From Hong Kong to Los Angeles, with a stopover in Tokyo for supplies, the plane would land in San Francisco, then fly from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Back then, the flight distance wasn't as far as it is now, so naturally, it required multiple layovers.
After the New Year, besides Zheng Bai Cheng and Lin Xiao Hua, they brought along a foreign bodyguard and a foreign female assistant. These two were introduced by Han Yu Fang. The foreign bodyguard was named Hans, and the female assistant was named Amanda.
Sitting in the front, Zheng Bai Cheng thought about the two and felt a wave of amusement. Hans was probably a British German, a tall, strong man standing at six feet tall. His face was typical of the Nordic race - tough and resolute. However, he seemed to be a bit slow-witted. Han Yu Fang had mentioned that they were struggling to make ends meet in Europe. As Germans, no one was willing to hire them, even though they were very loyal. Zheng Bai Cheng didn't hire him because he was cheap, but because he valued his loyalty. He only paid him a thousand Hong Kong dollars a month, including food and accommodation.
Amanda was a British student who had studied at the University of Hong Kong. After graduating, she joined a British law firm and was temporarily working as Zheng Bai Cheng's legal advisor. She wasn't licensed yet and was still in her internship.
Bringing foreigners was much better than bringing a few Hong Kong bodyguards. At least, it was easier for foreigners to communicate with other foreigners.
They made a stopover in San Francisco. Amanda handled everything, worth her three thousand Hong Kong dollar salary. That salary was not low.
"Boss, you've really gotten a great deal hiring me. I'm not only your legal advisor, but also your assistant. I help you buy tickets, even book hotels. I feel like I'm losing out."
"Amanda, what are you trying to say?" Zheng Bai Cheng couldn't stand this woman's nagging.
"More money."
Zheng Bai Cheng wouldn't give her a raise just because she asked for it. He said, "No, Amanda, you need to demonstrate your value. These are just errands. You haven't shown your worth yet. Don't think about a raise. You're working for your future, for your dream of becoming a barrister. Is work just about salary? Is it just about money? Isn't it about growth? You're still young and have a long way to go."
Hans stood beside them, expressionless, looking around. If Lin Xiao Hua wasn't a professional, she would have burst out laughing. Cheng was feeding her another pie in the sky.
Amanda nodded and said, "I do have a long way to go, but... something feels wrong." She started to doubt herself. From San Francisco to Los Angeles, she had been thinking about what was wrong. Was her dream really to be a barrister?
"Amanda, don't think about it. Just focus on your work. Everything else is secondary. Once you have the skills, everything else will follow."
Zheng Bai Cheng walked behind Hans. As they left the airport, they were followed by two foreigners. Everything went smoothly.
"Let's go to the hotel and adjust to the time difference."
At the hotel, Amanda said, "Boss, when I booked two rooms, I wanted to ask you, there are four of us, why only two rooms?"
"Hans is here to protect me, so we're in one room. There's no problem with that, right? You and Alice can share a room. You two women have more to talk about."
His arrangement didn't satisfy Amanda. She asked, "Jason, why don't you share a room with Alice? You're engaged, you can absolutely share a room."
"Do you want to share a room with Hans? I can talk to him about it."
Hans looked at them with a confused expression. Seeing Amanda looking at him, he smiled, but his tough face looked rather grotesque with a smile.
"Then I'll listen to you. You're a terrible guy."
After dinner, Zheng Bai Cheng finally understood what Han Yu Fang meant. At the time, she had told him, "A Cheng, Hans is a good, honest man. You can pay him a thousand Hong Kong dollars, or nothing. You just need to make sure he eats well."
When they got off the plane, the flight attendant had given them a strange look, like they were poor. Zheng Bai Cheng didn't understand at the time. Now, seeing Hans devour food like a hurricane, finishing five people's portions, Zheng Bai Cheng decided that he would never eat at the hotel again in Los Angeles. The gazes of other guests made him uncomfortable. It felt like they were all from the countryside.
The next morning, they ate out. Since they planned to stay here for a long time, they rented a villa in a wealthy neighborhood. They wouldn't return until next New Year's Day.
He told the newspaper that he was going on a world tour.
For this trip, he brought thirty thousand US dollars. This was basically his entire fortune. To do this, he went to HSBC and got traveler's checks, exchanging 1.55 million Hong Kong dollars for just over 300,000 US dollars.
Besides the thirty thousand US dollars, he had reserved six thousand Hong Kong dollars for Amanda's salary. He had promised her this, but hadn't given it to her yet. He would give it to her when they returned to Hong Kong next year.
From then on, he focused on submitting his work. He mailed his novels to several publishers in California.
Zheng Bai Cheng's thinking was simple. He wasn't good at much, but he knew how to write novels. These novels could bring him fame and fortune. He also wanted to adapt those movies into novels and publish them.
After settling in North America, the most carefree person was Hans. This carefree fellow spent his days lounging on a deck chair in the afternoon sun, enjoying the winter sunshine. The winter here wasn't cold.
Amanda was in charge of answering the phone. She was the assistant, and she also had time to study North American law. Xiao Hua studied with her.
Fortunately, Xiao Hua's English was pretty good. Zheng Bai Cheng was busy writing novels. People around the world had different reading habits, so the story progression had to be different.
In this peaceful life, Hans' deep voice came from the yard.
"Boss, there's a letter here, from a Los Angeles publisher."
Amanda and Lin Xiao Hua, who were studying, heard this. Lin Xiao Hua was delighted.