boyutpedia Chapter 19 First Encounter in Shenzhen
Chapter 19 First Encounter in Shenzhen
After a journey of nearly 40 hours, Lin Feng finally arrived in Shenzhen.
When Lin Feng arrived at Luohu Station in Shenzhen, it was around 3 p.m. Looking out the train window, he saw a large crowd thronging the platform. Migrant workers carrying burlap sacks, salesmen with briefcases, and women holding children were all packed together in dense crowds.
In 2003, Shenzhen was already taking shape as a modern metropolis, but it still carried the flavor of its wild growth.
Lin Feng slung his bag over his shoulder and walked towards the train door with Wu Wenjie, Lin Xiaowen following behind. After the incident with the scammers on the train, Lin Feng, Wu Wenjie, and Lin Xiaowen became acquainted.
"Xiaowen, will your brother pick you up at the exit?"
"Yeah, my brother said he was wearing a military green jacket and waiting at the exit."
The three of them got off the train. The platform was noisy with a mix of various dialects, and the announcement repeatedly said, "Welcome to Shenzhen."
The exit passage was crowded with people. Lin Feng protected Lin Xiaowen, while Wu Wenjie cleared the way ahead. On both sides of the passage stood many people holding signs that read "Job Openings," "Accommodation," and "Delivery."
After finally squeezing out of the station exit, the three looked around.
"There!" Lin Xiaowen suddenly shouted, waving in one direction.
Looking in the direction she was waving, you could see a burly man in the crowd with a buzz cut, wearing a military green jacket, and standing ramrod straight; he looked like a former soldier.
"Brother!" Lin Xiaowen rushed over and threw herself into the man's arms.
The man held her, looking her up and down: "What's wrong? Did something happen on the way?"
Lin Xiaowen shook her head and then nodded, tears welling up in her eyes: "Brother, I was almost scammed on the train..."
The man tensed up: "What happened?"
At this moment, Lin Feng and Wu Wenjie walked over.
After Lin Xiaowen briefly introduced her brother Lin Xiaoqiang to the two of them, she told her brother about her experience on the train.
After hearing this, Lin Xiaoqiang suddenly stood at attention and saluted Lin Feng and Wu Wenjie.
"Thank you both." He extended his hand and shook it firmly. "You saved my sister; I will remember this kindness."
"You're too kind. It's only right to look after each other when we're traveling."
"Where do you live? I'll drive you there." Lin Xiaoqiang drove a Chang'an van to pick up his sister.
Wu Wenjie: "No need to trouble yourself, Brother Lin and I will take a taxi to Futian."
"No trouble at all. Don't take a taxi. Nine out of ten taxis around the station take a longer route. I know Futian well, and I live there too," Lin Xiaoqiang said sincerely.
Lin Feng nodded to Wu Wenjie: "Then I'll have to trouble you."
The van drove out of the station square and headed towards Futian.
Lin Xiaoqiang drove very steadily, glancing at the rearview mirror from time to time.
"Have you decided where you're staying yet?"
Wu Wenjie: "I have a place to stay in Huaqiangbei. Brother Lin just arrived, so he probably hasn't found a place yet."
Lin Feng nodded: "I plan to find a hotel near Huaqiangbei to make things easier."
"Okay, I deliver goods there all the time, I know the area very well. I'll take you to a hotel." He glanced at Lin Feng in the rearview mirror. "Brother, are you here to do business?"
"Yes, let's make some digital products."
Lin Feng looked out the car window. Modern high-rises and construction sites interspersed, with exposed red bricks in urban villages nearby. The contrast was stark!
The huge GG sign reads slogans such as "Technology Leads the Future" and "Time is Money, Efficiency is Life".
"That's Shenzhen for you," Wu Wenjie said, pointing out the window. "There's a huge difference between the inside and outside of the Special Economic Zone. Futian is considered the central area, and Huaqiangbei is right here."
After driving for about half an hour, Lin Xiaoqiang parked his car next to a row of old-style residential buildings.
"There's a hotel here. I've stayed there before. It's clean and cheap." He turned off the engine and led Lin Feng and Wu Wenjie out of the car.
The hotel was called "Welcome Guesthouse," and it wasn't very big. The receptionist was an old man wearing reading glasses. Lin Xiaoqiang chatted with him for a few minutes in Cantonese, and the old man nodded and took out a registration book.
A single room costs 40 yuan per night. Lin Feng paid a three-day deposit and got the key.
"I'll treat you to dinner tonight as a way of thanking you for saving my sister. It's at the food stall next door."
Lin Feng readily agreed. He first went back to his room at the guesthouse and took a hot shower. He felt terrible after spending two days and two nights on the train.
At dinner time, the four of them went to a street food stall.
The food stall is affordable and attracts many customers, mostly migrant workers from other parts of the country. The owner is also the chef, and his wife is extremely busy, constantly moving between tables carrying dishes.
The four of them found a table, and Lin Xiaoqiang ordered a few dishes and several bottles of beer. He filled Lin Feng's and Wu Wenjie's glasses and picked up his own.
"Brothers, my sister has never traveled far from home since she was little. This time she was traveling alone by train, and I was worried sick the whole way. Luckily, you two stepped in to help. Without further ado, I'll take it!"
Lin Xiaoqiang drank it all in one gulp.
Lin Xiaowen also raised her drink.
Lin Feng raised his glass and clinked it with Lin Xiaoqiang's: "Xiaowen is lucky to have you as her brother. I noticed this on the train; although she's timid, she's thoughtful and grateful. She'll have a good life with you in Shenzhen from now on."
Lin Xiaoqiang shook his head: "I barely make a living in Shenzhen, driving a truck to deliver goods, earning about a thousand yuan a month. If she wants to get a job in a factory, I'll have to ask someone to pull some strings."
Wu Wenjie asked, "Brother, do you drive a truck? Which route?"
"I also drive long distances from Shenzhen to various cities in the Pearl River Delta. What's up, need to deliver something?"
Wu Wenjie said, "Leave me your contact information. I often need to ship goods for my business."
"Okay!" The group exchanged phone numbers.
Lin Xiaoqiang raised his glass again: "Come on, let's drink."
After a few drinks, the atmosphere became lively.
Lin Xiaoqiang talked about his time in the army, saying that he drove for three years and then returned to his hometown to farm for two years after being discharged. When he had no other options, he came to Shenzhen with his fellow villagers.
I started out working on construction sites, then I worked as a delivery driver, and now I've scraped together enough money to buy this used Chang'an van and take on some odd jobs. It's tiring, but better than back home.
He spoke calmly, but Lin Feng could sense the hardship behind his words.
"Shenzhen is a place with many opportunities, but also many pitfalls." He lit a cigarette. "When I first came here, I was scammed twice. So when you're out and about, be careful in everything you do."
Lin Feng nodded without saying anything.
After dinner, Lin Xiaoqiang offered to take them back to their hotel. Lin Feng said no need, it was just a short walk.
Lin Xiaoqiang didn't insist, only saying "Call me if you need anything," and got into the van with his sister.
Standing by the roadside, Wu Wenjie lit a cigarette and offered one to Lin Feng.
"Aren't you tired of keeping your distance from everyone?"
Lin Feng smiled and said, "I've gotten used to it since I'm away from home."
"Tomorrow I'll take you to Yuanwang Digital City to get a feel for the market. Once we have some products we're interested in, we'll contact the manufacturers."
"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Jie!"
"Don't be so polite." Wu Wenjie patted Lin Feng on the shoulder and turned to leave.
Back at the guesthouse, Lin Feng lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Outside the window is an unfamiliar city. In the dead of night, someone seems to pass by the door; their footsteps are very light.
A small card was quietly slipped in from outside the door.