Chapter 218

Yellow River Factory.

Inside the workshop, air hammers clanged, drills screeched, a bustling scene.

In the meeting room, the atmosphere was somewhat unusual.

"Come, let us welcome Comrade Luo Qiang back to our Yellow River Factory to continue working with warm applause!"

After Factory Director Wang finished speaking, he led the applause, and those below followed suit.

"Leaders, this is not a glorious matter, after all, I made a mistake and was sent back by superiors..." Luo Qiang's attitude was firm at this moment: "Actually, my personal honor or disgrace doesn't matter, but I need to speak out about my bitter experience so that everyone can be on guard."

"Luo Qiang, tell us, what happened?"

"Sigh, have you heard of Qin Miao from Ha Gong Da? This guy is utterly terrible; during this European inspection trip, he kept tripping me up..."

Everyone was stunned.

"What's going on? Please elaborate."

Then Luo Qiang recounted his earlier experience in Germany, how Qin Miao used public funds for travel and how his poor performance abroad made people think Easterners were of low quality...

On the return journey, Qin Miao also met with people from Steyr Company; on the plane, they whispered and made many deals...

Slap!

Someone slapped the table.

"This Qin Miao is really too much!" Deputy Factory Director Ma Shiyong said angrily: "Hmph, young and full of himself, lawless, this Qin Miao..."

Lao Ma, don't get worked up; Qin Miao is just a student from Ha Gong Da, even if he runs some company, it's over in Ha Cheng and has nothing to do with us." Factory Director Wang said: "We can't control other people's affairs, nor need we worry so much; we just need to manage our own affairs well."

Ha Gong Da's import-export company alone is enough to make people envious, yet Qin Miao is not satisfied and actually wants to be a capitalist!

This matter had long been spread within the domestic industrial circle; everyone naturally had a poor impression of him, and upon hearing Luo Qiang say this, they became even more indignant.

"Hmph, this country will be thrown into chaos by letting these people mess around..."

"Lao Ma!" Factory Director Wang's face turned stern: "Now, the keynote of our country is reform; you must watch your words..."

"Factory Director Wang, I know you mean well for me, but I, Lao Ma, have spent half my life; I hate capitalists the most. After finally turning over a new leaf to become masters, we are now being urged to become capitalists—what are we to do..."

Ding ding ding...

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

Factory Director Wang, Factory Director Ma, the Capital called regarding the heavy truck import project; they want us to attend a meeting!

"Okay, got it."

Luo Qiang rolled his eyes: "Leaders, I... I would like to go with you to the Capital; I'm familiar with it..."

"Luo Qiang, you've just come back..."

"It's fine, I'm not tired."

"Alright, let's go together. Actually, it's not a big deal; we're just going to join the fun—the heavy truck import project is Third Auto Works'..." As he said this, Factory Director Wang's face showed a complex expression.

Yellow River Factory actually really wants this project!

In 1935, the Jinan Vehicle and Machinery Plant was established then; by the time of liberation, the factory had over two hundred workers and eight machine tools, only able to perform simple automobile maintenance work. Afterwards, it gradually began producing automobile parts, and the plant was renamed the Jinan Automobile Parts Factory.

Everything began to change in 1958, a special era when the whole country was filled with a spirit of surpassing Britain and America; the Jinan Automobile Parts Factory was no exception, deciding to trial-produce automobiles. On April 21 of that year, the First Ministry of Machinery agreed to copy the Soviet GAZ-69 and named it the Huanghe brand.

The trial production of the Huanghe JN220 jeep ended Shandong Province's history of being unable to manufacture vehicles; that year, the factory was renamed the Huanghe Automobile Manufacturing Plant.

The following year, in October, the Yellow River Factory saw the domestic shortage of heavy trucks and decided to copy the Skoda heavy-duty truck; it took a year or two to build it, but unfortunately, the hand-hammered vehicles suffered from various quality problems that kept cropping up.

Later, the factory organized efforts to comprehensively improve product quality; by 1963, the Huanghe JN150 model eight-ton truck passed the appraisal of the Automobile Bureau of the First Ministry of Machinery.

To this day, the Huanghe JN150 remains their flagship product, although annual output is low and quality lags far behind international standards; now, if this newly introduced project could land in their factory, that would be great!

Third Auto Works... If Third Auto Works got it, what would these factories do next? Upon going to the Capital, we should report well to our superiors and strive to win it if we can!

With this thought in mind, the group headed north and soon reached the Capital.

The Capital, the First Ministry of Machinery.

"Good, everyone is here. Today's meeting has two main items: first, the military has already confirmed that Steyr's performance meets their needs; we have gathered domestic enterprises to hear the opinion of our automobile department. If there are no problems, we plan to introduce Steyr."

It has been decided!

The people from Yellow River Factory looked at each other, and no one spoke.

The military has decided; production is Third Auto Works' responsibility. The people from Yellow River Factory coming here are likely just to make up numbers—like everyone lifting the bridal sedan. Is there still any need to oppose?

Luo Qiang repeatedly gave Factory Director Wang meaningful looks, but Wang pretended not to notice; meanwhile, Factory Director Ma several times tried to stand up, only to be pulled back by Wang.

Then Luo Qiang couldn't hold back and stood up.

"Director Rao, I believe that Steyr heavy trucks are not suitable for us to introduce and produce in the East!"

"Why?"

"Because, because..." Luo Qiang gritted his teeth: "Director Rao, last time when our Fifth Ministry of Machinery went abroad for inspection, on the return trip we happened to sit on the same plane as the Steyr people; I saw Qin Miao whispering with the Germans, and if I'm not mistaken, Qin Miao definitely got some benefits from Steyr!"

Now I'm throwing caution to the wind!

Abroad, Qin Miao tripped him up and said many bad things, forcing him to leave Director Zhao's side and return to his original unit; now, at this First Ministry of Machinery meeting, he also wants to sling mud at Qin Miao!

Let everyone know that Qin Miao's support for Steyr is ulteriorly motivated!

The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly fell silent.

Director Rao's face turned stern: "Factory Director Wang, are Comrade Luo Qiang's words his personal opinion, or do they represent the view of Yellow River Factory?"

"Well..." Factory Director Wang pondered for a moment: "Comrade Luo Qiang used to be from our Yellow River Factory, but he was recently transferred to the Capital; this time he just came back and followed along, so we don't know about those remarks he made."

"Factory Director Wang, how could you not know? I've been giving you detailed reports all along the way! That Qin Miao is definitely up to something!"

"Luo Qiang, you did say that, but these matters have no evidence; in this kind of meeting, we need to talk about evidence! Moreover, Director Rao asked why Steyr heavy trucks are unsuitable for us to introduce in the East, which is a technical consideration, whereas you... are missing the point."