Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2713 The SEA People Stick Together (Second Update, Please Subscribe)

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lin Huimei took her leave. As soon as the door closed, Lisa immediately grabbed Zhang Yuanfan's hand and asked, full of doubt:
"Did you two really know each other before? Why would she help you find such a good job?"

Seeing the disbelief in the girl's eyes, Zhang Yuanfan shook his head seriously:
"This is the first time we've met."

He paused, then explained softly:

"Probably because we are all SEA people, it is only natural for compatriots to help each other. You don't know, we are one family. There... we are willing to do anything for each other, take care of their children, and provide each other with any help we can."

Our parents arrived in Southeast Asia with nothing. They shared everything they had, worked together, and ultimately created everything! Therefore, we are all family and willing to take care of each other.

As Zhang Yuanfan spoke of all this, what came to mind? It was the mutual care and help among his neighbors when he was a child, and the close, kinship-like relationship between his parents and neighbors.

He realized how precious those things he used to take for granted were as an adult, and this willingness to care for each other was something that people in other countries didn't have.

Perhaps this is the biggest difference between the pioneers!
Many films about the frontier era often depict this in great detail, not in the cowboy-style fighting of the American West, but in the mutual care and support among people who regarded each other as family.

Gradually, it became a habit.

Lisa, tilting her head, clearly didn't quite understand this feeling of "we're family." However, she didn't press him further, simply feeling happy for him.

After all, having this job meant he would definitely stay here. Thinking of this, her heart burned with passion. Once again, she stood on tiptoe and used her burning enthusiasm to express her longing of the past six months.

"Darling, love me..."

……

Sometimes, some people are lucky.

At least in Lin Zongxin's view, Zhang Yuanfan was lucky—because he had fulfilled his duty on the battlefield.

Looking at the young man in front of him, at his sailor hairstyle, and at the military bearing that had not yet faded from him, Lin Zongxin couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. After all, the young man had truly fulfilled his duties in his military career. For Lin Zongxin, who had never been on the battlefield, this was naturally something to envy. After all, as soldiers, they trained hard precisely to go to the battlefield.

While feeling slightly regretful, Lin Zongxin asked again.

“Yesterday, my wife told me that you served in the Navy before, right?”

"Yes, the Borneo aircraft carrier. I was supposed to be decommissioned last year, but because of the terrorist attack, I applied for a postponement. Now that the treaty has just been signed, it's being decommissioned."

Lin Zongxin nodded:
"You were just on a mission in the Mediterranean. How was it? It must have been very tiring."

"It's not hard work. I'm on deck duty. The real hard work is for the pilots."

Zhang Yuanfan answered the other party's questions one by one. He could feel the friendliness of this Manager Lin, just like an older brother next door.

The two chatted like this for about half an hour, without mentioning work at all, until finally he said:
"Yes, thank you for your service to the country."

"It's nothing, it's just what I should do..."

Is this the end?
It seemed the other party hadn't mentioned work. Just as Zhang Yuanfan was starting to wonder, he heard Lin Zongxin say:

"If you don't have any plans tonight, let's go to a bar together. I'll buy you a couple of drinks."

"Ah, okay, okay!"

Seeing the question on Zhang Yuanfan's face, Lin Zongxin then said:
"Oh dear, look at me, I was so busy chatting with you that I forgot to get down to business. Our bank isn't very big, with only 12 branches in London, but the profits are very considerable, so the employees get excellent benefits. How about it, are you interested in joining us?"

Yes, absolutely!

As Zhang Yuanfan nodded, he asked:

"Manager Lin, what about my interview?"

Lin Zongxin laughed and said:

"Didn't I already have an interview? Can I start work today?"

And so, on his second day in London, Zhang Yuanfan had the enviable job of becoming a bank employee.

Because he had attended a finance college, he quickly got the hang of things and became familiar with the relevant business in just half a day. After a busy day, the bank closed at 3:30 p.m. to conduct internal settlements after business hours, as all bank transactions at this time relied on manual ledgers and bills.

So, by the time they finished get off work, it was already 5:30 PM. After organizing all the receipts, Lin Zongxin said directly to Zhang Yuanfan as he left:

"Yuanfan, let's go, get in my car."

Soon, the two arrived at a nearby bar. Most of the patrons were dressed formally, and their attire suggested they worked in the financial industry. After Lin Zongxin arrived, he was greeted by numerous people. It was clear they were mostly colleagues, and Lin Zongxin obviously held a certain status and position among them.

Some of them, like him, were of Asian appearance. After Lin Zongxin and Zhang Yuanfan sat down, some of them came over to chat with him for a few words and looked Zhang Yuanfan up and down.

"Manager Lin, who is this?" "Zhang Yuanfan, he just arrived from China, he's a new employee of our bank. By the way, he just retired from the military; he was in Lebanon before."

"Ah, then I must treat you to a drink, Yuanfan."

"That's for sure, but I'll have to treat him to a drink first. Liu Jie, let's do it next time. Yuan Fan, this is Liu Jie from Hall Bank."

Zhang Yuanfan quickly stood up to introduce himself, but before he could even take out his business card, the other person shoved it into his hand and said:
"Let's keep in touch. Okay, I won't bother you anymore, Yuanfan. I'll treat you next time."

After Liu Jie left, Lin Zongxin took the initiative to introduce himself:

Hall Bank, founded in 1627, is the oldest private bank in England and one of the oldest surviving banks in the world. It was established by the Hall family and is still entirely owned and operated by their descendants.

Its characteristics include extreme discretion and confidentiality, with clients primarily being old-money families who have served for generations. Its headquarters, located in a "vault" building on Fleet Street in London, is its trademark. The service is highly personalized; we don't have much business dealings with each other, but it's good to get to know each other. After all, its clients are high-end; introducing you to one or two people would be enough to establish you in the industry.

Then, following the manager's gaze, Zhang Yuanfan glanced at Liu Jie, who was chatting with a group of British men at the bar. Lin Zongxin said:

"If all goes well, he will introduce you to a client the next time you meet. Whether you can secure the deal depends on your abilities."

"what!"

The manager's words stunned Zhang Yuanfan. While he was still somewhat surprised, he heard the manager ask:
Do you have some questions?

"Manager, I..."

Why would I help you? And why would Liu Jie also offer to help you?

Lin Zongxin still had a smile on his face, waiting for his answer.

"Um……"

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yuanfan said:
"It's because we are all SEA people that we protect each other and safeguard each other's interests. We are all family to each other."

Lin Zongxin nodded slightly and said:

"Yes, our parents came to SEA with nothing. It was through this sense of family that they achieved everything. So, we are a family, a family that protects each other. We will compete, we will quarrel, but family will always be family."

Then Lin Zongxin continued:

There used to be a saying that a Chinese person is a dragon, but a group of Chinese people are a worm, because Chinese people were constantly fighting among themselves and even resorting to outsiders.

However, we are different. We are generous in helping our own people, just like we would treat each other's family. Given the opportunity, we will prioritize ourselves first, which is why I am willing to give you that opportunity.

Lin Zongxin emphasized this point because Zhang Yuanfan had just arrived, and there were some things he needed to know.

“Today I will help you, and Liu Jie will help you, and so will everyone else. We will look after each other. After all, we are in London, in England, just like our fathers were in the rainforest. We are pioneers, and only by working together and taking care of each other can we achieve our goals here…”

He took a sip of beer and then said to Zhang Yuanfan:

“This is what we need to do. I will do it now, and you will do it in the future. We need to support each other even more overseas because we are SEA people, and we will take care of each other!”

Listening to the manager's words, Zhang Yuanfan seemed to understand something. He nodded and then said:

"I know what to do, manager."

"Ah."

Nodding, Lin Zongxin sighed:
"Do you know what the first thing he did when the first SEA executive entered the City of London 28 years ago?"

Looking at Zhang Yuanfan, Lin Zongxin smiled and said:
"He'll soon be bringing in one SEA person after another, eventually turning the department into a 'mini-Chang'an,' look here..."

He pointed to the bar and said:
"The people who come here to drink are all elites from the financial district. Twenty years ago, you wouldn't even see any Chinese people, but look at them now..."

Although there were only a few dozen customers in the bar, several of them were Asian, and they were clearly of SEA descent. As Zhang Yuanfan turned his gaze towards them, Lin Zongxin, sipping his drink, said in Mandarin:
"We are a family, which is why we are willing to give our family members a chance. Of course, we will never tolerate any bad apples!"

What is a black sheep?

Those who harm their own people—what will happen to them if someone does that?
Lin Zongxin didn't need to say anything; Zhang Yuanfan had seen similar characters in many movies. Such scoundrels not only received their due punishment but were also blacklisted and ostracized by the entire community.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yuanfan recalled a movie he had once seen, and the line spoken by the protagonist when the villain was killed:

"We are family, but we do not accept betrayal!"

At this moment, Lin Zongxin ordered a glass of wine from the waiter and said:
"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Come on, tell me about your experience in Lebanon. I really envy you for having the opportunity to go to the battlefield..."

(End of this chapter)