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"With You All the Way"
Since I came to the United States to study, I have rarely had the opportunity to return to my hometown. I had no money when I was studying, and no time after working. After I got married and had children, I had no money and no time to go back. So every time I went back to my hometown, I always tried to do something valuable along the way.
After two and a half years abroad, I graduated from graduate school at Tulane University in New Orleans. I immediately found an internship opportunity in the city government and quickly returned to Taiwan to visit relatives during the Christmas holiday. Guilin is a classmate in our middle school and a friend for many years, and we still keep in touch. He is quick-thinking and quick-thinking. After graduating from college, he started “promoting his career” and has now opened his own company. When he learned that I would be returning to China, he asked me to bring him a set of the most popular Callaway golf equipment from the United States.
Very valuable purchase
"You must buy that type of club, because when you hit it, it will make a "yeah!" sound, which is terrible on the driving range! Although no one seems to be looking at you, you know that everyone is secretly looking for you. Where did the sound come from?" He said excitedly and mysteriously. It seemed that the sound could make these strangers play a game of "guess the leader" in the training ground. In this game, the person who is the "ghost" I wish everyone would catch him quickly. This is something Taiwanese are proud of. As long as there is that sound, few people care which direction the ball flies.
Because I didn’t have much luggage when I went back to visit relatives this time, and it was a great pleasure for me to purchase for others, I agreed.
It was late autumn in New Orleans, warm and humid, and a heavy rain in the afternoon washed every car in the city. I drove to the shopping mall with Christmas music playing on the radio. When I entered the sports goods store, the various products could not divert my attention at all. On the one hand, it was because I did not understand golf at all. On the other hand, Guilin had already told me that the model name was Big Bertha. Fairly fluent.
The boss is a Middle Easterner. He asked me several questions and I couldn't answer them. But he still explained to me very diligently that probably that set of golf equipment was really top-notch. As long as the sword could be sold, it would be a hero or a bear. It doesn’t matter in my hands! As this was not enough, I followed the boss's suggestion and placed items on the counter one by one that could highlight my status. When I was paying, I thought, I made a special trip to carry a bag of clubs back for him, but I would have to charge some shipping fee, so I asked the boss to add a percentage and give me a separate receipt. This Middle Eastern man didn't seem to have the annoying uprightness of ordinary white people. He prepared all my things with a smile and packed them properly so that I could deliver them when I got on the plane.
Two or three days after returning to Taiwan, I had a dinner with some old friends in Guilin and handed him the whole bag. He smiled from ear to ear, and the lingering sound of the practice field may have been ringing in his ears. Without even looking at the receipt, he gave me the money and treated me to a meal. I was not afraid of him finding out, nor felt guilty. I thought it was nothing to get a commission for his work, not to mention, he wouldn't care. This little money. This happy gathering made my return to China very "valuable".
A more valuable touch
A year after returning to the United States, I decided to respond to God’s call and become a preacher, so I quit my job and entered a seminary. After graduation, I went to serve. During my prayers and reflections, God often revealed to me one by one the words and deeds I had owed and blackmailed others from in the past. Later, I was moved to confess my sins to Guilin. I thought of many reasons: "He won't care." ", "It's just a little money," "It wouldn't be embarrassing to mention it after so many years." It goes on like this year after year.
Last year I went back to Taiwan for a short-term missionary trip, and I held on to the emotion in my heart. I thought that when I returned to China this year, I would do something valuable. Before I left, I went to Sam's Club to choose a good club. I still didn't know how to choose this time. I just wanted to admit my guilt and it was not difficult to choose.
After the "short-term mission", I stayed for a few days and called Guilin. He asked a group of our old friends to go to his house for dinner, so I went with my clubs and an uneasy heart. Now I realize that when I stand under a bush to plead guilty, it’s not just the flesh on my back that bleeds. I really don’t know how this group of non-Christian friends will react to this incident.
Everyone already has several children, reminding me that I have been abroad for thirteen years. A table of wine and food was surrounded by seven or eight adults (many wives were also present), children were running around, and the volume of electric toys was not too low. After three rounds of drinks and five delicious dishes, I took out my clubs and told the whole story, "... So this time I brought a club back to apologize to you! Please forgive me for overcharging you and not telling you." ." There was a sudden silence, no one knew what to say, and the air on the table was so solemn that it could be cut into jelly.
"The set you helped me carry in the past was really good. I still use it now." He finally burst out. "Let's watch TV! I have a DVD of the Eagles after their reunion!" In fact, some people haven't finished eating yet and seem to have no appetite.
Although this meeting was not as beneficial to everyone as the last time, when I walked out of his building, I felt as relaxed as if I had just come out of prison.
＊To taste friendship, please read the fifth cup of Life Supplement "With You All the Way"