Seeing Wang Guofu’s blank expression, Xie Changning sighed. "It’s better to be safe than sorry, of course. If they deliberately damaged the machines, they’ll have to not only apologize but also compensate us for our losses. How could we possibly go without a lawyer?"

Hearing this, Wang Guofu’s face showed he had learned something new. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

’So that’s how it works. It really pays to be educated!’

’Smart people’s minds are just sharper!’

"So lawyers can be that useful? I’ve heard people say there’s no future in being a lawyer." Wang Guofu had never realized how important they could be.

Xie Changning shook her head. "Lawyers are very important. It’s just that most people’s legal awareness is weak right now, so they often don’t have a chance to put their skills to use."

"In the future, more and more people will use lawyers."

This was just the beginning.

Only then did Wang Guofu nod.

After her discussion with Wang Guofu about going abroad, Xie Changning began the preparations. She drew up a list of attendees and then contacted Xie Changyi to help with the exit procedures.

It was definitely impossible to get them done in Anong County.

When Xie Changyi heard that Xie Changning was going abroad, she immediately asked for the details.

When she heard that Americans were causing trouble, she said resentfully, "That fits my stereotype of them perfectly!" ’Despicable and shameless, resorting to any means to achieve their goals!’

"What are you planning to do?"

"I’m going to provide after-sales service," Xie Changning said casually. "I have to honor my commitments, of course. But if they intentionally damaged the machines, I’m going to sue them."

It was a shame that phones back then didn’t have a convenient recording feature; otherwise, she would have had one more bargaining chip.

’Thinking of this made Xie Changning want to get into the communications industry!’

’This era is so behind the times; it makes me want to get my hands on everything!’

"As long as you have a plan. If you need anything, just tell me."

"Actually, there is. Help me find a top-notch translator and lawyer."

This trip was going to be a tough battle—either she’d get skinned, or she’d be the one doing the skinning. She definitely needed to bring two highly capable experts with her.

Hearing this, Xie Changyi understood that her younger sister was truly preparing to go out and fight a major battle.

So, Xie Changyi didn’t refuse.

"Okay, leave it to me." She knew a skilled translator. As for a lawyer...

She would have to ask around. An ordinary lawyer wouldn’t cut it; they’d be no match for those foreigners. The best option was a lawyer who had studied abroad, someone with both exceptional eloquence and skill.

After leaving those two tasks to Xie Changyi, Xie Changning began preparing for a meeting.

The research and development team had now grown to 20 people.

Among these 20 people, 10 had already been promoted to Level 5 Technician.

The people Xie Changning planned to take on this trip would be chosen from these ten.

"I’m sure you’ve all heard about my meeting with Director Wang," Xie Changning said, sitting in the Fifth Workshop and facing the R&D team.

The team members sat cross-legged and nodded.

"The Americans claim our machines are faulty and are demanding a refund. However, giving a refund without inspecting the goods first isn’t my style, so I’ve decided to go abroad."

Hearing that Xie Changning was going on a trip, everyone looked at each other.

’If their factory director went abroad, wouldn’t the R&D work fall on their shoulders?’

"Director, don’t you worry! We’ll definitely work hard on R&D and aim for a breakthrough by the time you return!"

"That’s right!"

Everyone thought Xie Changning had called the meeting to discuss R&D.

In reality, Xie Changning was here because—

"I’m very happy to hear that, but it’s not the main purpose of this meeting. The primary reason we’re here is to notify the following comrades to prepare to go abroad with me..."

As she spoke, Xie Changning began to read out names.

"Chen Youli, Cheng Jinghao, Mo Lan, Wang Tingting, Song Xiaoyu."

The people whose names were called pointed to themselves, stunned. "Huh?" ’We get to go abroad, too?’

Three of the five were women.

However, no one looked down on them because they were women.

Because the skills of these three were top-notch.

Among them, Wang Tingting was an exceptionally talented Level 5 Machinist, and Cheng Jinghao was a precision welder with an extraordinary capacity for learning. The others were also highly skilled; they were some of the most gifted and technically proficient members of the R&D team.

No one had any objections to Xie Changning’s choices.

They were going abroad to repair machines, so of course they had to send their best team.

"Next Monday, assemble at the factory gate. I’ll be taking you to Chuncheng. Is that understood?"

"Understood!"

After the confusion came ecstasy.

Everyone knew that not just anyone could go abroad these days. And now, they were getting to go with the director?

After the elation, everyone calmed down again.

"Director, how can our factory afford to send so many of us abroad?" If it was a financial burden, they felt they shouldn’t go.

’How much does it cost to go abroad?’

"How are you supposed to broaden your horizons if you don’t go abroad? Keep refusing, and I’ll find replacements!"

"No, no, no, I’ll go!"

In truth, they were only politely refusing out of concern for the factory’s finances.

Since the director said it was fine, they would go. Once they got there, they would watch and learn everything they could! They would do their best not to bring shame upon the director!

"Don’t act like you’re facing a formidable enemy," Xie Changning reassured them. "People in the United States are just people—two eyes, one mouth. They just have paler skin than we do, that’s all. There’s no need to worry." She was, after all, from a more modern era.

She had spent years dealing with all kinds of foreigners.

They might seem difficult, but if you knew how to handle them, they were pushovers.

Xie Changning’s calm confidence inspired the employees who were going with her, and their worries completely subsided.

And so, for the next few days, Xie Changning was busy preparing for the trip abroad.

Because her children were still young, Xie Changning asked Yue Yihan to avoid any non-urgent missions for the time being to watch over the house. She also asked their neighbor, Aunt Xu, to help out.

With three neighborhood aunties and Yue Yihan on duty, she finally felt somewhat at ease about leaving her two children at home.

When he learned that Xie Changning might be gone for a month, Yue Yihan worried he might get called away for an urgent mission, so he brought his adoptive mother, Liu Changyou, home to help.

As a member of the Art Troupe, she wouldn’t be assigned any urgent missions, so he asked for her help.

When Liu Changyou heard she was needed to help look after her grandchildren, she agreed without a second thought, making He Liuzhang burn with envy and resentment.

’He wanted to dote on his grandchildren too!’

’When could he finally retire?!’

Once everything at home was arranged, Xie Changning picked up her bags and reluctantly said goodbye to her family. As she was leaving, she made sure to take photos of her two children with her to ease the inevitable homesickness.

When Xie Changning arrived at the factory gate, the five young comrades were already there, standing with bags of all sizes.

Xie Changning was speechless for a moment. "...Leave anything you don’t need at home! We’ll be traveling by plane or ship; you don’t need to bring so much."