Era: Beginning from the Modu Translation Studio

Chapter 464 A New Journey

1981, spring.

In the corridor of the Pujiang Light Industry Bureau, two comrades with serious expressions were walking quickly side by side.

"How's the Canton Fair going?"

"All the exhibitors that should be notified have been notified,"

Section Chief Han walked sideways towards Xu Muchun:
"Director Xu, Comrade Wang Shi from the Guangdong Provincial Foreign Trade and Economic Commission called to ask about the exact number of people staying at the Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel."

"Wang Shi?"

Xu Muchun thought for a moment and said, "Isn't it Xia Yu who has been in contact with us? Why did Wang Shi show up again?"

In previous years, when this time came, it was Xu Muchun who took care of many matters related to the Canton Fair.

"I heard that it was a comrade who was transferred from the Railway Bureau at the end of last year."

Section Chief Han reported:

"He sounds quite young. The person in charge of organizing the study tour to Zhongshan Hotel is also Comrade Wang Shi."

"If you hadn't mentioned this hotel, I wouldn't have thought of it."

Xu Muchun paused, frowned, and asked, "Could it be that hotel built by that Hong Kong entrepreneur?"

"Who else could it be but this?"

"This is too fast,"

Xu Muchun shook his head and walked back to the office:
"I remember that this hotel was only started to be built at the end of the year before last. It's only been over a year, and it's already open for business?"

"Not now, we officially opened at the end of last year..."

1978, October.

An article was published in the Macau Daily: A report on the development of a tourist area in Cuiting Village, Zhongshan County.

Unexpectedly, after seeing this article, Stanley Ho in Hong Kong immediately came up with the idea of ​​returning to the mainland to take a look.

Coincidentally, as soon as he came up with the idea, the mainland sent an invitation letter to a group of Hong Kong and Macao businessmen.

So just after the Spring Festival in 1979, Mr. Henry Fok, then President of the Hong Kong Chinese Chamber of Commerce, led an inspection team from the south.

According to the inspection route at that time, this team of top wealthy businessmen went all the way from Guangzhou to Zhongshan.

The accompanying leader solemnly arranged for me to stay in the best local guesthouse, No. 139.

Unfortunately, Zhongshan is not as good as Guangzhou and Pujiang after all.

It would be fine if it couldn't get any stars, but unfortunately the rooms in this guesthouse don't even have running water.

Only after the waiters brought in several buckets of water, one hot and one cold, were the guests able to mix their own water and wash themselves.

As a result, after staying for one night in this guesthouse which had neither running water nor flush toilets.

Zhongshan County unexpectedly received a huge investment.

“If the mainland wants to retain foreign businessmen and attract foreign investment, the standards of food and accommodation must be raised first.

Sanxiang in Zhongshan County has both green mountains and hot springs, and is only more than 20 kilometers away from Aomen.

I want to invest in building a resort here..."

After three inspections, Ho Ying-tung decided to build a hot spring hotel in Sanxiang, Zhongshan County.

At that time, opening up to the outside world had just begun.

There is no precedent in China for building hotels with overseas funds.

Without any experience to draw on, Fok Ying-tung decided:

The hotel belongs to the state, and he is responsible for funding its construction.

In the later stage, only the principal of investment will be recovered, without any profit or interest.

Having said that, in the end the Huo family did not take a penny from the account.

But no matter what happens afterwards, this first Hong Kong-funded hotel after the reform and opening up has been born.

Thanks to the special care of the local government, this hot spring resort with a total investment of HK$4000 million was completed in just one year.

……

Before they knew it, Section Chief Han and Xu Muchun had already walked into the office:
"According to Comrade Wang Shi, since the opening in December last year.

The guests who came to Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel for a visit and study never rested. So he asked us to finalize the list of guests who would stay there early. ”

"Is the time to go there before the Canton Fair?"

"Yes," Chief Han nodded.
"I have only reported our names so far. Whose name do you think should be added?"

"...Call Old Wu from the Peace Hotel."

As soon as Xu Muchun sat down, he tapped the table and thought:

"Also, call Jiang Shan and Huang Hua as well."

"Okay, Director Xu."

"Speaking of which, these two people should have returned from Hui Province by now, right?"

"The timing is uncertain this time,"

Section Chief Han reminded the leader:

"Didn't Xiao Jiang say that this time they are not only going to shoot a commercial, but also have to help renovate the walls of the village..."

……

Hui Province, Siting Village.

After a few days of busy work, Jiang Shan, who was in charge of the meeting, was sitting in the village chief's house with Huang Hua.

"This... If we want bamboo handicrafts to enter the formal market, they must go through the process of anti-mildew and anti-insect..."

Comrade Huang Hua, who was surrounded by villagers in the middle of the room, was pointing and talking with a bamboo lantern.

As a unit head with rich experience in export commodity qualification, Manager Huang is popularizing the export standards of commodities to the farmers.

The leading villagers sitting around at this moment took notes more carefully than each other.

As long as you think about the specialty of your village, you can go beyond the county gate, city gate... and trade across provinces or even across countries.

I feel full of energy.

"There's no need to be too nervous,"

Huang Hua smiled and said, "As long as you follow the method I told you, it won't be too difficult to operate..."

……

On the second day, after all the work was completed, Jiangshan and his party set out on their return journey.

Looking at the villagers waving goodbye in the rearview mirror and the colorful Shiting Village.

Jiangshan couldn't help but take a few more glances:

“Although this was my idea, I still felt enlightened when I pushed the door open this morning.”

"Not just you,"

Ding Lingling looked back reluctantly: "I feel the same way."

Huang Hua, who was still sitting in the co-pilot seat, smiled and said:
"Who wouldn't? The main thing is that no one has ever seen a village like this before. It's hard not to take a few more glances at it."

"It's a pity that our newspapers can't run color photos."

Jiang Zhuangzhuang held the camera and took another photo from a distance:
"Otherwise, pick a few and put them in the newspaper, I guarantee it will cause a sensation across the country."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Jiang Shan chuckled: "When the ad is released, it will cause a sensation not only in our country but also abroad."

"We can also put the photos at the Canton Fair, where there are many foreigners,"

Huang Hua glanced at Jiang Shan and said, "I just don't know if Director Xu can give you this booth."

As soon as these words were spoken, the three people in the van looked at Jiangshan together.

"I think... it shouldn't be a big problem," Jiang Shan estimated. "By the way, Brother Hua, how many times have you participated in the Canton Fair?"

"If I really want to talk about it,"

Huang Hua now put on an expression reminiscing about the past: "That was too early..."

October 1955 to May 10.

Relying on its geographical advantage of being adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, Guangdong Province has held three commodity and material exhibition and exchange meetings.

These three exchange meetings are different from the subsequent Canton Fair. They are completely Guangdong Province’s own exhibitions.

As a result, after the three meetings, the Ministry of Foreign Trade’s special representative in Guangzhou noticed something different.

The trade fair in Guangdong Province was completely different from the trade fairs he had seen in other cities.

At the trade fair held in Guangzhou, more than half of the local specialties are exported.

Judging from the data, it is also quite astonishing.

Three exhibitions were held consecutively over more than half a year, and the export turnover of just two of them was close to tens of millions of US dollars.

At that time, China's annual exports were only US$500 million to US$600 million.

What is this concept?
The special envoy immediately saw the necessity of holding a large-scale exhibition in Guangzhou.

In June 1956, the special commissioner in Guangdong quickly suggested to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Guangdong Province at the same time that a national export commodity exhibition and exchange conference be held in Guangzhou.

This request was reported all the way and the green light was given all the way.

After joint instructions from several leaders, it was decided that on November 1956, 11, the China Export Commodities Exhibition would open in the Sino-Soviet Friendship Building in Guangzhou.

The invitation letters issued by China Resources Company attracted nearly 37 merchants from countries to the exhibition.

It facilitated the export of goods worth more than 50 million US dollars.

After a large amount of foreign exchange was accumulated, the Ministry of Foreign Trade saw a new window for quickly earning foreign exchange.

The next year was 1957.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade has officially issued a notice that the first Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou in April.

This time, not only commodities of all sizes were carried, but even Jiefang brand trucks drove over.

In order to facilitate the smooth progress of the Canton Fair, Guangzhou also established the country's second taxi company in the same year.

More than 60 Volga tanks were busy as soon as they appeared.

……

"Don't look at me just turning 35 this year,"

Huang Hua's voice was slow and clear: "But as early as more than 10 years ago, I started to work at the Canton Fair.

Looking back now, I was most nervous when I first went there.”

"That is," Jiang Shan understood:

"You must be nervous the first time you go there. Besides, you had just started working at that time, right?"

"It's true that I just started working,"

Huang Hua looked at Jiang Shan meaningfully and said:
"But at that Canton Fair, not only me, but everyone was extremely nervous."

"Everyone is nervous?" Jiang Shan was puzzled: "Why?"

“Who said it wasn’t true?” Huang Hua recalled, “Everyone originally thought that there would not be many merchants coming to that Canton Fair.

Unexpectedly, the number of visitors to the exhibition was no less than in previous years, and the transaction volume was not greatly affected.

Afterwards, our leader found out after some inquiries.

It turned out that before the meeting, a booklet appeared out of nowhere, called "Secrets of Doing Business with the Chinese".

As a result, it was this booklet that gave the majority of merchants the courage to participate in the exhibition.”

"Really?" Jiang Shan asked curiously, "What's written on it?"

“In those days, almost every merchant who came to Guangzhou to participate in the exhibition carried this book with him.

Following the instructions in the book, these overseas businessmen got off the plane.

The first thing I did was not to go to the hotel, but to go shopping on the streets to buy a suitable Mao suit and a badge to pin on my chest..."

Hearing this, Jiang Shan, Jiang Zhuangzhuang and Ding Lingling simultaneously imagined the Canton Fair scene described by Comrade Huang Hua.

"Pity,"

Jiang Shan shook his head and smiled: "I can't see such a wonderful scene anymore."

Huang Hua smiled: "Do you think that's all?"

Jiang Shan: "What else?"

"It's not that simple. Don't forget that he wrote a whole book about it."

Huang Hua continued:
"After buying all these clothes, these foreigners quickly checked into the hotel, holding the quotations to learn new ideas and familiarize themselves with knowledge points.

At the subsequent Canton Fair, I found that these overseas customers met with us.

They won’t start talking business with you right away, but will just shout a few slogans with you first.”

Jiang Shan was stunned: "Is it English or Japanese?"

"All kinds of things,"

To this day, Manager Huang still remembers it: "Many times, several foreigners would learn from each other and exchange experiences."

Comrade Huang Hua, who had just entered society, deeply experienced the overseas businessmen's ability to learn quickly and keep pace with the times.

……

1981, March.

There is less than a month left until the Spring Canton Fair.

Guangdong Provincial Foreign Economic and Trade Commission, Office of Investment Promotion.

Comrade Wang Shi, who just turned 30, is checking the list of leaders who are about to visit Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel.

"Hiss... How come there is another Oriental Metropolis Newspaper?"

"What's wrong, Lao Wang?"

A middle-aged woman sitting across from the desk asked, "Did you see someone you know?"

"I don't know any acquaintances, I just think the name is familiar."

Looking at the list of personnel just reported by the Tourism Bureau, Wang Shi quickly flipped through the previous information:

"Reporter from the Ministry of Foreign Trade: Jiangshan, reporter from the Ministry of Machinery: Jiangshan, Pujiang Foreign Trade Office: Jiangshan."

Listening to Comrade Wang Shi's mumbling, the middle-aged woman was also shocked:
"How come there are so many Jiangshans? Could it be that all the people reported by these departments are the same person?"

“It really looks like it’s the same person.”

Looking at the registration book in his hand, Comrade Wang Shi narrowed his eyes:
If this is really the case, he must give Comrade Jiang Shan special treatment in receiving him.

……

In early 1981, China Resources Company, headquartered in Hong Kong, was ordered to launch a new business after acquiring two supermarkets.

At the end of last year, an advertisement with a full text of 196 words appeared in major newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and Macau.

This advertisement can actually be summed up in eight words: "Buy tickets in Hong Kong and Macau, and pick up oil in the mainland."

After the reform and opening up, the number of vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao traveling between Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou and other regions has increased rapidly.

Therefore, Guangdong Petroleum decided to join hands with China Resources Company to launch the following products to our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao:

[Purchase stamps in Hong Kong and Macau and come to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shantou for refueling. 】

It’s a pity that after several months, this set of convenient services has not been accepted by our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao.

At this moment, Shao Kang, the head of China Resources, who had already released many oil-selling advertisements, was applying some cooling oil on his forehead...

(End of this chapter)