Siheyuan: My Northeastern Farmhouse

Chapter 331: When in town, do as the Romans do
"I don't think there's anything to talk about in the raw silk trade." Gu Weijun touched Catherine's smooth back and replied casually: "It's just a matter of following the market."

"Whatever the price is on Japan's Raw Silk Futures Exchange, we will sign the contract at that price."

When talking about this, Gu Weijun looked at the ceiling with deep eyes, "This time, the official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who led the team has not told me whether there is any other purpose?"

"However, I don't care, as long as it doesn't affect our interests, they can do whatever they want."

"Except for profits, if you want anything, we will give it to you!"

Constance's lazy voice sounded, and she hugged Gu Weijun's neck from the other side, "My dear, let's not talk about such disappointing things in such a good time, right?"

Emma and Mandy also calmed down and crawled to his side, drawing circles on his body, "That's right!"

"My brave knight, can you charge again?"

"I am willing to serve you, my Majesty the Queen!" Gu Weijun used his strength to lift the women up, and the second round of battle started.

The welcome ceremony of the embassy tonight was also very warm. The chef also asked the chef to learn how to make local French delicacies to entertain the comrades from China.

"The export volume of several hundred million US dollars a year accounts for about 12-15% of our country's annual export volume."

"Before this, I and my former comrades from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a detailed review of the development of China and Italy."

Hearing this, Ambassador Huang raised his eyebrows and thought to himself: This kind of thing in France can never happen again, right? Then he glanced around the welcome banquet with the same hidden gaze, and then asked a serious question: "Director Miao, who made the decision to rapidly expand trade with Italy?"

"I have to cooperate with you well!"

"Our previous trading partners also cooperated with Italian textile mills, basically occupying market share outside Italy."

"However, Britain has always been on both ends of the spectrum. Although it has set up an agency long ago, it has always followed the American imperialists and supported the Chiang gang."

"Is this the second one?" After Director Miao looked around and did not find Gu Weijun, he whispered in Ambassador Huang's ear: "The higher ups also want to expand trade with Italy."

"I don't believe you came to France just to protect the export trade of raw silk."

Director Miao clinked glasses with Ambassador Huang and replied with a smile, "Ambassador Huang, isn't the raw silk business enough?"

"France is our largest trading partner!"

Ambassador Huang invited Director Miao to his office, poured him a cup of tea, and prepared to discuss this issue in detail, "Director Miao, the official document establishing diplomatic relations with Italy was signed at the Embassy in France!"

"There was France before and Italy after. Once diplomatic relations were established with my country, the trade between the two countries grew rapidly."

Yu Qiang looked left and right but didn't see Gu Weijun. He wanted to file a complaint but thought of the reprimand in the afternoon, so he could only give up temporarily. He secretly hated him, how could there be such an unorganized and undisciplined person?
At the welcome ceremony, Ambassador Huang also asked Director Miao the same question: "Director Miao, now that you are all in France, can you tell me your plan?"

"But what?" Director Miao changed the topic, "There are indeed other things."

"Ambassador Huang, we have established commercial representative offices with Italy in each other's country for 65 years, and last year we succeeded in getting Italy to recognize one China and Taiwan as an inalienable part of China, and to sever ties with the Chiang Kai-shek gang and officially establish diplomatic relations with my country. .”

"Our trade volume with Italy is only about 5000 million U.S. dollars a year. If it can be increased several times, it will be a sufficient benchmark for other Western European countries that have not established diplomatic relations with us!"

"There is also West Germany. We don't even have an agency between us and them, so we must continue to expand our country's influence in Europe and prepare for returning to the United Nations."

"So, this time we will also see if we can replicate the experience in France."

"That's one of them."

"We are also responsible for inspecting the address of the embassy this time."

"You know, Italy itself produces raw silk."

"By 69, we imported about US$6500 million from Italy and exported only US$4300 million; in 70, our imports from Italy were about US$5500 million and our exports were US$4500 million. Italy has always had a trade surplus."

"After the formal establishment of diplomatic relations, we have communicated and discussed with many comrades. We have always wanted to increase trade exports to Italy and smooth the trade gap between the two countries, but there has been no good direction."

Looking at Director Miao who was deep in thought, Ambassador Huang continued to ask with concern: "Director Miao, have you already taken the team in a good direction this time?"

"Here" Director Miao paused while holding the teacup, and then smiled slightly unnaturally, "We came out this time to conduct a thorough on-the-spot investigation."

"Try to find a breakthrough!" "What's more, isn't Comrade Gu Weijun here too this time?"

"Leader Zhou praised him for his quick thinking, and he might be able to find a new way out."

After hearing this, Ambassador Huang's eyes sharpened for a moment, then immediately softened, and he followed the topic with a smile and joked: "Well, this little comrade Gu Weijun is really smart."

"Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recruited a capable person."

"Haha, that's right."

When resting at night, Ambassador Huang's wife saw that her husband was in a bad mood and asked thoughtfully. Ambassador Huang shook his head, "It's nothing, go to bed."

"In a few days, comrades from China will go to Italy. Let's see what their needs are in the past two days and try to help them as much as possible."

Mrs. Huang glanced at her husband thoughtfully and did not continue to ask any more questions.

Early the next morning, Catherine arranged for Perec, the manager of the trading company, to send a cocktail invitation to the visiting domestic delegation and send a beautiful invitation.

The time was set for the evening three days later, and the location was arranged at the George V Hotel on the Champs Elysées.

And he also thoughtfully asked, are you used to the local French food? Authentic Chinese food can also be provided at the reception.

And it was not just trading companies that were present, but also French government officials.

After receiving the invitation, Director Miao immediately asked the embassy to contact Gu Weijun and asked him to return to the embassy in the afternoon so that he could attend the evening reception together.

Comrade Wang was confused after receiving the call in Catherine's apartment. Shouldn't Comrade Gu Weijun and I go directly there at night? what happened?

After finding Gu Weijun who was chatting easily with a few girls on the balcony, Comrade Wang explained the content of the phone call. Gu Weijun's eyes narrowed and he immediately smiled and waved his hand, "That's right. After all, I came to France with my comrades from China."

"We should attend together."

"Come on, let's go back right now."

After Gu Weijun said goodbye to Catherine and the ladies one by one, he whispered a few instructions in their ears, and then returned to the embassy with Comrade Wang.

Comrades from China in the embassy were being trained on evening etiquette by comrades from the embassy. As soon as Yu Qiang saw Gu Weijun coming back, he immediately greeted him warmly, "Chief Gu, come here quickly!"

"Our trading partners invited us to a reception in the evening, and the comrades from the embassy are teaching us the etiquette of receptions here."

"There is still a certain difference from the training we receive in China before going abroad."

"Okay, here you go." Gu Weijun waved to him with a smile, and after whispering a few words to Comrade Wang, he stood in the embassy canteen hall and listened to the explanation.

Although the comrade from the embassy who explained was also curious about why Gu Weijun wanted to participate in the training, he didn't ask much. Instead, he stood in the middle of the cafeteria and continued to demonstrate etiquette.

Because the embassy was very close to the George V Hotel, Gu Weijun walked there with the comrades of the embassy and delegation, while Ambassador Huang took Director Miao there by car.

On the way, Gu Weijun walked and chatted with Comrade Wang and several comrades. The Chinese tunic suit and new suit he wore tonight were thrown directly into Catherine's apartment.

Comrades from China who went abroad for the first time, especially Yu Qiang, looked at the brightly lit Champs Elysées and various shops with greedy eyes. They listened to the explanations of the comrades from the embassy and screamed in surprise when they heard the prices. .

At night, the George V Hotel was brightly lit inside and out, and there were still fragrant tulips everywhere. The doorman at the door opened the door respectfully after noticing the delegation from China.

Gu Weijun secretly handed Comrade Wang a 10-franc note, and Comrade Wang rewarded it to the doorman gracefully.

When asked, Comrade Wang straightened his back and explained: "On the one hand, they do as the Romans do. These doormen are from poor families and mainly rely on tips to make money; on the other hand, we Chinese pursue equality. If we serve us, we Just give him a certain reward.”

When asked again how much tip was given, the comrades who were going abroad for the first time were dumbfounded again. It was almost 10 yuan. Is it so easy to make money abroad?
Throughout the night of the cocktail party, Gu Weijun stayed beside Director Miao and Ambassador Huang, holding a glass of wine and looking intently, playing the role of translator.

And Yu Qiang seized the opportunity to get close to Catherine, smiled and raised his glass, "Hello, Ms. Catherine, I am Qiang.Yu from the delegation."

"Nice to meet you!"

(End of this chapter)