Chapter 1550: Can't Hold Back [15

Gu Minglan frowned slightly. Giving away a house?

This child, he didn't even discuss such a big matter. How can a house be given away just like that?

She also knew that giving away a house was no big deal for her son-in-law, but it depended on who it was being given to.

If it were just a gift to Jian Mingfan, she wouldn't have any objections; after all, the relationship with the fourth family was clear.

Especially between her and Zhang Ping; the sisters-in-law had never had a falling out, and they were like real sisters who talked about everything.

It could be said that in the Jian family, they were a strategic alliance, always advancing and retreating together.

But giving a house to Zhu Cong made her feel very uncomfortable, because her relationship with her sister-in-law, Jian Jian Yufang, was not that harmonious.

Although Jian Jian Yufang and Zhu Liesheng had shown goodwill toward Zhou Andong today, that was due to interests, not sincerity.

However, no matter what she thought in her heart, she had to keep up appearances, so the smile on her face remained gentle.

"Alright!" Zhou Andong waved his hand with the air of an old-fashioned landlord from the old society: "You two wait on the side. If you serve the gentlemen and ladies present well, there will definitely be a reward."

Watching Zhou Andong's pretentious manner, Jian Yue burst into laughter.

"Brother, if you were like this twenty-some years ago, you would have been a target for attack."

"You brat!" Zhang Ping, who was nearby, couldn't help but laugh and tapped Zhou Andong: "Can you behave yourself?"

At this time, the old man came out of the study, put on his coat, and said: "I'm going to a meeting. If I'm back late, you don't need to wait for me. Those who should leave, leave; those who should rest, rest."

Today was the second day of the Lunar New Year, and going to a meeting so late made the expressions of Jian Jian Zhengxue, Jian Jian Zhengcun, Jian Ge Zhengrong, and Zhu Liesheng change.

Jian Jian Zhengxue asked: "Did something happen?"

The old man waved his hand: "It's about the Yinhe incident from last July."

The Yinhe?

Zhou Andong was stunned for a moment, and then a memory appeared in his mind.

In 1993, the Chinese cargo ship Yinhe departed from Tianjin Port, fully loaded with containers, heading for Abbas Port in Iran.

On July 23, when the Yinhe reached the high seas of the Indian Ocean, it was suddenly intercepted by the United States.

Using the excuse of having obtained intelligence, they accused the Yinhe cargo ship of transporting raw materials for chemical weapons to Iran.

They threatened to impose sanctions on China and dispatched two warships and five helicopters.

Just as the Yinhe cargo ship was hesitating whether to respond, the United States directly cut off the GPS signal.

On the boundless high seas, once satellite navigation is lost, it is almost impossible to move an inch.

At this critical juncture, the International Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to cooperate with the US inspection, as an upright person does not fear a crooked shadow.

After a week of thorough inspection, the United States did not find any relevant chemical weapons.

In the end, they had to let the Yinhe go, but by then, the Yinhe had been detained for a full three weeks.

For a sovereign state, having its ship detained by another country for three full weeks on an extremely absurd pretext is a very humiliating matter.

The Yinhe incident exposed China's passive situation in the field of satellite navigation, so the central leadership learned from the pain and officially formulated the Beidou Project in 1994, determining a three-step strategy.

Within ten years, complete the Beidou-1 experimental system; within twenty years, complete the Beidou-2 regional system.

Within thirty years, the Beidou-3 project must be completed to realize the Beidou network.

At that time, the Yinhe incident was not widely reported, nor did it attract much attention.

The reason Zhou Andong remembered it so clearly was that after the Beidou network was completed, the media dug up the Yinhe incident.

Watching the old man leave, Jian Jian Zhengxue picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"After dinner last night, I chatted with the old man for a while, and we also talked about the Yinhe incident."

Jian Jian Zhengcun said: "I also heard rumors that we are going to build our own satellite navigation system."

"I know about this too." Zhu Liesheng sighed: "It is said that because of funding issues, several meetings have been held, but there is still no result."

Zhou Andong's heart stirred. The old man had been asking about when the 500 million US dollar loan would arrive.

He guessed that a portion of this money would be used for the establishment of COFCO.

And the other portion, combined with the profits from sugar futures, would very likely be used for the research and development of Beidou.

In his previous life, the Beidou-1 experimental system took ten years, and the Beidou-2 regional system took ten years.

However, the Beidou-3 project and the network completion took only six years.

What does this mean?

It means that in the first twenty years, although the country's economy was growing explosively, there still wasn't enough money, and it wasn't until the third decade that it truly exerted its full strength.

Thinking of this, Zhou Andong asked: "It's fine if I make a call to Xiangjiang from here, right?"

Everyone was stunned. Why the sudden need to call Xiangjiang?

Jian Jian Zhengxue nodded: "The living room phone is fine."

Zhou Andong got up, went to the sofa, sat down, picked up the phone, and dialed Yuan Yuan Wanqi's office.

Sugar futures were wrapping up, and because of the time difference, the team at Xiangjiang Qiudongfang should all be at work.

Sure enough, after only two rings, Yuan Yuan Wanqi answered the phone.

"Hello, this is Xiangjiang Qiudongfang Financial Investment."

"Ms. Yuan!" Zhou Andong said with a smile: "Happy New Year."

Hearing Zhou Andong's voice, Yuan Yuan Wanqi laughed: "Sorry, Boss, I haven't wished you a Happy New Year yet, but you called to wish me one first."

Zhou Andong said: "You're overthinking it. I have something to ask of you; wishing you a Happy New Year is just by the way."

"..."

Yuan Yuan Wanqi was speechless: "You're so blunt, how did you manage to win over Ms. Jian?"

"That's a secret." Zhou Andong laughed: "How much of the sugar futures capital has been recovered?"

"Seventy percent of the capital has been recovered," Yuan Yuan Wanqi said. "All closing work will be completed by the end of April."

Zhou Andong said: "Do you remember I told you about the central leadership wanting to borrow 500 million US dollars from Xiangjiang Qiudongfang?"

"I remember!" Yuan Yuan Wanqi asked: "The 500 million US dollars is ready. After the contract is signed, the money can be transferred at any time."

Zhou Andong said: "This 500 million US dollar loan, plus the profits from sugar futures, must all be transferred by tomorrow."

"The loan contract hasn't been signed yet, should we transfer the money?" Yuan Yuan Wanqi was stunned, then continued: "Also, the sugar futures haven't finished wrapping up, how can we transfer the money?"

"Transfer the money first. The loan contract can be signed later. The central leadership won't default on such a small amount of money."

Zhou Andong pondered, his fingers tapping on the sofa armrest.

"How much is the approximate profit on the 50 million US dollars invested by the central leadership?"

Yuan Yuan Wanqi thought for a moment: "About 630 million. The exact amount will only be known after the final calculation."

"Like this!" Zhou Andong said: "Settle 500 million US dollars from the futures profits first, plus the 500 million US dollar loan, for a total of 1 billion. Transfer it over first, then send someone on the fourth day to sign the contract."

"Alright then!" Yuan Yuan Wanqi said helplessly: "You're the boss, you have the final say."

"That's it then!" Zhou Andong hung up the phone.

He didn't know about this matter before, but since he knew the country was in urgent need of money, he naturally couldn't hold them back.