Chapter 1426: Counter-offer

"Your name is Mai Qinglan?"

On Monday morning, Wang Yajuan sorted out the documents submitted by the clerk, and saw the office director knock on the door and walk in, reminding her that there were university students assigned to the unit reporting for duty.

She flipped through the academic qualification documents handed over by the director. The name of the Central Academy of Drama was quite eye-catching, but the opera major didn't seem to match the broadcaster position of the radio station.

However, when she saw the name on the document, her eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.

Then she looked up and carefully sized up the fresh university graduate standing in the office. The corner of her mouth curled up in an arc that even Mai Qinglan noticed.

The two had never met, but they had both heard of each other's names.

Wang Yajuan first heard Mai Qinglan's name from her younger sister. Old Biaozi had actually found a university student girlfriend; it was rare enough.

Wang Yamei wasn't afraid of Old Biaozi at all; she was like a little gangster, daring to say anything.

Old Biaozi not only found a university student girlfriend but also found a university student wife.

Note: a girlfriend and a wife are not the same thing.

What made Wang Yamei surprised and amused was that Mai Qinglan came to work at the radio station, and Li Xuewu didn't give her any hints in advance.

Was this a surprise he deliberately gave her?

And Mai Qinglan first heard of Wang Yajuan when Li Wenbiao introduced Li Xuewu's "relationships" and remembered this name.

Li Wenbiao talked about so many relationships. The reason she remembered this name so clearly was because he said that if it weren't for that girl... Wu Ge would have been a university student long ago.

And the reason Li Wenbiao said this was to explain the significance of Zhou Ya Mei's existence, and how she should handle similar people like Zhou Ya Mei if she met them in the future.

Look, didn't she meet one today?

She followed the requirements of the report card and Li Ge's reminder to report to the Metallurgical Plant.

What made her more convenient than others was that among so many university students who came this year, she was the only one assigned to the Metallurgical Plant radio station.

The Metallurgical Plant radio station had long been upgraded. Previously, there was only one Red Star Steel Factory in Steel City. In the process of expanding industrial enterprises, many branch factories directly under the Group appeared.

When Director Dong Wenxue was in charge of the Group's industrial enterprise work in Liaodong, the management was relatively loose, and the connections between industrial enterprises weren't very tight.

But after Secretary-General Li Xuewu arrived in Liaodong, he paid more attention to the work of the Group's Liaodong Industrial Leadership Group Office.

Previously, the Group carried out organizational restructuring, and some institutions and units completed reorganization.

The radio station expanded and formed the United Radio Station, and its business and influence were raised by a large margin.

After two years of development and effort, proposed by the Secretary-General, the Red Star United Radio Station decided to expand the subordinate Steel City Metallurgical Plant Radio Station into a Liaodong branch station.

Full name: Red Star United Radio Station Liaodong Branch.

Supervising unit: Red Star Steel Group Literary Publishing House.

After the organizational structure of the Group was adjusted and reorganized, some units appeared to have vertical management, such as the fire brigade, the guard team, the radio station, and the literary performance team. Branch factories or branch companies no longer had the right to publish or manage radio and newspapers.

Service-oriented and logistics-oriented projects were all under the construction and management of the Group. Factories only focused on production and construction, and branch companies only focused on business development.

Even the medical rooms, medical stations, and medical stations set up by various branch factories and branch companies were all under the jurisdiction of the Group's Education and Medical Administration Bureau.

Mai Qinglan came to report to the Metallurgical Plant radio station, but her actual personnel relationship was registered with the Red Star United Radio Station, and her work relationship was with the Liaodong branch.

Wang Yajuan looked at her materials. She came to see Wang Yajuan, which had nothing to do with joining the job. Her file had already been transferred to the Red Star Steel Group.

The relevant procedures were naturally handled by Shen Guodong. He had a lot of face in the Group, and such trivial matters had long been handled by the personnel office.

Therefore, Mai Qinglan was brought to see Wang Yajuan by the office director, which was just to recognize the leader.

In the world of the rivers and lakes, this is also called "worshipping the pier."

"Hello, Station Chief Wang, I am Mai Qinglan." Mai Qinglan's eyes flowed, but her tone and expression were still very serious as she introduced herself.

Wang Yajuan heard her say it, and from her expression, she could see that she knew about her.

Wang Yamei worked at the recycling station. She often went to pick up her younger sister from work and had heard of Mai Qinglan, but they had never met.

It was possible they were separated by only a wall, but they finally met today.

"Okay, you've come. The overall strength of our branch station has improved by a large margin."

After Mai Qinglan finished her introduction, Wang Yajuan smiled and said, "I don't know if the Group's main station assigned any university students this year, but regardless of whether they did or not, you should be the first batch of broadcasters with a university degree in the Group."

"It's my honor to be assigned to the Red Star Steel Group, and I'm even more honored to come to Liaodong to work." Mai Qinglan smiled slightly and said, "I'm very happy to work with everyone. I will humbly ask for advice and learn from everyone to improve my professional quality and level."

"No need to be too restrained. Our branch station was expanded on the basis of the Metallurgical Plant radio station and is currently in the grass-roots stage."

Wang Yajuan thought for a moment, looked at Mai Qinglan, and asked, "I don't know if you have learned the basic knowledge of broadcasting and hosting, but your personal information says... you are an opera major?"

She picked up the document on the desk, flipped through it, raised her head, and asked, "Your voice must be very good, right?"

"I have self-studied broadcasting knowledge for more than a year, almost two years."

Mai Qinglan nodded frankly and said, "I practice pronunciation and rhythm with newspapers at home every day. If needed, I can try it now."

"That's great." Hearing Mai Qinglan say this, Wang Yajuan already understood that Li Xuewu must have made arrangements long ago, otherwise, she wouldn't have prepared for this more than a year ago.

Just joining the job and possessing broadcasting ability, plus having Li Xuewu's care, Mai Qinglan, although she had just started working, had already surpassed many university graduates in the same batch at the starting line.

Even the office director standing on the side couldn't help but show a surprised look.

Does the branch station need broadcasters?

That goes without saying, of course it does.

The branch station doesn't broadcast the main station's programs and broadcasts all the time. Every day at fixed times, broadcasters are needed to broadcast the local work situation.

Besides, Wang Yajuan didn't come to Liaodong just to "play hide and seek." She also wanted to make a career under Li Xuewu's nose.

Although she wasn't a broadcasting major, and dance had nothing to do with broadcasting, she had been in management for four years and had long been a grassroots cadre.

She wouldn't dare say she would shock the world, but she couldn't lose his face. You don't fight for steamed buns, you fight for breath.

"Do you need to prepare?" Wang Yajuan handed over the newspaper that had just been delivered in the morning and signaled, "You can choose any article."

This was a test, not a difficulty.

The test was for outsiders to see; after all, the office director was standing on the side.

So she gave Mai Qinglan the *United Industrial News* of the day, letting the office director know that she hadn't let water in, and Mai Qinglan definitely hadn't seen today's newspaper.

Saying it wasn't a difficulty was because she handed the newspaper over without defining which article, letting Mai Qinglan read whatever she wanted, as long as it passed, she could arrange it.

Which knew Mai Qinglan was bold and skilled. Possessing the vocal skills she had tempered since childhood, plus the broadcasting foundation she had practiced for more than a year, reading an article in the newspaper wasn't a high-difficulty test.

She took the newspaper, scanned the first article she saw for less than a minute, and read it in a broadcasting tone:

"United Industrial News Liaodong Agency, June 25th report: Red Star Steel Group Secretary-General, Liaodong Industrial Leadership Group Leader Li Xuewu and his party arrived at Yingcheng Port Area on June 24th for research, and listened to..."

"Okay—that's enough—"

Not only Wang Yajuan, but even the office director was full of surprise in her eyes, nodding frequently to express affirmation.

Although Mai Qinglan only read a paragraph, about 400 characters, her strong broadcasting strength had already been fully displayed, enough to cope with the work of the Liaodong branch station now.

"You should know that our Liaodong station is the first branch institution built by the Group's main station, carrying the infinite hope of the Group and the main station."

Wang Yajuan nodded and said, "That you can have this ability makes me both surprised and happy. The Group's Propaganda Department and the main station just approved a program for the branch station about industrial display."

She looked at Mai Qinglan, raised her eyebrows, and asked, "Do you want to try it?"

The office director naturally hoped that Mai Qinglan could participate in frontline work as soon as possible, but she could also think that the other party was a university graduate who had just graduated.

As long as it's a university graduate coming to the factory to work, they need internships and training, at least to be familiar with business work and organizational requirements.

Of course, the Liaodong branch station was in the grass-roots stage and urgently needed talent to fill the gaps. As long as they had some ability, the usually serious Station Chief Wang would always give them opportunities.

Now the opportunity had come, which showed that Station Chief Wang was still cautious. She didn't let Mai Qinglan be a broadcaster right away, but gave her a program.

A new program could test people and train people. This was a program just approved by the Group's Propaganda Department and the main station, and there would definitely be achievements if it was done well.

So she also looked at Mai Qinglan. If the other party showed a proud or disgusted expression, she was prepared to persuade her.

Good seedlings, after all, can always get more preferential treatment and tolerance, especially this kind of all-around disciple landing in a remote sect, they have to be taken care of.

But Mai Qinglan didn't show a trace of pride, and nodded very seriously and humbly, "I obey the organizational arrangement. I want to try this program. Thank you for your trust and support."

"Of course it's good that you think so. I really hope you can grow up as soon as possible."

Wang Yajuan thought for a moment, but didn't say the worry in her heart, and smiled, arranging for the office director to send the other party to the large office to meet other colleagues.

Some worries don't need to be told to Mai Qinglan; whoever sent her, go find whoever.

Every injustice has its perpetrator, every debt has its debtor.

"If you see it, just take action. No need to hesitate. How big is the project?"

Li Xuewu pushed away the documents in front of him and said to Zhang Songying on the phone, "The project evaluation has the opinions of the expert group. You are also a member of the company's management. How can you work without your own ideas?"

"Yes, my opinion is only one, and that is that you must be bold and professional."

He tapped his fingers on the desk, and seeing Wang Yajuan appear at the door, he waved his hand.

He was on the phone and it wasn't convenient to speak, so he just pointed to the opposite side, signaling her to wait a while.

"Enterprise mergers have traces to follow, and the Group isn't doing enterprise mergers for the first time. Why are you still hesitant about such a small matter?"

Li Xuewu said indifferently, "Leave professional matters to professional people. Although you are a branch company and have your own general company and supervising leaders, you also need to maintain the relationship with the Group's departments."

"Yes, communicate when you should communicate, and use them when you should use them. Why make things difficult for yourself? Work is a process of cooperation."

He opened the drawer, grabbed two candies, threw them to Wang Yajuan opposite who was staring at him curiously, and nodded, signaling her to wait a while longer.

"—What do you mean by fooling people."

Li Xuewu was amused and angry, scolded Zhang Songying on the phone and asked, "Can't you have some ambition? Is it that difficult to make a profit in the second half of the year and break even next year? Put some pressure on yourself—"

I don't know what Zhang Songying said on the other end of the phone, or what she complained about. Li Xuewu laughed while talking, and still had to scold her.

"Okay, it's not that I'm looking for trouble for you, it's that trouble is looking for you."

Li Xuewu organized his expression and nodded, saying, "Director Zhao of the United Hospital said that it's really hard to watch the pharmaceutical factory go bankrupt and liquidate. It just so happens that you also need to open up a new production base—"

"Let me tell you, just by taking over and merging the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital's pharmaceutical factory, the land alone is worth the price. That's in the city of Dongcheng District—"

He emphasized, "Even if the pharmaceutical equipment is simple and the pharmaceutical craftsmanship is backward, there are ways to deal with it. Where there are difficulties, there are more ways."

"You do this, set up a pure handmade medicine sub-brand under the pharmaceutical cosmetics brand."

Li Xuewu gave Zhang Songying an idea, "Don't worry about other places, just supply Hong Kong.

"You must emphasize pure handmade medicine. On the packaging box, use a sketch of an old master stooping to make medicine. It must be detailed."

He raised his eyebrows when he said this, listening to Zhang Songying's questioning on the phone, and said amusedly, "Just do it if I tell you to. Pick a few with good medicinal effects. The handmade medicine brand must be higher in price than regular medicine, three times higher."

"—Do you believe me or yourself?" Li Xuewu saw that Zhang Songying still didn't get it, and asked, "Have you ever seen me make a mistake? Handmade is more expensive than mechanical. This truth doesn't work in the country, but it will work abroad. Try it and you'll know."

"Okay, just do it like this. You don't need to discuss the price with the other party. Ask Deputy Director Gao and Deputy Director Jing to organize personnel to form a merger group, and you just prepare the takeover and resettlement plan."

He ended today's call in two or three sentences, and after hanging up the phone, he looked at Wang Yajuan and asked, "What are you here for again?"

"Here for candy." Wang Yajuan shook her cheeks and raised her eyebrows, asking, "Didn't you see?"

"If I give it to you, you eat it? Aren't you afraid it's poisonous."

Li Xuewu smiled and tidied up the documents in front of him, saying, "If you have something to say, say it. I'm busy."

"Do I look very free?"

Wang Yajuan had more spirit than when she was in Beijing, like a bird in a cage spreading its wings and flying high, soaring freely. It was the kind of pride without restraint.

It's just that the line on her ankle is invisible. She flew out of the birdcage, but couldn't escape that line. That's the line she is reluctant to part with.

If this line really breaks, she will truly become a bird that can fly freely but has no nest to return to.

"I don't know if you look free or not, but I know you've already eaten two candies."

Li Xuewu raised his head and looked at her, asking, "Did Mai Qinglan report to you?"

"Don't you think you should explain?" Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "Is it a surprise for me, or a fright for her?"

"Is it that serious? You don't know each other, right?"

Li Xuewu smiled. Seeing that her expression didn't look like a joke, he was suddenly stunned and asked for confirmation, "You two have never met?"

"In what capacity should I know her?"

Wang Yajuan chewed the chocolate candy in her mouth and looked at him, asking, "Is it as Wang Yamei's sister, or as your... old friend?"

"Saying ex-girlfriend is also fine. What's there to avoid? It's not like I don't admit it."

Li Xuewu tidied up the documents, sat in the chair, looked at her, and said frankly, "How is her business ability? Can she be used?"

"You've already prepared, and you're still asking me?" Wang Yamei shook her chin and asked, "You just mentioned the ex-girlfriend thing, who knows about it?"

"You seem to care about this very much?"

Li Xuewu raised the corner of his mouth slightly, picked up the teacup to drink tea. Seeing that she really cared, he raised his eyebrows and said, "You should ask who *doesn't* know about this."

"Is it those—" Wang Yajuan was suddenly very angry and wanted to say something, but still held back.

After all, this wasn't the Sihe Academy, nor was it the street. She couldn't be presumptuous here.

But thinking of those little bitches discussing and arranging her behind her back, she felt angry.

Especially in front of Li Xuewu, seeing his indifferent expression made her even angrier, almost exploding.

"You arranged for her to come to the Metallurgical Plant, is it for gilding or for a long stay?" Wang Yajuan looked at him critically and asked, "She won't leave after working for two days, right?"

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and said indifferently, "She won't leave even if you leave."

"Then when am I leaving!"

Wang Yajuan widened her eyes, looked at him, and asked, "Have you already thought about it?"

"You should be the one who has thought about it."

Li Xuewu spread his hands and said very calmly, "Whether you leave, and when you leave, shouldn't you ask yourself?"

"When you should leave, you leave; when you want to leave, you leave." He shrugged his shoulders and said, "You can leave whenever you want, is that okay?"

"I won't leave even if you leave!" Wang Yajuan left a harsh sentence and turned to leave the office.

She had already asked what she wanted to ask, and had also made herself angry. This person is getting worse and worse.

Oh, right, she also ate two of his candies.

"Hello, Secretary-General, Ding Feng."

About forty years old, bald, with a face full of sincerity and smiles, this is the newly appointed manager of the Metallurgical Plant's General Management Office, the former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Red Star Literary Publishing House.

Li Xuewu smiled slightly, reached out to shake his hand, and said, "Welcome to work in Liaodong."

This welcome speech is found throughout the Group, but only Li Xuewu can say it, because he is standing from the perspective of the Group's overall view of industrial enterprises in Liaodong.

Ding Feng also knew the gold content of this welcome speech. He was facing not only the factory director of the Metallurgical Plant but also the person in charge of the Group's industrial enterprises in Liaodong, and an important member of the Group's eleven-person group.

So he was very respectful and polite, took Li Xuewu's hand with both hands, shook it slightly, and after being invited by the Secretary-General to sit on the sofa, he took the initiative to say a lot of words of joy about coming to Steel City to work.

For these true or false polite words, Li Xuewu listened carefully, with a smile on his face.

To cooperate with the other party's performance, he also improvised some hopes and entrustments, explained some work and difficulties of the Metallurgical Plant, which was considered coping with the other party.

After Zhang Enyuan sent the other party away, he came back and reported softly, "I just received the news this morning that a new Executive Deputy Secretary-General has come down from the Ministry."

He carefully looked at Li Xuewu's expression before continuing to report, "The name is Chen Shouzhi."

"Hmm, I know." Li Xuewu nodded, his expression as calm as ancient water, not showing that he cared very much, but instead asked if the Group had any other arrangements recently.

"I heard it, the Organization Office is examining candidates, just don't know where they are being arranged."

Zhang Enyuan said softly, "I estimate there are ours, after all, the leadership team is not complete."

"Pay more attention, and remind me in time."

Li Xuewu gave a casual instruction and began to work on the work in his hands.

This couldn't be considered a complaint, and it had nothing to do with blame, but hearing it in Zhang Enyuan's ears was somewhat serious. He was so ashamed that his ears turned red, let alone his face.

As a Secretary-General who is a leader, he can't say he hears from all directions, but he must have his own news channels.

It's rare to see a secretary like him who is deaf and has to judge the situation from rumors.

But what could he do? If he were in the Group, with the status of Secretary-General, with his status as the Secretary-General's secretary, others would be eager to take the initiative to make friends with him.

But now they are in Liaodong. The Secretary-General must have his own channels for some important news, but as a secretary, he must assume the obligations and responsibilities he should have.

He was already an old hand, he could understand these things if he thought about them, the key is that someone needs to help him.

Different circles, hitting a wall without finding the trick is useless, he is going to find this trick now.

Li Xuewu waited for the person in charge of the agency's comprehensive management office, and then, as if a chain reaction, the problem of insufficient manpower he had reported to Old Li was solved instantly.

June 27th, Chief Engineer Wang Zhijun reported to Steel City.

June 28th, succeeding Yang Shuxing, Deputy Factory Director Luo Zhongkang, who was in charge of comprehensive business work, reported to Steel City.

June 29th, succeeding Yin Zhongyao, Deputy Factory Director Zeng Meiyi, who was in charge of organizational management work, reported to Steel City.

On the 29th, the report that Li Xuewu had submitted long ago also came down. It was personally approved by Director Li, regarding the report on adding an Executive Deputy Factory Director to the Metallurgical Plant.

As the factory director of the Metallurgical Plant, Li Xuewu naturally had to convene a leadership team meeting to discuss and study organizational and business division of labor after the leadership team members were all present.

However, he had to leave time for the new comrades to become familiar with the business and work, and also leave time for the cadres below to become familiar with the new leaders, so the division of labor meeting had to be held, but not immediately.

Even if there were many development indicators this year and the pressure was great, it wasn't urgent for these few days.

On the last day of June, Li Xuewu was discussing the agenda of the organizational work meeting with Yang Zongfang when he suddenly received a particularly significant invitation letter.

"Who sent this?"

Li Xuewu flipped through the hard cardboard invitation letter with its exquisite style and workmanship, which actually had an enterprise logo rarely seen in invitation letters of this era.

To be honest, the enterprise operation in the country at this time was still stuck in the cultural construction accepted after liberation, and the reforms carried out by continuously receiving information over the years.

The more profound influence was the great support from the Maozi as teachers in the 1950s. Although they supported a half-baked Corgi, under the spirit of the people's cherishing, they still learned a lot of things.

This point was much stronger than the neighbor White Elephant. It was also teaching apprentices hand-in-hand, but we only learned for three and a half years, while the other side learned for more than thirty years.

You can see the comparison of national power in later generations. White Elephant actually turned the science taught by the industrial big brother into metaphysics.

Who knows that the heavy industrial foundation of the White Elephant family is also very strong, but later even maintaining an aircraft carrier could capsize.

You say, is this science or metaphysics?

Compared with the White Elephant family, we have a profound mechanism of self-reflection and adjustment, refusing to appear one-track-minded and blocked at both ends.

When seeing the wise, think of becoming equal to them; when seeing the unwise, reflect on oneself. Li Xuewu couldn't help but think a lot when seeing this invitation letter, because the national heavy weapon seemed to be test-flying at this time.

Of course, what is mentioned here is test flight, not production, this is the order.

Being able to think of the test flight of that aircraft, he thought of the large-scale production goal created by the Steel City Parts Manufacturing Factory in cooperation with the Fengcheng Machinery Manufacturing Factory in the Steel City Industrial Park.

The Red Star Steel Group wanted to build an integrated parts industrial park in Steel City, integrating design, production, warehousing, transportation, assembly, and other upstream and downstream industries, creating an industrial chain from Yingcheng Port Area directly to Fengcheng.

Now that this big fish, Shenfei, had taken the bait, Li Xuewu was both pleasantly surprised and gratified. He finally caught one.

"You have to be careful."

Seeing that he was really prepared to participate in the new aircraft test flight activity, Yang Zongfang joked, "The Third Ministry of Machine Building still remembers the arrow revenge of the 701 Institute."

"The 701 Institute is the 701 Institute, the Third Ministry of Machine Building is the Third Ministry of Machine Building, and Shenfei is Shenfei. It's not the same thing."

Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Besides, even if someone remembers the arrow revenge of the 701 Institute, the leaders of the Third Ministry of Machine Building are also magnanimous and won't care about me."

He jokingly picked up the teacup and said, "If they really care, they should go to Director Li to talk."

"Hahaha—" Yang Zongfang smiled and said, "Do you believe this yourself?"

He shook his head slightly and said, "Kong Xiaobo is at Steel Flight. The Third Ministry of Machine Building must have contacted him."

"And, our helicopters are famous in the north. How long do you think you can hide them?"

"I didn't think about hiding them."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "I'm waiting for them. They should counter-offer."

"How do you want them to counter-offer this price?"

Yang Zongfang sighed and said, "I never thought that our factory's products could set a high price of 50,000 dollars. A plane actually costs 180,000!"

Zhang Enyuan also stood on the side and echoed with a smile, "It's a residential building."

"I say so too—" Seeing Zhang Enyuan echo, Yang Zongfang looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "Do you think anyone dares to come and talk at this price?"

"Don't be afraid of things being expensive, be afraid of things being rotten."

Li Xuewu said confidently, "180,000 is still a loss. The 50,000 dollars in international trade is not equal to the 180,000 in the country."

He looked at Yang Zongfang and asked, "Have you heard of us buying a KH-4 helicopter from outside for 180,000?"

It's not that they don't want to buy, but they can't buy it, and no one will sell it. This is the most embarrassing thing.

Now that it's produced domestically, wanting to lower the price will only lead to bankruptcy.

That's right, it's a planned production economy now, but it needs to conform to certain market laws.

Money can only create wealth and activate the economy if it flows. If it's held in the hand, it's just a piece of paper.

This vulgar theory can also explain the country's economic problems. Everyone is trying to find ways to make money flow, so that new wealth can be created.

The Red Star Steel Group, apart from steel and rolled steel products, belongs to the product of market economy. It lacks the support of production plans, yet it can still grow bigger and stronger. This shows that the market's needs far exceed industrial capacity.

To put it one-sidedly, when domestic industrial capacity cannot meet market needs, industry is the big brother. When the market becomes saturated, industry is the grandson.

The reason why the valve between industry and the market doesn't dare to be easily loosened is that they are afraid of industrial flooding, causing problems in the social subject and the institutional subject.

The Red Star Steel Group cannot represent the industrial enterprises of this era, but it can reflect the struggle of industrial enterprises of this era between planned economy and market economy.

Laying out industrialization in Liaodong, achieving technological innovation, capacity upgrading, scientific and technological transformation, business innovation, and other goals is the Group's core work focus.

And the Steel City Parts Processing Factory that Li Xuewu estimated Shenfei was interested in, and the special alloy materials provided by the Metallurgical Plant, are the key points in the Group's layout in Liaodong, are the important industrial enterprises that provide standardized and demonstration production for the supply chain system, and are also the core that provides production guarantees for the entire Group's industrial development system.

High-standard machine tools, advanced CNC machine tools, and CNC machining centers combined to form the Red Star Steel Group's core magic weapon that leads most domestic enterprises in this era.

Now that this big fish, Shenfei, had taken the bait, Li Xuewu was both pleasantly surprised and gratified; he had finally made a catch.

"You'd better be careful."

Seeing that he was truly preparing to participate in the new aircraft test flight activity, Yang Zongfang joked: "The Third Ministry of Machine Building still remembers the old grudge from the 701 Institute."

"The 701 Institute is the 701 Institute, the Third Ministry is the Third Ministry, and Shenfei is Shenfei; they aren't the same thing."

Li Xuewu smiled and said: "Besides, even if someone remembers the grudge from the 701 Institute, the leaders of the Third Ministry are magnanimous and won't haggle with me over it."

He jokingly raised his teacup and said: "If they really want to haggle, they should go talk to Director Li."

"Hahaha—" Yang Zongfang laughed and said: "Do you believe that yourself after saying it?"

He shook his head slightly and said: "Kong Xiaobo is at Steel Flight; the Third Ministry must have contacted him."

"Furthermore, our helicopters have become famous in the north; how much longer do you think you can keep them hidden?"

"I never intended to hide or tuck them away."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "Isn't this me waiting for them? They should at least make a counteroffer."

"How do you expect them to counteroffer with a price like that?"

Yang Zongfang said with emotion: "I never imagined that our factory's products could be priced at a high of 50,000 dollars, and a single aircraft would actually cost 180,000!"

Zhang Enyuan also stood to the side and chimed in with a smile: "That's the price of a residential building."

"I'd say so too—" Seeing Zhang Enyuan agree, Yang Zongfang looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Do you think anyone dares to come and negotiate at this price?"

"I'm not afraid of things being expensive, only of things being rotten."

Li Xuewu said confidently: "180,000 is actually a loss; the 50,000 dollars in international trade is not equivalent to 180,000 domestically."

He looked at Yang Zongfang and asked: "Have you ever heard of us buying a KH-4 helicopter from abroad for 180,000?"

It wasn't that they didn't want to buy, but that they couldn't buy it, and no one would sell it; that was the most awkward part.

Now that it was being produced domestically, trying to drive down the price would lead to nothing but bankruptcy.

That's right, it is currently a planned production economy, but it needs to conform to certain market laws.

Money can only create wealth and invigorate the economy if it flows; if it's clutched in one's hand, it's just a piece of paper.

This crude theory can also explain the country's economic problems; everyone is currently trying to find ways to make money flow, as that is the only way to create new wealth.

Aside from steelmaking and steel rolling products, the Red Star Steel Group's output belongs to a market-oriented economy. The fact that it can grow and strengthen without the support of production plans shows that market demand far exceeds industrial capacity.

To put it more bluntly, when domestic industrial capacity cannot meet market demand, industry is the boss; when the market becomes saturated, industry becomes the underdog.

The reason the valve between industry and the market hasn't been easily loosened is the fear that industry will run rampant, causing problems for the social and institutional foundations.

The Red Star Steel Group cannot represent the industrial enterprises of this era, but it can reflect the swaying struggle of industrial enterprises in this era between a planned economy and a market economy.

Laying out industrialization in Liaodong, achieving goals like technological innovation, capacity upgrading, scientific and technological transformation, and business innovation—this is the core focus of the Group's work.

And the Steel City parts processing plant that Li Xuewu estimated Shenfei was interested in, along with the special alloy materials provided by the metallurgical plant, are the key priorities within the Group's key work in Liaodong; they are important industrial enterprises that provide standardization and demonstration production for the supply chain system, and are also the core that provides production guarantees for the entire Group's industrial development system.

High-standard machine tools, advanced CNC machine tools, and CNC machining centers combined to form the core magic weapon that makes the Red Star Steel Group's industry lead most domestic enterprises in this era.

It is an advanced, modernized industrial conglomerate and the key to the Red Star Steel Group occupying a leading position in industrial fields such as automobiles, aircraft, and electronics.

Now that Shenfei has sent an invitation letter representing their sincerity for cooperation, the purpose is already very obvious; so, should he go or not?

Of course he should go; national defense construction is everyone's responsibility.

At a time like this, there is no need to keep secrets or be modest; if he can truly realize the equipping of second-generation aircraft a few years early and achieve the goal of increasing national defense strength and absolute combat effectiveness, that would be his contribution to this era.

On July 1st, Li Xuewu took his own car to Shenfei, accompanied by the Group's newly appointed Executive Deputy Secretary-General, Chen Shouzhi.

Reporting to the Group on the 25th and arriving in Steel City on the 31st—one cannot say that this deputy of Li Xuewu's lacked sincerity.

Whether he came to Steel City on his own initiative or was guided by someone high up, he had come nonetheless.

Li Xuewu couldn't entertain him with fine wine and food, so he brought him along to Shenfei; this counted as a form of trust, and he also wanted to talk to this deputy on the road.

This time, Li Xuewu naturally couldn't go to Shenfei in just one car; the Volga sedan and the accompanying vehicles formed a small motorcade.

The reason for bringing so many cars, besides the intention to show off, was also to let those country bumpkins see the world.

You only need to look at who was in his accompanying motorcade and staff to understand his intentions.

The accompanying motorcade included his Volga M24 sedan, as well as Red Star Antelope, Trailblazer (experimental), Hongyun 7-seater, Hongyun 9-seater, and Hongguan (Sea Lion) 13-seater models.

Aside from the necessary comrades from the office and the United Industrial News branch, the accompanying personnel were all technical staff from Steel Flight; the "tape measure department" vibe was very obvious.

This time, he was invited by Shenfei's Deputy Factory Director, Wang Xin; with the Red Star Steel Group as his endorsement, he naturally had the conditions to bring so many people along.

On the road, Chen Shouzhi had been observing this Secretary-General whom he had never met but whose reputation was thunderous.

He naturally had some connections to be able to come to the Red Star Steel Group to take up a post; this was a star enterprise, and not only was it registered at the Ministry, but it was also under special attention from above.

Many people were saying that the Red Star Steel Group was the standard for the marketization experiments being conducted from above, and also a pathfinder.

No matter how unconventional the Red Star Steel Group's actions were in the fields of industry, economy, and foreign trade, the authorities above held a tacit attitude, and the relevant departments were also carefully observing and weighing its feedback in the process of marketization.

As long as the Group's organizational work did not have problems and its ideological work did not slide, no one would come to the Group to point fingers or talk nonsense.

The Director of the Red Star Steel Group Management Committee and General Manager, Li Huai De, was currently the pioneer of industrial reform, the leader of technological innovation, and a star enterprise manager who actively developed foreign trade to achieve market competition.

Before coming to the Red Star Steel Group, he had heard some news, and others had even explained the key points to him.

What had he heard?

He heard that the Red Star Steel Group actually only had two key figures: one was the General Manager, Li Huai De, and the other was the Group Management Committee Secretary-General, Li Xuewu.

Big Li and Little Li; one was the boss, the other was the youngest; the former shouted the orders, the latter steered the ship.

And those people in between?

They were just the ones putting in the effort to row the boat.

Li Xuewu, who could be jokingly called the helmsman of the Red Star Steel Group, was naturally no ordinary person.

He had felt the immense pressure from this superior the moment he arrived at the Group to work, even though the other party wasn't in Beijing.

The management system, financial system, economic system, safety system, production system in the organization...

In every document he could understand, and even in the link of work where he was located, Li Xuewu's influence was everywhere; it was impossible for him not to listen or look even if he wanted to.

Li Xuewu had been away from the Group for a long time, yet the Group had always had his legends; this was the biggest feeling Chen Shouzhi had just arriving at the Red Star Steel Group.

These past few days, the Group had been busy with the construction of the large market in the Workers' New Village and the construction of the Red Star Hotel, not to mention the rumors about an international hotel; what he felt most deeply was that many colleagues shared a consensus, which was that all these projects he had heard about had been audited by the Secretary-General.

Just listen to this: project applications and execution required the Secretary-General's audit; without the Secretary-General's opinion, Director Li would not easily sign off, especially on projects with huge influence.

His pressure as the Executive Deputy Secretary-General was immense; the difficulties of carrying out work under such influence could be imagined.

PS: Who became the alliance leader on August 1st?

Of course, it was 【Feng Ling Chu Yu】; full of deep love, I am extremely grateful, and I will work hard~~~