When Minister Inoue saw Ma Zhaoxian striding toward him like a shooting star, he was utterly dumbfounded for a moment.
But he was, after all, an old fox who had cultivated himself for many years. After only half a second of stunned hesitation, his face piled up with smiles, and he gave Ma Zhaoxian a deep bow.
"Hello, Mr. Ma. I truly didn't expect to run into you here. Have you come for Chinese food?"
"Of course. We're strangers in Tokyo, unfamiliar with the place. The first few days, we ate with your people, but these past two days, we had no choice but to find restaurants from back home.
"But shouldn't you be taking your American guests out for steak? Why have you come for Chinese food too?"
Minister Inoue's smile stiffened, and his sixty-degree bow bent even lower. "I am truly sorry. I have neglected everyone. This is terribly discourteous of me."
No matter how much Inoue looked down on mainlanders, Ma Zhaoxian was still the project partner selected by the higher-ups. If a mere department minister dared to play favorites like this and a competitor reported it upward, how would he clean up the mess?
After Liu Muhan translated Minister Inoue's words, Ma Zhaoxian said magnanimously, "Ah, what discourtesy is there to speak of? You're attending to guests from two parties by yourself. Isn't it normal that you can't manage everything?"
"Hehe, I truly have been a little busy. Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Ma. Please wait a moment, just a moment."
Minister Inoue bowed repeatedly to Ma Zhaoxian, then returned to the Americans and muttered with them for a while before hurrying back.
"Mr. Ma, if you do not mind, you may dine together with our American guests today. You are all in the same