RBCT Chapter 123 Heading South to Hong Kong
Chapter 123 Heading South to Hong Kong
Chapter 124 Heading South to Hong Kong
The departure date for my trip to the United States is approaching.
Since the two countries have only established diplomatic relations for a little over half a year, various exchanges and cooperation are still in the process of getting to know each other and getting used to each other.
There are currently no direct international flights from Beijing to North America.
Therefore, Yu Zhen's delegation of scholars visiting the United States for cultural exchange could only travel south from China, through Hong Kong, and then board an international flight to the United States from Hong Kong.
The literary lecture series hosted by Tsinghua and Peking Universities concluded successfully.
Yu Zhen enjoyed a few days of relaxation and took the time to visit the military compound where Gong Xue was currently staying. While their relationship wasn't exactly one of romance, it was a respectful and platonic revolutionary friendship that was truly established.
Furthermore, Gong Xue finally completed the manuscript for the Chinese-style comic adaptation of the first volume of "The Truman Show".
Yu Zhen had no intention of taking the comic book adaptation artwork directly to the United States.
The relevant matters should be handled directly by the working coordination group in Shanghai.
So the two of them took the train from Beijing back to Shanghai.
Relationships need careful nurturing, and a long journey on a green-skinned train further accelerated the rapid warming of their feelings for each other.
Back in Shanghai, the city and my workplace were incredibly enthusiastic.
Yu Zhen received a welcome ceremony as if he were a hero returning home.
Gong Xue's identity and role thus became widely known. This news brought even more surprise and joy to all sectors of Shanghai, as it would completely confirm Yu Zhen's status as a son-in-law in Shanghai.
Previously, the issue of Yu Zhen's affiliation was a real headache for all relevant departments.
In particular, Yu Zhen was abducted to the capital and has been stranded there ever since.
Everyone was gossiping behind his back, even cursing him, saying that the people in the capital were inhumane, trying every means to smuggle talented people into the city and bring them into the country. However, Yu Zhen was always burdened by the fact that his identity was "unknown," making it difficult for various parties in the city to exert their influence. They lacked confidence!
But now, there's this connection with Gong Xue.
Yu Zhen, this son-in-law from Shanghai, is someone that any family might covet, but they have absolutely no chance now.
He was welcomed and given a feast by the city and his workplace.
After a long period of busy preparations, Yu Zhen finally found the time, prepared gifts, and went with Gong Xue to visit his future in-laws and formally meet the Gong family.
The entire Gong family naturally sang praises of such a fine son-in-law. Except for Gong Ying, who was now relegated to the status of a younger sister-in-law and was a little lost and dejected, the rest of the family and friends were overjoyed!
Wow, Yu Zhen, the nation's greatest science fiction writer, who is famous both at home and abroad, has become the son-in-law of the Gong family.
Hey, isn't that arrogant enough?!
I only stayed in Shanghai for less than three days.
News came from Beijing that the delegation had already started its southward journey by train, and Yu Zhen should also set off south.
It's quite convenient to travel from Shanghai to Hong Kong.
In Shanghai, Zhang Fushi and two foreign affairs officers fluent in English will accompany Yu Zhen to North America. Their main task in North America will be to conduct a series of business development collaborations with five North American publishers under the name of the Shanghai Municipal Government's official working group.
Gong Xuexin's recently completed artwork for the Chinese-style comic adaptation "The Truman Show" was the key target of their negotiations during this trip to the United States.
After a long and arduous journey, the two groups finally met in Hong Kong.
In Shanghai, only Yu Zhen and his group of four remained, but in Beijing, there was a large team of nearly a hundred people.
It wasn't until Yu Zhen saw Li Ximing, an outstanding graduate from Tsinghua and Peking Universities, in the group that he suddenly realized that Li Ximing, one of the first batch of government-sponsored high-achieving students to go abroad, was also part of the delegation.
The person leading the team from Beijing was an old acquaintance, Director Qin Zhongkai.
Another familiar face was among them: Comrade Yuan from the Military Research Institute, which surprised him quite a bit.
The international flight to the United States is scheduled for the following day.
After the two groups checked into the Sihai Hotel.
Yu Zhen and Zhang Fushi were staying in the same room. Soon after, Qin Zhongkai and Comrade Yuan knocked on the door and came to chat with him.
"A large number of media reporters have gathered outside the hotel. Our delegation's whereabouts have been deliberately exposed to the outside world —"
As soon as Qin Zhongkai entered the room, he made a startling remark, revealing a sensitive new situation.
Yu Zhen wasn't particularly surprised by this. After all, Hong Kong paparazzi reporters were a group of infamous scum, a bunch of people who had "whoever feeds me is my mother" etched into their very blood and memory, utterly lacking in conscience and morality.
As for who deliberately leaked the delegation's whereabouts to the media.
Who else could it be? It certainly couldn't be from Beijing. The discipline and constraints within the delegation are beyond question. Any matter involving foreign affairs is a matter of utmost seriousness and high standards for all parties involved, and no one would be negligent or careless in this regard.
Moreover, this was in the context of the international situation in 1979.
Even the most aspiring Chinese people, when they first leave the country, do not have the courage or confidence to casually reveal their whereabouts or other secrets to outsiders.
"Old Qin, do we need to evacuate immediately?" Zhang Fushi reacted very nervously upon hearing this, concerned about Yu Zhen's safety.
There's no way around it. After all, Hong Kong is now under the control of the British. Moreover, since its opening to foreign trade, Hong Kong has been a melting pot of so-called international forces from all over the world. All sorts of people, from all walks of life, have long-established strongholds here.
To put it more bluntly, the hostile forces on that island, relying on their wealth and power, resort to underhanded tactics, and within the Hong Kong mainland, they actually have a greater advantage.
Qin Zhongkai chuckled upon hearing this, "Uh, there's really no need for that. Besides, with so many of us, there's simply no time to relocate. Even if we did move to a new place, who can guarantee that we wouldn't be relentlessly pursued by the media reporters outside, following us to our new location? — Hey, Xiao Yu, you're quite composed. Don't you know that most of the media reporters outside are actually after you? Vice Minister Zhang is worried about your safety. Aren't you afraid?"
Yu Zhen chuckled, "A bunch of bastards who will follow whoever feeds them. What's there to be afraid of? In fact, the more afraid we are of these bastards, the louder they shout. They might even start making up all sorts of baseless rumors behind our backs."
Hearing him say this, everyone looked on curiously.
Qin Zhongkai laughed and said, "Oh, so you mean, Xiao Yu, you have a way to make them leave obediently?"
Zhang Fushi instinctively advised, "Director Qin, what can Xiao Yu do? If you ask me, it's better to call the police directly and let them come and drive him away. We'd better not have any contact with him at all. Out of sight, out of mind. Besides, we need to be even more vigilant about whether there are enemy agents from the other side mixed in, taking the opportunity to cause trouble and disrupt our normal trip to the United States."