Reborn Industrial Tycoon

The team that appeared in front of Li Weidong was the foreign trade team of Jinmen City, and the leader was none other than Zhou Fulai, who could change his face in an instant.

More than a year ago, Masayuki Kato inspected Jinmen Automobile. Li Weidong once worked as a translator for the Tianjin Foreign Trade Bureau, and it was at that time that he met Zhou Fulai.

When he first met Li Weidong, Zhou Fulai thought Li Weidong was a student. Later, after discovering that Li Weidong was proficient in Japanese, his face changed instantly and he called Li Weidong "Teacher Xiao Li."

Before Li Weidong left Tianjin, he used the 100 yuan foreign exchange coupon in his hand to buy a black and white TV from Zhou Fulai.

Now Li Weidong met Zhou Fulai again in the office area of ​​the Canton Fair.

The Canton Fair is originally a foreign trade conference. As an official in charge of foreign trade, it is normal for Zhou Fulai to appear here.

Zhou Fulai has not changed much, he is still the same as before. Although he is wearing a suit, he always looks a little awkward, and the tie around his neck is still styled like a red scarf.

"Where Zhou Fuli came, there might be a list of important foreign businessmen!" Thinking of this, Li Weidong immediately walked up.

"Zhou Ju, long time no see!" Li Weidong made it easy for Zhou Fulai to say hello across the distance.

Zhou Fulai stopped and looked carefully for two seconds before he remembered who Li Weidong was.

"You are Teacher Xiao Li!" Zhou Fulai also pretended to be surprised.

"It's rare that Zhou Ju still remembers me! I'm really flattered." Li Weidong said immediately.

"You helped our bureau so much, how could I forget you!" Zhou Fulai then asked: "Teacher Xiao Li, are you here to be a translator?"

"It wasn't originally, but now, I'm afraid I really have to find a job as a translator. Otherwise, I won't even be able to enter the Canton Fair venue tomorrow."

Li Weidong paused and then said, "I originally came to participate in the Canton Fair. Our factory's products were divided into the daily necessities area. The daily necessities area has just been cancelled. There is no booth for our products. There are no exhibits.

To participate in the exhibition, I couldn’t even get an admission pass.”

Zhou Fulai nodded in sudden realization: "I have also heard about the cancellation of the daily necessities exhibition area. I heard that a group of foreign businessmen came and had a relatively large purchase intention for embroidery products, so the organizer decided to temporarily add an embroidery exhibition area for daily necessities.

Over at the exhibition area, the order situation has been bad, so it was cancelled."

In the future, daily necessities made in China will be all over the world. However, in the 1980s, "made in China" was still an unfamiliar term, and no country was willing to buy daily necessities made in China.

Zhou Fulai looked at Li Weidong with some sympathy, and then said: "Mr. Li, if you are free, you might as well come to our group. We really need talents like Teacher Li who are proficient in Japanese."

Li Weidong was waiting for Zhou Fulai to say this, and he immediately said: "Director Zhou, I actually understand English. If there is an English translation job, I can do it."

"Teacher Xiao Li still understands English! That's great!" Zhou Fulai suddenly beamed with joy.

In an international exhibition like the Canton Fair, there are never enough translators. Zhou Fulai will naturally not let go of people like Li Weidong who understand foreign languages. One more translator in the exhibition group means one more person who can communicate with foreign guests.

One more opportunity to earn foreign exchange.

Li Weidong's purpose was also very simple. He hoped to obtain the list of important foreign businessmen through Zhou Fulai.

…

In the 1980s, there were not many hotels in Yangcheng that could accommodate foreign guests.

During the Canton Fair, most foreign guests will choose China Hotel, because China Hotel is on Liuhua Road and is relatively close to the Canton Fair exhibition hall.

Some well-established foreign businessmen will stay at the White Swan Hotel, where the environment is much better. U.S. President Richard Nixon, Bush Sr., Queen Elizabeth and other political figures have all stayed at the White Swan Hotel.

Li Weidong followed Zhou Fulai to the White Swan Hotel to visit several important foreign businessmen.

Sitting in the car, Zhou Fulai introduced: "The foreign businessmen we visited this time are actually acquaintances. They have purchased our products before. This time we came mainly to confirm this year's purchasing intentions in advance."

"Director Zhou, you'd better show me the list of these important foreign businessmen later. I'll get to know their backgrounds in advance so I can have a good idea. At least I need to know what industry they're in, so I can do some research in advance.

Homework." Li Weidong took this opportunity to ask Zhou Fulai for a list of important merchants.

"That's right. The list is locked in a drawer in my office. I'll bring it to you when I get back today so you can understand it first. But you can only read it in the office, and you can't copy it!"

Zhou Fulai lowered his voice and reminded: "This list is a foreign-related secret. It doesn't matter if we look at it ourselves. If it is leaked, it will be bad. Foreign businessmen will think that we are spying on them, which will cause diplomatic disputes."

.”

"I understand, don't worry, I will definitely keep my mouth shut." Li Weidong nodded.

Foreigners who don't know the truth think that China is a country without freedom. After entering China, they will be monitored 24 hours a day. If the list of foreign businessmen is leaked, it may make foreigners' paranoia of persecution even more serious.

The car stopped at the entrance of the White Swan Hotel, and the group got out of the car. Li Weidong looked at the surrounding scenery and found that there were dozens of taxis parked outside, and they were all Nissan Dukes.

"The sixth-generation Nissan Duke actually works as a taxi! Secretary Yu in the company is not worthy of such a good car!" Li Weidong thought to himself.

Zhou Fulai, who was next to him, was already used to this. He introduced: "The taxis in Yangcheng were first imported from Sweden. Volvos were imported from Sweden. Since 1983, Nissan Bluebirds and Dukes have been imported one after another.

The cars look relatively new, they should be the Dukes imported in 1985!"

"Volvo and Nissan Duke are working as taxis, and future generations will not be so arrogant!" Li Weidong thought to himself, and then followed Zhou Fulai into the White Swan Hotel.

As a hotel that specializes in receiving foreign guests, the White Swan Hotel is not accessible to anyone who wants to. Zhou Fulai showed his ID and showed his identity as the foreign trade department before he was able to enter the White Swan Hotel.

Zhou Fu looked at his watch and said, "I arrived half an hour early. Mr. Inoue probably hasn't come down yet. Let's go to the coffee shop and wait for a while! You can order whatever you want, and the bureau will reimburse you!"

Under the leadership of Zhou Fulai, everyone walked towards the coffee shop.

As soon as he reached the door of the coffee shop, Zhou Fulai suddenly stopped.

"The people in the ministry are receiving foreign guests, let's go there later," Zhou Fulai said.

Li Weidong looked forward and saw a middle-aged man in his mid-forties shaking hands with a brown-haired white foreign guest in the coffee shop.

Zhou Fulai introduced him: "That person is Director Sun Xinmin of the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. He is very likely to be appointed deputy director in the future."

"Like us, he is here to discuss orders with foreign guests in advance, right?" Li Weidong asked in a low voice.

Zhou Fulai nodded: "This foreigner is not an ordinary person who can make people from the ministry personally dispatch it. He must be a big customer!"

When Zhou Fulai said this, Li Weidong also looked at the foreigner a few more times and remembered the foreigner's appearance in his heart.

Finally, the foreigner said goodbye to Sun Xinmin and left the coffee shop, and then Zhou Fulai walked in.

"Director Sun, long time no see!" Zhou Fulai said.

"Old Zhou! I knew that Jinmen would definitely send you to this Canton Fair!" Sun Xinmin looked very enthusiastic and held Zhou Fulai's hand with both hands.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a few words, but the topic still came to the Canton Fair.

"Lao Zhou, you came here this time to find foreign businessmen to confirm orders in advance, right?" Sun Xinmin asked.

Zhou Fulai didn't hide anything, and answered: "It's Inoue from Sanhe."

"It turns out it's him! Inoue has been purchasing a lot over the years, but he is a big customer. You must keep a tight grip on such a big customer." Sun Xinmin said.

"Don't worry, the meat in my mouth can still be spit out!" Zhou Fulai chuckled, and then asked: "But why are you here? If you are worthy of the ministry's dispatch, you must not be an ordinary customer, right?

Who is the tall-nosed foreigner you met just now?"

"Why, Lao Zhou, do you want to get foreign trade secrets from me?" Sun Xinmin asked with a smile.

"If it's a secret, I won't ask." Zhou Fulai said immediately.

"I'm just kidding, don't take it seriously." Sun Xinmin continued: "The foreign businessman I just met is really not an ordinary person. The ministry spent a lot of effort to invite him! In the past few years, the invitation

Even after I sent the letter, they didn’t come. This year, it was the Embassy in the United States that made all kinds of efforts to invite them.”

"What is the origin of this foreigner that makes the ministry pay three visits to the thatched cottage?" Zhou Fulai became more and more curious.

"There is a Wal-Mart company in the United States, have you heard of it?" Sun Xinmin asked.

"Wal-Mart, it sounds familiar, let me think about it..." Zhou Fulai pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his head: "I remembered, it's the one who runs the supply and marketing cooperative!"

After hearing this, Li Weidong almost laughed out loud. The world's top Wal-Mart, in Zhou Fulai's words, became a supply and marketing cooperative. Even if it is said to be a department store, it is more appropriate than a supply and marketing cooperative.

Sun Xinmin went on to explain: "Wal-Mart is the top retailer in the United States. Their stores are all over the United States. With the scale of Wal-Mart, they can easily purchase products worth millions of dollars. Do you think this is a big customer? Just now

The man I sent away was named Gordon, and he was the buyer sent by Wal-Mart."

"So what does Wal-Mart mainly want to purchase?" Zhou Fulai asked immediately.

But Sun Xinmin shook his head: "This is my first time here, and I don't know what products we have, so Gordon didn't reveal his purchase intention. There is a saying that the eight immortals cross the sea and show their magical powers. After the Canton Fair opens, this

Gordon will definitely go to the exhibition to see who has the ability to get an order from Wal-Mart!"

At this time, Li Weidong was standing behind Zhou Fulai. Li Weidong could clearly hear every word of the conversation between Zhou Fulai and Sun Xinmin.

"The foreigner just now turned out to be a buyer for Wal-Mart!" Li Weidong suddenly felt that the so-called list of important foreign businessmen was no longer important.