Sail across the sea

Chapter 339 It’s better to handle official business
Zhao Zhaoxin was naturally not intimidated by Ogel. He smiled slightly and asked, "Are there any specific legal provisions on this?"

"Of course there is no legal provision." Ogier's momentum suddenly weakened, and he said hesitantly, "But this is an international practice, everyone understands it."

Zhao Zhaoxin was not the kind of person who would not give in even if he was right. Hearing Ogel's tone soften, he also sighed and said, "This is difficult to deal with. Mr. Ogel, you know that China is a developing country and we don't know much about international practices. Canghua Vitamin Factory is an enterprise in Maolin Province, and we have no right to interfere with their production and business activities.

"How about Mr. Ogel go and talk to the leaders of the Canghua Vitamin Factory in person and introduce them to international practices?"

This is just passing the buck.

This was also something he had agreed upon with Gao Fan in advance. Gao Fan knew that Zhao Zhaoxin did not have the courage to confront Lao's. If Lao's came to cause trouble, and if Lao's also found some state agencies to speak for them, Zhao Zhaoxin would not be able to withstand it.

So Gao Fan told Zhao Zhaoxin to blame Gao Fan. Gao Fan had enough knowledge and was not afraid of Lowe's threats. At the worst, he could still blame the Hatch Group. "Official departments" could boss around the Institute of Microbiology, but when it came to a company with American capital, they had to think twice before speaking.

“Can’t you just revoke their authorization?” Ogle asked.

Zhao Zhaoxin shook his head innocently: "How is this possible? Canghua Vitamin Factory is a domestic enterprise of ours. They don't need our consent to use this technology."

"But you just said they had your authorization."

"Yes, we even sent people to instruct them on the process design."

"You said I don't need your consent?"

"Yes, because the technology we develop belongs to the country, and we have no say."

Ogel was speechless. In fact, he had heard what Zhao Zhaoxin said during the last negotiation, and he believed it without a doubt.

China is a publicly owned country and the technology belongs to the state. Institutions like the Institute of Microbiology have no right to change the will of the state, so it is impossible to prohibit the Canghua Vitamin Factory from using this technology. This logic makes sense.

If Lowe's had clearly stipulated in the contract with the Institute of Microbiology that Chinese companies using the two-step fermentation method could not sell vitamin C outside of China, Ogel would not have to say anything and could have directly sued with the contract. It didn't matter whether the target of the lawsuit was the Institute of Microbiology or the Chinese government, because someone had to be held accountable anyway.

But there was no such stipulation in the contract, so Ogel had no way to deal with the Institute of Microbiology. The other party said that they could not help, so what else could he do?
"Then, Mr. Zhao, can you help me contact the person in charge of Canghua Vitamin Factory? I want to talk to them." Ogel said.

"Their factory is in Maolin," Zhao Zhaoxin reminded.

"Can we invite them to Beijing for talks?" Ogel asked.

"This..." Zhao Zhaoxin looked embarrassed.

Shan Jinwen's role was reflected. He whispered to Zhao Zhaoxin, "Old Zhao, is it difficult?" Zhao Zhaoxin also whispered, "Old Shan, I don't have the face to ask the people from Canghua Factory to come to Beijing to meet the foreign guests. They don't ask the foreign guests for anything, why do they come here just because the foreign guests say something? Shouldn't the foreign guests go to Maolin to discuss such matters themselves?"

Shan Jinwen frowned and said, "Foreign guests are unfamiliar with us Chinese people, and the reception conditions in Maolin are not good. It is not appropriate to let foreign guests go there by themselves."

Zhao Zhaoxin said, "This involves foreign affairs. Are they received by the city this time? Otherwise, should we ask the city's foreign affairs office to contact Maolin?"

Shan Jinwen pondered for a while and felt that Zhao Zhaoxin's words made some sense. He knew that Zhao Zhaoxin had some connections with Canghua Vitamin Factory. Last time, Zhao Zhaoxin also said that Canghua Factory gave them 10 yuan a year in process licensing fees. How could the relationship between the two companies not be close?
But no matter how close they were, Zhao Zhaoxin didn't have that much face to be able to recruit people from Maolin to Beijing with just one phone call, and to come to accept Lao's questioning.

It's better to handle matters like this in a fair and impartial manner.

Thinking of this, he turned to Ogier and said, "Mr. Ogier, I just learned from Mr. Zhao that the company that sells vitamin C in the US market is from Maolin Province and has no affiliation with us. It is not convenient for us to directly invite their people to Beijing.

"There are two ways now. One is that you two go directly to Maolin Province. Of course, our Municipal Foreign Affairs Office will arrange for someone to accompany you. The other is that we contact the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and the Maolin Provincial Foreign Affairs Office and ask them to coordinate and arrange for the person in charge of the Canghua Vitamin Factory to come to Beijing to talk with you. Which way do you think is more convenient?"

Ogle and Lassiter exchanged glances and said, "Let's choose the latter approach. You can tell them that they have violated our rights and need to come to Beijing to give us an explanation. If they don't come, we will sue them in the International Court of Justice."

I believe you, you big-headed idiot.

Shan Jinwen thought to himself.

His English was not very good, and he could only roughly understand the conversation between Zhao Zhaoxin and Ogel just now. However, he also heard that these two German devils were just bluffing and had no solid support.

Shan Jinwen knew Zhao Zhaoxin's character. If the Chinese side really had something in the hands of Lao's in this matter, Zhao Zhaoxin would not be so calm.

Ogel was unwilling to go to Maolin, but insisted on calling the people from Canghua Plant to Beijing. Shan Jinwen could guess the reason, which was that they wanted Shan Jinwen to help put pressure on Canghua Plant, because in Ogel's view, Shan Jinwen was on their side.

But if we go to Maolin, who knows what the attitude of the officials there will be?
Damn it, why am I on your side?

I am only being polite to you because you are foreign guests.

Shan Jinwen thought so in his heart, but with a smile on his face, he nodded and said, "That's good. Then, please ask Mr. Ogle and Mr. Lassiter to visit Beijing for a few days first, and I will ask the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office to contact Maolin Province.

"It takes two days and one night to get from Maolin to Beijing by train. If the Canghua Plant wants to send someone over, it will take at least the day after tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)