Chapter 1084: Meeting Again by Fate

"Haha, welcome back to the capital, Second Brother from Hong Kong!"

Li Xuewu had just stepped down from the car when he saw Er Hai and Shen Guodong standing at the entrance.

He teased Shen Guodong, asking, "Why didn't you organize a welcome ceremony? Is it that you don't value me enough?"

"Didn't you say you had work to attend to?"

Shen Guodong chuckled and said, "We thought we wouldn't be able to see you until after dinner."

As soon as the electrical appliances arrived yesterday, Li Xuewu knew Er Hai had returned. Shen Guodong had called him at noon today to arrange a meeting for the evening.

He had originally thought that Liu Xiangqian and the others would stay for dinner at the International Hotel, so he naturally wouldn't be able to make it back.

Therefore, he had instructed Shen Guodong to have them come to his home for dinner, and he would try his best to return early.

Zhang Dayong had been disciplined due to the ecological industrial zone incident, and his work had been reassigned.

Being able to take the initiative to resolve this matter was also because he wanted to minimize the impact as quickly as possible. Seeing that Li Huai De was on the rise, he naturally didn't want to add another enemy.

As for the instructions from the person behind him, he hadn't reached the point of being at the end of his rope or having no way out.

They were all walking the path of officialdom; victory and defeat were common occurrences for a strategist. This bit of mental preparation and composure was still there.

The capital was inherently a place of right and wrong. This time, rather than calling it a defeat at Maicheng, it was better to call it a blessing in disguise.

Jumping out of this circle to re-plan and start over would at least allow for a smooth landing.

Therefore, one could tell from Zhang Dayong's attitude in handling this matter that he was proactive.

He didn't need to face the demands of the person above anymore, and even less did he need to butt heads with Old Li. He only asked that this matter wouldn't leave any loose ends for him.

He wanted to run, and Liu Xiangqian didn't want to take this pot of filth either, so their demands were the same, and their proactive attitude in handling this matter was also the same.

Otherwise, why would he just frown and say nothing when Li Huai De played his rogue card of retreating to advance?

If it were in the past, Liu Xiangqian would inevitably have lectured Old Li a couple of times. He had no political literacy at all; could even the most arrogant factory leader be more arrogant than him?

But on one hand, he had to consider that Old Li also had connections behind him, and this matter had reached the ears of the heavens, so he naturally had to endure him for a while. Old Li was not a person who would pester others unreasonably.

On the other hand, he had to consider Old Li's subsequent appointment and the development trend of the Red Star Factory.

If he really managed to build a 17th Factory in the capital, he would always have to leave himself a way out.

They were all doing work; there was no need to reach a state of life-and-death. As long as it didn't involve matters of principle, endure if you can, and let it pass if you can.

The city needed this capital to revitalize other factories and solve practical problems; it couldn't be tied up in the Rolling Mill for three years, nor could it all be used for purchasing mechanical equipment for the Rolling Mill.

As for what would happen to the Rolling Mill after three years and what would happen to those workers, that could only be discussed after three years.

They couldn't even get past this hurdle right now, let alone three years later. Who knew where he would be in three years? Who would he be leaving money for?

Whatever they could scrape out would count; 30% was fine, and 40% was also fine. It was always better than having not a single cent.

Moreover, the comprehensive settlement of financial accounts couldn't be dragged out any longer; at most, it would be until the end of the year. The remaining money would then go into the city's account. They couldn't let the Red Star Factory withhold it all, could they? Was Li Huai De really that heartless?

Not staying for dinner didn't mean Liu Xiangqian was angry. The matter had already been resolved, so what was there to be angry about? At his position, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were all appearances and didn't represent his true heart at all.

The reason he didn't want to be hypocritical and insincere with Old Li was because they couldn't pee into the same pot, and they couldn't do anything to each other. They were both thousand-year-old foxes, so there was no need to perform any "Liaozhai" (ghost stories).

If you were to ask whether Liu Xiangqian would give the Red Star Factory a hard time after this, or set up obstacles during the economic development process, no one could guarantee that.

Liu Xiangqian said he was upright and had no such petty heart; would you believe him? Anyway, Old Li didn't.

But Old Li wasn't afraid of him either. Since he dared to take this step, it meant that the power behind Old Li was already supporting him. The attention from above was his protective golden body, plus the soaring momentum of the Red Star Factory.

Looking at the overall situation and the development speed of the Red Star Factory, the possibility of promotion this year was very slim, unless they encountered some major opportunity.

The motorcycle manufacturing plant was expected to start trial production only in July, and the automobile manufacturing plant was expected to start trial production only in September. The Yingcheng Shipyard's production time was earlier, but it would still be after the second half of the year.

Furthermore, for the three food industry plants, it was estimated that they would only be able to officially produce by the end of the year, and the joint tertiary industry would only be able to form a scale by the first half of next year.

The joint industry would be even later. The factory area was being built batch by batch, and equipment and technology were still being coordinated and installed. To form a chain reaction with joint trade, it was estimated that it would also be the second half of next year.

Joint trade started early, but its development sought stability rather than comprehensiveness or speed. By advancing steadily and entrenching itself at every step, it caused the trade expansion speed to be slow.

Unlike foreign trade, which produced large orders one after another, the domestic trade market should focus more on stability, especially by constantly aligning with policy factors.

The offices invested in last year were still in the development and exploration stage. Together with the 12 offices invested in major cities across the country this year, it was estimated that they would only exert functional effects around 1969.

Therefore, the pattern for the Red Star Factory to welcome major development had already been set, but the time was still in the starting stage.

At this time, it was impossible for those above to rashly handle the promotion for the Red Star Factory; they had to see the potential and development trend here before making a decision.

When the various indicators for the first quarter of next year were released, the Red Star Factory's momentum for takeoff would definitely be consolidated. By then, giving an evaluation for promotion would certainly form an encouraging trend.

Promoted in 1968, the Red Star Factory would roll up its sleeves and work hard for a year, stabilize for a year, and in 1969, the entire factory and its branches would complete the construction of independent branch institutions, forming a scale.

At the same time, various production and trade indicators would lead the industry enterprises, forming an integrated industrial cluster in three regions, and forming a certain degree of influence.

Various functional departments and service departments would complete independent management and effective support, and the ecological industrial zone would complete construction and form an effective economic siphon effect.

Especially in the comprehensive strength assessment, after the scale and structure of the general factory were insufficient to complete the management of branch factories and branch institutions, the approval for industrial grouping would be given, supervised and executed by the First Ministry of Machine Building.

Therefore, it was not difficult to see that this ecological zone that Li Huai De created by following Li Xuewu's advice was to show his family's foundation after three years, stretch out his fist, and thus have the pattern that a group should have.

Every step had been carefully studied and discussed by several leaders in the factory, and the risks to be avoided and development demands had been studied to a certain degree.

At the latest by the beginning of 1970, Li Huai De must become the General Manager of the Red Star Steel Group; otherwise, he would absolutely not transfer or change posts.

The "Three-Year Plan" talked about the Red Star Factory's development plan, while the "Five-Year Plan" was the Red Star Steel Group's development plan.

Starting from 1966 to 1970, it was exactly five years. During these three-year and five-year stages, as long as the positive growth of production and trade economy and the development trend did not fluctuate, no one would dare to provoke Li Huai De. The Red Star Factory was his confidence.

"Hey, you're really something now!"

Li Xuewu tapped the small hand of Li Shu, who was sitting on the sofa playing with toys, and said, "Dad is back, and you're not even going to greet him?"

"I'm playing—"

Li Shu replied impatiently without lifting her head, fiddling with the rubber doll in her hand.

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at Er Hai, who was sitting opposite, and said, "You brought these things for her from thousands of miles away. Don't you find it heavy to carry?"

"I brought them back in a rolling suitcase. There are also some at Third Uncle's place, and at Manager Ji's home."

After being tempered in Hong Kong, Er Hai looked completely different. Whether it was his manner of speaking or his posture in action, he had a capable look.

The only thing that hadn't changed was perhaps the intimacy revealed in his eyes the moment he saw Li Xuewu.

The brothers were scattered in different places, each busy with their own careers, and they cherished every meeting.

When leaving the International Hotel, Han Jiankun had loaded several lunch boxes into the car; they were the good dishes he had instructed Zhang Songying to help prepare.

There were some dishes whose taste, when made by chefs in a professional kitchen, could not be simulated by a home kitchen.

It wasn't that he was afraid his brother wouldn't be used to home cooking after staying in Hong Kong for more than half a year, but rather he felt that since the brothers were reunited after a long separation today, they should celebrate.

Qin Jingru also knew Er Hai, but they hadn't had much contact. Seeing Shen Guodong bring him over, she was quite surprised.

Although she hadn't inquired in detail, she also knew that the business those people at the recycling station were doing wasn't a proper scrap collection trade.

She had never heard of any scrap recycling station opening branches nationwide!

And she had never heard of scrap recycling being able to save up for big cars, small cars, and more than a dozen tricycles.

When the Bai Bai Xiyuan recycling station had the most people, female comrades even had to be arranged to stay at Sha Zhu's home.

Now it was suddenly empty. Except for Shen Guodong and Xiao Yan who were young, the rest were old or young.

So, where did everyone go?

It wasn't that no one at the Sihe Academy had inquired, but the neighborhood office didn't care. They just talked about it, purely out of curiosity.

Whenever someone asked about their whereabouts, the unified answer from the Bai Bai Xiyuan was that they were in Steel City.

Old Biaozi was indeed in Steel City, and previously Wen Saner was also in Steel City. The neighbors didn't care about the difference between Steel City and Hong Kong.

Qin Jingru had been at the Li family for a long time and had more contact with these people. Hearing a word or two, she could always guess a little.

Especially when seeing the various toys Yang Erhai brought for Li Shu, and the gifts brought for Li Xuewu's family, she knew he absolutely wasn't in Steel City.

How could that small place, Steel City, have goods more exquisite than those in the capital?

However, where he was, where he came back from, and what he was going to do, Qin Jingru would never ask. Even if they were discussing it in the living room without avoiding her, she didn't intend to listen or ask.

After Gu Ning returned, she greeted Shen Guodong and the others and went upstairs. She changed to Liu Yin, who came down to help Qin Jingru prepare dinner.

Li Xuewu, Shen Guodong, and Er Hai sat on the sofa in the living room talking, while Han Jiankun helped Qin Jingru water the vegetable garden before dark.

There were guests in the small courtyard today, and Li Shu received gifts and praise, being very well-behaved and sensible.

In Liu Yin's words, it was: "Like a little adult!"

"Was the journey back smooth?"

Li Xuewu crossed his legs, looked after his daughter sitting beside him, and gestured to the fruit platter on the coffee table, saying, "You're at your own home, take whatever you want to eat."

"Dad! This—this is a doll!"

Li Shu interjected from time to time as she saw them talking; she couldn't be left out of the excitement.

Er Hai looked at her and smiled. He hadn't been here before and appeared a bit reserved, especially when facing Gu Ning just now.

At this moment, he replied to Li Xuewu, "Leaving and entering the customs were both very smooth. After all, it's a mainland ship."

"However, there was a bit of a problem when crossing the strait," he narrowed his left eye and said, "It's not the first or second time. Seeing that our gear was tough, they didn't come to provoke us, but I'm afraid that..."

"Afraid of what?"

Li Xuewu listened to his daughter's chatter while touching the doll in her arms, but asked in a fierce tone, "Afraid that Ji Wang Weidong can't handle it?"

He looked at Shen Guodong and instructed, "Tell the people at Dongfeng Shipping, if anyone dares to provoke us, don't have any scruples. Beat them hard. If you can use cannons, don't use guns!"

"If he, Ji Wang Weidong, can't bear this kind of pressure, then don't earn this protection fee."

"There's nothing to say about that. Manager Ji is still very responsible."

Yang Erhai introduced, "After knowing that this situation occurred, anti-aircraft machine guns were installed on the ship. Dealing with general situations is no problem."

"Damn! There's no need for such a big reaction, is there!"

Li Xuewu had thought he was the radical one and that Ji Wang Weidong was the conservative one afraid of taking responsibility.

As a result, they were now using anti-aircraft machine guns. Did the conservative think the radical was too conservative?

"It's mainly because I'm afraid of accidents. Following the Polish merchant ship is fine, but if we fall behind, it's easy to be surrounded, and there's no support at sea..."

Yang Erhai shook his head slightly and said, "A thousand-ton cargo ship basically has no self-protection power. We can only strike hard and bet that the other side will run into the muzzle."

"Ji Wang Weidong might be thinking of casting a net to catch a big fish!" Shen Guodong raised his eyebrows and said, "With more than twenty ships, if one of them runs into trouble, they'll all know each other later and settle down."

He took a piece of cut muskmelon from the fruit platter and handed it to Er Hai, took one for himself, and said, "Strike one punch to avoid a hundred punches!"

Li Xuewu lowered his head to look at his daughter and didn't say anything more about this matter. Since Ji Wang Weidong had arrangements, he didn't need to add to it.

Anti-aircraft machine guns were ruthless enough. That thing wouldn't do much to the ship's hull; at most, it would break the machinery inside.

If it hit a person, no matter how delicate and tender you were, or if you were a man of steel, it would guarantee you'd go to see God without a sound.

Add more? Add what? Machine cannons?

Stop joking. That was a merchant ship, not a conventional warship. According to international practice, carrying a little armed protection force was allowed, but if you really made a big deal out of it, let alone the port not letting you dock, you wouldn't even be able to pass through.

Ji Wang Weidong dared to arrange it this way because Dongfeng Shipping's merchant ships only traveled along this coastal line, from the Tianjin Port wharf to Hong Kong at the farthest, all within their sphere of influence.

With 27 thousand-ton cargo ships, even if it were unlucky, they could still gather three or four ships to act together.

Having three or four anti-aircraft machine guns at sea was enough. If even this level of armed force couldn't protect the cargo ship fleet, it meant the other side wasn't coming for the cargo, and no amount of force would be useful.

"Manager Ji is very popular in Hong Kong, and the port business is also managed very well."

After eating the melon in his hand, he took the wet towel Li Xuewu threw over to wipe his hands, and Yang Erhai introduced, "Unlike the wharves of traditional forces, Crown Prince Port Company operates in compliance with regulations and has safety guarantees. Many large companies are willing to dock and unload here."

"Wufeng Hong's wharf? Or...?"

Li Xuewu raised his head, looked at him, and said, "Last time Ji Wang Weidong came back and talked nonsense with me, I didn't even dare to believe it."

"Haha, that guy is quite funny—"

Yang Erhai smiled and said, "In Hong Kong, he wants to become sworn brothers with everyone he meets, and he always claims to have a relationship with the Transportation Commander. Ms. Song is his third aunt, a proper royal relative."

"Hehe, fishing, right—!"

Shen Guodong raised his eyebrows, leaned sideways, and said, "Seeing him smile makes me feel that everyone in this world is a good person except him!"

"Should be. We don't know much."

Yang Erhai introduced, "After Third Uncle went, he followed Ms. Lou to run the real estate business, and I followed Zhang Wanhe to handle the wharf business."

"Ji Wang Weidong doesn't come often. When he does, he calls us to go have fun together. He talks about the wharf business, but basically doesn't talk about his work."

"Have fun?" Shen Guodong heard the blind spot and asked with a smile, "Is the bustling and extravagant world of capitalist society exciting?"

Er Hai turned his head to look at him and said seriously, "You know me, I'm an honest man."

"Hmm, honest people never say they are honest!"

Shen Guodong laughed mischievously and said, "Tell me about it later, what's fun in Hong Kong."

"Why don't you go see for yourself!"

Li Xuewu held his daughter on his lap, coaxed her to play with toys, and said, "When Third Uncle comes back, you go. Play enough and then come back."

"I'm not going—whoever wants to go, go!"

Shen Guodong shook his head like a rattle and said, "Not to mention that taking a boat is hard and dangerous, I can't even stand being so far from home. Not going, not going."

"You'll only have this much ambition in your life!" Li Xuewu glanced at him and said, "Wife, children, and a warm bed, it'd be best if you never left the alley!"

"Hehehe—"

Shen Guodong chuckled and didn't refute. Could any bustling world be more comfortable than a warm bed?

Yang Erhai smiled and continued, "Crown Prince Port Company started by doing Wufeng Hong's wharf, later acquired three places, and caused some trouble."

"But things have been settled, the wharf has been expanded by six places, and the warehouses have been connected into a piece. Manager Ji plans to expand and rebuild this year."

A financial crisis is a crisis for ordinary people, but an opportunity for capital.

The market is reshuffled, the fixed asset investment environment is sluggish, and businesses like wharves, logistics, and warehousing shrink, so naturally, they have to be sold off.

Meeting a big spender like Ji Wang Weidong, waving the banknotes of the Oriental Era Bank to buy, buy, buy, who wouldn't be confused when seeing him?

With a bank, there's a backer. With a backer, you can hook up with Wufeng Hong, open up the wharf business, and the fleet can come in.

Once the goods are ashore, the trading company can open. With money, the bank comes alive, and real estate also comes alive.

"Parker contacted Third Uncle. Third Uncle took him to see Ms. Lou. The equity battle at Watson's is fierce, and it's hard to say who will win, but Ms. Lou is confident."

Yang Erhai nodded and said, "The other side also has a big bank supporting them, but they don't have the volume and influence of Wufeng Hong in the trade field."

This is absolute. In Hong Kong, if you want to compare trade volume with Wufeng Hong, that's purely having shit in your head.

Most of the daily necessities for Hong Kong people are transported and sold through Wufeng Hong. How can you compare!

Ms. Lou is good at calculating. If one family can't eat it, then two families eat it together. Watson's has brand influence in Hong Kong and many stores.

Drugstore retail isn't enough to operate. Now the Oriental system is joining forces with Wufeng Hong to give it a big one.

"Leader, dinner is ready—"

Just as the three were talking, Qin Jingru came out of the kitchen and greeted them.

After getting Li Xuewu's response, she went upstairs to greet Gu Ning and help her hold the child at the same time.

"Go, eat first, talk after eating."

Li Xuewu stood up, patted Er Hai's arm, and said, "Ji Wang Weidong has handled your identity, right? You're going to be on your own this time."

"Yes, and he gave me a new name."

Er Hai smiled and said, "The household registration book says Yang Zhao, and the address is in Tianjin."

"Hmm, it's for your convenience in doing things."

Li Xuewu greeted them to the table. The table was already set with food, a big table, very sumptuous.

Liu Yin greeted them enthusiastically. Both of them called Liu Yin "Godmother." Now that they called her affectionately, they didn't feel as awkward as they did when they were young.

After dinner, Li Xuewu sat in the courtyard with the two of them, smoking and chatting until past ten o'clock.

He gave Er Hai instructions about the situation in Tianjin, as well as the situation of Wu Laoshi and Zhou Xiaobai.

Shen Guodong would help him lay a good foundation and transfer two boys over to run errands and help.

The shop in Tianjin didn't need to be too low-key or hidden. After all, it was a trade port city. Even in this era, it was a place with developed economy.

Outsiders came and went frequently, and trade unit branches were all over the wharf. Who would care about an extra small site of the Beijing Scrap Company?

Moreover, relying on the Trade Management Center to do distribution work, having the advantage of the seafood trade chain, if there was anything, just give a shout to Deputy General Manager Zhang of Tianjin Aquatic Products, and it would be solved. It was very convenient.

If the work here wasn't too important, he wouldn't be willing to transfer Er Hai back. Having this insight and achievement after staying in Hong Kong for only half a year, if he stayed for three years, wouldn't he have to pass a postgraduate entrance exam before coming back!

Of course, Wu Laoshi was mainly responsible for coordination and financial work, Er Hai was responsible for specific execution and management, and Zhou Xiaobai couldn't be relied on at all.

Her greatest role was to take money, not do things. It would be best if she didn't have any trouble in Tianjin.

Zhou Xiaobai said she wanted to work in Tianjin, but she had to return to the capital every Saturday and Sunday to reunite with her family.

Actually, this was the attitude of Zhou Zhennan and his wife. Exercise was fine, learning was fine, but she couldn't not go home. She had to treat this as a proper job.

As for whether Zhou Xiaobai could learn anything from this job, they didn't care. What they cared about was the word "proper."

Regarding this point, Li Xuewu could still guarantee it. After all, he was a proper person, right? Which of the Yanzu (handsome men) sitting here doesn't know, right?

"You go and close the window in the study."

As soon as Li Xuewu went upstairs, he heard Gu Ning's greeting in the master bedroom: "It's going to rain tonight."

"Did you see the weather forecast in the newspaper?"

Li Xuewu had just sent Er Hai and the others away. There were lights in the courtyard, and he really hadn't paid attention to the weather.

Gu Ning came out of the master bedroom and said, "Jingru said so. Didn't you pay attention when reading the newspaper this morning?"

"Haha, I really didn't pay attention to this."

Li Xuewu checked the windows upstairs and went downstairs to take a turn.

Han Jiankun had already tidied up everything that needed to be tidied outside. When leaving at night, the windows downstairs had all been closed tightly by Han Jiankun, leaving only the ones upstairs.

If you were to ask why Qin Jingru still had Han Jiankun water the vegetable garden when she clearly knew it was going to rain today?

It was very simple. The weather forecast at this time wasn't as accurate as in later generations. Even in later generations, the weather forecast wasn't that precise.

The vegetable garden was a delicate thing. If you didn't water it tonight and waited for the rain, what if it didn't rain?

Then wouldn't you have to wait another day!

She was busy as hell in the morning, and Han Jiankun had to help take care of Li Shu and was busy back and forth. Where would he have time to water the vegetable garden?

She had time in the morning, but it was too late. After the sun came out, you couldn't water the vegetable garden. If the water got hot, it would easily burn the vegetables to death.

Everyone who waters flowers knows you can't water them at noon, and watering the ground is the same thing.

That's how the vegetable garden was thought of, but people living in the house had to be on guard. The doors and windows at this time were all made of wood and weren't as sturdy as in later generations.

If a heavy rain and wind blew the window open, the glass would definitely shatter. You wouldn't be able to sleep well all night, and in serious cases, the window sash would be blown off.

"The things bought for Sister-in-law and the others are ready. Jingru mailed them away in the morning."

Gu Ning informed him after seeing him return, glanced at the child sleeping in the crib, and lay down on the bed.

Li Shu was tired from playing today and fell asleep early. She was carried to that room by Liu Yin.

"Did Mom help with the shopping?"

Li Xuewu threw his pajamas on the bed, found his underwear, and walked toward the bathroom. He hadn't washed up since he came back.

Gu Ning lay on the bed, gathering her hair, and said, "Jingru went herself. How would Mom have time?"

Li Shu alone needed one adult to watch her, plus Li Ning, two people weren't busy enough. Now that the epidemic of cerebrospinal meningitis was serious outside, they didn't dare to hold the children and walk around everywhere.

When Li Xuewu came out after taking a shower, Gu Ning was almost asleep, but was touched by Li Xuewu.

"Are you not planning to let me sleep?"

Gu Ning patted his bad hand and said, "I have to get up to feed the child again soon. If I want to sleep again, it'll be the second half of the night. Do you still have to go to work tomorrow?"

"It won't take long..."

Li Xuewu held Gu Ning and said, "Besides, even if you want a son, you can't not want me—"

Gu Ning turned over, pushed him away, and said, "Sleep honestly. Every time you say it won't take long, if I believe you again, I'm a fool."

"Sigh—!"

Li Xuewu lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling in the dark night, and sighed, "When I didn't have a son, I wanted a son. When I have a son, I want a wife!"

"If you can't sleep, go to the study and read."

Gu Ning rolled her eyes when she heard him sighing and said, "Put your energy into proper business."

"Isn't having children proper business?"

Li Xuewu felt wronged and said, "Reading is to increase spirit, but the body also needs a healthy life. You can't give up eating for fear of choking."

"Not sleeping in the middle of the night to read?"

He propped himself up and looked at Gu Ning, saying, "I haven't heard of anyone who could delay that kind of thing because of reading. That must be a very interesting book!"

On Saturday, Jing Yunong and Gu Weijie, who went to Hebei Province and Henan Province, returned, and also brought back a series of cooperation contents and measures.

In response to the attention and support of the industrial departments of the four provinces for the Rolling Mill some time ago, Li Huai De took the initiative to put forward this opinion.

That was for the four deputy directors to set off at the same time, leading teams to visit and investigate the industrial departments of the four provinces respectively.

The purpose was to take this opportunity, on one hand, to promote the Rolling Mill's ecological industrial zone concept in name, and on the other hand, to communicate internally about the cooperation contents of joint trade and joint industry.

The four provinces were all resource-rich provinces. If they didn't have hard power, they wouldn't take the initiative to recruit the Rolling Mill.

Steel and coal resources were abundant. Even if transportation was inconvenient at this time, these resources couldn't be transported to the Rolling Mill to form effective cooperation.

But at least it preserved channels for both sides to further cooperate and communicate, and they could also develop deep cooperation in other fields, such as industrial product trade.

The Red Star Factory received many orders from foreign businessmen; did they all count on the joint industry to achieve production?

This was an impossible task. Didn't Li Xuewu design and build the supply chain system to solve this difficulty and deepen foreign trade?

It wasn't simply about being a middleman, selling these industrial products to those foreign businessmen, but about high-quality, division-of-labor production cooperation.

For example, the tracks that the Rolling Mill was responsible for producing earlier were no longer included in the new Rolling Mill design plan.

But did the production tasks assigned to the Rolling Mill by the organization not have to be completed?

Naturally, that wasn't the case. The Rolling Mill would complete the processes included in the steel rolling industry, while other parts and processes would be handed over to more professional factories to complete.

Other factories' processes related to the steel rolling industry would also be handed over to the Rolling Mill to complete.

In this way, all advanced advantages of heavy industry could be integrated and connected into an industrial supply chain system.

Division of labor and cooperation, assembly line operations, and creating a refined and professional production system were the core goals of the future Red Star Steel Group.

Reducing production costs would bring actual benefits to enterprises in various supply chain systems.

Hebei Province was a major steel province, and Henan Province wasn't bad either. The heavy industry systems of both provinces were very developed, especially the advantage of distance, giving the Red Star Rolling Mill more cooperation choices.

Cheng Kaiyuan, who went to Shaanxi Province, and Xue Zhifu, who went to Hubei Province, hadn't returned yet, but good news had already been sent back. They were still on the train.

It had to be said that the country was too big, and traveling was also a troublesome matter. If it were really like South Korea, the weather forecast would only have one content: there will be rain nationwide tonight, then transportation would be really convenient, right?

After returning from the office meeting in the main office building, he was entangled by Ding Zigui to chat for a while.

It was about coordinating industrial integration procedures with the city. Li Xuewu had a lot of work on his hands, so Li Huai De handed this work to him.

The main contents had already been settled yesterday. Now it only needed Ding Zigui to run the procedures with the city. After all, he was in charge of the factory's official seal.

Ding Zigui also came to him to ask about the details, fearing that he wouldn't be clear after going there and would delay things.

When he heard that the Rolling Mill was going to receive at least 50,000 workers and hundreds of cadres, he was also startled, thinking about whether the factory could still live.

It was hard enough to support the more than 30,000 people now, and they still had to support more than 50,000 people?

Li Xuewu explained to him that now it was just procedural work. Once the procedures were determined, the tertiary industry side would start the corresponding workshop construction.

Building workshops was fast, and moving machinery was also fast; it wouldn't delay much production time.

Merging other factories naturally meant undertaking the production tasks of these factories.

And as long as the production tasks were completed, the wages of these workers and cadres naturally didn't need to be the responsibility of the Red Star Factory; they were managed uniformly by the city's industry.

Even the wages of the Red Star Factory's cadres and staff weren't purely independent accounting. How many establishments there were, that was how much wage appropriation was applied for from above.

The excess part was the responsibility of the enterprise itself. If you have money, you support them; if you don't have money, don't recruit.

Of course, the current enterprises and factories all had money, so there would be temporary workers.

Supporting these people was mostly for the children of staff or personnel who needed to be resettled, and they also existed as the factory's internship and supplementary force.

When those 16 factories were merged, the dismissal or regularization procedures for temporary workers had to be handled well; it couldn't be dragged out for the Red Star Factory to handle.

The Red Star Factory didn't care whether the staff arranged by the other side were temporary workers, because the organizational relations of these people wouldn't be merged into the Rolling Mill. Why manage so much? These people were just here to do short-term work.

At the longest three years, at the shortest two and a half years, as long as the new Rolling Mill was completed, these workers would all have to be transferred away. Even during these three years, the city would gradually transfer away a portion of the workers and resettle them in other factories.

50,000 people sounded like a lot and looked scary, but in reality, after adjusting to the tertiary industry, the number of people the Red Star Factory really needed to arrange into the steel rolling industrial system might only be more than 10,000.

It just matched what Li Xuewu communicated with Liu Xiangqian and others. These people would complete the three-shift production work together with the Rolling Mill's staff.

This year, the Rolling Mill would definitely exceed the production task indicators assigned from above again.

How much money they would earn wasn't certain, but what was certain was that they had the ability to eat these 50,000 people.

Moreover, these 50,000 people weren't stuffed over all at once. They had to wait for the workshop construction on the tertiary industry side to be completed, and for the mechanical equipment and technology to be integrated and regulated before the resettlement and relocation work could begin.

Each factory might have a machining department, or a maintenance department, or a labor protection product production department. These couldn't be built repeatedly.

Corresponding mechanical equipment, technical reserves, workers, and cadres that could be found in the tertiary industry would all be merged into the Red Star Factory's existing production order.

Those that couldn't find corresponding production types would be based on new production workshops and integrated into new tertiary industry project workshops.

The Red Star Factory's tertiary industry had no factory structure and was managed uniformly by the Tertiary Industry Management Office.

Below that, a workshop responsibility system was implemented. What to produce was decided by the management office, and how to produce and how to produce more was decided by the workshop.

This flat management model directly improved the power of the workshop director and also opened up the communication barrier between the management layer and the grassroots managers.

Doing this had drawbacks, namely that the structure wasn't safe and stable enough, but with the Red Star Factory as support, there was no need to worry about this at all.

Li Xuewu told Ding Zigui that the city's core purpose was to shake off these burdens. Integrating into the Rolling Mill wouldn't mean they would lose industrial production capacity.

But it could reduce industrial management pressure, and at the same time, they could get a sum of capital to revitalize other assets.

What was important was that the Red Star Factory promised to help the city rebuild a Rolling Mill in three years.

Based on the current Rolling Mill's production equipment, select a portion of cadres and staff from these 50,000 people and cultivate them to become steel rolling workers.

Three years later, the workers in the tertiary industry had a great possibility of being transferred uniformly into the Rolling Mill's light industry and tertiary industry system.

The vast majority of workers cultivated by the steel rolling industry would be transferred to the city's newly built Rolling Mill.

The Red Star Factory's core demand was that there was still room for the deployment of these workers. By then, workers transferred from the factory and workers who didn't want to leave Beijing could all be resettled there.

The Vocational Technical College would just happen to cultivate a batch of technical workers who met the needs of the new era three years later.

And the workers who were eliminated would all take this opportunity to be transferred to the city's Rolling Mill.

Just like the old-fashioned steel rolling equipment currently in use being eliminated, they were the choice of history.

Of course, if the tertiary industry faced major policy adjustments, it would also be like what the city worried about, directly independent from the Rolling Mill.

In other words, the future Red Star Group, in order to maintain rapid growth vitality, would decisively shake off burdens, just like the city now.

The person who made this decision wasn't a bad person, and the enterprise that made this choice wasn't an evil enterprise. What was cruel was the characteristics that the era endowed industrial development with.

Isn't industrial development itself burning the lives of labor workers to promote the development of the era?

After talking with Ding Zigui, as soon as Li Xuewu went upstairs, he was reminded by Peng Xiaoli that an unexpected person had come and was waiting for him in his office.

"Yo! Section Chief Yu, a rare guest!"

Li Xuewu's face didn't show any of the previous conflicts and fighting between the two, just as hypocritical and kind as seeing an old friend.

Yu Daru stood up, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Li Xuewu actually had a bit of sincerity and regret.

"Heard you're very busy, and the Red Star Factory is developing better and better."

"Where, where, it's just catching up with good times. Sit, sit, I didn't even know you were coming."

Li Xuewu smiled, waved his hand to signal him to sit, sat opposite him, and exchanged pleasantries: "If I had known you were coming, I would have waited for you."

"Let's not be so polite."

Yu Daru tried hard to give him a slightly detached smile and said, "My work has been adjusted. I'm going to another place. Before leaving, I wanted to come and see you."

"Oh? Why so sudden? Weren't you doing well at the branch bureau?" Li Xuewu frowned slightly: "Did you encounter any difficulties?"

"It's my own reason. My ability is limited, and I don't want to add trouble to the organization." Yu Daru held his teacup and shook his head slightly: "I took the initiative to propose going to the border, which can be considered as doing my meager bit."

This time, Li Xuewu was really surprised. He sized him up for a good while before asking, "Going to the border? To advance further?"

"No, it's still the current situation."

Yu Daru said very frankly, "Originally, it was a lucky advancement. Being able to do some things down-to-earth can also make my heart settle down."

"The current you actually makes me look at you with new eyes." Li Xuewu nodded and said, "It's easy to see other people's shortcomings, but it's hardest to see one's own shortcomings."

"You always speak with such philosophy!"

Yu Daru put down the teacup in his hand, looked at Li Xuewu, nodded, and smiled: "I came to say sorry to you, which can be considered as fulfilling a regret in my heart."

"No need to be so sentimental, right?" Li Xuewu looked at him amusedly and asked, "When are you leaving? I'll arrange it tonight to see you off."

"No need, the train is at one o'clock in the afternoon."

Yu Daru stood up, reached out his hand, and said, "Being able to hear you say this sentence is enough for me. I hope we can still be friends again."

Li Xuewu stood up, shook his hand, and said, "I've always been not very friendly to friends."

"Hahaha—meet again by fate!"

"Goodbye, wish you a smooth journey!" ===== CHAPTER 1085 =====