Chapter 4 — Language is Wings

But sit down again.

“Five minutes.”

I closed my laptop and said frankly:

"The tax policy you just mentioned—the EU's 2024 revision for imports to the Middle East. Article three expands the certification of origin standard from a six-digit HS code to eight digits, article seven raises the environmental surtax from 2.3% to 3.1%. These two factors combined cause our actual quote margin to narrow by about twelve percent, not fifteen."

Co Than Chau's eyebrows moved slightly.

"Twelve percent? Tell me how you calculate it."

"Because Trung Hoa has a tax-protected warehouse in the UAE, applying free trade zone incentives, it can offset about three percent of the increased cost due to expanding the HS code. So the net impact is twelve percent."

The air was silent for three seconds. The director of legal affairs bowed his head and flipped through the documents, clearly verifying my words.

“Where did you learn your German?”

“I lived in Berlin for a while.”

“Honours are used very correctly.”

“You said you are a basic employee?”

Co Than Chau looked at To Uyen Tinh, then looked back at me.

"Five minutes are up. But I can give you another ten minutes. The condition is—the rest, you negotiate."

To Uyen Tinh immediately turned to me. Her expression was even more unsightly than when she was criticized.

“She can't—”

“I told you, she negotiates.”

Co Than Chau's voice did not contain the slightest bit of negotiation.

“Or you can leave now.”

To Uyen Tinh bit her lips tightly. I took a look at her.

“Team leader To, leave me alone?”

She said nothing. I turned my head and looked straight at Co Than Chau.

“So let's start again from part one of the plan.”

For the next forty minutes, I completed the entire negotiation in German. Tariff structure, supply chain nodes, logistics options, risk allocation... each part, I answered fluently. Not because I prepared in advance. It's because of the fifty pages of English documents I arranged for To Uyen Tinh—as I read, I remembered every word. Plus growing up in a diplomatic family, international trade knowledge is as natural to me as breathing. Co Than Chau asked three difficult questions. The first question about cultural differences in the Middle East market, I use an Arabic business proverb to answer. His eyebrows moved slightly again.

“Do you even know Arabic?”

"A little bit."

The second question was related to comparing the Japanese supplier's quote. I conveniently read the original Japanese quote code. To Uyen Tinh sat next to him for forty minutes, unable to say a word. At the end of the negotiation, Co Than Chau stood up.

"The plan framework is fine. I will let the legal affairs team continue to work with your side on the details."

He held out his hand. Not towards To Uyen Tinh. Which is… my side. I shook his hand. His hands were dry and had just the right amount of strength.

“Lin Dao, right?”

“You are wasting yourself in your current position.”

I just smiled slightly and didn't answer. Leaving the Dong Thinh building, To Uyen Tinh stopped at the parking lot.

“You fooled everyone.”

I turned back to look at her.

“You said you only know English.”

“It's true that I mainly use English at work.”

"Today in the meeting room, it was 'mainly English'? Your German is better than mine! Where does Arabic come from? It's not on your CV at all!"

“Team leader To, the project can be kept, right?”

“You did it on purpose! You tried it hidden love, waiting for this opportunity to show!”

I said nothing.

“Do you think that showing off in front of Co Than Chau just once will change anything? Regarding the company, you are still just a basic employee!”

She picked up her bag, stepped on her high heels and left. The sound of ten-inch heels hitting the concrete floor was loud and harsh. I stood alone, suddenly feeling a bit tired. The phone rang, it was Tieu Manh.

“How's the negotiation going? Did To Uyen Tinh overturn the car?

“The project can be kept.”

“What kind of hold? She's not—wait, it's you, right!”

“Go back and talk.”

“Lam Dao has finally taken action!!!”

I hung up. Standing at the exit to the parking lot, the autumn wind blew in, a bit cold. I don't want to stand out. Really don't want to. But I also don't want to lose my job. The next morning, as soon as she arrived at work, To Uyen Tinh was already in Trinh Hao Nam's room. The door was closed, but I still heard her voice clearly.

"President Trinh, Lam Dao arbitrarily spoke out of line during negotiations, completely disregarding the company's hierarchy rules!"

Trinh Hao Nam's voice rang out:

“Can the project be kept?”

“It's okay, but that's—”

“It's okay to keep it. The Dong Thinh application is worth forty million. If it was broken yesterday, the entire translation room would have gone home."

To Uyen Tinh was silent for a moment.

“President Trinh, she lied to the company. CV only states English, but is clearly very good at German. Does it count as document fraud?”

“Did she ever say she didn't know German?”

“She… didn't say it clearly, but CV—”

“Do you only know what your CV says? My CV doesn't even say I know how to play golf, so I don't know how to play?

To Uyen Tinh could no longer speak.

“Okay, go back to work.”

The room door opened. To Uyen Tinh stepped out and looked at me for a second.