Chapter 47: Arrival at the Destination

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Chapter 47: Arrival at the Destination

Traveling from Jiangnan to Guangzhou-Shenzhen took nearly 50 hours, so Li Yi opted for a hard sleeper ticket.

Although it cost two yuan more than a regular seat, it allowed both of them to rest during the long journey.

For Wei Sanpao, who was taking a train for the first time, the experience was nerve-wracking. He seemed both excited and uneasy. Fortunately, with Li Yi accompanying him, nothing went wrong.

Lying on the narrow bed of the train, Li Yi couldn't help but miss the high-speed rail from his previous life. Back then, traveling from Jiangcheng to Guangzhou-Shenzhen took only four and a half hours by high-speed train, and even less than two hours by plane.

But in this era, the high-speed rail was still just a concept, and air travel wasn't a practical option. Not only were plane tickets prohibitively expensive, but flight availability was also limited. Thus, they had no choice but to endure the long and arduous journey on the traditional green train.

Despite the discomfort, Li Yi felt content. At least now, he could travel freely. A few years ago, even leaving one's hometown required various letters of introduction.

The Long Journey

Time passed slowly on the train. Li Yi, having come prepared, brought a book with him to read whenever he was awake. It was a habit he had developed in his previous life to pass the time and relieve boredom.

However, Wei Sanpao lacked the patience for reading. He grew restless and fidgety throughout the journey.

After enduring 56 hours—two days and three nights—they finally arrived in Guangzhou-Shenzhen. Their exhausting journey had finally come to an end.

Even though they had traveled in a hard sleeper compartment, the cramped and stuffy space made them feel drained. As soon as the train pulled into the station, both of them couldn't wait to get off and find a hotel to rest properly.

A City of Opportunities

Stepping out onto the streets, Li Yi took a deep breath, inhaling the slightly salty air carried from the nearby sea. His heart, which had remained calm throughout the journey, suddenly surged with excitement.

This was Guangzhou-Shenzhen—the economic powerhouse of the reform era. While it might be an exaggeration to say that gold was scattered across the streets, it was undeniable that business opportunities were everywhere.

And now, Li Yi had his initial capital. He was determined to seize these opportunities and make this city the stage for his rise.

In his previous life, despite having no background, no connections, and no resources, he had still managed to carve out a path and enter the billionaire ranks through sheer perseverance.

But this time, he had both experience and knowledge on his side. With a brighter future ahead, success was inevitable!

First Impressions

"It's so hot!" Wei Sanpao groaned, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Unlike Li Yi, who was filled with ambition, Wei Sanpao's first impression of Guangzhou-Shenzhen was the intense heat. The coastal city had a humid climate, and since it was the middle of summer, the air felt heavy and stifling. Even the breeze was warm, making the heat almost unbearable.

Li Yi chuckled and said, "Of course it's hot. This place is known as one of the 'four great furnaces' of China!"

Unable to bear the heat, Wei Sanpao quickly removed his coat, leaving only a sleeveless vest. Looking around, his eyes widened as he took in the towering skyscrapers.

"Brother Yi, you have to admit—this place is much more developed than Jiangcheng! Look at those buildings! That one over there must be at least 100 or 200 meters high. Back in Jiangcheng, our tallest building isn't even close to that height!"

Li Yi followed his gaze and smiled. "That's the Guangzhou-Shenzhen International Trade Center—88 floors, standing at 208 meters tall."

Wei Sanpao looked at him in shock. "Brother Yi, this is your first time in Guangzhou-Shenzhen too. How do you know that?"

Li Yi laughed. "Look at the sign on the building. It's clearly written there!"

Then, as if giving a lesson, he continued, "Also, you should read more books. The answers to most of your questions can be found in them."

Wei Sanpao sighed and shook his head. "Brother Yi, spare me. I wasn't born to be a bookworm. The moment I start reading, I just want to sleep!"

Li Yi shook his head in amusement. "One day, you'll regret not learning more."

Just as Wei Sanpao was about to argue, his eyes suddenly widened. He nudged Li Yi excitedly and whispered, "Hey, Brother Yi, look at that blond-haired, blue-eyed guy! Is he a foreigner?"

Li Yi followed his gaze and indeed saw a man dressed in a suit and top hat. A quick glance was enough for him to tell—this foreigner was most likely British.

He chuckled. "Yeah, looks like he's from England."

Wei Sanpao stared in amazement. "Brother Yi, how can you tell? To me, all foreigners look the same!"

Li Yi smirked and explained, "If you observe carefully, you can distinguish them quite easily. Their facial features, clothing styles, and mannerisms give them away."

In his previous life, Li Yi had dealt with many foreign business partners. His experience in identifying people from different countries far surpassed that of Wei Sanpao, who had rarely left his hometown.

Settling Down

After marveling at the sights for a while, Wei Sanpao turned back to Li Yi. "Brother Yi, where should we go now?"

Li Yi responded calmly, "First, let's find a place to stay. We'll probably be here for a few days."

After thinking for a moment, Wei Sanpao asked, "What's the plan after we settle in?"

Li Yi's eyes gleamed with ambition. "After getting some rest, we'll head to Dongyuan Market. I want to check out the prices of antiques."

"Antiques?" Wei Sanpao raised an eyebrow. "Are we planning to trade antiques?"

He scratched his head and muttered, "But antiques don't sell for much money, right? Besides, we don't have any family heirlooms… unless my great-grandfather's old chamber pot counts?"

Li Yi nearly stumbled in disbelief. "Are you stupid? A chamber pot?! Forget it, just follow my lead!"

"Okay, okay!" Wei Sanpao nodded obediently.

The two of them hailed a three-wheeled vehicle and set off toward the Dongyuan Antique Market.

Upon arrival, they chose a modest but clean hotel nearby and finally settled down.

However, when Wei Sanpao found out that the hotel charged 15 yuan per night, he was horrified.

"15 yuan?! Back in Jiangcheng, you could have a full feast for that amount!"

After all, as the deputy chief of the security department, his monthly salary was only 110 yuan. Staying here for a week would cost him more than his entire paycheck, and that didn't even include food expenses!

Seeing his pained expression, Li Yi couldn't help but chuckle. He thought to himself—if Wei Sanpao knew that 30 years later, a single night's stay here would cost over 60,000 yuan, how would he react?

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