I, from the Celestial Empire, have parachuted into Teyvat.

"What? The US, along with other countries, has launched a comprehensive sanctions against us? Imposing tariffs of up to 240% on goods imported from China... Has the US gone mad?"

Yan Ruyu chuckled twice and said, "They must be crazy, otherwise why would they launch such a crazy move... This is simply a case of hurting the enemy a thousand while hurting themselves eight hundred, but they still did it. It seems that they will stop at nothing to suppress us."

Wang Mingjun frowned.

The United States, along with other Western countries, launched a comprehensive sanctions against China, imposing tariffs of up to 240% on imported goods... Such high tariffs will cause a significant increase in the price of Chinese goods. Currently, Western countries import a considerable portion of their total imports from China each year, and people in Western countries are essentially inseparable from Chinese-made goods in their daily lives. The substantial increase in tariffs on Chinese goods will inevitably raise the cost of living for people in Western countries significantly. However, at the same time, for cost reasons and self-protection, Western companies and institutions will also stop buying Chinese goods and seek other alternatives.

Thinking about this, Wang Mingjun's mood became increasingly heavy.

As a Chinese international foreign trade company, it's no wonder that all of their orders suddenly ran into problems overnight.

It's important to understand that this round of sanctions against China is not limited to specific areas, but is comprehensive, covering everything from low-end goods to high-end technology—a complete blockade! And it involves not just the United States, but the entire Western bloc.

In an instant, it could be said that China was surrounded by half of the blue planet.

For Wang Mingjun's international trade, this was like entering an ice age, a doomsday winter.

While not all countries on Earth have joined the ranks of those imposing sanctions on China, those that have announced sanctions and imposed high tariffs on China are all major consumer markets, making it difficult for China to find alternative markets in the short term. This series of bans and restrictions will severely damage China's international trade.

Yan Ruyu sighed, "It's going to be tough working in international trade from now on. I think we should prepare early and switch careers as soon as possible."

Wang Mingjun said pessimistically, "It's not that simple. I'm afraid it will be difficult to do business in all industries in the future. This blockade is a comprehensive blockade, involving almost all fields from low-end manufacturing to high technology. Those of us engaged in foreign trade are just feeling it more directly. The impact of the subsequent blockade will gradually spread to all industries in the country."

"Hey......"

Yan Ruyu sighed again.

"We've faced sanctions from the US more than once before, but we've always pulled through. Do you think China can withstand this one?"

Wang Mingjun gently shook his head: "Compared to this, previous sanctions are nothing. Even with the many pessimists online, I could still confidently say that China was absolutely safe from the sanctions imposed by the US in the past. But this time... I really don't know..."

At this moment, the elevator made a "ding" sound, indicating that it had arrived at the company's floor. Wang Mingjun and Yan Ruyu stopped talking and turned to walk out of the elevator.

When I arrived at the company, a considerable number of employees had already returned. The company was in chaos. Many people were running around the office area with documents and forms in their hands. At a glance, most people had furrowed brows and low spirits. Obviously, people like Wang Mingjun, who only bury themselves in sleep on weekends and don't even go online, are a minority. Everyone already knows about yesterday's news of sanctions.

"Xiao Wang, Yanzi, over here, you two come over quickly."

Upon entering the company, Wang Mingjun and Yan Ruyu were called over by the director to work with other project team members to handle the project issues at hand.

The project they were in charge of originally had a large order from a well-known large company in the United States, but due to the sudden surge in tariffs yesterday, the United States canceled the order. Now the two of them are responsible for cleaning up the mess left by the project.

After a busy morning, the project team finally got a little relief.

After a busy day, Yan Ruyu slumped onto her desk and sighed heavily.

"Old Wang, what do you think of the restaurant industry?"

Wang Mingjun raised an eyebrow and said, "What? You want to go into the catering industry?"

Yan Ruyu said, "To be honest, there's probably not much of a future for our industry. We're all just wage earners, there's no need to keep struggling like this. Why don't you and I partner up to open a chain brand and switch to the catering industry? After all, food is the most important thing for people. No matter how bad the economic downturn is, people still need to eat. Speaking of which, I think a milk tea chain would be a good option."

"How did we end up talking about milk tea again..."

Wang Mingjun wanted to say something more, but when he saw the director walking towards them from a distance, Wang Mingjun immediately stopped talking, and Yan Ruyu, who was lying on the table, also hurriedly got up.

"Xiao Wang."

"director."

"Come to my office."

The director waved to Wang Mingjun and then left the office area on his own. Wang Mingjun stood up, filled with curiosity. Yan Ruyu, who was next to him, pinched her chin and teased, "Is the company planning to lay you off because it can't stay afloat?"

Wang Mingjun rolled his eyes: "You slack off all day long. If we really have to lay off employees, we'll have to lay you off first, before we lay off me."

After saying that, Wang Mingjun went to the director's office.

Standing in front of the director's office, Wang Mingjun was still a little uneasy. Although he didn't believe the company would lay him off, his casual conversation with Yan Ruyu had made him somewhat apprehensive.

What if it's true?

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Mingjun pushed open the door to the director's office.

Upon entering the room, Wang Mingjun discovered that more than a dozen people had already arrived before him.

Wang Mingjun knew all of these people; they were all his colleagues at the company, but they belonged to different project teams. Moreover, everyone present, including Wang Mingjun, had one thing in common: they had all received awards for outstanding employees within the company.

Upon seeing this, a question popped into Wang Mingjun's mind.

What is this going to do?

Chapter 445 Cross-Border Project

Looking at his colleagues, all of whom had received awards and honors within the company, Wang Mingjun was filled with questions.

What exactly is this supposed to be?

The director was not in his office at the time. A dozen or so people were also in the office, some standing and some standing, chatting with each other.

Wang Mingjun asked around the office, only to find that everyone present, like him, had been called to the director's office but didn't know what they were there for.

Just as everyone was filled with doubt, the office door opened again, and the director walked in with another employee, who had also received awards and honors.

Upon seeing the director return, everyone present stood up.

The director glanced around to make sure everyone was there, then turned and closed the office door and pulled down the blinds.

"The sixteen of you are the best employees in our company over the past two years. Your work ability and level have been proven. I called you here today to have you work together to take charge of an important project."

The moment the director opened his mouth, everyone present was stunned.

An important project? What important project?

The company has basically cut all of its current projects. Given the international context of a blockade by the Western bloc led by the United States, what important projects can the company still have?

Although everyone had questions in their hearts, no one said anything. After all, it was not nice to say such discouraging words in front of the director.

The director continued, "Yesterday, everyone learned about the ban and blockade issued by the US and other Western countries. To put it bluntly, this is indeed a heavy blow to our international trade industry. I'm afraid many international trading companies will collapse under this wave. Although our Tiande International Trading Company is one of the top international trading companies in China, the situation is not optimistic. At least based on the current situation, this industry may not have a future for the next few years or even more than ten years. I believe some of you are already looking for a way out."

Everyone fell silent. What the director said was honest, but it was also true.

Of the dozen or so people present, more than half had indeed started considering changing careers this morning.

This included Wang Mingjun, who awkwardly touched his nose, after all, he had been discussing this matter with Yan Ruyu before coming to the director's office.

"I don't object to you changing careers; after all, everyone has their own ideas, but..."

At this point, the director abruptly changed the subject.

"Everything has its good and bad sides. Even a phoenix must undergo a rebirth before it can rise from the ashes. Our foreign trade industry is currently experiencing its darkest moment in history, but I believe this darkness is the darkness before dawn. Previously, we focused all our attention on the Western market and did not have the extra energy to explore new markets and paths. But now an opportunity has been presented to us."

As he spoke, the director walked behind his desk and took a document from a drawer.

"This is an official document sent by the government of Magic City that we received internally yesterday. It comes from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce and the Bureau of Finance. As one of the top companies in the country, Tiande International Trade Co., Ltd. is qualified to apply in advance to join the cross-border plan for pilot testing."

Hearing this, the dozen or so people in the office looked at each other in bewilderment. Wang Mingjun couldn't help but ask, "Director, what is this cross-industry plan?"

"In short, according to the official documents, it means establishing a super-circular market across the world and a sound mechanism for diversified and multi-faceted exchange and cooperation in trade, finance, technology, people's livelihood, culture, and other fields. We are qualified to participate in the trade sector."

"Across...across the world..."

Wang Mingjun was stunned.

"Director...could it be...?"

The director nodded: "Yes, it's that other world you've been seeing in the news a lot lately."

As soon as the director finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.

Cross-world trade is far more impressive than transnational trade.

"We are one of the first companies to join the crossover project. We don't know much about the situation in the other world, so the company has decided to send a group of people to the other world to investigate the market and situation there. You sixteen of you have all been through the front lines of our company, and you are capable and experienced. So I want to select the sixteen of you to go to the other world. This is an important project that the company is going to entrust to you. So, do you have any thoughts? You can express them."

At that moment, someone raised their hand.

"Director, are we really going to another world?"

The director nodded: "Of course."

"However, I'll say it again: everyone has their own ideas, and I don't object to you withdrawing from this project. If you don't want to participate in this project, you can say so here, and I'll cross your name off the list."

After the director finished speaking, no one in the room uttered a sound; everyone's face shone with anticipation and excitement.

The director pressed further, "No?"

The crowd shook their heads.

Now that things have come to this, only a fool would want to back out. This is an opportunity to participate in a cross-world project, the first batch on the entire planet! In the future, when you meet colleagues, if they say they are in international trade and ask what you do, you can say you are in cross-world trade. You've already won in terms of perspective, okay?

Besides, that's another world.

Since the Grand Elder announced the existence of another world, the term "other world" has become like a paradise in the hearts of countless Chinese people, a magical and mysterious place. However, the Chinese government has released very little information about the other world, so even with great curiosity, the Chinese people have no way of knowing what kind of world this mysterious other world is.

Now, an opportunity to travel to another world has been presented to everyone, so why wouldn't they seize it?

Stepping onto the land of another world will surely add another unforgettable moment to your life.

And so, the group became more and more excited as they thought about it, and the gloomy feeling they had about the future of the industry that morning completely disappeared.

Is there a bigger and more promising space in this new world?

Seeing that everyone was getting restless, the director waved for them to leave, saying that he would inform them of the relevant matters later and that they should prepare for the trip, as they might be leaving in the next few days.

After leaving the director's office, Wang Mingjun hummed a little tune as he returned to his desk.

Yan Ruyu, standing to the side, asked in surprise, "Why are you so happy? Did you win the lottery, receive a bonus, or get a promotion?"

Wang Mingjun laughed and said, "It's more exciting than winning the lottery. I'm leaving early today; I need to go back and pack my things for my long trip."

"Going on a long trip? Are you going on a business trip?"

"more or less."

Wang Mingjun tidied up his seat briefly and turned to leave, but then suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Yan Ruyu.

"Yanzi, I think milk tea chains are really not going to work, but foreign trade may still have a very broad future."

"what?"

Yan Ruyu was completely bewildered, but then she saw Wang Mingjun leave the company with a cheerful gait and a wave.

Scratching her head, Yan Ruyu shrugged and said, "That's inexplicable."

"But are bubble tea chains really not going to work...?"