She said to me angrily: "You'd better marry far away from home in the future." By chance, my neighbor's Chinese sister overheard this. She later learned that I was going to work in Guangzhou soon, and

She said to me angrily: "You'd better marry far away from home in the future." By chance, my neighbor's Chinese sister overheard this. She later learned that I was going to work in Guangzhou soon, and she jokingly said to my mother: "Aunt Xiu, you really hit the mark! Now your big-eyed son is going to work in Guangzhou, which is far away." "Big Eyes Er" was my nickname at that time. Who would have thought that many years later, my mother’s angry words would become a true prophecy! The headquarters of the Guangdong Agricultural Reclamation Bureau is located in Shougouling, Shahe District, Guangzhou. It has two subordinate bureaus: Zhanjiang Agricultural Reclamation Bureau and Hainan Agricultural Reclamation Bureau. Yanling Building is the first hotel invested by the Guangdong Agricultural Reclamation Bureau. We are fortunate to be the first batch of formal employees of the hotel, and we are also labor contract workers. Back then, we went to Guangzhou with our sealed files. There is a special car to pick you up. It took at least more than ten hours for the big bus to arrive in Guangzhou. The time just waiting to cross the river was more than two hours. It was really hard to take a long-distance bus!

When I got off the bus, I was so excited My first impression of Guangzhou was not particularly good, and I was even a little disappointed! Maybe it was because Shougouling was still very desolate back then. There was also a rubber factory and dairy farm at Yantang Farm nearby, and you could still see cows grazing. This kind of Guangzhou is not very different from the farm where I lived. Moreover, there were so many people and the traffic was a bit chaotic. The first thing I had to learn was how to cross the road. However, after I established a relationship with the sisters who came with me, I fell in love with this city even more. The biggest advantage of Shougouling is that there is a large botanical garden. This is a great place for us to take pictures and fall in love. Shahe Shopping Street and Huanghuagang Night Market are our first choices for buying clothes. Once Mao Lan and I went shopping at Huanghuagang Night Market and missed the bus, so the two of us had to walk back. Walking on the road, I felt very scared. Fortunately, there was no danger! I also went to night school in Shahe with my colleagues.

Hainan Island was established as a province in the second year after we went to Guangzhou (April 1988). I have never been to Hainan yet. My hometown is only an hour away from Hainan, across the sea. Maybe it’s because we are too close, or maybe we often hear workers in Hainan talking about many things about their hometown. I even gave up the great opportunity to get a job in Hainan directly after graduation.

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land! It constantly brings back memories for me, as well as my deep memory of my late good friend Mao Lan!

When I was studying at Sanyuanli Provincial Caiqian College , I often spent more than two hours on Saturdays riding a bicycle (a gift from my boyfriend at the time) to Yanling to visit my good friends Sister Zhen and Mao Lan. Even if we simply have a meal or stay one night, it is a satisfaction! The next day I hurriedly rode back to the college. Sometimes I stay for two nights and don't come back until Monday, and I'm often late for class. After I graduated and went to work in Shenzhen, the three of us still visited each other often. Two good friends who are happily married even took their children to visit me in Shenzhen. The relationship is not as good as usual!

On December 6, 2007, Hua’an (who is Sister Zhen’s hometown), Sister Zhen and Mao Lan heard that I was going to New Zealand and came all the way from Guangzhou to Shenzhen to support me. I see you off. I sincerely thank them for their innocent friendship! This is also the last time I see Mao Lan.

In October 2011, I returned to China for the first time after settling in New Zealand. I specifically contacted Sister Zhen to arrange for Mao Lan’s son to meet with me. The most gratifying thing is to see Xiao Rui turn into a handsome young man, looking more and more like Mao Lan. At the same time, I also met Sister Zhen’s beautiful daughter Shiyu who is in high school. (The first picture below is Sister Zhen and I, the second picture below is Xiao Rui, Shiyu and I). Yanling Building has become a four-star hotel and business is still very good. At that time, business was not that good because it was located in the suburbs and lacked popularity. Thanks to Sister Zhen, my husband and I were able to stay one night in Yanling during the busy period and enjoy the free buffet.

On my way back to the airport and taking the subway, I met fellow worker Axiang (from Zhanjiang Reclamation District). When she and I were having sex in a restaurant, she was in charge of the tobacco and wine cabinet, and I was the waiter on the floor. Axiang also chatted with me in the group a few days ago, and she also talked about how we met on the subway.

Reminiscing about past events these days often wakes me up midway through. Hence this note. To comfort us in those green years of beautiful and pure love and fantasy. I also wish all the colleagues I met back then have happy families and good health!