Reaching for the stars with one hand

Chapter 123 The First Meal in France

Zhang Yong expressed his apologies to Shao Wenjie on the phone, explaining that he was going to France for a meeting soon and could only visit after he came back.

Shao Wenjie said: "Thank you for calling here specially, so let's get together again when you come back. I'm actually curious, and you and I both know that Mag's domestic business and influence are not top-notch. Before the Star Reaching Conference, we I only know Xiaowei, and I don’t even know that Mag has a representative in Beijing. But Xiao Tan came back and gave you, pay attention, all of you, a very high evaluation. So I especially want to meet and communicate with you, I think Ask, have you spent the winter in hibernation all these years?"

Zhang Yong said with a smile, "Mr. Shao, the definition of luxury is low-key luxury."

Shao Wenjie laughed, "The guy who changed the concept secretly, but I admire your response. Xiao Tan said that you also have something to talk to me about. What is it?"

"Let's have a face-to-face interview when I come back. I think it's a pity that with the strength of Jiechuang, we only focus on one SS24 that will be discontinued. Maybe we can do more things."

"Oh," Shao Wenjie said, "You can talk about this matter when you come back. I think Jie Chuang should be able to do more things after so many years, but after more than ten years, the things in front of me are still not finished. Well, I wish you The trip to France went well."

……

When Zhang Yong got the invitation letter, he felt a little strange.

"Mr. Fang, why is the invitation letter from TS and not from Mag?"

Fang Shu smiled softly, "You will know the reason soon."

Zhang Yong did know the reason very quickly, he personally experienced the influence of TS.

In the [-]s and [-]s, the visa office hadn't risen much, and you had to go directly to the embassy for an interview.

The busy Zhang Yong didn't realize that he left a document in the company's copier.

When the French visa officer who speaks fluent Chinese asked him, he remembered this matter, and he was extremely depressed. The half-day queuing was wasted in vain.

The visa officer didn't ask questions, but skillfully sorted out the documents in his hand, and finally handed him a receipt for him to pay the fee.

Then, the visa officer held up a piece of paper and let him see clearly through the glass, "This is the document. When you come to pick up the visa in the afternoon, just bring it here."

Zhang Yong, who quickly thanked him, was extremely surprised. He has applied for too many visas, and he has never returned a visa without missing documents.

It seems that the French embassy is particularly tolerant of employees of French companies.After Zhang Yong boarded the Air France flight, he realized that it might not be the reason of the French company, but the reason of TS.

Not long after he took his seat in the economy class, a sunny and cheerful French auntie flight attendant walked over enthusiastically.

"Hello, are you Mr. Zang?"

Zhang Yong really wanted to correct her pronunciation, his surname was Zhang, not dirty.

But seeing the friendly smile of the aunt, let the past be forgotten.

"Yes, I am dirty."

"Mr. Dirty, it is a great honor for you to take our flight. I am XXX," she said a French name that Zhang Yong is not familiar with. I."

Zhang Yong didn't enjoy much such courtesy, he responded politely, "Thank you, I will."

"Okay, I wish you a pleasant journey." The enthusiastic aunt turned and left.

A Chinese tourist next to him said enviously: "Yes, buddy, are you a celebrity? What do you do?"

Zhang Yong shook his head, "I'm not a celebrity, maybe I'm just a little handsome." Of course he knew the reason for all this, and his ticket was also booked through the TS system.

……

……

After a ten-hour flight and a short stay in Paris, Zhang Yong continued to set sail.

The sky is already bright, and the French rural scenery outside the window is as picturesque as an oil painting.Zhang Yong vaguely understood why Fang Shu wanted to come back so much.

Here the galloping Loire split into two branches, and then soon closed again.Along the north bank, a classical and modern city was built.Among the modern buildings, the medieval castle and various Gothic churches are dotted with it.This is where Mag's headquarters are located, Nantes, the largest city in western France.

Zhang Yong took a taxi to the reserved hotel and found that the hotel was opposite the train station.His original plan was to stop in Paris for one night to see the night view of the romantic capital, and then come by train.After arriving in Nantes, he can go directly to Mag's office and go to the hotel after get off work in the evening, which will not be too hard, and will not waste time and delay anything.

But the damn Air France disrupted his plan. He found that after the international flight arrived in Paris, Air France was free of charge for the domestic flight from Paris to other cities in France.

Although he didn't spend his own money, Zhang Yong, who has become a habit of frugality, reluctantly gave up the night view of Paris and boarded the free domestic flight directly.Cursed in my heart, evil capitalism.

Xiao Sewa didn't show up to have dinner with Zhang Yong. The person who came to receive Zhang Yong was a slightly thin and handsome French guy.

"Brother Yong? Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Oliver, and I'm the head of the OEM department. Francois accompanied Francois to dinner with a group of American guests. He will pick you up at the hotel tomorrow morning office."

Zhang Yong thought for a second before he realized that Francois and Francois were two people, not Oliver stuttering.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Oliver. Actually, it doesn't need to be so troublesome. I can take care of myself, and I can take a taxi there tomorrow."

"You are coming to France for the first time? I can't let a Chinese friend think that we French are not hospitable. You are hungry, let's go, I will take you to dinner. Is there anything you want to eat?"

"It's up to you. I don't know anything about French food except for steak, foie gras and snails."

"French food is famous, but the choice is far less abundant than Chinese food. I guess in Beijing, you can find all the things you mentioned, although they may not be particularly authentic. Would you like to try something that is not common in China?"

"Great, I like the idea."

Oliver took Zhang Yong to a small but exquisitely decorated restaurant.It is small and refined, which makes Zhang Yong naturally think of the Mag representative office.It seems that this is the French style, Zhang Yong thought, almost no large private cars were seen along the way, all compact and cute mini cars with French characteristics.

This French meal is indeed not common in China, but Zhang Yong couldn't help laughing. He felt that the reason why it was not common must be because this kind of food is too common in Beijing and Tianjin.Oliver brought Zhang Yong to eat French pancakes.

The tools and process of spreading the pancakes are almost the same, but the material is slightly different. There is more buckwheat in the French pancakes, so it shows a burnt color.

But the pancakes are not eaten in rolls, they are spread flat on the plate, and the ingredients selected by the guests are evenly spread on it, and then eaten with a knife and fork.

Zhang Yong chose seafood pancakes. The seafood cooked in white sauce exudes an extremely attractive taste. Zhang Yong moved his index finger, but encountered difficulties when eating.

He is good at using a knife and fork, and he has never had difficulty eating in Europe or the United States, but he really doesn't know how to use a knife for this pancake.Of course, there is another psychological factor. His more than [-] years of life experience told him that this thing is rolled up and eaten in his hand.

Polite French people don't laugh at other people's rusty knives and forks. Oliver asked kindly, "What's the matter? Is there any difficulty?"

"It's not difficult, just a question, can I roll it with my hands and eat it?"

"This," Oliver was a little embarrassed, "if you eat with your hands in a restaurant, it will be considered a very rude behavior. This is also eaten with your hands on the street, but it's not like this. It's just a layer of pancakes. White sugar."

"No problem, I can handle it."

Oliver smiled, "You are different from many Chinese people. You are informal and relaxed."

"No, I'm very nervous about this pancake now."

"Haha, I'm in charge of OEM. How much experience do you have in OEM business?"

"Experience is blank. But my understanding of GNSS business was also blank ten years ago. Experience has never been my problem."

"Have you seen our latest OEM product?"

Zhang Yong was struggling to eat a piece of pancake, and took another sip of red wine from his glass.

"DM-100, I saw it. The indicators are very good, and the GIS market is emerging in China. Apart from aerospace and military applications, this can have a larger market, but I have a problem."

"I like people with problems, you say."

"This board is not big, and it can even be considered small. But compared with the mainstream boards on the market, the shape is very different. Why is it designed this way?"

Oliver looked at Zhang Yong in confusion, "You just said that you have zero experience? This question cannot be asked by someone with zero experience."

“So not everything has to be experienced.”

"I'm beginning to believe your words. Let me ask you first, have you seen the spy photos of Mag's new generation of measuring receivers that are not yet on the market?"

"I saw it."

"What do you feel?"

"It's all good, except it doesn't quite look like a measuring device."

"Haha," Olivan laughed, "We all think so, but you have to be cautious in your words in the company, because no one dares to say it. A lot of money. No one will say anything against this kind of thing except compliments."

"Why hire an outsider to design our equipment?"

"Because you are a French company, people here are romantic and elegant, and they often pursue a different kind of difference. And TS is an internationally renowned company, they prefer to use well-known brands and authority figures. Designers in the surveying and mapping circle, influential There's often not enough power."

Zhang Yong picked up his wine glass and took a big sip. He really didn't know how to evaluate such a style.

"By the way, Francois should be very satisfied with you. The glass of red wine you are drinking now costs about [-] Euros a bottle. This is a special request from him. Not everyone has this treatment."

"So expensive?" Zhang Yong almost choked on the wine, he felt that what he drank was too hasty and wasted.

"But the board should be your responsibility. Why do you make such a board? You should know that the difference in size means that the integration compatibility is poor, so unless the user makes a new product and redesigns the mold. Absolutely not in the existing Such a board is used in the product. The market size of this product has shrunk by two-thirds at once, and the promotion cycle may have become several years.”

Oliver also took a sip of the wine, and he shook the glass lightly, looking much more elegant than Zhang Yong. "You are really not like Chinese, even more direct than Americans. You are asking a product manager why your product is not good enough."

"Did I offend you? Then I'm so sorry. It's just that I think a handsome Frenchman like you should have a big heart."

Oliver smiled, "Well, for the sake of this sentence, I forgive you."

Then he said seriously: "Of course I know the problem with this design. But Francois didn't give me enough funds. The shape of this board is the same as that used in our own receiver. The two technologies The same source as the algorithm, I use the same size to make a board, which is much easier technically. If we redesign a board with a different shape, it will take a lot more energy and time, which are all related to funds . . . ”

"I'm surprised that you can see the problem at a glance. In fact, I have always known about this problem, but I can't do anything about it. And inside the company, you are the first to tell me that there is a problem with the shape of the board. Even Francois didn't say anything. Now I know why Francois appreciates you so much. But I'm a little worried for you."

Zhang Yong was very impolite. During the conversation, instead of looking directly at the other party, he bent down.He really couldn't put that tempting seafood pancake into his mouth, so he could only lower his body, put his mouth as close to the plate as possible, and finish it quickly.

Oliver was amused, "Well done, man."

Zhang Yong also smiled embarrassedly.Then he asked, "What are you worried about?"

"Do you know who the American guest Francois received today?"

Zhang Yong shook his head.

"An American company proposed to acquire our OEM department. Today Francois was communicating with the other party's representative. I know that you and Francois have always wanted to promote the OEM business in the Chinese market. Now I'm afraid you will face It is extremely difficult, I am afraid that the dialogue between you and the CEO Francois is very difficult. In fact, Francois is a very good leader, but you have to convince him first, so that he can convince the board of directors in the same way..."

"Our meal is your first meal in France, right? It should also be your most relaxing meal. Think about what you have to face these days, come, I wish you good luck." Oliver picked up wine glass.

"Thank you," Zhang Yong raised his wine glass, but frowned unconsciously.

"This is your department, aren't you worried?"

"I have nothing to worry about. We haven't done much in the past few years. If the OEM department continues like this, it will be shut down sooner or later. Being sold is the best ending."

"Don't you think that with Mag's technology, coupled with the background of TS Group, the OEM business will be revived?"

"Years ago, I always thought this way, every year. But until now, we haven't had any substantial changes, and I don't think about it anymore. There are a group of people who think like me inside Mag. I I support you in thinking like this, because you are new. I hope you will not be disappointed. Come on, cheers."

……

On the way Oliver sent Zhang Yong back to the hotel, Zhang Yong was very silent.Although there were some problems with the use of knives and forks in this meal, it did not affect its deliciousness. Besides, there was a bottle of red wine worth [-] Euros, which he was still very satisfied with.But the following conversation completely overturned his good mood.

He didn't expect Mag's OEM department to have so many problems, and he felt a little cheated by Francois.

Of course, what hit him the most was the news that the OEM department might be acquired. In a big company like Mag, with so many industry elites, how can he, a newcomer, convince the CEO?In Oliver's words, it seemed that Xiao Sewa put all her confidence in him.He shook his head helplessly. It didn't feel good to be taken too seriously.

"Is my first trip to France going to end in a tragic end?"

"If that's the case, is my career at Mag still worthwhile?"

"I just held a star-picking conference, and now Mag's star is about to be picked by someone else."

Oliver, who was driving, was clearly aware of Zhang Yong's emotions, "I'm sorry, friend. I've said too much. I put so much pressure on you when I first set foot on French soil."

"No, thank you for telling me about such things. These have to be faced. It would be better to know earlier."

"I completely agree with Francois' evaluation of you now. I know that the current situation is a test for you, but I wish you good luck."

"Thank you, Oliver!"

……

……

In the early morning of Nantes, a new day began. Zhang Yong walked into the restaurant and began to have breakfast.

He didn't sleep well last night. His worries and jet lag made the dark circles under his eyes more obvious.

But the man has completely calmed down, and that resolute expression returned to his face.Since you can't change it, let's face it.At least, you can't give up completely before everything is fruitless.

As for the future, let's make a decision in the future.At least the people at Mag are nice, and it's not a place to leave in a hurry.

When his breakfast was about to end, a French man sat across from him with a cup of coffee and a smile.

His boss, Xiao Sewa, is here.

(End of this chapter)