The traffic in Lagos was so congested that even if there were police cars to clear the way, it would not work. Zhang Yida and his convoy were blocked in the middle of the road.
No matter how loud the horn sounds, the car just won't move.
"What's going on?"
Luo Xiaohu, who was sitting in the passenger seat of Zhang Yida's car, used the intercom to ask Qian Li in front of him.
"Hey, the police told me that there were two locals driving on the road ahead. They were acquaintances of each other. They bumped into each other on the way, and then they stopped to chat, which immediately blocked the road.
The police said that the locals like this and don't obey the traffic rules at all. They will blow their horns no matter what they want, but they won't let you.
Only when they are happy talking will they leave and the road will not be blocked."
Zhang Yida's eyes widened when he heard Qian Li's explanation on the walkie-talkie. What a talent.
"Don't the police care?"
Luo Xiaohu also found it funny. From such a small incident, we can see the capabilities of the Nigerian government. It can't even manage the most basic transportation, let alone 200 million people.
"The police have already gone to clear things up. Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology asked me to apologize to Mr. Zhang."
Being stuck in a traffic jam, Zhang Yida and Zhao Erya felt bored riding in the car, so they started to comment on the scene on the streets.
"Look, that bus looks like the one in China? Why aren't the doors closed? The exhaust fumes are so loud."
Zhang Yida said with a smile, "It's not similar, it's exactly the same. Many domestic obsolete products will be sold here.
In addition to second-hand cars and electrical appliances, even used clothes are being shipped to Africa container by container.
Don’t be surprised if you see any school uniforms or factory uniforms here, they are all second-hand goods sold in China.”
"I've been watching those black kids for several minutes. Why do they only ask for money from Chinese people?"
Zhang Yida was not sure about this and speculated: "Maybe the Chinese are kind-hearted and rich, so they are willing to give charity. As time goes by, everyone knows that they want to ask the Chinese for money."
"They carry such heavy goods on their heads, but they don't fall off. It's like performing acrobatics. It's amazing."
Zhang Yida looked at the African women carrying goods on their heads and said with a smile: "Get used to it. If you have been doing this since you were a child, you should be able to do this."
Zhao Erya is like a curious baby, feeling that everything in Africa is novel.
Unlike her "why not eat minced meat", Zhang Yida can tell a story about most things in Africa.
The driver who drove Zhang Yida was a young Chinese man in his twenties. Cao Lu called him Xiao Zhao.
At this time, Xiao Zhao saw Zhang Yida talking nonsense and wanted to correct him, but he did not dare to say it out.
Zhang Yida saw all this through the rearview mirror, so he took the initiative to chat with Xiao Zhao: "Is Xiao Zhao usually responsible for driving in the company?"
Seeing Zhang Yida taking the initiative to ask the question, Xiao Zhao finally answered: "No, I am the director of the company's business department. The driving work of the company is basically not left to Chinese employees."
Zhao Erya wondered, "Why is this?"
Xiao Zhao replied, "As a matter of cost, when we go to work in Africa from China, our salary is double or even triple that in China.
A monthly salary of 40,000 to 50,000 yuan is enough to hire 30 drivers!”
Zhao Erya was startled, "Did I hear that right? 30 people? Then the monthly salary of ordinary African employees is only 1,560,000."
Xiao Zhao smiled and said: "Yes, ordinary non-citizen employees in our company earn 70,000 naira a month.
The exchange rate between naira and RMB fluctuates around 50:1, and 70,000 naira is almost 1,400 yuan.”
Zhao Erya smiled slightly, expressed that she understood, and asked: "Is this salary attractive in the eyes of Nigerians?"
Xiao Zhao knew that this was Mr. Zhang’s girlfriend and explained patiently: “Nigeria has a total of 36 states and 1 capital district, and Lagos accounts for a quarter of the country’s GDP and one-ninth of the population.
Locally, our Chinese-funded companies are equivalent to those foreign-funded companies in Shanghai in the 1990s.
Being able to work as a driver or cleaner in our company is the hope of the whole village.
When ordinary Nigerians go to work in manufacturing factories, not to mention the hard work, it only costs about 20,000 naira a month."
Zhao Erya nodded. She finally understood. The gap was huge.
"Then aren't you employees very rich locally?"
Xiao Zhao smiled and said, "Not necessarily. Prices in Nigeria are too high. A 25 kilogram bag of rice costs 10,000 naira, which is close to 200 yuan.
Fresh vegetables are more valuable, and many ordinary families cannot eat vegetables only a few times a year.
There are also many Chinese restaurants in Lagos, and there are even hot pots, but the prices are not cheap, two or three times more expensive than in China.
The locals thought we were rich, and robberies against Chinese people often occurred.
Nowadays, companies have regulations that require you to bring black armed security guards with you when you go out for business. It is also best to go with black company employees when doing private things.
There are also local girls who also think that Chinese people are very rich. When we Chinese employees are walking on the street, a black girl will always rush up to chat with us and say that she wants to marry you.
This kind of thing happens two or three times every month."
Zhao Erya smiled and said, "Are there any employees in the company who marry local girls?"
At this time, there was no more congestion ahead, and the car started driving at a very slow speed.
Xiao Zhao replied while driving, "It's still too dark and does not conform to traditional Chinese aesthetics.
Guys in Southeast Asia are much happier, and the girls there are much prettier.
On our side, let’s forget it!”
Zhang Yida didn't interrupt Xiao Zhao's chatter. He just listened quietly and handed the phone to Zhao Erya. On the phone were written several questions that Zhang Yida was interested in.
Zhao Erya continued to ask questions, mainly focusing on how the company conducts business, whether Chinese employees are accustomed to living habits, etc.
Seeing that Zhang Yida didn't stop him, Xiao Zhao probably was also interested in these topics, so he continued to answer Zhao Erya's questions from the perspective of a grassroots employee.
The driving job was originally not his turn, mainly because Cao Lu was worried about the company's non-citizen employees, so he gave the driving job to him, a junior supervisor.
This is actually a very good opportunity to drive for a billionaire, which not everyone can get.
If I perform well and get a word of appreciation from Mr. Zhang, I'm afraid I will take off in the company.
So whatever Zhao Erya asked, Xiao Zhao would answer without any concealment.
After half an hour's drive without traffic jams, it finally took the team more than an hour to reach their destination, Victoria Island.
Because it was colonized, like Hong Kong, Nigeria also has many places named after the Queen.
Victoria Island is a wealthy area. It is also an area where consulates from various countries, senior foreign staff, and local wealthy business tycoons gather. It has very good security.
Zhang Yida and his party stayed at a local five-star hotel. As soon as they heard the name of Oriental Hotel, they knew it must have something to do with the Chinese.
Indeed, this hotel was jointly established by Dong’s company and the former governor of Lagos.
Tung's company belongs to the "Four Big Families" - those Chinese groups that moved to Nigeria in the 1960s, the other three being the Lee family, the Chen family and the Cha family.
Hua Wei's base camp in West Africa is also the Oriental Hotel, where he often holds press conferences or other meetings.
After getting off the bus, Cao Lu accompanied Zhang Yida to the hotel and briefly introduced the origins and various relationships of the Oriental Hotel.