Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2547 Treatment of Foreign Guests (First Update, Please Subscribe)
Sometimes business opportunities are everywhere.

Although a business opportunity has been discovered, it does not mean that it can be monetized immediately, because business opportunities require capital.

For an ordinary 25-year-old, even if he sees a business opportunity, it would be difficult to have enough capital to invest.

Therefore, Shen Jiaming could only keep this discovery to himself.

"Let's talk about it after we get back to China."

Although he knew that doing this business might require several million yuan, Shen Jiaming did not find it difficult. After all, there are growth ladder funds and various investment companies in China.

As long as you can find a suitable business direction, you will definitely be able to get investment.

Perhaps this is the greatest source of confidence for ordinary people in SEA – they can choose to work or they can choose to start their own business.

All they need to do is figure out what they want to do and then work towards their goal.

Although it's unclear whether those investments include overseas investments, it's not a big deal.

After a brief period of investigation, Shen Jiaming embarked on another journey.

Go to Shanghai.

As evening fell, the green train on the Nanjing-Shanghai line rumbled along, the dining car filled with the smell of coal smoke and the aroma of food.

Gong Xue straightened her military uniform and walked in with her colleagues Zhang Li and Fang Juan. Just as they were about to look for an empty seat, their eyes were simultaneously drawn to a voice.

It was a young man walking from the other end of the dining car—that end connected to the sleeper carriages, which, according to regulations, were only for officers at the regimental level or above.

What was even more striking was his clothing: it wasn't military uniform or a Zhongshan suit, but a style of clothing he had never seen before, made of an unfamiliar material that gleamed softly under the dim light, and with a style that was somewhat "out of line".

"Xiaoxue, look how young he is."

Zhang Li lowered her voice, her eyes filled with surprise:

"A regimental-level officer this young?"

Gong Xue nodded, her gaze lingering on the man for a moment. He looked to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, similar to their age, about 1.8 meters tall, with a straight posture and a refreshing air of heroism on his face.

The clothes looked strange, but just one glance told her that the fabric was definitely unusual. She pondered:

"Maybe they are foreign guests?"

"They must be foreign guests!"

Fang Juan immediately chimed in, her eyes sparkling as she stared intently at the man's clothes, her tone filled with certainty:

"Look at their clothes! What kind of regimental-level cadre here wears this? It's clearly a foreign designer brand!"

When she mentioned "foreign brand names," there was a hint of envy in her voice, and her eyes lingered on the zipper and seams of the clothes—the craftsmanship was something they had never seen in department stores.

At this moment, Shen Jiaming had just finished ordering lunch: a plate of braised pork, a bowl of tomato and egg soup, and a serving of rice. He was about to find a seat and wait for the waiter to serve the food.

Noticing that someone was looking at her, she followed the gaze and saw three young women standing at the entrance of the dining car. They were wearing green military uniforms, their hair was neatly combed, and they all wore light makeup: their eyebrows were delicately drawn, and they had a touch of mauve lipstick on their lips, making them look particularly fresh and bright.

This is quite rare. Shen Jiaming's heart stirred slightly. All the women he had met along the way had been without makeup, and this was the first time he had seen one with such exquisite makeup.

Seeing that the other person was also looking him over, he raised the corners of his mouth in a gentle smile and gestured with his hand:
"Comrades, I see there are empty seats over here. May I sit here?"

Although there were many empty seats in the carriage, and it could even be said that there were only four of them, the other party was clearly trying to strike up a conversation.

However, despite this, Gong Xue and the other two exchanged a glance and then smiled generously.

Gong Xue spoke first, her voice clear, sweet, and melodious:
"Hello comrade, yes, that's fine."

Shen Jiaming thanked him and sat down, introducing himself at the same time.

"Hello, my name is Shen Jiaming."

"My name is Gong Xue, and these are my comrades Zhang Li and Fang Juan."

After a brief self-introduction, Fang Juan looked at Deng Jiaming and asked:
"Judging from your attire, you seem to be a foreign guest. Which country are you from?"

Because they served in the cultural troupe in Kunming, they were quite worldly-wise and knew that people dressed like that must be foreign guests.

"You could tell at a glance that I'm from SEA."

"SEA, that's a developed country."

Although the term "developed countries" has only appeared in newspapers for a few months, they clearly have some understanding of them. After all, newspapers have been talking about developed countries every day lately, claiming that everyone should learn from their advanced knowledge and technology.

"The world's tallest building is over there, isn't it?"

"And high-speed rail, I heard you invented that too."

Shen Jiaming answered their questions one by one, while also being somewhat curious about their apparent knowledge of SEA.

Faced with his curiosity, Gong Xue smiled, softened her tone, and said:

"I just secretly watched some TV."

The "secret" she was referring to was watching SEA programs at her comrade's house using a fishbone antenna.

"It's a pity the picture on TV was too blurry, but your songs and movies are really great!"

"And also, the houses you live in are all small villas, and every household has a car, it's really..." Fang Juan's eyes were full of longing as she spoke of these things.

This is especially true when it comes to houses, since they are families that have lived in very cramped rooms for generations.

So it would be a lie to say they weren't envious when they saw the houses where the SEA people lived on TV.

They chatted and laughed from time to time. When Shen Jiaming learned that the three of them were actually actresses, he was so surprised that he couldn't stop smiling.

"At first I thought you were soldiers, but I didn't expect you to be stage actors."

He also said that he would definitely watch their performance if he had the chance, and while speaking, he couldn't help but look at Gong Xue across from him.

Of the three, she was the most beautiful and had the most cheerful personality. This natural and generous nature was exactly what he liked.

Amid the rumble of the train and the fields rushing past the window, the four of them chatted until the train conductor reminded them that the dining car had stopped serving, at which point they reluctantly left.

However, they still left their address and work address before leaving.

A few hours later, the train slowly pulled into Shanghai Railway Station. Gong Xue carried a heavy canvas suitcase, while Zhang Li and Fang Juan each carried a military green backpack and a black duffel bag in their hands.

The three of them slowly walked out of the carriage with the flow of people. Their steps were a little heavy. After all, it was already midnight, and they were a little sleepy and even yawned.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared from behind. Shen Jiaming, carrying an oddly styled backpack, walked briskly and immediately waved to the three of them upon seeing them.

"Comrade Gong Xue, Comrade Zhang Li, Comrade Fang Juan! What a coincidence, we've run into each other again."

Gong Xue and the other two were taken aback for a moment, then smiled. Fang Juan rubbed her slightly sore arms and said with a smile:
"Comrade Shen, what a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet you so soon."

"Yes, I didn't expect that." Shen Jiaming glanced at the luggage in their hands, took two steps forward, and said:
"The platform is crowded late at night, and it's inconvenient for you to carry your luggage. Why don't you come out of the station with me so we can look out for each other?"

His suggestion was exactly what the three of them wanted to hear, and Gong Xue quickly thanked him:
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Comrade Shen."

The four walked side by side toward the exit. Gong Xue casually asked:
"Comrade Shen, how will you get back after you exit the station? Are you going to a hotel?"

As a foreign guest, Shen Jiaming obviously wouldn't go home like them; he could only go to a hotel, and one that only catered to foreign guests.

"Yes, I had the hotel arrange a taxi beforehand, it should be waiting outside the station."

Shen Jiaming spoke of it casually.

"taxi?"

Fang Juan stopped abruptly, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Are they the kind of taxis from car service companies? They'd be waiting here? What kind of high-ranking leader would get this kind of treatment!"

Zhang Li nodded in agreement, her face full of confusion.
"Yes, Comrade Shen, even if you ask for a car from the car service company several days in advance, you still can't get one. They say all the cars are booked by the company."

Although Gong Xue didn't speak, her gaze towards Shen Jiaming was filled with curiosity—the car service company already had very few cars, mostly serving important organizations and foreign guests, and it was almost impossible for a private individual to hire one, let alone have a car waiting outside the station late at night.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed by the three people staring at him, Shen Jiaming scratched his head and explained:
"Maybe... this is the treatment for foreign guests. I called the local travel agency before I boarded the train, and they reserved it for me without saying anything. It was like this all the way."

Since arriving here, he has found that some things he takes for granted are treated with great courtesy here, which makes him feel a little uncomfortable. After all, in his opinion, isn't this what should be expected?

"So that's it."

Gong Xue responded softly, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her—envy, curiosity, and a sense of awe at the special treatment afforded to her as a "foreign guest." Fang Juan and Zhang Li also remained silent for a moment, their eyes filled with unreadable feelings.

Stepping out of the station hall, a cool evening breeze blew by. In the distance, a dark gray Lada sedan was parked under a streetlamp, and a middle-aged man stood by the window, holding a sign that read:

"Mr. Shen, a foreign guest".

Shen Jiaming waved to the driver, then turned to Gong Xue and the other two and said:
"Where are you staying? I've already arranged with the driver to take you back first, and then I'll go to the hotel."

"I can't accept this!" Gong Xue quickly declined.
"We should take you first, or you can go ahead, no need to trouble yourself."

"Don't mention it,"

Shen Jiaming smiled and waved his hand. He quickly walked to the driver's side, exchanged a few words with him in slightly accented Mandarin, and gave him another 10 yuan in foreign exchange certificates when no one was paying attention.

The drivers, who were initially reluctant to take the detour, were no longer going to refuse. In fact, they immediately became enthusiastic.

Shen Jiaming turned around and greeted them:
"Hurry up and get in the car, it's chilly at night, don't get cold."

Unable to refuse their hospitality, Gong Xue and the other two thanked them and got into the car. The Lada sedan's seats were made of black artificial leather, which, although not very soft, was considered quite comfortable at the time.

Outside the train window, many passengers exiting the station cast envious glances, some whispering and speculating about what important person was sitting inside.

The driver started the car, and the Lada sedan slowly drove away from Shanghai Station, merging into the streets late at night.

The shadows of the streetlights danced across the car windows, and the carriage fell silent for a moment, save for the soft rustling of the tires on the road, which accompanied the thoughts of the three people spreading through the night.

Throughout the journey, the three women in the back seat would occasionally glance at the city outside the car window with curiosity. But more often than not, they would find themselves staring curiously at the young man in the front passenger seat.

A sleeper carriage; a taxi from a car service company.

All of this seems so ordinary, yet so different.

This was nothing out of the ordinary for him, but what about for them?

At this moment, ripples flashed through the hearts of the three, but they continued to spread within them.

(End of this chapter)