Chapter 222

Creak—

Hearing the door open outside, Qin Miao felt a bit curious—Leader Rao wasn't supposed to be at an organizational meeting? He's back so fast; could it be… that those guys talked him back? Leader Rao, that would be embarrassing, wouldn't it? You're a big leader, yet you can't even keep your subordinates in line?

"Leader Rao, I can only help up to here; I have to catch the 3 p. m. flight back to Ha Cheng today—those matters can't be delayed."

"Old Rao isn't supposed to be in a meeting?"

That voice…… seems familiar? Qin Miao turned his head and saw a middle‑aged man with thick brows and big eyes, looking very familiar—who was that again……

"Dad?"

Zhang Wanhe smiled: "You little brat, you still know me? You've come back to the Capital, why aren't you staying home?"

"Dad, I actually came here to help Scania gain a reputation…… Dad, I didn't take any bribes from Scania—Scania heavy trucks are the best choice for our East."

"Mm, I know. The state gave you a five‑million reward, and you used it to start a business—how could you have taken bribes from Scania? By the way, did you propose a reform plan to the First Machinery Ministry?"

"Yeah, right now none of the heavy‑truck factories have reached the point of no return; reform can help us pull out, but if we keep going……"

Some things, Qin Miao simply couldn't say.

In later times, so many state‑owned enterprises collapsed over a simple sentence—failing to adapt to market competition, with no one taking responsibility. As a factory director, don't you have direct leadership responsibility? Factory closures mean countless families lose their livelihood!

Laid‑off workers' lives aren't easy; many can't adapt, fall into poverty, and some even commit suicide.

Even the Yellow River Factory, after later reforms regained vitality, but it went through pain—workers went more than half a year without wages, couldn't get medical reimbursement, and families without a savings habit couldn't make ends meet.

Later reforms cut the workforce from over seventy thousand to over twenty thousand; for those over fifty thousand affected, it was extremely cruel.

It's only the 1980s now; if we could pull through…… it would reduce many social problems. Since I've encountered this and the higher‑ups trust me so much, I should certainly push for it—if I can't, then so be it.

"You say, if the existing heavy‑truck factories stick to old ways, refuse to improve, and won't reform, could we here in the Capital raise our own funds and build a brand‑new heavy‑truck factory?"

This…… this is because they heard my suggestion and came running!

Seeing the expectation in his father‑in‑law's eyes, Qin Miao nodded: "Of course! Dad, you really have this plan—I fully support it!"

In later times, the Capital also had heavy trucks—namely the famous Foton Auman, established in 1996. Back then it was just a small farm‑vehicle workshop, but it kept growing, successfully entered the heavy‑truck sector, without the chronic problems of other SOEs, developed rapidly, and its output once ranked world‑first for two years, with domestic exports also number one.

If we don't consider helping the old SOEs, in fact creating a dedicated factory, applying modern corporate management, and setting a national benchmark would also have commemorative significance.

"Great, with the city's strong support, Qingshan Factory could shoulder the main load……"

"My dad's factory? Makes heavy trucks."

"I'm not your dad?"

"Yes, yes, Dad—Dad, are you going to support Dad's factory?"

A tongue‑twister came up, and Zhang Wanhe also laughed.

"Since Qingshan Factory began exporting for foreign exchange, its development has been rapid, and its profitability has already ranked among the top ten in the city……" Zhang Wanhe went on and on, having long wanted Qingshan Factory to take a big step forward—now the perfect chance had arrived!

"Report, Leader Zhang, the meeting there is proceeding smoothly—the Yellow River Factory and the Old District Factory have expressed their willingness to accept the superior's arrangement……"

Zhang Wanhe froze instantly—What? They agreed? My hope is about to come to nothing!

This meeting was highly valued by the superiors; its contents were almost in real time transmitted to the superior authorities, even Qin Miao's and Leader Rao's talk was reported up. Zhang Wanhe benefited, as he happened to be reporting work to the relevant leaders then, and hearing the news he rushed over.

Other factories don't want to do this, but our Capital can open a new factory to set a model for all automobile plants!

Looks like those people aren't stubborn after all!

In the meeting room, the people from Red Rock Factory were dumbfounded.

You've all defected? What are these conditions—don't you yourselves understand? If it fails, you'll become the factory's eternal sinners! You'll become sinners of the whole industrial system!

"Good, the Yellow River Factory and the Old District Factory haven't disappointed us—you are the vanguard of our reform; if you have any demands, speak up, and the First Machinery Ministry will help as much as possible."

Factory Director Wang stood up: "I represent the Yellow River Factory and request that the superiors arrange for Comrade Qin Miao to work at our factory—as our reform consultant; if he goes, I'll follow his lead!"

"Old Wang, what are you saying—do we really need to treat someone like Qin Miao as a bodhisattva to be worshipped?" Song Weize exclaimed on the spot.

"To reform, we can't do without talent like Qin Miao!"

"Having Qin Miao work at your factory is out of the question…… but I can let you meet him and hear his advice."

"Fine, where is he? Let's go now!"

The people of Red Rock Factory are unbelievable—clearly you were the first to launch attacks on Qin Miao, yet now you treat him as a strategist? Does that just make Red Rock Factory the bad guys?

"We also request to go listen together!" Guoqiang Gao also stood up.

"All right, let's go together."

Rumble……

Seeing the crowd pouring in, Qin Miao felt a bit curious: "Leader Rao, what's this for?"

"Everyone hopes you'll give the factory some reform suggestions; everyone knows reform is necessary now—bold and sweeping reform." Leader Rao said.

Qin Miao's expression turned solemn as well: "If we're talking reform, I do have many ideas…… but I dare say, do you dare to listen?"

"Of course!" Factory Director Wang spoke.

Qin Miao smiled, glanced at his expectant father‑in‑law beside him, and said: "Actually, the core idea is just one: strip away everything unrelated to production, and the proportion of workers directly engaged in production must not fall below ninety‑five percent."

In later times, when discussing state‑owned enterprise bankruptcies, they always go on at length about inherent chronic problems and bloated inefficiency, yet the specifics are always vague.

Actually, it's simple: there are more people sitting in offices, drinking tea and reading newspapers than workers creating value! In extreme cases, those engaged in frontline production and operations number less than one‑tenth of the factory's total workforce! Such an enterprise, if it doesn't go bankrupt, is nothing short of miraculous!

What production quality, it's secondary—even if you make a top‑notch product, you'll still be dragged down!