frightfiction Chapter 557 Modern Life (Part 1)
Chapter 557 Modern Life (Part 1)
It was a sunny and hot weekend morning, but the sea breeze brought a touch of freshness.
Lin Zhenhua pushed a brand new "Pegasus" bicycle produced locally in Yangon out of the courtyard of the experts' temporary residence.
The bike was shiny all over, with the brass bells on the handlebars sparkling in the sun. It was an absolute hot commodity on the market, and a symbol of his ability as a technical backbone of the Starlight Pharmaceutical Factory to indulge in a little luxury. After all, his monthly salary of 99 yuan was enough for an ordinary worker's family to live on for most of half a year.
"Slow down." His wife Su Wanting followed out carrying an exquisite hand-woven basket, which contained some Nanyang specialty cakes she made by herself, ready to take to a party at a colleague's house.
She and her husband met in White Eagle. She used to be a violinist in the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Later she made a living by playing the violin in White Eagle. Now she followed her husband to the Southeast Asian United States and works as a music teacher in a middle school in Yangon.
The sunlight outlines her slender figure. Even when she wears a simple and elegant modified cheongsam, it is difficult to conceal her artistic temperament.
"Don't worry, my beloved violin teacher won't fall." Lin Zhenhua smiled and patted the sturdy backseat. The pharmaceutical factory actually provided him with a military green Willys Jeep and a dedicated driver. It was a scarce resource allocated within the Nanhua Group and a symbol of his status as "workshop director."
But today, he specifically let the driver have a rest as well.
"Why don't you take a car?"
"Didn't the commander-in-chief say, 'Every Nanyang citizen must have their own life and time to relax.' Driver Lao Zhou has worked hard all week, it's time for him to spend time with his family. Besides," he got on the bike and motioned for Su Wanting to sit tight, "riding a bike is great! You can stretch your legs and take in the street view. Get in!"
Su Wanting sat down lightly, with one hand naturally around her husband's waist.
The wheels rolled over the newly paved asphalt road, making a light rustling sound.
On both sides of the road, the scene is gradually returning to life.
Newly painted shops, vendors carrying baskets selling tropical fruits, workers hurriedly walking by in uniform, and the roar of construction machinery coming from the distant construction site.
Everything was full of vitality, and the city was rapidly urbanizing, like the metropolises they had seen in White Eagle.
The destination is the newly built "Expert Village" in the west of the city.
It was a high-standard community funded and built by Nanhua Group, specifically for high-paid foreign experts and top technical talents to live in.
After riding for about half an hour, a neatly planned area surrounded by green trees appeared in front of the two.
However, as they approached the entrance, the atmosphere suddenly changed.
A brand new, spiked iron gate separates the expert village from the outside world.
On both sides of the gate are cement guardhouses, with two soldiers armed with live ammunition standing next to them.
They were wearing the Nanyang Defense Force's unique dark green jungle camouflage training uniforms, and their eyes were scanning the surroundings vigilantly. The level of security was far higher than that of the ordinary expert area where they lived.
"Zhenhua, here..." Su Wanting subconsciously grabbed the corner of her husband's clothes.
"Don't be afraid." Lin Zhenhua patted her hand gently and motioned for her to get out of the car. "It should be to protect the safety of those foreign experts. After all, they have special status."
A young guard stepped forward and said, "Hello, please show me your ID and explain the reason for your visit."
Lin Zhenhua took out his work permit and ID card and handed them over, explaining, "We are Lin Zhenhua and Su Wanting from Xingguang Pharmaceutical Factory. We are here to visit and attend the party at the invitation of Mr. Hansen and Mr. Rogers."
The guard checked the documents carefully and picked up the registration book and phone in the booth.
He dialed the internal line and spoke clearly into the receiver, "This is Dongmengang. Director Lin Zhenhua of Xingguang Pharmaceutical Factory and his wife, Ms. Su Wanting, are visiting. It's confirmed that it's Mr. Hansen's invitation. Got it, understood."
After hanging up the phone, the guard handed the ID back and saluted again: "Director Lin, Ms. Su, your identity has been confirmed. Please come in."
He motioned to another guard to open a small door on the side.
Su Wanting breathed a sigh of relief, pushed the cart and followed her husband into the gate.
After taking just two steps, she suddenly remembered something and whispered to Lin Zhenhua in surprise, "Zhenhua, just now... they had a phone in the booth? And they called Mr. Hansen's house directly? Do every household here have a phone?"
Lin Zhenhua also noticed this detail and looked around.
What comes into view are straight, clean cement roads, with neatly trimmed lawns and low bushes on the sides.
Two-story villas with the same style but different details are scattered in an orderly manner.
The exterior walls are made of red brick or beige paint, the roofs are sloping, and there are large glass windows. There is a telephone pole at the door of almost every building.
"It seems... yes." Lin Zhenhua also felt a little shocked.
In White Eagle, it was normal for middle-class communities to have telephones, but to do this in a newly built community in Southeast Asia, where the war had just ended, showed the investment and determination.
This is not just a convenience, but also a silent declaration that Nanyang has the ability to provide world-class living security.
They followed the road signs and quickly found Building 18 where Hansen lived.
The house is a typical Western-style building with a large front yard.
Hansen and a slightly plump, smiling, bald, middle-aged white man named Rogers were already greeting them at the door.
"Lin, Su, welcome." Hansen wore a tropical floral shirt, which was rare today, making him look less serious.
Rogers gave Su Wanting a kiss on the cheek enthusiastically, which Su Wanting accepted with a slightly stiff but polite attitude.
As she walked into the house, Su Wanting's eyes lit up instantly.
The spacious and bright living room has polished teak floors, comfortable sofas, and huge glass windows that let the sunlight in unrestrainedly.
From the kitchen came the aroma of the oven and the greeting of the hostess, Rogers' wife Martha. There was a brand new gas stove and refrigerator in the kitchen.
"Oh my God, this house..." Su Wanting couldn't help but admire it softly.
These conditions were much better than the apartment they had rented near MIT. As for the small courtyard where they temporarily lived after returning to Nanyang, it was simply a world of difference.
"Feel free to tour around," Rogers said proudly, acting as his tour guide. "Upstairs are the bedrooms. Each has its own bathroom with a flush toilet and shower. There's 24-hour hot water, and there's a closet. Martha loves that closet."
Lin Zhenhua and Su Wanting followed him upstairs to take a look.
A clean and tidy bedroom with snow-white sheets, a spacious bathroom with a shiny flush toilet, a ceramic washbasin, and that showerhead...
All this made Su Wanting feel a huge impact of the sophisticated and modern life. The dormitory of her middle school even had a shared public toilet on each floor.
What she saw now inevitably reminded her of her life in White Eagle.
This is the effect Zhang Chi wants. First, let foreign experts set an example, and then tell everyone that as long as they work hard, everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy such a modern life that is comparable to the middle class in White Eagle!