Chapter 1028: Collided Solidly!

Old Biaozi and Mai Qinglan left the capital and headed north on Monday; Mai's father and mother did not accompany them.

Perhaps it was worry about the living environment in the Northeast, or perhaps they still held fantasies about the current changes in the capital's situation.

Because Li Xuewu was busy with work, he didn't go to the station to see them off.

However, Shen Guodong came back and told him that Old Biaozi left quite freely, and the sadness and grievances of that night were not to be seen.

It seemed as if he had forgotten the tears after drinking, forgotten the true words after drinking, and everything had never happened.

In fact, men are like this; no matter how much bitterness and difficulty they have, after a drunken indulgence, they will silently pack their bags and run toward the future and the distance.

This time, he didn't take his father-in-law and mother-in-law away; he urged Shen Guodong to take good care of them and invited the people who saw them off to go to the Northeast to visit him.

Childhood friends who grew up depending on and supporting each other were leaving for distant places one by one, and Shen Guodong's heart also felt bad.

Especially looking at the letters sent back by Sanjiu and Erhai from Hong Kong, which were full of longing and nostalgia.

This might be the choices and tribulations that people have to face after becoming adults.

In the end, it's a journey of mountains and water, testing one's longing for hometown and relatives, and also testing the feelings and wishes between each other.

Li Xuewu wasn't deliberately avoiding the bitterness of parting, but was truly busy.

At the foreign trade briefing held last week, Li Huai De was ruthless, emphasizing the policies he had sought from his superiors at the meeting, and then began to assign work internally.

It seemed that a unit like the Foreign Affairs Office couldn't catch his eye; when Old Li assigned work, it was all directly corresponding to the deputy directors.

Of course, Li Xuewu, this deputy director, was also a deputy director, undertaking a portion of the work at a super-level.

At the meeting, Li Huai De listened to the reports from Jing Yunong and Gu Weijie regarding the direction and progress of the negotiations, respectively.

And had Jing Yunong explain and clarify the adjustment plan for the negotiation and cooperation methods.

He didn't have too much discussion or requirements regarding this change in the situation, but said that sentence he often said: whether it's a mule or a horse, you have to take it out for a walk.

There's no need to discuss whether this plan's change is correct; after all, Jing Yunong is the deputy director in charge of economic work.

She has always been responsible for negotiation work and has enough insights and ideas for economic work; if we don't try her plan, should we let Old Li imagine it out of thin air?

If these foreign businessmen really liked singing and dancing, he might have been able to exert his own strengths.

But for foreign cooperation, Old Li didn't dare to mess around; if it really got screwed up, it would be an international joke.

As soon as he went to work on Monday, Li Xuewu coordinated people from several departments and began to arrange the venue and the reception and negotiation work that would follow.

At 9:30 in the morning, arranged by the Foreign Affairs Department, a motorcade consisting of more than a dozen cars entered the Steel Mill's factory area under the escort of security vehicles dispatched by the Steel Mill.

Guided by the Foreign Affairs Office, the motorcade toured the factory area once before arriving at the Steel Mill's reception center courtyard.

Today, the reception center courtyard was guarded airtight by the security team, for only one goal: to successfully complete the foreign trade commercial negotiation meeting.

The duration of the meeting wasn't certain yet, but several foreign businessmen who intended to further contact the Steel Mill had been invited to stay at the reception center.

The service personnel and security here had been screened once again and temporarily trained, and it also included personnel from the Foreign Affairs Department and the Investigation Department.

Today's foreign businessmen included Italian businessman Andrew and Japanese representative Eriko Momotani, who had already reached and carried out cooperation.

And when the motorcade arrived in front of the reception center, accompanied by Li Xuewu, several leaders of the Steel Mill were already standing in front of the door.

Including Li Huai De, in a rigorous black wool jacket, with a style similar to Li Xuewu's, both highlighting the collars of their white shirts.

Not only was he like this, but other leaders and cadres of the Steel Mill also had the same dressing style.

Perhaps there would be a slight difference in color, but they all belonged to the dark color system, and standing together, they had quite an aura.

The dressing styles of Jing Yunong and Gu Weijie were different from the male comrades, designed mainly with narrow collars, made in the style of slim-fit suits.

The First Prison became the designated supplier of clothing for the Steel Mill's leading cadres; Tailor Li came to measure the sizes and make the styles.

At least cadres above the deputy division level wouldn't be missing this outfit; no one would be absent from such work uniform customization work.

This led to the scene the foreign businessmen saw when they got off the car today.

All black, with white, playing with a touch of red in the flowers; the red ones were the two female leaders, whom they had seen many times.

Of course, they knew without introduction that the Steel Mill had dispatched all the main leaders today, and their pressure also increased.

The sun at the end of February was just right, warm and gentle, truly having the meaning of spring breeze blowing and spring returning to the earth as all things revive.

Reporters from the factory management office and the factory newspaper held cameras and snapped photos.

Especially when the leader of the commercial travel group, Italian businessman Najishi, shook hands with the director of the Steel Mill's management committee, Li Huai De, the flashlights flashed frequently, witnessing this critical moment.

"Hello, Mr. Li."

"Hello, Mr. Najishi, welcome to the Steel Mill as guests."

Click! Click! Click!

The scene of greetings in front of the door was extremely lively, and the factory leaders and cadres led by Li Huai De shook hands with the foreign businessmen in order.

Each leader had a corresponding translator by their side, and there were also reporters following to take pictures.

Li Xuewu didn't go up to join the fun, but stood on the side, paying attention to the meeting's process.

Just after the greetings from both sides, the welcome team composed of reception center service personnel lined up on one side, expressing their welcome to the arrival of the foreign business representatives.

All service personnel were dressed in blue work uniforms, welcoming the upcoming battle with the best mental outlook.

Of course, it was a battle—a battle related to the future development for the Steel Mill, and a battle related to future progress for the factory leaders.

But for them, this was related to whether the reception center could keep its signboard and realize the same status as the International Hotel outside and the Steel Mill reception center inside.

Where there are people, there is a world; where there is the same scope of work, there is comparison and competition.

The Steel Mill owns two reception venues: one is the reception center located inside the Steel Mill, and the other is the International Hotel located in the city.

From the moment the International Hotel was established, it attracted all the attention and support of the factory leaders; by comparison, the reception center was lagging behind in service facilities.

Qin Huairu, this person—you see her cultural level isn't very high, but she is absolutely a strong-willed person.

The service and management personnel of the International Hotel were diverted and trained from the reception center, and even the deputy general manager of the hotel was the former deputy director of the reception center.

Could she teach the apprentice and starve the master?

Of course, there must be competition—competing for the leaders' attention, competing for the trust of the staff, competing for service standards, and competing for popularity in reception work.

Every reception task is their battlefield, and every one is an opportunity for comparison.

After receiving the notice from the Foreign Reception Office, Qin Huairu had already taken action and hadn't rested for the entire weekend.

Qin Jingru wanted to go home and asked if she wanted to go back together, as there was a convenient car, but she gave it up.

You can go home anytime, but work opportunities aren't frequent.

On one hand, she arranged for the staff to carry out a major cleaning, clearing sanitary dead corners and improving service quality.

On the other hand, she strictly checked the kitchen's food preparation and supplies to ensure the needs of food hygiene standards.

Finally, it was to carry out a series of language preparation work for receiving foreign businessmen.

You might say it's impossible to let service personnel learn a foreign language in two days.

But basic foreign language can still be remembered; nod for Yes, shake for No, come is 'e', go is 'go'—as long as you can gesture, anyone can do basic service.

The key isn't in speaking, but in material preparation; Qin Huairu put enough effort into this aspect.

All functional rooms or equipment, such as restaurants, restrooms, meeting rooms, etc., were requested by her to be marked with multilingual information by the Foreign Reception Office staff.

This move indeed solved the big problem of service guidance; even with translators following, there were many places that couldn't be found for a while.

Qin Huairu knew that Li Xuewu had once told her that details determine success or failure; with her knowledge and ability, she couldn't make any earth-shattering work achievements.

This trick truly solved the major difficulty of service guidance; even with a translator following along, there were many places that were hard to find at a moment's notice.

The factory's work not only needs young cadres who advance by leaps and bounds, but also needs cadres who are steady and step-by-step.

Doing service is especially so; as long as it is people doing service, and as long as it is people being served, there will be emotional feelings and value.

It's very simple: a line-up welcome, a neat and uniform greeting and inquiry, can immediately improve the overall service level.

You don't hit a smiling face, and even more so when doing business; see people with a three-point smile, and the service will be thorough.

Of course, it's not asking service personnel to use formulaic smiles to deal with service standards, but rather service-oriented smiles that come from the heart.

It's very simple: the Steel Mill reception center won't engage in any neurotic behavior like biting chopsticks; this isn't training employees, but training livestock.

Engaging in so many fancy things, and asking for a salary of 3,500, even eating a full meal becomes a problem—the more they smile, the uglier it looks.

With welfare and treatment keeping up, and salary levels fair, as long as it's a service requirement, anyone can smile.

Even when talking to neighbors, they can smile, and even more so in the occasion of guests.

Active smiles and passive smiles are completely different concepts, and they are also different ways of dealing with things in different occasions.

The International Hotel had already had the issue of guests giving tips during the process of receiving foreign businessmen.

The Foreign Reception Office had reported this to Li Xuewu when dealing with this matter.

The handling opinion Li Xuewu gave was: this matter of tips isn't small, but it isn't big either.

This is a kind of affirmation of service personnel by foreign businessmen, and it is also their habit of living abroad.

Under the premise of fully respecting the other party's living habits, service personnel can accept the tip praise given by the other party.

But tips cannot become the private property of employees, and even more so, there cannot be situations of excessive service or biased service because of earning tips.

According to service standards, all tips should be handed over to the hotel's finance department for management, calculated and summarized on a monthly basis, and issued to the service personnel of the shift team in the form of special subsidies.

That is to say, after receiving tips, service personnel must share them equally among the personnel of this shift and this group.

Under the current management system, especially under economic constraint conditions, the management of money is a big problem.

In fact, many foreign reception venues will collect tips, but they are all handed over to the unit for processing.

Li Xuewu's opinion is different; he won't take the tips earned by service personnel to subsidize the factory's expenses.

The national conditions are different, and the social environment is different; he hopes more that service personnel work hard in the form of a team, not highlighting any one person.

The service personnel of the International Hotel had no complaints or grumbles about this handling opinion; this money was originally earned outside their labor.

The factory not deducting a penny and issuing it all to them is an unexpected surprise.

And for the requirement of equal distribution within the group, everyone also agrees.

The service process isn't completed by one person; after all, service personnel can't make the dishes served.

This kind of requirement also exists abroad; female service personnel in restaurants, while earning tips, also have to share a portion with their colleagues in the back kitchen.

Tips—a small matter, but one that cannot be underestimated.

Just like the Steel Mill's attitude toward receiving foreign businessmen, which won't be ignored, it just proves the factory's importance to foreign trade.

The commercial symposium officially started at 10:00, hosted by Jing Yunong, and Li Huai De delivered a welcome speech and a keynote speech.

Participating in the symposium were French businessman Chantal, British businessman Smith Parker, Kuwaiti businessman Mohammed At, Italian businessman Najishi, Yemeni businessman Mohammed Ali Abadi, and Hong Kong businessman Nande.

Other foreign businessmen included Italian businessman Andrew and Japanese representative Eriko Momotani.

At the symposium, the Steel Mill officially displayed industrial projects including hardware, shipbuilding, military engineering, building materials, steel rolling, food, automobiles, etc., to the participating foreign businessmen.

All product data and image displays were made into a collection sample and distributed to the foreign businessmen.

With different languages for the collection samples, it was very convenient to adapt to reading.

Same as the meticulous preparation of the reception center, the Foreign Reception Office and the Committee Office were also well-prepared for this meeting.

As the supervisor of foreign trade coordination, Li Xuewu explained the investment and development of the Steel Mill in related projects.

Chief Engineer Xia Zhongquan conducted horizontal comparisons and evaluations of the fist products of each project with advanced domestic and foreign products.

Finally, Jing Yunong explained and clarified the cooperation requirements for each project and product sales.

Especially in terms of cooperation forms and credit guarantees, with the asset certificate issued by the Oriental Era Bank as a prerequisite, a credit guarantee report jointly issued by the United Industry was also provided.

It included information materials of Hong Kong's Wufeng Bank, as well as a credit guarantee voucher issued by the Oriental Era Bank as the fund clearing party.

Seeing that the Steel Mill gave such great sincerity, and even considered their concerns clearly, the foreign businessmen were also full of hope and confidence for the subsequent negotiations.

In fact, these six foreign businessmen were also thinking in their hearts: if the Steel Mill had taken these things out earlier, there would definitely be more than just them coming to negotiate today.

But it was precisely because of this that they had the desire and trust to further negotiate with the Steel Mill, and thus harvested this rich fruit.

After this round of negotiations, they knew very well that this guarantee of the Steel Mill would definitely not be known to others for too long.

But the most priority project selection had already been mastered by them; eating the fattest piece of meat, who wouldn't be excited?

This emotional change, no matter how well it was masked, would be expressed in words.

Jing Yunong and Gu Weijie looked at each other and looked at Li Xuewu, who was as shrewd as a monkey, at the same time.

Giving foreign businessmen a negotiation advantage and creating a difference in negotiation sequence, guiding foreign businessmen to actively communicate and negotiate—this was precisely the shrewdness of Li Xuewu, who set the batch reception negotiations.

Handing the choice to the foreign businessmen didn't necessarily mean letting the other party master the initiative; instead, they possessed the active negotiation right.

The six representatives present must be anxious to start negotiations, staring at the collection samples in their hands, wanting to quickly pick out the fattest piece of meat.

They came to the Steel Mill and were invited to participate in the first batch of negotiation meetings; how would the other foreign businessmen who remained at the International Hotel think?

You guys ate first, so what are we going to eat?

This move of dividing and conquering isn't a strange move in the Thirty-Six Stratagems; even children understand it.

But as long as it's used correctly, no matter how old they are, they have to submit; this is an open conspiracy.

Why did the six representatives participating in the first phase of negotiations know that this bank guarantee wouldn't be kept secret for too long?

They of course knew; since the Steel Mill invited them to the interior, cooperation is naturally the more the better.

As long as everyone submits a cooperation application, the Steel Mill will be willing to negotiate with them.

No one will turn customers away.

So this guarantee might be the first batch of trade negotiation personnel they saw, but it definitely wouldn't be the last batch.

This is a small whip, reminding them that if they can't complete the negotiations within a week, this guarantee information will be spread to the International Hotel at any time.

By then, they will form a competitive relationship with their peers remaining at the International Hotel.

Especially, they are now staying at the Steel Mill's reception center, and the other party is staying at the International Hotel, with absolutely no channels for communication and connection.

They can only passively negotiate with the Steel Mill, or actively give up this forced competitive relationship.

If they hadn't seen the collection samples in their hands, they would have really thrown a tantrum; after all, they are foreign businessmen and possess more choices.

But now the collection samples in their hands are heavier than a thousand gold—truly as heavy as a thousand catties of gold.

Of course, this refers to profit—the profit that can be earned after cooperating with the Steel Mill and continuing to cooperate.

The Steel Mill very frankly marked the equipment and technology needed in the collection samples, also marked the current development level of the interior, and even more so the Steel Mill's own development advantages.

Very straightforwardly stated the negotiation conditions of wanting equipment, technology, and orders.

As for the form of cooperation, these can all be discussed: Andrew's commissioned production, Japanese businessmen's compensation trade, Hong Kong Wufeng Bank's capital injection cooperation—various forms, various choices.

The premise is to ensure the Steel Mill's operational advantages, and even more so to ensure the Steel Mill's absolute trade initiative during the development process.

That is to say, equipment and technology must be marked and negotiated as valuable products, and compensated or sold through products during the cooperation period.

And if the Steel Mill needs to end the cooperation early, it only needs to compensate for the corresponding remaining amount.

This of course includes the secondary investment of equipment and technology; both sides have equal opportunities.

What does it mean?

During the construction and production process of the factory, if equipment upgrades and technology upgrades are needed due to the development of the era, it counts as a kind of iterative update.

If technological development far exceeds the technology application limited by production costs, the other party needs to continue to provide corresponding equipment and technology supplements; otherwise, the value of the lagging equipment and technology will be discounted.

This negotiation item will be used as a restrictive condition for the cooperation party's technology to be invested without reservation, and it is also a fair and reasonable cooperation plan.

Of course, if the Steel Mill itself possesses more advanced technology or equipment and replaces what the other party provided, the corresponding mechanical equipment and technology residual value will be discounted.

We possess advanced technology that surpasses what you can provide, so why should we spend money unjustly?

Since we are the priority cooperation party, we should always occupy the initiative of technology and equipment, and even more so should master the advanced nature of product development and production.

After all, these things are to be sold abroad; you ship a few boats of broken machines here for us to produce, the products have no competitive advantage, and we only earn hard-earned money—this is not allowed.

Are you saying foreign businessmen haven't played this kind of trick?

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, they didn't pit those muddled grandpas less, thinking that steel machinery was all the same, buying with their eyes closed.

Even in later generations, there were units that were pitted, and they had to swallow their bitterness.

Li Xuewu won't fall into this pit, no matter who is pitted or deceived; he has never been pitted by others, and there is absolutely no reason for him to be pitted.

It's not that he can't afford to lose this money, but that he can't afford to lose this face.

Look at the commercial warning books; those manufacturers who were named are so embarrassed, nailed to the pillar of shame for a lifetime.

Look at so-and-so; when he was presiding over a certain unit back then, he was pitted by foreign businessmen in cooperation until he cried for his father and mother...

It sounds cold just listening to it, let alone being written in a book.

The new negotiation method and cooperation terms are more like a kind of gambling agreement; as long as foreign businessmen can continuously provide advanced technology advantages and equipment, they can complete the suppression of interior factories and the advantage of purchasing goods.

If the technological lead is obvious, and the equipment technology is high-end to a certain degree, they can even possess this low-cost production base forever.

Even if they lose the gamble, it's just earning less, and they won't lose; for them, what could be more sincere and guaranteed than this cooperation?

Seeing the foreign business representatives holding the documents in their hands and not speaking, Li Huai De also saw the other party's intention.

Very directly announced the end of the meeting and invited the representatives to take a rest; a welcome luncheon had already been prepared in the lobby on the first floor.

According to the meeting negotiation arrangement, there would be a one-and-a-half-hour rest period after the luncheon, and the first round of negotiations would officially start at 2:00.

From receiving the collection sample materials to the first round of project selection and starting negotiations, the Steel Mill only left the foreign businessmen with one noon time.

These foreign businessmen basically only brought one security consultant and one secretary to the interior.

Now they have to urgently finish reading these documents; for them, it is truly a test.

The fat meat is in the middle of a pile of lean meat; seeing who can pick the one that suits them and is also the one they need is also a test.

What if two foreign businessmen pick the same project?

This is a good thing!

Just think, isn't this the competitive relationship the Steel Mill hopes to see!

Only with competition is there negotiation value, and only with competition is there a need for comparison.

The Steel Mill's group of leaders had good judgment and knew that these foreign businessmen wouldn't have a good lunch, and wouldn't be in the mood to eat.

Of course, there was no need for them to accompany, and even less need for others to interfere.

Therefore, entrusted by the Management Committee, Li Xuewu, the deputy director of the Management Office, would stay at the reception center as a reception representative, while other leaders went to the small canteen for dinner together.

Li Xuewu didn't conduct excessive welcome greetings after welcoming them to the first-floor restaurant.

Just one sentence: "Eat well, drink well, drink well, eat well," and that was it.

The other six foreign business representatives liked Li Xuewu's opening speech for the banquet very much, and one by one they smiled and looked at the documents while eating.

Andrew wasn't just a figurehead or a display this time; he also wanted to get a piece of the action.

There were truly projects in the Steel Mill that he was interested in, which could deepen cooperation and broaden operations.

Even if it wasn't convenient to invest, or if he didn't have corresponding resources, he could also enter the cooperation in the form of capital investment.

Economic cooperation has risks; sharing risks is an appropriate business method.

On the contrary, Japanese representative Eriko Momotani didn't look at those collection samples, but sat down beside Li Xuewu to chat.

You have to say, when a little Japanese speaks Chinese, there will be a kind of "Dazuo" accent, and Li Xuewu couldn't figure out why.

Of course, there are those who speak Chinese well, and "those who know the times are heroes" doesn't have that flavor when spoken.

For example, Eriko Momotani, who took the initiative to chat with him.

"Mr. Li, it is truly an honor to meet you again."

She bowed slightly and greeted with a smile, "I didn't have enough fun sparring with you at the International Hotel last time; I hope there's another chance to make an appointment with you."

"..."

Li Xuewu thought for a moment, hesitating; she was talking about playing billiards, right? Not the kind of "sparring" the readers are thinking of, right?

"How is Ms. Momotani's life in the capital?"

He inserted a piece of beef on his plate and cut it into pieces with a knife and fork, then exchanged it with the beef in front of Eriko.

"Thank you, Mr. Li, you are a gentleman."

Eriko Momotani thanked him politely, then took the initiative to introduce: "Actually, it's a bit boring."

"Oh?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "The representative of your country's office in Beijing also contacted you, right? No private interactions?"

"There are, but it's very boring."

Eriko Momotani used a fork to stab a piece of steak very elegantly, and also with a trace of temptation, put it into her mouth; only after eating it did she continue to answer: "Do you have any understanding of the men in our country?"

She raised her eyes and explained: "Just in terms of life and habits."

"Does understanding from war materials count?"

Li Xuewu looked at her apologetically and said, "Please forgive my rudeness; the education and training I have experienced have the need for understanding in this aspect."

"Of course, I certainly understand."

Eriko Momotani nodded very seriously and said, "I firmly oppose any acts of infringement or war, and I express my deep apologies as a successor to that period of history."

"Actually, there's no need for that. If you haven't participated in that period of history, you just need to face it squarely."

Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said, "Of course, I am not qualified to forgive anyone on behalf of the dead countrymen."

"However, these are all outside the topic today."

He spread his hands and said, "Actually, I yearn for peace more, and I believe you are the same."

"We are now in an equal and normal economic exchange, and I am also willing to be friends with you; I believe your words."

"Thank you, Mr. Li, really, you are a gentleman, and even more so a hero with independent thinking."

Eriko Momotani praised him very seriously, then bowed slightly and said, "I haven't thanked you for your hospitality yet."

"It should be; those who come are guests."

Li Xuewu smiled slightly, clipped a portion of matsutake and placed it on the other party's plate, signaling: "You can try this flavor."

"Yes, I like to eat it very much."

Eriko Momotani narrowed her eyes and smiled, then nodded and said, "I have actually eaten it in Japan; it's this taste."

"Hmm, it belongs to export products; it's very hard to buy in the market."

Li Xuewu explained, "Now our country is still very backward and poor, and will use some natural resources to exchange for the development power we need, such as mechanical equipment or technology."

"I understand what you mean; this is precisely the basis of our cooperation."

Eriko Momotani bowed and said, "I'm sorry, the three chairmen actually gave instructions; for your demands and requests, I will convey the information to them at the first opportunity."

"Don't be so polite; it's a form of cooperation."

Li Xuewu clipped a few more side dishes that were light and delicious for her, and at the same time introduced the materials of the dishes, and then circled around with her.

Eriko Momotani looked very polite, with the temperament of an office lady, and more of a kind of courage and perseverance to stay abroad.

This might have something to do with the production needs of the workforce in Japanese society today; after all, so many men died, and many women are still paying debts in the "Chou-die" place.

Such an elite being placed in the interior by Japanese businessmen fully represents that she is capable and also prepared.

If you ask whether Li Xuewu has any intention of winning glory for the country, this is really hard to say; he doesn't like exchanges with too much purpose.

Even if the relationship with Jing Yunong has a need for further communication, it is also a situation where things happen naturally.

If you ask whether Eriko Momotani has this intention, Li Xuewu can't guess, but according to his guess, it's eight or nine out of ten.

The afternoon negotiations were conducted in groups and teams, and every factory leader would lead a negotiation team composed of multiple departments to communicate and negotiate with foreign businessmen.

Foreign businessmen had just learned about the product collection samples and negotiation methods in detail, but the factory leaders and negotiation teams had long been prepared.

So this was an interactive negotiation that wasn't very equal, at least in terms of information.

Of course, it was impossible to reach an agreement on the first day of negotiations; foreign businessmen still had time to understand and communicate.

Li Xuewu was responsible for military engineering and the automotive industry—a very difficult foreign trade project, and even had many restrictions.

Basically, industrial products like hardware, electronics, food, etc., were handed over to other leaders who had poor understanding of business and trade.

He was the person in charge of foreign trade coordination, so of course he had to shoulder the most arduous and difficult part.

In other words, for projects like hardware, you could give a bun to a dog and it could negotiate; would it still need him?

Military engineering and the automotive industry were still a niche and difficult-to-open project in the international market.

The 17th Factory had sold some large trucks, but because the quality was unstable and required multiple repairs, it didn't open up the market.

Someone asked: the 17th Factory didn't have the opportunity and ability to open up the car export market, so why would the Steel Mill have it?

Very simple: a large truck costs 36,000, but for 36,000, how many Red Star Antelopes could you buy?

Li Xuewu wants to sell cars—could it be just simply selling cars?

Doesn't he have to bring some sentiment or something!

Do you know where the foreign businessmen who came to Li Xuewu to talk about cooperation came from?

Saying it out will make you drool: Kuwait.

Anyone who has a certain understanding of international energy history knows that they are poor—poor to the point that they only have money left.

Originally a sheikhdom, wearing tattered animal skins and ignored, communication basically relied on roaring, and going out basically relied on walking; a wealthy family might have one camel, and that was the top tycoon in the village.

However, because they discovered oil at home, and it was a large oil field ranked among the top in the world.

What is the current per capita gross domestic product of the interior?

Li Xuewu didn't know either, but he knew the income level of people around him.

Between 50 and 60 yuan, which is considered the normal income level for ordinary people in the capital; this is still for those who have jobs and work properly.

But do you know the current per capita annual income in Kuwait?

20,000, dollars.

That is to say, the annual income of any one of them tops the annual income of dozens of mature workers in the capital.

This doesn't have comparability, and even less has contrastability.

Li Xuewu initially thought that this Kuwaiti businessman named Mohammed At was aiming for the Red Star Hongxing Lingyang, but he didn't expect him to be aiming for military engineering products.

"Hmm... have you done any research on our products before?"

"I have understood some."

At nodded seriously; he could see Li Xuewu's suspicion and explained: "I quite recognize the need for your Type 56 in the international market; this is a good weapon."

"... Indeed, I have to admit."

Li Xuewu sized him up for a moment, and under the strange expressions of the negotiation team beside him, nodded and said: "However, we don't produce the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle."

"This requires production permission; our factory only produces a high-precision sniper rifle as a technical extension in cooperation with the Light Weapons Research Institute."

He flipped to the last position in the collection sample and signaled a paragraph of introduction to him.

At spread his hands and didn't look at that paragraph, but said with some regret: "Actually, I also discovered it, but I still want to try."

"You just want the Type 56?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and nodded: "I can handle this matter for you, but the premise is that you have to give me some time, and you have to go to a place with me."

"What place? Can I go?"

At had a lot of feelings about the visiting regulations here; basically, any place he applied to go, without thinking, he absolutely couldn't go.

Now that Li Xuewu mentioned taking him out, this aroused his interest.

Li Xuewu didn't give too much explanation; first, he went out to make a phone call, and then took At and the foreign affairs personnel downstairs.

At had to take the car provided by the Foreign Affairs Department, but Li Xuewu didn't get in his car, but got into his own command vehicle.

The motorcade consisting of three cars drove out of the factory gate all the way to the city.

The motorcade turned streets and alleys, and finally drove into a courtyard; the gate of the courtyard also had the words "Garrison District Third Regiment..." written on it.

"? Chief"

Xiao Gao had been waiting in the parking lot for a long time, followed by several officers.

When At got off the car, he knew where he had been brought.

Looking at the Type 56 in the hands of the guards, looking at the serious atmosphere of the courtyard, and the sound of shouting on the training ground, he followed the arrangements very seriously and followed the team toward the training ground.

Li Xuewu didn't take him inside; at a shooting training ground, several researchers from the Light Weapons Institute were still collecting data.

Seeing them come over, they stopped the work in their hands one after another.

After arriving here, At saw many people saluting Li Xuewu, and Li Xuewu also returned the salute one by one.

The translator following him didn't dare to talk nonsense, so his confusion was destined to have no one to answer for him.

However, when he saw Li Xuewu signaling him to step forward to look at the few guns on the table, he couldn't help but ask: "Is it a new gun?"

"You try it first."

Li Xuewu smiled and signaled: "No bullets, look at the situation first."

At nodded and walked forward suspiciously to observe.

Besides the more familiar Type 56 gun group, a sniper rifle with a beautiful shape and a very long barrel attracted his attention.

When he picked up the sniper rifle, Li Xuewu stood by his side and introduced: "What you are holding now is the precision shooting rifle I mentioned."

"It's really beautiful."

At nodded and agreed: "Your new design?"

"Of course!"

Li Xuewu said shamelessly: "It's our own independent design."

After speaking, he also emphasized: "It's not only beautiful, but also very expensive!"

"Very expensive?"

At raised his eyebrows and asked: "How expensive? You tell me, I'll listen."

"Fifteen thousand."

Li Xuewu gritted his teeth and shouted this price, hoping it wasn't too high, and not too low either.

"Hehe~"

At wasn't a fool; he laughed lightly: "Your neighbor developed a Type 64 rifle, with a production cost as high as 5,000 dollars, and also said the precision is good and the power is sufficient, but..."

He shook his head slightly and said: "That's just what they said themselves; I've seen it, it's trash."

Li Xuewu could hear the meaning in his words; he confidently raised his head and emphasized the previous quotation, saying: "Fifteen thousand, I'm talking about dollars."

"I didn't tell you yen either."

At had a "I have money, I'm arrogant" attitude; perhaps he had been pitted too much in the international market and had gained too much experience.

At this moment, he put down the sniper rifle in his hand and said: "Mr. Li, I have seen this gun, not in the interior."

"Oh? Really?"

Li Xuewu didn't show excessive surprise and said: "But our sales direction doesn't include abroad."

"Alright, let's talk frankly."

He signaled the sniper rifle at hand and said: "This is a sniper rifle designed by the Russians, still in the experimental stage."

"No, this is a 66-6 sniper rifle."

Li Xuewu turned his head slightly and said very seriously: "I know you might have seen that Russian gun in the south, but that is absolutely not a 66-6."

He emphasized: "The Russian gun is still in the experimental stage; how could we copy it? It's completely a collision of ideas."

Li Xuewu said with some regret in At's surprised gaze: "Collided solidly!" ===== CHAPTER 1029 =====

He gestured to the sniper rifle at his side and said, "This was designed by the Russians and is still in the experimental stage."

"No, this is a Type 66-6 sniper rifle."

Li Xuewu tilted his head slightly and said very seriously, "I know you might have seen that Russian gun in the south, but that is definitely not a Type 66-6."

He emphasized, "The Russian gun is still in the experimental stage; how could we possibly copy it? It's purely a case of great minds thinking alike."

Under Art's surprised gaze, Li Xuewu said with some regret, "They collided perfectly!"