Chapter 815: Is Money All That Matters?

Li Ye was generous: not only did he treat Liu Muhan to a meal that left her greasy-mouthed, but he also packed up plenty of meat and Hun dishes to bring back to the hotel for a late-night snack for the rest of the inspection team.

But when he and Liu Muhan returned to the hotel carrying the food, they happened to hear Secretary Zhong and Ma Zhao talking just around the stairwell corner.

“Liu Kezhang controls the inspection funds—can she spend them however she likes? We’re all one team, always talking about collective action, so why does she go out alone for extra meals with Li Ye from your unit?”

“Ma Vice Manager, do you know how expensive a single meal in Tokyo is? Old Gu is very confused about this—this inspection budget is ours.”

Ma Zhao’s mouth twisted sideways.

【You guys contributed a damn chicken feather—Li Ye brought in the money, and you still claim it as yours?】

But Ma Zhao still said: “Secretary Guo, you might misunderstand. As far as I know, Li Ye published in Hong Kong while still in university, and his royalties were paid in foreign currency.”

“So while we individuals might not afford a Tokyo meal, he certainly can.”

Secretary Guo didn’t believe it: “Look at how stingy he was during the day—he wouldn’t even lend a car. Would he spend his own money on meals?”

“Regardless, you’re his direct superior—you must talk to them and take back control of the inspection funds.”

Secretary Guo stopped mid-sentence, frozen.

Because he saw Li Ye and Liu Muhan already turning the corner, and noticed Li Ye holding two full bags of takeout.

Li Ye glanced at Secretary Guo and Ma Zhao, then walked past them, saying: “Ma Vice Manager, I bought a few late-night snacks myself—I’ll leave them in your room!”

Ma Zhao smiled: “Alright, just put them on my nightstand!”

Secretary Guo clenched his lips, swallowed hard, and said nothing.

He knew Li Ye had heard everything he’d just said—but he wasn’t sure if Li Ye had any “vision.”

According to Secretary Guo’s principles, if you hear something, pretend you didn’t—and you should be even more humble and respectful toward him and Old Gu.

But two minutes later, Secretary Guo realized Li Ye wasn’t his kind of person—he held a grudge.

Li Ye knocked on every room door, delivering snacks to everyone—except Secretary Guo and Old Gu’s rooms.

In the end, Li Ye clearly had two extra takeout bags—but he entered Professor Zhao’s room and didn’t come out again.

“Ahem~ Secretary Guo, let’s discuss that question of yours another time!”

“.”

Secretary Guo watched Ma Zhao return to his room for a snack, while his own stomach growled loudly.

Li Ye entered Professor Zhao’s room and saw him and Xiao Zheng still awake, each holding a large notebook, discussing and recording what they’d seen that day.

Seeing Li Ye bring in takeout, Professor Zhao didn’t bother with formalities: “Oh, hurry and set it out—we’ve been hungry all day. You’re always thoughtful, Li Ye.”

Li Ye placed several dishes on the table and handed chopsticks to Professor Zhao and Xiao Zheng: “We northerners are big eaters—how can we work overtime on half a meal?”

“Mm, you can’t make a horse run without grass—this food’s good, real Hunan cuisine.”

Professor Zhao and Xiao Zheng devoured the dishes, finishing half in minutes.

Li Ye apologized: “Sorry—I bought too little…”

Professor Zhao shook his head: “Not your fault. Since we got to Japan, we haven’t eaten a full meal—this is the first real meal.”

After they finished eating, Li Ye asked: “Professor Zhao, after today’s observations, how do you think we can reach—or even approach—Mitsubishi’s level?”

Professor Zhao wiped his mouth and looked at Li Ye: “Do you want the truth or a lie?”

Li Ye: “Of course the truth.”

Professor Zhao nodded: “Then I’ll tell you plainly—we currently have no chance of reaching their level, not even coming close.”

“.”

Li Ye blinked, helplessly: “Is the gap really that big?”

“Bigger than you think.”

Professor Zhao said calmly: “I visited Shanghai’s Santana production line—their level of mechanization is even lower than Mitsubishi’s. But do you know how far behind we are compared to even that outdated line?”

Li Ye shook his head helplessly.

He knew mainland China lagged behind global standards, but only someone like Professor Zhao could explain exactly how far and where.

Professor Zhao casually sketched a steering wheel on his notebook.

“Shanghai has been producing sedans for years, so they thought they could quickly localize the Santana—but they hit a wall right at the first step.”

“The Shanghai SH760 steering wheel had only two technical specifications. Do you know how many the Santana steering wheel has?”

Professor Zhao looked at Li Ye, his tone heavy: “Over a hundred. One steering wheel has over a hundred technical specs.”

“We couldn’t understand—just a round disc—why so many specs? How could we possibly meet them all?”

“But the Germans brought over their German-made steering wheels and tested each of the hundred-plus specs one by one—all passed.”

Professor Zhao tossed his pen aside and looked up at the ceiling: “Do you still doubt? What is German quality? What is the world’s advanced standard?”

“And those hundred-plus specs—how many advanced machines? How many advanced technologies do they represent? Do you know?”

Li Ye fell silent for a long time, then said: “But if we persist, even with all these technical challenges, we can solve them, right?”

When Li Ye was setting up Plant One, he had asked Professor Zhao to assemble a technical team and digitize and standardize many production processes that relied solely on veteran workers’ “hand-crafting.” Today, Plant One’s technical standards surpassed most truck factories nationwide.

The mainland didn’t lack technical personnel—it lacked goals and confidence.

If the Germans hadn’t shown them that steering wheel with a hundred specs, would anyone have fought toward an impossible goal?

Sometimes, these engineers just needed the motivation: “If others can do it, why can’t we?”

Professor Zhao looked at Li Ye and said gravely: “Yes, we can solve it—if you can afford it. But the cost is astronomical—not just RMB, but massive foreign exchange.”

“Look at these stamping machines on the line—our mainland can’t match this precision. Forget whether they’ll even sell them to us—if they do, we’d better be ready to bleed.”

“And the welding equipment, metal surface treatment machines, high-precision CNC lathes—we either develop them domestically or import them. Each one costs a fortune.”

Professor Zhao spoke for five full minutes, then looked at Li Ye: “Honestly, the difficulty of this project—selling your entire light truck company wouldn’t cover a fraction of the cost.”

Li Ye looked at Professor Zhao, and a slow smile spread across his lips.

“Professor Zhao, you mean… if we have money, that’s enough? For the technology…”

Professor Zhao glanced at Li Ye and chuckled: “Exactly. If you can bring in massive funding, anything’s possible—I’d even sell the entire research institute to you. But consider this: such a massive project—can your tiny Plant One handle it?”

【I can’t handle it? My wife’s unit can!】

Li Ye understood Professor Zhao’s meaning: even if Li Ye had the ability to take on a project as huge as a Cherokee, his lowly Zhengke-level position couldn’t possibly hold onto it—he’d just be doing someone else’s work.

But luckily, Li Ye had a wife! Wen Leyu’s head was big, and her unit’s rank was high enough—he could just lie back and be a hands-off boss.

As for where the money would come from?

Heh—heh, in a few days, his money would roll up like snowballs!

“Tap-tap-tap~”

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Secretary Guo pushed the door open, glanced at the takeout on the table, a flicker of anger in his eyes, then forced a smile toward Li Ye.

“Vice Plant Manager Li, Old Gu has an urgent matter—he needs to make an overseas call, but the hotel requires a deposit for international calls, so he needs to borrow your mobile phone.”