After more than an hour of bargaining and negotiation of trade details, the contract was finally negotiated.

Iron ore: US$52.20/ton, 100,000 tonnes per month, totaling US$5.22 million. (tax included)

Bauxite: US$80/ton, 200,000 tonnes per month, totaling US$16 million.

The total transaction value is 21.22 million US dollars, and it will be shipped from the port of Darwin to the port of Anga Island on the 1st of each month for a period of five years.

Although there is no deep-water port on Anga Island for the time being, Jiang Chen has invested in the construction, and it is expected that two berths will be completed by the 1st of next month. With a relatively high population base and a long distance from the other eight islands, Anga Island is well suited to transform into an industrial island dominated by manufacturing, so a deep-water port with moderate throughput is necessary.

In the afternoon, he signed a large order for the company with a monthly revenue of more than 10 million US dollars, and Oliver was naturally happy. After negotiating the contract, Jiang Chen did not leave immediately, but chatted with him about the mining industry.

For Jiang Chen's questions, Oliver also knew everything. For example, the 16-year iron ore turnover was sluggish, and the rare earth price was low, and he also told Jiang Chen. In fact, all this information needs to be checked on the Internet to get it, so there is no secret to speak of.

"May I take the liberty of asking, as far as I know, your company's main business is in the Internet field, why do you need to buy a lot of iron ore?" Oliver asked.

"Is your company still particular about the use of the buyer's minerals?" Jiang Chen quipped.

"It's just a little bit of curiosity. Of course, if it's inconvenient, forget it, this issue does not affect the cooperation between us. Oliver saw that Jiang Chen didn't plan to answer. So he smiled and apologized for his abruptness.

"I'm sorry, but this is a trade secret. I can't answer you, and in order to express my apologies, allow me to invite you to dinner. Jiang Chen said.

"Haha. I am very happy, I know that there is a very good restaurant in Melbourne, how about making my car" Oliver gladly accepted Jiang Chen's invitation.

It was also time to get off work, and the two left the company and went to a Brazilian-style barbecue restaurant near Melbourne.

From the façade, this barbecue restaurant is no different from the snacks on the street side of Huaguo. In the semi-open storefront, the apparently non-Brazilian shopkeeper grills slices of brown meat on a charcoal stove, seducing visitors with its greasy aroma.

Sitting at the bar-like table, it didn't take long for the plate to be served in front of the two of them.

Two cold beers. Four plates of barbecue, Jiang Chen, who ate it, was addicted.

"Is the outlook for the mining industry bad right now?"

"It's not bad, but I'm afraid it's going to get worse. Speaking of work, Oliver sighed.

"Because of the economic situation?" Jiang Chen asked casually.

"Generally speaking, it is the economy, and the root cause is demand. Oliver took a sip of his beer and let out a pleasant sigh as if he had vomited the worries that had accumulated in his chest.

"Can you be more careful?" Holding the kebab, Jiang Chen asked with a smile.

He still has a lot of interest in mining.

"Let's use an analogy. If you build a 5,000-square-meter building, you need about 30 tons of steel. But once the house is built, the potential demand for steel is less than these 30 tons. It's not just houses, it's everything from cars to screws. Then the steel mill reduced production. Mining farms are also cutting production, and that's how the economy is finished. Oliver smiled as he spoke.

Although Jiang Chen didn't understand what was interesting about this.

"Is it okay to tell me these things?"

"No problem. It's time to get off work. Oliver waved his hand. Very conceitedly said, "And." Even if the company wants to lay off employees, it won't be my turn. ”

"In other words, the overall trend of iron ore prices is downward?"

"That's right. In '08, it could reach $2.1 per tonne. Now, $0.95 is pretty good. ”

"According to you, the mining industry is not hopeless. Jiang Chen said with a smile.

"Not necessarily, unless there is a technological breakthrough. Oliver shook the glass of beer.

"Technological breakthrough?" Jiang Chen frowned slightly.

"That's right, unless there's a huge technological change, like everyone throwing away the cars they use now. Just as in 1765 everyone threw away the hand-spinning machine, in 1885 people threw away the steam engine. Hey, I still envy you. ”

"There are many people who envy me. ”

"I'm not talking about money, I'm talking about your industry. Don't you think IT is the most prone area for technological breakthroughs?" Oliver said with a smile as he wiped a skewer of meat.

"It's also the most bankrupt industry. Jiang Chen teased.

Oliver was stunned, then burst out laughing. Infected by this laughter, Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh along.

Looking at the two of them, the passers-by on the street looked sideways

When Jiang Chen returned to the hotel drunk, it was already ten o'clock in the evening. The foreigner was unexpectedly talkative, and his speech was also very funny, Jiang Chen and he went from the customs of Australia to the grilled fish in his hometown of Lake City. In short, when it came to speculation, the two chatted until late at night while eating barbecue and drinking beer.

When he left, Jiang Chen and Oliver exchanged business cards, and then took their leave.

Seeing Jiang Chen, who was full of alcohol, appear at the door, Aisha hurriedly stepped forward to help him to the toilet, took off his clothes, and then wiped the sweat off his body with a hot towel.

"Why did you drink so much. Aisha whispered in Jiang Chen's ear.

"I met an interesting person. Jiang Chen burped, smiled, and then leaned on Aisha's budding little breasts.

Aisha's fair skin was dyed with red glow, and just as she was about to help Jiang Chen up, a "snoring" sound sounded in the bathroom

The feeling of hangover was very uncomfortable, but with Jiang Chen's metabolic rate, he was uncomfortable when he got up the next day and recovered after a short while.

Due to the unexpectedly smooth signing of the contract, the next day, which was supposed to be very busy, was idle.

Since he was busy with everything, according to the agreement with Aisha before he came, Jiang Chen took her to take her for a walk around Melbourne.

Take photos in front of landmark buildings and shop in major malls

I have to say that it is really tiring to go shopping with a woman, but when he saw Aisha's happy face, Jiang Chen really felt that the fatigue of his whole body was cured.

In a word, it's worth it.

The last stop on the itinerary was the Cathedral of St. Patrick, although it seemed a little strange to take a pagan to admire this religious building, but from the look of appreciation that Aisha showed when she looked up at the magnificent relief of the cross, Jiang Chen was also quite emotional.

Not all beliefs are paranoid.

Nor is all paranoia incomprehensible.

In a highly secular world, even outright atheists can take a believer by the hand and gaze at the brilliance of art in a pagan church.

Seven hundred years ago, the Crusaders and XXX were rivers of blood for the belonging of the Holy Land, and seventy years ago, the United States and the Soviet Union lowered the Iron Curtain for ideology.

However, looking back now, it seems that nothing is unforgivable or unreasonable.

Just as the gardens of Suzhou and the flowers of Notre Dame Cathedral are colorful, the world should have more shapes and colors than people think.

If one day, the footprints of human beings expand to the frontiers of the solar system, and on that day, when we look back at today's "geopolitical conflicts" and "ideological contradictions", I wonder if it will be a little ridiculous.

I just don't know what civilization should bother with at that time

Is it an evolutionary direction? Or something else?

Just as Jiang Chen sighed, Aisha gently tugged at his cuffs.

Coming back to his senses from his feelings, Jiang Chen looked at her with a pleasant face and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"Can I go in and have a look?"

"Of course. ”

Leaving all his feelings behind, Jiang Chen took Aisha's little hand very gentlemanly.

Together, the two walked towards the interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral. (To be continued.) )