Chapter 133: With a Technical Expert Beside You, No One Can Fool Around

Lu Qingshan sneered inwardly; his past‑life experience told him there's no such thing as a free pie from the sky. This Sun Desheng clearly heard rumors and wants to loot the fire.

"Manager Sun, this price does indeed show Sincerity," Lu Qingshan said with a polite smile, "but I'd like to first understand the equipment's exact specifications."

Sun Desheng's eyes flashed with a hint of pride: "Factory Director Lu, rest assured, our equipment is absolutely the most advanced on the market! This slicer can process five hundred kilograms of meat per hour, with precision control within 0.3 millimeters!"

"0.3 millimeters?" Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow, "Manager Sun, are you sure you didn't misspeak?"

"Of course not!" Sun Desheng pounded his chest in assurance, "I've been in this line for over a decade; I could recite these figures with my eyes closed!"

At that moment, Qian Jin walked over from the construction site, holding a set of drawings. "Qing Shan, who's this person?"

"Master Qian, this is Manager Sun from Changchun Machinery Factory, here to discuss equipment procurement," Lu Qingshan introduced.

Qian Jin glanced at the Quotation Sheet in Sun Desheng's hand and immediately laughed, "Comrade, is your equipment gold‑plated?"

Sun Desheng's complexion changed: "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, your price is thirty percent above market, and the specs are completely off," Qian Jin said bluntly. "Slicer precision of 0.3 mm? Are you kidding? The most advanced domestic equipment can only reach 0.5 mm, and that's imported!"

Sun Desheng's smile froze: "You are…?"

"I'm Qian Jin, former Deputy Section Chief of the Technical Section at Changchun First Machinery Factory," Qian Jin said coolly. "The equipment you're talking about, we have it in our plant, and the factory price is half of your quoted price."

The atmosphere on the spot turned instantly awkward.

The watching villagers didn't grasp the technical specs, but they could feel the tension.

Lu Qingshan shook his head: "Manager Sun, it seems you don't know our situation well enough. Everyone here is a specialist."

While Sun Desheng was caught in a dilemma, another vehicle pulled up. This time a man in his thirties, dressed in a suit, stepped out carrying a briefcase.

"May I ask who the Factory Director Lu is?" the young man asked politely.

"I am," Lu Qingshan stepped forward.

"Hello, I am Li Ming, sales representative of Shenyang Heavy Industry Machinery Factory. I heard you're looking to purchase equipment, so I came specially," Li Ming handed over a business card. "Our factory specializes in food‑processing equipment; the quality is rock‑solid and the price fair."

Hearing a competitor arrive, Sun Desheng suddenly grew anxious: "Factory Director Lu, we're an old‑established plant; our reputation is guaranteed!"

Li Ming calmly opened his briefcase, took out a detailed Explanation document: "Factory Director Lu, here are our product specs and quotation. You can compare them."

Lu Qingshan took the materials and examined them carefully.

This price was nearly forty percent lower than Sun Desheng's quote, and the specs were more detailed and accurate.

Qian Jin also leaned in, nodded: "This is much more reliable. Slicer precision 0.5 mm, processing capacity three hundred kilograms per hour—that's the real situation."

Sun Desheng's complexion grew increasingly grim.

He hadn't expected such experts in this remote village, nor that a competitor would arrive so quickly.

"Factory Director Lu, we can renegotiate the price!" Sun Desheng hurriedly said.

Lu Qingshan waved his hand: "Manager Sun, business is about trust. Your first quotation was that outrageous; how can I trust your product quality?"

At that moment, Yao Bai'nian also walked over: "Qing Shan, why is it so lively here?"

"Master Yao, equipment vendors have come to discuss cooperation," Lu Qingshan briefly explained the situation.

After listening, Yao Bai'nian said directly to Li Ming: "Kid, does your factory have Chinese‑medicine processing equipment?"

Li Ming's eyes lit up: "We do! We have an entire production line for Chinese‑medicine processing equipment. Sir, are you an expert in this field?"

"I know a little," Yao Bai'nian said modestly, "but the equipment requirements are high. If traditional stir‑frying is replaced by machines, temperature control must be precise within one degree."

Li Ming nodded repeatedly: "No problem! Our equipment uses a PID temperature‑control system, with precision up to 0.5 °C!"

Sun Desheng, listening nearby, was completely bewildered; their factory had no Chinese‑medicine equipment line at all, watching the business slip away.

"Representative Li, could you show me your equipment list?" Lu Qingshan asked.

【7】 Li Ming immediately pulled out a thick folder: "Factory Director Lu, this is our full product catalog. From food processing to Chinese‑medicine processing, from packaging equipment to testing instruments, we have it all."

Li Ming immediately pulled out a thick folder: "Director Lu, this is our full product catalog. From food processing to Chinese medicinal preparation, from packaging equipment to testing instruments, it has everything."

Lu Qingshan flipped through the catalog, calculating silently.

At this price, a three‑hundred‑thousand budget would not only be sufficient but would leave surplus.

"Representative Li, if we purchase the entire set of equipment at once, what discount can you offer?" Lu Qingshan asked.

Li Ming thought for a moment: "If the total exceeds two‑hundred‑fifty thousand, we can give a ten‑percent discount and handle installation and commissioning free of charge."

Ten percent off!

By that calculation, we could save over twenty thousand yuan!

The villagers' eyes widened in amazement.

"Brother Qing Shan, this is great!" Liu Fugui exclaimed excitedly.

Lu Qingshan nodded, but his mind was pondering another issue.

Why were all these equipment vendors so quick to get the news?

Was it coincidence, or someone deliberately arranging it?

At that moment, Zhao Dazhi suddenly walked over, whispering to Lu Qingshan: "Qing Shan, I have something to tell you. During the day, someone called, asking about our village's situation, especially about your equipment purchase."

Lu Qingshan felt a knot tighten: "Who?"

"I don't know, said he was from the county," Zhao Lao San recalled, "He also asked about our funds; I didn't think much and answered."

Lu Qingshan suddenly understood.

No wonder the vendors arrived so promptly; someone had leaked the information in advance.

But that isn't necessarily bad. Competition brings discounts; now we can save over twenty thousand yuan, which can be used elsewhere.

"Representative Li, we'll cooperate!"

Lu Qingshan made his decision, "But I have one condition: all equipment must arrive and be installed within half a month."

Li Ming considered: "Half a month is tight, but we can dispatch from several plants simultaneously; we should manage."

Sun Desheng, seeing the outcome set, could only slink away dejectedly.

Li Ming excitedly pulled out the contract: "Factory Director Lu, let's sign now!"

"No rush."

Lu Qingshan waved his hand, "I'll take the contract back to study it carefully and give you an answer tomorrow."

Li Ming, though a bit disappointed, could only agree.

After seeing off the equipment vendor, the villagers gathered around.

"Brother Lu Qingshan, how much money can we save? Not a small amount, right?"

"Exactly, enough for our village to buy a lot of things!"

Lu Qingshan watched everyone's excited expressions, but his mind was on something else.

Since we saved money, why not start another project?

He recalled the mineral water he often saw in his past life. In the 1980s, that would have been a truly ahead‑of‑its‑time concept.

If we could turn the mountain's good water source into mineral water, it would be healthy and distinctive, and might open a brand‑new market.

"Fellow villagers, I have an idea," Lu Qingshan suddenly said, "why don't we set up a mineral water plant?"