Chapter 257: Chapter 255: A Business Proposal
With this in mind, Huo Xiaoqian took a deep breath, opened the door, and spoke with the staff member outside.
The staff member had worked here for a long time and knew that foreign guests were common, so she was unfazed by Huo Xiaoqian’s stiff English.
Of course, it also helped that she could understand what Huo Xiaoqian was saying.
It just sounded a little awkward.
The staff member asked Huo Xiaoqian if they wanted to eat in the adjacent restaurant or have the food delivered to their room.
Xie Changning glanced around the room. ’We should eat out,’ she thought.
She gave Huo Xiaoqian a meaningful look. Huo Xiaoqian understood and immediately said to the staff member, "Could you please take us to the restaurant?"
"Of course. Please follow me."
Xie Changning led her group to the restaurant, where she saw many faces from the United Kingdom; they all looked as if they were of Chinese descent.
Huo Xiaoqian and the others looked around curiously, taking everything in.
The group sat obediently beside Xie Changning, watching as the servers laid out their dishes.
It was called the Chinese Hotel, but the food wasn’t anything special. When you’re traveling, finding a good meal is always the hardest part.
Even though it wasn’t delicious, they were starving, so they ate every last bite.
They had experienced the hardship of true hunger and would never waste food.
After eating, Xie Changning prepared to leave with her people. But just as she stood up, a woman with East Asian features approached her.
She looked down at Xie Changning, her expression condescending.
Xie Changning narrowed her eyes slightly, sizing up the woman.
The woman was sizing her up as well.
They were silent for a moment before the woman finally spoke in fluent English. "Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m stopping you from leaving?"
She was clearly of Chinese descent and had lived here for a long time.
Xie Changning frowned, sensing the woman’s hostile intentions. "If you’re looking for me, it’s on you to speak first. I’m not curious about you."
Xie Changning’s name had appeared internationally many times.
Anyone in the field of mechanical engineering had heard of her.
Especially since she had won the world-class industrial technology competition, it was hard for her not to be famous.
The woman pulled a newspaper from her bag, unfolded it for Xie Changning to see, and pointed to the front-page headline photo. "This is you, isn’t it?"
Xie Changning followed the woman’s gesture and looked.
The newspaper was reporting that her patent application for the cellular phone had been approved. Xie Changning shrugged. "Uh-huh."
’So what if it is me?’
Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang craned their necks to get a curious look.
The woman spoke quickly, and the two of them found it difficult to follow. But they were trying their best to adapt to her pace, and slowly, they began to understand some of what she was saying.
The woman folded the newspaper and, under everyone’s gaze, gave Xie Changning a deep bow.
"I heard you have authorized factories in the United States. I’ve come to you because I also want to partner with you to get authorization to open a cellular phone factory in France."
The Chinese woman’s sudden change in attitude shocked everyone around them.
They thought she was here to cause trouble, but it turned out she was requesting a partnership!?
’Do you need to bow so deeply just to propose a partnership?’
Seeing this, Xie Changning leaned back in her chair and said slowly, "If you want to cooperate, I think you’ll need to show me something substantial."
"I made this decision on the spot after seeing you. I can have a business proposal ready by tonight."
Xie Changning glanced up at her. "Alright. I’ll be waiting for your proposal."
’Only a fool would turn down money.’
Seeing Xie Changning agree, Huo Xiaoqian and Yue Yang exchanged a look, both seeing the surprise in the other’s eyes.
They never expected that their Director would actually—
Agree to it!
This was the cellular phone! A cellular phone that wasn’t even available in their own country yet!
Xie Changning knew her team was confused, but she didn’t plan to explain. She had already cleared the matter of the cellular phone with the higher-ups.
The higher-ups didn’t see it as a problem, so naturally, neither did she.
As for what the "kids" thought...
Once they’d been out in the world long enough, they would naturally learn that some things were permissible.
It wasn’t available back home, not because she was holding it back, but because the country’s current technology couldn’t support it yet. Otherwise, what was her lab for?
Of course, Xie Changning wouldn’t say any of this to the others.
After the Chinese woman left, Huo Xiaoqian couldn’t hold back her questions any longer and started asking on the way back.
It was one of the older workers who explained the domestic technology to Huo Xiaoqian. "The Director’s lab has already developed a prototype signal. Before long, the cellular phones can go into production."
"Besides, cooperating with them on cellular phones has other benefits. It’s not just about making money; there are other aspects we can’t even imagine."
The older worker spoke earnestly, telling Huo Xiaoqian not to get hung up on it.
This was not something they could fully comprehend.
For now, it was best for them not to worry about it. Whatever Xie Changning was doing, it wasn’t wrong.
A look of confusion flashed in Huo Xiaoqian’s eyes. Yue Yang whispered something in her ear, and Huo Xiaoqian’s expression changed instantly. She really hadn’t considered the deeper implications.
These things truly weren’t for her to worry about.
Her job was to study the technology diligently and go study abroad in France!
Seeing Huo Xiaoqian quiet down, Xie Changning finally spoke in a low voice, "The technology is in my hands. I don’t need to tell you whose is more advanced."
The domestic cellular phone currently in development had already been reduced in size and was starting to look like the earliest 1G phones.
Xie Changning’s words brought them back to their senses.
Foreign partners would still have to make do with what China left behind.
That strange feeling in Huo Xiaoqian’s heart vanished after Xie Changning’s explanation. Her mind just wasn’t sharp enough to think of these things.
She still had so much to learn.
She had to work harder!
「In the restaurant.」
The Chinese woman returned to her seat, where her companion eagerly asked, "How did it go? What was the result?"
If they could secure this partnership, their status in the company would definitely skyrocket!
A faint smile appeared on the Chinese woman’s face as she raised her eyebrows. "Of course! We need to get the proposal written tonight so we can show it to that Director tomorrow."
Without a partnership proposal, the other party really wouldn’t give them a chance.
Hearing the Chinese woman say this, everyone instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness!
They had a chance!
For now, the potential partnership seemed satisfactory to both sides, though, of course, Xie Changning was still in the evaluation phase.
"As long as we nail this partnership, we’ll demand a share of the equity!"
"That’s right! We have to get equity in the factory!"
A ruthless look appeared on the Chinese woman’s face. "Equity alone isn’t enough. We’re going to slap them in the face and show them that we can do just fine without them!"
