"Foreign friends are coming to visit. This is a major matter for our county, and we cannot slack off. The city has issued instructions for us to handle the reception properly and not affect foreigners' impression of us. I called you here today to settle the specific reception arrangements."
In the county meeting room, the entire county committee was present. Secretary Gong drank tea like a ceremonial mascot, while County Magistrate Xu chaired the meeting. Those attending included the heads of relevant county departments; the leadership cadres of the textile mill, headed by Factory Director Old Qi and Wang Yan; as well as the heads of the loom, shoe, and garment factories.
"Wang Yan, you're the most capable one here, and you know foreign languages. You'll definitely have to accompany them as an interpreter. You're also the principal person in charge, so go ahead and tell us what you think."
Wang Yan did not stand on ceremony and spoke directly.
"Regarding receiving these foreign devils, the first thing we need to make clear is this: foreign devils are not the fathers of us Chinese. There's no need to bow and scrape or curry favor with them. I see some comrades immediately putting themselves in an inferior position. That's bad—very bad!
"We needn't look down on them from above, but at the very least, we should meet them eye to eye. Don't talk about how we're less developed than foreign countries, and don't lose your conscience just for a bit of foreign exchange. They may be developed now, but sooner or later, we'll surpass them.
"They absolutely cannot throw their weight around here! No matter how awesome those foreign devils think they are, didn't we take on the twenty-two-nation coalition in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea? In