Mediterranean hegemon

On December 24, Guangzhou was decorated with lights and there was a festive atmosphere everywhere. It was because Marshal Chang’s wedding was held today. It was already full of guests and the atmosphere was bustling. [Far East Trip 16-19 was posted in the author’s same name due to sensitivity\u003e Contini had never attended such a scene, but with Huang Xinguo around, many things were clear. Since he agreed to attend Marshal Chang’s wedding, he had to act like a VIP. Not only was he the last one to arrive at the venue, but he also had a grand ceremony and sent out the entire president’s guards.

There were motorcycles leading the way in front of Contini’s motorcade, and in the middle were 8 identical black Mercedes-Benz top-level bulletproof sedans, and then more than 60 motorcycles full of the president’s guards and the joint forces were guarding around, which was amazing and eye-catching.

Logically speaking, Guangzhou, as the capital of the revolutionary government, should not allow other armed forces to enter and exit. However, now that the Guangzhou government is trying to curry favor with the president, such a small matter is naturally let go, allowing the president to swagger around like this. However, considering the tolerance of the Chinese side, Contini did not let Ada and her mother go shopping at the mall this time, but only let them taste tea and snacks.

The snacks in Guangzhou are quite famous. The afternoon tea culture of Cantonese people has a long history. Not only Ada, but even Agnes said it was delicious. After eating authentic Chinese food, she praised it and thought it was not inferior to French cuisine.

"Delicious? Simple!" Contini waved his hand to call Huang Xinguo, "Help me hire a few good Chinese chefs, I will take them back to Italy. It doesn't matter if they don't speak Italian, we can find a way to communicate in the middle. By the way, it's not arranged for me, but for my parents. They are old and can't go abroad often. I need them to find some fun to enjoy. They are easy to talk to."

When people heard that the president wanted to hire a chef and bring him back to Italy, most people were unwilling, but when they heard that the monthly salary was 300 yuan, food and accommodation were provided, and they could bring their families, and even their wives and children could go to Italy to work and earn money, the scene could not be held back. A bunch of people rushed forward to sign up for 300 yuan a month. University professors are only worth this! And Contini is not playing tricks. He signed the contract and directly prepaid half a year's salary, 1,800 yuan went out. In Huang Xinguo's words, there is no need to worry that the other party will abscond with the money. This is a revolutionary government. How can it tolerate such a thing?

The news spread quickly throughout Guangzhou, and of course it became a laughing stock in the government. The staunch Bolsheviks naturally criticized this extravagant bourgeois sentiment and style, but Chang Dashuai disagreed: "The president is just honoring his parents, with a pure heart. Such a rich man in the world, whose leg hair is thicker than everyone else, what's wrong with hiring a few chefs? Chinese local rich people have money and want to marry ten or eight concubines. Does he have scandals? Does he support actresses? I heard that the president has advertising companies and film companies under him, and the models in them are more beautiful than each other. Does he want them to serve him? He is a billionaire, and he has worked hard to make a billionaire. Do you want such a billionaire to live the same poor life as us? What's the point of making money and getting rich?" This time Chang Dashuai made a wrong promise. Although the president did not go after his models, the radio host had two of them, and both of them had illegitimate children. However, even Huang Xinguo did not know about this private matter, so how could anyone in China know? Everyone always feels that the president is quite kind and generous in his words and deeds. Although his fiancée has a father who is an Italian leader, it is said that the hotel staff said that she is quite kind and not difficult to deal with. They feel that she is easier to deal with than the average lady from a wealthy family. In fact, Ada has never lived a noble life for a few days. She has been through hardships since she was a child. Vivian and Adriana are more pompous than her. However, the latter two are smart people. They can pretend to be cool in front of others, but they are as obedient as kittens in front of Contini, old Ziano or Agnes. This is experience!

With 300 oceans as a prelude, the sensational scene of the president's guards is worthy, and this roar soon spread to the wedding scene. Since Marshal Chang changed his surname to Christianity and it was a Western-style wedding, the scene was generally warm, and the bride did not have to not appear in the wedding room like ordinary people, but still had to receive important guests when she met them.

Others can be ignored, but other government officials, especially foreign consuls and officials, she has to show up, otherwise there will be no one to act as an interpreter.

When the concierge sang loudly: "Ms. Agnes, wife of the Minister of Transport of the Kingdom of Italy, Mr. Ciano, special envoy of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy and president of the United Group, and Miss Ada, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister of Italy, have arrived...", the whole scene was in an uproar. Everyone stood up unconsciously, and those who thought they were important followed Marshal Chang and his wife out to greet them.

"Marshal Chang, Mrs. Chang, congratulations..." Contini said as he signaled Huang Xinguo to hand the gift list to the concierge.

Then the gift was sung: "President Qi's gift: a pair of New York local specialties! 6 motorcycles for the Joint Force Guard Command!..." Then there were other things produced by the United Group, and Italian fashion brands, such as Gucci's handbags, accessories, and women's perfumes. These are all limited editions of the president. Every year, Gucci gives some to Contini, and you can't buy them outside.

This gift list confused everyone: everything else is easy to say, everyone understands, but what is this pair of New York local specialties? American ginseng? But no matter how good the American ginseng is, it's not worth much? This must be an important item if it is placed first on the gift list.

Dashuai Chang and his wife didn't understand either, because they saw that the "New York souvenirs" handed over were packed in calfskin boxes and looked quite heavy.

According to Western tradition, gifts should be opened on the spot for the guest of honor to see. In Chinese tradition, gifts are not opened, but what they are must be explained in detail. Now everyone has seen 6 motorcycles. These are good things. Not to mention that they cannot be produced in China, they have never even been seen. As for the 1926 light machine gun carried on the motorcycle, the soldiers are jealous of it. The thing that generates heat is an advanced weapon. President Qi has a convoy of more than 60 of these vehicles. If there is a fight, why not beat the raiders to pieces?

"President, why don't you dismantle that souvenir? Many people are very concerned about it..."

"Tear it down. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. You are responsible for explaining it."

"Everyone, please see, this is a New York specialty..." After Huang Xinguo and everyone else entered the main hall and took their seats, he revealed the answer to the mystery with a smile. Two large yellow croakers appeared in front of everyone, "Standard gold bars produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, United States. The purity is 99.9999%, and the weight of a single bar is 100 ounces, which is equivalent to more than 6 Jin in China. Two bars are 66 Dashun. On the one hand, the CEO hopes that Chang Dashuai and his wife will have 66 Dashun. On the other hand, he uses the Chinese classical Chinese sentiment to compare with Jin Jian. Allusion, I hope Chang Dashuai and his wife will love each other for a hundred years and grow old together... What's even more rare is that these two gold bars have the year of production on them. One is 1887, which is the year of Chang Dashuai's birth, and the other is 1898, which is the year of production. The year of Mrs. Chang’s birth is a match made in heaven!”

This explanation was lively and the audience applauded. Twelve pounds of gold is not cheap anymore. Coupled with Huang Xinguo’s publicity, everyone felt it was even more valuable. Even Chang Dashuai and his wife couldn’t help but smile and clasped their fists in thanks. , Don’t dare, please take a seat, please take a seat, head table, main table!”

Mrs. Chang also said to Huang Xinguo: "Xinguo, I can't trouble you. Sister, thank you... What you said is really good. You are worthy of being a thousand-mile horse of the Huang family in Yuyao."

"It's good that my sister is happy. The key is the president's intention. He sincerely wants to make Marshal Chang as a friend. He also said that the special zone is thanks to Dashuai Chang's help."

"It should, it should. We are relatives. We should take care of each other. In the future, I will also ask you to speak kindly in front of the president."

In fact, there are many such souvenirs on the Count of Cavour. These two items are carefully selected. Huang Xinguo knows that the president often gives away souvenirs. It is not surprising. The key is this gimmick. It’s hard to say something about culture and heritage.