Chapter 8

Listening to Zhou Wenyang's muttering, Li Dongling picked up the documents and took a look. Although there was no share for the "hard worker" in such a good thing as going to study at an outside factory, the production line had arrived, and it might be needed for Zhou Wenyang to debug the production line and deal with problems later. So Xu Yiqiao still gave Zhou Wenyang a copy, asking him to digest it quickly.

"16-inch color TV production line?!"

Li Dongling looked at this document, but it was information on a 16-inch color TV production line, and it wasn't introduced from abroad, but bought from other TV factories that were phasing out their production lines.

In these ten years, the country had introduced over 180 TV production lines from abroad, and coupled with the production lines developed by domestic manufacturers themselves, all in all, whether they were fully automatic or semi-automatic domestic TV production lines, it was estimated that there were over 200.

The TV sizes produced by large factories like Changhong were getting larger and larger, and the 16-inch production line was no longer needed and began to be slowly phased out. Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 actually took over.

Just seeing this information, the first thought in Li Dongling's mind was that there was something fishy here. Were the factory manager, general manager, and procurement department of Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 too bold, and was there some secret transaction with the company selling the production line, taking kickbacks? Otherwise, how could they buy such an obviously outdated production line?

But thinking carefully, he felt that even if there was something fishy, it wouldn't be so bold as to openly engage in things. They weren't afraid of sending themselves into the iron window to gnaw on corn buns.

"How much did it cost to buy this production line?!" Li Dongling asked Zhou Wenyang.

"It seems to be over 13 million!"

This price was a bit expensive, but it was still passable. The complete set of production lines and technology, if successful, could recover costs and even earn a profit, provided it could be sold.

"However, it seems the factory doesn't have enough money, so it borrowed a sum from the bank, and also raised a portion from the factory employees. I heard the interest was higher than the bank's. If my money hadn't been sent home, I would have wanted to lend the money to the factory to earn interest!"

Zhou Wenyang said with some envy, seemingly annoyed that he hadn't lent the money to the factory. Li Dongling heard this and was stunned. He didn't expect people now to play so wildly.

Hearing this, Li Dongling had a rough guess as to why Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 bought this 16-inch production line: it was mainly because they didn't have money.

Buying this production line was mainly a transition, and they didn't think about fighting a price war with those big TV factories. The TVs produced would just be sold to users in Pingyang City and surrounding cities at mid-to-low-end TV prices. When they had money, they would buy a new production line!

The abacus was calculated well, but whether it could succeed, he didn't know. If the TVs produced couldn't be sold and exploded, Li Dongling didn't dare imagine what the consequences would be.

Zhou Wenyang was still muttering there, and even wanted to go to the factory leadership to make suggestions to change the TV production line to 18 inches. Li Dongling shook his head. No matter how much Zhou Wenyang muttered, he couldn't change the decision of the Wireless Factory No. 1.

"Dad, when can I get the permanent employee position in the Technical Department? I've already told the girl that I'm a backbone of the Technical Department, and this Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 is all relying on me to support it..."

In Liu Jiande's office, a man in his twenties, wearing a suit and polished leather shoes, had his leather shoes resting on Liu Jiande's desk.

Looking at his son, Liu Shirong, who was dressed with more style than he was, Liu Jiande put his teacup heavily on the table, "Put your feet down for me. What does it look like if people see it!"

Others in the factory were afraid of Liu Jiande, the general manager, but Liu Shirong wasn't. Who told Liu Jiande that he was his only son?

"The factory's permanent positions were full long ago. You know that. The most recent quota was because a university student from Jiaotong University came, so one was added. It's easy for you to enter the Technical Department, but if you want to get a permanent employee position, you have to wait for an opportunity!" Liu Jiande said helplessly.

Hearing this, Liu Shirong was a bit anxious, "No, Dad, didn't you say before that you could make that university student roll away in a few days? I've already bragged to the girl!"

Liu Shirong was talking about a girl from the publishing house under the Education Bureau. The girl was a university graduate and liked literature, poetry, etc. He, who had mixed through middle school, didn't understand these things at all, so he bragged that he was a backbone of the Technical Department and that the whole factory relied on him to eat. If he weren't there, the factory would collapse.

"Isn't it the same if you enter other departments? Sales Department, Procurement Department, Logistics Department. If you enter, you'll be a deputy section chief in a year or two, and in the future, you might be able to take over my class!"

"How can that be? Zhao Wanrong likes people with literature and talent, not rough guys!"

Looking at Liu Shirong, who was speaking with reason and whose brain had already been occupied by that woman, Liu Jiande said helplessly, "That girl isn't as simple as you think. You know what kind of virtue you have yourself. Can she not know?"

Liu Jiande had to sigh that one thing really conquered another. Liu Shirong, who had turned the Liu family upside down, didn't know what kind of ecstasy soup he had been fed, but he was completely taken by Zhao Wanrong. If Zhao Wanrong really entered the Liu family's door, who knows what kind of trouble she would cause.

Liu Shirong couldn't listen to these words at all, "I don't care. Anyway, Dad, I've put my words here. Besides Zhao Wanrong, I don't want anyone else!"

Liu Jiande was so angry that his heart hurt. He drank a few sips of tea to suppress his anger. After a while, Liu Jiande said, "There is an opportunity!"

"Don't worry, in a while, I'll definitely let you get a permanent position and become a backbone of the Technical Department!"

After thinking for a while, Liu Jiande said, waving his hand to let Liu Shirong get out quickly; otherwise, he would be angered to death.

"Dad, give me some more money. Wanrong recently took a fancy to a windbreaker from Hong Kong. When she wears it, she looks like a big star in a Hong Kong movie. I'm a bit tight on money!"

Hearing that he wanted money again, Liu Jiande was furious, "How much have I given you this month? 1,000 yuan isn't enough to spend? Do you think I'm running a bank? This family will sooner or later be ruined by you."

Cursing was cursing, but when Liu Shirong left, he still took the money away. Liu Jiande was so angry that he clutched his heart, "What kind of evil have I created!"

After staying in the office for a while, Liu Jiande picked up the phone on the table, "Let Xu Yiqiao from the Technical Department come to me."

The next morning, the Technical Department called everyone in the office over again and held a meeting. Besides Xu Yiqiao, Li Dongling also saw several factory leaders, including Liu Jiande, present.

"Today, we are fortunate to have Manager Liu and several other factory leaders attend today's meeting in our Technical Department.

Let's welcome Manager Liu with warm applause."

Xu Yiqiao took the lead in applauding, and then a burst of sparse applause came out.

"Calling everyone here today is mainly for a great and glorious task to be handed over to everyone to do. We have always had a brotherly relationship with other wireless factories in Pingyang. If other factories encounter difficulties, our Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 will also fully support them and help them solve their difficulties!

The wireless component factory in Shangguan Town used to be aided by our factory, but now it has encountered some trouble. The factory leadership has decided to send personnel from our Technical Department to support them. Who is willing to accept this glorious and arduous task?!"

After Xu Yiqiao said this, there was silence below, and no one responded, which made him stand there awkwardly.

No one was a fool. It wasn't like the past anymore. Going to support some wireless component factory in Shangguan Town—if you go, can you still come back? Now there's a radish for every hole. If a person leaves, it's feared that the position will be replaced immediately. Who will pay the salary for going to support? If the factory in Shangguan Town still goes bankrupt after you go, do the supported technical personnel need to bear the responsibility, etc.? These were all problems.

Seeing that no one stood up, Xu Yiqiao was also anxious, "This was decided by the factory leadership. It's definitely necessary to send technical personnel to support. If no one goes, then I will have to call names..."

"Saying it so nicely, why don't you take the lead, Old Xu?" A woman in the Technical Department fired the first shot.

"Yes, Section Chief Xu, you are the section chief of the Technical Department. You should go first for this kind of thing that wins glory for the department!"

"As long as you go, Old Xu, I will pack my things and go with you without a word!"

They were all old oilers. What kind of battle hadn't they seen? They were all clear about the fishy things here. No one wanted to be cannon fodder, be sold by Xu Yiqiao as a bargaining chip, and then go to the factory leadership to claim credit.

Xu Yiqiao was embarrassed by the retort. Could he go? If he dared to say he would go, it was guaranteed that his section chief position would be replaced the next day.

"I... I am definitely willing to go, but who goes needs to be decided by the factory leadership." Xu Yiqiao could only say stubbornly, and then looked at Liu Jiande for help.

"Cough!"

"Everyone, calm down. I understand what everyone means, but this matter must be done. This is the meaning of the municipal government and Mayor Luo!"

Seeing that Xu Yiqiao couldn't handle it, Liu Jiande coughed and said. This really wasn't him scaring people; it was indeed the municipal government wanting Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 to save the wireless component factory in Shangguan Town.

The wireless component factory in Shangguan Town also belonged to the state. Now there were 200 employees, but the money owed to the bank exceeded 700,000 or 800,000. The factory couldn't hold on anymore, and even paying salaries required loans. The placement of these hundreds of people became a problem. The municipal government wanted Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 to merge with the component factory in Shangguan Town, or let the employees go to work at the Wireless Factory No. 1.

How could Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 be willing to do this kind of hot potato? They were already losing money and couldn't hold on, and the people were already packed full. Adding these hundreds of people, plus that pile of debt behind them, they were afraid they would also be dragged in.

So they came up with this method, using the name of support to send technical personnel to help the component factory in Shangguan Town, dragging it out for one day at a time. Even if the component factory in Shangguan Town finally collapsed, they could throw the pot to those few technical personnel!

"Everyone, don't worry. Those who go to support can return to our factory after the support ends. The salary for those who go will still be paid by our factory. In addition, there will be a subsidy of 3 yuan per day. After returning, you will be the key training objects of our factory!"

Liu Jiande's gaze swept over the group of people in the Technical Department below, and his gaze suddenly stopped, a smile appearing on his face.

"Dongling, I remember you are from Shangguan Town, right? Supporting your hometown, you should express your attitude first, right?"

For a time, the eyes of everyone in the Technical Department were on Li Dongling.

Various thoughts flashed through Li Dongling's mind. His gaze stared at him for a few times, and a thought suddenly emerged in his mind. Crisis, sometimes, why isn't it an opportunity!

"I am willing to go for technical support!"

Li Dongling stood up and said to Liu Jiande. The latter paused, then started applauding.