Zhu Youliang not only experienced the prosperity of Guangzhou City, but also bought a black-and-white TV and a washing machine for his family. Fortunately, the delivery company was willing to deliver the items to his home, otherwise he would have had trouble taking them home. Having spent several hundred yuan, he didn't dare to shop anymore and followed the delivery tricycle back to the guesthouse. He had gone to bed before Guo Daqiang and the others returned, and he had no idea when Xue Yi would return.
The next day, Xue Yi woke him up at dawn. After changing into a Mao suit, he followed Guo Daqiang to the convention center. The guesthouse wasn't far from the center, so they arrived soon. On the way, the four of them had a quick breakfast and even divided up their tasks before setting off on their journey to the center. They also ran into a few acquaintances, including Secretary Zhao from the Provincial Foreign Trade Bureau.
Secretary Zhao stopped to speak with them, expressing his confidence in their all-around tractor. Guo Daqiang and the others were thrilled. The arrangements for today had already been discussed at yesterday's meeting, and Secretary Zhao didn't elaborate much. After a few words, he left with his secretary.
It was still early, and when the four of them arrived, there were few people around. After boiling water, there was nothing else to do, so the four of them picked up the brochure and began to read it, lest they stutter and embarrass themselves when others asked. Zhu Youliang was also memorizing information, but he wasn't memorizing information about tractors, but about headgear, mostly design concepts and the like, all written by Liang Yuan. Only then did Guo Daqiang realize the value of this small brochure. The promotional materials they had prepared previously were too detailed, giving them a headache even reading them, so how could they expect others to understand them after just a glance? The introduction in this brochure was excellent, concise and clear. For this, he specifically praised Zhu Youliang, and Zhu Youliang accepted the compliment.
By 9 o'clock, even though no one had come in yet, Guo Daqiang and his men had already stood up. Zhu Youliang also placed the headdress under the tractor seat. He planned to go to the textile factory booth in the afternoon. After all, the tractor was the main attraction.
Around 9:00, people began arriving, mostly locals, likely just to watch the excitement. They clearly had no interest in the tractors; they took a quick look and then left. It wasn't until 10:00 that the four of them spotted a group of foreign visitors approaching from a distance. Just as they were waiting, they saw them heading to the next booth, clearly drawn to the steel products.
When Zhu Youliang saw this, he said to Guo Daqiang, "Director Guo, we have to take the initiative."
"How do you take the initiative? Isn't Xue Yi out distributing brochures?" Guo Daqiang asked, perking up. Perhaps he was too excited last night, and couldn't fall asleep at midnight, so he dozed off.
"I'll go to the next booth and take a look." Zhu Youliang said.
"That's not good. If you really bring someone over here, Li Danian will definitely scold you to death," Guo Daqiang said hesitantly. Li Danian was the deputy director of the provincial steel plant. They knew each other before. He had a bad temper and might even resort to violence.
"It's okay, I'm going to help. I know a little about steel and my English is pretty good, so maybe I can be of help," Zhu Youliang explained.
"Alright, it's alright anyway, why don't you go take a look." Guo Daqiang leaned close to his ear and whispered, "If you can really get someone here, don't be afraid. I'll take care of Li Danian if he gets angry."
Zhu Youliang nodded and went next door. It was bustling with activity; the people from the steel mill, along with Secretary Zhao, were all there. They looked familiar, likely regular customers. He simply listened, not engaging in conversation. After he left, Guo Daqiang looked over from a distance. Seeing him listening in like a customer, he became anxious, thinking that if his English wasn't so poor, he could have taken the class himself.
Zhu Youliang was listening intently to the foreigners' conversation and paid no attention to him. About half an hour later, the two sides finally shook hands. Seeing that Director Li didn't look pleased, Zhu Youliang assumed the contracts they'd signed would be similar to previous years. The provincial steel mills were able to secure contracts year after year, partly because their steel was of good quality and partly because it was cheap. From what Guo Daqiang had said, it was purely a publicity stunt to earn foreign exchange.
Zhu Youliang didn't think much about it. Seeing that a group of people had gone out and had no intention of going back inside, he hurriedly shouted, "Mr. Smith, please wait a moment." He shouted this in English, so Smith understood it.
"Hello." Smith said in broken Chinese.
"Mr. Smith, nice to meet you. I just heard you mention your country's latest agricultural tractor. It just so happens that my wife and I have jointly designed a new type of agricultural tractor, which has now been put into production. Moreover, I am very confident in this tractor I designed. I believe it is not worse than your country's. I wonder if you could come over and take a look." Zhu Youliang said with a serious face, like an indignant young man.
Secretary Zhao anxiously glanced at Zhu Youliang, but Zhu Youliang pretended not to hear. He then looked at Guo Daqiang, who withdrew his head.
Just as the steel mill was wrapping up, Secretary Zhao recommended their farm tractor to Smith, the leader. But Smith rejected it with disdain, proudly stating that their country had the most advanced farm tractors in the world.
Every time Smith came here, the receptionist was always very humble. This was the first time he had seen someone glare at him. He raised his eyebrows, exchanged glances with his people, turned around, said hello, and walked to the side.
Secretary Zhao pointed at Zhu Youliang angrily, then followed him over.
When Guo Daqiang and others saw people coming over here, they immediately put on smiles and greeted them.
Smith shook hands with Guo Daqiang before looking at the two farm tractors behind him. Both were red and blue, with striking designs, the one on the left being particularly eye-catching. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and he turned around to find Zhu Youliang in the crowd. He gave him a thumbs-up and said in English, "This tractor is really cool."
Guo Daqiang smiled brightly upon hearing this. Secretary Zhang and Xue Yi also breathed a sigh of relief, as did Secretary Zhao.
"Thank you for the compliment, and I apologize for my intrusion. If you're willing to listen to the engine and see the futuristic technology this car incorporates, you'll find it even cooler," Zhu Youliang said, looking at Secretary Xiao Zhang. Secretary Xiao Zhang quickly picked up the brochure on the table and handed out a copy to everyone.
Smith patiently read it, his eyes widening as he continued. After a moment, he looked up and said to Zhu Youliang, "If what you wrote in your brochure isn't exaggerated, this tractor is indeed as good as our country's latest agricultural tractors. Now, please let me get on and listen to the engine."
"Of course, please." Zhu Youliang said as he opened the door of the all-purpose tractor.
Several foreign guests traveling with Smith also looked eager to try. When they saw Smith get on the tractor on the left, the others looked at another ordinary tractor.
After listening to the translator's words, Guo Daqiang immediately agreed to let them go for a test drive.
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