Chapter 304

Two sedans left Jingcheng and headed north toward Changping County.

Cao Zhisheng and Tang Mingtai finally seized an opportunity to get Li Dayong to clarify the identities of several parties.

After all, some decisions require clarity first.

"Li Dayong, if I understand correctly, this Miss Pei is a Hong Kong student, and her brother participated in this year's National Day ceremony and intends to invest in mainland mechanical factories?"

"Yes."

"And your other two fellow townspeople—the factory has over twenty thousand workers and dozens of cooperative processing plants—with high demand for new sewing machines?"

"Yes."

Li Dayong said: "My childhood brother said right now we have capital, market, and technology—we just need a tailwind."

Cao Zhisheng and the others felt awkward, since the three of them had been lumped into the "technology" category, yet their newly developed sewing machines were "second-rate."

But Li Dayong cleverly added: "I asked. Our new sewing machines may not match imports, but below 4, 00 rpm, they perform identically. Most factory workers operate around 4, 00 rpm—pairing them works fine."

"Sigh~"

Cao Zhisheng sighed: "Still a gap. To truly catch up with imports isn't a design issue—it's material performance. The reciprocating mechanism can't handle 8, 00 rpm."

Duan Zixiong and Tang Mingtai fell silent. The pride they'd felt days ago over "filling a domestic gap" had been utterly shattered by the reality of the gap.

They were all technicians. A gap was a gap—it couldn't be erased by empty boasts.

But then Li Dayong said: "My brother said if the gap isn't too wide, we must use domestic products—otherwise, our domestic industry will never grow."

"."

The three technicians blinked. Tang Mingtai couldn't help asking: "Can your brother actually make decisions? Who exactly is he?"

"My brother's a student at Peking University's Economics Department, but he's studying under a teacher named Zhang Qiyan—apparently very famous in economics—and he also knows Miss Pei's brother."

"Oh~ Then we must properly consult him later."

Tang Mingtai recalled Master Tong's gaze earlier and grew even more convinced the young man was no ordinary figure.

The two cars arrived at the northern edge of Changping County and pulled into a desolate mechanical factory. The sign reading "Changbei Mechanical Factory" was faded and peeling, silently telling its tale of hardship.

Tang Mingtai, a native of Changping, explained familiarly: "This factory was launched during the Great Leap Forward. A few years ago it was thriving, but blind expansion crushed it under debt, and then personnel changes above led to loss of production plans."

"Still, the factory has nearly a thousand workers, most with seven or eight years' experience—technical skill isn't an issue. If production plans return, the factory can revive. If someone truly invests, even better."

As Tang Mingtai spoke, he glanced at Hao Jian, Li Ye, and the others, and soon noticed something.

Though Hao Jian carried the most authority and Pei Wenhui had the most unusual status, all of them, intentionally or not, deferred to the young man named Li Ye.

It wasn't about positioning—it was that whenever problems arose, they subtly looked toward Li Ye, as if waiting for him to decide.

"The disciple of an economics giant—really that powerful?"

Tang Mingtai's second uncle was deputy director of the office at Changbei Mechanical Factory. After hearing Tang Mingtai's purpose, he stared at his nephew for a long while before finally blurting out:

"Xiao Tai! There are seven or eight relatives here—don't do anything unscrupulous."

"Second uncle, don't you know me? Would I ever betray you?"

"Sigh, people now are all surface-deep. Two days ago, Dazha's father stole over seventy thousand yuan and ran off with his mistress. The factory can barely finish one more batch—if they take the money and vanish—"

"."

Tang Mingtai kept signaling to his uncle, but the uncle clearly didn't believe him.

After all, Tang Mingtai himself worked at Nancheng Mechanical Factory No. 3—why had he come all this way?

Finally, Hao Jian showed the two bundles of cash again.

At Nancheng Mechanical Factory No. 3, showing those bundles to the factory director had instantly changed their attitude.

Here at Changbei Mechanical Factory, the reaction was far more intense.

The chief director himself came out, gripping Hao Jian's hand and refusing to let go—as if letting go would make the cash sprout legs and sprint away.

Hao Jian smiled: "Director Wang, you're too kind. But I must be blunt: when we arrived, the factory seemed quiet—can you still meet production targets?"

"Why not?"

Director Wang's face hardened. He shouted outside: "Call everyone to assemble!"

"Dudududu~"

A sharp whistle echoed across the entire factory. Instantly, the previously lifeless plant came alive—workers filed out of the workshops in orderly rows and lined up neatly in the open space.

Li Ye and the others were stunned. This level of collective discipline felt military.

Tang Mingtai whispered: "Director Wang is military-trained. Changbei Mechanical Factory is a key unit for demobilized soldiers—each year, many veterans join."

Li Ye finally understood.

In his past life, he'd known this situation well.

Some units welcomed demobilized soldiers; others took few.

These veterans tended to stick together—opinions varied—but when it came to frontline work or nonstop shifts, their spirit of "need arises, no retreat" was deeply admirable.

"Director Hao, our factory is a unit that fights hard battles. If you treat us sincerely, we'll deliver the best—quality's poor? I'll smash it myself."

"I believe that."

Hao Jian looked at the silent workers and exchanged a glance with Li Ye.

Li Ye gave a slight nod.

Then Hao Jian said: "If the new sewing machines meet specs, I'm willing to pay upfront. Also, I know a friend from Hong Kong who wants to invest on the mainland—could you liaise with relevant departments about a joint venture?"

"."

Director Wang stared at Hao Jian for at least ten seconds, then suddenly grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the canteen.

"Come on, brother—we must drink well today."

"Director Wang, let's talk business first. Joint ventures are complicated—if higher-ups won't approve—"

"They'll approve. If any gate's blocked, I'll bring my bedding and move into their office. This concerns 916 workers' livelihoods—who dares block it?"

"."

Watching Hao Jian and Jin Peng being dragged off by Director Wang, Li Dayong and the others were speechless.

How different factories were! Nancheng Mechanical Factory No. 3 had three or four thousand workers—and still treated them nothing like this.

Li Ye said: "Let's go find a place outside to eat. Let Hao Jian handle that scene—we're not good at it."

Cao Zhisheng and the others nodded vigorously. They truly weren't skilled at banquets.

The group quickly slipped away and found a collective canteen for dinner.

At this point, Li Ye had Pei Wenhui reveal everything to Cao Zhisheng and the others.

Pei Wenhui said: "Everything's still uncertain, but I can pay part of the technology transfer fee upfront—full payment upon mass production."

"Also, if the joint venture succeeds, we need a technical manager and engineers."

Cao Zhisheng and the others stayed silent. Though excited, they still harbored doubts.

After all, Pei Wenhui was too young—her words lacked weight.

Pei Wenhui added: "The technical manager and engineers will be managed by the Hong Kong headquarters. Salaries will be paid in foreign currency."

Cao Zhisheng and the others were swayed. Technology transfer fees were quick cash—but if salaries were in foreign currency, saving up for overseas study would be easy.

But Pei Wenhui, having received Li Ye's guidance, added again: "Earlier, you mentioned studying abroad. I can't judge right or wrong, but we can offer you a chance to visit overseas—then you can compare our offer with what you've heard."

"Honestly, I think the situation for overseas students isn't necessarily better."

This was Li Ye's ultimate bait.

Both options earn foreign currency—washing dishes or being an engineer—which do you pick?

The overseas rush of the 80s and 90s had truly deified Western superiority.

But decades later, many compared: most university graduates from the late 70s and early 80s fared better developing in mainland China than those who stayed abroad.

Especially those smooth-talking, socially adept management types—often poorly treated overseas, struggling to get by.

But technicians like Cao Zhisheng and Duan Zixiong—skilled, knowledgeable, hardworking—mostly did well.

Because the self-serving, calculating types ignored the collective resources provided to them, believing only their own "ability" entitled them to fair competition for resources.

"I'm better than you. My boss likes me. I deserve more."

But damn it—do you not drink water? Eat? Ride? Sleep?

Whether in the mainland or abroad, society's foundation remains laborers. Technicians are the most outstanding, most valued laborers.

As for management? The curry boys in that Eastern giant country work harder than you.

But stay in the mainland—hey, everything's fine.

Tang Mingtai and Cao Zhisheng and the others were stunned. How hard was an overseas opportunity? When would it ever come to quiet, unassuming men like them?

And now it was being offered right before their eyes?

After a moment's thought, Tang Mingtai asked seriously: "What exactly is a technical manager? How does it differ from our technical staff?"

Tang Mingtai considered for a moment, then asked seriously: "What position is a technical manager? How does it differ from a technician in our unit?"

"You can find out. In Hong Kong, a technical manager isn't a doormat."

"You should find out—technical managers on Hong Kong Island aren't pushovers."

On the return trip, Li Ye and Li Dayong got off at Jingcheng Institute of Industry.

Then he "announced" to Li Dayong: "If this factory's joint venture succeeds, you and Pei Wenhui hold 40% equity, I hold 60%."

"But I must tell you—this is where the technology is realized. If you fail your exams, this factory has nothing to do with you."

"Brother, what are you saying? This factory wasn't mine to begin with—I won't take advantage of you."

"Brother, what are you talking about? That factory never belonged to me—I can't take advantage of you."

Li Dayong panicked—he was already eternally grateful to Li Ye for letting him be with Pei Wenhui and didn't want to owe him any more favors.

But Li Ye coldly said, "I need to give you some motivation."

"The investment money will be deducted from your factory's dividends, plus the costs of your lawsuit in Hong Kong and buying Pei Wenhui that Ferrari—totaling nearly four hundred thousand U. . dollars. You'd better figure out how to earn it back fast."

"."

Li Dayong froze, staring at Li Ye as if he didn't know him at all.

Is this guy really that ruthless?

"Bro, that Ferrari—"

"I was the one who suggested giving it to her. Did you secretly drive it around or something? Am I wrong to charge it to you?"

"."

"I don't feel cheated," Li Dayong grimaced. "But according to you, I'm already a million in debt? Like, a million pounds?"

"Are you really that clueless or just pretending?" Li Ye snapped. "I put in part of the investment, and Pei Wencong put in part too—it's your and Pei Wenhui's personal money."

"Pei Wencong will have a wife and son someday. Pei Wenhui will still need you."

"."

Li Dayong suddenly felt taller.

"Yeah yeah, I'll do whatever you say, bro—you decide!"