Reborn in 1977

Chapter 675: Intentions

December 12th, Tuesday.

Beijing Hotel.

Since the peaceful recovery of Beijing, this luxurious old hotel, located on East Chang'an Street and bordering Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, has been an important venue for state activities and foreign affairs receptions, holding a significant political position.

In 1954, Mr. Dai Nianci presided over the construction of the West Building, which was eight stories high. In 1974, the new East Building was expanded, reaching nearly 80 meters in height, with 3 underground floors and 20 above ground, becoming one of the most famous landmarks on Chang'an Street.

Zhou Zhengdong is currently staying here.

Chen Fan didn't borrow a car; instead, he called a taxi.

The car stopped in front of the hotel. As soon as he pushed the door open to get out, two foreigners were standing nearby. They waited for him to exit, immediately pulled the door open, got in, and drove away.

Chen Fan blinked, then looked at the line of cars arriving and departing at the entrance, suddenly feeling a sense of time travel.

Shaking his head, he turned and walked into the hotel.

As he approached the service desk, before he could speak, a staff member stood at attention and greeted him, "Hello, comrade, are you here for accommodation or business?"

This attitude was definitely not from the modern era.

Chen Fan took a breath and smiled, "Please contact Mr. Zhou Zhengdong in room 806. Tell him Chen Fan has arrived."

The staff member nodded with a smile, "Please wait a moment."

She then opened the registration book and searched. After a few seconds, she couldn't help but frown slightly, raising her head to say, "Are you sure it's Mr. Zhou Zhengdong?"

Chen Fan was taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered and smiled, "Oh, he should be registered under his English name, James·Chow."

The smile reappeared on the staff member's face, "One moment, please."

After verifying the information, she picked up the phone and dialed the number.

Soon after hanging up, the staff member pointed to the elevator, "Hello, you can take the elevator from here. Mr. Zhou is waiting for you in his room."

Chen Fan nodded with a smile, "Thank you."

Then, he turned and walked towards the elevator.

There was a staff member stationed at the elevator entrance. Seeing Chen Fan approaching, she proactively asked which floor he wanted to go to and helped him press the button.

When the elevator opened and Chen Fan walked in, he saw another elevator operator inside, who helped him press the button for the 8th floor.

You don't even have to press the button yourself to ride the elevator.

A moment later, the elevator stopped, and Chen Fan stepped out. He saw a desk directly opposite the elevator in a recessed area, with a telephone, notebook, and pen on it.

A female staff member sat there. Seeing Chen Fan come out, she immediately stood up and said, "Are you a guest of the resident of room 806?"

Chen Fan pursed his lips and nodded lightly, "Yes."

Is this the service of the top hotels in the 70s? Impressive indeed.

After confirming, the staff member led him to the door of 806 and knocked gently.

The door opened quickly, but it wasn't Zhou Zhengdong who opened it, but Zhou Yali.

Seeing Chen Fan, before the staff member could speak, she jumped up and hugged his neck, "Little brother, I missed you so much."

Chen Fan's face fell, "Hey, hey, this isn't America. Don't hug like that. It's inappropriate. Get down."

Zhou Yali then landed on the ground, pouting, "You're not old, but your thinking is outdated. Hmph, I wouldn't hug just anyone. You're complaining instead."

After speaking, she turned and walked inside, but didn't forget to hold Chen Fan's hand.

Chen Fan quickly said to the staff member who was still standing aside, "Thank you."

Then, he was pulled into the room.

The staff member, however, wasn't surprised. With a smile, she helped close the door before returning to her post.

...

This room was a suite. To the right of the entrance was a wardrobe and tea cabinet, with the bathroom behind the wall. Passing through the entryway, there was a small living room. There were also two bedrooms on the left.

(Interior of a suite at the Beijing Hotel in 1975)

Zhou Zhengdong had already gotten up and walked over, hearing the noise at the door. Seeing Chen Fan, he immediately asked with a smile, "Was the journey smooth?"

Chen Fan nodded and smiled, "It was quite smooth. I took the flight yesterday afternoon, but because it was late when I arrived, I didn't come here."

Pulled by Zhou Yali to sit on the sofa, she then released his hand, busying herself with making tea for him, "It's okay even if it was late. Anyway, this is a hotel. You could have just stayed here."

Chen Fan looked at her, then at Zhou Zhengdong, his expression puzzled, "Why are you staying here? You have rooms at home."

Zhou Zhengdong sat next to him, placed a pack of cigarettes in front of him, "Help yourself."

Then, he said, "We're here on official business this time. There are regulations, we can't move around freely, and there are confidentiality clauses, so we can only stay here."

Saying that, he pointed at Chen Fan, "So I couldn't go look for you. You had to come find me."

Chen Fan nodded in understanding, a thoughtful look in his eyes, feeling like he had guessed correctly.

He picked up the cigarettes on the coffee table. He didn't recognize the brand, but smelling the aroma, he knew it was flue-cured tobacco, not the blended cigarettes more commonly found among foreign brands.

Zhou Yali squatted beside the coffee table, took out a Zippo sterling silver embossed lighter from her pocket, placed it in front of him, and said with a smile, "Specially chosen for you, as are the cigarettes. I was afraid you wouldn't be used to foreign cigarettes, so I chose this flue-cured tobacco, which is similar to domestic tastes.

America is the origin of flue-cured tobacco, originating from Virginia. This cigarette is from Virginia, try it and see if you like it."

Chen Fan smiled at her, "Thank you."

Domestic cigarettes are mostly flue-cured tobacco. It was rare for her to bring him souvenirs and even think about his tastes. It was indeed thoughtful.

Zhou Zhengdong shook his head while sitting on the sofa, "If you could be as nice to your daddy as you are to your little brother, that would be great."

Zhou Yali turned her head and glared at him, "My little brother can earn me tens of millions of dollars, but you only give me a broken publishing house. Can you compare?!"

Zhou Zhengdong rolled his eyes, suddenly not wanting this daughter anymore.

Chen Fan chuckled and didn't say anything, opened the cigarette pack, pushed out two cigarettes from the bottom, handed one to Zhou Zhengdong first, and then took one out for himself. Seeing Zhou Zhengdong light his own cigarette, he didn't bother, lit his cigarette with the lighter, and took a puff.

Somewhat unexpectedly, it wasn't strong, and the taste was a bit mellow.

Zhou Zhengdong smiled, "This kind of cigarette doesn't have a strong smell, and the taste is mild, which is more popular among the American elite. I brought you a carton this time. If you like it, I'll send you a few more cartons."

Chen Fan quickly shook his head, "Don't bother sending them. Actually, I don't usually smoke much, mainly for socializing."

Zhou Yali got up and sat aside, saying, "Then keep it for socializing. I've seen it clearly these past two days staying here. Some people just like foreign goods. Next time you meet someone like that, hand them this kind of cigarette."

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at her and asked, "Uncle is here on official business, what are you doing here? Don't you have classes?"

Hearing him ask this, Zhou Yali's face immediately broke into a smile, "I'm also here on official business. My identity is my dad's assistant. I even took leave from school specifically. What do you think, can't I?!"

Chen Fan raised his eyebrows slightly and turned his face to look at Zhou Zhengdong.

Zhou Zhengdong looked at his daughter with affection, then smiled at Chen Fan and said, "Last time you made a few suggestions, one of which was to bring the business to China, I went back and considered it carefully, and also consulted many people's opinions, and finally made the decision to develop the domestic market.

To this end, I found a way to join the Office of the Special Trade Representative, under the Office of the General Counsel.

This time I returned to China as a legal advisor to handle some trade matters."

He looked at Zhou Yali as he spoke, "It just so happens that Yali is majoring in international trade and will take over some of the family business in the future, plus the company you two partnered in, she will be the mainstay in the future.

The opportunity is rare, so I will let her be my assistant in a personal employment manner and learn something."

Hearing this, Chen Fan nodded in sudden understanding, "So that's how it is."

After a pause, he frowned slightly, looked intently at Zhou Zhengdong, lowered his voice and said, "Didn't you just say there was a confidentiality clause?"

Zhou Zhengdong smiled and said, "I won't tell you anything that needs to be kept secret."

Zhou Yali also explained from the side, "The whole world knows that the two major countries are negotiating, but what they are talking about and what the outcome of the negotiation is are the most important things."

She shrugged as she spoke, "My dad, as a legal advisor to the trade office, is able to participate, on the one hand, there are indeed things to talk about in this regard, and on the other hand, it may not be a kind of cover."

Chen Fan understood after hearing all this.

Most people may not be familiar with this "Office of the Special Trade Representative", but when it comes to the "Trade Representative" of the United States, many people have heard about it when watching the news.

Their Trade Representative is the head of this "Office of the Special Trade Representative".

More than a year later, in 1980, this office will be renamed "Office of the Trade Representative" and become the highest management agency in the US trade system.

And the head of this office, that is, the US Trade Representative, also successfully became a cabinet-level member and is directly responsible to the White House and Congress.

This ambassadorial level is equivalent to the deputy ministerial level, and it also fully grasps trade policies, initiates trade negotiations and lawsuits, which shows its importance and power.

Later, this department often initiated international trade disputes.

As for the "Office of the General Counsel" that Zhou Zhengdong mentioned, it is equivalent to the legal department of this unit.

Being able to squeeze into the highest power department of this US trade system, even if it is just a small legal advisor, made Chen Fan deeply curious about Zhou Zhengdong's background.

Seeing the surprise in Chen Fan's eyes, Zhou Zhengdong was even more surprised.

He said tentatively, "Xiao Fan, do you know about this department?"

Chen Fan chuckled dryly twice, "I often read foreign newspapers, I saw it in the newspaper."

Zhou Zhengdong nodded in sudden understanding, then smiled and said, "Actually, my ability to enter this organization has something to do with you."

Hearing this, Chen Fan was immediately stunned, "Ah? That's impossible, right?"

Related to himself?

That doesn't make sense.

If it were the cultural system, the other side might be able to relate to him because he is a well-known writer.

But the trade system, or the highest agency?

Does it have anything to do with him?

Seeing Chen Fan's stunned look, Zhou Yali immediately giggled, "What my dad said is true.

Although the Zhou family has been deeply rooted in New York for many years, and because of its influence in New York's Chinatown and other aspects, it has been able to connect with the General Bar Association, it is not enough to say that it can enter the Office of the Trade Representative, even if it is just to be a legal advisor."

Chen Fan opened his eyes wide and didn't speak, waiting for her to continue.

Zhou Yali suddenly got up and walked into the room.

After a while, she came out with two books, put them in front of Chen Fan, returned to the sofa and sat down, smiling and said, "But with this, everything is possible."

Chen Fan picked it up and looked at it.

As expected, it was his own Western fantasy novel, "The Legend of the Dragon Knight".

Zhou Zhengdong smoked a cigarette, looked at him and smiled, "The current Trade Representative, Mr. Robert Schwarz Strauss, is also a fan of your books.

I used this book to pave the way and got the opportunity to meet him.

Then I used 10 minutes to persuade him to agree to recommend me to the Office of the General Counsel.

I also used the importance of trade with China to persuade Attorney Schultz, and finally got this position and was designated as a member of this meeting."

He spread his hands with a laugh, "So, you can see me here."

Chen Fan opened his mouth slightly, looked at Zhou Yali, and then looked at him.

So it's so magical?

Seeing that he seemed unable to believe it, Zhou Yali immediately said, "Old brother, you don't know how popular you are in the United States.

Countless superstars have publicly expressed their love for you and hope to meet you.

When my dad and I went to work, the most frequently asked question was when the second book would be published, and the second most frequently asked question was where the author was and whether he could come out to meet us.

They will hold a grand banquet for you with the highest etiquette…"

Zhou Yali began to gesticulate as she spoke, "I used to think these dignitaries were very serious, but I didn't expect them to be like ordinary people, they also read novels and chase stars.

However, all the invitations were rejected by me in the name of your creation, so, old brother, is the second book finished?"

Chen Fan blinked, finally came back to his senses, met the expectant eyes of the two, and smiled, "Not only is the second book finished, but the third book is also finished, I'll bring it back to you later."

Zhou Yali immediately clenched her fist, "Yay."

Chen Fan threw away the cigarette butt, picked up the teacup and took a sip, looked at the two of them, "How long are you going to stay this time?"

Zhou Zhengdong's face became a little serious, and he shook his head gently, "The specific time has not yet been determined.

We have to wait for the outcome of Mr. Leonard Woodcock's talks before we can determine the next move."

A bit of loss appeared on his face, "It is possible to continue talking, or even stay here permanently, or it is possible to leave soon.

No one can know now, including Leonard Woodcock himself."

Chen Fan pursed his lips and smiled, "There will be a good result."

Before the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the United States had already set up an office in Jingcheng, and Leonard Woodcock was the representative of the office.

Last time Zhou Zhengdong returned to China, Leonard Woodcock also sent an assistant to accompany him throughout the process.

His current position is very important, but it is somewhat neither high nor low, and Zhou Zhengdong has a certain influence in New York.

It is just a matter of convenience to do a favor and make friends with a local powerful figure with great potential.

Besides, his current position and what he is doing, Zhou Zhengdong's Chinese identity may be able to play a certain role, and he is even more willing to make friends.

Look now, hasn't the effect come out?