A relationship of significance

When cleaning the messy drawers in my office, I saw a small note written on a notepad. It was an interesting contract between me and my then-top-sales and share holder Hugo. On it I wrote in Chinese "我帶 Grace 去歐洲兩週 ASAP" with my signature. He then wrote "I will work overtime to help and if necessary I will bring my wife to help" with his signature. We have a witness, which I don't recall exactly who he was, but from the signature, I think he is Robert Wu, then visitor from Taiwan, who is also our VIP vendor, ex-colleague and life time friend.

This child-like commitment was made on 1998 on my wife's cry of hunger for visiting Eurpe, as she has never been there before.

Right now after 10 years, the European trip was finished last month (a little bit too late for my promise! sorry Grace). Hugo has finished his mission by pushing our business to prosperity for years before he decided to work part time. He is now spending more time in his building business. He just sold his house at 1.8 million while the construction cost is far less than one million. This earning is just a fraction of what he earned. I would say his career earning is more than twice, or even three times of mine. He is talented with figures, and his devotion in construction met with the best boom in real estate, even though he may work it during the full employement, which I don't care much. I would say that he is just a dragon out of the ocean. He can't be in a small pond that I have here.

Sometimes I feel a little sourness of jealousy for his greater success than me. However, thinking back, he can be my pride as well. When he was hired by me on 1992, he was a salesman in swap meet, a new immigrant from Mexico. With time of training on job, with his gifted foundation as a salesman, he made good busienss. As the owner, I got the lift and increased my income level too. From time to time, I still have to make some demand, or discipline since he is still an employee of part time while I have the duty as the CEO, however, I still consider such relationship valuable and significant that will be well remembered for life.

I have made a very hearty mourning peom for my employer Mr. Hu early this month when he passed away, I don't know how he look at me when I die... This is something I am curious, but I cannot expect much because he is a younger generation which certainly less sensitive than us, besides he is a Westerner whois not influenced by our Chinese culture about eatign fruit while thanking the tree.

In life, I consider it is better be appreciated than be complained or hated. I think this is one of some chapters I can keep for myself as a person.