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Besides his own parents and Yu Haitang's parents, there was only Yan Bugui's family and himself.

Soon after, news of Xu Damao and Yu Haitang's marriage spread throughout the steel rolling mill.

Hearing others gossip behind his back about how he, a toad, had managed to eat swan meat, Xu Damao's secret joy was indescribable.

Shortly after the New Year in 1969, Xiao Shan received a difficult task from Li Huaide.

I accompanied the foreign trade department to deliver a batch of goods to John's, and then bought a batch of machine tools from John's.

Li Huaide went to John Bull to buy a batch of new machine tools because he heard that John Bull's new machine tools were more energy-efficient than the existing ones, had a particularly low scrap rate, and could increase production output significantly.

If the steel rolling mill can purchase this batch of machine tools, its production capacity this year will see a qualitative leap, and it may even surpass all steel mills in the country.

Because the country's resources are currently limited, resources can only be allocated to factories with high productivity and performance.

If Li Huaide wants to expand and strengthen Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill and then climb to a higher position, he must find ways to increase production capacity.

To increase production capacity, equipment is of paramount importance.

Xiao Shan was willing to take on this mission because he had been in Beijing for too long and wanted to see the outside world.

Even now, the outside world is not as developed as it was before I traveled through time.

After getting off work and returning home, Xiao Shan told Ding Qiunan about his upcoming business trip to John Bull.

Upon hearing that Xiao Shan was going abroad on a business trip, Ding Qiunan was somewhat worried and reluctant, but she didn't say anything.

The next day, Xiao Shan went to see his mother-in-law, Feng Chunlian, hoping that she could stay at his home with Ding Qiunan while he was away on a business trip.

Feng Chunlian readily agreed.

Two days later, He Yuzhu found Xiao Shan after dinner: "Xiao Shan, I heard you're going on a business trip abroad with the Foreign Trade Department in a few days!"

“Okay, let’s go to John Bull!” Xiao Shan nodded.

He Yuzhu chuckled and looked at Xiao Shan expectantly, saying, "Xiao Shan, is your kerosene lighter made by John Bull?"

Xiao Shan naturally knew what He Yuzhu was thinking: "I'll bring one back for you when I come back."

"Xiao Shan, you're so generous!" He Yuzhu jumped up with joy and gave Xiao Shan a bear hug.

“But I have to remind you, if we get this kerosene lighter back, you can only use it inside the factory. You’re not allowed to use it outside, understand?” Xiao Shan pushed He Yuzhu away and said seriously.

Nowadays, the steel rolling mill is like a safe haven in Beijing. As long as He Yuzhu doesn't take the kerosene lighter outside to show off, nothing serious will happen if he uses it inside the factory.

After all, Li Huaide has now formed his own team and protected the steel rolling mill.

To prevent external forces from infiltrating the steel rolling mill and muddying up the waters of this otherwise clean mill.

He still wants to climb the ranks by making the steel rolling mill bigger and stronger!

He Yuzhu immediately patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, even if someone outside puts a knife to my throat, I won't take it out!"

Xiao Shan shook his head, amused, as he looked at He Yuzhu's exaggerated appearance.

It's just a lighter. Even if something really goes wrong, I can handle it!

Suddenly, He Yuzhu seemed to remember something and whispered mysteriously to Xiao Shan, "Xiao Shan, you'll be gone for a long time this time. Don't worry, I'll take good care of things at home!"

"If anyone dares to talk to your sister-in-law while you're not around, I'll break their legs first!"

Xiao Shan glanced at He Yuzhu speechlessly: "You should mind your own family's business!"

The day for my business trip arrived quickly.

Ding Qiunan not only packed two large bags of luggage for Xiao Shan, but also put all of Xiao Shan's best clothes in them.

They also prepared enough flatbread and steamed buns for Xiaoshan to eat for many days.

Looking at the flatbread and steamed buns that Ding Qiunan had prepared for him, Xiao Shan was speechless, but he still took them all.

On their way to the steel rolling mill, Ding Qiunan kept reminding Xiao Shan to be careful on his business trip and not to be reckless if he encountered any danger.

After arriving at the steel rolling mill, Xiao Shan took his luggage and went to the factory's playground to assemble.

Mao Dexing was waiting there early, holding a large package in his hand.

"Xiaoshan, this is the luggage your teacher's wife and I prepared for you," Mao Dexing said to Xiaoshan.

But at this moment, Xiao Shan's hands were already full of things, and he could no longer take the large package from Mao Dexing's hands.

So Xiao Shan had no choice but to take Mao Dexing to a car, put the package in his hand in the trunk, and then take the package from Mao Dexing.

After giving Xiao Shan some detailed instructions, Mao Dexing left the playground and went back to work in the welding workshop.

Once all the personnel from the security department, foreign trade department, and transportation department had arrived, the convoy departed from the steel rolling mill.

This time, all the large trucks from the factory's transportation department were mobilized, and they were all fully loaded with finished steel products.

However, once the ship arrives at Qingdao Port, the personnel from the Transportation Department and the Security Department will not travel with it.

After all, the trip to John's Bull was a long one, and the factory's travel expenses were limited.

So in the end, only five core members of the foreign trade department and Xiao Shan, an unofficial translator, went to John Bull.

After the new machine tools are transported back from John Bull, the transportation and security personnel will come to Qingdao Port to pick them up.

Chapter 388, Departure, Towards John Bull! (Please Subscribe!)

Their mission to travel to New York was quite challenging.

Because the manufacturer of the new machine tools in this transaction had no prior dealings with the steel mill, the two parties only had a brief exchange via telegram.

So after Xiao Shan and his team arrived in John's Bull and received the final payment for the goods, they were to head to the machine tool factory to discuss the purchase of machine tools.

Of the five people in the foreign trade department, only one had a basic understanding of English.

Therefore, the heavy responsibility of negotiating the purchase of machine tools will fall on Xiao Shan's shoulders!

Their visas were all issued by the state.

At that time, they did not have passports, so visas served as their proof of identity in John Bull.

The convoy set off from the steel rolling mill in a grand procession.

This time, Xiao Shan didn't ask Zhou Bang for a car.

Xiao Shan was the only person in the car this time.

Xiao Shan handed a Daqianmen cigarette to Mr. Luo, who was driving, and then the two of them started smoking.

Xiao Shan chatted idly with Master Luo while enjoying the scenery outside the window.

When they stopped for lunch, Xiao Shan didn't take out the food that Ding Qiunan had prepared for him.

With so many people around, Xiao Shan couldn't just take it all for himself.

So we'll wait until we're on the ship before taking it out to eat slowly.

After all, the ship would have to sail at sea for more than a month to reach John Bull.

Although there is a chef on board, Xiao Shan doesn't know if he will find the food to his liking.

Xiao Shan found out that the ship would dock at various ports along the way to resupply three times, each time at a port in a different country.

When resupplying, no one on board is allowed to leave the ship except for the crew members who go down to buy supplies.

If someone leaves the ship without permission and is discovered, the captain and crew will not take any responsibility.

Before they set off, Li Huaide solemnly instructed them to stay on the ship and not wander off.

If police from other countries come to inspect the boat, we must cooperate fully.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade had previously purchased machine tools from abroad.

At that time, five people from the Ministry of Foreign Trade went, but only three returned.

The journey over the past three days has been peaceful.

Perhaps because the entire security department was mobilized, they didn't encounter any oil thieves on the road.

The convoy arrived at Qingdao Port smoothly on the afternoon of the third day.

Apart from Xiao Shan and Zhou Bangqiu, who were the five people who were going to board the ship to John's, the others were all at the port helping to unload cargo.

Xiao Shan and his group checked into a guesthouse at Qingdao Port.

The six men would rest here for a day, and then the next morning they would board a cargo ship and head to New York.

Master Luo drove Xiaoshan to the guesthouse and thoughtfully helped him carry his luggage to his room.

"Director Xiao, have a safe trip!" Master Luo said with a smile and waved goodbye to Xiao Shan.

Of the five people from the Foreign Trade Department this time, besides Zhou Bangqiu, the other four are Hu Xiangjun, Zhang Changwei, Wang Youle, and Zhu Xusheng.

These four people are also veterans of the foreign trade department, and they usually handle trade with the British side.

However, this was my first time visiting John Bull in person.

Of the six people in Xiaoshan's group, only Zhou Bangqiu had experience traveling abroad.

However, he didn't go to John Bull, but to Japanese chicken.

The next day, after Zhou Bangqiu finished handing over the cargo information to the security personnel and confirmed that everything was in order, he led Xiao Shan and the others onto the ship.

This cargo ship is used for transporting goods, so it does not have passenger cabins.

The crew temporarily set up four staff rooms for the six of them: three single rooms and one four-person dormitory.

The captain and crew of the cargo ship were all white people from John Bull.

This is also why they are able to disembark when the cargo ship docks.

As for Xiao Shan and the other people with Asian features, they could only stay obediently on the ship.

After Zhou Bangqiu and his men boarded the ship, two white crew members came to greet them.

These two men from John Bull were named Hunter and Hyman.

They were quite friendly to Zhou Bangqiu and his group.

After all, in their eyes, Zhou Bangqiu and his companions were the owners who had rented the cargo ship.

"Welcome aboard! Let's embark on an exciting journey!" Hyman said with an exaggerated smile.

He then stepped forward and shook hands with Zhou Bangqiu and the others one by one.

Xiao Shan readily took on the translation role: "Forget the excitement, let's play it safe! I don't want our ship to become the Titanic..."

“You’re right, but it’s still okay to have a party on the ship once in a while!” Hyman said with a smile after hearing Xiao Shan’s words.

Hyman led Xiao Shan and the others towards the cabin: "Come on, I'll take you to your rooms! If you have any needs or encounter any difficulties, you can ask our crew for help. We are all very welcoming and happy to help you!"

He also reminded Xiao Shan and the others of some things to be careful about: "You can come up to the deck during the day, but you are not allowed to go up to the deck at night! Also, if the alarm sounds inside the ship, you must return to the cabin immediately and never go up to the deck!"

While listening to Hyman's instructions, Xiao Shan relayed Hyman's words to Zhou Bangqiu and the others.

After Hyman and Hunter led everyone into the cabin and settled them in, they let Xiao Shan and the others assign themselves rooms.

After Hyman and Hunter left, Zhou Bangqiu quickly assigned rooms.

Xiao Shan and Zhou Bangqiu stayed in single rooms, while Hu Xiangjun, being a lesbian, also stayed in a single room.

The remaining three, including Zhang Changwei, had to stay in a four-person room.

Although they hadn't yet left the country, the unfamiliar language environment made them feel very uneasy.

Therefore, they all regarded Xiao Shan, who was able to communicate with John, as the backbone of the team.

So after Zhou Bangqiu and the others put down their luggage in their own rooms, they gathered in Xiao Shan's room and asked him all sorts of questions.

Xiao Shan patiently answered everyone's questions.

"What are we going to do for lunch this afternoon?" Zhang Changwei asked Xiao Shan.

Xiao Shan slowly said, "When it's lunchtime, the crew will ring a bell, and then we'll go to the canteen. You don't need to bring anything; there are tableware in the canteen."

Zhang Changwei nodded and asked further, "What do you usually eat for lunch on the ship?"

"It's probably Western food!" Xiao Shan said after thinking for a moment. "Besides us, it seems like everyone on the ship is from John Bull."

Chapter 389, This meat is all raw, how can we eat it?! (Please subscribe!)

"Western food?" Hu Xiangjun, with her two braids, looked blank. "What is Western food?"