sbdcsierra Chapter 1752 Guangzhou
Chapter 1752 Guangzhou
Chapter 1752 Guangzhou
Fortunately, this was the starting station, and the train was still quite empty when we lined up to board, so it was easy to carry our luggage.
And since they were in sleeper berths, there would be fewer people there. The hard seat side was already packed with people, and their luggage was being squeezed into the seats.
They boarded from the front and found their respective sleeper compartments without any problems.
The platform was packed with people; the sounds of running, shouting, and children crying rose and fell, all afraid of missing the bus.
After putting down his backpack, Ye Yaodong breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally found the carriage. That's great. I'm glad I got on the train early."
"It's my first time taking a train! I didn't expect it to be as scary as I imagined. I heard you guys say that trains are terrible and smelly, full of stinky feet and sweat, with children crying and arguing, and so much luggage that you can't even move..."
After putting down her luggage, Lin Xiuqing patted the sleeper bed and muttered to herself.
He chuckled, "Because you're boarding at the starting station, the first stop, the carriage has naturally been cleaned. And this is a sleeper berth; we got on a long time ago. You can check it out halfway through the journey! Everyone'll be climbing through the windows then. As for the hard seats, you can go over there later to see if it smells bad, is crowded, or noisy."
"Really? Then I'll wait until later when I've finished drinking the hot water and need to go out to get more. I'll check on it while I'm at it."
She was genuinely curious. She had always traveled by boat when going on long journeys in her life, and this was her first time taking a train. She had only heard how dirty and chaotic trains were, and she thought she could go and see for herself later.
The six people in their carriage were all their own people; the others were scattered in the adjacent carriages, which Ye Yaodong had personally selected.
He bought a total of 15 tickets. He arranged for himself and Aqing to be in a carriage full of his own people, and picked out two tickets separately. He then distributed the rest to the others.
Some carriages have 2-3 people, and some have 3-4 people, which is fine. They can look out for each other. There are only a few sleeper carriages in total.
After Lin Xiuqing tidied up her luggage, she also divided up the food she had just bought at the train station, as well as some snacks like biscuits that she had prepared in advance, and asked Ye Yaodong to take them to the others.
Only after everything was sorted did I feel at ease enough to sit down.
The train's long, hoarse whistle sounded, and it rumbled to life, beginning their nearly two-day journey.
Only a few stops had passed, and Lin Xiuqing didn't even need to go to the hard-seat carriage to check the environment. She stood in the corridor, and various smells of sweat, instant noodles, cigarettes, leather, and the pungent odor wafted over, so she immediately retreated back to the sleeper carriage.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say you wanted to go check out the hard-seat section?" Ye Yaodong asked as she sat back down beside him.
"I'm not going. I can already imagine it. I can feel how noisy and smelly it is over there just by standing in the aisle."
"Then you'll just have to wait until you get off at the station, and you'll see it then."
"It takes more than 40 hours to get here, that's way too long."
"Just hang in there. It's getting dark anyway. If things go smoothly, we'll arrive by the morning of the day after tomorrow. If things go slowly, it'll be noon the day after tomorrow."
"Ah."
The two sat close together, chatting idly.
When night fell, they ate something casually, and Ye Yaodong told her to go up to the upper bunk for safety, while he slept on the lower bunk.
He also gave her the backpack so she could hug it to sleep. It contained the company seal, contracts, various important documents, and cash, all of which could not be lost.
Fortunately, they were the only people in the entire carriage, which was relatively better.
At night, the rhythmic clanging of wheels on the rails is amplified infinitely in the dead of night.
The hard sleeper berths were cramped, and the tall Ye Yaodong could only sleep curled up. The sounds of snoring, sleep talking, and children crying came from other berths and nearby carriages, making it impossible for anyone to fall asleep.
He simply sat up, went to the small folding stool by the door to smoke a couple of cigarettes, and took turns keeping watch. He would only go back to lie down after he felt a little sleepy.
The train made frequent, intermittent stops, and after a bumpy 37 or 38 hours, when the announcement "Yangcheng Station is approaching" finally came over the loudspeaker, everyone felt as if they had been given a shot of adrenaline.
All fatigue was instantly suppressed, replaced by a sense of tension and excitement before battle.
"We're almost there!" he said excitedly.
Everyone else was also like they'd been injected with adrenaline, instantly bursting with energy.
People from other carriages also rushed over to join them, carrying their bags.
"Boss, we're almost there."
"We're finally almost there. My whole body feels like it's going to fall apart. If this is how it is in a sleeper berth, what will it be like in a hard seat?"
"Get ready to get off the bus. We can talk about anything after we get off."
They waited one after another by the exit door, surrounded by a crowd of people, all of whom were getting off at Yangcheng Station.
As soon as the car door opened, a rush of people poured out.
And those who were about to board the bus couldn't wait to squeeze on as well, with a large group of people cursing and swearing.
After Lin Xiuqing finally managed to squeeze off the train, she saw that everyone around the windows was throwing their luggage out. Many people couldn't wait to queue up and chose to jump out of the windows. The platform was filled with people getting off the train.
"So many people getting off the bus...it's outrageous..."
"It's no exaggeration to say that Guangzhou Station is a major station."
Ye Yaodong glanced over and saw that everyone was carrying or holding goods, clearly indicating that they had come to buy supplies.
"Stay close, and be careful not to get lost."
They exited the station one after another with the crowd. After exiting the platform, they counted the number of people again before walking together to the taxi stand.
Lin Xiuqing asked, "When are we going to pick up those exhibits and props that we transported by train? Those items were shipped two days earlier than ours, so they should have arrived by now, right?"
Two days before the team set off, they followed the arrangements of other organizations in previous years and transported the exhibits and materials needed for the Canton Fair by train in advance.
"They should have arrived by now. Don't rush to pick up the goods. We need to register first, collect the exhibitor's work pass and materials, and also see where the guesthouse will be arranged for us to stay."
"it is good."
"Once all of this is arranged, we can pick up the goods and deliver them directly to the exhibition hall for setup. Otherwise, if we bring the goods over now, we won't know where to stay or where to put our belongings, and it will be difficult to make arrangements."
"Let's take a taxi right now. Where are we?"
"Liuhua Road Exhibition Hall"
They took several taxis, then drove several hundred meters... got stuck in traffic for half an hour, finally parked, and arrived at the exhibition hall...
Everyone was stunned...
Ye Yaodong was dumbfounded...
"Cattle!"
"This is acceptable..."
"Never mind, let's go in quickly."
They registered at the Liuhua Road exhibition hall of the Canton Fair with their company introduction letter and exhibitor certificate notification, received their exhibitor badges and materials, paid for a guesthouse accommodation fee, and then got their room keys to settle in.
They're going to exhibit the day after tomorrow, so they need to set up the venue tomorrow or the day after. They still have one day to rest today.
No one slept well on the train and couldn't really relax. Ye Yaodong simply told them to rest for the day and pick up the goods at the train station early tomorrow morning.
Lin Xiuqing sat on the bed in the guesthouse, feeling that something was not quite real.
"Are we arriving in Guangzhou now? Are we about to attend the Canton Fair?"
Ye Yaodong was so tired that he lay down on the bed in a starfish shape. "After the exhibition is over, we can stay here for a couple more days and take a look around. After all, it's a big city, and it's not easy to come all this way."
"It was really tough, almost 40 hours, that was awful. I'll have to take the train for just as long to get back."
"I didn't expect Guangzhou to be so bustling. It's packed with people. I guess it's because of the Canton Fair. There are people everywhere, and the area around the exhibition hall is densely packed."
"Yeah, I just got here, and there was a traffic jam on the road. There were so many taxis. And so many foreigners. It's the first time in my life I've seen so many foreigners. They're everywhere. Those black people are as black as charcoal, pitch black. They're really ugly and unattractive."
"During the exhibition, we're seeing mostly foreigners placing orders; we don't usually see that many."
"I've really broadened my horizons and gained a lot of knowledge. If I have the chance, I really should bring a few kids here to see for themselves. If you don't see it with your own eyes, you can never imagine how prosperous this place is. Ten years ago, we were still in the countryside. For the first 25 years, we hadn't even been to the county town. Now we can come all the way to Guangzhou to attend the Canton Fair."
“I told you, you can bring your child here to broaden their horizons. No matter how well they study, if they don’t go out and see the world, they’ll be like a frog in a well. Sitting in the classroom won’t broaden their horizons. Sometimes, a broad perspective is more important than a diploma.”
"Let's wait two years. If we can participate once, we can naturally participate two or three more times. We'll bring them over then."
"Things change every year, so the situation might not be the same by then."
Lin Xiuqing was speechless, so she simply changed the subject, "Hurry up and take a nap, then you can go out for dinner when you wake up."
"Ah."
Everyone was exhausted. While the couple was talking, they could already hear the snoring coming from the next room.
The couple quickly fell asleep.
Even after nightfall, the air in Guangzhou is still filled with the warm and humid atmosphere of Southeast Asia, quite different from the chilly spring nights of Jiangnan.
As they stepped out of the guesthouse, a flowing river of light came into view.
And then a cacophony of sounds surged in like a tide, filling our ears: the jingling of bicycle bells and the roar of motorcycle engines.
The vendors shouted their wares in Cantonese, which the vendors couldn't understand at all, while deafening Cantonese pop songs, like Beyond's "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies," blared from the tape recorder shop.
The stirring melody resonated in the hearts of every passerby.
This clamor is not chaotic, but rather a vibrant, almost overflowing energy.
The Liuhua Road area is exceptionally bustling due to the Canton Fair.
The buildings, varying in height, were covered with signs made of neon tubes: "Fresh Seafood," "Night Tea," "Duty-Free Shopping Mall." The red, green, blue, and yellow lights flashed and jumped, blatantly yet vibrantly burning into their eyes, making everyone stare intently.
"Holy crap, it's so lively?"
"It's even more lively than Zhoushan! So many people, and so many foreigners..."
"My goodness, this street is brighter than when we celebrate the New Year back home!"
"This Cantonese song is actually quite nice..."
"These women are so daring and stylish, they look amazing..."
Amidst the bustling crowd, there were local business owners in floral shirts and gold chains loudly discussing business; there were also exhibitors from other places, speaking various dialects, tired yet excited; and there were also women in high heels, confidently walking in stylish shirts and pencil skirts...
Ye Yaodong took a deep breath. The air was filled with a mixture of car exhaust, the smell of banyan trees by the roadside, and various tempting food aromas.
Lin Xiuqing's eyes were sparkling; she couldn't take it all in.
Although Shanghai is a bustling metropolis, she had never wandered around at night, especially since Shanghai's nights are unlike Guangzhou's, which are filled with...
She didn't know how to describe it, but it was probably trendy, energetic, noisy, and extroverted, full of business and future potential.
"Boss, can we look around later?" The young salesman's eyes sparkled with excitement and curiosity.
"Sure, but don't go alone, don't wander around for too long. Go in groups of a few and come back together. Don't cause trouble, and don't get into conflicts with the locals."
"clear."
"Since you want to wander around, then you can take care of your own dinner. We'll reimburse you when we get back."
"receive."
Everyone excitedly gathered together, discussing going shopping together.
Ye Yaodong was also spared the trouble of managing so many people's food and drink, and he didn't have to worry about them getting lost.
Lin Xiuqing also linked arms with Ye Yaodong, dazzled by the sights. "This is so bustling! There's so much food! No wonder so many people come to Guangdong to work."
"I heard that electronics and clothing are very cheap here. Let's ask where they are and go shopping so we can bring some back with us."
"Okay, okay, let's get the Canton Fair sorted out first."
"It's natural."
They walked around and looked around, then found a food stall set up under a plastic shed and sat down.
The men and women around were dressed in all sorts of ways, some completely covered up, others in trendy clothes, all raising their beers and toasting each other.
The bright incandescent light overhead shone down, the stove fire roared, and the spatula clanged against the iron pot.
Looking around, Ye Yaodong knew that the country had entered a period of rapid development, and those who dared to venture into business now would have a bright future.
After finishing dinner, the couple were reluctant to go back, so they simply strolled along the Liuhua Road.
The entire street resembled a giant open-air commercial arena, where vendors displayed their unique skills, each shouting slogans while holding up their products.
"Last ten pairs of jeans! A rock-bottom price! Ten dollars! Ten dollars! Don't miss out!"
"A lighter! Fireproof, shockproof, waterproof, and glow-in-the-dark!"
"Hello! Silk! Real silk! Cheap!"
"One piece! One piece! One piece of pineapple, sweeter than first love!"
They were all speaking Mandarin with a Cantonese accent, shouting at the top of their lungs.
Lin Xiuqing was extremely excited. Perhaps it was a woman's nature to shop, but she lingered curiously over everything she saw, whether it was food, toys, or household items.
So much so that by the end of the walk, Ye Yaodong was stuffed and his hands were full of her spoils.
"Have you bought enough? Can we go back now?"
Ye Yaodong felt like his feet no longer belonged to him, while she continued searching around with shining eyes, looking for any stalls she hadn't yet visited...
"Huh? Are we going back already? What time is it?"
"It's 9 o'clock, beautiful lady!"
Lin Xiuqing laughed heartily, "Haha... Let's go back first, we'll go sightseeing again tomorrow."
"Okay, beautiful lady."
"Stop shouting, you don't sound as good as them."
"Just these repeated calls of 'pretty girl' have made you, who is usually so frugal, lose yourself and start buying this and that."
Lin Xiuqing laughed at him, "You can't find it anywhere else, it's just so cheap! Everything looks so cheap, and we don't have any of these back home. Huimei and Dongqing should come here to buy their goods, it's cheap, fashionable, and there's a wide variety."
"Indeed, it's a bit far."
"Yes, it's just too far. It takes 40 hours by train, and we don't know the area well, so it's not very convenient. But if we make a couple of trips, we'll definitely get used to it. If we can come here to buy goods, we can definitely make a lot of money."
Ye Yaodong shook the goods in his hands. "You think you can make a fortune like this? You haven't seen cheap stuff yet. I've heard there are even cheaper wholesale markets. You've overpaid for all of this, you know? These are all retail."
"Oh, there are even cheaper ones?"
"This night market near the guesthouse must have been formed because of the Canton Fair, so it's all retail. Wholesale would definitely be sold through dedicated wholesale markets or wholesale streets."
"Then why didn't you stop me from buying it?"
"Why stop us? It's not like we're short of money. Just do what makes you happy. What if the wholesale market doesn't have these things? If you see something you like, buy it. If you don't buy anything, you definitely won't be able to sleep at night."
Lin Xiuqing smiled, not knowing what to say. "Let's go, let's go back early. We're not going to shop anymore. We need to get up early tomorrow to pick up our goods. We won't shop tomorrow night either. We'll stay a couple more days after the exhibition ends."
"Row."
The couple walked back to the guesthouse, satisfied. Along the way, they encountered other salesmen returning with their bags full of goods; none of them came empty-handed, and everyone looked excited.
Ye Yaodong also instructed them to get up at 7 a.m. the next morning to pick up the goods at the train station.
Railway freight follows the principle of "ticket and goods traveling together". When handling freight consignment, the railway office will provide two paper documents: "freight waybill" and "delivery receipt".
When they pick up the goods, they must bring these two receipts, which are now more important to them than cash.
The next morning, they ate local specialty rice noodle rolls and other Cantonese dim sum at the entrance of the guesthouse before heading straight to the freight department of the train station.
Ye Yaodong squeezed to the "Arrival Inquiry" window, handed over the two vouchers, and waited for the staff to check them.
Then you have to pay a series of miscellaneous fees, such as unloading fees, storage fees, and safekeeping fees, and then take the forms covered with various stamps to another window to complete the final release procedures.
Finally, with the release slip in hand, we entered the maze-like large warehouse under the guidance of the staff.
They need to find the goods they have consigned among thousands of shipments based on the numbers on the bills of lading.
Fortunately, he brought everyone with him, and with more than a dozen people searching, it was quick.
Outside the freight yard, a number of private truck drivers were gathered. Ye Yaodong randomly picked one, negotiated a price, and had his truckload of goods carried up. Then, the whole truck and the goods headed straight for the venue.
Apart from the slight inconvenience of queuing for procedures and the difficulty in finding the goods, everything else went smoothly.