Sail across the sea

"Mr. Dampier, I didn't disturb your rest, did I?"

After sitting down on the sofa, Wu Yawei greeted Dampier politely.

Sitting next to Wu Yawei is Gao Fan's high school classmate Zhang Wei, a freshman in the Chemistry Department of Maolin Normal University.After listening to what Wu Yawei said, he translated for Dampier in barely fluent English, but of course, fluentness was beyond the pale.

Previously, Wu Yawei received a task to communicate privately with Dampier. The only request he made was to bring an interpreter.The reason he gave was that the original translator Ge Zhiliang had been working for many days and it was time to take a rest.

Wu Yawei did not want Ge Zhiliang to participate in this "private communication" because during the inspection and negotiation process with Dampier a few days ago, Wu Yawei felt that Ge Zhiliang's position was biased towards Xu Ying and the others, and he was considered a bit hawkish.

Wu Yawei wanted to talk about some intimate topics with Dampier, and of course he didn't want such a person to be around, and he still played the role of a translator.If one of his words is deliberately translated into something else and offends the foreign guests, he will be in big trouble.

Zhu Nian guessed what Wu Yawei was thinking and agreed with it somewhat, so he agreed to Wu Yawei's request and prepared to provide him with another translator.Wu Yawei said that he had an acquaintance who spoke good English and could serve as a translator.

Zhu Nian had no objection to this. He asked about the acquaintance's situation and agreed.

In recent years, the country's openness has continued to increase, and the number of foreigners coming to China has continued to increase. The country is no longer as sensitive to matters like ordinary people's contact with foreigners as it was in the past.

For example, when Gao Fan took Bob to Cangtang County, the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office also nodded.Of course, it is inevitable to educate relevant personnel on some foreign affairs disciplines.

The acquaintance Wu Yawei found was Zhang Wei.They are both from Cangtang and have some relatives.During the Chinese New Year, Wu Yawei met Zhang Wei, who was a freshman, at a gathering at a relative's house. He learned that Zhang Wei had worked very hard in the past six months in college and had just memorized an English-Chinese dictionary. He already had the skills to communicate in English with foreign teachers. Able.

Some of the things Wu Yawei wanted to talk to Dampier were not suitable for others to listen to, especially colleagues within the system.You know, there will be all kinds of interest entanglements in the unit. If he offends someone at some point, and someone makes a misrepresentation of what happened this time, he will feel uncomfortable.

Considering this, Wu Yawei thought of Zhang Wei.In his opinion, Zhang Wei was just a freshman with no political power. As long as he told him a few words and told him not to go out and talk nonsense, there would be no problem.

He was a little doubtful about Zhang Wei's English proficiency, but there was really no other way but to catch up.

"No, I haven't rested yet. In the United States, I usually don't go to bed until after twelve o'clock at night. But in China, there is no entertainment at all. It's really boring."

Dampier sat down opposite Wu Yawei, complaining irritably, and at the same time threw two cans of Coke in front of Wu Yawei and Zhang Wei.

He stayed in a foreign-related hotel, and Coke was provided in the hotel.The price of Coke is unacceptably high compared to the income of Chinese people, so Coke is not available in ordinary Chinese stores.However, this amount of money is nothing to Americans.

"Chief Wu, this..."

Looking at the can rolled in front of him, Zhang Wei felt at a loss.He did recognize the drink, but he had never drunk it.He knew that the price of this kind of drink was very high, and he was not sure whether he was qualified to accept such a can of drink due to his status.

Wu Yawei had seen some of the world. He picked up the Coke in front of him, pulled the tab, took a calm sip, then put down the can and nodded to Zhang Wei, indicating that he would follow suit.Zhang Wei quickly turned around and smiled at Dampier, said "three grams of oil", then followed Wu Yawei's example, opened the can and took a cautious sip.

While he was savoring the taste of Coke, Wu Yawei on the other end had already pretended to be relaxed and started chatting with Dampier.Zhang Wei had no choice but to put down his Coke, listen carefully to both sides, and then translate for them.

Wu Yawei said: "There is no way, our country is too backward, and our thinking is too conservative. If it were in the south, big hotels would have dance parties at night. We did it here in the past, but it was banned later. .”

"Banned? Why?" Dampier was a little confused.

"They say it's a bourgeois lifestyle." Wu Yawei said.

"What's wrong with the bourgeoisie?" Dampier continued.

"Uh..." Wu Yawei didn't know how to answer.

Of course he has his own opinions on this issue, but speaking out these opinions in front of foreign guests would be a taboo.He was not afraid that Zhang Wei would spread these words, but he was more worried that Dampier did not know the importance and spread what he said, which would be a serious mistake.

"By the way, Mr. Dampier, what do you think about the negotiations over the past few days?" Wu Yawei changed the previous topic and got back to the topic.

"I feel very sorry." Dampier shrugged, showing a detached look, "Your officials know nothing about the laws of industry and made some very unprofessional requirements, which are completely unacceptable to us.

"I just had a phone call with my boss, Mr. Vallance, and he said that if China always insists on such layman's demands, then the cooperation between us may have to give up. Although, this is an unpleasant thing thing."

"No, no, no, Mr. Dampier, this kind of situation can never happen." Wu Yawei said, "Indeed, some of our leaders, sorry, as a subordinate, it is not convenient for me to name them directly, some of them are indeed too ambitious. of.

"However, I assure you that our other leaders, and the leaders who have the decision-making power on the joint venture, are still very reasonable."

"When you talk about other leaders, do you mean Mr. Zhu?" Dampier asked.

Wu Yawei did not answer directly, but followed Dampier's example and lightly shrugged his shoulders, which meant admission.

"However, I think he seemed a little afraid of Ms. Xu, and he did not dare to directly refute Ms. Xu's opinions." Dampier said.

Wu Yawei said: "After all, the two of them are cadres at the same level, so it is inconvenient for Director Zhu to directly refute Director Xu's opinions. However, I can tell you very clearly that Director Zhu very much hopes to promote this cooperation. "