Chapter 458
After lunch, they would get together again in the lobby around 2 pm . They wanted to have a break before then . Gun-Ho usually wanted to have a cup of coffee after each meal, but many Chinese people didn't seem to enjoy an after-meal coffee, so he had to find a coffee on his own . Gun-Ho went up to the 8th floor where his room was located because he brought an instant coffee mix from Korea .
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"I feel so relaxed having a cup of coffee . "
Gun-Ho called for Chan-Ho Eum who was staying in the next room via the phone in his hotel room . When Chan-Ho picked up the phone in his room, he answered in English awkwardly . He thought someone— not Gun-Ho— called him to his room .
"Hello?"
"Did you say Hello? It's me . "
"Oh, sir . "
"You haven't had your coffee yet, have you?"
"No, I haven't . I'm so craving for a cup of coffee right now though . "
"Come to my room . I have a coffee . "
Gun-Ho gave a few packs of instant coffee mix to Chan-Ho .
"You have an electric kettle in your room, right? There should be one since Chinese people use it commonly for their warm tea . "
"Yes, there is one . "
"Then take these instant coffee mixes . "
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"Thank you, sir . You are very well prepared . Haha . "
When it was 2 pm, Gun-Ho and Chan-Ho went down to the lobby .
The deputy mayor was already there . He said, "The president of the long-distance bus terminals will give you a tour around the terminals . Antang City has two terminals— Xi zhan (west station) and Dong zhan (east station) . Dong zhan is small in size, and that is the one that we want to rebuild with our partner in a modernized design . "
The transportation department's director who was standing next to the deputy mayor added,
"Why don't you visit the terminals and the town? Then you can take a short break . We will prepare dinner for you . Mr . Deputy Mayor and I will stay here and join you for dinner . Please enjoy your tour . "
In the car, Gun-Ho and Chan-Ho sat in the rear seat while the president of the terminal sat in the front passenger seat .
The car was running in a city . The roads were filled with many municipal buses, taxis, and other vehicles . Even though there were many old cars on the roads, the traffic was heavy . It made sense since the city's population was about 800,000 .
"Antang City has a road system with three Zong (vertical) and three Heng (horizontal), and highways are designed based on them . "
"Hmm . I see . "
"The east station that we are heading to is located a bit off the city; however, three Zong and three Heng is passing right through it, so it is very well connected with bus systems . "
"There is no subway here, isn't there?"
"Haha . No . In order to build a subway system, we need a population of at least several millions . "
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When they entered an area without tall buildings, Gun-Ho saw a sign that said 'Dong zhan . ' In front of that east station, several taxis were seen, waiting for passengers . Many people were standing around that area as well . Gun-Ho's party didn't go to the waiting area, but instead, they headed to the parking lot . A security guard gave them a military salute when he recognized the car . It was their president's car after all .
The land was 10,000 pyung large, so it was certainly spacious . But, the waiting area was small given to the size of the entire terminal . The terminal construction was a temporary one-story building where a waiting area and a ticket office were located . In its concourse, there were several long-distance buses parked . The busses were old, which looked like the busses in the 80s in Korea .
"This is the waiting area . "
Many country people were sitting there while waiting for their busses, with their luggage beside them .
"This is the ticket office . "
The staff at the ticket office and ticket inspectors gave a bow to their boss— the president of this terminal . People who noticed Gun-Ho's party started whispering . Gun-Ho and Chan-Ho did indeed look different from local people there in their outfits and all .
"This is the Xingli bu (cargo department) . They play the role of Biaoju that was often depicted in an old martial arts novel . Hahaha . "
There was luggage and other cargo piled up, along with a giant scale . The workers there seemed to work harder after they noticed the president's presence and after giving a bow to him . The department was not very organized and not clean at all . Many lady workers with tough looks were seen as well .
"Here is the police station of the terminal . "
The temporary one-story building has all, even a police station . The police gave a bow to the president as well .
"This is the office for transportation management . "
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In the office, there were several people in uniforms that looked like a policeman's .
"They inspect vehicles from outside the city . Also, they catch illegal activities as well . "
"Hmm, really?"
"Why don't we go to my office and have a cup of tea?"
The president's office was located in the north side of the building . His office was constructed in cement with an old-style round window, and there was a red column .
The office was spacious, and a sofa set was placed . When Gun-Ho and Chan-Ho sat on the sofa, the president opened the window and called for someone .
"Yangping! Yangping! Bring us some tea!"
Chinese people often omitted a position title when they call for someone, but they just used a name . If a person's position was above a manager, then they usually added the position title when they call them, but other than that, they just used the person's name in calling for them .
"While having a tea, the president asked Gun-Ho .
"So, what do you think?"
"The site is very large . "
"We are going to demolish this building and construct a new modernized terminal . It will include a hotel, and the total floor area will be 15,000 pyung . "
"15,000 pyung! You want a hotel?"
"The terminal itself will be a three-floor building, but at the end of the terminal, there will be a twelve-floor hotel building . The construction costs will be paid off once commercial stores and the hotel is sold . "
"Do you think a hotel business will work at this location?"
"Many long-distance travelers take busses for ten hours or even twenty hours . Since China has a huge continent, the distance between two cities is really far . Therefore, in China, a hotel business nearby a train station or a bus station works very well . "
"Hmm, really?"
"You can easily verify the fact by checking other areas . "
"Once the terminal is completed, how many visitors do you expect to receive per day?"
"I would say 15,000 people . The terminal would be able to accommodate 150 large-size busses on a daily basis . "
"You said the construction design drawing is already done, didn't you?"
"That's correct . "
"I see . "
"Okay . I guess the tour is done unless you have any other place you would like to visit . Why don't you take a rest in the hotel until dinnertime? We will pick you up at the hotel at 6 pm . The deputy mayor and the transportation department's director will join you . "
"Sounds good . "