National Tide 1980.

In fact, he didn’t even have to wait until the next day. Ning Weimin received calls from Liu Yang and Chen Song at nine o’clock that evening.

To be precise, it was Chen Song who called specifically to inquire about the details of the work.

It’s not that he didn’t trust Ning Weimin, but he was in a foreign land and needed to make decisions for survival.

He cannot be careless and must be cautious.

Because he is different from Liu Yang, although his job is part-time, it is long-term. Once he has a job, he will quit, which means there is no turning back.

If something really went wrong, whether it was Liu Yang conveying the information incorrectly or Ning Weimin expressing his wishes incorrectly, it would be a result he could not bear.

Imagine if the new job is unreliable and he quits his job, his survival balance will be immediately disrupted, and he will not even have time to cry.

The considerate Ning Weimin could naturally understand this.

So on the phone, Ning Weimin not only personally reiterated to Chen Song what he had said to Liu Yang during the day, but also assured that the treatment they received would be just as they understood.

They even looked at the calendar and felt that they didn't have much to do tomorrow. Ning Weimin also said that he could drive to help them move and take them to see the staff dormitory in Katsushika District.

In this way, Chen Song finally put his mind at ease. He thanked the man again and again on the phone, gave the address in detail, and made an appointment for a meeting before hanging up.

His excitement and gratitude were even a little fussy, which Ning Weimin found quite funny.

However, it was not until the next day, when they actually met, that Ning Weimin understood why he was like that.

Liu Yang and Chen Song live in Kita-Senju, an old two-story Japanese house with a wooden and iron structure, similar to Abbado, cold in winter and hot in summer.

Liu Yang and Chen Song lived in a small wooden house of six square meters downstairs.

Ning Weimin knocked on the door and it opened. The person who opened the door was Chen Song, a short man with familiar facial features.

But it doesn’t look like Chen Song.

Because he no longer had the high spirits that Ning Weimin remembered, even the man in front of him had a sickly pale complexion and lips.

Ning Weimin immediately realized that his condition was probably caused by working late at night. Reversing day and night every day was really harmful to his health.

That’s not all. When they shook hands, the roughness of Chen Song’s hands scared Ning Weimin.

His hands looked like he had some skin disease, with some white and some red, and were rough and hairy. The old skin had not fallen off completely, and new skin had grown out.

"Chen Song? It's really you. I can't recognize you. You've changed a lot, and your hand, how come it's injured like this..."

Although Chen Song responded with a smile, it was a forced, awkward and sad smile.

"Does that scare you? That's the price he gets for being a cleaner at night."

Liu Yang behind Chen Song said, "His Japanese boss is a piece of shit. The detergents and bleaching chemicals he uses are substandard. He also requires the floor and furniture to be spotless. Often, he has to kneel on the floor and wipe them with a cloth. Look at his hands. They are more damaged than mine from moving cement every day."

"Why don't you have gloves? You're a musician, you should protect your hands."

Liu Yang responded again, "Wearing gloves is inefficient. The Japanese are crazy about details. If the work is not done, the boss will still be angry and scold us."

At this time, Chen Song had already opened the door and invited Ning Weimin in. He saw that the luggage in the room had been packed, and next to the suitcase, there was a domestic red cotton guitar.

Ning Weimin knew that this thing must belong to Chen Song. Thinking of his academic qualifications and his resume from the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe, he looked at his pale face and injured hands and couldn't help but sigh.

It was only at this time that Chen Shuo spoke, "Don't feel sad for me. At least I'm free. Thanks to you, I was able to escape from the sea of ​​suffering. Thanks to you, I have already quit my job. I will cherish this job and will not let you down."

Compared to the first time they met, the man who was once full of ambition and always loved to speak has become a taciturn person who knows how to seize opportunities to express gratitude and loyalty.

It is said that a real man will not bow down for a few pieces of silver.

It is obvious that he has been educated by the cruel reality of Japanese society and no longer has such courage.

Of course, Liu Yang is the same, with some changes.

At this time, he had already made some hot tea and placed it on the low table.

"Mr. Ning, please take a seat. You have come all the way here, please have some tea first. We don't have anything else to offer you. We will just serve you a cup of jasmine tea from my hometown instead of wine."

His flattering attitude can even be seen in his honorifics, which is also a huge change compared to his disdain for the leaders of his unit before he went abroad.

"Don't be so polite. I can't get used to you saying 'your name' all the time."

Ning Weimin joked, not wanting to disappoint him, so he sat down at the low table and picked up the teacup.

Looking closely at the room, it seems cleaner.

Especially furniture, there is almost no furniture, and the storage space is just a closet.

To be honest, not to mention the dormitories he arranged for the employees of Tan Gong Restaurant, even the residence of Sun Wufu and others is far inferior.

As for the advantages, the room has a good orientation and looks clean, and the rent is a bit cheaper.

"I'm sorry to embarrass you. The place we live in is too simple." Chen Song read Ning Weimin's thoughts from his expression.

"I think it's pretty good. After all, it's a private room."

Liu Yang said disapprovingly, "When working in Japan, a place to live is just a place to sleep. To be honest, if I hadn't met you, I would have discussed with Chen Song and simply rented a smaller room, just two or three square meters to put a bed. This room is too big for us, it's a waste."

“Is this place still big?”

Ning Weimin asked in surprise, "If we share one bed, how will the two of you sleep?"

"Oh, how could you forget? He works at night and sleeps during the day. I work during the day and sleep at night. So wouldn't it be enough for the two of us to share one bed? That way we can save at least another 10,000 yen."

Liu Yang's words immediately left Ning Weimin speechless.

There's no way, Ning Weimin has never suffered any hardship since coming to Tokyo.

As one of the few exceptions, his life in Japan is completely disconnected from that of other mainland compatriots.

You know, saving is a basic survival skill for all mainlanders living overseas in this era.

Most mainland Chinese in Tokyo can clearly calculate the best subway route. Sometimes, by taking one less stop or walking a little further, you can save four eggs.

How could Ning Weimin possibly understand all this?

In fact, don’t even mention him. Even the people Ning Weimin brought with him enjoyed the good life and never had to calculate these things.

"Hey, Liu Yang, there's no such thing as you. We finally meet, and President Ning is here to save us. Why are you still saying all this? You're just playing the victim. What do you mean?"

I have to say that people who are engaged in literature and art have higher emotional intelligence than those who study engineering.

Chen Song was afraid that Ning Weimin might have some ideas, so he quickly interrupted him.

So Liu Yang felt embarrassed, "I didn't mean anything. I just chatted with you because we are one of my own people."

Then he scratched his head, looked at Ning Weimin and said, "Don't worry about it. Actually, I just want to say that we are both in this situation, and I am really grateful that you can help us. And at least we don't have too many requirements for life, as long as we don't have to sleep on the streets and have a place to sleep. I don't want to cause you too much trouble."

Ning Weimin waved his hand, indicating that they were overthinking it.

"Don't worry, I'm not a pushover. The dormitory I'm providing you is ready-made. And it's better than here anyway. It has furniture, appliances, and everything you need. But I'm afraid I'll have to inconvenience you a little. After all, I run a waste recycling company. Although the people you live with are from China, they're rough workers and not very educated. You have to be more tolerant."

Unexpectedly, Liu Yang immediately said, "No, no, no. I also told you that after coming to Tokyo and thinking about China, my biggest feeling now is that the working people of our Republic are the greatest."

Chen Song also echoed, "Yes, that's right. Especially the laboring people who do the heavy work, construction workers, dock workers, coal miners... They pay a lot, get little in return, work hard and never complain. In front of them, what are we? What we feel most deeply now is that scholars are useless."

"Hey, you talk about the greatness of construction workers, why don't you talk about the greatness of me, Liu Yang. I am also a construction worker?" Liu Yang said jokingly.

"You, you are also a construction worker? Which construction worker is like you who calculates the exchange rate every day, thinks about the price difference in China, or thinks about selling hair growth water? You only care about money. You are a money-grubber..."

"You're not? If you weren't, why would you save money on the fare and buy yourself an old bicycle?"

The originally somewhat solemn and awkward atmosphere in the room was dispelled by their teasing. They had passed the most awkward and restrained state when they met each other and returned to a relatively normal and relaxed state. Until this moment, they had somewhat forgotten the difference in their status and were a bit like friends.

We started talking about the interesting people and things we had encountered in Tokyo, as well as the various changes in our hometown in Beijing.

To be honest, if they were in the capital, people with such different personalities like the three of them might get to know each other, but they would never develop such a sense of intimacy.

Only in a foreign country, these people who are not really familiar with each other, will feel like close friends just because of their only common point of being from the capital.

This is perhaps the place where the value of “fellow countrymen” is most highlighted.

Some people say that even old enemies can shake hands and make peace in this situation.

This cannot be said to be true, but at least the possibility does exist.

However, what they didn't expect was that when they were chatting happily, an uninvited guest came and disturbed them.

A man from Shanghai lived upstairs. He must have just learned that Chen Song and his family were moving, so he knocked on the door and asked Chen Song if he wanted to sell his bicycle.

Chen Song originally had no objection, but this guy's offer was too low. Chen Song originally bought the car for 8,000 yen, and he just wanted to sell it for 6,000 yen.

However, the other party was only willing to pay two thousand, so he had to buy it at a bargain price.

Chen Song naturally refused and shook his head to refuse.

But the people of Shanghai were naturally shrewd and he was unwilling to give up this piece of meat. He couldn't help but say, "You guys are going to work as telephone operators for the company, and the food and accommodation are provided. The car will be useless in the future, so what's wrong with taking care of your compatriots? Don't be so selfish."

This has risen to the level of moral kidnapping, and Liu Yang immediately couldn't stand it anymore.

"Hey, we're moving, not returning home. Of course the car is still useful. It's better to use it for shopping than walking. I'm giving you 2,000 yen. You're asking for it? What's the difference between this and asking for nothing?"

Chen Song was even more annoyed by him and simply took a step back.

"It's not that I don't care about you, the point is that the price you offer is too low. Why don't you give 5,500 yen? If you think it's too expensive, forget it. Just pretend it never happened."

But I didn't expect that the other party would keep on talking and pestering me.

Ning Weimin knew at this time that he couldn't waste any more time, otherwise the person buying the car would keep arguing with him, so he stood up and was about to leave.

"Liu Yang, Chen Song, we've had our tea, it's almost time, grab your luggage, let's go."

However, he didn't expect that the other party didn't show any tact at all. Perhaps he thought that Ning Weimin wanted to ruin his good thing, so he came towards Ning Weimin instead.

"Hey, you are such a fool. Can't you see we are discussing something? Why are you making trouble?"

Now what happened is that this guy couldn't tell the difference between the big and small kings. Ning Weimin didn't even need to say anything, the two "Heng and Ha generals" he had just recruited were already getting angry.

"Get out! Get out! Get out! Damn it! You won't back down even if I give you a chance. Are you looking for a scolding or a beating? Say one more word and I'll give you a big ear!"

Liu Yang began to roll up his sleeves.

Chen Song also said, "Let me say something about you. You got a bargain, but you still want to be nice? It's really not your fault. Son of a bitch! Even if you give me 5,500 now, I won't sell you this car."

The man from Shanghai never thought that he would be struck by such a thunder just because he complained and chose the wrong partner.

For a moment, they were frightened by the aggressive Liu Yang and retreated step by step.

He was even more confused and bewildered. He stared blankly at Liu Yang leading the way, while Ning Weimin took Chen Song and carried the luggage out of the room.

It wasn't until the other party locked the door and walked outside that he finally came to his senses. But when he quickly chased outside the door and tried to explain a few words and say some soft words, it was of no avail.

Because he watched Chen Song personally put his second-hand bicycle into the Isuzu van driven by Ning Weimin, and then he got in the car and drove away.

The other party actually drove here to pick them up?

This was something the Shanghai native had not expected.

He immediately realized that the situation of his two downstairs neighbors might really get worse from now on.

My heart suddenly felt sour. Besides being upset about having missed the opportunity, I didn't know whether I was envious or jealous.

As for Ning Weimin and the others, they were still complaining about the people from Shanghai after getting in the car.

I don’t know if it’s because no one talks on weekdays, or if he’s happy about moving today, but Liu Yang was a bit talkative today.

He talked incessantly, even bringing up the scandal of the Shanghai man who was so stingy that he stole his roommate's toothpaste.

He also said that the most amazing thing was that his roommate, who was also from Shanghai, was actually quite wise in life.

I found that my toothpaste was missing and suspected that my roommate had stolen it, but I had no evidence and was afraid that he would deny it.

So after thinking about it, he secretly stuffed a match into the toothpaste. If the other party used it secretly, the match would be pressed out. In the end, he really discovered the other party's behavior.

"It's incredible that all this cleverness is put to good use." Ning Weimin couldn't help but sigh.

I thought to myself, the people coming out of China are also very diverse, there are all kinds of people.

It is difficult for people to have a good impression of such a person, even if he is one's own compatriot, and he may even damage the reputation of the Chinese people.

Liu Yang obviously thought so too, but he didn't pay attention and fired the regional artillery.

"It's nothing incredible. Shanghai people are so calculative. They count even the grains of rice when eating. The guy just now was just a small worker in Shanghai. He is very superficial and has no knowledge. Knowledge determines a person's character."

In the end, it was Chen Song who came to stand up for the bad guys.

"You're wrong. No matter where you live, there are people with high and low quality, good and bad people. You don't want to attack a large group of people. There are also people in Shanghai who are brave and righteous. Have you forgotten Brother Chu? Brother Chu has helped us a lot. People should not be without conscience."

After hearing this, Liu Yang quickly changed his tone and nodded repeatedly.

This made Ning Weimin curious about this Brother Chu. After asking around, he found out that the Brother Chu they were talking about was named Chu Haoran.

Before coming to Japan, he was an editor of the Shanghai Daily.

Because he graduated from Shanghai Foreign Language University with a major in Japanese, he had a lot of advantages when he came to Japan.

I found a job as soon as I arrived in Tokyo. I started out as a waiter in a restaurant and later became responsible for collecting invoices. I earned 170,000 to 180,000 yen a month, which was a comfortable salary.

In addition, Chu Haoran often wrote some sketches and jokes and submitted them to Japanese tabloids to earn some royalties.

And because he knew that his compatriots faced significant language barriers when looking for jobs, he would go to the Takadanobaba job market on his days off and serve as a free interpreter for his Chinese fellows.

He was very willing to use his Japanese skills to negotiate with the employers on their behalf.

Although you cannot say that you have the confidence to bargain, it is okay to ask about the employment conditions.

Liu Yang and Chen Song have received his help many times for this reason.

In short, judging from all aspects, this person is a lucky one who is neither better than others nor worse than others among those who study abroad at their own expense.

The most rare thing is that they are willing to lend a helping hand and use their knowledge to help their fellow countrymen for free. This is very rare.

Ning Weimin recalled that in his previous life, when he read online media, most of the descriptions of the living environment of overseas students were either a mess or that they had to be on guard against their fellow countrymen cheating them.

Some people even say that the people who are least trustworthy overseas are the Chinese.

Ning Weimin felt that people like Chu Haoran were worthy of respect. They were real Chinese people and his true compatriots, so he couldn't help but want to make friends with them.

As he drove, he said to Chen Song and Liu Yang, "Are you still in touch with this Brother Chu? If you can, can you find a time to introduce us to each other?"

Liu Yang didn't understand what he was thinking, but hurriedly agreed, "Okay, okay, I have his phone number, I'll talk to him later, let's see when he's free."

Chen Song thought a step further, "Boss Ning, you don't have any job opportunities for him, do you? If so, that would be great..."

Ning Weimin smiled faintly, "Of course I have a job opportunity. I have more than just restaurants and scrap collection businesses. But we have to look at the person first. If he is really like what you said, he is a warm-hearted, kind and capable person. Then we can all get along well and cooperate happily. Isn't it?" (End of this chapter)