3 days before Christmas.

Sioux City arrived in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

From the moment you step out of the plane, you can feel the dryness on your face. Compared to Bei*Beijing, it is like a humid city in the rain.

Zhang Haochang sneezed heavily and said with a smile: "I finally came to the desert, I don't know where it is drier than our new * Xinjiang." ”

"Xin*Xinjiang is not all deserts, and the vicinity of the provincial capital is very good" Kang Qingfeng, a representative of Sinopec, is also a returnee and has spent time in several oil fields.

"Aren't the trees in Ulu Muqi as valuable as they are here?" Zhang Haochang pointed to the small green space he saw in the sky, and said, "I heard that the cost of planting a tree in Abu Dhabi is 3,000 US dollars, how many are there?"

"It's a waste. Kang Qingfeng really counted it and said: "Fortunately, we are an oil exporter, if the money earned by our own country is wasted for foreigners to plant trees, then we must not be distressed to death." ”

Although he has studied abroad for several years, the older Kang Qingfeng has maintained more of the traditional Chinese frugal thinking.

The leader of the team sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coughed pretendedly, covered his mouth with his hand, and said, "Be careful what you say, don't cause diplomatic disputes." ”

"Who understands Chinese? Zhang Haochang grinned twice, and felt that there was a salty taste on his tongue, and when he twisted it with his fingers, it was a few small grains of sand.

"Respect the national habits of the other country, respect the cultural traditions of the other country, and do not interfere in the politics of other countries, this is what was repeatedly emphasized before getting on the plane, and several people showed it. I will report faithfully when I return home. "The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is small, and he can only scare people in this way.

Although Kang Qingfeng was not afraid of him, he didn't want to cause trouble, so he laughed. He said, "Okay, when we're free, we'll go to the $3,000 tree to cool off." ”

Zhang Haochang smiled and followed. Behind him was Gan Keyi, a representative of the total oil company, who was also a senior engineer of the offshore oil production plant introduced by Secretary Tao that day. He belongs to the Shengli Oilfield, his experience and position are completely different from the returnees from the other two head offices, and he doesn't like to talk, so he can only follow obediently along the way, and he is a good boy in the eyes of the team leader.

Each of the three central enterprises will send one person. Add a translator and team leader from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make up the entire Chinese delegation. Compared to the last one, this trip to the UAE was more purposeful and time-sensitive. But it's not suitable for selling favors.

Although Sioux City is no longer a bidding group with them, the flight from Beijing to Abu Dhabi is once a week, and in order to be in a hurry, you can only take the same plane. On the other hand, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Still seeing Sioux City as one of the people being governed, he was asked to be with the trio.

So, the five of them got into a station wagon sent by the embassy and were in the compartment. Another burst of diplomatic training.

Until the hotel, the team leader still couldn't get enough of it: "Time is too tight." I can't train well. In this way, everyone arrived at the hotel. Remember not to go out casually, and remember to report anything to you. Finally, beware of corrosion, especially women, and don't break discipline. ”

Seeing Su Cheng's disapproving expression, the team leader said very unhappily: "Su Dong, do you have something?"

"Well, I'm going to change to a different hotel. ”

The team leader asked very unhappily: "Where do you want to change?" You are bidding for the oil field on behalf of the country, and the accommodation and meal expenses for this trip are reimbursed, so you don't need to save money. ”

It was only at this point that he realized that Sioux City seemed to be independent of the national team, so he coughed and said: "You also represent the country's decency, three-star hotels are the minimum standard, and then choose a cheap hotel, on the one hand, it is not safe, on the other hand, it is easy for foreigners to look down on, try to stick to it." ”

This is not the first time he has traveled with a Chinese business group. Many businessmen who spend a lot of money in China become stingy once they go abroad, probably because they don't want to travel at night. Before the delegation traveled this time, the team leader was specially instructed not to insult the national body, so he let Sioux City "insist".

Gan Keyi couldn't look at it and said, "Team leader, let you take more than $100 from your pocket every day, can you persevere?"

The team leader blushed, and he didn't dare to be really angry, and whispered: "It's too economical to go out to do business, and foreigners will look down on us, so let's do it, I'll find you a cheaper room then......"

Su Cheng waved his hand, smiled friendly at Gan Keyi, and said, "I just thought about bidding, so I wanted to change to a hotel." I'm going to the Kempinski Hotel. ”

The Kempinski Hotel is a world-class luxury hotel with a five-star standard and almost no $100 for a house.

The team leader was stunned for a moment and said, "Are you talking about Kempinski from the Germans?"

"Yes. ”

"Do you know how much the room prices are there?" said an official from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who may not know the room rates of the Beijing Hotel, but he certainly knows the rates of the Kempinski Hotel, because this is a hotel chain giant that has luxury hotels all over the world.

Su Cheng nodded slightly and said, "I have already booked a room there, a palace suite, for $3,700." ”

"One day?"

"One day. The team leader gasped, and when he spoke again, he had lowered his posture: "I want to report this situation to the leader, you wait a while and then go to the hotel, we will send a car to send you at that time." ”

"No, you tell the place, I'll let the hotel pick me up. "Kempinski is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Middle East, with palace suites second only to the Presidential Suites and 7 attendants and luxury car transfers.

As for the tens of thousands of dollars in the presidential suite, it is very difficult to book in a place like Abu Dhabi. From time to time, international oil giants always come to visit the hotel, and world leaders often appear, Kempinski's presidential suite is the suite that has really entertained the president.

The presidents are also mostly for the oil resources of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Although Dubai was more famous in later generations, Abu Dhabi alone accounted for 90% of the UAE's resources in terms of oil, making it a well-deserved oil country.

Gan Keyi was also stunned at this time, and said softly: "Su Cheng." Did you really book a room for more than $3,000?"

"Yes. ”

"Why spend this money? We Chinese, relying on technology and physical strength to eat, can't we live in an expensive house, and we will be looked down upon?"

"You want to be seen with your skills and physical strength. You have to ask for an expensive house. At this point, Sioux City turned around and added, "If you want to bid, you'd better live in Kempinski as well." ”

"Why?" Zhang Haochang looked at Su Cheng strangely.

Su Cheng smiled, but did not explain. As a competitor, he has done his best to get to this point.

International bidding, although the process is also a step of quotation, but how to quote. There is too much attention to what price to quote, and it is also the most important place to test intelligence.

If you make an offer with your head down, the chance of success is very low.

Kempinski is a good intelligence trading platform. The Arabs are not as blatant as the Japanese, though. But through a certain way, you can always get the corresponding information. Not only that, but luxury hotels such as Kempinski are also places where Arab dignitaries and royals linger.

Again, this is something that is unique in the Arab world. If you are bidding in Asia, South America or Africa, you want to avoid suspicion. High-ranking government officials don't show up in such luxury hotels very often. However, although senior Arab officials have a certain amount of government resources, they really decide who wins the bid, and they know the inside information of the bid. But they are members of the royal family, and not only do they not have to avoid suspicion. Instead, they will wait in a luxury hotel and wait for someone to make an offer.

The Chinese delegation was accommodated in a three-star hotel. It is estimated that the special approval procedures have been completed, but this does not make any sense. No Arabian prince will appear in a three-star hotel, and no one can afford to lose this person!

Su Cheng secretly thought: Zhang Haochang They are probably going to take the regular government line. Unfortunately, among the countries in the Middle East that follow the government line, China is estimated to be the weakest.

Britain used to be the suzerainty of Abu Dhabi, and because of the voluntary renunciation of the agreement, the seven Commonwealth countries came together to form the United Arab Emirates, and they are the most trusted and familiar Western countries in the Arab world; the United States is in the most convincing period; France has not declined into a "member of the European Union"; West Germany is still leading in technology; and Japan is practicing the trick of smashing people with government aid......

Sioux City once again stood firm in its desire to bid independently. If it can't dominate, it would be strange that this group of brains who don't dare to take risks can win the bid.

The station wagon came to the hotel first, the team leader got out of the car, asked the other three people to wait in line on the side of the road, answered a phone call, and then said to Su Cheng: "The superior allows you to stay in other hotels in principle, but please keep in touch at all times and report to me between 7 and 9 o'clock every night." If there is a security problem or a conflict, the embassy will be notified in a timely manner. ”

"I see. Sioux City beckoned, and immediately a beautiful Rolls-Royce drove up to the side, and the driver in the white robe had already seen the photos of Sioux City, trotted around, opened the door, and said with a smile: "Welcome to the Kempinski Hotel." ”

The team leader had to translate: "He welcomes you." ”

"Thank you. Sioux waved his hand and got on the car.

The door slammed shut, preventing the four from prying eyes.

The Arab driver got back into the driver's seat again and drove away.

The team leader quietly put away his envious gaze, and turned to the other three: "Let's go back to the hotel too, this is your room card, will you use it?"

"Yes. Zhang Haochang flipped up the room card in a sullen voice and asked, "What is the name of the hotel?"

"Abu Dhabi Cityscape Hotel. ”

Zhang Haochang laughed sarcastically and said, "We live in such a hotel and compete for hundreds of millions of barrels of oil reserves." ”

Kang Qingfeng coughed and said, "The hotel is not the key ......"

"The light brown sofa in that car just now is leather, right?" Zhang Haochang interrupted.

"I guess it's true. Kang Qingfeng was also depressed.

"There is also a transparent wine cabinet, with champagne and red wine on the top and drinks below, I seem to see Moutai. ”

"There is also Moutai in Arabia?" asked Gan Keyi strangely.

"It's called feeling at home. Zhang Haochang flipped up the room card, sighed, and said: "Okay, we finally live in a star-rated hotel, take a cold shower, and go to visit the Ministry of Petroleum in the United Arab Emirates." ”

When the team leader heard this, his expression changed a little, and he whispered: "It may be a little inconvenient to take a bath, the UAE is a desert country, and the bath water in ordinary hotels is supplied on time." ”

Zhang Haochang was stunned for a long time, then sniffed his armpits and sighed: "Forget it, let's visit the Ministry of Petroleum tomorrow morning." ”

…… (Your support is my biggest motivation.) )