Chapter 187

Capital.

"Old leader, these are the documents you need to handle today."

"Old Wang, has Ha Gong Da responded yet?"

Secretary Wang's hand paused for a moment, then…… a wry smile appeared on his face: "The president of Ha Gong Da has already reported to me via long-distance call; the paper documents might still need a day or two to arrive, but…"

"But what?"

"This Qin Miao has given us a big problem!"

Originally we wanted to see how Qin Miao would spend five million, to give him a difficult problem; now Qin Miao has turned the tables on them!

"Oh? Tell me more." The old leader didn't handle the documents promptly, but put this matter first!

"Recently, our country wants to develop the economy, many high-investment projects have been cut; the project for ultra-large-scale integrated circuits at the Computer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is currently being evaluated for possible cancellation…"

"He wants to invest the money in the Computer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences? That's not much different from a donation, is it?"

"No, no, this is just background."

"Oh?" The old leader took out a cigarette, placed it in his mouth, Secretary Wang quickly lit it, then continued the introduction.

"Ha Gong Da has decided to launch the integrated circuit project, from design to production, a full chain; if they do that, then the face of our Computer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences will…"

A task that a state organ failed to accomplish, now done by a university— isn't that slapping the state organ in the face?

"No, this face doesn't matter; his meddling might hollow out the Computer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, drawing away those people there who have no research projects because the state stopped funding."

"Mm, old leader, you see it clearly at a glance, but this isn't the most worrisome yet."

Poaching personnel from state research institutes— isn't that already troublesome enough?

The old leader took a puff of cigarette, smiling as he said: "Go on, don't make me guess; I can't fathom this young person's thoughts."

"Sigh, although President Liu says it was his suggestion, it's merely a cover; he couldn't come up with something… earth-shattering, a proposal that contradicts our current policy, even… saying he's grossly improper would be fitting."

The old leader's smile didn't fade: "Speak! Our Party and country allow different voices, so let me hear, just how improper is it?"

"Qin Miao contributes five million, Ha Gong Da contributes five million, jointly establishing a Ha Gong Da Microelectronics Company responsible for full-chain R&D and production; Qin Miao holds forty-nine percent of the shares, Ha Gong Da holds fifty-one percent…"

From a later perspective, such investment to set up a company is completely fine, and Qin Miao even slightly loses out with one percent less shares; but in the early 1980s, this is grossly improper!

Because now, all production and operation entities are either state-owned or collective! No individual in the nation can hold half of a company's shares— this is heading toward becoming a capitalist!

Starting this year, the state has opened the door for individual businesses, but also instituted extremely strict terms: individual business owners may employ no more than seven people, and the owner must also personally participate in production and operation.

In short, it's to prevent the emergence of capitalists, of exploiting and exploited classes.

Now, this Ha Gong Da Microelectronics Company, with an investment of ten million, will surely need hundreds of employees—not to mention R&D staff, it will also need a production factory.

Qin Miao alone holds nearly half the shares— is that appropriate? If he does nothing later and just lies around sleeping, he'll still have a steady stream of profit! This runs completely contrary to the values society advocates.

More crucially, once this opening is made, everyone will learn from Qin Miao and do the same— won't society descend into chaos?

The cigarette in his hand kept burning, but the old leader didn't put it to his lips; Secretary Wang knew the old leader was thinking.

Click, click…… the wall clock ticked slowly; not knowing when, the cigarette butt had burned down to near his fingers, and only then did the old leader stub it into the ashtray.

"Carrying out reform requires courage; back then, the eighteen red handprints of Xiaogang Village unveiled the curtain of our reform and opening-up; I've always said, be bolder, take bigger steps— now someone has greater courage and bigger steps than mine."

Secretary Wang was stunned: "Old leader, do you support this plan?"

"Without Qin Miao taking the lead, Ha Gong Da couldn't develop its microelectronics industry; since our country lacks the capacity to invest, we should let those who first became wealthy invest; otherwise, how should those who first became wealthy spend their money? Naturally, they should continue investing in socialist construction, and we can't let them donate the money away; now Qin Miao's proposed approach… is good."

The old leader gave an affirmative answer: "Of course, we need to first run a pilot; let Ha Gong Da test whether this cooperative model works; failure is no problem— we're reforming by treading paths no one has taken before, we must forge ahead; after Ha Gong Da's report comes in, we'll convene relevant departments for a meeting, right, call Old Zhang as well."

Having Zhang Wanhe come to the meeting is obviously to get this plan approved!

Secretary Wang nodded: "Yes." At that moment, his heart was greatly shaken; the old leader's award of five million was meant to prompt Qin Miao to propose this idea? Qin Miao's courage is truly not ordinary!

He had already anticipated what the meeting would be like; reform definitely faces resistance— is Qin Miao the key to breaking through it?

At the same time, in the same city, a certain office.

"What? Old Liu, say it again? This is such a big matter— why didn't you first brief me before reporting to superiors? What?"

He hung up the phone, and Zhang Wanhe plopped back into his chair.

Qin Miao doing this is going to shake the heavens! He's only a freshman— why is he doing something so earth-shattering?

No, I need to go out; before it's reported upward, I'll intercept this proposal!

Ding ling ling……

The phone rang again.

"Hello, who's this? Secretary Wang? Secretary Wang, hello, what are your instructions? What? Okay, okay, I understand, but… could you give me a hint, what's the old leader's attitude? Can't say? Okay, okay, I was being presumptuous."

He hung up the phone, and Zhang Wanhe pondered again: the old leader's attitude? Inviting me to the meeting— isn't the attitude already clear?

Every major reform isn't decided through such meetings? If so, steps need to be taken even bigger— does this son-in-law of mine still know the old leader's mind?