Chapter 1271: Civil Hardware

"You eat it, he has enough."

Zhou Ya had gotten up early in the morning to make dough-drop soup, with a poached egg nestled inside; this was the most luxurious breakfast in the Northeast.

"I find it fishy; I haven't liked eating it since I was a child."

Lao Lao Biaozi fished the poached egg out of his bowl and placed it into Fu Fu Zhidong's, smiling as he said, "Eat up, so you can grow big and tall."

This was perhaps the most primitive and profound expectation and hope that most parents of this era had for their children.

To grow big, to grow tall.

People in the Northeast were even more concerned about height and physical stature than they were about education; in later generations, it was even widely accepted that a young man under 1.7 meters was considered a "third-class disability."

Even the height standards for military conscription were much higher than in the South.

Of course, people of this era were generally shorter; one reason was not having enough to eat, and the other was the heavy physical labor, which affected their postnatal development.

This might also be the regret of a generation, which is why they worked even harder to provide a better life for the next generation, so they wouldn't have to suffer such hardships or endure such misery again.

Fu Fu Zhidong gave a shy laugh, looked up at Lao Lao Biaozi, and said, "Thank you, Uncle Biao—"

"Eat in small bites, no rush."

Li Li Xuewu used his chopsticks to dip a bit of sauce onto the poached egg in his godson's bowl, smiling as he watched him wolf it down.

Zhou Ya watched the few people at the dining table from the kitchen, the smile on her face growing even warmer, just like the morning glow that had just risen outside the window.

"Are Mai Qinglan and the child doing well?"

She brought over a small dish of pickled vegetables she had made herself and asked with genuine concern, "I was thinking of going to see them this weekend."

"Go ahead, she misses you a lot."

Lao Lao Biaozi used a spoon to scoop half a spoonful of soybean paste into his dough-drop soup, laughing as he replied, "She says she's been bored out of her mind at home; the child is small, she can't go out, and there's no one to talk to. She's about to go stir-crazy."

"You're the same way; it's not like there aren't any convenient cars," Zhou Ya said, picking up her own rice bowl and chiding him, "Hurry up and find a time to send the mother and child over to stay with me for a few days."

"Is it me stopping them from coming?"

Lao Lao Biaozi shook his head with a bitter smile, saying, "She says she wants to go everywhere, but as soon as she thinks about bringing the child and having to pack so many things, she's too lazy to bother."

"Steel City is cold," Li Li Xuewu looked out the window. It was the end of March, and in the morning, the outside was still frozen solid and covered in white frost.

"It's at least five degrees colder than in the Capital."

He used his chopsticks to pick up a strip of pickled vegetable and said unhurriedly, "The trees in the Capital are already sprouting green leaves, and the flowers by the roadside have long since bloomed."

"She regrets it herself, saying she should have waited in the Capital until the weather warmed up before coming back," Lao Lao Biaozi laughed. "She even blames me, worrying that I won't eat well or dress warmly, and in the end, she blames everything on me."

"That's because she cares about you—"

Seeing his bowl was empty, Zhou Ya stood up and went to the basin to scoop another large spoonful for him. Fearing he wouldn't be full, she emphasized, "I made plenty, eat up."

"I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Lao Lao Biaozi gave a shy laugh and accepted it politely. Only when Zhou Ya turned away did he bring up the main topic with Li Li Xuewu.

"That matter you mentioned before the New Year has some leads. There really are people who value money over their lives," he shoveled a mouthful of dough-drop soup and said while eating, "Three people to a boat; they haul electrical appliances on the way out and frozen pork on the way back..."

"It's frozen meat, right?" Li Li Xuewu looked up at him and asked, "On the high seas, or at a small pier?"

"The big ship stays on the high seas outside the small pier, stationed there year-round," Lao Lao Biaozi explained. "I don't know exactly how they get it back; currently, it's just a simple exchange mechanism."

"A small boat can hold two hundred televisions, which they exchange for seventeen boatloads of frozen pork."

He looked up and grinned, saying, "Our thousand-ton cargo ship is docked in Bohai Bay. I give them 500 yuan for every round trip they make, life or death doesn't count."

"Of course, it can't always be pork. The other side's ship has all sorts of things; they load whatever they happen to have, and the prices are decent too."

Lao Lao Biaozi took off the steel watch on his wrist, placed it on the table, and pushed it over, saying, "Enicar, a brand name. They sell for 151 yuan in the store, and I sell them for 300, yet they're still out of stock from time to time. It's really like picking up money."

As he said this, he shook his head with a sense of emotion, saying, "Sometimes I don't even feel like this money is money anymore. A human life isn't even worth 200 yuan."

500 yuan for a round trip, split between three people—if something happens, a human life really isn't worth 200 yuan.

But at this time, being able to earn over 100 yuan for a round trip on a boat was truly enough to make people green with envy.

Not to mention, if they ran it for a month, just risking their lives in the middle of the night, plus the time for repairs, they could take home at least two or three thousand yuan.

This era, two or three thousand!

"Pork, white flour, cigarettes, white sugar, soybean oil, cloth, fountain pens... our ship collects too much of this stuff."

Lao Lao Biaozi ate quickly; by the time he finished speaking, another bowl of dough-drop soup was gone.

Zhou Ya wanted to give him another bowl, but he waved his hand to refuse.

"I'm really full, Sister Zhou."

He put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and continued his report: "One time, it made me so angry. Those few idiots... those young fools actually brought me back a dozen boatloads of chemical fertilizer. Where the hell am I supposed to spread that!"

He had originally wanted to curse them as idiots, but seeing Fu Fu Zhidong sitting at the table eating, he swallowed the words back.

"It doesn't sound like the risk is very high."

Li Li Xuewu was full, put down his chopsticks, and asked, "Nothing happened recently, right?"

"We manage things strictly ourselves, and we don't push our luck, so of course nothing will happen," Lao Lao Biaozi nodded and explained, "I gave a strict order to the ships: I'd rather not make money, even lose money, than lose a human life."

"But the dozen or so young guys who came recently have spirit; they told the ship they wouldn't settle the accounts, and that we should calculate the accounts only after they've earned back the cost of the boat."

He curled his large lips and said, "I'm a soft-hearted person; you know I'm the most benevolent. I only set a price of 500,000 for a boat."

"As long as they follow what I say and don't try to cut corners, they'll be able to partner up and take ownership of the boat in half a year."

Lao Lao Biaozi used his rolling-pin-like fingers to calculate, saying, "Just think, I've made it clear to them: working for me is 500 per trip. If they have their own boat, then I'll calculate the money based on the cargo on the boat."

"They handle the cargo; how could they not know how much a boatload of cargo can earn? Everyone has high spirits and is eyeing the big money."

He spread his five fingers on one hand and gestured a two with the other, saying, "Five hundred versus two thousand—if they only run pork, that's the price."

The 'Big Flying' boats also have a load capacity of five tons, which is ten thousand jin.

Frozen meat on the high seas isn't actually cheap; it's 200 pounds per ton, which converts to about 0.6 yuan per jin, possibly even more expensive than in the domestic market.

Someone might ask, is Lao Lao Biaozi an idiot?

Domestic meat sells for 0.6 yuan; he goes through the trouble and risk to get meat from outside for 0.6 yuan—isn't that going to lose his shirt?

Just think about it: how many people can actually buy meat for 0.6 yuan at the farmers' market? Being able to buy meat for 1.2 yuan is already considered not bad.

The imbalance in supply and demand here creates a price difference of at least 0.6 yuan.

The pork Lao Lao Biaozi brings back, after deducting operating and risk costs, still has a profit margin of about 0.1 yuan.

In other words, he gets two hundred televisions out of the electronics factory at a flat rate, calculated at 500 yuan each, which is an export cost of one hundred thousand yuan.

Exchanging that for 166,000 jin of frozen pork can earn about 16,000.

"Small business, doesn't make much money; it's mainly to sell the boats."

Seeing Zhou Ya looking at him in surprise, Lao Lao Biaozi smiled slightly and explained, "The 500,000-yuan 'Sea Flying' boats are the real big money."

"Harvesting leeks, you know—"

Li Li Xuewu said indifferently, "Don't be afraid of them making money. The efficiency can be slowed down a bit; cultivate a few more batches and harvest them slowly."

"I understand, I'll keep it in mind."

Lao Lao Biaozi nodded and said seriously, "If we don't let them take the money back, how could more people believe that running boats can make money?"

"Only by forming wave after wave, a tide of people going to sea to make money one after another, can we have the ladder-style economic development rhythm of selling fast boats, selling anti-smuggling boats, selling faster boats, and selling faster anti-smuggling boats. The upgrades are just to keep the money flowing."

"Uh..." Zhou Ya was a bit confused. She hadn't really studied this matter in detail, but she did know that Lao Lao Biaozi was working on it.

Every time Li Li Xuewu came to Steel City, Lao Lao Biaozi would take the initiative to meet him at home to talk about work matters, discussing work arrangements during breakfast.

After all, some content wasn't convenient to discuss in letters or over the phone.

Regarding Li Li Xuewu's trust, Zhou Ya felt both moved and helpless.

What moved her was that Li Li Xuewu had raised her, giving her a comfortable material life and a safe living environment.

What made her helpless was that the more she knew, the more tightly she was bound; she could no longer leave Li Li Xuewu, nor could she leave this circle.

Sometimes, a circle is just like this; the invisible attraction will firmly grasp people's hearts. It's hard to explain, but one just can't escape it.

Lao Lao Biaozi didn't mind her because Li Li Xuewu trusted her, so some things didn't matter even if said to her face.

When Fu Fu Zhidong gets a bit older, they might have to hide things from the child, but as the organization's personnel director, she wasn't an outsider.

"This is a balance—"

Seeing that Zhou Ya didn't understand, Lao Lao Biaozi smiled and explained to her, "I'm not afraid of them making money; I'm afraid of them making money and then acting recklessly, not knowing when to stop."

"This trade doesn't need that many boats or that many people," he said in a relaxed tone. "When new people come in, old people have to go out."

"Eliminate them batch after batch, so the people behind have a chance to make money, so they can continue to work for us, save money, and buy boats... an infinite cycle."

Actually, Lao Lao Biaozi was being modest, but Zhou Ya understood: ecological balance, survival of the fittest.

The exported electrical appliances were in the hands of the recycling station, the channels for buying boats were also in the hands of the recycling station, and even the processing of "imported" goods was handled by them.

Everything was decided by the recycling station, including the speed of the boats.

As long as faster boats appeared, there would be some unlucky fools who didn't know life from death who would get caught, becoming credit for anti-smuggling efforts or nutrients for the ocean.

"That pork or those goods..." she asked with a slight frown, "won't there be risks?"

"We don't have any risks; we aren't exchanging them with individuals."

Lao Lao Biaozi shook his head slightly and said, "Currently, this amount isn't even enough for the various units to divide up. Once the supply chain disperses, everything will vanish."

"Even if a thousand-ton boatload of pork were transported back, the four cities of Yingcheng, Steel City, Fengcheng, and Jicheng would eat it all up."

He explained to Zhou Ya, "We earn hard-earned money; this isn't a joke. The meat distributed to the various units barely makes any money."

"The Red Star Factory has over ten thousand employees in Steel City, over ten thousand in Yingcheng, and another ten thousand in Fengcheng. How many tons does the big canteen go through every day?"

Lao Lao Biaozi shrugged his shoulders, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and said, "As long as the workers and cadres can eat pork, no one will look for trouble."

"Alright, go get busy."

Li Li Xuewu knew that as long as he was doing a good job, that was enough. There was no need to explain some things too clearly, and Zhou Ya didn't need to be responsible for specific matters.

Actually, Zhou Ya understood by now that grain products like pork, white flour, white sugar, and soybean oil didn't need to bear any risk at all.

As long as they entered the mainland and were put into the supply chain, going through a round at the Trade Management Center, nothing would be detectable.

Especially with the food processing plant that the Red Star Factory was currently setting up, no matter how much grain and pork were transported back, it wouldn't be enough to digest, let alone the distribution between factories.

Tight and valuable materials like cigarettes, cloth, and fountain pens wouldn't even reach the hands of ordinary people, so where would the risk come from?

Currently, these "import and export" materials were just used in the early stages of operations to maintain the ships and cultivate people; they were for the Northeast Asia strategy that would follow.

Li Li Xuewu had mentioned it to her in private: industrial product output and product premiums to crush the other side's industrial development potential was the hard truth.

Whether it was South Korea or Japan, neither had the industrial production potential of the Northeast.

As long as it was operated well, although he didn't dare hope to rival them in technology, at least they could form a tripartite balance, using the sea-going 'Big Flying' boats to drag down the other side's takeoff speed.

It was 1968 now; in another ten years, the Northeast would have more private capital fermenting. That would be the real time for takeoff, a good opportunity to capture the Northeast Asian economic market.

It was also a development opportunity for the Red Star Factory to lay out its integrated industrial chain.

Li Li Xuewu knew very well that after opening the country and the market, the impact of foreign economy on local industrial productivity would be fierce.

To withstand this wave and complete a counter-growth, with the scale and capability of the Red Star Factory, even if it stood up, the losses caused would be immeasurable, and there was even a high possibility of the giant collapsing.

At this time, a key was needed to awaken and open the door to the economic market, combining the industrial production economic chain with the private capital cultivated over ten years to generate a shockwave that would offset this wave of economic influx.

This key was the recycling station.

Connecting the industrial clusters that Li Li Xuewu had been laying out for ten years, forming a domestic demand market inward and an overwhelming dumping market outward, daring to say no to the market.

On the morning of March 28th, Gao Gao Yaqin presided over the inspection delegation's briefing, dividing the Steel City industrial zone into several small groups for tours.

"To be honest, this is my first time here too."

Gao Gao Yaqin smiled and gestured to Dong Wenxue, who was sitting beside her, saying, "I reported to the Red Star Factory at the beginning of the month and haven't had time to come down to do research work."

"However, Comrade Wenxue talked with me last night, introducing the development status of the Steel City industrial zone and its industrial layout structure."

She gestured to Li Li Xuewu again and said, "The Secretary-General knows Steel City very well. He mentioned one point: the Steel City industrial zone is too big, and there are too many of us, making it difficult to introduce, difficult to manage safety and protection, and impossible to finish seeing it all by just taking a quick look. We have to pick the key points to inspect and visit carefully."

"Therefore, the Secretary-General suggests dividing into several small groups according to the industrial areas that can be visited, with each group having dedicated personnel to guide and introduce."

Gao Gao Yaqin said in a warm tone, "Everyone can choose the groups they are interested in visiting according to the detailed introduction given on the table."

"Once in the morning, once in the afternoon, voluntary reorganization. You can choose and match the content you want to see. There are ten groups, ensuring everyone can finish seeing it all."

Behind the foreign business representatives were real-time translators deployed by the Foreign Affairs Department and the Red Star Factory, promptly informing the foreign businessmen of the content Gao Gao Yaqin spoke about at the briefing.

The foreign businessmen were also very understanding. Following the introduction and help of the translators, they began to choose the content they wanted to visit and then chose the "tour guide" groups to follow.

Finally, after statistics were taken, the most people wanted to see the electronics industry, followed by the automotive industry and the hardware industry, and then the aircraft and engineering equipment.

The hardware industry was relatively scattered. Art, that dog, was the first to choose the group Li Li Xuewu was in, and even took the initiative to ask to see the weapons factory.

Whether it was foreign businessmen or representatives in charge of joint industries, few were willing to see the weapons industry. Most only wanted to see kitchen and tool hardware.

"Actually, you could have gone to see the aircraft and car factories first."

Li Li Xuewu, wearing a wool overcoat, smiled and said to Art, who was following him, "Besides, didn't I bring you to see it once last year?"

"Last year was last year. I heard you have a new production plan."

Art wrapped himself in a military overcoat in a cocky manner and gestured to the few 'old sixes' behind him, saying, "These are all my friends, and like me, they are all keen on spreading the flames of peace. I specifically brought them here to see the world."

"Then I can't lose face for you, can I?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at the few 'dudes' surrounding him with amusement. Each one looked like a fierce bandit; how the hell were they 'keen on spreading peace'!"

Actually, he didn't know that these people walking beside him didn't look out of place to outsiders; he was still the 'most handsome' guy.

If Li Li Xuewu were to say that Art and his friends didn't look like good people, Art would definitely feel very aggrieved.

Because in his eyes, Li Li Xuewu wasn't a good cookie either.

And in the eyes of outsiders, wasn't this a bandit leader leading a group of fierce bandits? Li Li Xuewu, wearing a wool overcoat, had a bulging waist—what was that?

"Not short of money!"

"What the hell?"

Li Li Xuewu led this group of foreign businessmen out, preparing to take a car to the weapons factory, when he heard a distorted Northeast dialect.

"Who said that?"

He turned his head to look, only to see an African brother.

This guy was truly black, like he was Art's brother; they both had a pair of protruding front teeth.

Of course, this was a joke. Art was the 'white' kind, the kind with a cloth on his head. Li Li Xuewu was just saying the teeth looked like brothers.

"Don't talk nonsense—"

Art didn't miss out on this trend either, also coming out with a Northeast dialect phrase.

"Mentioning money to Mr. Li is an insult to him, you know that?"

After lecturing his friend, he turned back to Li Li Xuewu, spread his hands, and said, "Used to being straightforward outside, don't understand the rules here."

"You even understand the rules here?"

Li Li Xuewu looked at him with amusement, then looked at that straightforward big brother—black and white demons?

"Who taught you this Northeast dialect?"

He pointed at the translation team following behind and scolded with a smile, "Don't teach them useless stuff; this is our national essence."

"Hahaha—"

Li Li Xuewu's language switched very quickly, sometimes English, sometimes Northeast dialect. Those who couldn't understand were stunned, while those who could understand laughed out loud.

Actually, speaking of which, these people who do head-chopping business are more cheerful and humorous than those treacherous merchants, and even have a strong sense of humor.

Art brought seven or eight friends, and his purpose was very clear: to see the weapons factory, with a posture of being ready to place a big order.

Li Li Xuewu had long since understood their purpose, so he specifically arranged this group inspection itinerary, just to take them to see something fun.

How much money can you make selling a truckload of hardware tools or a truckload of televisions? Anyway, it's not as much as selling a truckload of submachine guns.

The order Art placed last year had basically been fully delivered in terms of weapons; the only things missing were the orders for cars and other conventional goods.

It wasn't that the Red Star Factory delayed the delivery time, but that this kid placed a two-year volume all at once, and also requested delivery in batches and time periods.

Bringing so many people to buy 'peace' this time, it looked like he had really made money.

"Isn't it very peaceful over there?"

Li Li Xuewu asked Art in the car, "Why are you so eager to buy peace?"

"Peace is needed at all times."

Art said seriously, "Peace in one region is not peace; world peace is true peace, and peace is also a relative state..."

"You really are a philosopher!"

Li Li Xuewu nodded and praised him seriously, "If I don't hear your name in academia within ten years, then the world definitely has a serious prejudice against you."

"That's right, prejudice, absolute prejudice!"

Art was also amused by Li Li Xuewu's words, slapped his thigh, and said, "I actually have a lot to say to this world, but it just won't listen to me!"

"You can write a book, call it 'Art'."

Li Li Xuewu pointed at him and said, "Write about your views and opinions on peace, and write about how you spread the flames of peace to the world."

"Sigh—I'm still too busy."

Art shook his head slightly and said, "But I'll write such a book sooner or later. Time is too precious now; it can't be wasted. When I'm sent to court, they'll help me write it."

"Hahaha—"

The translators and foreign affairs personnel following the car were laughing like crazy. The two of them were talking nonsense with a straight face, and the combination of their identities made it sound especially fun.

Weren't they talking about evidence in court? Would Art be willing to write it himself?

"You've expanded so many workshops again?"

Art hadn't even gotten out of the car. As soon as he entered the weapons factory's courtyard, he was surprised by the many more production workshops.

"When I came last year, this was still an empty lot," he pointed at the direction of the workshops and said, "It's only been a year."

"Our development is relatively fast, especially in new types of civil hardware and other aspects," Li Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and introduced, "And we received some commissioned production orders, and we happened to have some machine tools that were phased out and workers who needed to be placed, so..."

"So this counts as making use of waste?"

Art was a bit stunned when he got out of the car. Looking at the roaring factory building, he turned to Li Li Xuewu and asked, "A full set of light weapons systems?"

"Something like that. What do you want to see?"

Li Li Xuewu took off his leather gloves, pointed in the direction of the warehouse, and said, "To welcome you, a warehouse here has been specially prepared for an exhibition."

"Then do I even need to consider? Of course, I want to see everything!"

Art was like a little fox that had fallen into a chicken coop. Including his friends behind him, they all widened their eyes, full of expectant gazes.

"Actually, I wanted to ask last year: since Mr. Ji can get so many phased-out weapons, why don't you start the machines and produce them yourself?"

He nodded and said to Li Li Xuewu, "You've finally adopted my suggestion. This is definitely a good business!"

"We're just doing commissioned production."

Li Li Xuewu emphasized this, but didn't argue with him further. Led by the security cadres, they walked toward the warehouse.

Along the way, they also saw some workshops currently in production, with weapon parts being transported into the assembly workshop by carts.

These people all stretched their necks, pointing and gesturing after seeing them, instantly calling out what weapons those parts were used for.

Hmm, I see, they are all very keen on peace.

"Type 56 semi-automatic, Type 56 submachine gun, Type 56 light machine gun," as soon as Art entered, he walked to the front of the wooden weapon crates, patted the exhibits placed on top, and explained, "These three things, you can buy them with your eyes closed; they're absolutely not bad. Buy as many as you have, no need to worry about not being able to sell them."

"Type 54 pistol can be bought in small quantities. This thing is too powerful; it's mostly for officers to defend themselves. It's too luxurious for individual soldiers to use."

He didn't need Li Li Xuewu's introduction at all, and even less did he need the 'tour guide' equipped here; he became the mentor for those friends.

"I really like this thing!"

He grabbed a Type 56 submachine gun and introduced, "It's actually a replica of the Russian AK-47, and it also fires 7.62x39mm intermediate cartridges."

"Click—"

Art removed the magazine and gestured to introduce to his friends, "It's also equipped with a 30-round detachable double-row magazine."

After finishing, he reattached the magazine, pulled the bolt back in a bandit-like manner, rested the buttstock in the hollow of his shoulder, and aimed forward, saying, "This thing can also fire semi-automatically or fully automatically."

"The theoretical rate of fire is about 650 rounds per minute. Compared to the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle over there, the firepower is much fiercer."

"Looks like our 'small shop' is about to open for business?" Li Li Xuewu smiled at the staff beside him, then looked at Art and asked, "What was the price last year? It's the same price this year. You'd better have a number in mind for how many you want."

"No, no—" Art shook his finger, threw the gun in his hand to the friend standing closest, and said to Li Li Xuewu with a smile, "I don't do this kind of small business anymore; the profit margin is too thin. My friends here can use it to practice; it's safe, guaranteed, and the earnings aren't bad."

"Do you know how to distinguish between a Type 56 automatic rifle and an AK-47?"

He pointed at the front sight and introduced to his friends, "The AK-47 has a notch-style front sight, while the Type 56 has a circular hooded front sight. You can tell them apart at a glance."

"Of course, they modified this gun."

Art touched the triangular bayonet under the barrel lightly and said, "Originally, this was a detachable sword-style bayonet, but it looks like the current one has more lethality."

Li Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders noncommittally and didn't say anything, gesturing for them to help themselves.

These people were all experts, especially with someone like Art around; there was no need for him to introduce what these things were or what their pros and cons were.

"Type 54 heavy machine gun," Art saw his friends paying attention to the big guy on the ground and took the initiative to introduce, "It's the Russian DShK 12.7mm heavy machine gun. They look almost the same, right?"

"It also fires 12.7x108mm machine gun cartridges and is equipped with a belt or belt box feed, with a theoretical rate of fire of about 650 rounds per minute."

He patted the ammunition box next to the machine gun and said, "It's a good thing to put in a bunker, and it's also a good thing to put on a boat."

"Do you produce this too?"

Art had long since seen the rocket launcher, but because he was with his friends, he hadn't had the chance to come over for a while. Now that his friends were studying the various firearms in front, he turned to look at the other weapons on the rack.

"Type 56 rocket launcher, a replica of the RPG-2 model, right? The caliber is also 40mm," he pinched it with his hand and said, "I want this."

He turned back to Li Li Xuewu and pointed at the rocket launcher in his hand, saying, "How is your production capacity now? I might want a lot."

"I don't know either. Let's talk about it together when the time comes."

Li Li Xuewu flipped his palms and didn't give a definite figure. Today was just for visiting; it wasn't like he was going to let him take them away on the spot.

"Type 63 60mm mortar, I like it."

Art understood what Li Li Xuewu meant, walked to the side, patted the small steel cannon on the rack, and said, "Mr. Ji took me to fire one last time, and the effect was quite good, but the stability wasn't very good."

"The range is 1470 meters, and it only weighs 12.5 kilograms," Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and asked rhetorically, "What else do you want to expect from it?"

"That's true—" Art shook his head, smiled, and said, "I want this one too. The last one sold out in less than a month."

"Oh, by the way—" Art turned around, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and asked, "Do you still sell ammunition separately? Do I have to go buy it from Mr. Ji?"

"That's right, we're just doing commissioned processing."

Li Li Xuewu pursed his lips and reminded him, "This is just a civil equipment processing factory. What did you think our company does?"

"Hmm, I understand," Art nodded, without any complaints. He really understood what Li Li Xuewu meant. "Reputation is more important. In the future, you will be a world-class enterprise."

"Thank you for your understanding—"

Li Li Xuewu smiled slightly and asked, "Do you still want the 66-6 sniper rifle? We have a certain amount of stock. We can offer a discount for large quantities."

"My friends will like it."

Art gestured to those who were looking at the cannons, smiled, and said, "I still have stock. Although this thing is easy to use, it's also truly precious."

Art gestured toward the people looking at the cannons, smiled, and said, "I still have stock, and while this stuff is easy to use, it's truly expensive."

"However, I want all of these," he said, pointing to the various individual combat equipment piled on the crates. "The canteens are very useful and especially popular."

"The entrenching tools are the same, and the daggers and mess kits—I want them all."

Art picked up a pair of binoculars, opened them to test them, and asked, "Are these premium quality? The quality seems quite average."

"Of course, they can't compare to Zeiss."

Li Li Xuewu said quite frankly, "Because their price can't compare to Zeiss either; they are merely one-tenth the price of Zeiss."

"Being easy to use and cheap is their advantage."

He took the binoculars from Art's hand and casually packed them back into the box.

"Besides weapons, are you interested in doing some business in civilian hardware?"

"What? What kind of civilian hardware?"

Art was stunned, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and said, "Have you developed new hardware tools or some other product?"

"Isn't that the content for this afternoon's tour?"

"What you're thinking of is indeed scheduled for the afternoon."

Li Li Xuewu shook the binocular box in his hand, smiled, and said, "The civilian hardware I'm talking about is a rather special product; the average person wouldn't be able to see it."

"Then I must take a look—"

Art understood in an instant, rubbed his hands together, and asked eagerly, "Where is that kind of civilian hardware you mentioned?"

"Call your friends over. You're already intimately familiar with these things, so what's there to look at?"

Li Li Xuewu patted him on the shoulder, gestured toward the foreigners who were still looking at the guns and cannons, and said with a smile, "I'll wait for you at the entrance."

As he spoke, he tossed the binoculars in his hand to Art, turned around, and went out.

Outside the door, the security cadre saluted and reported, "Secretary-General, everything is ready."

"Mm, you must pay attention to safety."

Li Li Xuewu nodded and instructed, "Including the implementation personnel and the target site, you must do a good job of clearing the area; there cannot be any accidents."

"Don't worry, I've been monitoring this matter personally."

The security cadre replied solemnly, "We've conducted several experiments over the past few days; there is absolutely no problem, and the target site has also undergone isolation checks."

"That's good. Thank you all for your hard work."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "If we pull off this order, I'll treat everyone to braised pork; there will be plenty of meat."

"Thank you, Secretary-General—"

The security cadre saluted with great excitement. Of course, it wasn't for the sake of eating meat, but because he could eat meat treated by the Secretary-General.

The difference here is huge!

A group enterprise is about to be established, the organizational structure has suddenly been elevated by a level, and naturally, there are many more corresponding positions.

Although Li Li Xuewu has been promoted to Secretary-General, he still holds the work of the security group concurrently, which belongs to his direct leadership.

Furthermore, even if Li Li Xuewu no longer managed security work, his influence on security work would not be weakened much.

Everyone is very clear that whether Li Li Xuewu is in the security group or not will not affect his current work and influence.

The braised pork isn't important; what's important is being remembered by the Secretary-General.

"Where are we going?"

Art had finished selecting the equipment he wanted to buy with his friends in the warehouse and had also discussed the needs for the next order, only then walking out together.

Li Li Xuewu turned around, glanced at him, and smiled, pointing toward the car.

"Are we going to another factory?"

Art didn't quite understand Li Li Xuewu's meaning, but he followed along anyway.

The group got back into the cars, the motorcade started up, left the weapons factory, and headed straight for the main road.

Along the way, Art saw many factory gates and also encountered other groups, but the motorcade didn't stop, even driving out of the industrial zone they were in.

As for Li Li Xuewu, he closed his eyes to rest and turned a deaf ear to Art's questions.

It was very quiet in the car.

At this time, Art also noticed that there were fewer people in the cars; the translators and foreign affairs personnel were gone, and even as the motorcade drove halfway, some cars automatically dropped out of the line.

Art's nerves tightened; Li Li Xuewu couldn't be thinking of offing him, could he?

That couldn't be it; a businessman like him was the least valuable, and even if they kidnapped him, they wouldn't be able to get a single cent.

Compared to the orders they could place from the Red Star Factory, harming or threatening them was no different from killing the goose that lays the golden eggs; Li Li Xuewu couldn't be that stupid.

But making it so mysterious left Art baffled.

Especially since the motorcade was going further and further into the wilderness; not to mention leaving the city, they couldn't even see villages anymore, only desolate small roads, and it looked like they were heading up a mountain.

Could it be that he was taking him to see some secret weapon?

Art began to suspect again; he was a peace envoy, that was true, but the peace he trafficked in was the "peace" of harmony, not the "nuclear" of a mushroom cloud!

If Li Li Xuewu really wanted to take him to see some incredible civilian product, you tell me if he should buy it or not.

If he bought it and couldn't sell it, he'd just bring trouble upon himself.

But if he didn't buy it, he would definitely offend Li Li Xuewu, and by then, would he and the brothers in this motorcade behind him still be able to eat today's lunch?

Damn it, he really deserved to die; why was his curiosity so heavy!

Just as Art was blaming himself, the motorcade stopped after driving who knows how far or for how long.

They were surrounded by mountains, but there was no scenery to look at; it was actually a good place to bury people.

This deep mountain was rarely visited by people; killing them here wouldn't make a sound, and even if they screamed their lungs out, no one would hear them.

"Get out of the car, what are you staring at?"

After Li Li Xuewu got out of the car and saw that Art still hadn't followed, he smiled and greeted him, "What's wrong with you? Why is your face so pale?"

"Hehe... it's natural."

Art got out of the car uneasily; he didn't know if it was because he'd been sitting for too long, but his legs weren't listening to him, and he almost fell when he got out.

In this remote place, there wasn't even a shadow of a person; where were the factories and civilian hardware products?

The friends who got out of the cars behind him looked just like him, and even the faces of the brothers from Africa looked much paler.

"Bring the stuff over," Li Li Xuewu waved to the back and said to Art with a smile, "I've prepared a little program for everyone to enjoy."

As he said this, a security cadre walked over carrying a round, rolling object, which made Art and the others stare blankly.

"No! This is what you wanted to show us?"

Art was dumbfounded, pointed his finger at the thing on the ground, and questioned Li Li Xuewu, "We traveled over mountains and through rivers to come this far, and you're just showing me a gas cylinder?"

"Mm—" Li Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said, "This isn't an ordinary gas cylinder; this is a—gas cylinder—with tail fins and a handle, produced by our factory."

"Is there any difference?"

Art wanted to curse; he seriously suspected that Li Li Xuewu was teasing him, he just couldn't find the evidence.

"Oh, the difference is huge!" Li Li Xuewu took a cardboard box from the security cadre, handed a pair of the binoculars they had just looked at to each of Art and the others, and gestured for them to watch, saying, "Watch the program first."

As he said this, a vehicle behind them dragged over a drainage pipe, which left Art and the others completely baffled.

"A new product from our hardware factory."

While the security cadre was preparing, Li Li Xuewu smiled and introduced, "You should use it in the kitchen after you buy it back; you absolutely must not fill it with explosives, steel balls, iron nails, wood shavings, or anything like that, nor can you add sugar, ammonium nitrate fertilizer, potassium nitrate fertilizer, or anything like that, and you certainly shouldn't use it like they are."

Li Li Xuewu pointed, and everyone followed the direction of his finger, just in time to see several security personnel sliding the gas cylinder into the drainage pipe, and then—

Boom—Boom—

Dust rose everywhere, and it was deafening.

A gray cloud of smoke rose from the distant hill, looking extremely spectacular and terrifying.

Now there was no need for Li Li Xuewu to remind them; Art and the others raised the binoculars in their hands one after another, and the scene in the distance completely stunned them.

(End of chapter)

(End of chapter)