Chapter 601 So, do you have foreign currency?(1/2)
In 1983, if an individual wanted to charter a flight, he not only had to have enough status and money, but also had to write some notes, which meant where the destination of your chartered flight was and what the purpose was.
Cao Zhiqiang has no problem with this. After all, he not only has a work permit from a state-owned enterprise in the capital, but also a passport and a government-issued Japanese visa. These are the best things to prove his identity in an era when there is no ID card.
With these things in hand, Cao Zhiqiang only needs to write a business inspection title.
After finally writing the transcript and paying the money, the rest is easy.
Unlike the charter flight that Cao Zhiqiang wanted, he had few or no options for charter flights. He could only passively dispatch flights from the airport.
In the end, Cao Zhiqiang discovered that the so-called "special plane" he chartered turned out to be an outdated Y-5 aircraft.
The Y-5 aircraft is a biplane, independently manufactured by our country, and its prototype is the Soviet An-2 transport aircraft.
In the 1980s, this aircraft was the most common multi-purpose transport aircraft in my country, and it was used both military and civilian.
The specific model of the aircraft serving Cao Zhiqiang is the Y-5 B aircraft. It is said to be the latest improved version of the Y-5 aircraft. The biggest improvement is to solve the problem of excessive temperature inside the aircraft cabin in summer. Simply put, the ventilation performance is better.
good.
Although this aircraft is relatively old and has average comfort, it cannot be said to be safe.
After all, it is a biplane propeller aircraft, which usually flies at medium and low altitudes. It also has a parachute, so you can parachute when necessary. Overall, it is safer than ordinary jet airliners.
It's just that the speed is a bit slow. The cruising speed is only 160 kilometers per hour and the maximum speed is 256 kilometers per hour. This is not as fast as the high-speed rail of later generations.
No matter what, this is a chartered flight. At least it can leave immediately, at a decent speed, and it's safe and secure, so that's okay.
Originally, there was only one pilot for this chartered flight, but for safety reasons, Cao Zhiqiang strongly requested that there be two crew members. There were enough parachutes, and he would pay for the extra person.
The purpose of this is, firstly, to have someone with whom you can chat and talk with on the road, and secondly, if something happens and you have to skydive, someone will take you with you.
Cao Zhiqiang has never learned to skydive, and people who have never learned to skydive cannot easily skydive.
So it is best to find someone who is experienced in skydiving to skydive with you. This is the safest way.
Since Cao Zhiqiang made this request and he also agreed to increase the money, there is no problem.
In this way, a Y-5B aircraft in good condition, plus two pilots, set off on the road with Cao Zhiqiang.
As for beautiful stewardesses, you can't even think about this kind of airplane.
Fortunately, this is a modified passenger aircraft and a lot of sound insulation equipment has been added. Otherwise, Cao Zhiqiang would have to wear soundproof earmuffs after entering the plane. But because this is a passenger aircraft model, a lot of sound insulation and sound-absorbing materials have been added, so
The noise is not bad either.
Although the conditions are simple, the distance from Guangzhou to Haikou is not far. After all, planes can travel in a straight line. In this case, the total distance between the two places is less than 500 kilometers.
At the cruising speed of the Y-5B, three hours is enough.
Just like that, there was no talking all the way. After more than three hours, the plane landed smoothly at Dayingshan Airport in Hong Kong.
After the plane landed, Cao Zhiqiang said goodbye to the two pilots with whom he had become familiar with. After going through the necessary inspections, he left the airport directly, then took a taxi at the door and went straight to the Overseas Chinese Building.
Overseas Chinese Hotel was built in the early 1960s and is one of the best hotels in Hong Kong and the entire Hainan region.
Because it is seven stories high, it is currently the tallest building in the entire urban area, so it is also called "Seven Stories".
In early 1983, a heavy sum of 26 million yuan was spent to renovate this place, mainly through some modernizations, such as the installation of air conditioners, Western-style bathtubs, flush toilets and other equipment, which made the living conditions here better.
Go up one floor.
Of course, ordinary local people cannot afford to stay in such a good hotel, nor are they qualified to stay there.
In addition to being expensive, with an ordinary room starting at 300 yuan a night, ordinary people are not allowed to stay. Only overseas Chinese, foreign guests and some local cadres with status can stay.
But that's all.
Especially after 1978, if people from the mainland can really afford to spend money, they are really willing to spend money, and there is no problem if they insist on staying. The reception staff here are generally not as strict as those in the capital, and they will not struggle with money.
We need to push inland customers outward.
After all, Haikou still belongs to Guangdong. It is currently the most economically active place in the country, and it is also the place with the loosest and most liberal management. Although there are corresponding regulations, they are not so strict in actual operation.
In short, after Cao Zhiqiang took a taxi here, he really felt at home. The waiters are also different from those in Beijing. They are particularly good at looking at their eyes and will take the initiative to greet you and even ask if you need bag-carrying service.
If you only accept the bag-carrying service, generally speaking, you have to leave a tip.
However, Cao Zhiqiang only has an ordinary canvas cross-shoulder bag and has no luggage at all, so he naturally does not need this kind of service.
In short, the feeling here is just like the feeling that Cao Zhiqiang went to the Foot Washing City in later generations. As soon as he entered the door, a handsome guy shouted "I am a distinguished guest".
Yes, there are only handsome men, and there are no two rows of beauties in cheongsam bowing and shouting "Welcome" at the same time. Maybe this kind of custom does not dare to become common in this era.
Under the enthusiastic guidance of the waiter, Cao Zhiqiang presented his work permit, passport and other certificates at the front desk as usual. After paying a deposit, he got a luxurious suite on the fifth floor as he wished.
It's very simple. The reason why we can book a deluxe room is because it is the off-season for tourism and there are not many overseas Chinese guests.
Of course, there are also more top-level suites, which are commonly known as presidential suites. However, for some reasons, they are not called presidential suites but executive suites.
It's just that the price is extremely expensive, and living here is too conspicuous, so there is no need.
For Cao Zhiqiang, an ordinary luxury suite is enough.
After a lot of running around, I was finally able to rest.
Out of caution, Cao Zhiqiang did nothing after booking the room. He just had a nice lunch and then took a nap.
After waking up at noon, he felt energetic, so Cao Zhiqiang called the waiter again and asked for a special car. He wanted to charter a car, at least for one day.
Although you still have to pay money first, once the money is available, the waiter will act very quickly.
Soon, the hotel called a Crown car for Cao Zhiqiang, plus a middle-aged male driver wearing a suit and tie and white gloves on his hands.
When he got into the special car at the door, Cao Zhiqiang asked the driver to take him to the tourism bureau.
The Tourism Bureau was not far from the Overseas Chinese Building at this time, and it didn't take long to arrive.
After arriving here, Cao Zhiqiang showed his work permit, passport and other documents as usual.
Especially passports. The only passports that Chinese people can have these days are issued by the capital. They are not ordinary people.
So after a while, Cao Zhiqiang met a deputy director of the Tourism Bureau and asked him cordially what he was doing here.
Cao Zhiqiang was also unambiguous and simply said that he had just arrived and was unfamiliar with the place, so he wanted an experienced tour guide who was particularly familiar with the local area.
By the way, tour guides were not called tour guides at this time, but "foreign affairs receptionists." Because tour guides during this period only served foreign guests and overseas Chinese, not locals, so they were called "foreign affairs receptionists."
Of course, if any big cadres request to receive them, they can also send someone to receive them.
Upon hearing that Cao Zhiqiang came here just to ask for a receptionist who was familiar with the local area, the deputy director was convinced, but he still asked what he was doing here.
Cao Zhiqiang said that he came to inspect the environment in Hainan because they were discussing a joint venture with a large Japanese company to build a factory. As for the specific location of the construction, Haikou was one of the options.
When he heard that Cao Zhiqiang was here to inspect the investment environment, and that there might be Japanese investment, the deputy director was overjoyed. After all, attracting investment was a solid achievement.
As a result, the deputy director quickly found a middle-aged man in his forties named Wang Xiaoqun.
It is said that this Comrade Wang Xiaoqun was born in the local area and has a special understanding of various places in the local area. It is right for him to receive him.
Of course, although this was an administrative dispatch reception, which was supposed to be free of charge, Cao Zhiqiang was still very discerning and gave the deputy director two hundred yuan as a favor fee.
In addition, Cao Zhiqiang also privately promised the tour guide Wang Xiaoqun that as long as the reception was good, he would privately give him a "private reception fee" of at least 300 yuan.
Wang Xiaoqun's eyes widened when he heard that Cao Zhiqiang was willing to pay 300 yuan as a "reception fee."
Although you can get some tips when hosting foreign guests, they are generally not given this much.
When Cao Zhiqiang came up, he said it was at least three hundred, which meant that after the reception, it would be more than that.
This is truly a wealth of money!
In fact, there is nothing that Cao Zhiqiang can do if he comes to see a tour guide or receptionist.
Although Cao Zhiqiang had been to Haikou in his previous life, more than once, the Haikou at that time was completely different from the Haikou now.
When Cao Zhiqiang visited Haikou in his previous life, although the Overseas Chinese Building still existed, it had long since declined and was no longer of a high quality. Moreover, the urban construction had also changed drastically, and it was completely different from the current Haikou.
Furthermore, the real purpose of Cao Zhiqiang's trip to Haikou is actually to release all kinds of materials in his portable space as soon as possible. To do this, he must first have a warehouse or residence of his own, plus a vehicle for others.
A motor vehicle that can be used by oneself, such as a car or a motorcycle.
Of course, a car is best. After all, Cao Zhiqiang has a driver's license and can drive on the country.
Hainan Island is currently the only place in the country where you can privately purchase motor vehicles and purchase imported cars. Where would he be if he didn't come here?
It's a pity that he is an outsider and has just arrived. He doesn't know where to buy a car, how to get a license plate, or even how to buy a house.
Therefore, it is necessary to find a local person who is familiar with the local area as a tour guide.
But when looking for a tour guide, don’t look for it randomly.
If you find a liar, although you are not afraid, it will be troublesome.
In this case, Cao Zhiqiang simply made good use of his identity and went to the tourism bureau to find a regular "receptionist" in an open and honest manner.
This kind of "foreign affairs receptionist" became the tour guide later. Although they are familiar with various local conditions, they are also official civil servants, so safety and reliability are guaranteed.
In short, after having Wang Xiaoqun as a tour guide, Cao Zhiqiang felt confident.
Next, in order not to waste time, Cao Zhiqiang took Wang Xiaoqun directly by car back to Huaxia Building, then went straight to the cafe on the sixth floor, ordered coffee and snacks, and chatted about work while drinking afternoon coffee.
Drinking coffee is still a luxury behavior in China at this time. Even Wang Xiaoqun can't drink this kind of hand-ground coffee, let alone come to the cafe on the sixth floor of Overseas Chinese Building to drink coffee. This is not his place.
This kind of official tour guide can come.
To be continued...