mtl008 Chapter 26 Flower City
Chapter 26 Flower City
Zhao Yuan wanted to ask the two elderly men for their contact information, but given his current status, there was no point in giving it to them.
I have already explained the details. If they need my help, they will contact me. If they don't, leaving my phone number is pointless.
Zhao Yuan continued his translation work; he needed to use these few days to finish translating this thick book as soon as possible.
Accumulating funds is my most important task right now.
After a while of bustling about, it slowly got dark, and gradually many people started snoring. The sounds of breathing and snoring rose and fell throughout the carriage.
Zhao Yuan also packed up his things, preparing to use the restroom and take a nap.
Zheng Ziqi and the two elderly men opposite him were already fast asleep, all of them slumped over.
Zhao Yuan arrived at the toilet, and wow, the toilet was truly indescribable; it was impossible to look at it directly. Zhao Yuan went to several toilets in a row, and they were all pretty much the same.
There was no other way; I couldn't just let myself die from holding my pee. So I finally found a relatively clean toilet and relieved myself. Then I drifted off to sleep.
......
Clang, clang, clang... The train was slowly pulling into Huacheng Railway Station. The train's loudspeaker announced: "Attention passengers, the train to Huacheng is approaching. Huacheng Railway Station is the final stop for this train. Please take your luggage and disembark in an orderly manner."
The announcer's voice roused the entire carriage, which quickly came alive. Some rushed to the toilet, some quickly washed their faces, and some packed their belongings to get off. The aisle was bustling with people, and long queues formed at the toilet entrances. Some people, realizing they didn't have enough time, gave up queuing and headed straight to the train disembarkation area with their luggage. The train was still moving slowly.
The train slowly came to a stop, the doors opened, and the crowd began to surge toward the exit.
Zhao Yuan stood up, smiled at the two elderly men opposite him, said goodbye to them, and joined the line of people getting off the bus with Zheng Ziqi.
After a bumpy 9-hour journey, it is now midnight.
Although the Huacheng Railway Station of this era was not as grand as it became later, it was still very impressive, with several platforms.
The train is the city's transportation hub and a witness to the times.
Although it was past midnight, the place was still bustling with people, all hurrying about with their bags and suitcases, their faces filled with anticipation and eagerness.
On the platform, clattering and clanging... another train slowly pulled in, the roar of the steam locomotive and the sound of its whistle intertwining, a unique memory of this era.
Zhao Yuan and Zheng Ziqi followed the flow of people toward the exit.
"Uncle, here, here."
As soon as Zheng Ziqi stepped out of the station, he waved and cheered to the crowd waiting to pick up other people.
Then they saw a man who looked to be around 40 years old walking towards them.
“Cousin, this is Zhaoyuan, he’s a translator, and he’s from our county. Zhaoyuan, this is my cousin.”
Zheng Ziqi explained.
"Hello, cousin, I am Zhaoyuan."
Zhao Yuan greeted his cousin.
"Let's go to my house."
It was so late and there were no buses running, but there were rickshaws available. My uncle rode his old bicycle in front, while Zhaoyuan and Zheng Ziqi followed behind in their rickshaws.
After driving for about 20 minutes, the car entered a large courtyard. Everyone got out of the car and went into a five-story dormitory building. My cousin's family lived in a room on the left side of the second floor.
My cousin opened the door and came in. The lights in the living room and dining room were still on. Hearing the door open, a woman of medium build, around 40 years old, came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl.
"You're back. You must be hungry after such a long drive. Have something to eat to tide you over."
He then placed the bowl on the table.
"Auntie, I'm sorry to trouble you. This is just a little something from our hometown, nothing else of value."
Zheng Ziqi put down a large package.
"Why are you being so formal? You've come all this way, don't be so polite."
As he spoke, he set out two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
“Aunt, this is Zhaoyuan, the translator.”
Zheng Ziqi introduced Zhaoyuan to his aunt.
Hello, Auntie.
Zhao Yuan greeted his aunt.
"Hey. Let me have a bite first."
My aunt said that. Then she went to get busy over on the sofa.
After traveling for more than 10 hours, Zheng Ziqi and Zhao Yuan's stomachs had been rumbling for a while.
The two of them stopped being polite and sat down to eat. Soon, the large bowl of noodles was completely devoured by the two of them.
After eating and drinking to our hearts' content, it was already one o'clock in the morning.
People in those days were indeed hospitable. My cousin's house had two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. The toilet was located outside, the kind shared by two-story houses, at the entrances to the staircases on either side.
There were two bedrooms. One was for the cousin and his wife, and the other was for the two sons, who were already asleep at this time.
My aunt unfolded the sofa and laid a cotton mattress on it. People in this era don't care about the location, and Zhaoyuan and Zheng Ziqi fell asleep very quickly after they lay down.
The next morning, as soon as there was any noise in the house, the two of them got up and tidied up the sofa.
After washing up, the two younger cousins said goodbye to Zheng Ziqi and went to work and school respectively.
"Ziqi, Zhaoyuan, go out for breakfast with your cousin later. I'm too busy today, so I'm going to work now."
My aunt left for work after saying that.
Zhao Yuan and Zheng Ziqi followed their cousin downstairs and each bought a fried dough stick and two large steamed buns. They ate as they walked toward their cousin's workplace.
My cousin's family lives in housing provided by his workplace, which is not far from his workplace, so it only takes a few minutes to walk there.
Upon arriving at my cousin's workplace, Huacheng Yuanhang Export Company, the three of them finished their breakfast at the entrance, wiped the grease from their mouths, and then walked together upstairs to my cousin's office.
Upon arriving at the office, the uncle arranged for the two to sit down, made them each a cup of tea, and then told them to wait a moment before leaving the office.
It was Zheng Ziqi's first time in such a big city, and he was clearly a little reserved.
Zhao Yuan was quite at ease. He had seen all sorts of storms in his previous life. He often mingled with people in high positions with his younger brother. Sometimes, he would handle a single transaction worth hundreds of millions. He also frequently dealt with foreigners, so he felt no tension at all, only a sense of anticipation.
At that time, Chinese people had no idea how rich those foreigners were. Foreigners only knew that things in China were cheap, but they had no clear concept of exactly how cheap they were, especially when it came to things like fireworks.
Zhao Yuan looked around his cousin's office. The furnishings were very simple: a wooden table, a wooden chair, a low coffee table, and a wooden sofa for visitors to drink tea and talk business.
"Director Zheng, could you please give me a copy of the wrapping paper?"
Zhao Yuan said to Zheng Ziqi.
"Okay, here you go."
Zheng Ziqi opened the bag, took out a prepared wrapping paper, and handed it to Zhaoyuan.
"Director Zheng, when the foreign businessmen arrive later, I will be in charge of the communication. You can use my price list; you just need to nod your head."
Zhao Yuan said.
"Okay, anything that can help sell the fireworks is fine."
Zheng Ziqi said, then looked towards the doorway, his eyes full of anticipation.