Chapter 425 Signing Successfully

The next day, we went to Villa Bale again. Tang Man said, "Let's go to the lounge and wait. Professor Cruz is still meditating."

I asked, "When did he learn to meditate?"

Tang Man replied, "He hired a Chinese teacher and has been learning for half a year."

President Deng joked, "Professor Cruz is becoming more Chinese."

Tang Man led us into the lounge. President Zheng was whispering with a woman. When he saw us, he stood up and walked towards us holding the woman's hand.

"Zheng Huixin, my daughter, will represent me in the management of the hospital."

A woman named Huixin, about twenty-five or twenty-six, smiled at us, her eyes bright and her teeth white. This was the second time I'd seen her like this. She looked a bit like Xiuxiu—all her charm was in her eyes.

Your eyes are as pure as a clear lake, like a bottle of cleansing cream applied on your mouth, so you don't even dare to make a joke.

However, her smile is very charming, a little wild, and makes people feel that she is teasing you.

Chairman Zheng introduced them to her one by one: General Manager Deng, Mr. Wan Shanhong, Mr. Xiao Liming, and Ms. Tang Man.

When she introduced someone, she would bow slightly and say with a smile, "Hello, Mr. Deng, Hello, Mr. Wan, Hello, Mr. Xiao, Hello, Miss Tang."

President Deng smiled and said, "Chairman Zheng has such a beautiful daughter who can speak Chinese. That's great. Mr. Xiao Liming is our representative. From now on, please be his English teacher."

She bowed towards Xiao Liming and said, "I am willing to serve Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Liming's face turned red. I whispered in his ear, "You must study in Japan. You can also learn Japanese."

At this moment, Cruz walked in. Zheng Huixin immediately ran up to him and bowed to him. Cruz put his hands together, and they chatted for a while.

It's understandable that they should be very familiar with each other. Xiao Liming asked softly: "Do you understand a little bit?"

I said, "She said Xiao Liming is a good comrade and looks very..."

In such a situation, Xiao Liming didn't dare to be presumptuous. He could only cough a few times to stop me and gave me a blank look.

Both parties took their seats, from left to right, our side included President Zheng, General Manager Deng, Wan Shanhong, Xiao Liming, and Zheng Huixin.

The talks continued. President Deng made a speech.

He said, "Professor Cruz, when you left last night, you said, 'Birds have wings but cannot fly.' My understanding is..."

Chairman Zheng translated this passage. It was quite long, but I noticed that Cruz became happier and happier as he listened, nodding his head continuously.

After President Zheng finished translating, Cruz spoke and Tang Man translated.

"I'm very happy that Mr. Deng completely understood my thoughts. After you left, I felt a little regretful for not considering this as an anatomical medical term, but Mr. Deng understood its meaning."

President Deng pointed at me and said, "This is the understanding of your old friend Mistwan. I am just relaying it. He is a household name in China—the incarnation of Zhuge Liang."

Everyone looked at me.

Cruz pointed at me and said, "What's his name? Please say it again."

At Chairman Zheng's reminder, President Deng replied, "Zhuge Liang. He is the embodiment of wisdom."

After Tang Man translated it for Cruz, he laughed and said, "My friend Wan Zhuge Liang."

Everyone laughed except Bale.

Mr. Deng continued, "I understand what you mean. I completely agree with your proposed personnel plan. I have no further comments. Let me end with an English phrase I've been learning these past few days."

Having said that, he stopped talking.

Tang Man translated for Cruz. He nodded and waited for Mr. Deng to speak in English.

Mr. Deng actually spoke it very fluently: "Wishusahappycooperation."

Cruz and Bale stood up together and put their hands together: "Wishusahappycooperation."

Xiao Liming didn't understand, so I whispered in his ear, "I wish us a happy cooperation."

Then, everyone returned to the lounge. President Deng chatted with Cruz and Chairman Zheng, all three gesturing as they spoke. Zheng Huixin, Xiao Liming, and I sat down to talk.

She said, "Mistervan, my father has spoken of you many times. I long to see you. In the sense of seeing you in a dream. I actually dreamed of you once. But you were different than in my dream."

There is really a big cultural difference. Using "I want to see you in my dreams" to express her desire to see you proves that she has been westernized. Chinese people, especially women, would never be so direct.

Xiao Liming was surprised by her expression. I was fine with it, after all, having lived here for a few months, I knew they liked to express their emotions directly.

I said, "You won't have dreams anymore."

She tilted her head and asked, "Why?"

"Because I'm ugly."

She smiled charmingly and said, "You are too good at making fun of yourself.

I'm sorry, I'm having trouble switching between languages, but I mean, you're so good at making fun of yourself."

"He has tens of thousands of female fans in China," Xiao Liming said.

This was meant to be a genuine joke, but Hui Xin nodded seriously, "I believe it."

It made Xiao Liming and I laugh out loud.

Tang Man walked in from outside and said to President Deng and Chairman Zheng, "Please go to the hall for the signing ceremony.

Under Tang Man's guidance, Bale, Xiao Liming, and Zheng Huixin sat down at a table covered with a tablecloth, while Cruz, Mr. Deng, and Zheng Yazhi stood behind them.

Tang Man, the emcee, spoke in both Chinese and English: "Please invite the three parties to sign the contract."

There were several people who looked like reporters standing in the hall, taking pictures non-stop.

“Please exchange texts.”

"Please take the cocktails on the table. Cheers."

There was applause in the hall.

"Please walk to Chief Bale's Villa No. 1 Restaurant to attend the cocktail reception to celebrate the successful signing of the contract."

Bale led the way in front, and everyone talked as they walked towards the seaside.

I deliberately slowed down to let Xiao Liming and Hui Xin chat. Tang Man, after all, grew up in China. She said to me, "Mister. Zhuge Liang. Wan. You should just use this as your English name from now on. It sounds very British and gentlemanly."

I said, "The professor, influenced by you, speaks Chinese, meditates, and practices Crane Flying Kung. We must teach him how to eat Chinese food. Otherwise, we'll be eating these crumbly rice balls all the time and getting skinny."

Tang Man smiled and said, "Eat cream, eat dessert."

I said, "That won't work. I'll get fat again."

Tang Man smiled and said, "I'll find you a Chinese chef."

I said, "Yes, after the hospital opens, some Chinese people will come, and we will definitely need a Chinese chef."

We arrived in a moment. This is a very elegant banquet hall.

But we still eat Western food and rice balls.

The banquet was a grand affair, with constant clinking of glasses and conversation. Tang Man hadn't eaten much, but Zheng Huixin, being clever, told her to eat while she translated.

After signing the contract, Xiao Liming became one of the protagonists. He had to constantly toast, accept toasts, and talk. He was still a little uncomfortable with it.

Tang Man said to me softly, "Miss Zheng is very capable."

“Why”

"Mister Xiao was still a little nervous, but Miss Zheng helped him add some words."

The lunch ended after about an hour and a half.

We clasped our hands together and said goodbye. Tang Man took us back to the hotel.