In the corridor of Pujiang Light Industry Bureau, two serious-looking comrades were walking quickly side by side.
"How is the Canton Fair going?"
"All exhibitors that need to be notified have been notified,"
Section Chief Han turned sideways towards Xu Muchun as he walked:
"Bureau Xu, Comrade Wang Shi from the Guangdong Provincial Foreign Economic and Trade Commission called to inquire about the specific number of people staying at the Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel."
"Wang Shi?"
Xu Muchun thought for a while: "Isn't it Xia Yu who has been in contact with us? Where is Wang Shi showing up again?"
In previous years, at this time, Xu Muchun would come to discuss many matters related to the Canton Fair.
"I heard it was a comrade who was just transferred from the Railway Bureau at the end of last year,"
Reported by Section Han Changhui:
"The voice sounds quite young. The person in charge of organizing the visit and study trip to Zhongshan Hotel this time is also Comrade Wang Shi."
"You didn't mention this hotel, I haven't remembered it yet,"
Xu Muchun paused, frowned and asked, "Isn't it the hotel built by the Xiangjiang entrepreneur?"
"Who else could it be!"
"This is too fast,"
Xu Muchun shook his head and walked back to the office:
"I remember that the construction of this hotel started at the end of the year before last, right? It's only been more than a year, and it's already open for business?"
"But now, it was officially opened at the end of last year..."
1978, December.
"Aomen Daily" published a report on the development of a tourist area in Cuiting Village, Zhongshan County.
Unexpectedly, after this article was read by Huo Yingdong in Xiangjiang, he immediately came up with the idea of returning to the mainland to take a look.
Coincidentally, as soon as he had the idea, the mainland sent an invitation letter to a group of Hong Kong and Macao businessmen.
So just after the Spring Festival in 1979, Mr. Fok Ying-tung, then president of the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, led an inspection team to the south.
According to the inspection route at that time, this team of top wealthy businessmen took the exam from Guangzhou to Zhongshan.
I was grandly arranged by the accompanying leader to enter the 139 guest house with the best conditions in the area.
It's a pity that Zhongshan is not as good as Guangzhou and Pujiang.
It's okay if I can't get a star. Unfortunately, the rooms in this guest house don't even have running water.
It was only after the waiter brought in a few buckets of water, one hot and one cold, that all the distinguished guests could wash themselves together.
As a result, Huo Yingdong stayed in this guest house with neither running water nor flush toilets for one night.
Zhongshan County unexpectedly received a huge investment.
“If the mainland wants to retain foreign businessmen and attract foreign businessmen to invest, the standards of food and accommodation must first be raised.
Sanxiang in Zhongshan County has both green mountains and hot springs, and is only over 20 kilometers away from Aomen.
I want to invest in building a resort here..."
After three inspections, Huo Yingdong decided to build a hot spring hotel in Sanxiang, Zhongshan County.
At that time, opening up to the outside world had just begun.
There is no domestic precedent for overseas funds to build hotels.
Without any experience to draw from, Huo Yingdong decided:
The hotel belongs to the state, and it is responsible for funding its construction.
In the later period, only the principal of the investment will be recovered, no profits will be made, and no interest will be included.
Having said that, in fact, in the end, the Huo family never took a penny from the account.
But no matter what happens afterwards, this is the first Hong Kong-owned hotel after the reform and opening up. This is how it was born.
Thanks to the special care of the local government, this hot spring resort with a total investment of HK$40 million was completed in only one year.
…
Unknowingly, Section Chief Han and Xu Muchun had walked into the office:
"According to Comrade Wang Shi, since it opened in December last year.
The guests who came to Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel for visiting and studying never had a break. So, he asked us to finalize the check-in list early."
"The time to go there is before the Canton Fair, right?"
"Yes," Section Chief Han nodded:
"Currently, I have only reported our names. Who else do you think we should add?"
"...Call Lao Wu from the Peace Hotel,"
Xu Muchun just sat down, knocked on the table and thought:
"In addition, call Jiang Shan and Huang Hua together."
"Good Xu game."
"By the way, it's time for these two people to come back from Hui Province, right?"
"I can't say the time this time,"
Section Chief Han reminded the leaders:
"Didn't Xiao Jiang say that this time they are not only going to shoot advertisements, they also have to help create new walls in the village..."
…
Hui Province, Siting Village.
After a few days of busy work, Jiang Shan was leading Huang Hua to sit at the village chief's home.
"This...if you want bamboo handicrafts to enter the regular market, they must go through a mold- and insect-proof process..."
Comrade Huang Hua, who was surrounded by villagers in the center of the house, was pointing with a bamboo lantern.
As a unit leader with extensive experience in exporting commodities, Manager Huang is popularizing the export standards of commodities to fellow farmers.
At this moment, the key villagers sitting around me took notes more carefully than the other.
As long as you think of the specialties of your own village, you can go out of the county gate, the city gate... cross-provincial transactions, or even cross-border transactions.
My whole body was full of energy.
"Actually, you don't need to be too nervous,"
Huang Hua smiled and said: "As long as you follow the method I told you, it won't be too difficult to operate..."
…
On the second day, after all the work was completed, Jiang Shan and his party embarked on the return journey again.
Looking at the villagers who kept waving goodbye in the rearview mirror, I saw the colorful Siting Village.
Jiang Shan couldn't help but take a few more glances:
"Although this was my idea, when I opened the door and walked out this morning, my eyes still felt bright."
"It's not just you,"
Ding Lingling looked back reluctantly: "I feel the same way."
Huang Hua, still sitting in the passenger seat, smiled and said:
"Who is not? The main reason is that no one has ever seen a village of this style, and we can't help but take a few more looks."
"It's a pity that our newspapers can't publish color photos,"
Jiang Zhuangzhuang held the camera and took another picture from a distance:
"Otherwise, if you pick a few and put them in the newspaper, it will cause a sensation all over the country."
"What are you afraid of?"
Jiang Shan chuckled: "When the commercial is released, it will cause a sensation not only in our country, but also abroad."
"We can also put the photos at the Canton Fair, where there are many foreigners,"
Huang Hua glanced at Jiang Shan: "I just don't know if Director Xu can give you this booth."
As soon as these words came out, the three people in the van looked at Jiangshan together.
"I think... it shouldn't be a big problem,"
Jiang Shan took stock and said, "By the way, Brother Hua, how many times have you participated in the Canton Fair?"
"If I really want to talk about it,"
Huang Hua now looked like he was reminiscing about the past: "That would be too early..."
October 1955 to May 1956.
Relying on its geographical advantage of being adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, Guangzhou has held three commodity and material exhibition exchange meetings.
These three exchange fairs are different from the subsequent Canton Fair. They are completely Guangzhou's own trade fairs.
As a result, after the three meetings, the Ministry of Foreign Trade’s commissioner in Guangzhou noticed something was different.
The trade fairs in Guangzhou were completely different from those he had seen in other cities.
At the trade fair held in Guangzhou, not only more than half of the local products are exported.
From the data point of view, it is also quite amazing.
Three exhibitions were held consecutively in more than half a year, and the export turnover of just two of them was close to 10 million US dollars.
At that time, China's annual export volume was only US$5.6 billion.
What is this concept?
The commissioner immediately saw the necessity of holding a large-scale exhibition in Guangzhou.
In June 1956, the special commissioner in Guangzhou quickly proposed to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Guangzhou Province to hold a national export commodity exhibition and exchange meeting in Guangzhou.
This request was reported all the way and the green light was given all the way.
After joint approval by many leaders, it was decided that on November 10, 1956, the China Export Commodity Exhibition would open at the Sino-Soviet Friendship Building in Guangzhou.
The invitation letter sent by China Resources Company attracted nearly 3,000 merchants from 37 countries to the exhibition.
Promoted the export of goods worth more than 50 million US dollars.
After a large amount of foreign exchange was piled up, the Ministry of Foreign Trade saw a brand new window to quickly earn foreign exchange.
The next year was 1957.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade officially issued a notice that the first Canton Fair will be held in Guangzhou in April.
This time not only large and small commodities, but also Jiefang trucks drove by.
In order to facilitate the smooth progress of the Canton Fair, Guangzhou also established the second taxi company in the country in the same year.
There are more than 60 Volga vehicles, which have been busy since they first appeared.
…
"Don't look at it, I just turned 35 this year,"
Huang Hua's voice was slow and clear: "But as early as more than 10 years ago, I started busy with the work of the Canton Fair.
Looking back now, I was the most nervous when I went there for the first time.”
"That's right," Jiang Shan understood:
"You must be nervous when you go back for the first time. Besides, you just started working at that time, right?"
“It’s true that I have just entered the workplace,”
Huang Hua looked at Jiang Shan meaningfully and said:
"But at that Canton Fair, it wasn't just me, everyone was extremely nervous."
"Everyone is nervous?" Jiang Shan was surprised: "Why?"
“Who says it’s not the case,” Huang Hua recalled: “Originally, everyone thought that not many merchants would come to the Canton Fair.
Unexpectedly, the number of people attending the exhibition was no less than in previous years, and the turnover was not greatly affected.
Afterwards, our leaders found out after some inquiries.
It turned out that before the meeting, a pamphlet appeared out of nowhere called "Secrets of Doing Business with the Chinese."
As a result, this booklet gave many merchants the courage to participate in the exhibition."
"Really," Jiang Shan asked curiously, "What's written on it?"
“Back then, almost everyone who came to Guangzhou to participate in the exhibition had this book with them.
Following the instructions in the book, these overseas businessmen got off the plane.
The first thing I did was not go to the hotel, but buy a well-fitting Chinese tunic suit and a badge on my chest..."
Hearing this, Jiang Shan, Jiang Zhuangzhuang and Ding Lingling simultaneously imagined the scene of the Canton Fair described by Comrade Huang Hua.
"What a pity,"
Jiang Shan shook his head and smiled: "I can't see such a wonderful scene."
Huang Hua smiled: "Do you think it's just like this?"
Jiang Shan: "What else?"
"It's not that simple. Don't forget, I wrote a whole book,"
Huang Hua continued:
“After getting ready for the outfit, these foreigners quickly checked into the hotel, learned new ideas and read up on the knowledge points with quotations.
At the subsequent Canton Fair, I discovered that these overseas merchants met with us.
I won’t discuss business with you right away, but I’ll shout a few slogans with you first.”
Jiang Shan was stunned when he heard this: "Are you talking in English or Japanese?"
"You can say anything,"
To this day, Manager Huang is still unforgettable: "Many times, several foreigners will learn from each other and exchange experiences."
Comrade Huang Hua, who had just entered the society, deeply realized at that time the ability of overseas businessmen to learn quickly and keep pace with the times.
…
1981, March.
There is only less than a month left before the Spring Canton Fair is held.
Guangdong Provincial Foreign Economic and Trade Commission, the investment promotion office.
Comrade Wang Shi, who has just turned 30, is checking the list of leaders who are about to go to Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel for inspection.
"Hiss...how come there is another Dongfang Metropolis Newspaper?"
"What's wrong, Lao Wang?"
A middle-aged woman across from the desk said, "See an acquaintance?"
"What kind of acquaintance is this? I just look familiar to this name."
Looking at the list of personnel just reported by the Tourism Bureau, Wang Shi quickly flipped through the previous information:
"Reporter accompanying the Ministry of Foreign Trade: Jiangshan, reporter accompanying the Ministry of Machinery: Jiangshan, Pujiang Foreign Trade Office: Jiangshan."
Listening to Comrade Wang Shi's mumbling words, the middle-aged woman was also shocked:
"How come there are so many people? Are the same people reported by these departments?"
"It seems like they really are the same person."
Looking at the registration book in his hand, Comrade Wang Shi's eyes narrowed:
If this is the case, he must pay special attention to receive this Comrade Jiangshan.
…
In early 1981, China Resources Corporation, headquartered in Xiangjiang, was ordered to launch a new business after acquiring two supermarkets.
At the end of last year, an advertisement with a full text of 196 words appeared in major newspapers and periodicals in Hong Kong and Omen.
This advertisement can be summed up in eight words - "Purchase tickets to Hong Kong and Macau, pick up fuel from the Mainland".
After the reform and opening up, there are more and more vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao traveling between Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou and other areas.
Therefore, Guangzhou Petroleum decided to join forces with China Resources Corporation to introduce to the compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao:
[To buy stamps in Hong Kong and Macao, come to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shantou to refuel.]
It is a pity that after several months, this set of convenient services has not been accepted by compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao.
At this moment, Shao Kang, the person in charge of China Resources, who had published many oil-selling advertisements, was applying some cooling oil on his forehead...