Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1517: The Spring of the Young Generals (Second update, please subscribe)

"I really didn't expect that..."

Like many people who come to Chang'an, whether rich or poor, people always come to Chang'an's central business district.

People don't necessarily come here for shopping. Even just taking a walk here and feeling the prosperity of a modern city is enough for them.

However, if they have money, they will definitely go to the shops on both sides of the road to buy some souvenirs. It doesn't have to be luxury goods, as long as they are produced here.

Quan Xiaojiang, who visited Chang'an with the delegation, finally had time and money to go shopping in Chang'an's central business district with his wife.

Although this was not his first time in Chang'an, it was his first time to accompany his wife shopping in the commercial district.

When he first came to Chang'an a few years ago, it wasn't that he didn't want to bring some souvenirs back for his wife, but because he had no money.

But now... his conditions are much better than a few years ago. When the president launched the military coup, General Quan mobilized the students of the Non-commissioned Officer School to take to the streets for a parade to express their support for the song title.

Such support was rewarded, and he successfully left the NCO school and became the chief officer of the army. This also gave him the confidence to accompany his wife shopping in Chang'an.

"A few years ago, a quartz watch like this would have cost at least several thousand yuan, but now... it's surprisingly cheap."

Quartz watches are a typical example. Four years ago, they were a luxury item that only Olympic medalists could own.

But now?
But it has already entered thousands of households.

General Quan looked at the quartz watch that was chosen for him and couldn't help but exclaimed:

"Only some generals wore these quartz watches at last year's New Year's party. I'm surprised they are so cheap now."

"Hey, what's cheap?"

Li Shunzi said.

"A watch costs 600 to 700 yuan, which is hundreds of thousands of won. It's equivalent to several years' income for an average person!"

After hearing what his wife said, General Quan said.

“This is a quartz watch!”

Like many people, Quan Xiaojiang also hopes to have a quartz watch of his own.

In South Korea, owning a quartz watch is a very fashionable thing. After all, only athletes who participated in the Olympics and won medals owned such watches.

Not to mention that ordinary people can't afford it, even if rich people want to buy it, they have to go through a lot of trouble. After the Olympic Games, quartz watches became popular all over the world, and Koreans naturally couldn't compete with the rich people in other countries.

It is only in the past few years that watches have begun to appear on the wrists of presidents, generals and ministers.

Because of this, quartz watches are a symbol of status in Korea. They are even called "special for generals" because of their accuracy.

That's why Quan Xiaojiang hopes to have a quartz watch of his own.

Obviously Li Shunzi knew what her husband was thinking.

"Do you really want to buy it?"

General Quan swallowed his saliva and said:
“This is very expensive.”

"I have to buy it no matter how expensive it is. After all, you will definitely be a general in the future."

Li Shunzi put the watch on her husband's wrist and said seriously.

"I know you will become a general in the future. If you are a general, you must wear a general's watch."

Li Shunzi's casual remark made the salesperson in the watch shop nearby look enlightened.

The General's Watch!
Isn't that what this watch is all about?

Status symbol!

Is there a more appropriate slogan than this?

After paying the money and walking out of the watch shop with her husband, Li Shunzi would never know that her casual remark gave birth to a watch... the General Watch.

In fact, it is not a general's watch, but a watch designed for soldiers. It not only keeps extremely accurate time, but also can withstand all kinds of bad weather. It can be used normally even more than ten meters underwater.

Of course, this is all later story. For Quan Xiaojiang and his wife, after leaving the watch shop, they continued strolling on the street.

“This place is even more prosperous than what is shown on TV.”

Looking at the bustling streets, Li Shunzi said to her husband beside her.

"I finally understand why so many people worship foreign things..."

The "worship of the West" that Lee Soon-ja mentioned does not mean worshipping foreigners, but a kind of admiration, a desire, a desire for Korea to be as rich and powerful as the SEA.

Because of this, there are many pro-South Koreans in South Korea. Compared with the United States, those pro-South Koreans hope to learn from here and hope to exchange their country's development with the closeness here. "Yeah, you see..."

General Quan pointed to a building not far away and said.

"That building only has eight floors, which is nothing to mention here. After all, there are already buildings hundreds of meters high and hundreds of floors. But did you know? The tallest building in South Korea is only seven floors."

Although many people have different understandings of prosperity and modernization, it is certain that everyone in the world loves curiosity, and skyscrapers themselves are a kind of spectacle, and this spectacle is the manifestation of prosperity and modernization, the most direct manifestation.

A developed country certainly has more than just skyscrapers, but how can we tell whether a place is developed or not?

Then there are only tall buildings.

Almost all the people who come here for the first time will be amazed by this city more than once, whether it is the skyscrapers or the glass curtain walls. To some extent, they are the symbols of development and the future.

The oppressive feeling brought by the spectacle makes people feel the prosperity and development here at the first moment.

And that was exactly what happened to Quan Xiaojiang—he was completely conquered by these wonders.

"Compared to here, Seoul is like a rural village."

As he spoke, he shook his head again and said:

"It may even be worse than the rural areas here, if there are any rural areas here..."

He was not exaggerating, but stating a fact, which is that South Korea is too poor and backward now.

“That’s why we need to learn from them and seek their help.”

Even as a woman, Lee Sun-ja knew very well that there would be no hope for South Korea without help from the outside world.

"Yeah, so here we are."

The "we" that Quan Xiaojiang mentioned does not only refer to him, but also to others.

There are both officials and soldiers. No matter what their identities are, they come here with only one purpose, which is to win the support of Chang'an and thus realize the prosperity of the country.

"It's not easy!"

Ding Yiquan, a Korean middle school student, looked at Changan outside the car window and said:
"It is not easy for us to win your support. After all, Chang'an is different from Washington. Washington wants to compete with the Soviet Union. They will spend a lot of money to help and support other countries to fight against the Soviet Union. Therefore, Washington is more willing to help other countries.

But Chang'an seems to be the "right hand of the free world", but they don't care who wins at all. Compared with the win or loss of the free world, they care more about their own interests, which is completely different from Washington..."

Turning his gaze away from the window, Ding Yiquan said:

"Washington is more willing to aid other countries. Even Chang'an accepts aid from Washington every year."

"Yes, the aid they receive every year is far more than that of South Korea. Really, how can those Americans in Washington be so indiscriminate about the rich and the poor? A place as rich as SEA does not need any more aid. They should be helping us..."

As soon as the attendant in the co-pilot seat finished speaking, Jin Yongzhe, the director of the National Reconstruction Bureau, who was sitting next to Zhongli, immediately retorted:

"It is precisely because Chang'an is rich that Washington is more willing to help them. It is not just because all countries in the world only like to add icing on the cake and do not like to help in times of need. What is more important is the value of united front work!
Compared to South Korea, Changan has more united front value because it is more powerful, so the United States is more willing to spend more to win over Changan to ensure that they can become an ally of the United States! "

"Yes!"

Ding Yiquan nodded and said:
"Compared to them, we are nothing. South Korea..."

Ding Yiquan let out a long sigh, his brows furrowed, and his expression was filled with a strong sense of powerlessness.

"Yes, South Korea is not worth mentioning. That is why we need to seek help from them, Zhongli. If we can get their help, it would be worth it even if we have to kneel down!"

When Kim Yong-chul said this, his eyes were firm. Even if he had to kneel down, he would win their help. This was not what he said, but what President Park said.

The president knelt again and again in order to seek foreign aid, from Chang'an to Berlin, and then to Washington.

"Yes, we are kneeling here today so that our descendants will not have to kneel down like us in the future..."

Ding Yiquan took a deep breath, looked at Jin Yongzhe beside him, and said:
"Yongzhe, you are a talented student who graduated from Nanyang University. You have many teachers and friends here. We came here to seek help this time. You must find a way to get them to help us more!"

"I see!"

Jin Yongzhe nodded and said:
"Zhongli, as you said before, Washington is willing to aid foreign countries in order to fight against the Soviet Union, but Changan is different. Compared with the confrontation between the East and the West, they care more about their own interests.

If we want to get their help, we must lure them with benefits, especially for those companies. Without sufficient benefits, they will not invest in the past!"

"Nothing good comes easy. Of course I know this."

Ding Yiquan nodded repeatedly and said.

"We came here this time to tell them that investing in Korea can bring rich returns. Yes, that's right, let them invest in us and bring their national prosperity plans to Korea!"

(End of this chapter)