When will I have a long tassel?

The Laosen Machine Tool Technical Service Center was not far from the gear shop that Tang Zifeng and the others patronized. Tang Zifeng thanked the chatty shopkeeper, and then walked over with Xiao Wenjun, holding his child.

This is a small facade. Like many storefronts in the park, it has floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and the furnishings inside can be seen from the outside. The layout of the room is a bit like a small cafe. There are several round single sofas next to several small tables, and there is even a wine cabinet on one side. It is full of European style at first glance.

Tang Zifeng and his entourage pushed open the door and walked into the store. An old foreign man, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book in Ge You's position, jumped up as if there were springs on his butt, and a greasy smile quickly appeared on his face. He strode forward and greeted Tang Zifeng in Chinese with a strong Bavarian accent:

"Dear sir, welcome to Laosen Machine Tool Technical Information Center. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Professor Ferguson, long time no see. I didn't expect that in just one year, you could speak Chinese so well!" Tang Zifeng greeted the other party with a smile and reached out his hand actively.

The old foreign man subconsciously stretched out his hand to shake Tang Zifeng's hand, with a suspicious look on his face, and asked tentatively: "Sir, please forgive my poor eyesight, are you..."

"Not bad, professor, you can even use words like "clumsy eyesight." Tang Zifeng said with a smile, "A year ago, when Dongye University held a welcome party for you, I met you. My name is Tang Zifeng. It’s from the Linji Group.”

"Oh, it turns out to be Mr. Tang, ah, no, I should call you Mr. Tang. Sorry, Mr. Tang, I have some mild, no, no, severe prosopagnosia, a very serious kind, so... , I'm really sorry, please take a seat, please." The old foreign man said in a panic, and at the same time made a gesture to invite everyone to take a seat.

This old foreign man, who is called "Lao Sen" by the Chinese in the park, his real name is Ferguson. He was originally a professor at the University of Dresden in Germany and has some minor fame in cemented carbide research. As machine tool education in Germany was declining, he accepted an offer from Dongye University and came to China to teach.

Dongye University has carried out school-enterprise cooperation with Linji Group and built a machine tool college in Linhe City to specialize in cultivating machine tool talents. Ferguson was hired by Linhe Machine Tool College, and his annual salary of US$50,000 was also provided by Linji Group, so strictly speaking, Tang Zifeng was Ferguson's real boss.

However, Tang Zifeng had no involvement in the teaching aspects of the Machine Tool College, so he rarely visited the Machine Tool College. He only met Ferguson once when Dongye University welcomed Ferguson to join the faculty. There were many people present at that time. Ferguson had just arrived in China and his mind was in a mess. In addition, in the eyes of foreigners, Chinese people all looked the same, so they didn't remember Tang Zifeng's face.

When Tang Zifeng heard the gear shop owner talk about Laosen Technical Service Center, he guessed that Laosen should refer to Ferguson. When he came over to take a look, it was indeed the case.

"Old Sen, why did you think of opening a technical service center in the park? Is this not doing your job properly?"

Tang Zifeng asked Ferguson with a smile after sitting down on the sofa.

Perhaps because of the need to open a store, Ferguson has learned a lot of Chinese. He can understand the word "not doing business properly" and knows that it has some derogatory connotations, especially when this word comes from his boss's mouth. , the taste is even worse.

He replied seriously: "Mr. Tang, please listen to my explanation. Regarding the opening of the technical service center, I made an appointment with Dongye University in advance. They promised me that as long as I don't delay my studies at the Machine Tool College, In addition to teaching work, I also ensure that I publish more than 3 academic papers in the name of Dongye University every year. If I do other things, they will not interfere at all."

"Really? Dongye University actually has such an agreement with you, how come I don't know about it?" Tang Zifeng was a little surprised.

Tang Zifeng didn't have much opinion on the part-time job. After all, he is also a person who works part-time outside, and the company he works part-time on is much larger, far beyond a small shop like Laosen Technical Service Center.

What surprised him was that a scholar like Ferguson came to China to teach and actually learned how to do business. According to the gear shop owner, he seemed to have hired many other foreign teachers who also taught at Dongye University. This was different from Tang Zifeng. The style of painting in my imagination is completely different.

Ferguson looked embarrassed and said: "That's it. When Dongye University invited me, they told me that their funds were very tight and they could only give me a salary of 50,000 yuan per year. You know, like this The salary level is relatively low for me.

"The reason why I am willing to accept the invitation of Dongye University to come to China is because I know that China is undergoing industrialization, and I believe that I can find a lot of money-making opportunities here... I mean, there are many opportunities to provide services to enterprises. This Of course, there is a fee for this kind of service..."

"I understand." Tang Zifeng smiled.

When Dongye University said it would go to Europe to recruit a group of teachers, and the annual salary offered to these teachers was only a mere US$50,000, Tang Zifeng found it a bit strange. If Dongye University only recruits some ordinary people, this salary is not low. But Ferguson is a somewhat famous professor, and he can actually accept an annual salary of 50,000, which is a bit abnormal.

Now it seems that there must be something fishy about everything that is abnormal. After a long quarrel, this Ferguson had already made up his mind to work part-time in China when he accepted the offer. It could even be said that the old man had originally planned to go to China to dig for gold, and accepting the offer from Toye University was just incidental.

"Providing services to enterprises is something we encourage. Teaching in schools also requires more contact with practical departments. This is called integrating theory with practice. By the way, Lao Sen, have you heard of this statement?" Tang Zifeng asked.

Ferguson nodded: "Yes, yes, Director Sun and Principal Fan often say so. Our students from the School of Machine Tools often come to the park to provide some services to companies."

"Professor Ferguson, what kind of services can your machine tool technical service center mainly provide?" Xiao Wenjun interjected from the side. She had known Ferguson in the past, but her knowledge of him was limited to the fact that he was an expert with some achievements in the field of cemented carbide, but she did not expect that this person had such a side. It was a long time since she had seen him.

"This is my wife Xiao Wenjun, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University." Tang Zifeng introduced Ferguson.

Ferguson's eyes lit up: "Xiao? I have heard of your name! Oh, I sell cakes, you are such a beautiful lady, your appearance is as beautiful as the paper you published."

Tang Zifeng and Xiao Wenjun both felt cold. Comparing their papers with their appearance, is this considered a compliment? However, considering that he was an old German man who used blunt Chinese to flatter him, even if his words were not accurate, they could not argue with him.

"Thank you, Professor Ferguson. What I want to ask is, what kind of business does your technical service center do?" Xiao Wenjun asked again.

"Professor Xiao, I am very honored to answer your question. Our Laosen Machine Tool Technical Service Center has gathered the wisdom of the European machine tool industry and can provide Chinese users with all solutions related to machine tools. Our slogan is, only you There’s nothing we can’t think of that we can’t do.”

Ferguson instantly transformed into an advertising anchor. He spoke German-flavored Chinese and spoke the most tacky advertising slogans nowadays, which made people feel messy.

"Why do I think there is something wrong with the feng shui of your Gaotan Park?" Xiao Wenjun muttered to Tang Zifeng in a low voice.

Isn't there a problem? I just met a gear shop owner who dared to claim that he can provide all the useful gears in the park. Now I see someone who runs a technical service center and he actually says that he has gathered the wisdom of all Europe and there is nothing he cannot do.

"Old Sen, how do I remember that you are engaged in cemented carbide research? Machine tools include many technologies. Do you dare to say that you are proficient in every technology?" Tang Zifeng asked.

Ferguson said: "Of course not. In fact, I only know about cemented carbide, and I don't know enough about cemented carbide. However, I have many colleagues in Europe who teach in universities. Some of them are also doing research in machine tool companies. If you have any topics that need research, just leave it to me and I will help you find the most professional researchers and guarantee that they can solve your problems."

"You've been making trouble for a long time, you are just a second-rate dealer." Tang Zifeng laughed dumbly.

"Yes, yes, I am a technically second-rate dealer." Ferguson said. This person is really a bit talented as a professor. Not long after arriving in China, he actually learned so many Chinese vocabulary and even understood the common sayings.

"So, how is your business?" Xiao Wenjun asked again.

"Business is great!" Ferguson beamed with joy. "China is really a dynamic country. A large number of companies come to our center for consultation every day and ask us to help them solve various technical problems. I found that, The level of questions raised by Chinese companies is very high, and many of them are cutting-edge technologies even in Europe, which require my European colleagues to spend a lot of time to answer.

"Of course, for such issues, Chinese companies' bids are also very fair. They are willing to pay enough for such knowledge. My European colleagues are willing to provide services to Chinese companies."

"I think the commission you draw should be considerable, right?" Tang Zifeng joked.

"No, no!" Ferguson quickly denied, "I just help Chinese companies establish connections with European researchers, and take a small percentage of commissions. In fact, I also have costs to do these things, such as my store , it also requires several thousand euros in rent a year.”