Chapter 581: 581
It was the day of the press conference .
The press conference was about Antang City's people's government's efforts in making its residents' lives better and more convenient by bringing foreign investment funds in the community to build a new bus terminal and to start an intercity express bus service between Antang City and Guiyang City, which was the capital of Guizhou Province .
Gun-Ho went into the convention center on the second floor of the Plaza Hotel . The stage was set, and about ten round tables were placed facing the stage, just like a wedding hall in a hotel in Korea . Several journalists were already there carrying a camera . Jae-Sik Moon was practicing his speech, holding an A4 paper which he wrote yesterday . As the president of the joint venture company, he was supposed to give a greeting speech .
The joint venture company's lady office manager led Gun-Ho and Jae-Sik Moon to the stage . The two interpreters were sitting at each end of the table . Since it was an important event, Mr . Choi from Social Science Academy was there too .
When Gun-Ho turned around to see the back of the stage, he saw a banner hanging on the wall . It said, 'Press Conference on the Establishment of Antang Zhang Yun GH Logistics Joint Venture . '
Jae-Sik Moon whispered into Gun-Ho's ear in a low voice . 'Zhang Yun' means running a long distance . It's like an intercity bus, rapid bus, or express bus in Korea . "
"Hmm, I think so . "
"The middle seat at the table is vacant . I guess someone very important will be here . Maybe that seat is reserved for Mr . Deputy Mayor . "
As soon as Jae-Sik said that, Mr . Deputy Mayor entered the room . All of the people in the Chinese partner's area stood up simultaneously and greeted the deputy mayor . Gun-Ho also stood up to greet him .
"Oh, Mr . President Goo . It's good to see you again . "
"How have you been, Mr . Deputy Mayor Lizian Zhang?"
Gun-Ho and Deputy Mayor Lizian Zhang had a handshake before sitting at the table again . The tables for journalists were set with some snacks and refreshments . It looked like they would have lunch at the same table after the press conference ended .
The tables were not occupied by just journalists, but Gun-Ho could see a few familiar faces as well . Jae-Sik told him in a low voice that many people were from Antang City's transportation department, the transportation company, banks, tax office, road management bureau, etc .
Vice President Chun Chang led the press conference . He started it by introducing the people on stage one by one . When he briefly introduced one person followed by another, the people clapped loudly . Gun-Ho could hear the loudest clapping when Jae-Sik Moon and himself were introduced . Gun-Ho was introduced as the chairman of GH Group of companies, which was the partner of the joint venture . Jae-Sik was described as the president of this joint venture company .
President Runsheng Yan talked about how much the joint venture had achieved so far . The director of Antang City's transportation department talked about the size of the project that the joint venture planned . The deputy mayor also gave a speech with a congratulatory address afterward .
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It was Jae-Sik's turn to give a greeting speech . As he started talking in Korean, about ten journalists began to gather close to Jae-Sik and took photos vigorously . As Jae-Sik had never had this sort of experience before, he continued to give his speech but with a flushed face . Jae-Sik gave about two sentences each time before taking a brief break, so Mr . Choi from Social Science Academy could take his time in interpreting what Jae-Sik just said in Chinese .
After the press conference was over, the hotel staff started bringing soup to the tables . Gun-Ho thought that the menu for lunch would probably be a stake or a pork cutlet .
'They are serving a nice lunch to everyone with the money that I sent to them . Well, that's fine . Just get as many bus lines as you could for me, so I can make a lot of money . If that happens, I will leave some behind for you . '
Whatever the Chinese partner had done so far was paid by Gun-Ho's money, such as preparing for the terminal construction, opening the joint venture company, buying buses, getting new uniforms for the workers, etc . As a matter of fact, their Chinese partner brought only the vacant land to the joint venture . They hadn't spent even a penny .
Gun-Ho followed the lady office manager down from the stage and joined everyone else who was sitting at the table for lunch . When he dipped his spoon into the soup to eat it, several journalists gathered around Gun-Ho's table with a camera and microphone . They were probably journalists from a TV station . Mr . Choi interpreted for Gun-Ho, who was standing next to him . One journalist asked a question, "What made you decide to make your investment in Antang City specifically?"
The camera was recording every move and word from Gun-Ho .
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Gun-Ho said, "Well, I was told that the Chinese government is currently planning several projects intending to develop the southwest area . "
Mr . Choi interpreted what Gun-Ho just said immediately .
Gun-Ho continued to talk, "I believe that Guizhou Province had the best potential among other provinces in the southwest area . Especially, Antang City is situated in the critical geographical location to be a hub of transportation connecting other cities . And I'm sure that goods and people will be driven to Antang City . That's why I decided to invest in Antang City . I'm also certain that per capita income in this city will dramatically increase . "
Gun-Ho was told that the interview that he just had with the journalists would be on air this evening during the evening news .
Gun-Ho asked the interpreter—Mr . Choi, "Did I make any mistake in front of the journalists?"
"No, sir, not at all . You did great actually . "
Jae-Sik was busy visiting each table and meeting with the people, being accompanied by his interpreter—Ms . Eun-Hwa Jo . He couldn't even finish his lunch . Jae-Sik and Ms . Eun-Hwa Jo's visiting each table looked like a groom and bride visiting each table of their guests after a wedding in Korea .
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When the deputy mayor and the director of the transportation department were about to leave, Gun-Ho followed them from the second floor where the event took place down to the hotel lobby to see them off . The deputy mayor grabbed Gun-Ho's hand and said, "Thank you, Mr . President Goo . Chinese people always payback when they owe something to someone . I personally guarantee you that the business that you are doing here will succeed . I will make it work . Our party secretary in Antang City is paying attention to this joint venture business . "
"Thank you . I look forward to closely working with you, sir . "
As he sent off the deputy mayor and the transportation department's director, Gun-Ho turned around and looked at Jae-Sik and said, "I guess we'd better leave now too . We have no more business in the event hall on the second floor . Why don't we go to the Shangri-La Hotel where I'm staying now?"
When Gun-Ho informed President Runsheng Yan that he would leave now, he said, "Why don't we get together again in the evening, after you take a deep rest in the hotel . You have visited us multiple times before, and we finally made through this far . I'd like to invite you to Karaoke . "
"Did you say Karaoke? Sounds good . "
Gun-Ho laughed and came back to his hotel—Shangri-La Hotel .