The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 366 Farewell and Welcome Party
Liu Hua smiled and said to Pu Wei, "You don't understand. Education in mainland China is relatively fairer and better able to cultivate talent. Of course, there are also things that are not as good as theirs, such as studying abroad, which may not be as convenient as in Hong Kong."

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Hua said with a smile, "Our company currently mainly has two products. One of them sells very well, while you should focus on promoting the other. This is my new product, a nickel-metal hydride battery. In China, it is mainly used in the newly designed PHS (Personal Handyphone System). It can also be used in foreign pagers and mobile communication terminals."

Liu Hua took out his mobile phone: "This thing has just started to become popular in Beijing, and the agency rights for Hong Kong haven't been signed yet."

Li Zhengyao took the mobile phone, fiddled with it for a bit, and because he was relatively young, he quickly mastered how to use it.

"Boss, if I may be so bold, I feel that the market for this PHS phone is much larger than that for batteries."

Liu Hua nodded: "I know, but the PHS communication protocol is relatively simple, and the overseas market is relatively small. Moreover, the ownership of PHS does not belong to me, but to Beijing Post and Tsinghua University."

Liu Hua arranged for two people to familiarize themselves with the products at the factory, while he went to the commerce department to report the product. After all, nickel-metal hydride batteries were new products, and he didn't know what strategic plans the country had, let alone whether they could be exported.

This was Liu Hua's first time visiting the business department, but he was already quite familiar with the people there.

He was received by a department head who wanted to see the performance of nickel-metal hydride batteries, something that would leave him scratching his head later.

"Logically speaking, such advanced technology should at least be subject to export controls, but the country doesn't have a clear policy on this. Let me consult with them first, and I'll give you an answer within two days."

After finishing his business, the mayor was about to see Liu Hua off when he passed a large conference room. The door wasn't closed properly, and he heard someone inside assigning tasks.

Liu Hua said with a smile, "Your business department assigns tasks with such passion and enthusiasm?"

"There's no other way, it's the customs clearance negotiations." The director shook his head: "It started in 1985, but there has been no progress. This time we have to talk to two small European countries. Our commerce department has made a solemn pledge to the higher-ups that we must win this bid."

Liu Hua smiled and shook his head: "I guess it's because no matter which country you talked to before, there was never a clear result."

“Yes, that damn GATT.” The director sighed. “What so-called free trade? Isn’t this just American hegemony? But if we want to do business with foreigners, we have to abide by their rules. We don’t know where the problem lies. We’ve made many compromises in our negotiations, but we just can’t reach an agreement.”

"You just hit the nail on the head, but you still don't realize it."

The director was taken aback: "Key point? Did I mention a key point?"

Liu Hua nodded: "You just said that this is the hegemony of the United States. The whole so-called free trade system is a set of rules set up by the United States to realize its dollar hegemony. If you want to join, you have to talk to the leader first. If the United States doesn't give in, do you think the subordinates will?"

"Besides the US, there are dozens of other member states there."

"Isn't the world now a battle between two superpowers? The Russian bear is clearly at a disadvantage, and free trade is a rule set by the American. You say you've reached an agreement with the American, do you think your subordinates would dare to object? Unless they stop doing business with the American and switch to doing business with the Russian bear, is that even possible?"

The director slapped his forehead: "Really? How come I never thought of that before?"

"It's very simple to verify. Just find a country with good relations with our country and ask the person in charge of this area privately."

The director stopped and said apologetically, "You've really woken me up. I won't see you off. I need to go back and report this matter immediately. If it's really like this, then we don't need to send these two negotiation teams. We need to adjust our strategy."

The mayor simply abandoned Liu Hua, ran all the way back, and, breathless, knocked on the door of the leader's office.

"What's wrong? You're so unsteady." "Boss," the director said, catching his breath, "Just now, Engineer Liu from Tsinghua University came to report on their newly produced batteries, and his words were a wake-up call."

"What dream person?"

"As Engineer Liu said, if we want to join the GATT, we must first win over the big US. If the big US doesn't budge, none of the other contracting parties will dare to object."

The leader was stunned, his mind racing. After three minutes, he said, "Go and tell their negotiation delegation not to depart for the time being. I need to confirm this. If it's true, we've got the key."

Back in Liu Hua's previous life, we grasped this crucial point. It was only after the WTO was established that Pakistan reminded us of it. Liu Hua casually remarked that it might save them many years of effort.

Two days later, we received permission from the commerce department that nickel-metal hydride batteries could be exported, which was absolutely fantastic news.

The two sales vice directors hurriedly packed their bags, one heading to Europe and the other to the United States, certain that this trip would make them a fortune.

When Liu Hua went to the airport to see someone off, he unexpectedly ran into his wife at the airport.

She drove her Mini to the airport to pick someone up. Rosamund Kwan had no acting projects lately and was quite bored, so when she was chatting on the phone with her cousin, Liu Feifei invited her to come to Beijing for fun.

Since she had nothing else to do in Hong Kong, she agreed.

Coincidentally, the couple met at the airport today and led Rosamund Kwan to their parking lot.

Rosamund Kwan was shocked to see how impressive her cousin and cousin-in-law's car was.

"Sis, your car is so beautiful! Where did you buy it? Was it expensive?"

Liu Feifei shook her head: "It wasn't bought, it was a gift from your brother-in-law's friend. It's said to be the only one of its kind in the world."

"Limited edition! That's too expensive! Was it a gift from my brother-in-law's friend? His friend is incredibly generous!"

Liu Hua said with a smile, "It's not a limited edition, it's a customized edition. The owner is a shareholder of the car company."

Sha Zhu had just set up his own private kitchen, and it just so happened that Liu Feifei was entertaining her younger sister.

So Liu Hua suggested, "Let's go straight to Sha Zhu's private restaurant and have a meal of Tan family cuisine to welcome my sister back."

When Liu Feifei explained the significance of Tan Jiasai to Rosamund Kwan, Rosamund Kwan was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth.

"Hong Kong also has private kitchens, but they're just run by a few skilled chefs. They don't have much of a history. I never imagined that private kitchens in Beijing had such a rich cultural heritage." — Liu Hua

Liu Hua said with a smile, "Today I'll let you experience the dishes served to the runner-up. Perhaps your Guarjia clan's ancestors once ate Tan family cuisine."

(End of this chapter)