at their disposal, a large number of workers, workers who could be put into the project at any time."
She tapped her fingertips lightly on the car window, the distant sound of pile driving from the construction site pounding into the silence.
Her gaze shifted to General Manager Zhao. "Now, you too can be the one being asked. As long as you have a large number of skilled workers who can come to the workshop to work at any time."
She extended her slender, fair hand, smiling brightly, "Mr. Zhao, would you be interested in being our partner again?"
————————
Okay, I'll try to resume normal updates by 8 AM tomorrow. I've deleted part of the outline and am still adjusting the subsequent plot.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
