Chapter 235 Fang Minghua is going abroad
This afternoon, Fang Minghua finished his meal and took a nap in his dormitory. He developed the habit of taking a nap at noon. President Huang called him to his office just after he went to work. .
"Xiao Fang, I just received a call from the National Writers Association, sending you to participate in this year's "International Writing Program" at the University of Iowa in the United States for a period of three months. The official notice will be sent later."
Fang Minghua has heard about this project.
The International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa is a world-renowned international literary exchange program. Its founders, Nie Hualing and Paul Angel, were famous for founding and running the program. The project was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Founded in the 1960s, writers from many countries have visited and studied here.
The year before last, Wang Anyi and her mother Ru Zhijuan participated in this. Later, Bei Dao, Acheng, Mo Yan, Su Tong, Yu Hua and others also participated.
“There are three writers participating in the “International Writing Project” this time. You, Zhang Xianliang from Ningxia, and Zhang Ling, a female writer from Zhejiang Province. You don’t have to worry about the procedures for going abroad, someone will naturally handle it for you.”< br>
“When will we go?” Fang Minghua asked.
“The specific departure date is set around June 25, but you have to report to the Yanjing Writers Association for 20 days of pre-departure training, so you must arrive in Yanjing before June 3.”< br>
Need training?
"What is President Huang's main training content?" Fang Minghua asked.
"Discipline and safety while going abroad, American customs and some legal systems, how to interact after going abroad, paying attention to etiquette, simple spoken language, etc..."
"That's it too It won’t take 20 days, right?”
“This is a special matter. According to the relevant documents above, you must train for two months before you can go abroad!”
Oh my god.
Fang Minghua was speechless.
"Go back, make arrangements for work and family matters, and report to Yanjing!" President Huang said.
Fang Minghua is going abroad!
This is the first person from Yanhe magazine to go abroad.
Everyone was envious of him, and of course Fang Minghua had to treat him.
The family was also very happy.
Dad Fang Changhe was very calm and said that since he went out to study, he should study hard and learn from the advanced experience of other countries. Everyone should communicate with each other and be sure to pay attention to their own image and never embarrass the country
Mom Zhang Fenglan was very excited and walked around the living room.
"Xiaohua, you are so promising! You can actually go abroad, haha! Yesterday I went to our Tongzi Building to talk to Aunt Liu and the others, and they all praised you. I will go back to visit my grandma and grandpa tomorrow. Tell them! Let them be happy too."
"Mom, just be happy," Fang Minghua said with a smile.
"Of course I'm very happy." Mom replied, and suddenly remembered something: "By the way, yesterday Aunt Liu said that those of you who go abroad can bring back the "eight major items", such as color TVs, washing machines, and refrigerators
"Bring a color TV back to Aunt Liu's house, ah? "
"Also, I will go back to my hometown tomorrow and see what your uncle wants, and you can help buy it back! ”
“Oops! I almost forgot something important! My mother slapped her head: "You and Tangtang are getting married next year, so hurry up and buy some electrical appliances this time!" I won’t stop you this time. Just buy whatever you need, including color TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines! It’s cheap, hahaha.”
Seeing my mother’s excitement, Fang Minghua’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t say anything.
In these years, government-sponsored overseas students and visiting scholars can not only receive a fixed living allowance while working and studying abroad, but they can also purchase duty-free goods when they return home. The so-called "eight major items" are color TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, speakers, four-speaker radios, watches, etc., all of which are imported. You can earn thousands of dollars just from this tax exemption!
I heard that some people who bought the "eight big items" ordered and paid abroad; after returning to China, they picked up the goods at the special counter of Yanjing Friendship Store.
Prudent people will quietly transport the "eight major items" directly to their homes; some flamboyant people will transport the "eight major items" to their work first. Then move it home one by one.
Looking at the envious eyes of others, I felt so proud.
It seems that I am not exempt from vulgarity.
Since I am going on a long trip, of course I want to meet my girlfriend Song Tangtang.
In the evening, with the cool breeze blowing, the two of them walked hand in hand in Xincheng Square.
"Tangtang, what do you need? I will bring it back to you from the United States." Fang Minghua asked as he walked.
"I don't need anything." The girl held his hand tightly and said gently, "Minghua, you must pay attention to safety when you go to the United States this time. I heard that the United States is very chaotic. ”
"Very chaotic?"
"Our art troupe once studied a book together. The book tells the story of a man named Wang Yue and his father who came to the United States to join his grandfather. As a result, they were robbed after living in New York for six months. Three times, each time he either resigned himself to being unlucky or was forced to fight. Normally, Wang Yue would not dare to go out alone on the street... Each time he was robbed, it cast a shadow on Wang Yue's pure heart. .”
Oh, there is such a book?
"What's the name of this book?" he asked curiously.
""I Love You China"."
It’s this one
Fang Minghua laughed.
He has heard of this book.
It is a small book published by the People's Publishing House, and the editor is the "Political Department of the Ministry of Public Security". The book contains more than 30 reports about Chinese people's overseas experiences. The theme of these reports can be summed up in one sentence, that is: Only after seeing the West and the world can you know how good the motherland is.
When the country first opens, ordinary people go abroad mainly for business trips or to stay with relatives. They thought that the West was full of wealth and endless enjoyment, but when they arrived, they discovered that the real situation was completely different from what they thought, so they returned home one after another.
There are many examples in the book, all with names and surnames, of inhumane overseas relatives who made themselves work in restaurants to the point of exhaustion. Public security overseas is extremely poor, and robbers are often encountered. Overseas work is tiring, taxes are high, and the actual salary is not enough...
In addition to the above, at the end of the book "I Love You China", there are also some praises of China from foreign friends.
Fang Minghua now seems to think that this book describes the various difficulties and problems that Chinese people encounter when going overseas, especially in capitalist developed countries, but it is just a bit too exaggerated. Of course, it is to meet the needs of propaganda.
However, in the turbulent trend of going abroad these days, how useful can such a book be?
After listening to what Song Tangtang said, Fang Minghua smiled and said: "Don't worry, I will pay attention to safety. In fact, Tangtang, I think the United States is not as bad as what some people say, but it is not as bad as some people say. ." Fang Minghua laughed.
"Someone once said this: "If you love someone, send him to New York, because that is heaven; if you hate someone, send him to New York, because that is hell. "
Song Tangtang listened quietly without speaking.
After a while she said: "Minghua, since you are participating in the "International Writing Project" this time, I suggest you put your Not long ago, the "Guangming Daily" published the essence of the book you wrote. I asked Lili to translate it into English and bring it with me. Maybe I can use it. "
"I think so too, but I feel a little guilty for always troubling her. She doesn't want to pay her for translation. "Fang Minghua sighed.
After hearing this, Song Tangtang glanced at him and didn't say anything, just sighed slightly.
(End of this chapter)