Chapter 421 - "You have violated my portrait right." (1)
New Year was getting closer and closer. Work hadn’t let out yet, but it already started feeling like it was the holidays.
The weather was cold but kids were not worried about that. They ran all over the streets after school was let out and played to their hearts’ contend.
The department store and CSMC had goods for the new year but they were gone as soon as they were made available.
Tong Xuelu couldn’t go to get them as she had to work. She was going to assign the duty to Tong Jiaming and Tong Jiaxin.
Nevertheless, Commander Xiao, their grandfather, already phoned them and said they didn’t need to prepare anything. He already had the foot soldier prepared them all and that he would be there to spend the new year with them.
Tong Xuelu received a call from the Commerce Department as soon as they arrived at the restaurant urging her to go pick up their guest from the airport along with those from the Commerce Department.
If Minister Lin was going to head to the airport in person, she was pretty certain that the guest was the translator for the UN.
Tong Xuelu was a little speechless. Had she known that they were arriving today, she would not have come in in her padded jacket.
Nevertheless, she did not have enough time to go change. Nor was she all that important anyway. It wouldn’t matter how she was dressed.
Tong Xuelu rushed over to the Commerce Department and rode with them to the airport.
They only found out that their guest wouldn’t be arriving for another hour after they had arrived at the airport.
Tong Xuelu couldn't help but cussed secretly.
The translator finally arrived when everyone’s limbs were almost frozen.
Two men in black trench coats departed the plane. Their coats floated in the air when the cold wind blew.
Tong Xuelu looked over and was met with a pair of long, narrow black eyes.
These eyes were deep like a bottomless pond.
The owner of those eyes were tall and handsome. His legs were long. If she hadn’t already run into Wen Rugui, this man was a very handsome man as well.
Director Gao from Municipal Foreign Affairs Office walked up to them. “Hi, Comrade Jie. I am Director Gao from the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. I have been looking forward to meeting you!”
Jie Chengzhou’s hands were held tightly. “Hi, Director Gao. You didn’t need to bring the entire crew to pick me up! I didn’t mean to be a bother!”
Director Gao nodded. “Oh, no worries, Comrade Jie. It had almost been 30 years since you have left the country. Of course we need to show you our hospitality when you return to visit!”
The UN recruited Chinese translators back in 1947 and only accepted 4 applicants. Jie Chengzhou was one of the four.
Jie Chengzhou left for New York with his wife and child and it had been almost 30 years since he had stepped foot again in China.
Jie Chengzhou felt his eyes welling up when he heard that.
It wasn’t easy living in a foreign town, let alone a foreign country.
The US had interfered with his country to join the UN for over 20 years after the founding of the country. The final victory did not come until October of 1971 during the 26th annual UN conference.
The gunpowder-free battle finally ended after the long struggle.
Even after their country had earned its legal right, the translators were still not able to return to their home country until this year.
Words could not describe the emotions that he was feeling when he stepped foot on his homeland once again.
Many felt compassion for Jie Chengzhou when they saw his eyes reddened. A couple female comrades even dabbed their eyes.
The young man standing behind Jie Chengzhou pulled out a nicely folded handkerchief and handed it over. “Dad, quickly. It’s embarrassing crying at your age.”
Jie Chengzhou gave his son a stare and turned to introduce him. “This is my son Jie…… you can just call him Xiao Jie.”
It was windy and Tong Xuelu, standing in the back, did not catch his name.
Xiao Jie greeted the other. They were able to communicate with no problem but they could also spot the English accent in his Chinese.
Given his age, it only made sense that he had an accent being born and raised overseas.
Director Gao said, “It’s windy out here. Let’s head toward the hotel and the restaurant. We can chat in the car!”