Chapter 231 Table Manners

“Mr. Deren is from West Germany. He has been in the international business circle for decades and values ​​these rules very much. If you come in and immediately put him in a very difficult position, how can he believe that our factory is capable of doing export business?”

"There's also face touching, which is lightly touching cheek to cheek. You have to learn that carefully too."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Factory Director Pan, sitting in the back row, couldn't help but chuckle.

"Face-to-face? Both men and women? If my wife saw me face-to-face with a foreign girl at the factory gate, she'd definitely kick me out of the house with a broom!"

"Director Pan, you'd better keep your eyes closed and don't try to touch the foreign girl's face! We're all watching!"

"Exactly! Be careful, those foreign girls might sue you for harassment, and our factory will be in international news!"

Laughter rose and fell in waves.

But Zhou Lijuan didn't laugh.

She took out several photos from her cloth bag and placed them on the conference table.

"These are photos of a European business gathering that Qi Changyu asked a friend studying abroad to send back. You can see how these people socialize."

"Look, this is a business dinner in Germany. In the photo, several representatives are exchanging cheek kisses. This cheek kiss is a common greeting in European countries, especially in formal occasions. It is not only a courtesy, but also represents mutual respect and closeness."

"If we, as the Chinese representatives, were to dodge and back down in such a setting, we would appear reserved, petty, and not generous or proper enough. It would make people think that we are not open enough or lack confidence."

Guo Yanlong took the photo with both hands and examined it carefully, his brows furrowing more and more deeply.

"What about when we eat? We can't follow their rules too, can we? The clinking of knives and forks against plates sounds like gongs and drums, it's too uncomfortable. We Chinese people value the warmth and excitement of eating, we don't have so many rules."

"Western dining has a set of elaborate dining etiquette."

Zhou Lijuan spoke in a calm tone.

Then I took out an enlarged version of the diagram and gently placed it on the table.

"The basic principle is to hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right. After finishing each course, the cutlery should not be thrown away, but should be neatly placed in the center of the plate in a figure-eight shape to indicate that you are still eating. If you have finished eating and will not continue, the knife and fork should be placed side by side on the plate to indicate that you have finished eating."

Before she could finish speaking, Lao Yang from the finance department couldn't help but interrupt.

"I think our chopsticks are the most practical! They're so convenient for picking up food, noodles, and soup. It's not like we're going to war, why do we have to act like we're holding a fork in our left hand and a knife in our right? Don't make a meal look like an assassination scene, it'll scare people!"

Zhou Lijuan's lips curled up slightly.

He pointed to the crossed knife and fork pattern on the picture.

"Section Chief Yang's words were quite humorous, and everyone laughed. But please rest assured, knives and forks are not for 'fighting.' They are designed for easy eating, not for combat."

"You see, the blade of this knife is actually slightly curved inwards, and the edge is not sharp. When cutting steak, you don't need to swing it hard. Just like when we cut tofu, we can press down gently."

"The movements should be steady and unhurried. You should never swing them forcefully like you're chopping bones, because that would be disrespectful."

As she spoke, she casually picked up a pen and a notebook from the table to use as teaching aids for demonstration.

"And another thing,"

"Westerners place great importance on quiet during meals. The cutlery should not make a clanging sound when it touches the plate. This is actually the same as what we often heard from our elders when we were young: 'Don't talk while eating.' The purpose is to demonstrate good manners."

At this moment, Qi Changyu took out a model from his folder.

He walked a few steps to Old Yang and gently handed him the model.

"Why don't you touch the cut yourself?"

His tone was sincere.

"It's so rounded that it can't even tear a thin piece of paper. That's exactly what it was designed to do. It's to prevent accidental injury to yourself or others while eating. They put a lot of thought into it; it's not just for show, but they really considered safety and civility."

“This time, we’re dealing with Mr. Deren himself. He represents a long-established German clothing group and has very discerning tastes. He’s not just looking at the quality of the clothes we produce, but also paying attention to the spirit, professionalism, and attention to detail of our entire team.”

“If they don’t even understand basic dining etiquette, how can he not have doubts? He’ll think, if these people can’t even master the most basic social etiquette, how meticulous can they be when making clothes? Will the stitches be crooked and messy? Will they be able to deliver on time? Trust is built up little by little from these seemingly insignificant little things.”

Old Yang took the model and examined it over and over again.

That initial disdainful expression has gradually softened without anyone noticing.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the back row.

Deputy Factory Director Pan leaned over, a hint of hesitation on his face.

"Director Zhou, I've remembered everything you said. But what if... I'm not careful and hold the knife and fork upside down? Or get the order wrong? Wouldn't that be embarrassing? How awkward!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lijuan finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She then pulled out a color-printed step-by-step card from the manual.

He smiled as he sent the document to each of his colleagues present.

"Just remember these three points: hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right. Use the cutlery from the outside in. After finishing a dish, place the cutlery diagonally on the plate in a V-shape. As long as you remember these, you won't go wrong."

"Don't panic if you're not familiar with it at first. We've practiced for several days, so we're sure we won't make any big mistakes. Even if you can't remember the details right away, as long as you stay calm and behave properly, there won't be any major problems."

"When we are in front of foreigners, we represent not only ourselves, but also the image of the entire factory. Therefore, we must be poised and confident, neither arrogant nor humble, be our most authentic selves, but present our best side."

"There's still some time. Changyu and I will practice with everyone until they can pick them up correctly even with their eyes closed."

Guo Yanlong then tapped the table and glanced around the room.

“I listened to every word Zhou Lijuan and Qi Changyu said just now.”

"One of them is proficient in international business etiquette, and the other is multilingual. Their suggestions are all based on practical experience, not just theoretical. We must face our shortcomings squarely and learn humbly in order to truly enter the world market."

"How to use the knife and fork at the table, how long to shake hands when you meet, whether to make direct eye contact during conversation... these details may seem insignificant, but they directly affect the other person's impression of us."

“Some people might think these rules are too elaborate, like a performance, and seem insincere. But I know this isn't about showing off or putting on airs; it's a manifestation of self-respect. We're showing the world in our own way that Chinese people are not only hardworking and resilient, but also courteous and professional!”

The laughter in the meeting room gradually subsided.