Chapter 1382: Carrying Forward the Past and Opening Up the Future

"What's the situation with the new leader?"

"Little Ma, you don't even know this?"

Seeing the young man so bewildered, Old Zhang from the office raised an eyebrow and whispered a reminder: "The Group Secretary-General."

"Group Secretary-General? Isn't he here to send..."

The young man, named Ma Baosen, had only recently started working and was among the last batch of high school graduates recruited by the Group.

All told, he had only been on the job for a month. Last December, the higher-ups issued a call for middle school students to go to the countryside for training, so the Group's Organization and Personnel Department arranged one final recruitment drive.

The main target of this recruitment was high school graduates, focusing on three regions: Beijing, Steel City, and Jinmen—the Group's primary administrative bases.

Director Xu Sian of the Yingcheng Shipyard specifically requested 500 quotas to help coordinate local relations.

Ten thousand quotas were consumed in an instant before the torrent of the era, unable to stir up any further waves.

That's right, just in the Beijing area alone, the number of young people heading to the countryside exceeded hundreds of thousands; and that was just a rough estimate.

With ten thousand quotas divided among several regions, those who could actually catch this last bus into the factory either had deep backgrounds or possessed genuine talent with stellar graduation grades.

Ma Baosen had no connections; his father was just an ordinary worker at the Steel City Waterworks, and his mother was a housewife. Getting into the Metallurgical Plant was pure luck.

In recent years, while his classmates were busy with activities and participating in movements, he was the only one who felt for his parents and took the initiative to help out at home.

While working, he didn't abandon his studies, thinking that just in case the higher-ups resumed university admissions.

As it turned out, university admissions didn't resume, but his classmates brought him to take the Metallurgical Plant's recruitment exam, and he actually got in.

Moreover, because his fundamentals were solid, he had a certain foundation in literature. Especially with the final essay question on the exam—although what he wrote was somewhat hollow, compared to other candidates, there was still room for development.

And so, the Metallurgical Plant's Personnel Department placed him directly in the factory office as a clerk.

No need to guess; in this era, high school graduates entering the factory all started as clerks. Especially after 1968, many newly recruited workers didn't even have their positions or wage grades determined.

In fact, those who understand this era know that this trend appeared after 1965 and became even more severe by now. The main reason was the management chaos caused by the lack of a personnel management system.

If new employees don't have fixed positions or grades, how are wages issued?

Three tiers: 3 yuan, 6 yuan, 9 yuan.

This wasn't just the case for administrative offices; workshops were the same, with three tiers for base wages.

If you had a good relationship with the leader, you might get 9 yuan added to your base wage; if the relationship was poor, you got 3 yuan.

Of course, such a situation was impossible within the Red Star Steel Group. Because two years ago, the Group had already undergone an organizational and personnel reform, and the relevant personnel management system had long been implemented and was operating maturely.

The most influential and widespread work Li Xuewu accomplished during his time at the Management Committee Office was the drafting and promotion of the administrative office system and personnel system reforms.

In other enterprises, there were cases of workshop workers getting into fistfights over a workshop director's distribution plan, but not at Red Star Steel Group.

A rookie like Ma Baosen was already happy to get a 23-yuan intern wage; how much was added didn't matter.

He was also clueless, busy all morning running errands or answering phones, only hearing that a new leader had arrived.

If asked who the new leader was, he had no idea; he was a newcomer himself.

"Isn't he here to send the new leader?"

Ma Baosen was stunned, looking at his master Zhang Enyuan and asking: "Why did I hear it was a big leader from the Group?"

"Silly boy, the one coming is indeed a big leader from the Group." Old Zhang reached out and gently patted his little apprentice's head, reminding him with amusement: "Don't go asking about this randomly."

"I'm telling you, remember this!"

He waved his hand, signaling his little apprentice to stand by his desk, and whispered: "Our factory's number one, Director Dong, is also a Deputy Director of the Group, and simultaneously holds the position of Group Leader for our Group's Industrial Leadership Group in Liaodong."

"I know that, Master."

Ma Baosen raised his eyebrows and asked: "Then is the one coming also a Group leader? How big of a cadre is a Secretary-General?"

"Go on—" Old Zhang was amused, raising his hand to pat his little apprentice, suppressing his laughter as he handed him the teacup from his side, saying: "What 'this one' or 'that one'? Don't speak like that in the future."

"I know, Master."

Ma Baosen was young and obedient; knowing he had spoken wrongly again, he dutifully took the teacup his master handed him and went to the tea cabinet in the main office to refill it with hot water.

"Remember, when you meet them, address them by their title and greet them."

Zhang Enyuan tapped his finger on the desk, signaling his apprentice to place the teacup properly, and added: "For those at the section level and above, if they have a deputy title, include it; if not, use their rank. Never address them randomly as 'leader'."

"Why is that?" Ma Baosen put down the teacup and asked, puzzled: "Doesn't everyone address them that way?"

"Are you listening to them or to me?"

Zhang Enyuan glared at his little apprentice, reached out to turn the teacup, and reminded him: "Pay attention to the position of the teacup handle."

"Oh, oh, I didn't notice."

Ma Baosen smiled sheepishly; his master had already taught him this—when pouring tea for a leader, the handle must be aligned correctly.

"Working in an office, you can't succeed without patience. The more detail-oriented, the more attention is required."

Zhang Enyuan pointed to the chair beside him, signaling his apprentice to sit down, and explained his previous reminder.

"Section-level cadres have small stomachs; most are young, eager for advancement, and lack restraint. If you call them 'Deputy Li Kezhang', they will be annoyed with you."

"Oh—" Ma Baosen nodded and asked: "Then calling them 'Deputy Division Chief' won't annoy them?"

"You're still young and just started working, so you don't understand much."

Old Zhang shook his head slightly, saying with deep emotion: "Dozens of you were recruited in this batch. How many can stay in the administrative office? How many can truly embark on an official career?"

"Never underestimate this deputy section level; this level is already the ceiling for many people."

He pointed to his head and said: "Those who climb to this position while young are all arrogant. Just like I told you, if you call them 'Deputy Li Kezhang', they will feel you are slighting them, looking down on them. They are anxious for progress in their hearts."

"If they really only reached this position in their thirties or forties, they are even more sensitive to the word 'deputy'. If you call them that, would they be willing?"

Old Zhang shook his head slightly and said: "Although it's said that the deputy section level is the beginning of a person's official career, it depends on how you say it."

"In my opinion, only when one reaches the deputy division level can a cadre show their most excellent side."

"So..." Ma Baosen asked quite keenly: "They don't care about the word 'deputy' anymore?"

"Do you understand the principle of 'standing firm at thirty'?"

Old Zhang said: "How many deputy division chiefs under thirty are there in this office? Aren't they all the cream of the crop?"

"You just need to remember, the higher the level of the cadre, the more they cherish their own feathers and the more cautious they act."

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said: "If you call them by their primary title, they will suspect you have ulterior motives."

"Let me tell you again, don't just call them 'leader'; if they have a rank, use it." Old Zhang put down the teacup and explained to his apprentice: "You are just a clerk who has just started working; who can you have a close relationship with? Calling them 'Division Chief Zhang' or 'Division Chief Li' is too frivolous."

"Of course, calling them 'leader' isn't wrong, but addressing them that way doesn't leave a deep impression; who knows who you are?"

He looked at Ma Baosen and said: "You are still young, don't be in a hurry to show off; learning more and watching more has no downsides. It's best to let the leader see your diligent study and serious work."

"Oh, I know, Master."

Ma Baosen grinned and asked: "Then what should I call the new Secretary-General?"

"Call him 'leader'; this is an exception."

Zhang Enyuan raised his eyebrows and reminded him specifically: "You work in the administrative office; you will meet him sooner or later."

When Old Zhang gave this instruction, he specifically looked at the door of the main office, as if very afraid of others hearing.

Then he whispered to his little apprentice: "The Secretary-General holds many positions, and you are too far from him to grasp the actual address. Be conservative and just call him 'leader'."

"Is he hard to approach? Is he fierce?"

Ma Baosen widened his eyes slightly and asked, puzzled: "Master, didn't you say the bigger the leader, the more they cherish their feathers? If he..."

"The Secretary-General is young, very young."

Zhang Enyuan whispered a reminder to his apprentice: "The time you see him, he absolutely cannot be alone. If you call him 'Secretary-General', whether he responds or not, if he really takes another look at you, how will the person beside him introduce you if they don't know you?"

"Never look for trouble for yourself. Although the Secretary-General is very young, his work ability and resume are extremely impressive."

Old Zhang reminded his apprentice quite cautiously: "Haven't you heard that everyone in the office is saying the wolf is coming?"

"Ah? Then he—" Ma Baosen asked in surprise: "Is he that serious? Is he very impressive?"

"More than that—"

Old Zhang was an old hand at the Metallurgical Plant and naturally wasn't a stranger to this Secretary-General. From the moment the other party first came to Steel City and cooperated with the then-Party Secretary of the Steel Rolling Mill to wipe out all the big and small leaders of the Metallurgical Plant, it was clear that this was a ruthless person.

A few days ago, when the Group's official appointment document came down, Steel City and other enterprises in Liaodong, which had long heard the news and were in a state of panic, instantly fell silent, not daring to have any further discussion or illusions.

Who didn't know that although this Secretary-General, like Director Dong, was from a security background, the gentleness on Director Dong could not be seen at all on the Secretary-General.

Saying he was too bandit-like or too murderous was an understatement; this person's ruthlessness was famous.

His work style was even more rigorous, he was younger and more capable, and he held multiple positions.

Not to mention anything else, just his youth alone was enough for these people in Steel City to suffer, because young people have even less patience.

Previously, people in the administrative office could still slack off and act like rogues, but in front of this Secretary-General, who would dare to be so presumptuous?

The old stubborns and old slickers in the Group's administrative office had all been tamed and kicked out by him; what was a Metallurgical Plant compared to that?

Furthermore, Li Xuewu was one of the eleven Standing Committee members of the Group and the number one person in the Group's industrial layout in Liaodong.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his word was law in the Group's Liaodong industrial system; this was truly a person with the final say.

Although Li Xuewu was currently only a division-level cadre and didn't even have the status of Deputy Director of the Management Committee, just the status of a Standing Committee member was enough to suppress many people's little thoughts.

Becoming a Deputy Director of the Management Committee was only a matter of time; otherwise, what was he doing in the Liaodong industrial system?

Just look at the fact that he had even more concurrent positions than Director Dong, and you would know that this was a proper big leader of the Group, a core member of the Group's management team, and even had the status of a successor.

"You'll know when you see him."

Old Zhang felt quite bored when he reached this point; he really didn't know how to evaluate this leader.

Ma Baosen was also silent for a long while before asking: "I haven't even recognized all the leaders in our factory yet; even if I saw him, I might not recognize him."

"He is different from others; his facial recognition is very high."

Old Zhang extended his index finger and drew a line on his face, looking at his apprentice and saying: "A ruthless person who couldn't be blown up by artillery on the battlefield, the shrapnel only left a scar on his face; he's very easy to identify."

Ma Baosen was shocked beyond measure after hearing his master's words, thinking to himself that anyone who could go to the battlefield was a ruthless person. Especially a ruthless person who could walk away unscathed after being shelled.

"Old Zhang—"

Just as the master and apprentice were hiding in the office during lunch break to pass on experience, a greeting came from the door.

Zhang Enyuan recognized the voice of Office Director Liao Jinhui and hurriedly stood up to respond: "Director Liao, I'm here."

"Old Zhang, come." Liao Jinhui stood at the door and peered into the office. Seeing a young man who looked familiar but whose name he couldn't remember, he pointed to him and said: "You come too."

"Director Liao, this is a comrade just assigned to our office, Ma Baosen; you can call him Little Ma."

Zhang Enyuan was truly a good master, and Liao Jinhui felt the same; how many people in the administrative office still had such a conscience?

He nodded, sized up Ma Baosen, and said to Zhang Enyuan: "It just so happens you're here; the leader's office needs to be tidied up, go over and help out."

"Good, no problem, we'll go over right now."

Old Zhang had been able to stand firm in the office for many years, besides being thorough, he had a skill called hard work and endurance.

No matter how many people with connections tried to squeeze him out, they couldn't, because a leader could do without anyone, but they couldn't do without someone who actually did the work.

"Be careful, don't say anything random."

Liao Jinhui looked at the corridor and whispered a reminder to Old Zhang: "The leaders have gone to eat, the Secretary-General's driver is in the office; go over and communicate with him."

"Understood, you can rest assured."

Zhang Enyuan responded while taking out a cigarette to offer Director Liao, already holding a match in his hand.

Liao Jinhui didn't want him to waste time, but this Old Zhang was his connection, so he couldn't refuse to give him face.

"Little Ma, right?" He held the cigarette in his mouth, let Old Zhang light it, took a puff, and then looked at the young man standing beside Old Zhang, raising his eyebrows slightly to ask: "Can you write articles?"

"The Director is asking you a question—"

Old Zhang saw his apprentice was a bit nervous and whispered a reminder: "You can't just stand there stupidly when you go to the leader's place later."

"Yes, Master." Ma Baosen was just a bit surprised at his master's closeness to Director Liao; earlier, he had seen Director Liao as a very serious person who wouldn't easily let anyone help him light a cigarette.

He wasn't nervous, so his answer to Director Liao's question naturally wasn't stuttering or hesitant.

"Hello, Director Liao. I just started working not long ago. I've been learning from my master for a few days, and only then did I realize that the articles I wrote before were hollow and unreadable. Please don't laugh at me."

"Hehe—that's interesting!"

Liao Jinhui looked at him quite unexpectedly, then turned his head to raise his eyebrows at Old Zhang, saying: "You taught him?"

"No, I can't tell fortunes; how would I know you were coming at this time, let alone what you were going to ask him?" Old Zhang was also very satisfied with his little apprentice's answer and responded with a smile: "Little Ma is quite honest and sincere, and he studies very seriously."

"That's very good, he's a promising sprout."

Liao Jinhui sized up Ma Baosen again, nodded, and said: "No one is born with knowledge; being able to have self-awareness is already a very rare quality. Keep working hard."

Being able to say so much was already out of respect for the cigarette Old Zhang offered; saying more would be meaningless.

He pointed in the direction of the leader's office and gave another instruction: "If the Secretary-General's driver has any arrangements, you just handle it; if you're not sure, come find me."

"Okay, no problem." Old Zhang nodded and said: "After we finish tidying up, I'll come report to you."

"Hmm, and ask by the way how the leader's accommodation is arranged." Liao Jinhui took a puff of his cigarette, as if casually arranging this, and seeing Old Zhang widen his eyes, his eyelids drooped, saying: "It's just to let you inquire about it."

"Understood, but if they don't say—" Old Zhang hesitated for a moment, looked at Director Liao's expression, understood, and nodded: "I understand, we'll go over right now."

After saying this, seeing Director Liao nod, Old Zhang took Ma Baosen to the leader's office.

But without even looking back, he knew a pair of eyes was watching them; this job really wasn't a free lunch.

People always say that a job close to a leader is a good job, but if you approach it with an agenda...

He had already told his apprentice in the office that the Secretary-General was a ruthless person; trying to fool him was just asking for death.

But he couldn't not go; not going would mean offending Director Liao. A local official is no match for the one in charge; he had no choice.

"Master—"

"Don't speak, follow me."

Old Zhang stopped Ma Baosen from speaking and walked straight to the door of the leader's office, knocking gently on the door.

"Hello, I am office secretary Zhang Enyuan."

There was only one young man in the office tidying things up; it looked like the driver Director Liao mentioned.

This person was Yu Zhe, who had followed Li Xuewu to Steel City, and he was busy looking at documents he didn't quite understand.

The Secretary-General only brought this driver to Steel City for work; his secretary Wang Lu stayed in Beijing and had already been arranged for other work.

It was fine to let him drive, but if he really took on the job of a secretary, everything would be a mess; he didn't even know how to tidy up documents.

Of course, Li Xuewu didn't expect him to tidy things up properly; it was his own initiative to show off.

Li Xuewu's luggage was all placed behind the office sofa—two leather suitcases, nothing else.

At noon, after the cadre meeting ended, Dong Wenxue, as the host, held a final banquet to arrange for the heads of various Liaodong units who came to the meeting to accompany Secretary Li and Deputy Director Gu.

The leaders had all gone to the guesthouse to eat, and Yu Zhe also had someone to entertain him, but the other party was too enthusiastic, making him a bit uncomfortable.

Feeling he was highly valued by the Secretary-General, who only brought him to Steel City, he always wanted to do something for the leader.

This Steel City was really something; weren't there any bandits or bad guys? Even if they were coming for the Secretary-General, it would be a good chance for him to show off; he was even prepared to take a bullet.

When he left, his sister gave him a thousand instructions, almost carving words on his back with a knife.

If the Secretary-General really suffered, he would suffer when he returned to Beijing; nobody else would care, but his sister would be the first to chop him up.

The Secretary-General had already given instructions that the luggage didn't need to be moved, and these documents could be tidied up by someone else.

He had just arrived at his post, and there was a cadre meeting in the morning; he didn't even have a secretary yet, so who could help tidy up?

Yu Zhe thought it was time to show off and do something within his power for the Secretary-General.

So he ate a hurried meal in the canteen and rushed back, wanting to give the Secretary-General a surprise.

The surprise wasn't ready, and he was the one who was confused first.

Don't underestimate him; although he didn't finish middle school, he had no problem reading. The words on these documents weren't unfamiliar, but why couldn't he recognize them when they were combined into sentences?

The Secretary-General only brought two suitcases of luggage, but he brought two large boxes of documents; he felt dizzy just looking at them. Not to mention the reference books and heavy volumes that were shipped over—those were the real killers.

Don't doubt the power of those heavy volumes; Yu Zhe had tried it himself. As long as you got into a comfortable position, you could fall asleep in three to five minutes; the hypnotic effect was excellent.

He treated Li Xuewu like his own brother-in-law; wasn't his brother-in-law's office his office, and his brother-in-law's books his books? So he didn't have this reservation when he was in Beijing.

It wasn't like he hadn't been to Li Xuewu's office; he had browsed the books on the shelf and even stubbornly found one to read.

The result was that he fell asleep in his brother-in-law's office.

How did he wake up? Wang Lu kicked him awake. Anyway, after that time, he had no interest in browsing his brother-in-law's books.

Those books were too hypnotic and too dangerous; if he fell asleep, who would protect his brother-in-law?

Thinking this, he was worried about how to tidy up these documents when two people suddenly appeared at the door.

"Uh, who are you looking for?"

Look at how he asked that; did we come to your house?

Old Zhang saw that the Secretary-General's driver was a young man, but he didn't dare to show any slight, smiling as he responded: "Director Liao arranged for us to come and help you tidy up the documents."

"Director Liao? Oh, oh—"

Yu Zhe closed the document in his hand after hearing him say this, emptied the useless knowledge from his brain, and his IQ regained the high ground.

He patted the document in his hand and said confidently: "Actually, it's almost finished; Director Liao is really something, troubling you to come and help."

"It's nothing, you're too polite."

Zhang Enyuan looked back at Ma Baosen, walked into the office together, and prepared to take over the document organization work.

Ma Baosen was young, after all, and couldn't hide his feelings. He looked at the documents filling the boxes, then looked at the empty document cabinet that Director Dong had already tidied up before leaving, and couldn't help but curl his lip—this is what you call almost finished?

Are you the Secretary-General's driver, or Director Dong's driver? Director Dong didn't have this many documents to tidy up, did he!

Yu Zhe naturally saw the disdain on the clerk's face and couldn't help but blush; he still had some shame.

"Well, you guys go ahead, I'll go pour you some hot water, thanks for the hard work—"

"No, don't bother." Old Zhang raised his hand to stop him, saying: "We already finished drinking in the office, we're not thirsty."

Saying this, he signaled Ma Baosen to organize the documents and politely said to Yu Zhe: "I just introduced myself, you might not have remembered, let's get to know each other again."

Old Zhang extended his hand and said: "My name is Zhang Enyuan, I am the office secretary, and this is clerk Ma Baosen."

"Hello, hello, my name is Yu Zhe." Yu Zhe didn't expect the other party to be so polite; he didn't get this treatment in Beijing. He took the other party's hand, shook it, and learned to introduce himself: "I am the Secretary-General's driver."

"Know, know." Old Zhang smiled gently and said: "Director Liao told us before we came."

"Ah, is that so? Good, good."

Yu Zhe felt this sounded very familiar; didn't the other party say it when they entered the door?

Zhang Enyuan was so angry; he thought this driver was wise but appeared foolish, deliberately playing dumb, but he didn't expect him to be such a blockhead.

He had emphasized it several times, but this person really didn't seem to understand; was he casting pearls before swine!

Who isn't afraid of the Secretary-General?

Look at whether Director Liao is afraid; he didn't even dare to ask where he lived, having to inquire from the side.

Director Liao was afraid, so what rank was he, Old Zhang? Naturally, he felt empty inside. Because he felt empty, he didn't want to offend anyone, so the matter of coming to the office to help had to be made clear.

Don't wait for the Secretary-General to come back and misunderstand that they intended to spy on something, and then offend the leader; there would be no place to explain.

He wanted to give the driver a few reminders to distance himself, but didn't expect to meet such a blockhead.

Yu Zhe really didn't understand what the other party was saying, thinking it was just a normal chat. Hmm, this person is a bit slow.

Although Ma Baosen had just started working, he had learned a lot of workplace knowledge and was about to burst into laughter; even his master had times when he misjudged people.

"That, when we came, Director Liao also reminded us to lend a hand if the leader moves luggage."

Zhang Enyuan had no choice but to make his words clear, laying everything out on the table to avoid being taboo.

He took the initiative to ask: "Do you want us to send the leader's luggage to the guesthouse now?"

Yu Zhe understood this sentence and waved his hand to respond: "Don't bother, the leader doesn't live in the guesthouse."

"Ah? This—" Zhang Enyuan had long thought of this situation, but still asked in feigned surprise: "Are there other arrangements?"

"Don't know, the leader hasn't said."

Yu Zhe wouldn't reveal Li Xuewu's personal information even if he were stupid, even if the other party was from the office.

Actually, it was very convenient to find out where the leader lived because there must be a phone at the leader's residence. The office duty room had to ensure that the leader could be contacted at any time.

However, what others found out and what he said were two different things. Yu Zhe hadn't been driving for Li Xuewu for long, but he had been a driver for almost four years; he was an old driver.

Being asked by Zhang Enyuan, he also sensed something was wrong, looked at them vigilantly, closed his mouth, and stopped speaking, letting Zhang Enyuan go in circles while he just hummed and hawed.

"Eighty percent of tea products are exported."

While drinking tea after the meal, Dong Wenxue brought up the report from the work meeting a few days ago and asked about a few points.

There was no one else in the lounge, only members of the Group's Management Committee; those without status really couldn't hear it.

Li Huai De, Gu Weijie, Dong Wenxue, and Li Xuewu.

The four people sat in four directions, and Li Haiyang sat not far away, watching whose teacup was empty to refill it.

Except for Li Xuewu, the faces of the others had a bit of a flush; they had been drinking at noon.

"Whether it's green tea, black tea, or herbal tea, the target customers are Hong Kong and Southeast Asia."

Li Xuewu explained seriously: "Later, we will also make fruit juice drinks and milk drinks, which will also be sold externally."

"The domestic market isn't mature yet."

Dong Wenxue nodded, frowned slightly, and said: "Do you have any ideas about the distributors?"

"This isn't a problem with the distributors."

Li Huai De leaned against his chair, exhaled a breath of alcohol, and explained to Dong Wenxue: "It's a problem with the drinks themselves. The taste is too sweet, suitable for Southerners, and the price isn't cheap."

"At least ordinary people can't afford to consume it." Gu Weijie interjected from the side: "I feel heartache just looking at the pricing."

"The domestic price is 50 cents, the foreign price is 2 yuan."

Li Xuewu smiled and explained: "We still have to take the path of small profits but quick turnover, but we can't lower our own value."

"The market is like this; it's easy to lower prices but hard to raise them."

He looked at Dong Wenxue and said: "Just like cars, if the price of the Hongxing Lingyang Generation I is pressed too hard, Generation II will be affected."

"Upgrading is a bit better."

Dong Wenxue emphasized: "I went to the workshop to check on the new generation Hongxing Lingyang; whether it's the workmanship, functionality, or the application of new materials, it's worth the price."

"Still have to see the market reaction."

Li Xuewu signaled Li Huai De, who was sitting opposite, raised his eyebrows and said: "Director Li, do you have confidence?"

"Hongxing Lingyang Generation II?"

It seemed like he was about to fall asleep, but being asked by Li Xuewu, he became a bit more spirited. He thought slowly, then laughed, saying: "I don't think we have any opponents."

"Hehehe—" There wasn't a single good person in this room.

All four people laughed; there was no need to say who they were laughing at.

If you want to talk about who is the worst, it has to be Li Xuewu. From research and development to positioning, the Red Star Hongxing Lingyang had been targeting the 212. Even the sales were promoted by comparing it to the 212.

That is to say, there was no advertising law in this era, let alone other restrictions on Li Xuewu's shameless behavior; otherwise, the Beijing Automobile Factory would have really exploded.

Li Xuewu wasn't arrogant enough to shout that "competitors are **," but what he did was about the same.

"The road test data for the 'Tantu' (Gallop) is excellent."

Dong Wenxue picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said: "Anyway, it was an eye-opener for me; such a big body, yet the reaction is quite flexible, and the power is very strong."

"It's a diesel engine, so the power is naturally no problem."

Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, and seeing Old Li was drowsy, he explained to him and Gu Weijie: "Don't rush the Tantu; let's polish it some more. A sword's edge comes from sharpening, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold."

Gu Weijie glanced at him; there were some things she couldn't say in her heart, and saying them would inevitably hurt the feelings of comrades. But if she didn't say them, looking at the other party's appearance made her feel stifled.

Li Xuewu's pursuit of excellence wasn't a problem, but the essence of the problem was that he had too much money and hadn't finished burning it, so he wasn't in a hurry.

That's right, the Tantu project wasn't just invested in by the Red Star Steel Group itself, but also had shares from the East City Credit Union.

The money from the credit union hadn't been used up, so how could Li Xuewu easily let the Tantu go on the market and go head-to-head with the 212?

Looking at Li Xuewu's meaning now, after the Tantu goes on the market, it won't be a head-to-head with the 212, but a complete crushing of the other party.

As long as the Tantu project, which is a bright card, doesn't land, Beijing Automobile's hanging heart won't be put down, and the 212 will have to keep improving.

Is the Steel City Automobile Manufacturing Plant afraid of Beijing Automobile improving?

How could that be? Now that the domestic automobile industry wants to complete modernization, expansion, and renovation, who can do without them?

It's a simple principle: the assembly line technology that can be bought abroad can also be bought by the Red Star Steel Group.

The management is closer to and in line with the domestic situation, and the technology also has a certain practical guarantee. This money is definitely earned by the Red Star Steel Group; even Jesus can't stop it.

"Wait a little longer, the three-box sedan hasn't landed yet."

Li Huai De also meant this; he had long compared the Tantu project and the drone project. Even if they couldn't go online in three or five years, it didn't matter; anyway, it wasn't his own money being burned, so what was there to fear?

"The Aries is also fast; I've seen the plan given by the design team, and it quite fits my aesthetic."

Dong Wenxue smiled, signaled Li Xuewu, and said: "Next, you keep a closer eye on it; at the fastest one year, and at the slowest no more than three years, this Aries will definitely be able to go online for production."

"It would be great if it could be like the bus project—"

Old Li opened his drowsy eyes, sat up straight, picked up his teacup, and said: "Last year, the bus project already achieved a break-even point, and it looks like it can achieve profitability this year."

"The Hongtu bus is developing better and better; 6 units were delivered last month, one of which was ordered by Jinmen Aquatic Products."

Dong Wenxue looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "How is Jinmen Aquatic Products? Is it inconvenient to cooperate externally?"

"Still waiting for news from there." Li Xuewu looked at Li Huai De and asked: "Director Li, does Director Han have any intentions? Why not let them have some shares?"

"Not needed for now, let's stretch it out a bit more." Li Huai De took a sip of warm tea and said: "Giving it away like this is too cheap for them."

"How is the arms industry developing?"

Gu Weijie bypassed this topic and looked at Dong Wenxue, asking: "Last year, the arms industry had the best completion of sales."

"It's the Group's cornucopia—"

Dong Wenxue smiled and looked at Li Huai De, saying: "It's the end of the year, and I'm actually missing At and the others a bit."

"They don't need to come this year; the procedures can be handled in Hong Kong." Li Huai De put down his teacup, grinned, and said: "This business makes money fast, but my heart is pounding when the money is in my hands."

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu was just about to drink tea with his teacup in hand, and hearing him say this, he couldn't help but joke: "Perhaps there is still a machine gun firing in your heart."

"Hmm? Hahahaha—"

Li Huai De was stunned, then reacted, feeling quite amused, and laughed out loud.

Dong Wenxue and Gu Weijie looked at each other; what they were thinking in their hearts was unknown.

Arms industry development was originally a taboo topic, and Li Xuewu had a purpose in coming to Steel City. Gu Weijie pointed it out so bluntly; was it a reminder or did it have a deeper meaning?

Li Xuewu lowered his head and drank hot tea, not caring about their expressions; none of this was important.

The one selling "hardware" in Hong Kong wasn't him, but that bastard Ji Weidong; what did it have to do with him if it hurt the heavens?

This kid was really bold. After Wen San had an accident last time, he completely turned against them. Those who came down from Jicheng Mountain each held a piece of "hardware," and they would start firing if they didn't agree.

Hong Kong was just a tiny place; how could the local gangs withstand this treatment? They retreated one after another.

You say Ji Weidong's copying of homes was taboo?

Actually, he was smart; this time he directly set up a security company and obtained a legal certificate.

It's just that nobody knew whether his security company was legitimate or not; anyway, they didn't take any business on the shore, but the company raised a group of good employees who had names but couldn't be seen working.

"The United Savings Bank is doing okay, right?"

Dong Wenxue thought for a moment, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked: "I see they aren't developing very well in Liaodong; is there any concern? You should communicate with Liaodong later; if it can be expanded, it's better to do it early."

"Hmm, it's not a concern, it's that there's no money."

Li Xuewu smiled, looked at Director Li opposite, and explained: "Two rounds of audits came from above at the end of the year."

"What do you mean?" Dong Wenxue raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at Li Xuewu, and then looked at Li Huai De.

Li Huai De shook his head slightly and said confidently: "It's nothing, just afraid of making mistakes, checking the family foundation."

"After two years of development, the United Savings Bank has established branches in 12 cities, currently with more than 70 outlets, which can be considered rapid development."

Li Xuewu introduced: "The reason for slowing down operations in Liaodong is still influenced by the Group."

He didn't say it too clearly, but the meaning was already there. Dong Wenxue looked at Old Li without a trace and didn't say anything more.

What else could he say? If it weren't for Old Li's stubbornness, insisting on finding a balance in Li Xuewu coming to Liaodong, would there have been so many messes in the second half of the year?

This time Li Huai De transferred him back, also out of precaution, afraid that he wouldn't be able to move if he stayed in Liaodong for too long.

"The data statistics for January look very good." Li Xuewu was still introducing the situation of the United Savings Bank; this was something Dong Wenxue had to understand, as he would use it after returning to Beijing.

"Total profit is 3.89 million yuan, total investment is about 65.98 million yuan, and it controls a capital flow of more than 123 million."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and explained with a smile: "Part of the investment is fixed asset conversion, and the capital flow is mainly reflected in the exchange with the Oriental Era Bank in Hong Kong, as well as the capital savings of joint units, etc., which is still a bit empty."

"It's already very good." Gu Weijie nodded and took over the conversation: "I've read the report; after completing the docking with the Oriental Era Bank in Hong Kong, the transaction volume in the fourth quarter of last year alone exceeded 20 million."

She looked at Li Xuewu and said: "It can be seen how tense the domestic demand for import and export exchange business is."

"It's time to step on the brakes."

Li Huai De sang a different tune at this time, frowned slightly, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked: "What do you think?"

What do I think? I think I should kill Gu Weijie first! ===== CHAPTER 1383 =====