For the entire morning, neither side was in a hurry to discuss the overall situation. After having lunch together, at 1 p.m., they resumed their negotiations, each going back and forth.
Who says foreigners are straightforward and efficient? I'll beat you to death!
For two hours in the afternoon, can we gain the upper hand in the negotiation, achieve our own goals and achieve a win-win situation with the other party?
Back and forth, both sides resorted to all sorts of tactics. They asked direct questions, suggestive questions, leading questions, and in the end, there was nothing left but a product description and the need to continue the discussion tomorrow.
Zhou Jiao's task was to record the discussion content of the other party in the two meetings today that was not conveyed through the translator.
As for us, there will be special record-keeping staff to keep records.
Of course, in addition to these, after the final negotiations are over, after the people from the Finance Department have verified the amount, she still has to conduct a final check to prevent errors.
Zhou Jiao's task wasn't particularly difficult. Besides recording the truth, she couldn't be so foolish as to try to be a hero and analyze the other party's intentions.
Zhou Jiao always kept her duty in mind at work. With so many staff members traveling abroad, each with their own mission, why would she offend her colleagues just for a little sense of accomplishment? Anyone who could travel with her was an elite.
Zhou Jiao, who always follows the path of moderation, hid her inner thoughts and quietly followed Minister Jin and others to participate in the five-day negotiation meeting.
After both parties rested for a weekend, the price of the purchased machinery for this negotiation was basically finalized, and they just had to wait for the deposit to be paid and the contract to be signed.
Of course, before that, the remaining crucial step also entered its busiest stage. That was to begin comparing the price-performance ratio of various machine models with similar international products based on the data provided by the other party.
There was no way around this. Being in China, it was impossible to get comprehensive information about the outside world's technology for a while, and there was no way they could compare to the rich resources of a neutral country.
During the three days of rest and renovation, all the staff were busy and intense, especially the several professionals who accompanied them. They could be said to have worked so hard that they forgot to eat and sleep.
Living in a country that is so impoverished is not easy. With the hard-earned money squeezed out by the people of the country through belt-tightening, who could afford to be careless? Any mistakes would be a national sin.
Zhou Jiao was so busy with them that she didn't even notice when Liang Shengnan left. After the data verification was completed, she accidentally learned about it from the embassy staff.
At this point, she wasn't particularly interested in these people or these things. She needed to complete the order first, and then they would be on their way again.
And where to go?
This is an internal secret. Before departure, no one dares to reveal it, and no one will notify you first.
At noon on the day after their twentieth day of digging in Rili, they finally completed their first mission. After a celebratory lunch, Minister Jin gave the group a day and a half off.
Of course, for safety reasons, it is better to travel in groups, at least two people.
In the past few days, colleagues who are in foreign countries have come into contact with each other. Everyone is feeling a strong sense of honor. Moreover, everyone has relatives in China and a good job. Who would sneak away and stay abroad without permission?
Zhou Jiao thought about it, but she still followed the others into the street obediently. As for her uncle's chance encounter, she had completely forgotten about it.
The most popular thing about the city is the cafes, especially the outdoor tables and chairs outside each cafe. It's a great place to rest your feet, order a cup of coffee, and watch the people go by as the summer sun sets.
The group walked along, eventually forming like-minded groups of three or five to browse the mall and shops. Zhou Jiao couldn't stand them just looking without buying, so she found a nearby cafe and sat there to wait for them.
According to the regulations, she must be accompanied by someone, but who could she be? He pointed to the place. It was an open-air place. Anyone entering or leaving the shops on this street could see him. How could he still worry about her being abducted?
Bored Zhou Jiao drank a glass of water and a glass of milk, and was finally frightened away by the young couple kissing loudly at the next table.
The world is truly going downhill, "ancient man" Zhou Jiao shook her head as she walked. She had forgotten that this was a foreign land, and the fiery enthusiasm of Westerners was already considered reserved under the stimulation of summer beer.
We ran into Jin Lijuan and her friends at a handmade chocolate shop, and we were able to catch up with the main group. Before dark, the budget-conscious group returned home empty-handed with nothing.
After returning to the room, Jin Lijuan collected all the cash with an unwavering expression. "I even said I'd leave the extra for you. I never thought even chocolate is so expensive in capitalist countries."
Zhou Jiao laughed out loud when she heard this.
"I promised to bring gifts to the kids at home. Can I just buy a few chocolates?"
"How much do you need? I have some here, I'll give it to you first."
Jin Lijuan waved her hand. "No, you haven't bought any gifts yet. You have three sons, so you can't not buy something for them? The children will be disappointed."
Zhou Jiao smiled and said nothing.
"Originally, my wife wanted me to bring a watch, or even a camera. These things don't take up space and aren't eye-catching. But now... forget it."
Zhou Jiao thought for a moment and gently advised, "We don't know where we're going next time. Why don't you do the same as them and save the money for later."
Jin Lijuan's eyes lit up, and she quickly put away the money, stood up, and walked out. "We'll leave early the day after tomorrow. I'll go ask the minister first, and I should be able to reveal it."
Zhou Jiao watched her hurried out without trying to persuade her. There were so many people around, and if she had the chance, she would have liked to buy some Western food ingredients.
This opportunity soon came. The next afternoon, the schedule changed and Minister Jin temporarily withdrew the technical staff and older male comrades, leaving Zhou Jiao and several female comrades alone to stay in the local area.
Fortunately, the embassy arranged for a middle-aged female comrade to act as the tour leader, and then Waste Recycling took them to a nearby city by train to visit universities and large factories.
Zhou Jiao had always been indifferent to this event. She followed the arrangements, didn't talk much, and secretly spent money as long as she could find an opportunity.
A developed neutral country, surrounded by four Western developing countries, not to mention that various conferences around the world are held here every year.
Compared to the capital, other cities are just as well off. It's pretty obvious that the closer a city is to a country, the more local supplies tend to be located there.
In just five days, not only Zhou Jiao, but even the other female colleagues had spent their entire fortune. Those with more money had more ways to spend it, like Zhou Jiao, who specialized in luxury diamond jewelry. Those with less money had more ways to spend it, like buying ordinary watches, plain fabrics, old cameras from the flea market, and small sundries.
Zhou Jiao estimated that most of them would resell the items they bought back. However, as long as they could bear the consequences, she had no intention of exposing their little tricks.
Life is so boring that as long as you don't get reported, it's not a big deal to do it occasionally. For example, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff go on business trips, do you know where the personal belongings they ostensibly buy end up?
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