Chapter 20: Sharpening the Knife and Slaughtering the Sheep

  "Mr. Hua, you need to know that our time is limited." In a foreign-related hotel in the imperial capital, Xia Zhendong glanced at his Shanghai watch and said: "If there's anything, please state it quickly. We need to rush to the department to report some situations."

  Huo is now very embarrassed, Xia Zhendong and others have indeed been invited to come. But the expression didn't give a good look. Came up and directly gave Huo a scolding.

  "Mr. Xia, this time we didn't have any malicious intentions. First of all, I want to apologize for our behavior last time to you and the other experts..." Nelson saw that Hol was silent, so he stood up and said.

  "To express our apologies, we have decided to expand and cooperate with all the experts after applying to the headquarters..." Nelson said, clearing his throat and looking at Hall.

  At this time, Holl stood up and said to Xia Zhendong and others: "I have applied for permission from the headquarters, and after discussion by the board of directors, we decided to cooperate with you experts on the hot fog machine project..."

  Liu Lao and the others couldn't help but laugh at this, and it seemed that Huo had indeed not disappointed Liang Sanping's expectations and was truly here to make amends. Since Liang Sanping had guessed correctly, then let them handle this matter well.

  So, although Old Liu and other old experts all understood English, they still remained silent. They sat in their chairs with gloomy faces, waiting for Liang Sanping and the others to come and resolve this matter.

  This is a foreign-related hotel. There are not many such hotels in the imperial capital now. So, the decoration here is already extremely luxurious in Liu Lao's eyes.

  But this is nothing to Liang Sanping, the golden age of future hotels is something that Liu Lao and others have never seen before. The rapid development of later generations has led to a large number of luxury hotels and luxury brands competing to enter China.

  Liang Sanping naturally didn't lack experience with these hotels and luxury goods. Even in the later Bao Ting, a small county town with just over 1 million people, there were three five-star hotels.

  "Mr. Hall, we are delighted with the decision made by your company. However, cooperation requires both parties to show goodwill and sincerity. If I don't feel that from your company, this cooperation is hard for me to accept..."

  The foreign affairs personnel accompanying him on the side couldn't help but change their expression upon hearing this. However, they saw this foreign affairs personnel say in a deep voice: "Comrade Xiao Liang, please be mindful of your words! Your speeches here represent the country's image abroad..."

  Liang Sanping smiled and stopped talking. A person needs to be clear about their identity and position, sometimes you can speak, sometimes you cannot.

  "This comrade, first of all, we are just coordinating with the foreign affairs department. Secondly, it's not that we took the initiative to come here and meet with Mr. Holl and others..."

  Xia Zhendong scowled and directly hummed at the person from the Foreign Affairs Department. Xia Zhendong wasn't afraid of the Foreign Affairs Department, so what if he went back to make a small report?!

  We belong to the Agricultural Reclamation Department and do not come under your Foreign Affairs Department. If you want to put us in a difficult position, you won't be able to succeed. Upon hearing this, that person from Foreign Affairs couldn't help but change his expression.

  He opened his mouth to say something, but seeing the faces of Liu Lao and several other experts, he had to shut up. He wasn't a fool, he could tell that these few experts were also very displeased with the two Americans.

  Regarding the conflict between Hol and them at Qiongzhoukou, Director Gou spread it out as soon as he returned to the Imperial Capital. Of course, the content was that an American company wanted to provide assistance, but was met with a proud refusal from the experts of both houses.

  This foreign affairs personnel also had some hearsay about this matter, so he was somewhat dismissive of this meeting. However, under the strong request of Hol and others, he contacted Xia Zhendong and others.

  If it weren't for Liang Sanping's guess, Xia Zhendong and others didn't want to meet with Hol at all. Both sides had torn their faces apart, and Xia Zhendong and the old experts didn't have the habit of being beaten in front of them.

  "Comrade Xia Zhendong! I hope you know that your words and actions in front of foreign guests are not correct! You must correct your attitude and not tarnish the country's image!"

  Liang Sanping couldn't help but reveal a cold smile upon hearing this, and saw him hugging his arm looking at this foreign affairs personnel and said: "So what's your point?! Should we kneel down and lick the toes of this 'foreign guest'?! He cursed our mother, and we still have to bow our heads and thank him if it felt good or not?!"

  As soon as Liang Sanping's words came out, everyone's face turned strange. Xia Zhendong wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, while the foreign affairs personnel was so angry that his face turned red from Liang Sanping's words.

  "You... you... are so uncouth! So indecent!!" The foreign affairs personnel was directly infuriated, his hand trembling as he pointed at Liang Sanping: "I want to report this to your leaders! How can someone like you be considered a national civil servant?!"

  "I'm his leader, in my opinion Comrade Xiao Liang's words were a bit rough but the principle is not rough!" Old Liu let out a cold hum and stood up saying: "When interacting with foreigners, we must be even more careful! We can't let people look down on us or humiliate us, and still try to curry favor! That would be even more embarrassing!"

  This foreign affairs personnel had also made inquiries before coming. He knew that Liu Lao and those old experts were not people he could afford to offend, even though they were all doing research in their ivory towers without asking about worldly matters.

  But it's not certain which student from a particular family is in charge of that department, they are the ones who cannot be offended. Even top leaders often take time to listen to reports from these old experts.

  Offending these old experts is absolutely harmful and has no benefits.

  "Mr. Holl, you don't have to beat around the bush either. We don't have time for that now." Xia Zhendong smiled and said, "We already know about your situation. That Director Gou has spread the news of your conflict with us everywhere. He even revealed the threatening words you spoke..."

  "The impact of this matter now is not caused by us. If you want to eliminate the impact, then you need to take out your sincerity..."

  Huo's face turned extremely ugly upon hearing this. He had also been furious at the time and had spoken those harsh words in a fit of anger, but afterwards he felt that he had been too impulsive.

  But thinking that this matter was actually spread by that smiling old fellow who had entertained himself, he couldn't help but feel hatred and his teeth itched with anger.

  "After we applied to the headquarters, the company promised to launch an all-round cooperation with the Tropical Crops Research Institute. And our first cooperative project is the application of fogger on rubber..."

  "After a pause, Hol said: 'We will provide thirty fog machines to the Tropical Crop Research Institute for your drug testing. At the same time, we will dispatch technical personnel and engineers to maintain these machines.'"

  "And on your test report, our company name must be added. At the same time, mention and thank our company for providing assistance in the instructions..."

  Holl said a lot of requirements in one breath, and Liu Lao and Huang Lao were overjoyed when they heard the words! Good guy! I didn't expect Holl to propose such favorable conditions.

  At one stroke, thirty humidifiers were provided, which is a lot of money! Thinking that they could save the country a large amount of foreign exchange, several old people felt very happy.

  "Wait a minute! You're just providing us with a hot fog machine for testing, that's not enough at all." However, Liang Sanping spoke out after listening to the translation.

  "You need to give us a part of the heat fog machine. And also train our personnel for maintenance, this is sincerity." Liang Sanping paused and said: "The previous one was just normal cooperation between our two sides..."

  Hall and Nelson's faces changed upon hearing this. Hall, with a stern face, said: "This gentleman, don't be too excessive! We can provide you with thirty Taikoo humidifiers..."

  "Mr. Holl, I hope you can think it over carefully." Liang San smiled calmly and said: "This time we came here to prepare for the bidding of a batch of hot fog machines through external windows. If you don't provide them, I believe the Germans, Soviets, and British will be interested."

  After a pause, Liang Sanping said: "You know, the British also have good steam engine technology. And they established diplomatic relations with us earlier than you!"

  One sentence made Hall and Nelson stop the fire. Indeed, there are not only their companies selling hot fog machines in this world. The principle of hot fog machine is not complicated, nor is it a high-end product.

  It's just that due to the country's closure and the chaos of those years, it led to a lag in production technology. As long as there is a certain investment in materials and craftsmanship, these will not be a problem.

  Unfortunately, the country is short of money now. And later on, the misting machines used in farms were basically domesticated.

  "I have to admit, Mr. Liang, you are indeed a master of negotiation." Nelson sighed helplessly and said, "But we can't make a decision on this matter. We still need to consult with the board of directors..."

  "It's understandable that we'll be staying in the capital for a while. I think we'll wait for a satisfactory response, or... cooperate with others."

  This time, everyone just had a cup of coffee. After discussing things in the small conference room of the foreign-related hotel, Xia Zhendong asked Liu Lao and others to leave for rest at the reception house.

  The meeting arranged by the department is in the afternoon. Liu Lao and others are old, they all need to take a nap for a while to recharge their energy before doing the report in the afternoon.

  "Xiao Liang, do you think Hol's company will agree to our proposal?" After all, Xia Zhendong was still a bit nervous. After all, it's directly taking something from someone's hands!

  It's a lie if this thing isn't worrying. And Liang Sanping whispered: "You don't know, Liu Lao and others' reputation is more powerful than any advertisement!"

  "Just because their company name appears in reports by Liu Lao and others, with a note that they are our Institute's cooperative partners. I think they will be willing!"

  "Just think about it, if their names appear on top. What a huge advertising effect that would be! I'm not only going to get them to use our steam engine, but also charge them for it!"

  "What?! You can still charge a fee?!" Xia Zhendong was truly shocked this time...