Restart life

Chapter 374 0361 [Torch Relay]

Security checks began at 5:00 AM, and many people were still yawning when they arrived.

We'll have to wait two or three hours.

The torchbearers, along with their guards, staff, and media reporters, numbered an estimated two to three thousand people gathered there.

I wanted to chat with someone I knew, but I couldn't make a phone call because I had to hand over all my belongings. Aside from being allowed to bring a pair of white sneakers, everything else I had was equipment I'd been given.

Fortunately, there was a work meal provided. Chen Guiliang quickly ate his fill and then sat in the restaurant with his eyes closed to rest.

"Chen Guiliang!" A voice woke him up.

Chen Guiliang opened his eyes and saw a young man sitting next to him: "Hello. May I ask who you are?"

The young man smiled and said, "My name is Lei Chulian, and I'm also a torchbearer. I was selected because of earthquake relief efforts. We met yesterday during training."

"Sorry, there were too many people and I didn't remember." Chen Guiliang quickly shook hands.

Lei Chulian said, "I also play games, specifically your company's 'Future Era'. Do you offer discounts for recharging through you?"

Chen Guiliang frowned. He suddenly remembered that the boy in front of him had later gone to jail.

At the time, many media outlets reported on it, and countless people were deeply saddened by what they saw!

At the age of 15, Lei Chulian had just escaped when part of the school building collapsed. He risked his life to go back and rescue his classmates, finding seven survivors in the space under the beams.

He successfully rescued his classmates, but then realized that one of the girls was missing. So he went back, and the girl was too frightened to walk, so he carried her downstairs.

He went back to the teaching building to look for survivors, but the building collapsed again. He climbed over the corridor railing and pounced on a tree a meter away, while the teaching building behind him collapsed into ruins.

For several days afterward, he served as a guide for the rescue team, saying that his dream was to join the army.

But he was too young, yet he had countless honors to bestow upon him, and he toured six provinces and cities giving speeches, with police cars clearing the way for him wherever he went.

There's no need to take the high school entrance exam; you can directly attend a top high school in Chengdu. Tuition and fees are completely waived, and you even receive a monthly subsidy. People are even willing to pay for your internet access.

Gradually, I became lost in it.

When the Xihua City Daily invited him to participate in an event, he insisted on staying in a luxury single room. After being refused, he became furious and said, "I am a citizen of the country. How can the country not care about me?"

When he meets with friends, he gets very agitated and angry if someone doesn't recognize him, and he tells them to search for his name online.

He skipped class with his girlfriend to go on a trip, refusing to stay in three-star hotels, insisting on at least four-star ones. They rented luxury cars and flew first class. He even boasted to his girlfriend that all the high-end treatment was free because he was an earthquake relief hero.

Of course it can't be free.

He swindled all his money; he was so desperate he even cheated his girlfriend. His girlfriend wanted to become a flight attendant, so he lied and claimed to know the son of an airline CEO, swindling her out of 10 yuan as a "bribe."

My friend's cousin wanted her son to attend a top junior high school in Chengdu, so he lied and claimed he had to pull strings, and swindled 10 yuan from her.

He even lied to his own godfather!

"Any discounts for recharging? Give me a straight answer," Lei Chulian said impatiently.

This young man had already become arrogant.

After giving a speech, he went home to visit his elders, and as soon as they met, he handed them a pack of good cigarettes and then boasted about how awesome he was.

Chen Guiliang said, "You don't need to pay, I can help you top up your account. If I were you, I would decline all public events and seize the opportunity to study hard in high school. Back then, I never even dared to dream of attending a top high school in Chengdu."

"What do you mean?" Lei Chulian asked irritably.

Chen Guiliang said, "In the next year or two, people will remember you as a hero. They will praise you highly, and they will pay for you wherever you go. But what about three, four, or five years later? Will anyone still remember you? If you study hard, as long as you don't do too badly on the exam, a good university will definitely be willing to admit you exceptionally."

Lei Chulian felt that Chen Guiliang was a lunatic, glared at him, and turned to leave.

Chen Guiliang sighed inwardly.

The treatment this young man received from all sectors of society was far too high, to the point that even adults would be bewildered. Out of respect for a hero, ordinary people rushed to pay his internet bills and meals, making him feel that he could get along well wherever he went.

"What are you talking about with him?" Bian Jingsong asked, having appeared out of nowhere.

Chen Guiliang said, "This person's condition is not right."

Bian Jingsong laughed and said, "He just graduated from junior high school and has been giving speeches all over the country for two or three months in a row, receiving extremely high-level treatment wherever he goes. Under such circumstances, it's normal for him to be restless and impatient. He'll settle down once he enters high school."

"I hope so," Chen Guiliang said with a sigh.

Summer vacation isn't over yet. After the torch relay ends, this young man will continue his nationwide speaking tour. Being pampered everywhere he goes will only make him more arrogant.

Bian Jingsong glanced at his watch: "It'll be another hour or so."

Chen Guiliang asked, "Uncle Bian, how many houses do you still have that haven't been sold? Do you have any plans to acquire land in the near future?"

Bian Jingsong laughed and said, "You want to get into real estate too?"

"I was just asking casually," Chen Guiliang said.

Bian Jinsong said, "We are developing two residential communities at the same time, and more than half of them have already been pre-sold. We are considering bidding for another piece of land."

Chen Guiliang suggested, "For properties that haven't been pre-sold yet, you can offer a slight discount to promote sales and try to get the money back as quickly as possible. Don't acquire the land yet; the land price will be cheaper in two or three months."

Bian Jinsong said, "If I suddenly offer discounts and promotions, won't the homeowners who just bought the houses complain?"

"Whether you listen or not is up to you, but getting payments back in the second half of the year might be a bit difficult. Of course, if your cash flow isn't tight, the impact won't be too significant," Chen Guiliang said. Bian Jingsong asked, "Have you heard anything?"

Chen Guiliang said, "I have a teacher who is going to become the vice president of the World Bank next month. I helped him write a paper that predicted a global economic crisis would break out this year."

Bian Jinsong was stunned.

Is the teacher the Vice President of the World Bank?

And it's a global economic crisis?
That sounds like an old man in the park bragging; anyone who believes him is a fool.

After pondering for a while, Bian Jingsong asked, "What exactly does your teacher do?"

Chen Guiliang said, "Back when the commercial housing market was opened up and infrastructure construction was launched across the country, he was one of the advocates. His articles could reach the highest levels of government."

Bian Jinsong said, "Discounts and promotions are impossible. If the news gets out, the residents of the same community could block my construction site. But I can postpone acquiring the land to avoid such a tight cash flow."

In the second half of this year, many real estate developers faced a precarious cash flow situation and had to repeatedly lower prices to recover funds.

As for the land market, land auctions failing to attract bids are extremely common. If you have spare cash, it's a good time to hoard land.

The two chatted for over an hour before a staff member came to remind them to gather.

Leaders and torchbearer representatives took turns giving speeches, which lasted for more than half an hour, and the torch relay ceremony finally officially began.

Everyone observed a minute's silence for the earthquake victims, then released doves of peace, and the torch was lit by the torchbearer.

The first torchbearer was Zhang Shan, the women's shooting champion.

Chen Guiliang and Bian Jinsong boarded a torchbearer vehicle according to their respective baton numbers.

The streets were packed with people, shouting encouragement and creating a deafening roar.

Chen Guiliang traveled several kilometers by car to finally arrive at his relay point. Then he discovered that the torchbearer who got off the car right next to him was less than a hundred meters away.

After all that effort, I only ran a few dozen meters...

And we'll have to wait patiently.

The sun grew stronger, and Chen Guiliang stood by the roadside, his vest soaked with sweat from the heat.

After waiting for more than an hour, we finally saw the main force in the distance, and the cheers from both sides of the road grew louder and louder.

More than ten minutes later, the runner in front of Chen Guiliang finally caught up.

A staff member approached Chen Guiliang, helped him open the torch valve, and reminded him again: "Hold the Chinese red torch with the emblem facing forward, and keep the torch at a distance from your body. Hold the torch for more than 3 seconds during the handover to ensure it is lit smoothly."

"Understood," Chen Guiliang replied.

The torchbearer has arrived.

Chen Guiliang handed over the torch according to the standard procedures taught during training, while maintaining a smile throughout. Because cameras were filming the entire process, he needed to project a positive image to the world.

As the torch was lit, Chen Guiliang began jogging, holding the torch in one hand and smiling and waving to the crowds on both sides with the other.

There was also a group of torch relay guards, all officers of the rank of colonel, who carefully escorted Chen Guiliang forward.

Hearing the thunderous cheers and feeling the weight of the torch in his hand, Chen Guiliang was filled with energy. He had been working on this since midnight for this moment.

I'm bursting with pride!
Unfortunately, it was over after running only a few dozen meters.

Chen Guiliang handed over the torch to the next torchbearer, and a staff member came over to help him turn off the torch valve.

After the torch relay departed, staff guided him to the "collection vehicle." He had only taken two steps when a large group of reporters surrounded him.

These reporters traveled by car all the way here, closely following behind the torch, specifically targeting celebrities for interviews.

"Mr. Chen, what are your thoughts on being an Olympic torchbearer?" The CCTV reporter asked first.

Chen Guiliang smiled and said, "I am very honored and excited. The Olympics is a major event that the whole country celebrates. It can unite people's hearts, boost national morale, and show the world China's style. I am very happy to be a part of it and wish all Chinese athletes great success."

Sohu is the exclusive online media outlet for the Olympics, following CCTV.

A Sohu reporter asked, "Mr. Chen, what sports do you usually enjoy? Who is your favorite athlete?"

Chen Guiliang said, "I like playing table tennis, badminton, and basketball. I'm also a pretty good swimmer. I like all Chinese athletes, but if I had to pick my favorite, it would be the diver Chen Ruolin. She's so graceful and powerful!"

The reporters were immediately delighted; they had news material!

The owner of an internet company claims he likes beautiful female athletes!
Although formal news reporting must be serious during the Olympics, it can be placed in non-Olympic news to attract attention.

The Sohu reporter wasn't satisfied: "Mr. Chen can cheer for his favorite athletes here."

Chen Guiliang cooperated fully, saying to the camera, "Go Chen Ruolin, win more gold medals!"

Another reporter asked, "Do you think Liu Xiang can win the gold medal?"

Chen Guiliang immediately said, "He'll definitely win the gold medal. The title of 'Flying Man' isn't just for show. I have 100% confidence in Liu Xiang."

I have to say this, otherwise I'll get criticized.

(End of this chapter)