Chapter 131: Old Master, welcome to stay at Ha Gong Da!

Metal Research Institute, Old Master, in his sixties — there is no second person at this age!

"Old Master, hello! You are my idol!"

Old Master chuckled: "Don't mention that first; I've taken in everything you said. Our hollow turbine blade technology, which you and the French proposed, is worth five million. Now, through your hands, transferring it to the French — ……"

Qin Miao's heart gave a thump — I was just bluffing the French!

However, after a glance at Leader Li beside him, Qin Miao gritted his teeth: "That's natural; this technology isn't ours at Ha Gong Da, so we'll have to buy it — five million — Ha Gong Da will pay you at any time."

Old Master blinked: "You really want to pay? And five million?"

"Exactly, of course we'll pay. In a market economy, we have to talk market terms. We used your technology, so we must pay — unlike some people who just want a free ride, shouting 'class brothers' to get free food, drink, and stuff, playing moral blackmail."

Leader Li's face darkened again.

"Director Mao, file a report with the school so it covers the relevant costs. Rest assured, the school — once we cooperate with the French, using French materials to make new turbine blades, any domestic unit that wants to use them will have to buy the technology from Ha Gong Da; this money will absolutely not be wasted."

Leader Li's face turned black as charcoal: "Young man, are you threatening us?"

"Of course not, you misunderstood. This is a market economy; we conduct business according to market rules. I like this approach — friendship is friendship, business is business, we keep them separate."

"Hahaha, exactly. If we could run everything by market laws, that might not be a bad thing. Over these years, our country's development has indeed entered a mistaken zone, producing many deep-rooted problems!"

In his hearty laughter, Old Master continued: "These years I've often wondered, if we took the Western economic path, would we avoid many drawbacks? Unfortunately, I didn't dare speak up — until the superiors announced reform, to take the market economy road, I knew our nation would rise to a higher level."

Old Master had lived abroad for many years; although he had resolutely chosen to return home, deep down he still made a comparison.

In earlier years, following collectivism was correct — concentrating efforts on big undertakings, the First Five‑Year Plan turned the country from an agrarian state into an industrial one; that was the advantage of the system!

But over these years, as development proceeded, the initial system's deep‑rooted problems kept surfacing: in factories, those eating outnumbered workers two to one, cadres kept increasing, becoming detached from the masses, and the factories' economic efficiency kept deteriorating……

It must be changed!

Any society, once it reaches a certain level of development, needs change, otherwise it will gradually decline. Moreover, with the development of the times and progress of technology, this time span keeps getting shorter — initially the Zhou dynasty lasted over seven hundred years, but in the later feudal society, the Ming and Qing dynasties each had only a couple hundred years left.

"Old Li, don't feel unconvinced either; I think this kid Qin Miao has more vision than you. Your ideas need an overhaul — that old almanac belongs in the trash! If you cling to wrong notions, you'll eventually be eliminated."

Leader Li's expression was complex; obviously he respected Old Master too, dared not rebut, and could only stew there.

"Qin Miao, I also know that your five million was just a bluff on the French; through this technology we gained an improvement in the turboshaft engine, which greatly promotes our nation's technological development — I was just joking, we don't actually need five million."

"Then four million — what's owed must be paid."

"No, no, hear me out." Old Master said: "My original idea was to contribute this technology to Ha Gong Da; after you and the French develop it, using fresh blanks to make these turbine blades, I'd also contribute them to other aircraft engine projects — but……"

After hearing Qin Miao's words, Old Master realized his idea was wrong — he had hoped the market economy would bring vigor to the East, yet here he was falling back into the old routine.

"What do you have in mind now?"

"I…… don't know either; you're quick‑witted, you tell me."

"If I were to say, it's that we spend money to buy your technology, and later any other unit that wants it can buy it from us."

Old Master shook his head: "This plan can't be carried out for now — after all, changing attitudes takes time; you can't expect most cadres to accept it quickly. When you ask for money, they'll complain in every way, possibly even go to the Capital to file complaints; I'm afraid…… this would delay their futures."

Whoever is dissatisfied shows they lack a market‑economy mindset and should be eliminated!

Beside him, Leader Li's body suddenly jolted — Old Master seemed to be complaining to Qin Miao, but in fact he was prompting himself!

"Well…… then let's change the approach: we'll keep paying for your technology, and once we and the French develop related products, whenever a domestic unit needs them, we'll directly purchase the finished goods from here!"

Don't buy the technology — just buy the finished product! This way there's no free‑riding, and no grudges left.

Old Master pondered a moment, then nodded: "Good! Let's arrange it this way — other engine factories or research institutes that want to match this turbine blade to their engines should just purchase the finished product! No need to hand over the technology; if they want it, let them develop it themselves."

Beside him, Leader Li's expression was infinitely complex; at last he sensed a new era arriving — talk of 'class brothers' and 'the whole nation as one chessboard' is no longer usable; if he wants technology, he must either develop it himself or buy it.

From now on, it's the era of the market economy!

"Too bad we can't access French technology; there's still…… some regret."

"Old Master, you can stay and join the R&D." Qin Miao said: "Among the French engineers, some also admire you greatly; with you present, cooperation will be more pleasant."

"Me?"

"Exactly! If you come, Ha Gong Da will surely give you a warm welcome."

"That's right, Old Master — you're already sixty, fully retirement age. You can come to Ha Gong Da as an honorary professor; if you have time, guide our R&D; if not, attend to your own affairs — we won't insist." Director Mao also hurriedly invited.

Someone of Old Master's caliber, even if he comes to Ha Gong Da in name only, would still play a major role! After all, he is currently an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences!

"Old Master, I heard that during your time in the United States you led the project 'The Role of Silicon in Ultra‑High‑Strength Steel', whose result was 300M ultra‑high‑strength steel, successfully solving the problem of aircraft landing gear breaking. If you stay at Ha Gong Da, we can launch this project to help the military solve a big issue."

Old Master gave Qin Miao a complex look, then…… nodded, Old Master agreed!