In the evening, with the full moon hanging high, Liu Handong and his party left the Burj Al Arab Hotel and drove overnight to Saudi Arabia. They kept traveling along the seaside highway. The first stop was Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. On the south side of the highway is the Arabian Peninsula.
The largest Bukhari Desert in the world, with long stretches of yellow sand and occasional oases, is full of exotic charm.
In the desert, the temperature difference between day and night is large, but there are also high temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius. The air conditioner of the Land Cruiser is very powerful, and the temperature inside the car is maintained at 26 degrees. The three men take turns driving, and Li Jie is curled up in the last row to sleep, passing by Abu
While in Zabi, everyone went down to stretch their legs and refuel the car. Gasoline in oil-producing countries in the Middle East is very cheap, only more than two yuan per liter in RMB. On the contrary, bottled pure water is very expensive, even the lowest price.
It costs more than eight yuan, and the water price is the same as the domestic oil price.
Driving on the highway in the vast desert is a very boring thing. Li Song took the initiative to introduce various gossips about the company to Liu Handong. Zhongyanhuang has branches all over the world, and these companies were originally subsidiaries of the two oil companies.
It was formed from chaos and reorganization, and the internal relations have not been completely straightened out. It is easy to make money but difficult to get ahead.
"It all depends on the relationship." Li Song said, "Or you can give gifts, give them severely, and give them dozens or even millions."
Liu Handong asked: "Does it matter to you?"
Li Song said: "Of course, Tian Fei and I are high school classmates, and he is my best friend. Now I have to rely on his help when I return to Dubai to handle things. The leader will not approve the leave at all. We came here in the name of picking you up."
Liu Handong said: "Then the leader is too unkind. If such a big thing happened to my family, how could he not come to deal with it?"
Li Song slapped his thigh: "I mean, the leader is inhumane. Just because the Prime Minister is going to visit the Gulf countries, the branch's top management ordered that no one be allowed to ask for leave before the task is completed. Anyone who asks for leave is a deserter and should be fired."
Liu Handong couldn't help but think that when he was a soldier, he also asked for leave because other veterans had family troubles. Because the army had to meet the inspection of superiors and refused to approve the leave, he helped others to argue with the instructor, and then started to beat people. If not for a second-class merit officer
Now, I guess it won't be an issue of early discharge, and I might have to go to a military court.
No matter which unit, the driver is always the most gossipy and well-informed group of people, and Li Song is no exception. He non-stop introduced the inside information of the company to Liu Handong. Zhongyanhuang Middle East Branch is an extremely large management organization and the most important one.
Branch, the Gulf countries are rich in oil, and it is the continuous oil that drives China's rapid economic development. China needs nearly 300 million tons of crude oil every year, of which more than 50 million tons come from Saudi Arabia. The importance is evident.
Zhongyanhuang not only shoulders the important task of importing crude oil, but also builds refineries and lays oil transportation pipelines in Middle Eastern countries. In recent years, it has even begun to acquire oil fields. The business is getting bigger and bigger, and the branch has become a country within a country.
The whole body and the headquarters do not dare to change managers easily, otherwise work will be delayed and national energy security will be affected.
"So these guys can just be greedy?" Liu Handong asked.
"Not only is it greed, but more importantly, it's madness. Let me tell you, this time Mr. Zhang wanted to win the position of CEO, but in the end Mr. Song was parachuted in. He has no qualifications in the system at all. He used to be the director of the Public Security Bureau. What do you think?
Can Mr. Zhang be convinced? He is also covered by someone, just wait and see, there will be a good show."
"Is Mr. Zhang the leader of the branch?" Liu Handong became a little worried. If the branch boss and Song Jianfeng don't deal with him, they will definitely not look good on him. This job will be difficult to do.
"Yes, Zhang Bangxian, general manager of the branch and secretary of the party committee." After a brief contact, Li Song had completely fallen in love with Liu Handong and told him everything he knew. "Mr. Zhang has placed all important positions with his cronies and relatives.
Fellow fellow, if you make the branch office look like an iron bucket and water cannot be poured in, Director Liu, your work may not be easy to carry out."
The car was talking nonsense all the way and driving at a fast speed. Just before the port was closed, the car arrived at the border area of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The port was guarded by police, pulling barbed wire. The Saudi police, wearing khaki uniforms and berets, checked all four aspects of the car.
I didn’t look at the person’s passport very carefully, I just took a quick look and let it pass.
Entering Saudi Arabia, the quality of the roads is significantly reduced. Driving on the desert roads at night is more dangerous, and encountering sandstorms is miserable. However, time is tight. If you don't want to be reprimanded by the leader, you must get to Riyadh as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the journey was uneventful, and we finally arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in the early morning. This city is completely different from Dubai. Most of the buildings are relatively low, with only one strange-shaped building towering into the sky, which is extraordinary.
"What's the origin of that wine bottle opener?" Liu Handong asked.
Tian Fei, who had already woken up, rubbed his eyes and explained: "That is the Kingdom Center Building, a landmark building in Saudi Arabia."
Liu Handong praised: "It is said that our country likes to do face-saving projects and build beautiful government buildings. People in the Middle East also do this. Isn't the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia working in it?"
Tian Fei said: "There are shopping malls, office buildings, and a Four Seasons Hotel in the building. The official organization is a company that manages the king's finances. The royal family is not here. They live in the Nasiriya District in the west of the city, where the princes and nobles are everywhere.
Palaces and villas, if you have the opportunity to visit them, it will open your eyes.”
The dusty off-road vehicle finally stopped in front of the Zhongyanhuang Middle East Branch Building. This is a magnificent six-story building with the Zhongyanhuang LOGO. It was too early, and none of his colleagues came to work, including Tian Fei.
Go upstairs and take Liu Handong and Li Jie to the staff dormitory first.
After everything was settled, it was almost time to go to work. Liu Handong reported to the Human Resources Department under the guidance of Tian Fei. The special correspondent of the International Relations Department is administratively subordinate to the headquarters, and is led by the local branch in business, and is directly responsible to the branch boss.
, which is actually equivalent to a special general assistant, but with a lower administrative level.
After completing the formalities, Tian Fei took Liu Handong to see Zhang Bangxian, the head of the branch, but Mr. Zhang was not at home and went on a business trip to Yemen, so he arranged an office for him first.
Liu Handong's rank is not high enough, so he can only share the office with others. There are four people in the room, two middle-aged lesbians, plain-looking, company administrators, and a gay man who sits across the table from Liu Handong.
There is a name tag on it with the three words "Qin Xianyang."
It can't be such a coincidence, Liu Handong secretly thought, he left the army because he beat up the instructor Qin Xianyang. Could it be that enemies did not get back together and ran into an old enemy in Riyadh?
After a while, Qin Xianyang came. He was shorter than Liu Handong, lean and sturdy, and was meticulously dressed in a shirt and trousers. He was carrying a leather bag. After seeing his new colleague, he reached out his hand: "Welcome, welcome.
I haven’t seen you for four years.”
Liu Handong smiled but said: "Instructor, we meet again."
This guy was Qin Xianyang, the instructor who caused Liu Handong to retire early. Unexpectedly, instructor Qin, who was determined to devote his youth to the military, also changed his career and joined Zhongyanhuang.
Qin Xianyang is responsible for the security of the entire branch. It sounds cool, but in fact, it is just that. Gulf countries will not allow foreign companies to have their own armed forces, so each production base hires local security personnel. Director Qin is in charge.
I signed a contract with them and occasionally went down to check on the work. It was very relaxing.
Liu Handong didn't like Qin Xianyang when he was a soldier. It's not that this guy is bad, but he is inhumane, rigid and rigid, and he follows the rules to the point of being outrageous. He still thinks that he is an iron-blooded soldier, and often talks about sacrificing himself for the frontier.
He once wrote a letter in blood requesting to be transferred to the Sino-Indian border for duty.
Time goes back and the scene changes. In the barracks of a certain automobile company of the Chengdu Military Region in Yunnan, Liu Handong, who wears the rank of sergeant, is arguing with the new instructor Qin Xianyang. Next to him sits a silent veteran, smoking continuously.
"Why are you not allowed to leave? A snake was thrown at Lao Niu's house, and his parents were injured. If he doesn't go back, he will die!" Young Liu Handong stabbed his head and said angrily.
Qin Xianyang, who was carrying the rank of captain, stood as tall as a pine tree. He answered calmly: "First of all, the head of the military region is going to inspect Lao Niu soon. Lao Niu is the technical backbone of the company, and the chief knows his name, so he must be there; secondly,
First point, I don’t know much about the demolition, but I know that you must trust the party and the government in everything. Military families must be taken care of. The things you said are exaggerated; third point, after the inspection by the chief is over, I will report to
Report to superiors and coordinate with Lao Niu’s hometown government to resolve the matter.”
Liu Handong sneered: "I don't believe in anyone, I just believe in this!" He raised his fist as he spoke.
Qin Xianyang said seriously: "What's the matter, do you still want to go home with Lao Niu to cause trouble?"
Liu Handong said: "You are right, I also want to take leave and go back with Lao Niu."
Qin Xianyang said coldly: "Do you know the nature of this behavior? You are a deserter! You will go to a military court! Before the company commander comes back, I make the decision here. You stay here and don't leave the barracks. This
It’s an order!”
The two looked at each other fiercely, and were about to start a fight. Lao Niu suddenly stood up and said in a deep voice: "Instructor, I won't ask for leave." Then he quickly left.
When the camera turned, the day before the military region chief's inspection, something happened to Lao Niu. He and his truck fell to the bottom of a cliff, and they couldn't be pulled back. Everyone was puzzled. Lao Niu was the technical backbone of the regiment. How could he drive the truck to this point?
It's amazing. Although that section of road has many sharp turns and is an accident-prone area, it is like walking on flat ground to Lao Niu, just like Akinayama is to Takumi. He can drive with his eyes closed. How could something happen? Moreover, the vehicle has no faults.
, the only possibility is that Lao Niu was in a trance and had a car accident caused by his absent-mindedness.
In the morning, Qin Xianyang had just come out of the house. Liu Handong, who had been ambushing him for a long time, rushed forward, fired his bow left and right, and knocked the instructor to the ground. When he was about to stamp his feet again, he was grabbed by his passing comrades...
"Is everything going well for you after you retire?" Qin Xianyang's concerned words interrupted Liu Handong's thoughts and brought him back to reality.
"It's not bad, I've done everything." Liu Handong was vague and asked: "When did the instructor change his career?
Qin Xianyang said: "Well, when I was in the army, my wife complained all day long, saying that long-term separation affected the relationship and the space for development was limited, so he tried to find a way to change his career. Unexpectedly, he found a job and was stationed abroad. It seemed destined to be
We have to live the life of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl." As he said this, he smiled bitterly, as if he and Liu Handong were close old friends.