OBS Chapter 1346 Career Planning?
Chapter 1346 Career Planning?
"Isn't today a day truly worth celebrating?"
"Yes."
"Shall we pack up and go celebrate?"
"Yeah, that Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown was pretty good last time. I especially liked their Typhoon Shelter-Style Fried Shrimp."
Seeing Liang Sichen unconsciously swallowing, Qin Hao couldn't help but chuckle. This girl had been precocious since childhood, and only when it came to food did she reveal her true nature. Today, she was dressed in a well-tailored beige suit skirt, her hair meticulously styled, looking every bit the Wall Street elite, yet at this moment, she showed childlike anticipation for a single dish.
"Okay, let's go then."
The red lanterns of the Dinghao Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown stood out prominently in the twilight. Qin Hao deliberately didn't ask for a private room, but instead chose a window seat on the second floor. From here, one could overlook the entire street scene of Chinatown—rows of traditional Chinese character signs, bustling yellow-skinned faces, and the familiar aroma of soy sauce and spices wafting in the air.
"Let's see what else we'd like to eat." After ordering the signature dishes, Qin Hao handed the menu to Liang Sichen.
Liang Sichen handed the menu back to the waiter: "Just bring these for now, we'll add more if needed." After the waiter walked away, she gave Qin Hao a sly smile: "You know me, you only know how to eat, not how to order."
Qin Hao shook his head and chuckled, pouring her a cup of chrysanthemum tea. As the aroma of the tea filled the air, the neon lights outside the window lit up one after another, bathing Chinatown in a warm orange-red hue.
"Do you know why the Chinese restaurants here are doing so well?" Qin Hao suddenly asked.
"Of course it's because Chinese food is so much tastier than Western food! Hamburgers and fries are all the same, how can they compare to the variety of Chinese cuisine?" Liang Sichen answered without hesitation, casually tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Qin Hao's gaze swept over her exquisite makeup: "The food is only one aspect. For many Chinese who have traveled across the ocean, homesickness isn't just sentimentality; it's a genuine longing etched into their very being. When they feel lonely and weary in a foreign land, or when their strong desire to return home is unfulfilled during holidays and family reunions, they come here. Ordering a few familiar hometown dishes, the familiar aroma and taste, the moment they touch their lips, time seems to momentarily fold back, and the memories on their tongues transport them back to that distant place called their homeland. That moment of comfort is priceless."
Liang Sichen frowned, puzzled: "If you miss home so much, why don't you just go back? Why force yourself to stay here?"
“Not everyone has your circumstances,” Qin Hao’s voice lowered. “They might still be struggling to feed their families, relying on the hardest, even risky, jobs here to send a meager living allowance back home. Or perhaps their loved ones back home are long gone, everything has changed, and that ‘home’ that held their memories no longer exists. Going back would only bring deeper loss and homelessness. Staying here is their only option, the only reality they can grasp. Every overseas Chinese has a unique life story, one that is difficult for outsiders to tell, a story shaped and molded by life.”
After listening to Qin Hao's explanation, Liang Sichen stirred her teacup thoughtfully: "So... seeing and eating food from my hometown triggers feelings of homesickness, is that what's called 'seeing an object and feeling nostalgic'?"
"That's a good use of the idiom; you've improved," Qin Hao nodded approvingly.
Liang Sichen smiled, revealing two shallow dimples: "Of course, I have been studying Chinese in my spare time, okay?"
Just then, the waiter brought out the Typhoon Shelter-Style Fried Shrimp. The golden, crispy shrimp were coated in garlic breadcrumbs, and the aroma was irresistible. Liang Sichen couldn't wait to pick one up, but she was burned and kept breathing out. Qin Hao smiled and handed her a damp towel, looking at her childlike appearance, and recalled the scene when he first met this stubborn little girl ten years ago.
Soon, dishes such as steamed grouper and stir-fried beef noodles were served one after another. Liang Shenchen completely dropped all pretense, and her hearty eating made Qin Hao's appetite soar. She even licked her fingertips, which were covered in sauce, without any regard for her image. This action reminded Qin Hao of how Song Yunping was when she ate at home—she was indeed a child raised in America, lacking some of the restraint of an Eastern girl.
After the meal, Qin Hao poured Liang Sichen a cup of Pu'er tea. In a corner of the hall, an elderly man with gray hair suddenly burst into tears. In front of him was a bowl of cold wonton noodles, and his rough fingers trembled as he stroked a yellowed old photograph.
Liang Sichen's gaze lingered on the old man for a long time, and she gained a deeper understanding of the idiom "to be reminded of one's feelings upon seeing an object".
“Sishen, do you know what the deepest and most persistent wish is for someone like him, or perhaps for many other Chinese people who are adrift abroad, when life is nearing its end and they have a premonition that their time is up?” Qin Hao suddenly asked.
Liang Sichen shook her head, the pearl earring on her earlobe swaying gently with the movement.
"Fallen leaves return to their roots."
Seeing Liang Sichen's puzzled expression, Qin Hao explained, "It's an obsession deeply ingrained in the blood of our Chinese nation for thousands of years, an ultimate sense of belonging that transcends physical distance, wealth, and even rational calculation. It means that no matter where we drift in this world, no matter how much success and prosperity we achieve abroad, when the flame of life is about to be extinguished, the strongest impulse deep in our souls is to return to where life began—the land that carries our childhood memories, the familiar ancestral home, the graves where our ancestors have rested for generations. Only by being buried in our homeland and returning to our ancestral home can we achieve final peace and fulfillment. Returning to one's roots is the end of wandering and the return of the soul."
"This almost religious attachment and sense of belonging to their homeland is something many Westerners find difficult to truly understand. Western culture emphasizes individual freedom and choice; 'global citizen' may be an ideal. But in the hearts of many Chinese, no matter how wealthy and comfortable overseas may be, it is ultimately 'foreign land.' Their 'roots' are not here, and their souls are forever adrift. Therefore, you see generations of Chinese venturing across oceans, working in mines, railways, restaurant kitchens, and laundry factories, doing the dirtiest and most tiring jobs that locals avoid, silently like a backdrop, toiling without complaint. They can work for decades..." Year after year, they scrimped and saved, sacrificing social life and entertainment to barely cover their basic living expenses, sending every penny they painstakingly saved back to their distant homeland. They cared little for local politics; their hearts were always with their ancestral homeland in the East. Their endurance of hardship and profound cultural alienation stemmed not only from a desire to improve their families' lives, but also from an ultimate yearning—to return, in their lifetime or at least at the end of their lives, to take with them wealth, glory, or even just a broken body, to that land called their 'roots,' to return to their final resting place.
Liang Sichen thoughtfully said, "So, for them, Chinese restaurants in Chinatown are more than just places to eat."
“It’s a spiritual sustenance,” Qin Hao continued. “Like that old man, he may not have been home for many years, but a bowl of wonton noodles can remind him of the smoke rising from the chimneys of his hometown.”
Liang Sichen suddenly lowered her voice: "During my grandmother's final days, she kept saying she wanted to go back to our old house in Shanghai to visit."
Qin Hao didn't reply, but gently patted the back of her hand. They remained silent for a moment, the noise outside the window seeming to pass through a layer of frosted glass.
"Wait a minute." Liang Sichen suddenly looked up: "You've been telling me all this, it's not just casual conversation, is it?"
Qin Hao smiled and nodded: "Smart. I'd like to ask, have you made any career plans for yourself?"
“Of course.” Liang Sichen immediately regained her Wall Street elite competence: “I plan to spend three years becoming Bear Stearns’ top trader, and then two years moving up to middle management.”
Qin Hao asked, "Is that all?"
"Otherwise what?" Liang Sichen raised an eyebrow. "Do you expect me to become a partner before I'm thirty?"
"I think you could make further plans, such as helping outstanding Chinese companies list in the US!"
Liang Sichen's eyes widened instantly. In her mind, Chinese companies were all outdated, poorly managed contract manufacturers. As for Haoran International—in her view, it wasn't a Chinese company at all, but a multinational corporation headquartered in Hong Kong.
When Liang Sichen raised her questions, Qin Hao said seriously, "What you said is all true. But you must remember one thing: the Chinese nation is the most intelligent and resilient nation in the world."
His fingers tapped lightly on the table: "In the 1960s, Japanese products were synonymous with inferior quality. Now? Sony and Toyota have conquered the world."
"Give these companies a stable environment, some time to develop, and a fair opportunity to enter the world stage. With the diligence born from the instinct for survival, the wisdom ingrained in their bones, and the almost fanatical desire to change their own and their nation's destiny—most of the problems you pointed out will be resolved and overcome at a speed that will shock the world! The key is, who can build that bridge between East and West? Who can make the world see this rapidly rising star?"
"So...you want me to be the bridge connecting Wall Street and emerging markets in the East? Why me? Bear Stearns has more senior, well-connected, and experienced bankers." Liang Sichen felt her breathing become heavy.
"First, the natural advantage of identity. You are Chinese. Your roots and bloodline are in the East. This is an innate sense of cultural affinity and understanding."
"Secondly, you grew up in the United States at a very young age and were educated at top American universities. You understand the American mindset, and the next few years will be enough for you to understand the rules of the game on Wall Street."
"Third, I believe in your abilities." Qin Hao said sincerely, "I believe that as long as you're determined to do something, with your abilities, you will definitely overcome all difficulties and make it happen!"
Upon hearing the words "I believe in you," Liang Sichen's lips unconsciously curled into a smile.
“Okay.” She finally relented: “I’m willing to try your career plan. It’s cool to do things that nobody else has done before, isn’t it?”
Qin Hao smiled with relief: "It's really cool, but it also means you'll have to work twice as hard. The gap between Eastern and Western cultures isn't so easily bridged."
“Just like you said,” Liang Sichen raised her teacup, her eyes gleaming, “you believe I can do it, and I won’t let you down.”
……
Time flies, and the seasons change. In the blink of an eye, it is already late autumn of 1990.
At 7:00 AM, the plaza in front of Donghai No. 1 Shopping Mall was already packed with eager shoppers. A huge red banner proclaiming "Spend 300, get 100 off" was particularly eye-catching in the morning light, forcing security guards to set up barriers to maintain order.
The office on the top floor of the shopping mall.
Yang Xun and Dai Fengjiao stood side by side in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, the surging crowd spread across the plaza in front of the mall like a pent-up flood.
Dai Fengjiao's cheeks, painted with trendy, bright lip gloss, flushed with excitement. She gripped Yang Xun's arm, her fingertips trembling slightly: "Yang Xun, did you see that? There are more people here than on Fifth Avenue in America! We really did it!"
Yang Xun's chest was also pounding like a drum, but he still suppressed the urge to wave his arms: "It's only a few o'clock, let's wait a little longer."
7:58. Yang Xun took a deep breath: "Feng Jiao, it's time. Let's unveil the curtain!"
Dai Fengjiao immediately picked up the walkie-talkie, her voice exceptionally clear and loud with excitement: "Attention all groups! Security team! Uncover the curtain! All departments inside, open for business at 8:00 AM sharp!"
The walkie-talkie immediately crackled with responses:
"Security Team One, received!"
"Security Team Two, prepare!"
"The home appliance department on the first floor is ready!"
"The clothing department on the second floor is ready!"
As the command was given, the giant red silk banner covering the outer edge of the mall was slowly pulled down by dozens of security guards. When the curtain wall, entirely made of imported tempered glass, was bathed for the first time in the full glow of the rising sun over the East China Sea—
boom--!
A tsunami of gasps and exclamations erupted from the crowd! Pure geometric lines, large areas of silver frames gleaming with metallic luster, and entire walls of glass curtain walls sparkling and translucent in the sunlight! This sight was truly earth-shattering in Donghai in 1990!
"My God! Is this...is this still a shopping mall? It's like a crystal palace!"
"So stylish! So stylish! I heard these windows are so hard they can stop bullets, and you can see everything clearly inside!"
"Mommy, look! It's so bright and beautiful!" A little girl riding on her father's shoulders clapped her hands happily.
The sound of camera shutters rang out frequently as reporters from the evening paper excitedly recorded the scene, their flashes capturing the amazement of the onlookers.
Yang Xun's tightly clenched lips finally curled into a triumphant smile, while Dai Fengjiao's eyes welled with tears of excitement. This facade, which had cost a fortune and overcome numerous challenges in importing glass and installation technology, now delivered a breathtaking sight that perfectly fulfilled President Qin's prediction: it was the best advertisement in itself!
Yang Xun and Dai Fengjiao walked down to the top floor, preparing to make a final inspection before the gates were opened. As soon as they reached the glass walkway leading to the atrium, they were surrounded by a group of anxious manufacturer representatives.
"Mr. Yang! Manager Dai! My spot is in the southeast corner, and the foot traffic isn't as good as the main aisle! Could you please hang up two more eye-catching lightbox posters for me?" A radio cassette player vendor squeezed forward.
"Manager Dai, my sales clerks are newly hired and still inexperienced. Do you think it's possible to temporarily transfer two experienced clerks from elsewhere to help out?" The person in charge of the cosmetics counter also looked worried.
Before Yang Xun could speak, Dai Fengjiao raised her eyebrows and was about to speak when Yang Xun gently pressed her hand down, cleared his throat, and raised his hand to press down, immediately silencing the crowd.
"Gentlemen, please calm down. I understand your concerns. But look outside... why worry about location or manpower? Rest assured! As long as the goods are good and the service is good, everyone here today will have a great day!"
Following the direction of his finger, the manufacturer representatives felt the heat wave outside the window again, which seemed to be about to break through the wall. The tension on their faces was instantly replaced by ecstasy. They nodded repeatedly in agreement and dispersed to make their final preparations.
At 8 o'clock sharp, the crowd, which had been waiting in ambush, erupted with deafening cheers, surging into the mall like a tidal wave. It was as if everything in the mall was being given away for free, and if you were slow, someone else would take it all.
"Yang Xun, we're about to strike it rich!" (End of Chapter)