Chapter 459: The Sharp Edge Unveiled at the Grand Expo

The murky waters of the Huangpu River slap the rusted pier piles, and the air is filled with a blend of damp moisture, metal and briny sea scent.

The massive grab crane bellows a low rumble as it repeatedly snatches jet‑black, glossy ore sand from the bottomless holds of the ocean‑going cargo ships.

The black, waterfall‑like torrent pours down into the waiting railcar, sounding a thunderous, muffled roar.

Each grab delivers dozens of tons, a gift from deep within Australia's Pilbara Desert.

It is also the first hefty fruit of Wanxiang Group's global resource strategy coming to fruition.

At the material yard of the Shanghai Baoshan Steel Factory, technicians in work clothes and solemn expressions have been waiting for some time.

The train drives straight onto the plant's dedicated line.

The black ore sand is sampled, sealed, labeled, and swiftly sent to the laboratory.

High‑temperature furnaces, spectrometers, and various precision instruments begin to run.

Engineers in white coats stare at the flickering data on the screen, logging every key metric—iron content, the proportion of sulfur, phosphorus and other impurities, grain‑size distribution…

This is not an ordinary ore transaction.

It is the most stringent "quality exam" for Wanxiang Mining's inaugural results.

Moreover, it is a crucial validation of the reliability of China's future steel‑industry raw‑material supply line.

A deputy chief engineer in charge of raw materials at Baosteel personally stands guard outside the lab.

He holds an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Lao Ma, the grade data for your mine in the preliminary report is so high it's a bit frightening."

He says to the man beside him, Ma Guotao, "If it's real and can be supplied steadily, it would satisfy our blast furnace's appetite. But to speak bluntly, if the quality fluctuates or harmful elements exceed limits, we won't use it no matter how cheap."

Ma Guotao's face bears the marks of wind and frost, yet his gaze is resolute.

"Ma Gong, the data doesn't lie. We drilled hundreds of boreholes there; the ore body is very stable. As for harmful elements, rest assured, the mine we chose is naturally clean. Whether it's a mule or a horse, once the test report comes out, you'll see at a glance."

The waiting time feels especially long.

Only the faint hum of lab equipment and the distant, low‑pitched roar of the steel plant's blast furnace can be heard.

Ma Guotao appears calm on the surface, but a stone still hangs heavy in his heart.

Theory and exploration data are one thing; the actual quality from large‑scale mining is another.

This first shot must be fired loudly.

It concerns not only contracts and profit, but also whether the Wanxiang Mining brand can stand its ground in the forest of strong competitors in the international resource market.

Finally, the laboratory doors opened.

The testing engineer emerges with a few reports still warm from the printer, excitement barely contained on his face.

"Ma Zong, Ma Gong! The results are in!"

The report circulates rapidly.

Iron grade: 68.7 %.

Sulfur and phosphorus contents are far below the contract's upper limits.

Other harmful impurities are trace.

Grain size is uniform, easy to sinter.

Every metric is flawless, even slightly better than the previously supplied ore sample data.

The Baosteel deputy chief engineer named Ma looks at the report, his furrowed brows relaxing as he slaps his thigh hard.

"Great ore! Truly great ore! Lao Ma, you've struck treasure! This quality is more stable than the main imported ores we currently use! We'll take the entire first batch! No, we must sign a long‑term agreement right away!"

The heavy stone in Ma Guotao's heart finally settles, a surge of warmth rising to his chest.

He grips the other's hand firmly.

"A pleasant cooperation! Guaranteed stable supply!"

The black ore, validated by precision instruments, has officially knocked open the doors of China's top steel mills.

A black supply chain stretching from the Australian desert straight to China's steel furnaces is now linked.

Almost simultaneously.

At the test track in Shenzhen Bao'an Industrial Park, the atmosphere is fervently rustic.

There is no lavish stage, no flickering neon.

Only a few boxy, unassuming mini‑vans sit quietly on the open ground.

Their bodies bear red banners with plain, bold characters: "Wanshang Light, passenger‑cargo convenience."

He Xiao deliberately wore a faded work uniform today, his face beaming with an almost childish grin.

He circles one of the vehicles, looking at it as if it were his newborn child.

James Whitaker stands nearby with his arms crossed, a rare smile tugging at his mouth.

"Xiao, although it looks like a box, I've tuned the chassis; it's sturdier than comparable market products. The engine‑transmission pairing was carefully engineered—fuel‑efficient, powerful, and durable."

"Durability is what we need!" He Xiao's eyes lit up. "Our vehicle is meant for work! Individual Household freight, small‑business deliveries, township passenger service—tough, fuel‑saving, high‑capacity, easy to maintain and cheap—that's its biggest advantage!"

He opens the door; inside are simple yet functional fabric seats, yet the space is surprisingly roomy.

"Look at this space! Remove the back row and it becomes a small cargo van; add seats and it can carry seven or eight people! It may lack comfort, but it will reliably get you and your goods from point A to point B!"

He hops onto the vehicle and starts the engine.

A not‑quiet but vigorous roar erupts.

The vehicle accelerates nimbly, runs several laps around the test track, cornering, braking, even simulating uneven roads; its performance is average yet remarkably steady.

"We don't compare our looks to sedans, nor our performance to off‑roaders."

He Xiao jumps down, shouting to the company staff and invited dealers watching, "We'll compare with them—who helps ordinary people earn money better, who's less fussy, who lets owners drive with confidence and use it worry‑free!"

He pauses, then shouts the slogan he'd prepared.

"Wanshang Light, a good partner for getting rich!"

A plain, unadorned product, paired with positioning and a slogan that hits the target customers' needs directly.

Add to that an initial price that leaves everyone astonished—so low it yields almost no profit.

This small van, nicknamed "Iron Box" inside the company, the Wanxiang Light, caused quite a stir among invited dealers even before its official launch.

They keenly sensed the huge market potential within it.

In an era when China's economy began to accelerate and countless Individual Economies sprang up like mushrooms after rain, this vehicle was practically a production tool tailor‑made for the first wave of "going offshore" pioneers.

He Xiao watched the dealers' eager eyes and knew that the foundation of this "Divine Car" was essentially secured.

April, Guangzhou.

Spring was deep; the air was scented with the sweet, cloying fragrance of kapok flowers and a vigorous commercial restlessness.

The China Export Commodities Fair, i. e., the Canton Fair, arrived as scheduled.

Wanxiang Group this time made a high‑profile debut with an independent, massive exhibition hall.

The exhibition area was designed simply and briskly, dominated by white and deep blue, exuding a modern industrial feel.

On the booth, products were dazzlingly abundant, yet the highlights stood out.

In the most conspicuous spot, three vehicles were parked side by side: a sturdy small truck, the square‑headed "Wanxiang Light" van, and the sleek, glossy‑finished second‑generation "Iron Rider" motorcycle.

Each vehicle was surrounded by numerous foreign businessmen, pointing, gesturing, and asking about specifications.

The electronic display cabinet beside it was even more popular.

The latest second‑generation "Wanxiang Pager" was compact, and its Chinese‑character display attracted many Southeast Asian and overseas Chinese buyers.

The second‑generation "Morning Star" desktop computer ran the "Cangjie" Chinese system, demonstrating WPS word processing and spreadsheet calculations, which fascinated merchants from around the world.

A few bulky yet brand‑new "Wanxiang" brand big phones were locked in a glass cabinet as symbols of technical strength, with a label noting "Simulated Cellular Network, already trialed in some domestic cities."

Color TVs, refrigerators, washing machines and other home appliances were also fully represented, with craftsmanship and quality clearly a cut above domestic counterparts.

The entire Wanxiang exhibition area resembled a miniature, vibrant window into Chinese manufacturing, covering everything from basic transportation to the latest electronic communication products.

Li Ping'an was not in front of the booth.

He stood in a quiet meeting room on the second floor of the exhibition hall, looking down through one‑way glass at the bustling crowd in his own exhibition area below.

Lin Wanyi and Xu Jiaming were hosting downstairs.

Zhou Wenbin also flew back from London, responsible for liaising with interested European merchants.

Everything was orderly.

His gaze, however, did not linger on the current clamor.

In his hand he held a freshly delivered, absolutely encrypted briefing.

The briefing was simple: the first batch of a Soviet expert team, invited via special channels under the guise of "technical exchange," seven people in total, had safely arrived in Beijing and were undergoing isolated contact and preliminary assessment at a certain base.

On the list were a structural expert from the Ukrainian Ship Research Institute, a senior researcher from the Moscow Institute of Materials Science, and two top engineers specializing in precision machining and heavy‑machine design.

Almost as soon as the briefing was received, the red secure Telephone rang.

It was Zhou Zhengwei.

"Ping'an, the people have arrived. After the expert team's initial contact, the evaluation is very high. Especially that materials expert and the one handling heavy‑machine design; their level is internationally top‑notch."

Political Commissar's voice carried a hint of satisfaction, "However, their professional backgrounds… are somewhat sensitive. According to our prior agreement, and as the nation requires, these two, as well as any future talent in key defense fields, will be received and placed by the relevant units. They will serve in positions where they are more needed and better suited, exerting maximum impact."

Li Ping'an showed no hesitation.

"I understand, Commissar. This is proper. What we can provide are mainly civilian technologies and industrial platforms. The truly national heavy equipment must be in the state's hands. We only do what we should and can do."

His words came from the heart.

Recruiting talent is to accelerate development, not to overstep boundaries.

A sense of proportion is the bottom line he always adheres to.

"However, the other few experts, who have deep expertise in civilian materials, non‑core ship design, and industrial automation, match the fields Wanxiang is tackling and are very suitable."

Political Commissar continued, "The relevant procedures will be completed promptly; they will go to Shenzhen as 'External Senior Technical Consultants.' How you use them is up to you."

"Great!" Li Ping'an's spirit lifted, "This is exactly what we need most! Especially in materials and automation, they can help us solve many bottleneck problems!"

After a few more detail exchanges, the Telephone was hung up.

Li Ping'an walked back to the glass window.

Below, in the exhibition hall, Wanxiang's products attracted the gaze of global merchants—a commercial frontier expansion.

At this moment, the few Soviet experts who had traveled from afar, each possessing exceptional skills, were about to merge into the industrial stage he had built in Shenzhen.

That was a covert reinforcement of the technological foundation.

One bright, one dark, complementing each other.

The Canton Fair lasted half a month, and Wanxiang Group reaped abundant gains.

It not only signed large export orders for motorcycles, home appliances, and pagers.

The "Wanxiang Light" van, moreover, unexpectedly received small‑batch purchase intents from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and even Africa.

Although the quantities were modest, it meant the road had been opened.

Trucks and computers also garnered considerable attention and inquiries.

More importantly, the "Wanxiang" brand, for the first time, showcased a comprehensive, diversified image on the international trade stage.

On the closing day, Li Ping'an quietly appeared in the exhibition area, briefly celebrating with the core team.

He said little, merely raising a glass of clear water.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. This is only the beginning. The road is still long; we'll proceed step by step, solidly."

Guangzhou at night glowed with brilliant lights.

Wanxiang, standing at the window of the era, had already spread its wings.

And its gaze was already cast toward deeper technological hinterlands and the industry's future.

Black ore is forged into steel in the furnace.

The plain "Divine Car" is about to head into the streets and alleys.

In the silent place, top‑tier wisdom also crosses mountains and seas, quietly merging into the rising tide of the East.

All of this is merely the prologue just penned in the grand, sweeping script of a great era.