Gu Jun, gold winner of the badminton women’s doubles at the recent Sydney Olympic Games, cherishes an even bigger reward from her previous gold medal at the Atlanta games four years ago.
At that time, the No. 4 Textile Machining Mill of Wuxi city, Jiangsu Province, headed by her father, Gu Deyuan, was on the brink of bankruptcy with debts of 7 million yuan. To save the enterprise, Mr. Gu raised a bank loan on the security of his daughter’s gold medal.
Mr. Jin, who is in charge of the enterprise’s business affairs, said the entire work force were deeply touched by what Mr. Gu had done. They worked hard and the enterprise soon took a favorable turn.
“There are so many clients who know and like Gu Jun,” said Mr. Jin. “When they learn our factory director is her father, they are willing to cooperate with us.”
In the first nine months of this year, the factory’s profit equaled the total gained in the enterprise’s entire 40-year history, and is expected to exceed 100 million yuan by the end of this year.
“The gold medal that saved the enterprise is the most significant award I have ever won,” said Gu Jun. “Of course, an Olympic gold medal is a great honor. However, if it can bring something more important for the benefit of lots of people, I feel even more glorious.”
Gu Jun said that she loves her father very much and is always willing to share joys and sorrows with him, declaring: “Even if the enterprise had still failed, I would not have blamed him.”
A couple of days, after Gu Jun received her Sydney Olympic medal, the entire work force ate “longevity noodles,” a local custom to celebrate success and to wish somebody good luck.
(CIIC 10/10/2000)
