Tong Anan, after four layovers and nearly fifty hours of travel, finally arrived at the local branch office of the company stationed in South Africa.
The man who came to pick her up was a middle-aged man, over 1.8 meters tall, strong and sturdy, wearing glasses. He was her direct supervisor at work.
After a brief introduction, Tong Anan learned his name was Li Kai.
Li Kai had been working in South Africa for nearly ten years and had worked in many of the Zhan Group's branch offices in various African countries, making him very familiar with the region.
His wife had been brought over from China after they got married, and their child was born here, making him almost a local.
He had driven a slightly older seven-seater minivan, still the domestic "divine car," a Wuling Hongguang.
Dusty and worn, he helped Tong Anan load her suitcase into the car.
"Use my phone to call home and let them know you've arrived safely. Get your ID card ready. We'll pass by a service hall later, and I'll take you to get a local number."
Tong Anan felt a bit embarrassed to use his phone. "It's not urgent. I'll call later. International calls are quite expensive."
"It's fine," Li Kai said, being very easygoing and generous. "Just tell them the important things. The company has a special communication subsidy, so it won't cost much."
If Tong Anan refused again, it would seem petty. She had no choice but to accept the offer, dialing Jiang Jingyu.
The call was hung up after one ring. Tong Anan thought he didn't answer unknown numbers, and was about to return Li Kai's phone when he called back.
"Anan."
Hearing his familiar, steady voice, Tong Anan's nose tingled, and she almost shed tears.
Afraid Li Kai would see and laugh at her, she turned her head away. "Mm."
"You've arrived?"
"Mm."
"Is this your colleague's phone?"
"Yes."
"Was the journey smooth?"
"Mm."
"Just arrived?"
"Mm."
"Still on the way?"
"Yes."
"Tired?"
"Not too bad."
"How do you feel about the place?"
Tong Anan glanced outside.
The sky was clear and vast, a brilliant blue. The journey had been through sparsely populated areas with little vegetation. The heat of Africa was not an exaggeration.
However, the expansive view had a positive impact on her mood. Looking into the distance, she inexplicably felt a sense of open-mindedness and a surge of joyful motivation.
Her sadness vanished, replaced by the joy of facing a new beginning.
"It's quite nice."
Jiang Jingyu could sense the change in her mood from her tone before and after. Feeling that she was a bit happier, he also felt happy.
"Then be happy. Chat with your colleague first, get familiar with the environment. Have some food, and rest. Let me know your new number, and I'll call you again later."
"Okay."
"Don't be afraid. I'm always here. Zhan Group will always be here. You'll be fine."
The car drove along a deserted, bumpy cement road, stretching endlessly.
The hot wind blew past. Li Kai was telling her about the history of the place. As he spoke, he noticed she was sweating.
"We have quite strict budgets for expenses when we're abroad, and it's quite troublesome to get gas here. So, to save fuel, we don't turn on the air conditioning. Please don't mind."
Tong Anan said it was fine. "The breeze is quite nice."
As they became more familiar, Li Kai couldn't help but ask her.
"You're quite young. Why did the company decide to send you here?"
"I volunteered. It's my first time abroad since I grew up. I wanted to see the world and broaden my horizons."
Li Kai chuckled. "It was similar for me. I joined Zhan Group right after graduating from university. After working for two years, I got this opportunity. For the sake of earning money, I gritted my teeth and came."
"My first time abroad was in a war-torn country, but honestly, it was quite interesting. After staying for a while, I even felt a bit reluctant to go back."
Unfettered and free, Tong Anan also deeply felt that being in such an environment was more comfortable than being in a cubicle.
She just wondered if she would feel lonely after a long time.
They chatted all the way and finally reached the end of the road.
The vast view disappeared instantly, replaced by rows of streets.
The streets of what was called a big city were actually similar to the style of Tong Anan's small town from over a decade ago.
Low buildings, with a strong sense of history at first glance, their exterior walls were mottled and peeling.
The ground was a mix of cement roads and dirt, all uneven.
With so many people coming and going, even dust could be seen flying in the sunlight.
The shop entrances all had signs with names she couldn't understand, and the chattering of people was all in a language she couldn't comprehend.
This was the first time Tong Anan had seen such a vibrant, authentic foreign scene. Before she could even be shocked, her eyes widened, and she kept looking as if absorbing knowledge.
The car weaved through the crowd and stopped in front of a shop with Chinese characters.
A China Mobile service hall, partnered with Zhan Group, appeared before her.
The three staff members inside were all Chinese. After some pleasantries, they processed a SIM card for Tong Anan, and she was then taken towards the branch office.
On the way, Li Kai told her that the dormitory was ready, but the conditions were a bit basic. She could move in and rest first, and then tidy it up later.
The so-called dormitory was actually a rented four-story residential building, and Tong Anan was assigned a room.
The room was bare, with no bed, no chair, and no decorations. Fortunately, there was no trash, just a square cement box.
Fortunately, there was water and electricity, and a small room had been partitioned off as a bathroom. Tong Anan found it acceptable.
Li Kai proudly showed off the bathroom to her.
"Not every household has one. It's considered a high-end amenity here. Our company renovated it uniformly for employees. They even paid the landlord extra for the plumbing to be installed."
"People here are not very particular about hygiene. Even those living in the city often use public toilets or simply... you know. So, you should pay attention to hygiene."
Tong Anan said she understood. Li Kai made a few trips, helping her move her luggage upstairs. He was so drenched in sweat that Tong Anan felt very embarrassed.
Li Kai was indeed tired and didn't want to make more trips. He asked her if she could drive.
"I can drive, but I'm not very experienced with manual transmissions, and my skills aren't great."
"It's okay. There are fewer cars here. We can find an empty space another day and you can practice more, and your skills will improve. Come to my place for dinner, rest for a while, and I'll take you out to buy daily necessities in the afternoon."
Tong Anan felt hesitant to go, but Li Kai said, "Don't be so polite with me. Once you're here, we're family. We'll have many opportunities to help each other in the future. I've already told your sister-in-law, and she's prepared dinner. Let's go."
They went down two floors and knocked on the door of room 201. A fair-skinned, plump woman wearing an apron, dressed simply but smiling sweetly and warmly, opened the door.
Seeing Tong Anan, she enthusiastically invited her in.
With such a warm sister-in-law, Tong Anan felt much more at ease.
After dinner, she helped Li Kai's wife wash the dishes, and then they went out onto the street again.