Canton Fair (Part 1)
Apart from the three people they knew earlier, the other foreign businessmen felt they had been fooled. Although they had a preconceived notion that the only factory that advertised and managed to infiltrate their ranks was a large one, no one had ever made such a promise.
But the huge gap between the actual situation and expectations is something that is very infuriating.
Moreover, these foreign businessmen were somewhat arrogant when facing Chinese people.
Andreas didn't say much, wanting to see how Tao would ease the tense atmosphere and reduce the anger of these people.
Wang Shuitao first showed surprise, then lowered her head as if deep in thought, and when she raised her head, a deep regret was on her face.
She exclaimed, "I never imagined that the environment abroad had deteriorated to this extent, and that there would be such a great demand for unpolluted, all-natural products."
Andreas received a signal and quickly began translating.
One of the foreign businessmen was a little unhappy: "Is the environment here really that good? Is it cleaner and tidier than our country?"
To be honest, the entire city of Guangzhou is working hard to welcome foreign guests, not to mention the surrounding area, which is very clean for ten or even twenty kilometers around.
But there's nothing wrong with admitting that China today isn't as glamorous as those developed countries. Even in Guangdong, although it has three of the four special economic zones, Shenzhen, despite being designated as a special zone, still needs time to grow and is still a small fishing village.
Shantou isn't so reckless as to set off that fire.
Wang Shuitao didn't dwell on that point, but instead asked, "Does this gentleman think pollution is just dust and such things? If so, then I'll be frank, you're not suited for the food industry."
Andreas, always eager for a good show, completed the translation almost immediately.
The foreign businessman blushed; he had been used to being flattered these days and found it hard to bear such sarcasm.
Wang Shuitao's expression grew increasingly serious: "No, I misspoke. Based on your understanding, you're not even suited to eating, which is quite irresponsible towards your health."
Simultaneous translation, initiating! Andreas pushed himself to the limit, trying to ensure that neither side of the argument waited too long and lost the fun of arguing.
Other foreign businessmen also stopped leaving. The exhibition would last for a month, and there was plenty of time to find partners. It was more important to watch the excitement first. There were no knives or guns here, just verbal battles, so there was no need to run away.
The other four stalls were empty. After looking at each other in bewilderment, they all gathered around the pearl sugar factory.
The people at the Wuzhou Sugar Industry Research Institute had an unwitting grasp of the concept of attracting customers. They thought it would be great if Meng Songying were here. They knew about the relationship between the two, and with Engineer Meng here, they could use her charms or something to try and get some benefits from Director Wang.
Don't underestimate the power of arguing. Anyone who's done business knows that you're not afraid of banging on the table or glaring at someone; what you're afraid of is being ignored.
Having a chance to speak is a big step towards success.
Moreover, it seems that a considerable number of people are interested in Director Wang's ideas.
Mark, the one who argued with Wang Shuitao, couldn't help but have doubts when the translator saw her confident demeanor, but he quickly shook his head to shake off the slight wavering that had just occurred to him.
What a joke! He's considered middle class in John's Country, and he cares a lot about his health. He hasn't even had enough of enjoying his good life yet, so how could he not care about his body?
"You're threatening me!"
Wang Shuitao shook her head and began to explain a deeply ingrained concept: "Environmental protection is not about protecting the Earth, plants, or animals, but about protecting humanity! Or rather, protecting them is for the sake of protecting humanity. Where is this gentleman from?"
Mark puffed out his chest: "John Nation."
Wang Shuitao understood: "Then you should be very clear about what happened in Chongqing, and you should also know the harm that pollution does to the human body."
Foreign merchants from Gaul and the Bald Eagle burst into laughter.
One family are sworn enemies, the other is a father-son feud; they certainly wouldn't miss the chance to see a joke unfold.
In the early 20th century, most of the residents of Fog City used coal as household dye, and many coal-fired power plants were built in the city center. The combustion of coal produced large amounts of pollutants, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and dust. Furthermore, due to the limited technology at the time, factories rarely installed dust removal and cleaning equipment, and the harmful gases emitted were typically only three to five meters high.
It was only two or three stories high, but people could smell a pungent odor when they breathed it.
In 1952, an inversion layer enveloped the city, placing it at the center of a high-pressure system where both vertical and horizontal air movement ceased. This prevented gases produced by coal combustion from dispersing through atmospheric flow, causing them to accumulate in large quantities over the city, their concentration rising sharply until smog blanketed the entire city.
Coal dust contains ferric oxide, which can catalyze the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide, which then combines with water adsorbed on the dust surface to form sulfuric acid droplets. When these sulfuric acid droplets are inhaled, they produce a strong irritant effect, causing serious damage to the respiratory tract and lungs. This manifests as a stinging sensation in the nasal cavity and throat, but the droplets cannot leave the area. In those with weak constitutions, this can lead to illness or even death.
As a result, four thousand people died that year.
Mark, his face dark, stared intently at the woman spouting such nonsense: "That's for the sake of great industrialization."
Wang Shuitao nodded: "Yes, no country can resist industrialization. But since you know this, you should know that people can be exposed to these harmful substances through breathing, drinking water, and eating, endangering their lives. So do you think plants and animals can be affected?"
Mark frowned. He thought, of course it would happen, after all, cattle and sheep would get sick and plants would wither in heavily polluted areas.
Wang Shuitao asked and answered herself: "Everyone knows that it is! Some polluted foods are noticeable to people, so they won't eat them. What about those with less pollution? Perhaps people can still avoid eating them even if there are signs of pollution, but what if they are made into food and placed in front of you? Can you still tell? For example, sugar."
The foreign businessmen murmured amongst themselves, the conjecture truly unsettling, as if the toxins had entered their stomachs through the mouth and esophagus via industrially contaminated food, and then spread throughout their bodies with the help of blood circulation.
Mark refused to admit defeat: "But the smog in Chongqing has been dealt with very well now."
The foreign merchant from Gaul let out a sneer, showing absolutely no respect.
Mark muttered, "Well, at least it's much better than before. And those heavily polluting factories are no longer allowed to be located in the heart of the foggy city."
Wang Shuitao: "That's right, those factories have all moved to sparsely populated areas now, but I don't need to teach you about air circulation, do I? The closer the location, the more serious the pollution, right? Besides, cities don't produce food, and those vegetables are still grown in sparsely populated areas, aren't they?"
Wang Shuitao smiled and said, "Or do you believe in the integrity of those factory owners and think they will spend a lot of money to properly handle pollutants according to regulations? Or do you believe in the integrity of food merchants and think they will only put healthy ingredients on the shelves?"
Oh! This conjecture is an insult to capitalists, denying their core essence.
The foreign businessmen laughed, even though they themselves were partly mocked, because the assumption was just too ridiculous.
Even street vendors selling hot dogs will continue to grill sausages that are only slightly spoiled in order to save costs, since after heating them up and adding lots of sauce, no one can tell that they are different.
Why not do it?
They only lost their health, but they lost US dollars!
Mark coughed, and felt even more unwell.
Those damned nobles and big capitalists have their own farms, and every bite of food can be traced back to its source, probably because they know about the pollution!
The bigger their business, the blacker their hearts—at least much blacker than a hot dog vendor.
Meanwhile, the poor people, like myself, can only eat things that look perfect but are actually slow poisons!
No matter how much he considers himself middle class, he understands that he is buying goods from shopping malls.
Fear is the best sales tactic, but Mark still asked, "Okay, I admit you're right, but what does that have to do with you leading us here? Do you have something good?"
Wang Shuitao continued, "As I said, no country can resist industrialization, and China is no exception. But at least for now, this place still has a clean land with the cleanest raw materials, which can produce the greenest and pollution-free sugar."
Some people questioned, "There are quite a few factories in China."
"But China has a vast territory, and we are still a developing country with urbanization just beginning. Many places still have beautiful mountains and rivers."
The implication is that our country is less polluted than yours.
Wang Shuitao frankly admitted that she was currently lagging behind, and knowing that she could catch up in the future, she felt no inferiority complex.
Moreover, if she could link green and pollution-free practices with China's international image, perhaps there would be fewer accusations of China being severely polluted and being the culprit for destroying the planet's environment in the early 21st century.
Those countries that have benefited from industrialization do not want other countries to be able to join them. They turn a blind eye to the damage they caused in the past and insist that China skip the intermediate steps and become a country that uses clean energy all at once.
Don't you even check if you've cleaned your own backside?
Finally, she added, "The Pearl Sugar Factory is located in a small, underdeveloped county town with a beautiful, crystal-clear Pearl River."
Good fortune may be the harbinger of misfortune, and misfortune may be the harbinger of good fortune. Sometimes, what seems like a disadvantage is actually a strength.
The first to extend his hand was a businessman from the Bald Eagle: "I think we can sign a contract for your excellent eloquence and your outstanding marketing skills, after all, it has succeeded twice already."
Wang Shuitao shook hands with him: "Your decision is correct. Everyone is willing to pay for their health."
He repeated it with an air of admiration: "Oh yes, everyone is willing to pay for their health."
Other foreign businessmen finally stopped pretending to be reserved and crowded to the front, shouting, "Me! Me! Me! I want to sign the contract too!"
The people from Wuzhou Sugar Industry Research Institute and the people from Harbin Qiujiang Food Factory had complicated expressions. They knew the pearl sugar factory best and were quite worried about whether the factory could keep up with the production capacity given the large number of orders.
These foreigners probably thought that Pearl Sugar Factory had participated in the exhibition, and based on past experience, they assumed that although it was in a corner, it was only slightly inferior to the other companies, but in the eyes of the Chinese market, it was indeed a large factory.
But the truth is not so.
Although it was a bit sour, neither side said anything to disturb or spoil the scene.
The foreign businessmen weren't fooled; they signed the contract only after tasting the candy displayed at the Pearl Sugar Factory's booth. The first time, each company's order wasn't large, but it was still a challenge for the Pearl Sugar Factory.
Then, they proceeded with the original plan to purchase from four other large sugar factories. After all, there were advantages such as cheaper labor and lower exchange rates.
It's a good deal.
Moreover, they are masters at classifying products into different tiers. Pearl Sugar Factory's products are precious items from an ancient, unpolluted Eastern country, so other factories can also ride on its coattails, which is better than their own heavily polluted products.
As for whether criticizing one's own country will draw criticism from the public, let them criticize. These high-end sugar products are not low-end goods; they naturally have their own target audience.
After the tide turned, Wang Shuitao selected foreign merchants with more distribution channels to sign contracts with, and then gave each partner a marketing point for free: "The process of industrialization in every country is unstoppable. Not only is our product from an excellent source, but it's also a limited-time offer!"
Hanbosi was naturally among them; he was an old friend. He clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "Tao, I think you shouldn't be running a sugar factory. If you could go to a planning company, you would achieve greater success."
He genuinely believed that Tao's potential was completely limited in a small sugar factory.
Wang Shuitao smiled; she wouldn't easily waver on the path she had chosen.
The sugar factory manager is perfect; she'll take the title of agent and become the real manager!
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