Chapter Thirty-Seven: Frequent Trips Without A Worry

  The Shengli Oil Field is in Beijing, and naturally there are many places that need public relations.

  Deputy Director Wu Hong is already a top-notch expert in tackling key problems in the oil field. Under his leadership, there have been projects worth over 100 million yuan that have achieved brilliant results in the Shengli Oilfield.

  However, one's own family knows its own affairs. The government offices in Beijing are really too numerous and too profound. With his small stature, being able to climb over the wall of the Petroleum Department is already not bad. For other key ministries and commissions, some oil field leaders need to come out to deal with them.

  This time, his task was just as difficult, but he was one of the few who led the team himself, and the mental tension was not to be mentioned.

  No time to tidy up his clothes. Wu Hong took out two packs of Red Tower Mountain from the trunk and reached inside again, pulling out a box of 20 soft-pack Zhonghua cigarettes.

  Before 1988, Zhonghua cigarettes were only available as special supply. Except through government channels, they could usually only be bought at foreign shipping supply companies, Friendship Stores or overseas Chinese stores, and had to be purchased with foreign exchange. If he wasn't in Beijing, Wu Hong wouldn't have been willing to use them.

  If Red Tower Mountain is described as a hand grenade, then Zhonghua cigarettes are a package of explosives. Carrying them to attack cities and strongholds can be said to be invincible.

  Wu Hongan anxiously waited for Su Cheng to answer the phone and come back, immediately dashing out of the room and blocking the corridor with a smile: "Su Ke, are you back?"

  "Director Wu?" Su Cheng raised his head and smiled, still going to open his own door.

  Wu Hong took three steps and made two, rushed to Su Cheng's side, smiled like a rhombus, and said: "Su Ke is busy or not, let's chat for a few words, brothers."

  "You said." Su Cheng opened the door, his tone still distant and unapproachable.

  Wu Hong had long been accustomed to flattering others, and he naturally walked into Su Ke's room with a smile on his face. However, as soon as he saw the room, his expression changed to one of discontent, and he sighed repeatedly: "Alas, Su Ke, looking at your room, I feel uncomfortable in my heart. You are our Victory Oil Field's new Long March assault team member, you are the one who brings honor to us, so you should live in such a good room. But, you see, although our oil field is a deputy ministerial-level unit, as the deputy director of the office, I can still say a few words that count. However, when we come to Beijing, ha! We are nothing."

  He said, lighting a cigarette and handing another to Su Cheng, "You don't know how small an official is until you get to Beijing. To be honest, every time I come to Beijing, I try my best to find old leaders to handle things. This time it's different..."

  Su Cheng let out a sigh and said helplessly: "What's on your mind, just say it."

  "Can you introduce a few friends in the journalism circle? If they can report on our oil field, it will be much easier to get things done." Wu Hong's goal was not just a few small reporters, but he had to start somewhere.

  Su Cheng couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, saying: "Our huge victory in the oil field, isn't it worth reporting? At the very least, it's common knowledge now."

  Can't think that way. No matter how big the company is, it has to show up in the news from time to time, otherwise ordinary people will soon forget about it. You have to know that many leaders look at our Victory Oil Field in the same way as ordinary people do.

  Wu Hong simply explained a few sentences, which made Su Cheng extremely surprised.

  This idea is already quite advanced.

  At least in Su Cheng's impression, even in the 21st century, China's major brands found it difficult to develop such a marketing consciousness without strong competitive opponents.

  To some extent, Director Wu is indeed at the forefront of the times.

  Unfortunately, what the leader values is his coordination ability. The so-called marketing strategy can only be used as a pastime after tea and dinner.

  Wu Hong saw that he didn't speak, so he hardened his heart and took out a pack of Chinese cigarettes.

  Su Cheng's eyes lit up suddenly, and he curiously said: "Now there is even Chinese tobacco."

  "Look what you're saying, Zhonghua cigarettes are our national brand, Premier Zhou used to entertain foreign guests with them back in the day." Wu Hong smiled wryly: This guy is also a big shot, not seeing the rabbit doesn't mean he won't scatter the hawk.

  Jian Su Cheng was playing with a cigarette box in his hand, and Wu Hong had the motivation again, repeating the request from just now.

  "Suzhou doesn't matter, it's just that I find it troublesome. I said: 'I know a few young reporters, they're my classmates, and they just graduated this year. If you want to meet them, then let's arrange a meeting. Coincidentally, I've arranged for a gathering with some classmates tonight, but helping out is probably not something they can do.'"

  "Look at what you're saying, I'm just looking for a guide." Wu Hong felt that Su Cheng was being modest. From his perspective, just the fact that he had previously appeared as Xiao Pang's apprentice, and his family background was already stronger than that of an ordinary oil field leader. With the luxurious atmosphere of the Petroleum Hotel, even a mid-level local government leader couldn't stay in the same room as Su Cheng.

  Su Cheng shrugged his shoulders, put the Chinese cigarette into his pocket, and took out a Peony brand cigarette with a smile: "Director Wu, it seems we've exchanged cigarettes."

  Later generations, a pack of peonies costs three or four yuan, and a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes costs forty yuan. The exchange didn't have too many problems.

  But in this era, Su Cheng's actions still startled Director Wu.

  One hand grenade could take out many positions. But he couldn't understand why Su City was so generous.

  Actually, anyone who has $20,000 as a bottom line and then buys a few packs of cigarettes and liquor doesn't feel anything.

  In the afternoon, Su Cheng took Wu Hong out and arrived at Run Fa Restaurant as agreed. They sat down and waited for Liu Zi and his party to meet up.

  Wu Hong saw that the restaurant was adjacent to Chang'an Street, with elegant and exquisite decorations, and suddenly felt a lot more at ease. At the same time, he thought to himself: Su City is indeed a place with wise and knowledgeable people, who know how to get things done, it's just that we've all lowered our heads and opened our mouths, how can we find a few small reporters to deal with this matter?

  Soon, Liu Zi arrived, Wang Ting arrived, Zhu Kai arrived... all of them were too young, as if it was a reunion of university classmates in Suzhou.

  As it's been a short time since graduation, many people came. Some former students, hearing that the Suzhou University genius who often appeared in newspapers was treating them to food, also came with delight.

  So Su Cheng didn't even have time to introduce Wu Hong before he became busy greeting his classmates and coordinating the private room.

  Wu Hong sat in the corner and listened to Liu Zi and others chatting. Due to professional reasons, at least four or five people were engaged in media-related work.

  As expected of a young reporter! --- Wu Hong's face turned alternately pale and red.

  Finally, he conceded defeat and took advantage of the opportunity to pull Su Cheng's clothes: "Su Ke, next time you have someone slightly older and more heavyweight, introduce us a couple, you young people are lively, I won't join in."

  "I don't know anyone who's a heavyweight figure... Alright, I'll send you off then."

  Su Cheng saw Wu Hong off at the gate and heard someone in front shouting: "Su Caizi, I'm Wang Mouren."

  "Wang Shuo!" Su Cheng laughed and waved his hand, turning to Wu Hong and saying: "Director Wu, let's stop here for today. I'll pick someone up."

  Wu Hongqi's station is straight ahead.

  At this time, however, someone nearby said, "I heard that Wang Shuo has entered the secretarial class and is so busy that he doesn't even have time to go home. He's actually come this time."

  "He and Su wrote poetry together, they must have come to see each other."

  Wu Hong finally didn't get furious and confused, after hearing the secretary's words, he immediately asked: "This Wang Shuo classmate, which secretary class did he attend?"

  "Brother, you really look old-fashioned, probably from the old three classes. Wang Shuo went to the State Council and was selected into the secretarial class, feeling quite proud recently."

  Wu Hong's heart skipped a beat: State Council Secretary!

  He turned around again, and a yellow-faced man came in, embracing Su Cheng enthusiastically.

  Wu Hong asked again, "Who is this?"

  "The Niubie from last time seems to have entered the Ministry of Foreign Trade."

  "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Liu Zi immediately corrected him as he came to the door to greet his classmates.

  Wu Hong didn't dare to take it anymore, and respectfully asked: "I forgot to ask, who are you..."

  "You're not from the Chinese department, are you? I'm Liu Zi, now a junior reporter at China Youth Daily."

  "Hey, big newspapers don't have small reporters." Wu Hong was about to show off his eloquence again, but then he remembered the conversation with Liu Zi earlier and asked, "What do those people at your table do?"

  Liu Zi saw that he came with Su Cheng, and introduced him with a smile: "Zhu Kai is in People's Literature, Wang Ting is in the Ministry of Public Security, Old Cat is in People's Daily, and Old Bei is in Xinhua News Agency..."

  Wu Hong started to feel a pang in his heart and didn't say a word, quietly moving back to the table he was at just now.

  Su Cheng was also walking back and forth at this time, and asked strangely: "Director Wu, what's wrong?"

  "Oh, I thought it was nothing at noon, so I'll stay a bit longer. You young people have spirit, and it's good to catch some of that spirit." Wu Hong said in a low voice, seemingly apologetic: "I came out in a hurry and didn't bring much money, so you remember to get the receipt later, and I'll reimburse you when I get back, as entertainment expenses."

  "That won't work."

  Su City's voice had just fallen when someone else called out: "Xiao Su, I just heard you came to Beijing and asked around before finding out you were here. Why didn't you even give a call?"

  The one who spoke was Liu, the chief of the personnel department, accompanied by a stout little dog leg responsible for guiding the way.

  Director Wu certainly knew Iron-faced Liu, who held the power of life and death in his hands, but he had never heard that Director Liu had a smile on his face.

  Looking back at Su Cheng's calm expression, Wu Hong suddenly had an urge to kneel down.

  ……