On the outskirts of Ruizhang City, in the workshop of Maolin Chemical Machinery Factory.
The machine rumbled, the workpiece flew around, spitting out strips of iron shavings under the cutting of the tool, and scattered on the ground. The workers stared at the machine tool attentively, turning the handwheel from time to time, adjusting the scale of the tool advance and retraction.
.
In the aisle between the machine tools, an old foreign man was walking slowly back and forth, staring at the operations of the workers on both sides. From time to time, he would give some hints in English mixed with Chinese words. An interpreter who was following him quickly said something.
His instructions are translated to the corresponding workers.
The old man was not tall and was wearing a work uniform and a work cap. If you ignored his skin color and high nose, he was no different from an ordinary workshop director.
After passing all the machine tools and arriving at the door at one end of the workshop, the old man was about to turn around and walk back when he saw four people walking outside the door, three men and one woman, three of whom he knew.
"Ms. Director Xu, Mr. Director Guo, and you, young man, I haven't seen you for a long time!"
The old man stopped and greeted the three people he knew. To the first two, he spoke a bit stiff Chinese, but to the last one, he switched to English, and his tone of voice was obviously a bit affectionate.
Among these three people, the first two are Xu Ying, deputy director of Maolin Chemical Industry Department, and Guo Jiahua, the Chinese factory director of Maolin Chemical Machinery, while the latter one is Gao Fan, who has just arrived from other places.
"Mr. Valance, I haven't seen you for a long time. I think you look much better than when you were in the United States."
Gao Fan walked forward cheerfully and also greeted the other party in English.
This old foreign man is Valance, the director of the American Odin Factory. After the Maolin Chemical Machinery Factory signed a joint venture agreement with the Odin Factory, the name of the factory was changed to "Sino-US Joint Venture Maao Chemical Machinery Factory", and the abbreviation is still
Maohua Machinery Valance served as the foreign factory director of the company.
According to the agreement, the Chemical Industry Department of Maolin Province has a controlling stake in Maolin Chemical Machinery, and Guo Jiahua, as the Chinese factory director, is the top leader of the company. However, based on Gao Fan’s previous suggestions, the Chemical Industry Department and Valance reached an oral agreement, that is, by
Valance is fully responsible for production matters and has the power to schedule production and reward and punish workers.
After the signing of the joint venture agreement, Maohua Machinery sent a group of workers to the United States for training, and Valance came to China in person to observe and guide the production of Maohua Machinery on site. So far, he has stayed in China for more than a month.
It's time.
"Gao, you asked me to come to China to guide production, but you disappeared. I heard from Ms. Xu that you went to work for the military. What happened?"
Valance nodded casually to Xu Ying and Guo Jiahua, and then focused his attention on Gao Fan. During this period, he met Xu Ying several times, and communicated with Guo Jiahua frequently. In addition,
He also had contact with many cadres and workers in the factory, and even had a few drinking buddies. However, he could feel that all these Chinese people were a little cautious when they came into contact with him.
The only Chinese who never saw him outside was the young man in front of him. During this more than a month, he really missed this young man.
"It's not the military, it's just that a research institution asked me to participate in the development of a resin." Gao Fan said in a low-key manner.
At present, Sino-US relations are in the honeymoon period, and there is some cooperation between the two countries' militaries, so issues involving the military are not very sensitive. But Gao Fan knows that this situation will not last long. After the 1990s,
The United States has repeatedly blocked and attacked Chinese companies and Chinese scientists in the name of "military-related", so it does not want to leave an impression of being related to the military in the minds of American personnel.
"By the way, Mr. Valance, are you still used to life in China?" Gao Fan changed the topic about himself and asked Valance.
"I'm very used to it." A slightly exaggerated smile appeared on Valance's face, "Ms. Xu and Factory Director Guo took great care of me, and the workers in the factory were also very friendly. Also, Chinese food is so delicious
, and the variety is very rich. Just now you said that my complexion is better than when I was in the United States. This is because I eat twice as much food every day here as I did in the United States."
Valance didn't have Bob's language talent, and he was older, so he didn't learn much Chinese after being in China for more than a month. His conversations with Gao Fan were all in English. A translator was standing by.
Xu Ying and Guo Jiahua were explaining. When they heard Valance talking about the food, Xu Ying smiled and asked Guo Jiahua: "Director Guo, our Maolin cuisine is very spicy. Can Mr. Valance accept it?"
Didn't you make separate arrangements for him?"
Guo Jiahua said: "We arranged for him alone at first, and specially hired a chef who can cook Western food to cook for him. However, he expressed that he wanted to try local food, and after eating it once, he insisted on it.
We arranged local dishes for him."
"Can he accept such a spicy dish?" Xu Ying was a little surprised.
"I think it's very good." Valance replied for Guo Jiahua. "When I first came here, I did feel that the food here was too spicy, as if my mouth was on fire. However, after I got used to it, I found that
Dishes without chili are really boring. What I’m most worried about now is that when I return to the United States, I won’t even want to eat without chili like this.”
"You can bring back some Maolin hot sauce." Gao Fan had a bad idea.
Everyone talked some nonsense. Valance caught a glimpse of the unknown man who came with them, smiled politely at him, and then asked Gao Fan: "Gao, this gentleman
Did I come with you? Can you introduce me to me?"
"Yes." Gao Fan nodded, "Mr. Valance, let me introduce to you. This gentleman is Mr. Pan Yue, the chief engineer of Shuinan Chemical Equipment Factory. He has made a special trip to visit you."
"Hello, Mr. Pan." Valance nodded to Pan Yue, greeted him in blunt Chinese, and extended his hand.
Pan Yue stretched out his hand to shake Valance's hand, and replied in the same blunt English: "Hello, Mr. Valance."
Valance accepted the other party's kindness with a smile, and then asked Gao Fan: "Gao Fan, you said that Mr. Pan came to visit me specially. What's the specific matter?"
Gao Fan looked at Xu Ying and Guo Jiahua. Guo Jiahua said: "Mr. Valance, Mr. Pan came here this time to discuss cooperation with our Mao Chemical Machinery. This matter is more complicated. Let's go back to the conference room to discuss it.