Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1189 We are Nanyang people (third update, please subscribe)

The Olympic Games attracted the world's attention to Nanyang - more than 20 tourists from various countries came to Nanyang. This was more or less the first time that Nanyang welcomed such a large number of international tourists in a short period of time. This was of course also due to the development of the world's civil aviation industry in the past few years.

Among these international tourists, 65% were transported by C707 and C717. Jet aircraft are often people’s first impression of Nanyang.

It was also during this Olympic Games that Nanyang was first directly displayed to the world, and even put under a microscope. Thousands of journalists from various countries gathered here, almost looking at Nanyang through a magnifying glass.

When there are no matches, reporters will gather in the hotel bar. The soft music, pleasant temperature and ice-cold beer, everything looks so wonderful. People there discuss and talk about not only the matches, but also Nanyang.

“It’s really amazing…”

Looking at the orderly traffic on the street, Guy Tellis said in an admiring tone:
"Look, this is Nanyang. There is no crowding on the spacious streets. Even if there is a short traffic jam, people will not honk or yell in frustration. Most importantly... it is very clean here! There is not a single scrap of paper or garbage on the streets!"

"That's because the quality of the Nanyang people is very high. When the opening ceremony of the Olympics ended, more than 10 Nanyang people left the venue. There was no garbage or paper scraps in the stands of the huge venue. Many people took the initiative to pick up the garbage."

Ben Bradlee was not yet the lead reporter who would withstand the pressure to report the Watergate Scandal as the executive editor of The Washington Post more than a decade later. He was just sent to Southeast Asia by the newspaper to conduct an interview. His first article described the shock of the opening ceremony with a neat stand.

“The reason why it is so clean is because the people of Nanyang have very high overall quality.”

Listening to their admiration, Rachel Carson said:

"Although we have to admit that the overall quality of Nanyang people may be very high, don't forget the reminder in the travel guide - if you litter here, you will be fined 10 yuan for the first time, 50 yuan for the second time, and 250 yuan for the third time! In addition to the fine, the court will also issue an order requiring the offender to clean up the garbage in the community for up to 12 hours. In my opinion, the so-called high quality is entirely due to legal constraints!"

As a biologist and author, Rachel Carson came to Nanyang not only to watch the Olympics, but also to explore the animal protection in Nanyang - "aggressive protection", moving endangered species from other countries to Nanyang, and even at the cost of artificially extinct local species.

"Without the law, everything you see will disappear."

In response to Rachel's rebuttal, Ben Bradlee said:

“Maybe, maybe not, but when habits are formed, they become habits.”

If Li Yian heard his opinion, he would definitely shout that he understood his own opinion. In fact, the goal of making strict laws prohibiting people from littering was to make people form the habit of not littering through punishment. This was also repeatedly emphasized during immigration training.

Ed Bradley immediately retorted:
"Ben, you have to know that habits are based on the premise of violating personal rights!"

As the only black person present, he had no good feelings towards Nanyang. After all, he had heard too many rumors about Nanyang discriminating against blacks, and the facts proved that... it was true.

During the interview here, he was questioned by the police at least several times a day, and the word "criminal" was just short of being written on his forehead.

"I talked to some local residents, and they said that in the community here, they need to sign a residents' agreement to ensure that their home hygiene meets the standards. If they violate the standards, they will be punished accordingly, from warnings to fines. They manage everything about you everywhere!"

Ben laughed at the accusation.

"What's the big deal? Isn't it the same in the United States? If our lawns become messy, the community will also send warning letters."

"That's different. One is at home, and the other is outdoors! Even if my home becomes a trash can, it's my own business."

Ben, who had no intention of arguing with Ed, smiled and said:

“No one wants to live next to garbage, right?”

Ben, realizing that he might have gone a little too far, added.

"I just assumed that, speaking of the communities here, I thought we should go and see their communities. After all, the whole world knows that they provide houses for everyone!"

Ben's suggestion was met with approval from everyone. Most of the reporters present were famous reporters from major newspapers. They came here not only to report on the Olympics. For them, the games on the field were nothing to report. After all, there were TV cameras pointed at the field. Compared with the field, they paid more attention to what was outside the field. Only in this way could it attract more readers.

Just like Ben's report. His suggestion immediately attracted the approval of everyone, and soon the group took a taxi to a community in the suburbs. Like all communities in Nanyang, houses were scattered on green land. The community looked very clean and tidy. In Ben's opinion, even the high-end middle-class communities in the United States could not compare with it.

Ed Bradley surveyed the empty neighborhood and said:
"It seems like we came at the wrong time."

"At this time, everyone may be working. Here, women also need to work."

Rachel Carson said with a tone full of sarcasm:
"They even have laws that require people to work, well, laws, there are laws everywhere."

Then they walked around the community. Like all places, there was no garbage on the streets and the lawns in front of the houses were trimmed very neatly. After walking for a while, they saw a community newspaper delivery point where a man in his fifties was counting newspapers and sorting them according to customer needs. So several people walked over and told the other party through the translator that they hoped to have a chat.

Looking at these foreign reporters, although the work at hand was not finished yet, Feng Dahai did not refuse and started chatting with them directly.

"So, you've been here for thirteen years!"

"Thirteen years. Thirteen whole years!"

"What was this place like when you first came here?"

"What does it look like?"

Putting the newspaper on the ground, Feng Dahai said:
"What else could it be like? There are rainforests everywhere, and in the rainforests there are snakes as thick as thighs. At that time, when we came here, we just felt that this place was not suitable for humans. If it weren't for the fact that we could eat enough, eat meat, and earn money here, our grandchildren would stay here... But when we took the tools and started to transform and build this place, it changed completely."

He unknowingly fell into a feverish memory.

"More than a decade ago, and throughout the 1950s, we were all heading in the same direction... Thank God, we have this opportunity. You talk about dreams. Hell, we have our dreams, and our dreams are something our predecessors never had. Look at the house here, our ancestors have never lived in a house like this!

In the past, being able to have a full meal was a blessing from God! Back then, we were just cattle and horses! We were cattle and horses for generations! It was the same in every dynasty, working ourselves to death, just barely making ends meet, and sometimes even starving to death.

But here we are human beings, we are pioneers! We have created a whole new world, and this is how the world should be…"

What should this world look like?
Feng Dahai couldn't explain it clearly. It was more of a feeling. He could feel the difference here. This was exactly what he longed for.

At this moment, Feng Dahai was fanatical and proud!

This enthusiasm comes from the bottom of their hearts, and it is the enthusiasm for the country of Nanyang, which is brought about by a good life. And the pride comes from the pride of being a Nanyang person. It is this pride that makes them want to show the best side of Nanyang to the world through official propaganda.

Just fourteen years later, this country that emerged from the primitive jungle welcomed a grand event that attracted worldwide attention. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish the image of Nanyang, and also a window to step out of the heavy history and achieve self-identity.

The concept of "Nanyang people" was further engraved in the hearts of every Nanyang person in such a warm environment. With extensive media coverage, Nanyang people believed that they had achieved remarkable achievements in economy, science and technology, and culture, and their national self-confidence reached a peak.

It is for this reason that they see stadiums without a piece of garbage, a clean society and orderly streets. This cleanliness, unity and even dedication actually all come from a kind of self-identity - the self-identity of the Nanyang people!
As a witness of all this, or as an old man who has experienced hunger and war, Feng Dahai has a clearer understanding. Recalling the past, he said:

"Here, we are all relatives, we are all family members, there is nothing we are not willing to do for each other. We are willing to look after babies, give others a ride, and even help those who are temporarily in trouble to pay their loans..."

Looking into the distance and looking at the neat and tidy community in front of him, Feng Dahai's expression is full of pride. He is proud because he is a member of the community, and more because he is a "Nanyang person"!
Looking at Feng Dahai standing by the door, gazing at the community, Ben picked up the camera and took a photo. The man in the photo was holding a cigarette between his fingers, staring ahead, the sun shining on him, and in front of him the neat community stretched and undulated...

A few weeks later, the photo was published in Time magazine with the title "Nanyang People".

When the group was leaving the community, they passed by a nursery and saw children playing in the nursery. As the group looked at them thoughtfully, Rachel Carson cast her eyes on the bulletin board next to them. There was a notice in Chinese and English, reminding everyone that DDT spraying would be carried out on Wednesday to kill mosquitoes, and asked everyone to leave the spraying area during the spraying time.

Apparently, this is a way of life in the tropics.

(End of this chapter)