Chapter 149: Sequelae

The reason Luo Zheng was familiar with He Heng was because the Lenovo he was in before, or rather, the domestic computer and other electronic industries, all had to deal with the Foreign Exchange Department, needing to use foreign exchange to purchase chips, memory, computer screens, and other components.

The domestic electronic industry had always relied on importing foreign components, and the scale would become larger and larger, until it exceeded bulk energy products like oil, coal, and iron ore, becoming the country's largest import product!

"I am indeed old. My physical strength can't compare to you all. When I was in Yanjing, those old guys in other ministries were suppressed and beaten by me!"

He Heng put away his racket, picked up a towel to wipe the sweat on his head, and smiled at Li Dongling. Just now when playing ball, he knew that Li Dongling was holding back, letting him have quite a few balls; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to hold on.

"Luo Zheng, former person in charge of the Lenovo program-controlled switch project, Academician Ni's top disciple!"

"However, Luo Zheng is about to join the Dongling Gao Ke Technical Department and serve as the Deputy General Manager of the Technical Department!"

Li Dongling made introductions for Luo Zheng and He Heng. Just hearing Li Dongling mention Luo Zheng, when he was working at Lenovo, He Heng's expression suddenly sank, but hearing that he joined Dongling Gao Ke, a smile appeared on his face again.

As the Director of the Foreign Exchange Department, He Heng's attitude toward different companies was truly completely different. He didn't need to cover it up either. Like Lenovo and other companies and units that needed to spend foreign exchange to purchase equipment and components overseas, they were all equivalent to "debt collectors." It would be strange if he could have a good face when they came to him for US dollars and other foreign exchange.

"Then I want to congratulate General Li Zong for adding another fierce general!"

He Heng looked at Luo Zheng, and his words also carried a hint of regret. "Lenovo's program-controlled switch is truly too much of a pity.

Over at the Julong company, last month they exported program-controlled switches to regions like Old Maozi, Korea, Siam, and Cuba, earning back nearly 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange!"

Hearing this, Luo Zheng's hands under the table couldn't help but clench into fists. If Lenovo's program-controlled switch project hadn't been stopped by someone, then the one earning such a large sum of foreign exchange back now would very likely be him, Luo Zheng. How could he not hate it!

He Heng didn't care how Luo Zheng thought. With Luo Zheng's current status and position, if he hadn't appeared here with Li Dongling today, he probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to see He Heng's face at all, not even qualified to make an appointment. Saying these things to Luo Zheng was also He Heng giving Li Dongling face, speaking well of Luo Zheng, and highlighting his ability.

Don't look at Director He, who was a "good person" in front of Li Dongling at this moment. But ask those foreign exchange-consuming giants like the Petrochemical Group, Coal Group, Iron Ore, etc., who were giants in the country. When facing He Heng, they all had to be careful and treat him with respect. Once He Heng didn't approve their foreign exchange, the entire industry would be shaken!

"Over at the Torch Group, General Li Zong still needs to pay more attention. This project has already become one of the most important projects of the Yanjing ministry next year. The first phase of the project needs to be put into production next year!"

He Heng came this time to remind Li Dongling again about the Torch Group project. The attention from the Yanjing side to this project was no less than that of Hanxi and Pingyang.

Li Dongling drank a cup of tea. From He Heng's words, Li Dongling could also hear that the Yanjing side needed projects like the Torch Group that could provide a large number of employment positions to absorb more employment personnel.

From this, it could be seen that the days of state-owned factories and township enterprises would probably be even more difficult next year. The number of people laid off from these factories would probably be even more, and they needed companies like the Torch Group to receive personnel.

"Now the Torch Group has absorbed manufacturers like Xinhai Lighter into the Torch Group Industrial Park. As long as the technology can break through, it is expected that a portion can be put into production next year.

But the entire Torch Group project is not something that can be completed in a short while!"

Hearing Li Dongling's words, He Heng sighed. "I understand, but the Yanjing ministry side is under great pressure now. Even our Foreign Exchange Department has been asked to assist in supporting more employment projects..."

Speaking of this, seeing Luo Zheng sitting on the side, He Heng swallowed the words behind him. "In short, General Li Zong, you should be able to receive some news. The Torch Group should speed up production!"

"I came this time, besides being entrusted by the Yanjing ministry to go to the Torch Group for research and give some preferential policies and support, there is also another thing!"

He Heng looked at Luo Zheng and asked Li Dongling after deliberation, "General Li Zong has a good relationship with Ning Wenge of the Hong Kong Ning's Trading Company. I would like to ask General Li Zong to ask Ning Wenge on behalf of domestic electrical appliance brands, when will domestic electrical appliance brands like Haier, Rongsheng, and Panda be able to enter the Wanjia Electrical Appliance City through the Ning's Trading Company?!"

Luo Zheng was a bit confused, not knowing how this got involved with Ning Wenge and Wanjia Electrical Appliance City, and listening to He Heng's tone, it seemed there was still a request for Li Dongling. This made Luo Zheng even more surprised. He Heng was the Director of the Foreign Exchange Department!

Domestic companies, whether state-owned or private, which company didn't lower their heads by three points when facing the Foreign Exchange Department, begging He Heng to approve them for a few more foreign exchange quotas!

But Li Dongling could hear that He Heng was asking him when domestic electrical appliance brands could be sold to the European market through Wanjia Electrical Appliance City to earn foreign exchange.

Li Dongling didn't promise anything at the first time. "Director He, some things, haste makes waste. You can't eat hot tofu if you are in a hurry!"

"In these few years, quite a few domestic daily necessities, clothes, home appliances, etc., have entered the Old Maozi and Eastern European markets through trading companies and speculators cooperating with Old Maozi. They have indeed earned some money, but now? Domestic goods there have almost become synonymous with cheap and inferior goods.

Coupled with the propaganda of Western media, the brand image of domestic goods in Asia, Europe, and North America is very bad. Users who are slightly better off and have a choice are not willing to buy domestic brands there.

In the future, domestic goods in Eastern Europe will sooner or later be replaced by other goods, and even domestic goods overseas will lose their market, finally only being able to do OEM for foreign brands!"

Li Dongling's words made He Heng's face a bit awkward. Domestic goods in Old Maozi and Eastern Europe were in a wild and disorderly state. In order to grab the market, they were all sold very cheaply. And under the low-price strategy, how good could the product quality be?

Old Maozi were too poor now, couldn't even fill their stomachs, and didn't care about the product quality at all. But this didn't mean they wouldn't complain. Coupled with Western media, let alone intentional smearing, just pushing the waves would be enough to shout all over the world that domestic product quality was not good. In the future, domestic goods overseas would definitely bear the price they paid in Eastern Europe, and for many years in the future, they would have no competitiveness in the overseas market!

"Director He, do you want domestic electrical appliance brands to encounter the experience of domestic goods in Eastern Europe in Western Europe too?!" Li Dongling looked at He Heng and asked.

He Heng shook his head, but still said, "Now domestic electrical appliance brands are indeed not as good as Japanese, German, and American goods. Do we just keep waiting?"

"Even if they are not as good, we must slowly change!"

Li Dongling said in a deep voice, "I think we should let brands like Haier, Konka, Changhong, Gree, etc., launch some flagship products with guaranteed quality and slowly enter the overseas market through Wanjia Electrical Appliance City. Regardless of whether the brand positioning is high-end, mid-end, or low-end, the product quality must be guaranteed, letting overseas users slowly accept it!

If they swarm into the overseas market and move the set from the country, using unscrupulous means for sales volume, then not only them, but Wanjia Electrical Appliance City's reputation and brand will be destroyed in one fell swoop!"

The expression on He Heng's face changed several times. For him, letting domestic electrical appliance brands go overseas in large numbers to earn foreign exchange was most beneficial to him and could become his credit. But as Li Dongling said, this kind of practice was effective in the short term, but in the long term, it was a disaster.

Finally, He Heng let out a long sigh. Some things were just "the predecessor plants the tree, the successor enjoys the shade." No one was willing to let their hard-earned credit benefit their successor, but He Heng was ultimately not the kind of person who would "rather I betray the world than let the world betray me."

"Next year, the Foreign Exchange Department will take the lead to let Wanjia Electrical Appliance City negotiate with domestic companies like Haier, TCL, etc., to formulate a good plan for going overseas!" He Heng finally agreed to Li Dongling's decision.

After He Heng finished talking with Li Dongling, he went to the bathing area of the Yuhe Leisure Resort to wash up, then had a sauna, and let the old master who massaged and set bones toss him for a while, before going to the Diaoyutai to fish.

For He Heng, this trip was not only a business trip but also carried a hint of vacation. Of course, there were plenty of better resorts in Yanjing, but there, he couldn't possibly be as relaxed and unrestrained as he was here.

"Academician Ni, should have already told you, right?!" Li Dongling looked at Luo Zheng in front of him.

"Regarding the treatment conditions for joining the job, you just heard it. In the future, you will be the Deputy Manager of the Dongling Gao Ke Technical Department. What I need you to do is to research and develop mobile phone communication technology for Dongling Gao Ke!"

Luo Zheng stared at Li Dongling. "I can bring over the technicians and engineers from the previous Lenovo program-controlled switch project and transform them to research and develop mobile phone communication technology, but I would like to ask General Li Zong to guarantee that this project will not be abandoned halfway!"

Luo Zheng was clearly scared by someone. What he was most worried about now was not whether he could research and develop results, but that at a critical moment, he wouldn't get funding, and even the entire department would be disbanded, and his hard work would be destroyed in a moment.

Li Dongling smiled. "Dongling Gao Ke has a funding budget every year. Before a project starts, we will first calculate the project and then issue funding. Later, according to the R&D progress, we will issue funding for each period!"

Hearing this, Luo Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. He and Ni Guangnan had the same temperament—both were good at R&D and not good at office struggle techniques. He was also truly afraid of that kind of "soft knife" method that killed without seeing blood.

Before heading to the Hanxi provincial capital to attend the Hanxi Top Ten Entrepreneurs Award, Li Dongling first visited Yao Zhengru at the Yao family. It was an open and aboveboard visit, which was seen by quite a few people in the Pingyang municipal government.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 150 =====