换成一般过去时,是语法上有问题,asked是过去时,而operation发生的比asked早,所以用过去完成时.
改成一般过去时,语意能看懂,也能听懂.所以不是语意的问题.
这只是个人的拙见,供参考.After I had sat down,he said that business was very bad.新概念第二册第15课After I had sat down,he said that business was very bad 这句由于有了after这个词，改成一般过去时，我认为是没有问题的。 不客气。