海外頭條總編審 王 在 軍 （中國(guó)）
海外頭條副編審 Wendy溫迪（英國(guó)）
海 外 頭 條總 編 火 鳳 凰 （海外）
圖片選自百度
與貴人擦肩而過(guò)
文/龔如仲（美國(guó)）
回憶一下我從商多年的經(jīng)歷，總的感覺(jué)是：自己的頭腦不算太笨，工作尚算認(rèn)真，人脈還算可以，事業(yè)也算昌順。試想當(dāng)初，自己從一個(gè)小小的業(yè)務(wù)員干起，四年后就被輕工總公司提升為副處長(zhǎng)，主管著年出口量過(guò)億美元的商品。后來(lái)我又被公司派往美國(guó)，“總裁”著兩個(gè)海外大公司的進(jìn)出口業(yè)務(wù)。過(guò)了不久，我還成了享受“外交官一等秘書(shū)”待遇的正處長(zhǎng)。然而，當(dāng)我后來(lái)大有希望在職位上“更上一層樓”時(shí)，我自己把這道“升遷之門(mén)”嘎然關(guān)閉了，因?yàn)榫驮谀莻€(gè)時(shí)候，我經(jīng)歷了人生的又一次跳槽，從輕工總公司調(diào)到了另一家專業(yè)大公司，并在紐約“世界貿(mào)易中心”為該公司開(kāi)始了新的創(chuàng)業(yè)。
回想我這一生，尤其是在我從商的生涯中，曾得到過(guò)幾位貴人的提攜。他們給過(guò)我良機(jī)，讓我成為聲名赫赫的高官，或是變?yōu)檠p萬(wàn)貫的富豪，然而生性愚魯?shù)奈遥瑓s一次又一次地與這些貴人擦肩而過(guò)。
寫(xiě)到這里，您可能會(huì)好奇了，問(wèn)道：“你這一生到底有多少回和貴人插肩而過(guò)啊”？那好吧，我就先從我決定調(diào)離國(guó)際廣播電臺(tái)英語(yǔ)部的那一天說(shuō)起。
（一）
由于住房問(wèn)題，我不得不向電臺(tái)當(dāng)局交出了辭呈。又因?yàn)榇髮W(xué)里學(xué)的是商務(wù)英語(yǔ)，所以我決定在商界混口飯吃。
辭職報(bào)告遞上去后，英語(yǔ)部和國(guó)際臺(tái)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)、甚至廣播事業(yè)局局長(zhǎng)張香山先生分別找我談話，他們都勸我收回辭呈，讓我“放眼未來(lái)，繼續(xù)為廣播事業(yè)效力”。身為高官的香山先生甚至語(yǔ)重心長(zhǎng)地對(duì)我說(shuō)：“好好干，因?yàn)槟愠錾砗?，業(yè)務(wù)也不錯(cuò)，我舍不得放棄你這樣又紅又專的人才。幾年后等我們退休了，說(shuō)不定你就坐上我的位置”。這一番鼓勵(lì)自然讓我受寵若驚。可是一回到現(xiàn)實(shí)中，面對(duì)父親愁苦的臉，看到一家人擠在小屋中的窘?jīng)r，我又不得不硬起心腸、婉拒了領(lǐng)導(dǎo)們的一再挽留，毅然絕然地調(diào)離電臺(tái)，因?yàn)閷?duì)我而言，房子才是第一位的。
對(duì)我而言，婉拒了中央廣播事業(yè)局局長(zhǎng)張香山先生對(duì)我的挽留，這可能是我生平頭一回與貴人插肩而過(guò)。我曾經(jīng)設(shè)想過(guò)：如果不是因?yàn)樽》繂?wèn)題而調(diào)離廣播電臺(tái)，我自然會(huì)繼續(xù)在國(guó)際電臺(tái)英語(yǔ)部效力。憑我當(dāng)時(shí)的政治條件和播音水準(zhǔn)，幾年之后，我肯定能混出個(gè)好前程。
（二）
由一老友牽線，第一個(gè)讓我去面試的單位是一家赫赫有名的大企業(yè)、即榮毅仁先生創(chuàng)辦的“中國(guó)國(guó)際信托投資有限公司”（簡(jiǎn)稱“中信”）。中信在當(dāng)時(shí)成立不久，還沒(méi)有自己獨(dú)立的辦公樓，只在北京崇文門(mén)飯店里租了幾個(gè)房間權(quán)作辦公場(chǎng)所。我按約好時(shí)間抵達(dá)崇文門(mén)飯店后，中信的人事處長(zhǎng)會(huì)見(jiàn)了我。問(wèn)明我的來(lái)意后，人事處長(zhǎng)隨即請(qǐng)出一位六十歲左右的老先生與我見(jiàn)面。這位儒雅的老先生自稱是榮先生的首席英文翻譯。之后由他分別對(duì)我進(jìn)行了英語(yǔ)筆試和口語(yǔ)的考量。
幾天后那位人事處長(zhǎng)就打電話通知我，說(shuō)我口筆試成績(jī)優(yōu)異，中信決定聘用我了，并讓我盡快辦妥調(diào)動(dòng)事宜。聽(tīng)到此信我自然心中高興。然而，當(dāng)我在電話中問(wèn)他中信可否解決我的住房問(wèn)題時(shí)， 人事處長(zhǎng)告訴我說(shuō)，“住房一事，暫時(shí)無(wú)法解決，因?yàn)橹行艅倓偲?/span>步”。不過(guò)他勸我不因?yàn)榉孔佣蛐∈Т?，因?yàn)闃s先生的翻譯年事已高，即將退休。當(dāng)榮先生得知我英文不錯(cuò)，且又懂上海話（榮先生出身江南，上海話與蘇南音差別不大），他很是高興。榮先生希望我能盡快上任來(lái)當(dāng)他的翻譯。說(shuō)句心里話，這個(gè)工作是極有吸引力的。因?yàn)槲抑?，?dāng)榮老板的翻譯對(duì)我的前程肯定大有好處。然而，我實(shí)在無(wú)法接受公司不能提供我住房的現(xiàn)實(shí)，所以我最終不得不謝絕了榮先生的厚意。
這當(dāng)然是我第二次與貴人（而且是如此高級(jí)別的貴人）插肩而過(guò)了。
（三）
告別了中信集團(tuán)，我把目標(biāo)鎖定了外貿(mào)部。經(jīng)妻找熟人搭橋，外貿(mào)部屬下的中國(guó)輕工業(yè)品進(jìn)出口總公司向我伸出了友誼之手。未經(jīng)英語(yǔ)面試，只是與輕工老總作了一番交談，我就順利地被該公司錄用了。而且輕工老總為我開(kāi)出的條件是：一去上班，馬上會(huì)給我一套至少有兩室一廳的住房。
正當(dāng)我忙著辦理調(diào)離手續(xù)并準(zhǔn)備到輕工總公司報(bào)到時(shí)，突然接到了一個(gè)電話。打電話的是我的大學(xué)學(xué)長(zhǎng)老鄒，他當(dāng)時(shí)官拜外貿(mào)部部長(zhǎng)鄭拓彬先生的大秘書(shū)。老鄒在電話中通知我，讓我到部里找他，有事相告。
于是，第二天我如約來(lái)到外貿(mào)部。老鄒見(jiàn)到我之后就開(kāi)門(mén)見(jiàn)山地對(duì)我說(shuō)：“你從電臺(tái)調(diào)到輕工總公司的事，鄭部長(zhǎng)也知道了。聽(tīng)說(shuō)你是英語(yǔ)播音員，英文很不錯(cuò)，況且你又懂新聞業(yè)務(wù)，所以鄭部長(zhǎng)決定讓你來(lái)部里工作，不要去輕工了”。 聽(tīng)罷老鄒的話語(yǔ)，我著實(shí)吃了一驚。我真的沒(méi)想到，一個(gè)小小老百姓的我，調(diào)動(dòng)一事竟然還驚動(dòng)了大部長(zhǎng)？我當(dāng)即問(wèn)老鄒：“第一，讓我到部里干啥工作？第二，部里給我住房否“？老鄒回答說(shuō)：“鄭部長(zhǎng)希望你來(lái)部里先熟悉環(huán)境和業(yè)務(wù)，然后打算培養(yǎng)你成為外貿(mào)部新聞發(fā)言人”。關(guān)于住房問(wèn)題，他說(shuō)他得回去向鄭部長(zhǎng)另行匯報(bào)。
我敏銳的意識(shí)到：這是一個(gè)極好的機(jī)會(huì)，因?yàn)椤巴赓Q(mào)部新聞發(fā)言人”的工作是前途無(wú)量的，是個(gè)人人垂涎而求之不得的官場(chǎng)肥缺。但回到家中后，我又反復(fù)思考了很久：倘若到部里工作，真能當(dāng)上“外貿(mào)部新聞發(fā)言人”，我將來(lái)有升遷良機(jī)，更何況部里財(cái)力雄厚，解決我的住房并非難事。然而我往回頭想：“自己為房子問(wèn)題已經(jīng)奔波了許久，輕工總公司對(duì)我如此仗義，我不能辜負(fù)人家對(duì)我的一片真心。既然我已答應(yīng)輕工并為其效勞，而人家也遵守諾言、以房相許，我可不能‘這山望著那山高’”啊。于是我還是決定到輕工總公司報(bào)到（這兒順便說(shuō)一個(gè)事實(shí)，我在調(diào)離電臺(tái)前，臺(tái)里已經(jīng)打算提升我為副處級(jí)的副主任了，這就意味著我很快便會(huì)有個(gè)一官半職。然而輕工總公司只是解決我的住房問(wèn)題，絕無(wú)官職相許。這就意味著，到輕工總公司之后，我必須從一個(gè)普通外貿(mào)業(yè)務(wù)員干起。至于將來(lái)能不能“當(dāng)官“，那就要看我自己的努力和造化了）。于是，我給老鄒打了個(gè)電話，告訴他我依然決定去輕工總公司工作。
老鄒聽(tīng)后十分不解。他一邊說(shuō)他會(huì)向部長(zhǎng)報(bào)告我的決定，一邊以老學(xué)長(zhǎng)的名義罵我是個(gè)“不識(shí)抬舉的年輕人”！老鄒事后當(dāng)然向鄭部長(zhǎng)匯報(bào)了我的決定，據(jù)說(shuō)鄭部長(zhǎng)聽(tīng)后只是微微一笑，對(duì)老鄒說(shuō)道：“不來(lái)部里也罷，反正他是到了外貿(mào)系統(tǒng)嘛”。就這樣，我這個(gè)不知天高地厚的跳槽人第三次與貴人插肩而過(guò)。
（四）
到了輕工總公司之后，我生平所遇到的另一位貴人就是我的頂頭上司李浩然處長(zhǎng)。
我在李處長(zhǎng)手下干得風(fēng)生水起，李處長(zhǎng)對(duì)我也是欣賞有加。但迫于當(dāng)時(shí)輕工總公司處級(jí)以上干部年齡偏大、而我在他們眼里還“太年輕”，所以李處長(zhǎng)幾次向總公司領(lǐng)導(dǎo)推薦我當(dāng)副處長(zhǎng)，都未成功?？偣绢I(lǐng)導(dǎo)回答李處長(zhǎng)道：“此人四十歲還不到，當(dāng)個(gè)副處長(zhǎng)太年輕了，過(guò)一兩年再提吧”。
后來(lái)李處長(zhǎng)由于個(gè)人原因調(diào)離了輕工總公司，到中國(guó)絲綢產(chǎn)品進(jìn)出口總公司當(dāng)了副總經(jīng)理（提升了一級(jí)），但他和我依然保持著密切聯(lián)系。不知道多少回了，每當(dāng)我到絲綢總公司去看望他時(shí)，他總是勸我舍棄輕工總公司當(dāng)業(yè)務(wù)員的差事，到他那兒當(dāng)個(gè)副處長(zhǎng)，但都被我婉言謝絕了。
后來(lái)他登上外貿(mào)部“貿(mào)易管理局”局長(zhǎng)寶座后（我當(dāng)時(shí)已經(jīng)是副處長(zhǎng)了），他又一次向我伸出相助之手。我記得有一回我去部里辦事，順便去看望他。已經(jīng)是李大局長(zhǎng)的他就指著我坐著的沙發(fā)對(duì)我說(shuō)道：“你不要小看了這張人造革沙發(fā)，不知道有多少省長(zhǎng)、直轄市市長(zhǎng)及自治區(qū)一把手就是坐在這個(gè)沙發(fā)上，想從我手里求得重要商品或物資的進(jìn)出口配額和許可證呢”。他接著又對(duì)我說(shuō)道：“你干脆從輕工總公司調(diào)過(guò)來(lái)吧，我先讓你當(dāng)我手下最重要的一個(gè)處的正處長(zhǎng)，兩到三年后就提你為副局長(zhǎng)。等我調(diào)離或退休后，你就坐我的位置”。貴人突然賜予的良機(jī)讓我一時(shí)不知所措。但思來(lái)想去，我總感到就這樣舍棄曾給我解決住房問(wèn)題的輕工總公司有點(diǎn)“太不夠意思”，于是我生平第四次與貴人擦肩而過(guò)。
（五）
不久之后，我又到部里辦事，這次是找另一個(gè)局的局長(zhǎng)周先生。
這位周先生就是曾任中國(guó)外匯管理局局長(zhǎng)，后任中國(guó)人民銀行行長(zhǎng)的周小川先生（他現(xiàn)在已退休，但仍然位居高位，是博鰲亞洲論壇副理事長(zhǎng)，中方首席代表）。當(dāng)時(shí)周局長(zhǎng)與我素不相識(shí)，我到他辦公室時(shí)，他正在接電話。等到他接完電話、問(wèn)清我的來(lái)意、又看了看我所帶的公函和介紹信后， 他就讓我小坐片刻，等他處理完事情后再和我說(shuō)話。因?yàn)樗?dāng)時(shí)公務(wù)繁忙，而且他發(fā)現(xiàn)我的事情并不是很急。于是讓我坐在沙發(fā)上靜候著。
但是等了很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)周局長(zhǎng)仍然伏案疾書(shū)，并無(wú)馬上與我談話的意思。百無(wú)聊賴之際，我突然發(fā)現(xiàn)他的辦公桌上有一本《紅旗》雜志。于是我拿起雜志，開(kāi)始了漫無(wú)目的地瀏覽。突然間，一篇署名是戴園晨的文章吸引了我，文章的內(nèi)容是關(guān)于中國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)國(guó)策的。因?yàn)榇鲌@晨先生不僅是當(dāng)時(shí)與蘇星、于光遠(yuǎn)等經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家齊名的大學(xué)者（中國(guó)最為著名的宏觀經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家），而且還是我的姨姐夫。我一邊看文章，一邊不經(jīng)意地嘟囔了一句：“還有戴園晨寫(xiě)的文章”？想不到周局長(zhǎng)一聽(tīng)此言，立即放下筆，問(wèn)我是否認(rèn)識(shí)戴先生？我當(dāng)然如實(shí)相告。一聽(tīng)戴先生是我的親戚，周先生立即放下工作，對(duì)我說(shuō)道：“戴先生是我讀博士時(shí)的導(dǎo)師，他可是中國(guó)宏觀經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)方面的權(quán)威啊”。就這樣，是姐夫戴園晨拉近了我與這位周局長(zhǎng)的距離。接下來(lái)的氣氛當(dāng)然是和諧而友好的，周局長(zhǎng)不僅認(rèn)真聽(tīng)完了我的報(bào)告和訴求、答應(yīng)盡力解決問(wèn)題，而且還真誠(chéng)地對(duì)我說(shuō)：“今后有事，可到部里來(lái)找我”。
我其實(shí)是又一次遇上了貴人。如果我那時(shí)多點(diǎn)心機(jī)、趁熱打鐵，利用一步步與周局長(zhǎng)親近機(jī)會(huì)，那么今后在仕途上大展宏圖也不是不可能的事。然而自從那次辦完事、告別周局長(zhǎng)后，我就再也沒(méi)有找過(guò)他。如今想想，這也可以算是我又一次與貴人失之交臂吧。
（六）
我第六次與貴人相遇，是在我被輕工總公司派到美國(guó)、管理該公司的海外企業(yè)之后。當(dāng)時(shí)由于工作需要，我每年都得前往香港，親自洽談?dòng)嘘P(guān)原材料的采購(gòu)事宜。
有一件事我必須提及：我當(dāng)時(shí)在香港有一位老朋友名叫陳象堯。陳先生曾經(jīng)是我的客戶，也是香港某勞動(dòng)保護(hù)用品公司的大老板。說(shuō)起這位陳先生，他在業(yè)內(nèi)可是赫赫有名，而且此人口碑極佳。由于陳先生公司實(shí)力雄厚，且經(jīng)營(yíng)作風(fēng)正派，因此當(dāng)年被選作有權(quán)經(jīng)營(yíng)中國(guó)某勞保用品的香港“八大家”之一。由于國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)商向香港銷售這項(xiàng)產(chǎn)品時(shí)必須持有出口許可證，而我正是掌控此項(xiàng)出口許可證發(fā)放的決策人。于是，我便自然成了工廠和這八大家港商爭(zhēng)相巴結(jié)和討好的對(duì)象。
但幾年打交道下來(lái)，我感到陳先生是這八大家中最為安分敬業(yè)，是一個(gè)待人誠(chéng)懇的生意人。所以等到彼此間再無(wú)生意上的瓜葛后，陳先生和我便成了好朋友。每當(dāng)我去香港，只要陳先生事先知道，他就一定會(huì)到機(jī)場(chǎng)親自迎接我，然后由他開(kāi)車送我到事先為我訂妥的賓館（通過(guò)陳先生公司的“協(xié)議價(jià)”訂房，價(jià)錢便宜很多）。更令人難忘的是，他每次都會(huì)派人在我的房間里擺上一大束鮮花，以表示對(duì)我這位老友的敬意，陳先生的這份真情著實(shí)讓我感動(dòng)。久而久之，隨著了解的進(jìn)一步加深，彼此間的友情就更加真摯了。
有一回我又訪香港，陳先生送我進(jìn)酒店房間后沒(méi)有馬上離去，反而坐下來(lái)，說(shuō)是有要事相商。雙方坐定后，陳先生誠(chéng)懇地對(duì)我說(shuō)，近來(lái)他的身體不佳，而公司業(yè)務(wù)發(fā)展很快，自己頗有力不從心之感。他建議我脫離國(guó)家公司來(lái)香港幫他打理公司生意。條件是：起步年薪一百萬(wàn)港幣，分紅另算，給我的職務(wù)是公司總經(jīng)理（他是董事長(zhǎng)）。要知道那是二十世紀(jì)九十年代初，一百萬(wàn)港幣對(duì)我而言簡(jiǎn)直是個(gè)天文數(shù)字，何況公司盈利后尚有豐厚的紅利入帳，要不了多久，我就有可能成為“百萬(wàn)富翁”了。然而，身為國(guó)家干部的我，在當(dāng)時(shí)的條件下是無(wú)法接受他的好意的。如今想來(lái)，那是老天爺安排給我成為“富豪”的契機(jī)，但這機(jī)會(huì)也被我錯(cuò)失了。更為不幸的是，兩年之后，陳先生就因肝癌與世長(zhǎng)辭，享年僅五十八歲。就這樣，香港失去了一位商界英才，而我則失去了一位難得的摯友。
（七）
第七次相遇貴人是在美國(guó)，我當(dāng)時(shí)在美國(guó)主管著兩家中國(guó)海外企業(yè)。因業(yè)務(wù)上的需要，我所主管的公司在信貸額度及融資上與中國(guó)銀行紐約分行聯(lián)系甚多，且雙方合作良好，尤其是身為行長(zhǎng)的王先生及其夫人與我私交甚篤。每年圣誕節(jié)來(lái)臨之際，王行長(zhǎng)、王太太都會(huì)率領(lǐng)手下有關(guān)部門(mén)的經(jīng)理和主管們到我公司所在的康州斯坦福市與我公司同仁舉行派對(duì)（PARTY），共度佳節(jié)。派對(duì)總是在當(dāng)?shù)啬羌易詈玫奈逍羌?jí)酒店里舉行。派對(duì)過(guò)后，王行長(zhǎng)的部下就下榻在那家我專門(mén)為他們安排的五星級(jí)酒店里。而作為好友的王行長(zhǎng)及其太太往往選擇住進(jìn)我公寓的主臥。而我吶，當(dāng)然就只好到客房里去將就一夜了。
相處日久，王先生、王太太和我的朋友關(guān)系更加密切。后來(lái)王先生獲得高升良機(jī)，應(yīng)中國(guó)光大銀行之邀，去任光大集團(tuán)副總，主管香港業(yè)務(wù)。臨行前，王行長(zhǎng)專門(mén)約我見(jiàn)面，并提出讓我離開(kāi)商界，去香港在他手下任高管，說(shuō)是“職務(wù)頗高，薪俸甚豐”。然而我考慮到自己不懂金融，豈敢借王行長(zhǎng)之提攜去當(dāng)“南郭先生”？于是我婉言相拒了他的好意。
王行長(zhǎng)在香港干得不錯(cuò)。沒(méi)過(guò)多久，他被中國(guó)政府高層看中，破格被提拔為中國(guó)銀行總行董事長(zhǎng)兼行長(zhǎng)，一時(shí)風(fēng)光無(wú)限（后來(lái)他又被調(diào)到中國(guó)建設(shè)銀行當(dāng)董事長(zhǎng)兼行長(zhǎng)）。后因他公務(wù)繁忙，我便失去了與他的聯(lián)系。但如今想來(lái)，這位貴人已經(jīng)給過(guò)我升官發(fā)財(cái)?shù)臋C(jī)會(huì)，然而不知不覺(jué)中，我又一次與貴人擦肩而過(guò)。
（本文選自拙作【歲月如重---兼談華國(guó)鋒】第五章“從商之路”）
Chapter 19 Brushing Past the VIPs
Posted by Ralph Gong
Whenever I recalled what I had achieved in my long time business career, my general feeling was that even though I could not be regarded as a smart or tycoon successful businessman, still I am proud to consider myself a competent international businessman. First of all, I was blessed with trade wisdom in handling all kinds of businesses. Secondly, as high-level business manager, I was always able to fulfill my job duties in a satisfactory manner. Thirdly, the business relationships among my colleagues, the business counter-parts and myself were rewarded excellent. In a word, my business career was fairly smooth, and the work results were fruitful.
In addition to what I mentioned above, I must tell you that I started my business career from scratch, and no one gave me any guidance or help when I was a beginner. As a matter of fact, before I got involved in foreign trade, I was already an experienced English interpreter and a promising newsman. I was about to be promoted to a higher position as Deputy Department Director by Radio Beijing authorities. But it was due to the housing problem that I took the transfer from Radio Beijing to China National Light Industrial Products Imp. & Exp. Corp. (Chinalight in short), where I was assigned to work as an ordinary business coordinator, and started as a general staff member.
But after a few years’ business practice, what I performed was recognized by the Company authorities. As a result, I was first promoted to be theDeputy Division Chief, and then the President of two big overseas companies under Chinalight. Situated in Stamford, Connecticut , USA. Those two companies handled various kinds of businesses, and their trade volumes were more than two hundred million US Dollars. The yearly profit was considerable.
But it was just at the moment when my position could be raised up even higher that I closed “the door of promotion” myself. The reason was that I got transferred again from Chinalight to Sinochem(China National Chemical Products Imp. & Export Corp., the largest national foreign trade corporation under the Ministry of Foreign Trade). Sinochem Head Office allowed me to continue to work in the United States, and my new position was the president of a joint venture company between Sinochem and LiefInternational, Inc., the largest trading company in Australia. The USA joint-venture company was situated at the World Trade Center, New York, USA.
I must say that no matter whether I worked in Chinaor in USA, I had quite a few golden opportunities of being helped by some VIPs. Those VIPs could easily make me a high-ranking official or a rich and powerful businessman. But I was so dull-witted that I just simply brushed past VIPs one after another.
(1)
The first VIP I encountered was Mr. Zhang, Xiangshan, the Director of the Central Broadcasting Bureau of the People’s Republic of China. Mr. Zhang’s position was equivalent to a Vice Cabinet Minister, and he was the Number One Leader controlling the subordinate organizations of the Central Broadcasting Station, the Central TV Station and Radio Beijing (the only foreign languages broadcasting organization in China). I still remember that Mr. Zhang personally met with me one day after he heard the news that I had decided to leave Radio Beijing and try to find a new job. During the meeting, Mr. Zhang sincerely persuaded me not to leave, and he even gave me a hint that if I would work hard and continue to display my capability, my future in the broadcasting industry would be very bright. He said to me that no matter how high his position was, he would become old and retire one day. Should that day arrive, he would need a successor. In his eyes, I could be one of his successor candidates.
Upon hearing what this VIP said to me, I really felt that I was over-flattered. But I politely rejected his suggestion on my continuing to work at Radio Beijing. The reason was that even Mr. Zhang, as the Supreme Leader of China’s Central Broadcasting Bureau, was not able to solve my housing problem, I felt more hopeless. I firmly believed that my housing problem could not be solved no matter how hard I were to work at Radio Beijing. By rejecting face-to-face what Mr. Zhang suggested to me, I knew very well that it was the first time in my life to brush past a real VIP.
(2)
After hearing the fact that I had decided to leave Radio Beijing and try to find a new job, a friend of mine suggested me to go to China International Trust & Investment Corp. (CITIC in short) to try my luck. As per the arrangement by the Human Resources Department of CITIC, I went to CITIC office for an interview. After the Head of the Human Resources Department finished his interview with me, he had an additional request by telling me to undergo two English tests, one was in oral, and the other one was in writing. Fortunately, I passed both tests with flying color. A few days later, the Head of the CITIC’s Human Resources called me and said firmly over phone that they wanted to hire me as the English interpreter of Mr. Rong Yiren who was the Chairman and CEO of CITIC because they thought that my English was an excellent fit.
When I heard this piece of good news, I really felt excited because I did know what it would mean to me if I could really work under Mr. Rong directly. But at the same time, I knew clearly that my most urgent need was to solve my housing problem. Unfortunately, CITIC could not afford to provide me with any house or apartment because the Company was established not long ago, and the CITIC did not even have their own office building yet. They were just temporarily renting a few hotel rooms for their office usage. Facing such a realistic situation, I had to reject Mr. Rong’s kind suggestion of letting me become his English interpreter.
To be honest with you, in my heart, I really felt very sorry to have lost such a good opportunity. You can just imagine that Mr. Rong Yiren was not only the Chairman and CEO of CITIC, but also the Vice-Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, a very high-ranking state leader. If I would work for him, my future could be very bright. And it would be most likely for me to become a high-ranking business executive at CITIC after a certain period of working there. But I brushed past this VIP. That was the second time for me to lose a good opportunity.
(3)
The third opportunity came after I succeeded in getting transfer from Radio Beijing to Chinalight.
I still remember on the very first day of my work atChinalight, a high-ranking official, whose name was Zhou Yuner, suddenly called me. For your information, Mr. Zhou was not only the Secretary of Mr. Zheng Tuobin, Minister of Foreign Trade Ministry, but also my schoolmate. He and I all graduated from Peking Institute of Foreign Trade (it was later renamed as University of International Business and Economics), but he was three yearssenior than me. And we did know each other as schoolfellows.
I was surprised when I heard his voice because I did not know why he, a high-ranking Ministry official, would call me personally. Mr. Zhou told me over phone that he was to make an appointment with me and suggested that I should go to visit him as soon as possible. Before the phone conversation was finished, he said to me again that he was about to discuss a very important matter with me.
As per what he requested, I went to the Ministry to see Mr. Zhou the following day. After I got to the Ministry and told the security guard whom I was and whom I wished to see, the guard called Mr. Zhou immediately and informed him of my arrival. A few minutes later, Mr. Zhou came to the gate and invited me to go in. I followed him to a meeting room.
After he and I were seated, he started the conversation with me at once. He said that Minister Zheng wished that I would give up the chance of working for Chinalight, and instead, I should go to the Ministry for a new job. As for what kind of new job that would be, he clearly told me that my new position was the Ministry’s Spokesman to be. And then he asked me if I would agree or not. If I had no objection, it would be very easy for the Ministry to get me transferred from Chinalight to the Ministry because Chinalight was only a subordinate company under the Ministry’s direct jurisdiction.
After hearing what Mr. Zhou said to me, I really did not know what to say. Realizing that I kept silence without saying “yes” or “no”, Mr. Zhou continued to state that Minister Zheng deemed it necessary for the Ministry to have an official Spokesman, and the Minister thought that I could be the perfect person to fill in the position. He continued to say that Minister Zheng thought there were three reasons why I could be a qualified Spokesman.
Reason One, as an English broadcaster, I had already accumulated for five years of working experience at Radio Beijing. And I must know mass media work very well.
Reason Two, an official Foreign Ministry Spokesman must master fluent and standard English because he or she would face foreign correspondents very frequently whenever news conferences would be held. The Minister thought that I was qualified to this requirement because I used to be an English interpreter providing four years of service to Mr. Bu Ke, the Head of the Chinese Working Team in Assisting the Construction of the Tanzania-Zambian Railway in Africa (for your information, Mr. Bu was also a Vice-Minister of China’s Railways Ministry). My English must be good enough.
Reason Three, I graduated from Peking Institute of Foreign Trade, and I must have good knowledge of foreign trade affairs. “In a word, the Minister felt that you could be a qualified Spokesman after being trained for a short period of time at the Ministry”, Mr. Zhou seriously stated as a complement.
I was overjoyed upon hearing what Mr. Zhou said to me. I even felt rather proud of myself because I did not expect that a small potato like me could draw the attention from Minster Zheng, a very high-ranking official in China. But very soon, I calmed down because I suddenly thought of my housing problem which was of the priority on my list. So, I asked Mr. Zhou if my house problem could be smoothly solved immediately after my starting to work for the Ministry. Without any hesitation, Mr. Zhou gave me a reply of “Yes”. He even proudly declared that the Minister had the capability of providing me a 3-bedroom apartment after I got the transfer.
In order to take this serious matter a more careful and thoughtful consideration, I asked Mr. Zhou to give me a little bit more time to think this matter over. But I told Mr. Zhou that I would give him a confirmed reply very soon. Mr. Zhou accepted my request and then we said good-bye to each other.
After I got back home, I pondered this matter again and again. Finally I decided to continue to stay at Chinalight without being transferred to the Ministry. The reason was very simple: Chinalight treated me nicely and they already promised to give me a 3-bedroom apartment, enabling me to solve my housing problem completely. I said to myself: I must not change my mind the moment I see something new. Neither should I be devoid of gratitude!
After my final decision was made, I called Mr. Zhou next day, and told him about it. Mr. Zhou felt quite upset upon hearing my decision. He even scolded me by saying: “You are the young man who really does not appreciate what is good to you!” But before the phone conversation was ending, he changed his attitude and politely said to me that he would report this to the Minister.
I was told later that after Minister Zheng came to know my final decision, he was neither surprised, nor disappointed. He just simply smiled and then said to his secretary Mr. Zhou: “So long as this young man still works at one of the Ministry’s subordinate companies, it would be ok because he is not out of our foreign trade industry.”
But things were entirely different to me because I lost a golden opportunity of obtaining a very promising job position – the Foreign Trade Ministry’s Spokesman. This kind of opportunity is something which only comes by luck, not by searching for it!
(4)
After I started to work for Export Division NO. 2 under Chinalight, an extraordinary VIP came into my life. This VIP was Mr. Li Haoran, Division Chief of Export Division NO. 2, my direct superior as well as my good friend.
I still remember that in the third year of my working for Chinalight, Mr. Li got transferred from Chinalight to another big national company, which was called China National Silk Products Imp. & Exp. Corp. (Chinasilk in short). The reason of his transfer was that Chinasilk gave him the promotion from a Division Chief to the Vice-President of ChinasilkHead Office (Mr. Li could not be promoted if he would continue to work for Chinalight. Please read Chapter 16 untitled “An ‘Outlier’ in Official Circles” for details).
As Mr. Li’s old subordinate and a good friend, I went to Chinasilk to visit him from time to time. When I met him at his office and we began to talk, he always suggested me to say good-bye to Chinalight and come to Chinasilk for a fresh start. He was sure that he had the power and right to give me a better future: I would be promoted from an ordinary staff member to a Deputy Division Chief. I appreciated Mr. Li’s kindness, but I declined his suggestion because I knew that I was a person who would always show my sincere gratitude to the one who helped me when I needed. Since Chinalight was treating me very well, there would be no reason for getting transferred to Chinasilk. As far as my promotion was concerned, I did believe that as long as I continue to work hard and perform well at Chinalight, sooner or later I would definitely be promoted (two years later, I became the Deputy Chief of Export Division NO. 2).
It was due to Mr. Li’s outstanding work performances, two more years later, he was transferred to China Foreign Trade Ministry and appointed as the Director of Foreign Trade Administration Bureau, becoming a very powerful and decisive leading official at the Ministry. For your information, Foreign Trade Administration Bureau controlled the whole nation’s export and import products licenses and quotas. Without Mr. Li’s signature for the approval of export or import licenses issuing, no provincial or city leveled companies or manufacturers could get quotas for importing or exporting some restricted products. Even though he had already become a “big” VIP, he still took me, his old subordinate, as his personal and close friend.
One day, I went to the Ministry for a business meeting. After the meeting was over, I stepped into Mr. Li’s office for a special visit. Since Mr. Li and I had been old friends for years, we could talk freely and casually. Pointing at the sofa which I was sitting at, Mr. Li proudly said to me: “Don’t look down upon this PVC sofa in front of you, dear Gong. I must tell you that I really do not remember how many VIPs, who were titled as high as Provincial Governors or big City Mayors, had sat at this sofa and imploring me to issue them licenses for obtaining export or import quota”. Realizing that I was listening to him intently, he smiled satisfactorily, and then told me a few interesting stories on how some governors and mayors negotiated with him for getting licenses. Listening to what Mr. Li was saying to me, I couldn’t help admiring him a lot. And I did show my respect to him from the bottom of my heart.
Before that long conversation was over, Mr. Li suddenly asked me if I would be interested in working for his Bureau? Seeing I looked confused and did not say anything, he further stated to me: “Please come tomy Bureau to start your new and bright future. I will firstly give you a position of the Division Chief of the most important Division under this Bureau. Two years later, you will be promoted to be the Deputy Director, whose ranking will be immediately under me. When my retirement time arrives, I will definitely recommend you to the Minister as my replacementfor the position of the Director”!
I could not believe my ears after hearing what he mentioned to me. I knew very well this was a brilliant and ideal blueprint Mr. Li had drawn for me! It was obvious that my old boss was going to give me a golden chance of my becoming a high-ranking and powerful official at the Foreign Trade Ministry. I thanked Mr. Li sincerely and asked him to allow me to think of this matter over and then I would give hima reply. He agreed, and then I said good-bye to him.
After I went back home, I thought of this matter again and again. And finally I said “No” to Mr. Li because I knew that I should not leave Chinalight, who was so kind to my family and me. Just after I began to work for Chinalight, they did provide me with a 3-bedroom apartment and solved my housing issue completely. I was not supposed to “betray” Chinalight.
Another golden chance was lost!
(5)
A few months later, I went to the Foreign Trade Ministry again for business. This time, I was going to visit another high-ranking official whose name was Zhou Xiaochuan, the Director of another Bureau under the Ministry. While mentioning of Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan, I must tell you that he was a very famous figure in the Chinese official circles. After a few years’ stay at the Foreign Trade Ministry, he was appointed by the Chinese Government as the Director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. A few years later, he became the President and Chairman of the People’s Bank of China (China’s Central Bank). And now he is the Vice-Chairman of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA in short).
Mr. Zhou did not know me when I first visited him at his office. When I stepped into his office, he was just in the middle of a phone conversation with someone. After the phone talk was over, he turned to me and asked me for the reason of visiting. I immediately presented him an official letter of introduction, which stated clearly the purpose of my visit. After having a quick reading of the letter, he invited me to sit down at the chair in front of him. And then he said to me that he would not be able to talk to me until one urgent and important document was drafted. Since Mr. Zhou’s ranking was much higher than mine, I could say nothing but followed his instruction.
Where I waited for him for quite a long time, but he was still burying himself in document drafting. It seemed to me that he was not ready to start the conversation with me any time soon. A long time waiting made me feel rather bored, so I tried to see if there were any books or magazines around because reading could definitely help me kill the waiting time.
There was indeed a magazine which was named “Red Flag” sitting at a corner of Mr. Zhou’s huge desk. For your information, the magazine “Red Flag” was an influential reading material for most of the high-ranking officials in China. I picked up the magazine and began to have a quick browsing. When I opened the Magazine and turned it over to a certain page, an article entitled “My Viewpoints on China’s Macroeconomic Development” attracted me. It was just at the moment of my starting to read it when I suddenly found that the writer’s name was Dai Yuanchen. I must tell you that Mr. Dai was one of the most famous economists in China. In the 1970s and 1980s, Mr. Dai was even regarded as the most authoritative economist in China’s macroeconomics research. Further more, Mr. Dai was my cousin because his mother-in-law was my mother’s younger sister. As it was beyond my expectation, I involuntarily mumbled out a sentence of “there is also an article written by Dai Yuanchen”?
Mr. Zhou Xiaochun heard what I mumbled and immediately stopped his writing. He raised up his head, asking me: “You know Mr. Dai Yuanchen?” I nodded my head and told him the relations between him and me. After Mr. Zhou came to know that Mr. Dai was my cousin, he gave up his important document drafting and began to talk to me. He told me that Mr. Dai was his Ph.D. Supervisor when he studied at the Chinese Academy of Social Science. It might be due to the fact that I was his teacher’s relative that Mr. Zhou treated me courteously, and the conversation between him and me went well. He not only listened to me intently, but also promised to meet all the requirements which were raised up by my Company. When the meeting was over, Mr. Zhou shook my hands, saying: “From now on, you can come to see me at any time if you wish. If you or your company have or has any difficulties, please just come to tell me. I will try my best to help you”.
Obviously, a new golden opportunity was knocking at my door. If I wished, I could purposefully strengthen my personal relations with Mr. Zhou. With his help and guidance, I could even have a much better future in my business career. But in reality, since I met with Mr. Zhou that time, I had no more contact with him at all. I know that this was my fifth time to brush past a VIP.
(6)
In March of 1987, Chinalight authorities sent me to USA to work as the President of its overseas company. And this company’s line of products wereleather wallets and purses, and our production basis was in the mainland China. In order to purchase better-quality accessories such as zippers, hyaline membrane and glue, I had to travel from New York to Hong Kong frequently because the Hong Kongmarket could always provide less expensive but good quality products. Besides this accessories purchasing, I also wanted to visit my old friend Chen Xiangyao, owner of a large and influential labor safety products company in Hong Kong.
Mr. Chen used to be my business customer when I worked as the Deputy Division Chief of Chinalight’sExport Division NO. 2. At that time, I was in charge of the whole nation’s leather working gloves export. You should not belittle this product of leather working gloves. As a matter of fact, this was a “key” product among all the related light industrial products which were managed by Chinalight. At least in our Export Division NO. 2, the product of leather working gloves played an extremely important role. Our annual export value of leather working gloves was over one hundred million US Dollars. And the leather working gloves were mainly exported to those developed countries or regions of the United States, Japan and Europe.
In order to manage product export well and control the product quality, export licenses were required. And I was the person who had the authority to issuelicenses to the branch companies concerned nationwide. Since Hong Kong was the most important transit seaport, and there were too many buyers of this product. And therefore our Export Division NO.2 strictly selected eight large and important labor safety products companies as our fixed customers. Through out Hong Kong, only those eight companies were allowed to buy the leather working gloves from mainland China and then distribute the goods to the rest of the world. Of course, by doing so, they could earn a reasonable price difference profit. And Mr. Chen’s company was one of those big “Eight Leather Working Glove Buyers” in Hong Kong.
After a few years’ cooperation with those Eight Hong Kong Buyers, I had finally found that Mr. Chen’s company was the best. Many facts proved that Mr. Chen was a businessman with honesty and integrity. And he and his company conducted business with the Chinese suppliers concerned in a fair and reasonable way. Most importantly, Mr. Chen was very cooperative whenever my Division needed his assistance or help. Even though he knew clearly that I was the decisive person in China’s leather working glove export business, he never purposefully tried to be close with me. Neither he used any special means to make me feel happy so that he could win my trust. Mr. Chen’s outstanding work performance and business devotion had won him a good reputation both in Hong Kong and the mainland of China.
When I was the Deputy Division Chief who was in charge of the Chinese working gloves business, I never gave Mr. Chen any special treatment or favor even though he and I were very friendly with each other whenever we met either in Hong Kong or China. I had not visited him and his company quite often until I left Chinalight Head Office and became the President of Chinalight’s overseas branch company in USA.
In order to purchase the good quality accessories for our leather goods, I started to cooperate with Mr. Chen’s company. After several business transactions were done, I felt that the prices quoted by Mr. Chen were always the most reasonable (for your information, I not only bought accessories from Chen’s company, but also from another good Hong Kong supplier). Gradually, Mr. Chen became my personal friend.
Whenever I planed to visit Hong Kong and Mr. Chen was pre-noticed, he always personally met with me at Hong Kong Airport. And then he would drive me to the hotel. One thing must be mentioned here was that each time, Mr. Chen booked the hotel room for me in advance, and then he insisted on knowing the number of the room I would lodge at. While driving his car to the airport to pick me up, Mr. Chen would call his office manager and tell him to buy a large bunch of flowers. After the flowers were purchased, the manager must get to my hotel room and put the flowers into a vase. And then the vase would be placed on the table. As soon as I stepped into my hotel room and saw the beautiful flowers, I would feel very happy and comfortable. It showed Mr. Chen’s special respect to me. With time passing by, Mr. Chen finally became my intimate friend in Hong Kong.
One time I visited Hong Kong again. After Mr. Chen sent me to the hotel room, he did not leave the room at once as what you usually did. (For your information, he usually would accompany me to the hotel and then told me to have a short rest first. Then he would leave the hotel. When evening came, he would come to my hotel again, inviting me to dinner). But this time, things were different. Instead, he did not leave my hotel room. He told me that he would have something important to discuss with me. By nodding my head, I expressed my readiness to listen to him.
After he and I were seated, Mr. Chen told me that recently he did not feel well physically, but the company business was developing rapidly. Since he felt very tired from time to time, he could not do as much work as he usually did. In order to let the company continue to develop healthily, he sincerely suggested that I could leave Chinalight and get to Hong Kong to join his company. The prerequisites of my joining his company were the following:
One, I would be his company’s CEO while he would still be the Chairman of the Board of Directors, as well as the owner.
Two, my first year’s starting salary would be one million HK Dollars plus a rather attractive bonus every year.
Three, as the company’s CEO, I would be responsible for the company’s overall work while Mr. Chen, the Chairman, would concentrate on taking care of his health. If necessary, he would be hospitalized.
You cannot imagine that in China’s early 1990s, the amount of one hundred million Hong Kong Dollars was really an enormous figure! With this big amount of money as my annual income, I would easily become a millionaire in a few years. Besides, I could get extra but big bonus money as well. It seemed to me that my future would be very bright if I would accept his proposal and move to Hong Kong to start my new business career.
But I had to face the reality at that time: I was a government official, and the company I served was one of China’s largest national foreign trade enterprises. That real situation would not allow me to leave the government organization and join a Hong Kong private company. I opted to decline what Mr. Chen offered. As a result, I lost my life’s best opportunity of becoming a rich and powerful man!
Unfortunately, Mr. Chen died of liver cancer two years later. He was only 58 years old when he passed away. It was a great pity that Hong Kong lost a business elite and I lost a bosom friend!
(7)
Last but not least time I brushed past a VIP was when I worked in the USA, being the President of two large and strong overseas branch companies under Chinalight.
Since the two companies I served in the United Stateswere backed by Chinalight, an influential national enterprise with powerful financial strength, I could easily win the trust from Bank of China, New YorkBranch. But from my side, I had to try my best to establish good business relations with this bank because we did need their financial support in our business transactions. Every year, the two companies, which were headed by me, handled over two hundred million US Dollars businesses in both import and export deals. The Bank of China, New York Brach always helped us in terms of finance and credit.
After a certain period excellent business cooperation, Mr. Wang, President of Bank of China’s New YorkBranch, became my personal friend, and our relations were very close.
Every year when Christmas was to arrive, Mr. Wang and his wife (she was also my good friend) would take their subordinates, such as the Vice-President and some Department Managers, to Stamford, Connecticut, where my company was located, to spend the holiday together with my office people. On Christmas eve, we always held a big party at a five-star hotel close to our office building. It was a wonderful time for both the Bank people and my company staff members to enjoy the holiday together. After the party was over, Mr. Wang and his followers would spend the night at that five-star hotel, and my company would sponsor. And they would not leave Stamford for New York until the following afternoon. Year after year, it was like this. Gradually, the relations between Mr. Wang and me had been further enhanced.
Two years later, Mr. Wang got transferred from Bank of China to China Everbright Bank. To give him a promotion, China Everbright Bank appointed him as the Vice-President of Everbright Bank Head Office, as well as the President of their Hong Kong Branch.
When he was about to leave New York for Hong Kong, he purposefully called me and let me come to New York for a meeting. After I got to his office and started conversation, he sincerely invited me to go to Hong Kong together with him. He promised that he would give me a very high position at EverbrightHong Kong Bank. And my salary would be rather attractive.
After hearing what Mr. Wang suggested, I really appreciated him for his good offer. But I declined Mr. Wang’s kindness. The reason was very simple: I majored on international business at the university and foreign trade work was my bread and butter. As far as the banking and financing businesses were concerned, I had no knowledge at all. I was not supposed to fill a post without real qualifications.
Again, I brushed past a VIP!
(END)
About the Author:
Ruzhong Gong (Ralph Gong), born in Shanghai, China, now living in the USA.
Graduated From the English Department of Universityof International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
Before retirement, President of an USA overseas company under China National Light Industrial Products Imp. & Exp. Corp.; President of a joint-venture company in USA, jointly owned by Australia’s Lief Group Company and China National Chemical Products Imp. & Exp. Corp.; President of an American Brach Corp. under China National Foreign Trade Bases Corp.; Chief Representative in Beijing Office under Trade Am, an American Carpets Wholesale Company.
Author of 6 books, including “My Life—Family, Career & VIPs”, “How to Do Business in Mainland of China”, “My Leisure Time”, “My Leisure Time—Poems & Articles” , “Poems and Essays from Leisure Chamber” and “Flowers By My Side”.
Member of the Chinese Poetry Society (CPS), Free Lance Writer for Austrian Sinopress, and Senior Consultant for Taiwan Caiwei Publishing House.
龔如仲：生于上海，中國(guó)對(duì)外經(jīng)濟(jì)貿(mào)易大學(xué)英語(yǔ)系畢業(yè)，畢業(yè)后奔赴非洲任鐵道部援建坦贊鐵路工作組總部英語(yǔ)翻譯，中國(guó)國(guó)際廣播電臺(tái)英語(yǔ)部英語(yǔ)播音員、記者，外貿(mào)部中國(guó)輕工業(yè)品進(jìn)出口總公司出口二處業(yè)務(wù)員、副處長(zhǎng)，外貿(mào)部輕工業(yè)品進(jìn)出口總公司駐美國(guó)公司總裁（處長(zhǎng)）。
有關(guān)作品：
自2012年至2016年，臺(tái)灣采薇出版社出版自傳【歲月如重】（該書(shū)已被香港中文大學(xué)圖書(shū)館、美國(guó)紐約市立圖書(shū)館和澳大利亞國(guó)家圖書(shū)館作為自傳體作品正式收藏），【東西南北中國(guó)人---細(xì)談如何在大陸做生意】，【悠然時(shí)光】和【悠然時(shí)光---如仲詩(shī)語(yǔ)】。
2018年4月，中國(guó)國(guó)際廣播出版社出版【悠然齋詩(shī)文選】
2018年9月，中國(guó)國(guó)際廣播出版社出版【花兒在身邊開(kāi)放】
2019年4月，臺(tái)灣采薇出版社出版英文書(shū)【My Life—Family, Career & VIPs】
作者現(xiàn)為中華詩(shī)詞學(xué)會(huì)會(huì)員、中國(guó)經(jīng)典文學(xué)網(wǎng)特約作家、臺(tái)灣采薇出版社資深顧問(wèn)、奧地利英文網(wǎng)Sinopress特聘專欄作家、北美北斗星文學(xué)社副社長(zhǎng)、副總編輯。
