Chapter 139 International Etiquette Training
By the time the meeting ended, it was completely dark outside the window.
Gu Baobao and the others were arranged to stay in the guesthouse behind the small building, two people per room. The conditions were better than on the island, but still very simple.
Lu Zhanming's room was diagonally opposite Gu Baobao's and another female colleague from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' room.
After a quick settling-in, staff brought dinner and informed us that training would begin early the next morning.
At night, Gu Baobao lay on the unfamiliar bed, listening to the faint sound of the wind outside the window, so different from that on the island, and couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
Everything I experienced today—the solemn airport, the high-level meeting, the scrutinizing yet expectant gazes of numerous leaders—revolved in my mind like a revolving lantern.
[Host, we have detected increased activity in your prefrontal cortex, indicating suppressed secretion of sleep hormones.]
Deford's voice rang out.
Do you need this system to play white noise or sleep-inducing brainwave frequencies? Free service.
No need, Defu.
Gu Baobao stared at the ceiling.
I'm just thinking, all of this... really feels like a dream.
From a chubby, dark-skinned girl who almost died in the countryside, to standing here, about to represent the country in the war.
According to the probability model, your current achievements are highly unique and unrepeatable. However, the core driving force lies in your own knowledge, choices, and efforts. System assistance is only one variable.
Defu rarely spoke a sensible word.
[The host is advised to maintain the current state to prepare for tomorrow's challenges. According to this system's scan, among tomorrow's training instructors...]
Three of them have high-level diplomatic backgrounds, one is fluent in seven languages, and their teaching style is perhaps... rather 'enthusiastic'.
Gu Baobao suddenly had a bad feeling.
The training began the following day in a meeting room decorated in the style of a small salon.
Not only Gu Baobao and Huo Zheng were present, but also several other members of the delegation who were responsible for the specific negotiations and presentations, totaling more than a dozen people.
Lu Zhanming and other security personnel were also participating in basic etiquette and emergency response training.
The first item in the training was internationally recognized etiquette and dress code.
A female colleague from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, surnamed Liang, was about forty years old. She possessed an elegant and capable demeanor and explained things in great detail, covering everything from posture and handshake strength to eye contact.
The dress code for different occasions was explained in detail. Fortunately, this time it was mainly for business and exhibition occasions, so a relatively formal dress code was sufficient. Even the way napkins were folded and arranged was demonstrated.
Gu Baobao listened very attentively.
In her previous life, although she had also attended international conferences, those were mostly purely academic occasions, where the dress code was mainly professional and appropriate. Unlike now, where etiquette has been given more significance in terms of national image.
After Comrade Liang finished speaking, his gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Gu Baobao, and his tone was gentle:
"Comrade Gu Baobao, you are young, have a good image, and are the core of our technology this time. You will definitely be the focus of attention."
Besides professional performance, one's demeanor and behavior must also be poised and appropriate. Come on, stand up, let everyone see.
Gu Baobao got up as instructed.
Today she was wearing a well-fitting military uniform, her posture as upright as a young poplar tree, with a long neck and straight shoulders.
Without deliberately striking a pose, simply standing there naturally, she exudes a cool and aloof yet neat aura.
"very good!"
Comrade Liang's eyes lit up.
"Comrade Gu has an excellent foundation! Military uniforms naturally make you look smart, and you're tall with good proportions. As long as you pay attention to some details..."
She stepped forward and personally adjusted the angle of Gu Baobao's military cap, then gestured for her to place her hands naturally folded in front of her.
"Yes, that's it. Keep your gaze calm and firm, don't look away, but don't make it too sharp either. You can practice your smile, but make sure it's natural and friendly."
Gu Baobao cooperated and tried hard to recall her state when she attended an academic conference in her previous life. She wasn't used to being "manipulated" like this, but she knew it was a necessary process.
Lu Zhanming stood on the other side of the training room, listening to the safety regulations, but his gaze kept drifting over.
Watching Comrade Liang adjust Gu Baobao's posture, and seeing her slightly stiff but trying-to-cooperate appearance, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
His girl looks so beautiful in her military uniform.
I'm just... a little nervous.
Next is the language section.
The person in charge of the training was a man named Yan, who wore gold-rimmed glasses and had his hair neatly combed. He was said to be a well-known language expert in the department.
"The official language of this exhibition is English, but the host country is F, so communication in the local language is also crucial."
Comrade Yan pushed up his glasses, his tone serious.
"We have assigned translators to key positions, but we also have our own basic vocabulary so that we can not only respond to emergencies but also show respect and sincerity."
Now, let's start with the most basic greetings and self-introductions. Please repeat after me..."
He spoke in English first, then in French.
Gu Baobao repeated it once.
The pronunciation is standard and the intonation is natural.
Comrade Yan glanced at her with some surprise and gestured for her to do it alone.
Gu Baobao cleared her throat and gave a brief self-introduction in both English and French, including her name, her origin from China, and that she was a doctor and researcher.
The sentences are simple, but the pronunciation is clear and accurate, especially the uvular F sound, which is pronounced quite well.
The training room fell silent for a moment.
Huo Zheng smiled, while the other comrades also looked surprised.
They knew Gu Baobao was a skilled doctor, but they didn't expect her to be so fluent in foreign languages as well.
Comrade Yan's eyes behind his glasses lit up, as if he had discovered a treasure:
"Comrade Gu, have you studied a foreign language?"
“I learned a little bit from the elders in the village before.”
Gu Baobao mumbled, this was the answer she had already prepared.
"Later, I read some books on my own."
This explanation makes sense at the time, after all, there are many hidden talents among the people, and in the early years, there were also people who had returned from studying abroad and were scattered in the countryside.
"Excellent! This is more than just a little!"
Comrade Yan was very excited.
"Your pronunciation is perfect! This saves us a lot of time on basic training! We can jump right into technical terms and situational dialogues!"
In the subsequent language training, Gu Baobao almost became a model student.
Whether it's translating pharmaceutical terminology, conducting mock trade show Q&A sessions, or engaging in business negotiations, she can quickly understand and provide accurate or appropriate responses.
Comrade Yan became more and more enthusiastic as he taught, and the way he looked at the baby was as if he were looking at a rare treasure.
Gu Baobao felt a little amused and exasperated.
She never expected that her years of accumulated knowledge from her previous life would come in handy here.
It was tough on the other comrades who had a slightly weaker foundation, as their progress was accelerated considerably.
During halftime, Gu Baobao went to the tea table in the corner to get some water.
Several young colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Trade Bureau gathered around her, warmly greeting her and inquiring about the local customs and culture of the island. They were also very curious about the new drug she had developed.
"Comrade Gu, is your hemostatic powder really that miraculous? I heard it's even more effective than Yunnan Baiyao?"
"Can health-preserving pills really improve health? Can someone like me who often stays up late writing reports take them?"
"Comrade Gu, how did you learn English and French? You're amazing!"
Everyone was very friendly, but the sudden enthusiasm and attention caught Gu Baobao, who was used to being alone and in a quiet research environment, off guard.
She tried to maintain a polite smile and gave brief answers, but her palms were a little sweaty.
[Defu, are all leaders and comrades in this era so... enthusiastic?]
She couldn't help but complain in her mind.
[Host, according to this system's analysis of the emotional energy in the current scene, 82% is genuine appreciation and curiosity.]
5% consisted of work-related small talk and building rapport, while the remaining 3% involved mild competition and observation. This falls within the scope of normal social interaction.
De Fu analyzed,
[It is recommended that the host adopt the basic social strategy of 'smile-nod-brief answer-change the subject'. Your 'social anxiety' index is rising, please stay calm! Think about how you kept calm when facing an entire surgical observation group in your past life!]
Gu Baobao: [...That's different. When I have the scalpel in my hand, I know what to do. Now...I don't know what to say.]
Just as she was feeling somewhat at a loss, a tall figure approached subtly, just enough to separate the two men who were standing too close.
Lu Zhanming was also holding a teacup, seemingly just passing by to get some water, and naturally stood a little bit in front of Gu Baobao.
He didn't speak, nor did he even look at the comrades surrounding him; he simply lowered his head and blew on the hot water in his teacup.
But as he stood there, he was like a silent yet undeniable barrier. The slightly cold and hard aura emanating from him, belonging to a soldier, cooled down the somewhat overly enthusiastic atmosphere.
The comrades realized they might have disturbed Gu Baobao's rest, so they smiled, said a few words, and dispersed.
Gu Baobao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at Lu Zhanming's cold and hard profile.
He seemed to sense something, tilting his head slightly to meet her gaze.
His gaze was deep, questioning, as if asking:
Are you alright?
Gu Baobao gently shook her head, picked up her water glass, and took small sips to hide the panic she had just felt and... a strange sense of relief.
Lu Zhanming didn't say anything more. After she finished drinking the water, he turned around and walked back to his training area.
The whole process was incredibly natural, as if it were just a coincidence.
But Gu Baobao knew it wasn't a coincidence.
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