Chapter 221

Wanting the existing automobile factories to reform themselves is extremely difficult; who doesn't want to live comfortably? Moreover, after decades of habit, how could it be so easy to change?

Back then, the Capital Automobile Factory, the first to pursue a joint venture, encountered many problems.

When American engineers saw that unqualified parts were about to be installed on vehicles and smashed them with a hammer, they were immediately surrounded by Eastern workers, who shouted the slogans from the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, vowing to carry on the fighting spirit of that era and give the Americans a beating.

With such an attitude, can they humbly accept Western standards? Defective parts are still state property and cannot be wasted; knocking them around, repairing and modifying them can still make them usable.

Later, some nostalgic people bought a second-hand vehicle, drove it halfway when the gear teeth broke, opened it up and found it was installed backwards! The Western quality management system is utterly unwilling to learn; years of experience‑based work exemplify the typical reluctance to reform.

Reforming old state‑owned enterprises is never easy; there are masses of vested interests, and the resistance to reform is not trivial. By contrast, building a new automobile factory is comparatively easier to get off the ground.

But… I'm not free right now, and Ha Gong Da doesn't have the capability either. Up to now, the paperwork for the microelectronics company hasn't been approved. I don't know which high‑ranking official is still saying yes publicly while opposing in secret, creating obstacles.

"Right, just now in the meeting, the Red Rock Factory side said a lot of unpleasant things about you, so we decided to first suspend their qualifications; later they'll come begging you, and you just give me a heads‑up…"

This is selling a favor to Qin Miao!

Actually… Qin Miao really doesn't need it.

Among the three factories, Qin Miao thinks most highly of the Yellow River Factory; in later times, the Yellow River Factory was the only one of the three heavy‑truck brothers to succeed, although it nearly went bankrupt, it eventually grew strong, and it even dared to try new things—it was the first in the country to fit an automatic transmission on heavy trucks, and its market share is also high.

The Old District Factory is of the obscure type; its product quality is solid and it is popular with the military, but market response is lukewarm—even using the golden combination of heavy‑truck power train: Weichai engine, Fast transmission, and HanDe axle doesn't help.

As for the Red Rock Factory… heh heh heh, its fate is to go bankrupt; among the three heavy‑truck brothers, it fared the worst. Initially all enterprises united to form a heavy‑truck joint venture, and it was the one dragging everyone down. Later, after the split, the Yellow River Factory kept getting more prosperous while the Red Rock Factory kept declining; it was even acquired by SAIC at one point, but in the end even SAIC couldn't save it.

Being criticized by this factory is understandable; such a factory is surely the most opposed to reform, waiting to be fed by habit, never changing—if it didn't go bankrupt, that would be miraculous.

Inside the meeting room.

"Hmph, now the state isn't building the Three Automobiles anymore, so the heavy‑truck market belongs to us three factories!" Song Weize said: "Our three factories should unite as one rope; nobody agrees with this plan—let's see how they push it! Old Wang, what do you think?"

The director of the Yellow River Factory, Wang, remained silent, while Ma Shiyong beside him nodded: "I think it's feasible…"

"Old Gao, what about your Old District Factory? State your position!"

Guo Qiang Gao took a deep breath: "I think we, relying on just one factory, cannot swallow this big cake; we'd be better off joining forces to form a heavy‑automobile joint venture, producing big vehicles together and sharing the profits. What do you think?"

"Good!" Zhao Xingguo nodded: "Old Gao, your suggestion hits the spot! Old Wang, what about you? Say something!"

The factory director Wang still frowned: "Doing this would probably anger Leader Rao and also provoke higher‑level leaders' dissatisfaction; this project is a reform pilot by the superiors……"

"What's there to fear? The superiors are just being fooled; they couldn't possibly allow such chaos! As long as we show enough determination, the superiors will give it serious thought."

Creak……

Just then, the door opened.

"Everyone, time's about up; let's continue the meeting—have you reached a decision?"

Leader Rao spoke while walking onto the stage, sat down, glanced around, and continued: "No problem; we're democratic, we value free speech—who wants to go first?"

The people from the Yellow River Factory lowered their heads, the Old District Factory people also lowered their heads, the Red Rock Factory……

The Red Rock Factory, anyway excluded, might as well fight for a chance!

"Leader Rao, we few factories have discussed it and believe the introduction of the Steyr project is extremely important; relying on just one factory we might not be able to handle it, so we want to combine all domestic heavy‑truck manufacturers' strength to form a heavy‑truck joint venture—as the saying goes, many hands make light work, more firewood makes higher flames……"

"Old Zhao, we just said in the meeting that your Red Rock Factory has already been excluded from the production and operation scope." Leader Rao interrupted him.

Joint?

What's the point of uniting? We need competition!

Zhao Xingguo's face turned pale instantly—he'd just been slapped in the face!

"Leader Rao, can our Red Rock Factory join in, or should we discuss it separately? The proposal we made is also for the sake of the nation's heavy‑truck industry; after all, a single factory's strength is indeed insufficient…… if we fail to produce anything, wouldn't we be delaying the nation's development?"

Song Weize spoke: "Now the only way is to unite; since the founding of the country, every industrial project we've undertaken has been done this way, Old Gao—say something!"

Guo Qiang Gao could only nod: "That's right, exactly so……"

"Old Wang, what about your Yellow River Factory? We just agreed on this……"

These guys think that by uniting they can go against state policy?

"Hmm, if you all think you lack the ability, then we'll choose another approach." Leader Rao said: "The Steyr introduction project is a piece of fat meat; many units are eyeing it, and we'll first look within the system……"

Indeed, we still have to bring out Ha Gong Da! These folks still want to unite to block reform; they will inevitably be crushed by the reform tide.

Everyone's face turned pale.

When they came, they had no hope; after all, it was a Three Automobiles project. Learning that the Three Automobiles weren't being pursued, they got excited, thinking the project would surely fall to them—but now it seems it's not a sure‑thing duck in hand; it could fly away at any moment!

"Leader Rao, our Yellow River Factory is willing to accept the superior's conditions!" The factory director Wang spoke first.

Across from them, the people of the Red Rock Factory twisted their mouths in anger: "Old Wang, you with your thick brows and big eyes—how could you betray us?"