As Xie Changning was introducing it, Smith’s eyes were already glued to the photograph, unable to look away.

"You’re saying... this is also a printer?"

The United States was indeed working on tackling the issue of size, but he never imagined that Xie Changning would be the first to develop one.

And it was so small!

This made Smith incredibly tempted.

He understood he wasn’t being shown this photo for nothing. If he wanted to place an order with Xie Changning, he would have to play by her rules.

Smith thought for a moment, then said to Xie Changning, "I need this photograph to convince my boss."

Xie Changning just smiled and deftly put the photo away.

"I’m sorry, sir, but I’ve already revealed a trade secret to you. Taking the photograph is out of the question." ’I showed it to you, that’s enough. Don’t be greedy.’

Smith looked at Xie Changning and asked through gritted teeth.

"What exactly do you want!?"

They were businessmen, and business was business. If they couldn’t see any benefit for themselves, there was no way they could support her.

This was also his boss’s stance.

After all, they had a much more extensive partnership with Viney. For all they knew, this might be their only opportunity to work with the Anong County Machinery Factory.

There was no need to offend a long-term partner for the sake of a small factory.

But now—

The other party now had new technology. If they wanted to keep working together, they had to accept her terms!

Smith felt a massive headache coming on.

He had never met such a difficult woman from the East.

"I need you to act as my witness and testify that Viney damaged the machine himself. Of course, as compensation, when our printer hits the market, you will get the first shipment."

Xie Changning’s words were like honey laced with poison.

He knew perfectly well that the honey inside was sweet, but he had to lick off the poison on the outside first!

Smith mulled it over for a moment, then said to Xie Changning, "I don’t have the authority to make this decision, but I can contact my boss and ask for his opinion."

Xie Changning shrugged, indicating he was free to do so.

Seeing that Xie Changning wasn’t going to stop him, Smith immediately turned to contact his superior.

While he was gone, Xie Changning’s team finished collecting their evidence. By the time Smith returned, they had already put the machine back together.

Watching them work, Smith couldn’t help but marvel.

China truly was a nation of laborers. Even without superior R&D, they could hone ordinary repair skills to the peak of perfection.

"My boss says we need delivery before the Spring Trade Fair. Otherwise, we can’t agree." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"So there’s nothing to discuss, then?"

Xie Changning nodded and waved to the people behind her. "Let’s go. We’re done for the day. Time for lunch."

Xie Changning didn’t even try to bargain, forcing Smith to face reality.

Getting Xie Changning to bend to their demands was impossible.

Finally, he had to grit his teeth and call out to her retreating figure, "We agree to your proposal! But we require ten thousand units. Can you deliver them all within three months?"

"Of course, Mr. Smith. We’ve just expanded the factory. Ten thousand units is no problem at all."

As soon as she heard him agree, Xie Changning spun around, her whole demeanor changing in an instant.

Smith stared speechlessly at Xie Changning. ’She’s so cunning! She’s more of a businessman than I am! And so shameless!’

Xie Changning’s expression was a good sign to her team. They all looked at Smith with renewed eagerness, understanding that he had agreed to help them.

Then, Wang Tingting piped up, "Mr. Smith, you’re such a good person!"

The translator relayed this sentence to Smith.

Smith was speechless. ’Slap me and then hand me a sweet. That’s your game, isn’t it? It is, right?’

’Why didn’t they call me a good person a minute ago? And now they’re playing the "good guy" card?’

No matter how much he grumbled internally, Smith had to squeeze out a smile and say to Xie Changning, "Well then, Ms. Xie, shall we go upstairs to my office now and properly discuss the terms of our partnership?"

"Of course! It would be my honor!"

Xie Changning’s current attitude was enough to give Smith a heart attack.

The lawyer and the translator exchanged a glance, both stifling a laugh. ’This is probably the only way to deal with these foreigners,’ they thought. ’You need someone like Xie Changning.’

The group went upstairs, where Smith led Xie Changning into his boss’s office.

It was the first time so many visitors from the East had come to the company. Everyone couldn’t help but stop what they were doing and stare in their direction, wondering why the general manager wanted to meet with them.

When they reached the boss’s office, Xie Changning saw a very young foreign man who didn’t seem particularly upstanding.

The moment the man saw Xie Changning, his pupils constricted.

Xie Changning hadn’t expected to see an old acquaintance here, either. He was one of the young foreigners she had taught a lesson to at a technology competition.

’It’s a small world for enemies...’

So Xie Changning thought.

That might have been her thought, but it wasn’t his. He frowned at Smith. "The amazing factory director you mentioned... that’s her?"

He was being very rude.

As he spoke, he pointed his finger at Xie Changning.

Xie Changning did not like being pointed at. Her eyes darkened, and she fixed him with a heavy stare that made him lose his nerve. "Y-y-y-you, don’t look at me like that! It was subconscious..."

Clearly, the lesson Xie Changning had taught him last time was still effective.

She had left a very deep impression on him. He knew how formidable she was, so he didn’t dare get rough with her.

"You’re the general manager here?" Xie Changning raised an eyebrow.

Seeing how fluent her English was, a look of utter despair washed over the man’s eyes. ’God is trying to smite me!’

’Oh, Lord! Someone, please come and save me!’

"Yes..."

"So, are we still going to cooperate?"

"O-of course!"

Xie Changning hadn’t expected him to agree so readily.

’Technically, they were enemies, right? But he just agreed, so decisively?’

"Alright, call in the lawyer. We can draw up the contract now." Xie Changning had everything she needed in her bag; she’d even brought the factory’s official seal.

She had been prepared for this very day.

Since she had taken the initiative to sign, he didn’t dare object. He meekly agreed and called the lawyer in to handle the contract.

They only signed after confirming there were no pitfalls in the terms for either side.

After the signing, Smith’s boss finally said, "I’ve signed the contract with you now, so you can’t hit me for what happened this morning!"

’This woman hits too hard. If she hits me, I’ll be black and blue.’

’He had to save face!’

’Please don’t hit me in the face!’

"As long as you don’t do anything to provoke me, I naturally won’t hit you."

Throughout this entire exchange, Smith’s mouth had been hanging wide open. He had no idea what kind of history his boss and this woman shared.

’How did things end up like this?’