Chapter 1507: Red Star Speed

"Where do you think the significance of arranging this event lies?"

Li Li Huai De truly couldn't make sense of it; following the group along what sounded like an impressive route but was actually just a stroll beside a crumbling wall, the cold wind blew until his nose was running.

He had also listened to that old codger ramble on for over ten minutes, leaving his mind in a complete fog.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he asked Li Li Xuewu on the way back.

Li Li Xuewu leaned in with an amused smile and explained softly, "Showing off; showing off born of insecurity."

"Ah—" Li Li Huai De let out a long sigh as if suddenly enlightened, then looked at him and asked, "Is it really that simple?"

"Sometimes, viewing the global landscape reveals it to be nothing more than a slightly larger makeshift stage," Li Li Xuewu said with a shake of his head and a smile. "One clown after another takes the stage in full makeup, making the whole thing a farce."

"It really is like that—"

Li Li Huai De thought for a moment, then nodded slowly and said, "The less one has, the more one feels compelled to show it off."

"But are they really that lacking in a sense of security?"

"If we judge solely by what we saw with our own eyes, I believe so," Li Li Xuewu said, curling the corner of his mouth and nodding. "There was no need for them to create such an empty illusion for us, was there?"

"Of course, of course—" Li Li Huai De agreed strongly with this point, nodding slowly once again. "It seems playing the dog for others isn't an easy life either."

"Actually, it's all the same—"

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin stuck out his large belly, shifted his bottom on the seat, and made himself more comfortable.

Having listened to the conversation between the two, he spoke up: "In my opinion, life in West Germany might even be worse than in East Germany."

"Both are playing the dog for others; the ones opposite bark louder, while these ones play the victim, but the Russians are masters of saving face."

When saying this, he even raised his eyebrows, deliberately speaking in a humorous tone, which made Li Li Xuewu shake his head repeatedly.

"We must still emphasize self-reliance and hard struggle," Old Li said with a tone of firm conviction, as if he had suddenly achieved great enlightenment. "We must adhere to the path of independent revolution and construction; this policy cannot be shaken."

"Perhaps this is precisely the purpose and significance of the leaders bringing us out to participate in this event," Li Li Xuewu said softly, pointing to the convoy ahead outside the window. "Know the enemy and know yourself; if you have flaws, correct them; if you do not, use it as further encouragement."

"Hehe—" Zhu Zhu Xiaolin sized up Li Li Xuewu and chuckled lightly. "They say you're an all-around talent; initially, I didn't believe it."

"Now it seems I truly failed to recognize gold despite having eyes; with your vision and awareness, you're bound to have a bright future wherever you go."

Li Li Huai De glanced at him with slight concern, swept his gaze over Li Li Xuewu, and then looked out the window.

It was only around three-thirty at this point; the convoy was returning along the route it had come, and there were far fewer onlookers on the streets.

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin winked at Li Li Xuewu, his smile becoming increasingly enigmatic.

After spending so much time together these past few days, they had naturally become familiar; Zhu Zhu Xiaolin didn't act superior in front of him, and he wasn't in the habit of acting subordinate.

Thus, in their interactions, both their personal relationship and their working relationship could be described as harmonious.

Jingcheng Chemical Industry hadn't sent only Zhu Zhu Xiaolin; Deputy Factory Director Bai Bai Changmin was also present, yet this particular small circle was one the other man could not enter.

Li Li Xuewu hadn't actually wanted to get involved in the circle of these old codgers, but Zhu Zhu Xiaolin had kept a close watch on him, insisting on taking him along for every activity.

In truth, Li Li Xuewu would have preferred to connect with other deputy-level cadres from units within the industrial system; it was an opportunity, after all, to gain another acquaintance.

Previously, when he was in the Security Division and the Management Committee Office, his scope of business was confined within the factory grounds, though perhaps the Security Division had more contact with local entities.

If you simply follow the market trends and only associate with people related to your specific line of work, you'll never break out of that circle in your entire life.

Li Li Xuewu's rapid career advancement and meteoric rise relied not merely on his own abilities and strength, but also on his social connections.

Just consider every step he has taken; hasn't each one been bolstered and influenced, to some degree, by such relationships?

Before he was managing operational work, he already focused on building connections with business leaders, such as Zhang Zhang Changming from Tianjin Aquatic Products and others.

Now that he is in Liaodong, responsible for the group's industrial enterprises, he is truly putting those relationships to use while also forging new social connections.

Among the enterprises accompanying this delegation, which one is not a standout within the system? The top leaders of major enterprises like Shougang and Factory 107 are all part of the group.

Of course, this is just how people are; when numbers are small, it's manageable, but once the group grows large, it automatically splits into circles.

You can't quite explain how these small circles form; no one deliberately organizes them, yet they simply exist.

Some say that wanting to integrate into them is impossible without a referral from someone already inside, as this involves the issue of trust.

Just think about it: Old Zhu and Old Li joke around recklessly in private, but if someone were to repeat those words publicly, neither of them could save face.

What is meant by "speaking behind closed doors"?

Naturally, there are no conditions for secret recording now, but look at how many problems have arisen in later generations due to audio and video recordings, and how many people have ruined themselves because of them.

Since Li Li Xuewu was pulled by Old Zhu and the others into this circle, when he tries to connect with others, he will naturally be excluded by other circles.

Look at how impressive Old Li is now; in the past, upon seeing the general manager of Factory 107, he would definitely have gone up to greet him.

At that Guangzhou Export Commodities Fair, he bowed to everyone he met and leveraged every connection he had.

By the closing banquet, he was practically handing out business cards to everyone.

During the gathering of automotive industrial enterprises, he sat in the lowest seat of honor, calling every single person "Big Brother."

And now?

Li Li Huai De's name carries a weight it once did not; as the Red Star Iron and Steel Group's reputation grows higher and higher, and with the industries in industrial parks like Steel-Auto, Steel-Aircraft, and Steel-Electronics taking off, his backbone has become much stiffer.

Hmm, when someone invited him out for drinks tonight, he actually claimed he needed to focus on health preservation and had quit smoking and drinking.

Just look at that; is this still the desperate go-getter from before?

If he didn't have some real strength, how would he dare to refuse so decisively, and how could he make the other party dare not feel angry or complain?

"To forge iron, one must oneself be hard."

Li Li Huai De, who had been gazing out the window for a long time, turned his head and said to Li Li Xuewu, "Technological development and progress must catch up head-on."

"The Red Star Iron and Steel Group must possess a sense of responsibility and duty; today we learn from them, but tomorrow we will make them learn from us."

What the hell kind of stimulus did he receive?

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin glanced at him; seeing that Old Li wasn't just pretending to be tough without substance, he too began to think seriously.

"Begging others is like swallowing a three-foot sword; relying on others is like climbing to the ninth heaven."

At this moment, Li Li Xuewu understood Old Li's mood, and from the relationship between East Germany and the Russians, he inferred even more points of contradiction.

Is not today's East Germany precisely tomorrow's Red Star? Excessive reliance on technology introduction and imitation will ultimately lead only to reaping the bitter fruit of one's own actions.

"The Keyansuo side is still quite capable."

In the car, Li Li Xuewu did not make his words too explicit; with a soft remark that merely hinted at the point, Old Li already understood completely.

"After we return, redo the budget," Old Li nodded slowly and said. "Besides the budget, establish separate funds for scientific research and bonuses."

"The Liaodong industrial enterprises can support a portion," Li Li Xuewu stated with full support. "A portion can also be allocated from the budget."

Listening to the dialogue between the two, Zhu Zhu Xiaolin let out a long sigh, filled with both envy and powerlessness.

Watching the Red Star Iron and Steel Group soar, given the mindset and vision these two possessed, how could there be any reason for them not to succeed?

Thinking back on his own years of work, could he truly say he had no regrets?

He had once mocked Old Li for having little ability, surprisingly even imitating others by becoming the top leader; never did he expect that Old Li would truly surpass him.

The more he witnessed the unity and progress of the Red Star Iron and Steel Group, the more he felt his own powerlessness and deep regret as he approached retirement.

If the organization could grant him one more term, he would definitely set aside ideological competition and prejudice, focusing more of his mind on enterprise development.

The foundation of the Jingcheng Chemical Plant was far thicker than that of the Red Star Factory; if they could truly learn from Red Star's advanced experience, it was hard to say they could not forge a new path.

It was just that looking at the people in the general factory's leadership team, Bai Bai Changmin, who was relatively strong in operational capabilities, possessed vision and thinking that did not reach even one-tenth of Li Li Xuewu's.

This kind of gap was the main reason that made him feel deeply powerless.

Gaps in enterprise strength can still be caught up with, but how can one catch up with a gap in the thinking of the management layer?

Even if he spoke the truth, after returning he told everyone about what he had seen and heard and spoke of the Red Star Iron and Steel Group's success, would those people in the leadership team be able to take it in?

Even he himself lacked confidence; perhaps on the surface these people would be very cooperative, but in reality, they were simply waiting for him to retire.

Without walking this step, without having witnessed the cruelty of international market competition, these people would never be able to open their horizons.

At this moment, Zhu Zhu Xiaolin suddenly felt he should not have come to East Germany; he should have given this rare and precious opportunity for enlightenment to others in the factory.

Yet, even if he could realize this point, could those people in the leadership team ever think of it?

There is a saying that goes well: prejudice in the human heart is like a great mountain; unfortunately, everyone has such a great mountain in their heart.

"Leipzig is actually the name of a city."

The motorcade arrived at the Leipzig Hotel at four o'clock; Old Zhu suddenly became curious about the hotel's name, so Li Li Xuewu provided an explanation.

"You should have told me before," Zhu Zhu Xiaolin looked at him to confirm. "It's a city with a relatively developed chemical industry, right?"

"Correct, the local area produces lignite, so based on that, they developed the lignite chemical industry," Li Li Xuewu smiled, nodded, and said. "However, Leipzig has more than just the chemical industry."

As everyone followed the foreign affairs secretary toward the lobby, Li Li Xuewu began explaining the regional composition of East Germany to the few people around him in the form of casual chat.

"It can be described as the Berlin Economic Circle; here there are no provinces or cities, only districts and urban areas."

He gestured in the air to sketch the rough shape of East Germany's map and pointed out the locations of several major cities.

"This is also a pattern of industrial and agricultural city division that commonly exists in Europe."

"Their national territory area is simply too small."

Old Li hit the nail on the head with a single sentence; walking to the side with his hands in his pockets, he was so arrogant he had no friends.

Li Li Xuewu also noticed that on this trip out, Old Li's intelligence and vision seemed to have grown?

"Indeed, they lack broad strategic depth; industry and agriculture mainly rely on urban development to drive them forward."

He nodded slowly, explaining as he walked. "Actually, one can view it this way: the capital, Berlin, is the economic center of the entire nation and this district, combining with surrounding industrial towns to form the Berlin Urban Agglomeration."

"The central Elbe River bank district includes the three districts of Magdeburg, Halle, and Leipzig; here there are abundant minerals, fertile soil, and a dense population, making it a heavy industrial zone."

"Is it developing very well now?"

Bai Bai Changmin, who had caught up, suddenly interjected to ask, "Is this an industrial system rebuilt after the war?"

"With the support of the Russians, development has been quite rapid."

Li Li Xuewu turned back and said a sentence to him, not minding his sudden interruption, as this was merely casual chat.

"The industrial output value of these three districts concentrates one-third of the nation's total; dominant sectors include chemicals, fuel and power, non-ferrous metallurgy, and machinery manufacturing."

He extended his palm, folding down one finger for each item he mentioned, finally leaving one finger raised to emphasize, "And also the food industry, which is extremely developed."

"Beer and ham?"

It seemed Bai Bai Changmin had done quite a bit of homework, yet due to the rush of time, it appeared he had only scratched the surface.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Not only that; the combination of gourmet food and industry can give birth to a wide variety of canned products."

"Canned food is also called gourmet food?"

Old Li, who prided himself on being a food blogger, naturally looked down on canned food; although the Group had its own cannery, he never ate it.

"Centered on Halle and Leipzig, combined with its surrounding industrial towns, it constitutes the nation's largest Halle-Leipzig Urban Agglomeration," Li Li Xuewu continued to introduce. "The banks of the Elbe River are an agricultural base with a very high degree of mechanization and intensification; it is the nation's granary, with grain output accounting for one-third of the national total."

When entering the lobby door, he specially emphasized one point: "There, the meat and dairy livestock industry is even more developed; Deputy Director Li will go there for inspection."

"The food industry?" Bai Bai Changmin had caught the key point of Li Li Xuewu's previous sentence; the Jingcheng Chemical Plant also had a food industry branch.

Do not think that chemical industry is synonymous with corrosion and explosions; the chemical industry is closely related to the food industry.

Among those snacks from later generations, which one has no relation to the chemical industry?

"Unified Agricultural Theory," Li Li Xuewu pressed his lips together slightly and explained. "This is the key focus of the leaders' inspection."

"Without industrial development, highly developed agriculture is useless."

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin truly sat firmly in his position; being within the industrial system, he spoke for industry and did not think much of agricultural development.

Li Li Xuewu was unwilling to argue with him; looking at Bai Bai Changmin, he said, "If you are interested, you can apply to go along; perhaps the trip will not be in vain."

"Let me think about it," Bai Bai Changmin nodded very seriously and explained, "My ideal first stop is still Rostock."

"That works too; you decide."

Li Li Xuewu smiled; hearing him speak this way, it seemed he had paid attention to that city.

"Where do you plan to make your first stop?"

Having received the grace of Li Li Xuewu's "guidance," Bai Bai Changmin's relationship with him had grown somewhat closer, so he asked this question directly.

"It is the Leipzig region that I just introduced."

Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "There lies the automotive industry; it is our key target for inspection."

"Indeed." Bai Bai Changmin nodded as a matter of course, saying, "Agricultural and industrial development occupy one-third of all Germany; surely it is even more worthwhile for large enterprises like yours to go there and strike gold."

"Don't be so affected; who isn't a large enterprise?"

Li Li Xuewu pointed at him, then spoke to Zhu Zhu Xiaolin: "Director Zhu, one should not belittle oneself."

"Hahaha—"

Naturally, Zhu Zhu Xiaolin laughed heartily; for this delegation tour, who among them was not a major enterprise? Jingcheng Chemical Industry, for instance.

"The automotive industry—why not bring us along?"

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin was the type to seize any opportunity; seeing Li Li Xuewu address him, he joked, "Let's make a fortune together."

"Don't say I haven't prepared anything, leaving me to freeload off you."

He pointed outside the main gate and said, "The IFA trucks running on the roads could perfectly be introduced back home; let's Yi Zuo Wen Zhang about it."

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin's thinking aligned with the mindset of this era, evident from the domestic priority given to developing the truck industry.

In later generations, domestic truck production would absolutely rank first globally, yet compared to passenger cars like sedans, it lagged behind for many years; had it not achieved an overtaking maneuver on the new energy track, BBA would not have lowered their prices.

No matter how good-looking the small sedans running on the roads are, can they support national construction?

What the country lacks most right now is not small sedans, but large trucks capable of supporting production and industrial construction.

Old Zhu had set his sights on trucks; perhaps he truly harbored some ulterior motives.

He most envied the rise of the Red Star Iron and Steel Group; but what had propelled Red Star Iron and Steel Group to prosperity?

Those who did not understand would say it was the hardware industry, but in truth, Old Zhu knew best: what had stepped on the accelerator for Red Star Factory's train was the automotive industry.

Back then, which unit in the city had not sold scrapped vehicles, and which unit had not purchased refurbished ones? Red Star Factory had earned a fortune from this.

Relying on this primitive accumulation, they now possessed the Steel City automotive industry.

Jingcheng Chemical Industry had assets; the current supply chain and production line technology had already been thoroughly explored by Steel Auto, so why could they not manufacture automobiles?

Introduce technology from Germany, purchase equipment from Jingcheng Machinery Plant No. 2, buy management expertise from Red Star Iron and Steel Group, and join the supply chain system.

Do not ask how to handle sales; if they could truly produce trucks, there would be no shortage of market demand domestically.

Therefore, what seemed like a joking question was, in reality, a long-premeditated plan.

"Hehe—" Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward Old Li's direction to indicate he had asked the wrong person.

Whether to include them in the game still depended on Old Li's decision.

Seeing Zhu Zhu Xiaolin look over, Old Li proudly twisted his neck and led the way into the hall.

"Hey—he's getting all proud!"

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin smiled, pointed at Old Li ahead, and said to Li Li Xuewu, "You really shouldn't hide or conceal anything; it's useless—"

"Let me tell you—" he leaned in with a smile and said, "Not to mention Plant 1707, both Shaanxi Auto and Sichuan Auto have set their sights on IFA trucks."

"Your Steel Auto may be a new force in the passenger vehicle sector, but you cannot compete against them; they are the professional truck manufacturers."

He gave a thumbs-up, raised an eyebrow, and said, "However, if Steel Auto has external allies like Jingcheng Chemical Industry, then the situation will be different."

"So that is how you think."

Li Li Xuewu nodded in understanding, praised him, then asked with deep implication, "Then do you know which manufacturing company they have targeted?"

"IFA, of course; what did I just say?"

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin asserted righteously, emphasizing, "Does this mean you weren't listening to a word I just said?"

"I was listening; if I hadn't been, I would have made a fool of myself." Li Li Xuewu cupped his hand beside his mouth and "whispered" a reminder: "Actually, IFA is not a single automobile manufacturing company."

The delegation returned from the Berlin Wall at 3:15, arrived at the hotel at 4:00, and according to the schedule, had half an hour for rest.

Yet Zhu Zhu Xiaolin and Bai Bai Changmin had set their sights on Li Li Xuewu, following him all the way back to his room.

Yes, Li Li Xuewu's room.

Actually, coming to Li Li Xuewu's place was the same as going to Zhu Zhu Xiaolin's; even Old Li's side was no longer trustworthy to Li Li Xuewu.

After being out for over two hours, who could guarantee that no one had entered the room?

"IFA is not an automobile manufacturing company?"

"Correct, it is not." Hearing Bai Bai Changmin's surprised question, Li Li Xuewu stated with certainty, "You can understand it this way: IFA represents an alliance of automobile manufacturing companies of a consortium nature across all of East Germany."

"If you still cannot understand, just think of our own situation."

Li Li Xuewu took off his outer coat and explained, "All trucks are called Yan Jiefang, and all jeeps must be called 212."

"Oh—" Bai Bai Changmin understood, then frowned and asked, "Won't that cause confusion?"

"It won't be confused, because they have few vehicles." Li Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "Generally, no single vehicle model is produced by more than three factories."

"The IFA trucks Director Zhu saw on the street were actually produced by the state-owned IFA Joint Automobile Factory in Leipzig."

He explained to the two, "The IFA on the emblem is an abbreviation of the German 'Industrieverband Fahrzeugbau,' meaning 'Association of the Vehicle Construction Industry,' abbreviated in Germany as IFA."

"It is precisely because the economic system here is also a planned economy that we have the familiar and comprehensible IFA."

Li Li Xuewu sat on the bed, changed out of his thick leather shoes, and prepared to put on lightweight thin leather shoes, since there was no need to go out tonight.

"As the representative of East Germany's automotive manufacturing industry, IFA's business scope is extensive, covering a full product line from simple bicycles to complex heavy-duty cargo trucks."

He looked at the two and said with a smile, "This is the charm of a planned economy, eh? Hahaha."

"What model is that truck I saw?"

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin had long premeditated this; otherwise, he would not have pursued Li Li Xuewu with this question, and even Bai Bai Changmin was staring at Li Li Xuewu.

"W50, currently the best truck in East Germany."

Knowing their little schemes, Li Li Xuewu spoke frankly: "The engine is a four-cylinder direct-injection diesel, 125 horsepower, with a five-speed transmission, an air-over-hydraulic braking system; the flatbed model has a load capacity of 5 tons, and the main vehicle plus trailer can carry 20 tons."

Having changed into his leather shoes, he stood up and stamped his feet to make his Western-style trousers straighter and more upright, appearing without a single wrinkle.

"This model can achieve three distinctive functions: three-sided tipping for unloading, a rear-axle differential lock, and an air-cut brake; it is well worth attention."

"You two also want to get your hands on this model, right?"

Zhu Zhu Xiaolin stared like a guard dog watching over its food bowl, his gaze toward Li Li Xuewu filled with suspicion and distrust.

Li Li Xuewu merely nodded with an amused smile and said, "Of course we can't let such a good thing slip away; do you know how many units of this model were sold this year?"

He raised his eyebrows slightly and, without waiting for the two to guess wildly, stated directly, "At least 170,000 vehicles, and that is merely an estimated figure."

"It could be even more, but it certainly won't be much less."

"So it's at the state-owned IFA joint-venture automobile plant in Leipzig, then?"

Bai Bai Changmin asked impatiently, "Is there a group itinerary arranged for this trip?"

"Are you planning to go along with them?"

Li Li Xuewu gave him a meaningful look but said nothing; even Old Zhu felt embarrassed on behalf of his subordinate.

Ultimately, he was not as shrewd as that rascal Li Li Xuewu; Old Bai was simply too honest.

"Should we head to the factory based on this address?"

He looked at Li Li Xuewu seeking confirmation, asking, "When do you plan to go over there?"

"You will never find it if you follow that address," Li Li Xuewu said with a mischievous grin. "Didn't you realize that is just the official name?"

"In reality, the factory is called the Leipzig Ludwigsfelde Plant; formerly built by Daimler during the Second World War, it was the Ludwigsfelde Plant dedicated to producing engines for German bombers and fighter aircraft."

Li Li Xuewu explained frankly, "After the war, the original factory equipment was carted away by the Russians; the remaining workers rebuilt this plant using rudimentary equipment, with construction successfully completed and production commencing in '52, primarily manufacturing marine diesel engines, machine tools, and their supporting parts."

"It has now restored the capacity to produce jet engines for aircraft and agricultural machinery, while mastering advanced stamping and forging technologies."

"Don't tell me you know this factory so well because your people have already gone there!" Zhu Zhu Xiaolin suddenly realized Li Li Xuewu's confidence, widening his eyes as he asked, "When did this happen?"

"Heh—heh—just half a month ago."

Li Li Xuewu adjusted his shirt and suit, turned back to smile at the two men, and said, "Experience the Red Star speed."

Why was everyone targeting the W50 truck?

Because the thing was simply too useful; having been newly developed and in production for only two or three years, its technology was absolutely ahead of the curve.

Domestically, there was a vast truck market; as long as it was introduced, profits were guaranteed without loss, which explained why everyone was fixated on this spot.

However, the key focus of the Red Star Iron and Steel Group was not here; this feint misled not only the two troublesome figures from Jingcheng Chemical Industry but also those listening in on the other side.

Think about it: when they returned together earlier, Old Li clearly knew what Old Zhu and his companion intended to do, so why didn't he follow them in?

He did not care whether Jingcheng Chemical Industry would seize the initiative and obtain the technology the Red Star Factory urgently needed, because he knew Li Li Xuewu did not care.

No matter how superior the truck technology might be, bringing it back still required assembling a production line, and one could not be selfish with technology by refusing to share it with other enterprises; so what was the point of struggling so hard to bring back such technology?

Rather than wasting time on this, it was better to make a feint and target something everyone else had yet to notice.

What Li Li Xuewu said was true: half a month ago, personnel from the Red Star Iron and Steel Group had indeed arrived to make contact with the Ludwigsfelde Plant.

But what he did not say was that the target of this early contact was not the W50 truck, but jet engine technology.

"Director Li, the meeting is about to begin."

Li Li Xuewu knocked and entered the opposite room to remind Old Li.

Li Li Huai De was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, resting; his physical condition was not what it used to be, severely depleted by excessive drinking and womanizing.

Having been exhausted for a full day, his spirit and energy were now somewhat lacking.

Yet no matter how tired he was, he had to pull himself together to attend the meeting.

At 4:20, the delegation, represented by Deputy Director Li, would hold talks with the East German side.

At the same time, East Germany's industrial and trade systems would organize a meeting between enterprise heads and the heads of industrial and trade enterprises from the delegation.

Layer upon layer; if the leadership held meetings at this time, the lower levels also had to convene at this same time.

Li Li Huai De was to attend the industrial and trade organization meeting, while Li Li Xuewu was to meet with this group's support and service team; Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi had come to pick him up.

"I heard coffee can refresh the mind and wake up the brain?"

Old Li got out of bed, sighed, and reluctantly asked this question.

Li Li Xuewu merely raised an eyebrow and said, "Actually, the effect is similar to tea; it depends on your habits."

"Actually, drinking coffee normally is fine; given your constitution, just avoid adding sugar."

Standing in the room, he watched Old Li rise and asked, "Are you alright? Should I request leave for you from the leadership?"

"Forget it; that would truly turn me into a laughingstock of an old weakling."

Allowing Liu Bin to help him put on his suit, Li Li Huai De said helplessly, "Here, where do we have the qualification to request leave?"

"Leader, tea has been prepared for you."

Liu Bin timely reminded him, "I have also found coffee; I can brew it for you anytime you need."

"Forget it; I was just saying it."

Li Li Huai De was not accustomed to that stuff; it wasn't unavailable back home; he was simply grasping at straws in his desperation.

"Go attend to your duties; the business side will rely on you."

Waving his hand at Li Li Xuewu, he said, "Tell them the Group will not be stingy, as long as the objective this time is achieved."

"Sha Qizhi mentioned that the bonus funds are fully prepared."

Li Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "The 35 million in reserve funds has given them ample confidence, guaranteeing they can complete the mission."

"Anyone can spend money; the key is spending it in the right place."

Li Li Huai De adjusted the tightness of his tie himself, turned to look at Li Li Xuewu, and asked, "How do you plan to go tomorrow..."

He had only asked half the sentence when Li Li Xuewu raised his hand to stop him.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu gesture toward the surrounding environment, Old Li nodded with understanding, the helplessness and irritation on his face growing more intense.

In an environment where one could neither speak nor discuss freely, it was truly enough to suffocate a person.

The living conditions here were certainly impeccable, yet he disliked it immensely; this place reminded him of his youth.

Back then, he was still an underground worker.

"Go, and don't forget you have a speech tonight." Li Li Huai De, unwilling to say more, waved his hand to indicate he could leave.

"Leader, what speech?"

Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi, standing at the doorway, heard it all; seeing Li Li Xuewu emerge now, the two walked toward the stairwell before he asked.

Li Li Xuewu explained offhandedly, "The evening banquet's activities—have they all arrived?"

"All are here, waiting only for you."

Seeing the leader had no intention of elaborating, Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi was sensible enough not to press further.

The environment here was truly special; there was danger of being eavesdropped upon at any moment, so one had to be extremely cautious in speech and action.

They had not completely booked out the entire sixth floor, securing only the rooms at the end of the corridor, which they had thoroughly inspected inside and out.

Having arrived here twenty days in advance, just the accommodation costs alone must have been substantial; only heaven knew how comprehensively the Red Star Steel Group had prepared for this trip to East Germany.

Fearing they might fail to keep pace, aside from essential staff, everyone else had been requisitioned from Port City, precisely to ensure professionalism and combat effectiveness.

Technology introduction and acquisition internationally relied on a complete supporting system; it was not a matter of casual inspection or buying on a whim.

At this time, the domestic side still lacked such operational capabilities, making borrowing personnel from Port City actually the most suitable choice.

"Let me introduce everyone; this is Comrade Li Li Xuewu, Secretary-General of the Red Star Steel Group Management Committee."

Accompanying Li Li Xuewu into the conference room, Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi took the initiative to introduce him: "Secretary-General Li also concurrently manages the Group's industrial enterprises in Liaodong and is the supervising leader for this operation; let us welcome him with applause."

"Applaud lightly; I can already feel everyone's enthusiasm."

Seeing the applause so fervent, Li Li Xuewu knew the money had not been wasted; smiling, he waved his hand and said, "If those foreigners hear this in a moment, they'll wonder what we're up to."

"Hahaha—" Everyone burst into laughter.

Li Li Xuewu's humor and wit truly relaxed their minds considerably; after all, besides bringing high returns, a high-intensity work environment also imposed immense psychological pressure.

"Those present today are from the Liaison Group, the Logistics Group, and the Staff Group," Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi introduced. "The Business Group and the Inspection Group have all gone out."

"Mm, comrades, you have worked hard."

When Li Li Xuewu spoke these words, he was utterly sincere; smiling, he shook hands with everyone in the conference room.

In fact, there were not many people; while shaking hands, he asked a few questions about daily life, showing concern for everyone's food, clothing, shelter, and transportation here.

"Thank you for the leader's concern; we are doing fine," a young man speaking with a distinct Port City accent replied respectfully as he shook his hand, adding, "Except that it's a bit cold."

"Isn't Port City also very cold?"

Li Li Xuewu smiled at him and asked, "Where are you from?"

"From Nanyang; it's still warm over there in my hometown," the young man smiled and said. "I didn't expect Germany to be this cold."

"Hehehe—" Li Li Xuewu gently patted his hand and said, "Hearing your form of address gives me a sense of temporal dislocation."

"Everyone, do not feel constrained; call me whatever you like," he told the crowd. "Just now, Sha Qizhi introduced me to you all; you may call me Comrade Li Li Xuewu, or Li Xuewu, or Old Li; anything is fine."

"Hahaha—"

The atmosphere on site indeed warmed up considerably.

Calling someone 'comrade' was naturally quite novel; for people from Port City, those who used the term 'comrade' were all from the mainland.

They found addressing him this way both novel and unconventional, feeling unable to bring themselves to say it, yet calling him 'Li Xuewu' felt too presumptuous.

Of course, no one would call him 'Old Li'; Li Li Xuewu might look somewhat intimidating, but his age was evident enough—this leader was truly young.

Though the leader was young, his actions and speech were remarkably seasoned.

"Those able to be in this conference room should all be comrades-in-arms."

Li Li Xuewu smiled and addressed the crowd: "Just now on the way here, Director Li of the Group was saying that no one should be treated poorly; he entrusted me to extend his regards regarding everyone's diet and daily life here, insisting that logistical support work must be done well."

"Hearing everyone's satisfactory replies puts my mind at ease; only with a full stomach does one have the strength to work."

He nodded and stated, "This operation covers a wide scope, involves many targets, and carries high intensity; everyone has truly worked hard."

"Director Li also emphasized the issue of everyone's treatment; on this point, there is no need for worry—the Red Star Steel Group is no miser."

Hearing the light laughter from the crowd, he nevertheless spoke with grave seriousness: "The Group's ability to reach today's status relies entirely on unity and clear rewards and punishments; the Group will never forget any contributor, and on this point, I dare guarantee it."

"I hope you can unite as one, cooperate with tacit understanding, and achieve gains in this operation; the Group has already prepared a victory banquet in Port City."

Li Li Xuewu concluded by saying, "You are the hope and the key to the Group's operation this time; here and now, I entrust this to all of you!"

Seeing him bow slightly, serious expressions appeared on everyone's faces.

Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi had invited Li Li Xuewu over precisely to boost everyone's morale, to have a Group leader come and make a statement to everyone.

His own words carried little weight; a guarantee from a Group leader would surely become the most crucial catalyst for this operation.

In the small conference room, Li Li Xuewu attended a work meeting hosted by Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi, attended mainly by heads of the team's various departments.

Li Li Xuewu listened to reports on the operation's progress and made decisions and provided support regarding key strategies and issues.

Finally, he introduced Katherine to Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi.

Katherine had also moved into the hotel; she was assisting Li Li Xuewu and the team in completing critical business negotiations in the capacity of a consultant.

In other words, over the coming days, Katherine would accompany Li Li Xuewu covertly as they navigated through several key industrial enterprises in East Germany to accomplish their target missions.

Katherine had also brought her assistant and team; this was not unpaid; despite the two maintaining a 'close' relationship, this was official business.

Geely Star Shipping's objective had always been clear: Yingcheng Port.

In about two years' time, Yingcheng Port would open for operations; by then, the number of international trade cargo ships docking there would certainly not be small.

Geely Star Shipping had already cultivated Yingcheng for over three years; asking them to give up such a juicy piece of meat right before their mouths, how could they be willing?

Yet if they truly wished to devour this piece of meat, Geely Star Shipping would inevitably have to pay a certain price.

One need only look at the Santa Ya Group; there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, nor any windfall gifts dropping from the sky.

How much benefit the Red Star Steel Group could reap this time would directly determine Li Li Xuewu's attitude toward supporting them.

And Katherine had staked everything on Li Li Xuewu.

Do not assume this Young Lady lacked experience or independent judgment, fixating on Li Li Xuewu immediately upon arrival; in fact, she had entertained other ideas.

It was simply that the connections her father had handed over to her placed greater trust in Li Li Xuewu.

After contacting other leaders of the Red Star Steel Group, Katherine still felt Li Li Xuewu was more reliable.

At least when it came to maintaining cooperative friendship through an intimate relationship, she preferred Li Li Xuewu, because he was better in bed.

From the perspective of shared interests, Li Li Xuewu possessed a more international vision and approached problems from sharper angles.

Cooperating with a smart person was relaxing; there was no need to waste words.

Without a written agreement, Catherine had no choice but to support him unconditionally.

However, she was not without backup plans; the two of them were in a situation where cooperation benefited both, while separation harmed both.

If Geely Star Shipping wanted to develop in Yingcheng Port, it could not do without Li Li Xuewu's support; conversely, the same logic applied in reverse.

Li Li Xuewu needed the presence of "one of their own" outside the group, especially in foreign trade activities.

Catherine was a smart Miss; she knew what she wanted. Her father had won the position of clan leader from this very spot, and her coming here to inherit it showed that her father held expectations for her.

What could Li Li Xuewu give her?

If she could truly tie Geely Star Shipping to the giant vessel of the Red Star Steel Group, her next step would be to possess the Andrew Buyer's Club.

This was not a promise from her father, but words Li Li Xuewu had spoken to her.

Since the Red Star Steel Group had been able to achieve the Andrew Buyer's Club, it similarly had the capacity to achieve the Catherine Buyer's Club.

Just thinking about the interests and influence behind that name made Catherine willing to do anything.

"Shall I come to you tonight, or will you come to me?"