Chapter 1122: Under One Person

"Li-san, I've come to express my gratitude!"

As soon as Li Xuewu entered the office, he saw Nakamura Shuji bringing Akari Tsumugi to bow to him.

Oh my, look at this midsummer, both wearing shirts, the collars are open—the "headlights" are dazzling.

Li Xuewu, a gentleman, couldn't look at this, so he raised his hand to support them and greeted them not to be polite.

"Sit, sit, you've been waiting for a while, I'm truly sorry."

Peng Xiaoli knew that the more the leader acted bad and pitted people, the more polite he was.

He carried the thermos, refilled the hot water for the guests' teacups, and brought Li Xuewu's teacup over.

"There are many things in the factory recently, and leaders are on business trips, and I'm also holding the position of the Management Office, so I'm busy to the point where my feet don't touch the ground."

"No problem, no problem, we know you're busy!"

When the little devils beg for help, they are even more polite than Li Xuewu; Nakamura Shuji's waist was swaying like a roly-poly toy.

"It's already very embarrassing to disturb you today; if I affect your work again, I'll truly be ashamed."

His Chinese level was still quite good; this generation, and even the next generation of Japanese people, liked to learn Chinese.

They were originally a small country in a tight spot, and since ancient times, they had been surviving in the cracks, and their vision and scale were only aimed at the little things in the cracks.

Nakamura Shuji apologized, and Akari Tsumugi also bowed and saluted slightly following her boss's rhythm.

What could Li Xuewu say? This kind of behavior of turning on the high beams when close was truly too impolite—too white!

The seating of the three was very interesting.

Li Xuewu sat on his habitual single sofa, and on the long sofa on his right, the closest position was Nakamura Shuji.

And Akari Tsumugi didn't sit on the long sofa following her president, but sat on the single sofa opposite Li Xuewu.

This position was aimed directly at Li Xuewu, looking like she was ready to invite him into the urn at any time.

On the way here, President Nakamura Shuji had already made it clear to Akari Tsumugi that compared to Takahashi Seiko, he favored Akari Tsumugi more.

But he could only provide the opportunity once; whether she could grasp it or not depended on herself.

Similarly, he would also create an opportunity for Takahashi, and the two would compete fairly.

Of course, if both could succeed, he wouldn't mind multiplying the reward by two.

Compared to a property in Tokyo, Nakamura Shuji cared more about Li Xuewu's friendship.

After all, friendship is long live!

As for whether using this kind of means to build a bridge of friendship would cause psychological burden and obstacles.

For them, sending a girl to the "Ugly Father" (the US) was actually no different from sending her to a business partner.

At least here, Akari Tsumugi was still a person; there was no shortage of college students like Akari Tsumugi in the country.

"How is it? You've met Miss Momotani, right?"

Li Xuewu tactically crossed his right leg; he still cared about things like aiming guns at people—it was too ungraceful.

Of course, the culprit was the person opposite; it had nothing to do with him.

He dared to say that there were quite a few people who wanted to fire blank shots when they saw this girl; her face and figure were still very outstanding.

After all, they were building a bridge of friendship; if the waist wasn't good and the bridge collapsed, what would they do?

"I've been with Miss Momotani a few times, and I still recognize her actions and abilities during her work in the interior."

Li Xuewu rested his hands on the sofa armrests, looked at Nakamura Shuji, and said: "I express my regret for her encounter and situation."

"But I hope your company can fully absorb the experience and lessons, and put an end to this kind of incident happening again."

"At the same time, I also hope your company can properly handle this matter and not affect the business we are about to carry out."

What is this?

Diplomatic rhetoric? Commercial correspondence?

No, none of those; to put it plainly, it should be a threat.

What kind of tight business connection does the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company have with the Red Star Factory?

That's too many, and too tight.

First, the agency rights for the Red Star Factory's small hardware industry were obtained by the three shareholders of the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company, one each.

Secondly, the technology and some equipment for the Red Star Factory's electronic and electrical industry were provided by the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company.

Finally, for other joint-venture industrial products of the Red Star Factory, the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company had the right to participate in distribution and dealership.

In these cooperations, there was a key point that the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company was particularly concerned about, which was the procurement channel.

The Red Star Factory was booming and urgently needed technical and equipment support, executing supply-chain-style procurement internally.

Externally, it naturally had to implement a fast, accurate, and ruthless procurement strategy, focusing on short-term procurement to cope with the ever-changing international situation.

On the export trade side, the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company wanted to use the Red Star Factory's low production costs to overtake on a curve and establish a foothold in the country.

On the technology-import trade side, the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company hoped even more that the Red Star Factory's technology and equipment would come entirely from Japan.

Think about how the Great Marshal who dominated the Three Northeast Provinces was controlled by them back then, and you'll understand. Technology is more convenient and serious than military force.

Therefore, when Li Xuewu was prepared for a rainy day and strictly required in the contract that technology and equipment must adopt procurement standards of no less than three channels, the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company was secretly shocked.

The interior, which had been closed for more than ten years, still had this kind of vigilant thinking, especially maintaining a calm head toward urgently needed equipment and technology.

This had to make the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company treat the Red Star Factory seriously, and treat Li Xuewu seriously.

Little devils are actually like this: the harder you beat them, the more convinced they are.

No wonder they said the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company was forced to use underhanded tricks.

As long as they took Li Xuewu, the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company, which was conducting legitimate commercial business, would become a landmark enterprise for Japanese businessmen in the interior.

It couldn't be said that there were no Japanese enterprises cooperating with the interior over the years; there were even larger projects than theirs.

However, it was very rare to have such a close relationship and build such a complete strategic cooperation project.

Especially in the setting of strategic goals: the interior is responsible for production, and Sanhe is responsible for technical research and development and sales.

This kind of compensation cooperation trade method could definitely crush the electronic industry that had just emerged in Japan and South Korea.

How much impact would this kind of affordable industrial product have on the industrial industry of a region or country in trade activities?

Refer to modern industrial history, or look at the high trade tariff walls that countries are setting up in the future, and you'll understand.

This era didn't pay much attention to trade barriers because there weren't many trade tsunamis.

Perhaps the three shareholders of the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company had thought that the low-cost electronic and electrical products produced from the interior would cause an electronic industrial storm in the entire Southeast Asia.

Nakamura Shuji's primary task in coming to Beijing was to resolve the incident of Momotani Eriko, followed by heading north to Steel City.

The electric fan Li Xuewu brought home a few days ago had already proven that the Red Star Factory's electronic appliance factory had started experimental production.

Other appliances were also being experimentally produced, just not in circulation.

The trade agreement cooperating with Japanese businessmen didn't include interior trade; the various appliances produced by the Red Star Factory's electronic factory could be sold internally.

However, the planned economy system didn't include the Red Star Factory's electronic factory in the sales plan.

In other words, like cars and motorcycles, the Red Star Factory borrowed the convenience of being managed by the Industrial Department to obtain the production qualifications for these commodities, but the sales had to be handled by the Red Star Factory itself.

This system existed in name only after the market opened up in the future, and it was hard for ordinary people to discover.

But it could still be seen in daily life.

Cars need gasoline, right?

Gasoline belongs to dangerous goods, everyone knows that, right? Did the refineries sell all the gasoline they produced to gas stations?

Of course not. If you have a tanker, you can drive to the refinery to buy oil yourself, and they will sell it to you.

Because according to the commercial management regulations of this era, factories have the right to produce and sell.

How to say it, refineries also have the right to refine gasoline and sell gasoline, even if it belongs to dangerous goods.

However! When your oil tanker leaves the refinery's factory area, this tanker of gasoline is no longer managed by the refinery.

They only care about sales, not subsequent safety management.

As for you reporting to relevant departments along the way, not allowing parking, etc., these must all be executed according to other management regulations.

The Red Star Factory's existing industrial rights included production and sales.

Production naturally included planned production and non-planned production, and sales also included planned sales and non-planned sales.

That set of planned production products followed the production tasks assigned by the higher authorities, from production to sales, undertaken by the supply and marketing system for downstream sales.

But non-planned production products had no planned indicators and required the Red Star Factory to handle sales itself.

The Red Star Factory's joint-venture tertiary industry and joint-venture industry belonged to non-planned production.

Even if the above wanted to adjust them into the plan, the Red Star Factory wouldn't be willing.

Because the Red Star Factory wasn't afraid at all that the products it produced wouldn't sell.

At the same time, Nakamura Shuji also knew this, and he was also afraid of this.

The Sanhe Joint-Stock Company couldn't threaten the Red Star Factory by saying, "I won't sell your things, let your commodities pile up like a mountain."

This was impossible. Nakamura Shuji knew very clearly that in order to balance compensation trade with domestic supply and technology introduction, the Red Star Factory was bound to accelerate compensation supply and control domestic supply.

Simply put, on the premise that the interior hadn't established a sound scientific research for electrical products, daily technical upgrades and the research and development of new products had to be introduced from the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company.

Every technical cooperation meant adding a debt to the compensation trade list.

Supplying products to the interior market to make money, taking into account export trade to pay off debts, and having to master the frequency of electrical product updates.

Little devils knew they couldn't restrict the Red Star Factory, so they had to use the Red Star Factory to restrict itself.

Now, it was time to be open and honest, and have a good talk before the industrial production stage.

The Red Star Factory was worried about the little devils causing trouble again, and Sanhe was worried about the Red Star Factory "killing the donkey after the millstone is done"; the cooperation between the two was truly close yet guarded.

So look, the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company insisted on leaving office personnel in the interior to respond to emergencies at any time.

Why did Li Xuewu have to wait until Monday to see them, instead of talking to them on Friday or Saturday?

This is a conspiracy! A straightforward threat!

"For Momotani's mistake, I represent the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company in expressing our apologies to the Red Star Factory again."

Nakamura Shuji apologized very formally this time, then said: "Sanhe attaches great importance to the cooperation with the Red Star Factory; the occurrence of such an incident with Momotani is something none of us want to see."

"We sincerely hope to carry out long-term and extensive commercial trade cooperation with the Red Star Factory."

He said sincerely: "At the same time, we will also strengthen team building and management, and will never let a similar incident happen again."

"Of course, I naturally believe that the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company has such ability and determination."

Li Xuewu understood the meaning behind the other party's words. Momotani Eriko had already been generously allowed to be seen by them, and he wouldn't entangle himself in this problem.

"I believe Nakamura-san has also been very hard these days. I won't go to visit Miss Momotani; I wish her a smooth return to her country."

"This..."

Nakamura Shuji looked at Li Xuewu with some surprise and astonishment, not knowing what this meant.

No, it wasn't that he didn't understand Chinese, but that he couldn't believe his ears that the other party would let Momotani Eriko go so easily.

He was the one who came to handle this matter, so he naturally understood the significance behind it.

Of course, he was also very sure that Li Xuewu understood better than him that Momotani Eriko was very valuable now.

How could the Red Star Factory abandon this piece of interest because of the cooperation between the two sides, or because of the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company?

If that were the case, what was the point of all the tricks Li Xuewu had played?

First, he reprimanded them severely, expressing the attitude of the Red Star Factory's leaders' dissatisfaction.

Subsequently, he arranged for them to see Momotani Eriko, and didn't even arrange for the Foreign Affairs Department to provide "guidance and help."

Now they had only talked about the beginning, frankly stated their respective attitudes, and Li Xuewu was going to let her go.

Yes, Li Xuewu had no intention of using Momotani Eriko to threaten the other party; now he was talking about letting her go.

"Li-san, we still have to trouble you to help coordinate the matter of Momotani going to the airport."

Nakamura Shuji reacted instantly; something was wrong! Something was very wrong!

Li Xuewu was playing "to let go in order to catch"!

"Go to the airport? What's wrong with going to the airport?"

Li Xuewu pretended not to know, was stunned for a moment, then nodded as if he understood something, and said: "Oh, oh, you're talking about inconvenient transportation; no problem."

He waved his hand and said: "I'll tell the International Hotel later, they will arrange vehicles for you."

Is this a matter of vehicles? Without Li Xuewu's protection, Momotani Eriko absolutely couldn't leave the interior alive.

Unless Momotani Eriko hid in the International Hotel for the rest of her life, she would be safe, because the Red Star Factory's Security Department was there.

Conversely, who would protect Momotani when she left the International Hotel?

Naturally, it was the local powerful departments; the interior was the safest, and there was no danger at all.

This was true for ordinary people, absolutely true, but it didn't count for Momotani Eriko.

Of course, if something happened to Momotani on the road, the local powerful departments would definitely solve the case.

But the person would be dead, so what's the use of solving the case? Doesn't Nakamura Shuji know who wants Momotani's life?

So, Li Xuewu said bye-bye, I won't see you off! Look at Nakamura Shuji's reaction.

Don't, we still want to stay for a while.

Nonsense, Li Xuewu didn't even mention protection; how could they walk to the airport!

However, why would Li Xuewu mention protection? He didn't have deep feelings for the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company, and he didn't have feelings for Momotani Eriko either; why should he?

Now, Nakamura Shuji had to make Li Xuewu say "why," otherwise his work would be a failure.

"Li-san, I heard the Red Star Factory is negotiating cooperation with the Santa Ya Group?"

He was also a straightforward person and didn't go around in circles, going straight to the topic.

"We, the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company, can also provide some support."

Nakamura Shuji said very generously: "Including but not limited to machinery manufacturing industry, automotive industry, shipbuilding industry, metal processing industry, and mold industry."

"It seems Nakamura-san is very concerned about the development of the Red Star Factory."

Li Xuewu's eyelids twitched; the other party hadn't been idle this weekend, having combed through all the Red Star Factory's moves.

Otherwise, how could he mention machinery manufacturing industry, metal processing industry, and mold industry?

And, the other party specifically mentioned the Santa Ya Group.

Was Nakamura Shuji using the French businessmen as a pretext?

Of course not; this was a guilty conscience!

After Momotani Eriko suffered an accident, lay in the hospital, and was transferred to the International Hotel.

When visiting Momotani Eriko, he had already determined that Momotani Eriko had said everything.

Nonsense, in the International Hotel, would she dare not say it? If she didn't say it, why would Nakamura Shuji be the one to handle this matter?

So, it couldn't be hidden; it was better to be frank, air out what could be given, and let the other party pick.

Li Xuewu, however, was very calm, tapping the sofa armrest with his fingers: "Our factory is indeed communicating cooperation with the French businessmen; more accurately, the cooperation agreement has already been signed."

He glanced at his watch, then said: "The Santa Ya Group will undertake all the technology and equipment for the industries you mentioned."

"Of course, it's not just these industries, but also includes cooperation on many other projects."

Li Xuewu spread his hands and said: "Even the ecological industrial zone that the Red Star Factory is building will have the other party's support."

"Including architectural design and construction, supply of engineering machinery, etc."

"This... we have heard about this; it is indeed a big project."

Nakamura Shuji hesitated, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked: "I just don't know if there is a possibility of cooperation on the Fengcheng First Machinery Factory project."

He couldn't care whether saying this would annoy Li Xuewu, and said straightforwardly: "My enterprise still has some influence in machining projects."

"Temporarily, it shouldn't be needed—"

Li Xuewu pretended to be reserved, thought for a moment, looked at Peng Xiaoli, and asked: "Has the inspection team organized by the factory left? Not yet, right?"

"Yes, they said they wouldn't set off until tomorrow."

Peng Xiaoli watched the leader play dumb and found it funny, but on the surface, he was proactively maintaining him.

It was just playing dumb; the inspection team was coordinated and organized by Li Xuewu—how could he not know when they were leaving?

"Look, Nakamura-san, our factory's cooperation with the Fengcheng First Machinery Factory hasn't started yet."

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "If your side has a willingness to cooperate, why not wait until the end of the year? I estimate that by then, the negotiations will be almost done."

When Nakamura Shuji heard this, he almost laughed in anger.

End of the year? Even the end of the month wouldn't work!

The longer this matter dragged on, the more troublesome it would be; if someone really caught their Achilles' heel, he wouldn't have the qualification to solve this problem by then.

Not to mention the technology and equipment investment in the Red Star Factory going down the drain, even the dealership and agency rights they spent money to buy would be scrapped.

They couldn't afford to lose a million-yuan business.

So this matter still had to be discussed.

"Li-san, I heard your factory intends to involve itself in helicopter production business?"

Nakamura Shuji played his trump card, looked at Li Xuewu sincerely, and said: "I still have some connections in the country, and it's not impossible to mediate on your behalf, helping the Red Star Factory introduce a helicopter production line."

"Which model? KH-4?"

Li Xuewu called out the model of the helicopter directly under Nakamura Shuji's shocked gaze.

"You can't bear to give us the CH-47D, right? Even if you were willing, some people wouldn't be willing, right?"

KH-4 is actually the Bell 47, commonly known as the "Little Dragonfly."

Kawasaki Company introduced the production of the US Bell Company's Bell 47 light helicopter starting in 1954.

Kawasaki upgraded and improved the Bell 47, redesigning the overall frame, fuel tank, cockpit, etc., and developed the 4-seater KH-4.

The KH-4 had its first flight in August 1962, and 203 were produced, equipping the Ground Self-Defense Force, Maritime Self-Defense Force, Maritime Safety Department, and other units.

It was even exported to Thailand, Australia, and other countries.

This thing didn't have very strong load-bearing capacity, but its reconnaissance and transportation capabilities were still quite convenient.

The key is that this thing is truly very light; it's the kind that can be lifted by manpower.

In the south, Li Xuewu had seen it, but it wasn't the KH-4, but the original Bell 47G3, which was used for low-altitude reconnaissance.

Think about it, Li Xuewu had already seen it, which meant there were captures; with captures, there was imitation and production.

And I have to say, the White Elephant (India) is truly fragile; in the conflict Li Xuewu participated in, they shot down and captured five aircraft in succession.

Including 1 damaged "Twin Otter" fixed-wing transport aircraft, 2 Soviet-made Mi-4 medium transport helicopters, and 2 US-made Bell-47G3 light helicopters.

Interestingly, when capturing the Mi-4 and Bell-47G3, we didn't think about returning them later, so we dismantled 1 Mi-4 and 2 Bell-47G3s, and some parts were sent to the rear.

And another Mi-4 was repaired on the spot.

Later, when the conflict ended, that repaired Mi-4 helicopter, because of its good condition, was listed in the list of weapons to be returned to the White Elephant along with the "Twin Otter" fixed-wing transport aircraft.

As for the other 3 helicopters, they had all been dismantled, and couldn't be reassembled in a short time, so everyone just turned a blind eye and pretended not to know.

The three dismantled aircraft made a certain contribution to the helicopter industry.

For example, that Mi-4 helicopter was a late-model type that used metal blades.

And the early models provided to us by the Soviets in the north used wooden blades, and the Z-5 helicopters we imitated and produced also used wooden blades.

Later, after analyzing and studying the captured helicopters, we quickly trial-produced metal blades, improving the reliability and lifespan of the Z-5 helicopter's rotor system.

And those two US-made Bell-47G3 light helicopters made the aviation industry department treat them like treasures.

After all, we only had one type of Z-5 helicopter at the time, with a single function and few styles, which couldn't meet the needs.

So they hoped to imitate the Bell-47G3 helicopter, which could be used for both military and civilian purposes.

Its military uses mainly included border patrol, observation and artillery correction, emergency medical rescue, flight training, and communication liaison, etc.

Its civilian uses mainly included spraying pesticides, sowing and fertilizing, pasture disinfection, forest fire prevention, fish school observation, mineral exploration, hydrological surveying, aerial photography, etc.

Why was the Bell-47G3 chosen as an excellent model to imitate?

Because this thing could go to the plateau.

Li Xuewu remembered that in March of the year before last, the Aviation Industry Department issued the "Notice on the Development of the 701 Small Helicopter."

It was actually imitating the Bell-47G3 helicopter.

But because the factory had other production tasks at the time, the research and development work was relatively slow.

The situation learned in the future was that it wasn't until the end of the 1970s that the research, production, and test flight tasks

However, the relevant departments pointed out that "the two-seater small model is backward, has limited uses, and is not easy to equip the troops with," so the development work of the 701 helicopter was stopped before formal production even began.

Of course it wasn't suitable, because more than ten years had passed from the start of development to success.

Can a product from over a decade ago adapt to current opportunities?

If it had been successfully developed over a decade ago, it would have absolutely been practical back then.

One can only say that this era has too many regrets and has also delayed too many opportunities.

Li Xuewu is also being greedy; he looks down on the KH-4 because the Japanese have already obtained the production license for the CH-47D at this time.

The CH-47D was designed in recent years by the Boeing Company in accordance with the requirements of the U. S. Army for an all-weather medium transport helicopter.

It can perform missions under harsh high-altitude and high-temperature conditions. The aircraft has tandem twin rotors and can carry 60 soldiers or 12 tons of cargo.

You might not understand what's so good about this thing, but looking at Nakamura Shuji's expression, it's as if Li Xuewu had bitten him right in the kidney.

The CH-47D represents the most advanced medium all-weather transport aircraft technology in Japan today, and later generations were based on this to create the CH-47J transport helicopter, which is the famous "Chinook."

Nakamura Shuji's face was turning green; he was fishing with the helicopter, purely wanting to know Li Xuewu's purpose.

He never expected that this fish would be so big and so greedy that it would actually despise the bait for being too small and too terrible.

What he was calculating in his heart was naturally the KH-4.

Because the intelligence support he obtained showed that the mainland had already begun the imitation work of the Bell-47G3.

In other words, this thing is no longer considered advanced technology abroad, nor is it considered high-end stuff in the mainland.

Perhaps the mainland will be able to produce it themselves next year, and it won't even be worth much as a bargaining chip for him to use.

As for the CH-47D, that's not even worth thinking about; it's completely impossible, and even if he dared to promise it, he would just renege on the debt later.

This type of helicopter didn't even get one unit until the 1980s in later generations, and it wasn't successfully imitated for decades.

Light helicopters and medium/heavy helicopters are completely different matters.

Moreover, the news Nakamura Shuji received was that Li Xuewu had asked the Santa Ya Group for helicopter production technology at the negotiation meeting.

Of course, they also wanted that technology, but unfortunately, it hadn't finished development yet.

Mentioning helicopter technology, he just wanted to test Li Xuewu's bottom line to see if he really wanted to end this incident through commercial negotiations.

Now it's great; he went fishing and ended up getting caught himself.

Li Xuewu has already spoken; you tell me, is he going to give it or not?

"Li-sang, I absolutely have no confidence regarding the CH-47D model. I am just a small businessman; how would I dare to make such a decision?"

Nakamura Shuji said very frankly and straightforwardly: "Even for the KH-4 you just mentioned, I can only act as a liaison and coordinator."

Take note, what is mentioned here is not compensation; the other party did not say they would use helicopter technology to compensate for this incident.

To put it bluntly, it is just giving the mainland an opportunity to purchase technology and production lines.

How could someone as black-hearted as Li Xuewu let him play games? Even if he knew the mainland couldn't develop the 701 light helicopter for the time being, the other party didn't know that.

"No rush, hahahaha, I was just saying whatever came to mind."

He chuckled, nodded, and said: "Actually, regarding helicopter production, you should understand our factory's intentions."

"This thing isn't actually cheap either; the selling price abroad is probably around 50,000 U. S. dollars, right?"

"Li-sang truly has a thorough grasp of the international market situation; I am truly filled with admiration!"

Nakamura Shuji knows very well that as long as Li Xuewu is in charge of foreign trade at the Red Star Factory, no one can pick up any bargains there.

"Actually, to be frank, choosing the KH-4 has more advantages than the CH-47D."

He looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Even if the Red Star Factory obtained the CH-47D production line, with your current technical production capabilities, it would be very difficult to produce a qualified aircraft."

This statement was sincere; Nakamura Shuji had looked into the industrial production capabilities of the Red Star Factory.

A helicopter production line is not something that can be achieved just by the eight characters of "self-reliance and arduous struggle."

The workers on the production line need at least a high school education; can the Red Star Factory manage that?

It's not that a high school education alone can complete this production work, but rather that it represents the level of industrial technology.

The KH-4 helicopter is lightweight, simple in structure, and the technology is 20 years old, so mastering it is naturally relatively easier.

Nakamura Shuji was still testing Li Xuewu to see if he really wanted this aircraft.

"If the KH-4 production line can be introduced smoothly, our Sanhe United Stock Company very much hopes to obtain the agency distribution rights for this aircraft."

50,000 U. S. dollars, which is 160,000 yuan per unit in the mainland—is it cheap? Is it expensive?

It depends on how you look at it; for commercial or industrial use, it is just a production tool.

How great is the loss from a forest fire?

If a helicopter could participate in firefighting, how much loss could be recovered?

Of course, this is all what Nakamura Shuji said; Li Xuewu never insisted on wanting a helicopter.

If he really wanted this thing, he could just wait a few years and acquire it after the 701 project goes bankrupt.

What he wants is numerical control machine tool technology; that is the treasure, something even more precious than a helicopter production line.

But he couldn't say it directly; if he said it, the Japanese would become alert, and what would he do if they didn't give it then?

"Of course, if the Red Star Factory can introduce the KH-4 production line, it will naturally be for export."

Li Xuewu said seriously: "Especially after implementing a supply-chain production model, it will bring certain changes to the helicopter market."

Actually, this is all nonsense; helicopter production, creating a supply chain?

Of course it's possible, but how to handle the main equipment is another matter—not every factory has the capability and technology to produce helicopter equipment.

There is a reason why this thing costs 50,000 U. S. dollars in this era.

It's not as simple as assembling a bicycle for 50 yuan; the other party is testing, and Li Xuewu is completely in the mode of "bragging doesn't require paying taxes."

Of course, there are rules to bragging; according to the other party's meaning, Li Xuewu made it very clear that the helicopters produced would also be for export.

As long as it is an export commodity, Nakamura Shuji's Sanhe Stock Company has the opportunity to make money, and make a huge profit at that.

Giving this kind of signal actually made Nakamura Shuji confused—could it be that the Red Star Factory really wants helicopter production technology?

"Has that matter with the Japanese businessman been handled?"

During the office meeting in the afternoon, as soon as Li Xuewu entered the conference room, he was asked by Gu Weijie, who had followed him in.

Li Xuewu stopped and waited for a moment, invited the other party to go first, and then headed to his seat at the conference table.

"How could it be that fast? Haste makes waste, after all—"

Li Xuewu said with a smile: "Let's grind it out slowly; I feel it's close, the other party doesn't have much patience."

"You are asking for the moon; don't scare them away."

Cheng Kaiyuan sat opposite and said to Li Xuewu with a smile: "I heard you talked about helicopter technology? It wouldn't be that project you discussed with the French businessman last time, would it? Hahahaha—"

Li Xuewu took on the task of negotiating with the Japanese businessman not only because it was assigned by the Red Star Factory and approved by Li Huai De, but also because of the face given by the foreign affairs department and the investigation department.

Therefore, he did not report the relevant negotiation intentions and content to the outside world; even for the factory leaders, he only mentioned some minor details.

Li Xuewu suspected that someone in the factory was engaged in intelligence gathering, and that external security was not tight, with the possibility of leaks.

He wouldn't say these things at the meeting, nor could he say them in front of so many leaders.

Regarding the negotiations, agenda, and purpose, he had no obligation to report to others, and Li Huai De only knew the general idea.

Li Xuewu would suspect anyone of leaking secrets, but he wouldn't suspect Old Li.

Old Li has flaws in his personal morality, but his major principles are sound—at least for now, that is the case.

"The helicopter is just a smokescreen, but if the Sanhe Stock Company can really produce it, we will naturally take it."

Li Xuewu smiled and sat next to Gu Weijie; above them was Li Huai De.

The seating arrangement for the management committee meeting is very mysterious; Li Xuewu, who is not a member of the management committee, is sitting in the position of "one person below."

How should I put it? No one dares to oppose Li Huai De's opinion, and even fewer are willing to oppose it.

Naturally, no one says anything about Li Xuewu's contribution to the Red Star Factory, and they couldn't say anything even if they wanted to.

Moreover, Li Xuewu is humble, cautious, flexible, and changeable, and he gets along well with all the factory leaders; he is the lubricant.

At meetings, he can often communicate the opinions of several parties and integrate them into a safe and feasible plan, which earns him great trust from Li Huai De.

What Cheng Kaiyuan didn't tell his secretary Zhang Guoqi was that Li Huai De had already communicated privately with several deputy directors; once the higher-ups adjusted and arranged the leadership team of the Red Star Factory, Li Xuewu would definitely be joining the management committee team.

Due to age and seniority restrictions, being a deputy director would be too much and would put pressure on Li Xuewu's future, so he wouldn't be a deputy director.

Li Huai De's opinion is to set up the position of secretary-general in the management committee team, and this position is exactly what is being prepared for Li Xuewu.

Even with the status of a department-level official, he could still hold the position, and he would also have the authority to manage factory affairs and participate in management committee meetings.

Now all parties have agreed, just waiting for the higher-ups to make their move.

"Comrade Xuewu is responsible for the Japanese businessman side, so naturally there is no rush; I am actually very anxious about the French businessman side."

Taking advantage of the time before the meeting started, Xue Zhifu spoke up: "The agreement was signed today, and at the meeting, I also mentioned design technology, construction technology, and engineering machinery."

He glanced at Li Xuewu and added: "The other party only said they would arrange it as soon as possible; should I urge them again?"

"No need to urge; this kind of thing cannot be solved by urging."

Li Xuewu signaled to Cheng Kaiyuan opposite and said: "Please have Deputy Director Cheng greet Mr. Andrew from the Italian side, and we will take a trip to the Yingcheng Shipyard to see who gets anxious then."

"Hahaha—your idea is truly devious!"

Gu Weijie naturally understood Li Xuewu's meaning; she glanced at him with a light smile and looked at Cheng Kaiyuan, asking: "Has the Italian side been settled?"

"Not yet; I just finished talking with Xuewu this morning, and we are preparing to meet with Mr. Andrew together."

Cheng Kaiyuan did not care at the management committee meeting whether it would be embarrassing to ask Li Xuewu for help if the negotiations with the Italian side were not going well.

Because they had long regarded Li Xuewu as one of their own on the management committee; don't look at the rank, that thing is useless.

In the Red Star Factory, Li Xuewu is already a pillar of support.

This project was originally Li Xuewu's responsibility; it was just that he was in charge of industrial production, and getting involved in this matter at the Yingcheng Shipyard also had Li Huai De's support, representing a thaw in the relationship between the two.

Whether it gets done or not, one cannot bypass Li Xuewu.

Is it embarrassing to work together?

There are others who have been handled by Li Xuewu to the point of near-death, and some who almost lost their third-tier industries; what does he have to be embarrassed about?

"Talk slowly, don't be anxious."

Gu Weijie looked at Li Xuewu and said: "If we can straighten out the relationships with the Italian, Japanese, and French businessmen, we might just achieve miraculous results."

"It's too difficult; containment and comparison are fine, but to make big moves involves too much."

Li Xuewu rubbed his brow and said amusingly: "Going to the Yingcheng Shipyard for research is also to disgust the Santa Ya Group; if they aren't proactive, then we will turn around and find the Italian side to engage in shipping."

"When the time comes, the cargo ships heading to Southeast Asia will all hang the Geely Star brand and sell our goods; let's see if they get anxious then."

"Don't use this move lightly; it's too damaging to harmony."

Cheng Kaiyuan looked at Xue Zhifu and said: "The cooperation agreement has just been signed, so let's follow the procedure; the project progress can be coordinated, but it would be troublesome if the cooperation were ruined."

This matter cannot be handled according to Li Xuewu's wishes, and Li Xuewu meant the same thing—it was just idle chatter.

When Li Huai De arrived, Cheng Kaiyuan, Li Xuewu, and the others had already been discussing work for a while.

"Had some things to attend to, sorry for the delay."

Li Huai De explained, then walked behind the conference table to sit down, took a sip of hot tea, and then looked at everyone and asked: "Is everyone here? Let's start the meeting."

"The main topic for discussion today is the supplementary insurance plan under the framework of the 'Labor Insurance Regulations'."

He first looked at the document in his hand, then looked at everyone and said: "I believe everyone has already understood it; if you have any opinions or thoughts, speak up, and let's discuss it."

"The Red Star Factory has taken big steps this year, and the pressure is also great," Li Huai De clenched his fingers and said: "The expansion of the worker team has brought productivity to the enterprise, but it has also brought pressure on welfare security."

"I don't care about other enterprises, but our factory must fully guarantee the welfare and insurance benefits of the employees."

What does Li Huai De want to say?

It is actually the reform of "public-funded medical care," which is also an issue being discussed by the higher-ups this year.

PS: I have already written about medical insurance and pension insurance earlier, and some readers questioned how there could be these two types of insurance at that time. Those who have doubts, please search for "Labor Insurance Regulations" (add the country name prefix, I can't write it here or it will be censored) on Baidu to see what year it was promulgated.