pjbooks Chapter 65 Meeting at the Coffee Shop
Chapter 65 Meeting at the Coffee Shop
The following day, San Francisco.
An old-fashioned coffee shop near Fisherman's Wharf.
The wooden signboard swayed slightly in the sea breeze, making a soft creaking sound.
Far from the hustle and bustle of the financial district and away from the roughness of the harbor, this place is a favorite spot for many old-fashioned people to discuss "serious business."
Lin Dong and Chen Wei'an arrived ten minutes early.
Lin Dong was wearing a simple gray casual suit without a tie, which made him look relaxed yet focused.
Chen Wei'an was dressed in a neat beige suit, with exquisite makeup, and holding a thin leather folder in her hand.
They chose a window seat, which allowed them to observe the street but was less likely to be noticed by other guests.
During the brief wait for Old Jackson's arrival, Chen Wei'an gently placed the leather folder on the table and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, confirmed again: "Mr. Lin, as planned, I'll be translating all the conversations?"
Lin Dong nodded slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the slightly worn decor of the coffee shop before finally settling on Chen Wei'an's face. His voice was steady: "Translate my meaning accurately."
"clear."
Chen Wei'an gave a brief response, but her heart involuntarily quickened.
She realized that her boss had handed her the sword of language, while he himself had retreated behind the veil of words, becoming the most detached observer. This separation and cooperation of roles made the upcoming meeting more like a meticulously designed duet.
At exactly ten o'clock, the door of the coffee shop was pushed open, and the brass bell on the door rang crisply.
An elderly man with gray hair, wearing a brown corduroy jacket and khaki pants, walked in.
He looked to be in his sixties, was in good shape, and walked with a steady gait.
It was "Old Jackson".
His gaze swept around the coffee shop, immediately locking onto Lin Dong and Chen Wei'an. A perfectly timed smile appeared on his face as he walked towards them.
"Mr. Jackson, thank you for taking the time to come."
Chen Wei'an stood up, greeted him in fluent English, and extended her hand.
Her demeanor was polite and professional, neither servile nor arrogant.
"Miss Chen, I've heard so much about you."
Old Jackson shook hands with her, his voice gentle but slightly hoarse. He then looked at Lin Dong, a barely perceptible scrutiny flashing in his eyes. "This must be Mr. Lin? Indeed, a promising young man."
Lin Dong stood up, a slightly awkward but sincere smile befitting his age and the status of a visitor, and extended his hand: "Mr. Jackson, hello. I am Lin Dong." He spoke in Mandarin, at a steady pace and with clear pronunciation.
Chen Wei'an naturally stepped to the side and spoke almost simultaneously with Lin Dong, fluently translating the greeting in English, and added, "Mr. Lin is still learning English, so I'm communicating on his behalf. Please bear with me."
Old Jackson nodded knowingly and shook hands with Lin Dong.
Lin Dong's hands were warm and dry, and his handshake was firm enough to be neither impolite nor overly eager or forceful.
Old Jackson nodded slightly to himself; at least in his first impression, this young man was more composed than he had expected.
The three of them took their seats.
The waiter came over, and Old Jackson skillfully ordered black coffee, Lin Dong asked for iced water, and Chen Wei'an ordered red tea.
During the simple ordering process, Lin Dong simply watched quietly, occasionally glancing at Old Jackson and nodding slightly, without rushing to speak.
After the coffee and tea were served, old Jackson picked up his cup, blew on it to warm it, and broke the brief silence, his tone as relaxed as if he were chatting about the weather: "San Francisco mornings always smell of the sea. Is this Mr. Lin's first time here?"
Chen Wei'an translated the words to Lin Dong.
After listening, Lin Dong whispered a few words to Chen Wei'an, then looked at Old Jackson and waited for Chen Wei'an to translate.
"Yes, this is my first time here. The city is beautiful and vibrant, but it has a different pace from Shenzhen," Chen Wei'an relayed Lin Dong's words in a calm tone.
"I've heard of Shenzhen; it's developing very rapidly."
Old Jackson nodded, took a sip of his coffee, and said, "Ms. Chen mentioned on the phone that your company is very interested in establishing a stable and secure supply chain in the United States. May I ask which specific type of supply chain you're referring to?"
Let's get down to business.
Chen Wei'an looked at Lin Dong, who pondered for a moment and said, "Our company, 'Dongfang Technology,' focuses on the research and development and manufacturing of next-generation consumer electronics. This means we need the most advanced and reliable components and materials from around the world."
The supply of some key materials not only requires the highest quality standards, but also demands that the entire supply chain, from the source to our factory, be absolutely safe, controllable, and traceable.
Chen Wei'an translated sentence by sentence at a steady pace to ensure that old Jackson could accurately understand the weight of each word.
"Absolutely safe, controllable, and traceable..."
Old Jackson repeated these words, his fingers gently tracing the rough surface of the coffee cup. "This is not an easy task anywhere in the world, especially at... certain critical junctures with complex logistical environments."
He didn't mention the port or the Rossi family directly, but the implication was very clear.
After Chen Wei'an finished translating, Lin Dong nodded and continued, "Therefore, we are very cautious. The partners we look for must be professionals who can still ensure 'safety' and 'controllability' in complex environments."
This capability is based not only on resources, but also on focus, credibility, and an understanding of long-term value.
He paused, then looked candidly at old Jackson, conveying through Chen Wei'an's translation: "We understand that the Port of San Francisco has the best deep-water berths and warehousing facilities on the West Coast, but we also understand that the surface logistics ecosystem here..."
It has its own unique operating rules. We respect local rules, but we also need to ensure that our core interests are not interfered with by uncontrollable factors.
Old Jackson listened attentively, his expression gradually shifting from relaxed pleasantries to professional focus.
This young man spoke directly, but avoided sensitive points, expressing his demands clearly and dignifiedly.
He was not just seeking help, but defining a standard for cooperation.
"I understand your company's concerns."
Old Jackson put down his coffee cup, leaned forward slightly, and said, "Port logistics, especially when it involves high-value or sensitive goods, does require special handling methods."
The "rules" here are often designed to ensure efficiency and safety, and to avoid unnecessary chaos. But I must also say that not all outsiders can understand or are willing to follow these rules.
"We are willing to follow professional rules."
Lin Dong responded through Chen Wei'an, "But we hope that cooperation is based on mutual understanding and long-term win-win, rather than a one-off, unpredictable transaction."
We are planning to import a series of high-value materials, with a very tight timeframe, which places extremely high demands on the 'focus' and 'reliability' of our logistics partners.
We've noticed that some local friends seem to have "widespread businesses," but our ideal partners would focus their main efforts on a small number of long-term clients like ourselves who demand the highest standards.
That's a very clever way of putting it.
It both flattered the Rossi family's professional standing in the port and subtly pointed out that Wu Ming might just be one of their many "businesses," and not necessarily the one with the most long-term value.
Meanwhile, the phrases "a tight time window" and "a series of high-value materials" suggest the enormous potential for cooperation.
A glint of light flashed in Old Jackson's eyes.
He understood the subtext.
This young man is not only paving the way for a potential shipment, but also laying the groundwork for a possible, sustainable, and highly profitable collaboration in the future.
Moreover, he seemed to have some understanding of the power distribution in the port and the undercurrents surrounding a certain shipment, but he didn't reveal it, only hinting at it from the perspective of "cooperation standards".
This is a more sophisticated negotiation strategy that transcends the gains and losses of a single battle and focuses on building a sustainable relationship.
"Focus and long-term win-win are indeed the foundation for building a solid partnership."
Old Jackson said slowly, "However, Mr. Lin, you should also know that building trust takes time and a specific opportunity. Our friends at the port are used to seeing 'sincerity' and 'ability'."
"We understand."
Lin Dong nodded, signaling Chen Wei'an to continue translating. "'Sincerity,' we are demonstrating it through professional means—our pursuit of the ultimate material performance is itself a form of sincerity. 'Capability'..." He paused, glancing at Chen Wei'an.
Chen Wei understood perfectly, took out a summary page of a document from the folder—not the complete report, but just the key information from the first page and conclusion—and handed it to Old Jackson.