Chapter 816: Not Small at All~

The negotiation was long enough and detailed enough; the clash between Li Xuewu and the others was merely the beginning.

The cooperation proposal had already been handed over to the other side, and the Chemical Plant's business, finance, and technical personnel were to review and analyze the contents item by item.

During this period, the Chemical Plant would raise questions and inquiries regarding relevant items, and the Steel Rolling Plant's personnel would have to provide definitive answers and explanations.

The proposal was drafted by the Steel Rolling Plant, so the responsibility for explanation naturally fell to them.

Li Xuewu and the others had already withdrawn and returned to the reception room, leaving the professional business and technical personnel to face off.

Their mission was already accomplished: confirming that the Steel Rolling Plant would launch its third, and largest-scale, joint enterprise cooperation with the Chemical Plant.

Li Xuewu and the four others were accompanied by Liu Yongtao to have tea, while Bai Changmin and the others went to the Chemical Plant director's office to report, discuss, and study the upcoming cooperation.

The cooperation proposal was in Bai Changmin's hand, along with the meeting minutes just organized, which contained a series of important statements from Li Xuewu and the others.

The key was that the basis and system of the cooperation had completely changed, and the distribution plan had become what Li Xuewu called "you all picked up a big bargain."

There were also the Steel Rolling Plant's upcoming major moves, which clearly showed they were aiming for excellent results in this year's promotion project.

Building cars and ships—the Steel Rolling Plant had truly taken a giant step forward, shocking the Chemical Plant leadership who heard the news.

Looking again at the cooperation proposal and the prospects Li Xuewu outlined at the meeting, a 30/70 split didn't seem so bad after all.

The main directions for the cooperation currently being launched included welfare, functions, tertiary industries, business, and future outlooks.

Welfare products and production directions mainly included:

Cold drinks, food (canned goods, pickles, alcohol, etc.), textiles, leather goods, labor protection supplies, fruits, meat, and aquatic products, among other trade commodities.

Functional products and production directions mainly included:

Packaging, automobiles, ships, hardware tools, plumbing equipment, heating, and scientific research technology.

The scientific research technology here referred to the faculty and student forces stationed at the Steel Rolling Plant by Huaqing University, as well as the various research institutes to be prepared.

Tertiary industry service directions and support provided included:

Accommodation and catering—Liuguo Hotel (in preparation...)

Education and training—Steel Rolling Plant kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, Red Star Training Ground.

Storage and transportation—Cargo distribution base in cooperation with the railway.

Communication technology—Communication stations in three locations.

Culture and art—Steel Rolling Plant broadcast station (in preparation...)

Health and medical care—Steel Rolling Plant Hospital, Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute, chemical pharmaceuticals.

Sales services—Wucheng Office, Yuezhou Office, Jinmen Office, Jicheng Office... (all under construction except Wucheng)

Business cooperation directions and products mainly included: fire-fighting ammunition, paint and plastics, food and brewing...

Future cooperation and shared technology directions:

Including but not limited to cross-regional communication projects, the Steel City convalescent resort, the ecological breeding project on Miyun Mountain, scientific and technological achievements within the joint enterprise, and the demonstration residential project for workers' living areas.

Why Bai Changmin asked that final question was proof that he was already moved.

The pie Li Xuewu drew was big enough and tempting enough to make him consider it carefully.

Bai Changmin was the logistics vice director; he had the authority to agree to the cooperation, but he was thinking about the Steel Rolling Plant's subsequent actions.

Especially some of the existing and expanded cooperation projects Li Xuewu mentioned, which were very much in line with the Chemical Plant's future development and service needs.

There were three main directions for cooperation, the first being the automotive parts category that needed to be launched immediately.

Including but not limited to chemical processes required for automobile manufacturing, metal plating and painting, component splashing and spraying, lightweight plastic materials, battery manufacturing, etc.

The design drawings Li Xuewu provided specifically required paint finish technology, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and lightweight materials.

Compared to current spray-painting processes, the new car had to be eye-catching; it had to look more advanced and refined than the 212 from the outside.

Plastics were still considered high-end materials now, unlike in later generations where using them on luxury cars would be criticized as lacking integrity.

Automotive batteries were very necessary to upgrade; current automotive batteries were not very excellent and had room for improvement.

Even though there were already automotive batteries being exported for foreign exchange, they had not yet reached the requirements Li Xuewu expected.

Because in the design, Li Xuewu wanted the car lights to stay on for thirty minutes after the engine was turned off, the radio to continue playing, and the interior lights to remain functional.

Seat comfort, the application of engineering plastics, the soundproofing effect of sealing strips, foam filling, etc., all required support from the Chemical Plant.

As for technology, it was just that—not too high-end, but not too difficult either.

If you insist that an umbrella in a Bentley door is worth 100,000, Yiwu could manufacture a trillionaire overnight.

What could be attractive about a small jeep made with Willys engine and chassis technology?

Hey! It could play the radio; the 212 didn't have that function now.

Hey! It could provide warm air in winter; the 212 didn't have that function either.

Two young women go out on a blind date, competing for one young man; you see she has a good figure, excellent conditions, and most importantly, she is young.

If you want to counter-attack, you have to play some tricks: put on makeup, wear black stockings, a miniskirt, and make some subtle yet seductive moves.

Even if you don't grab this one, the next one will definitely be yours.

The second direction for cooperation was food and brewing, which was also a project that needed to be launched as soon as possible.

The scale of the food factory the Steel Rolling Plant was about to set up was very large, and the categories were very competitive.

First, canned goods: including but not limited to fruits, beef, mutton, pork, seafood, freshwater fish, vegetables, corn, etc.

Then, pickled vegetables: including but not limited to pickled fish, pickled meat, pickled vegetables, pickled eggs, etc.

Finally, alcohol: including but not limited to white spirits, red wine, fruit wine, and custom-made spirits.

Food chemistry was a major category and an important technical discipline.

It was fine to learn how to pickle vegetables from Liubiju, but it was impossible to move all their technology over.

Besides, Liubiju didn't pickle that many things.

This project inevitably required perfect technical support; it couldn't just be thrown together and sold.

Finally, there was the research and development of weapons and fire-fighting ammunition, which also needed to be invested in after the cooperation proposal was signed.

This project included special ammunition for the SVD rifle currently being manufactured, and subsequent fire-fighting and disaster relief equipment, fire-fighting ammunition, etc.

Don't think that all ammunition fired is for destruction and killing; it can also achieve fire-fighting and disaster relief functions.

For example, the Russians used 【nukes】 to put out fires, and the key is that it actually worked—it makes sense!

There weren't many professional fire-fighting equipment manufacturers in the country right now, so the Steel Rolling Plant could completely blaze a trail in this business.

If you want to make a nuke fire extinguisher, the Steel Rolling Plant wasn't without technical talent in this area; the Huaqing side was arranging for some atomic energy experts to participate in labor.

The three cooperation projects that could be launched after signing the proposal were the basis for Bai Changmin and the others to nod in agreement to abandon past disputes and continue cooperation.

And the subsequent welfare, tertiary industry, and deep exploration projects were the important reasons why Bai Changmin valued this cooperation and submitted the proposal to the director for discussion and research.

In this era, the points Li Xuewu mentioned were definitely not nonsense, and certainly not "launching satellites" (exaggerating).

For example, welfare products were a difficult problem every factory had to face.

Workers were the masters of the factory, laborers, and glorious creators; how could they not have welfare products!

Apples, towels, gloves, enamel mugs... these were welfare projects the Chemical Plant had to handle every year.

And if you want to handle welfare products, you have two choices: build your own factory or buy them from outside.

Buying from outside involved the trouble of unified purchasing and sales; without a plan, you might not be able to buy them.

You say you'll trade your factory's welfare products for others?

First, you have to build a factory; this is a long-term project that doesn't make money, and most of the time you're losing money on it.

Secondly, if you say you'll trade things you made at a loss for someone else's things, the difference is even greater.

And very coincidentally this year, during the cooperation with the Steel Rolling Plant, they encountered the Steel Rolling Plant's trade project.

The fruits from the border and the batch of tropical fruits from the south gave them a new choice.

The Steel Rolling Plant joint enterprise had a preferential policy in its trade project, where all partners could report their factory's off-plan products and welfare products, which could be sold or traded, like a market.

But in the only fruit cooperation they had, the Chemical Plant didn't take much advantage, only getting some fruits.

It was mainly the Steel Rolling Plant using that truckload of tropical fruits to fool everyone.

This time, the Steel Rolling Plant proposed to shed burdens, take big steps, better serve the workers, and provide more and better welfare goods.

But at the same time, it also wanted to reduce the factory's development burden, travel light, and make big strides in business work.

The burden to be shed wasn't the workers' welfare, but the source of welfare goods.

You don't have to produce them in your own factory, and you don't have to worry about not being able to buy them; there are more varieties and the quantity is guaranteed.

Importantly, by working together to produce welfare goods, you won't be in a state of loss, and you can even realize dividends while solving the employment problem for some workers' children.

Originally, handling welfare meant spending money; now you still have to spend money, but you can recover part of the technical profit and solve personnel problems, so this money is well spent.

If technical investment is high, perhaps technical profit can break even with welfare spending.

In the Steel Rolling Plant's trade project and business expansion, Bai Changmin could see this effort and foundation.

Therefore, he had to report the sincerity brought by the Steel Rolling Plant this time to the director, asking the director to value this cooperation and value this cooperation proposal and its subsequent impact.

The third-floor meeting room was still busy, while in the reception room next door, Li Xuewu and the others were chatting and laughing about interesting work matters.

Liu Yongtao was a cautious but very humorous person, a master of dealing with people, and his skill in this regard was no less than Xu Sinian's.

Especially in his ability to observe and flatter, Li Xuewu could evaluate him as an excellent office director.

When meeting Bai Changmin, the other party said it was he who reminded him of his identity, which meant Liu Yongtao had done his homework, at least he knew him very well.

And after arriving here, it was also he who brought up the relationship with the Chemical Second Plant; he didn't feel embarrassed at all about reporting Li Xuewu's identity to the leadership.

Strictly speaking, Li Xuewu's rank wasn't as high as the other party's, but with this politeness, the atmosphere in the reception room was very harmonious.

Especially after seeing Li Xuewu's performance at the negotiating table, Liu Yongtao had already determined that Li Xuewu presiding over the negotiation wasn't just the excuse he heard about the Steel Rolling Plant leaders being too busy to come.

It was very clear that Li Xuewu had come prepared, and it could even be said that he was the one in charge of this project.

During the negotiation, Li Xuewu hadn't looked at the proposal at all, and hadn't even shown any anxiety or worry about the cooperation.

He was quite confident and straightforward, his gaze was sharp and spirited, his tone was gentle and soft, his attitude was humble and serious, and every word he said hit the nail on the head.

This person was definitely not as simple as he looked on the surface; mixing so well in the Steel Rolling Plant, he would definitely be a big figure in the future.

All factories in the city were managed by the Ministry of Industry, or managed by the Ministry of Light Industry or the Ministry of Petroleum and Chemical Industry, but generally speaking, they were all one family.

Liu Yongtao wouldn't dare say that Steel Rolling Plant cadres wouldn't come to the Chemical Plant to take office in the future, and he wouldn't dare say that he would always be the office director at the Chemical Plant.

If you said that railway people wouldn't come to the Chemical Plant, he would be a bit more certain, but factory types—he really wouldn't dare say.

Within the same system, you would meet sooner or later.

It wasn't to say that you had to suck up to him just because he might be your leader in the future, but that cooperation and exchanges between brother units would definitely happen.

They were just talking when the reception room door opened, and Chemical Plant Vice Director Bai Changmin accompanied a taller cadre inside.

"Haha, is this the Steel Rolling Plant's Deputy Secretary Li?"

Li Xuewu and the others weren't fools; seeing this situation, they knew a higher-level leader from the Chemical Plant had arrived.

When Liu Yongtao stood up, Li Xuewu and the others also stood up.

As soon as this person spoke, Bai Changmin, who was following him, introduced with a smile: "This is our factory's Secretary, and also the Director of our factory's Management Committee, Zhu Xiaolin."

"Hello, Director Zhu."

Li Xuewu shook hands with him with a smile, and from Bai Changmin's introduction, he knew that this Chemical Plant head had firmly grasped the situation during the Great Learning activity.

Not all factories were as tumultuous and prone to counter-attacks as the Steel Rolling Plant; most were peaceful transformations, and some secretaries could even influence the factory director's work through the management committee.

This Director Zhu didn't look like an ordinary person; his face was fierce, slightly bluish, his large hands were very powerful, and even though he wasn't short, he gave people a sense of a strong style.

Li Xuewu wasn't intimidated by him; he was just as tall and fierce-looking, and in terms of physical fitness, he was confident he could knock the other party down with one punch.

The two stood together, their auras colliding, making everyone in the room nervous.

Zhu Xiaolin was very surprised by Li Xuewu's calmness and his counter-attack against his aura, especially the moment this young man looked at him—there was a murderous aura.

He had experienced that era and had seen such scenes, so of course, he understood what this aura on Li Xuewu meant.

The two large hands shook together enthusiastically, seemingly evenly matched, but Zhu Xiaolin knew he wasn't as good as the other party.

Because Li Xuewu was younger and had more potential; he had plenty of time to continue improving himself.

"I heard from Comrade Changmin that the Steel Rolling Plant is going to launch a big satellite (exaggerate), haha~"

Zhu Xiaolin looked Li Xuewu over, waved his hand with a smile, signaled everyone to sit down, and said: "I was shocked when he told me this."

After speaking, he looked in Bai Changmin's direction and said: "I even asked him, did I hear that right?!"

"Hahahahaha~"

Everyone in the room let out a light laugh, and Li Xuewu also smiled.

"Building cars, building ships, military industry, joint enterprises, worker welfare, residential housing."

Zhu Xiaolin sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, his hands on the armrests, counting the Steel Rolling Plant's projects with his fingers.

"These are big projects and big moves that our Chemical Plant wouldn't even dare to think about."

"Director Zhu, you are being modest."

Li Xuewu leaned slightly to the side, his expression natural as he said: "The Chemical Plant is the pride of Beijing and the industry leader."

"In the field of chemistry, whether it is cutting-edge scientific technology, chemical engineering, or the production and sales of chemical reagents and products, the Chemical Plant has walked at the forefront."

"If you really want to talk about it, the Steel Rolling Plant is learning from the Chemical Plant's advanced experience."

"Oh?"

Zhu Xiaolin looked at Li Xuewu with a smile and asked: "Where does this come from?"

Li Xuewu didn't believe the other party hadn't heard the modesty and politeness in his words; it seemed this person was also someone who loved vanity and was arrogant.

There was no lack of capable people in this period, but most of them would have a limited perspective.

After creating some achievements, they would develop arrogant and self-important emotions.

For example, the one in Daqiuzhuang, Jinmen, even started a closed-door organization.

Of course, those in power couldn't exaggerate such emotions; instead, they had to express them with a humble and rigorous attitude.

You want to wag your tail, but you have to keep it tucked.

If he wanted to hear this, then Li Xuewu would naturally say it.

"The Chemical Plant started from a small enterprise of a dozen people, innovating and forging ahead for over a decade, bravely exploring, using a small factory to practice large-scale production, and becoming an industry benchmark."

Li Xuewu looked at Zhu Xiaolin and said: "The Steel Rolling Plant now also needs to look back and see if the path it has walked is solid or not."

"Different from the Chemical Plant's development process, the Steel Rolling Plant started with heavy industry, taking the path of large-scale mergers and acquisitions."

Li Xuewu said while gesturing: "Although the Chemical Plant also has mergers and acquisitions, they belong to business expansion; every merger is the creation of a new type of product."

"The Steel Rolling Plant is not."

Speaking of this, Li Xuewu's expression was a bit heavy and serious: "The predecessor of the Steel Rolling Plant was Steel Rolling Third Plant; because of business and other reasons, it merged with a large number of steel rolling enterprises, becoming today's Red Star Plant."

"The same products, the same processing technology, the same technical workers—it inevitably forms a behemoth."

Li Xuewu stretched out his fist and said: "Clenching a fist is indeed powerful, but you also have to bear the additional problems of this power."

He opened his fist, spread his fingers, and counted one by one: "Bloated structure, complex personnel, tight budget, single production structure, difficulty in covering welfare benefits, etc. —a series of problems."

Zhu Xiaolin nodded as he listened to Li Xuewu's words and said: "We have considered the problem you mentioned—mergers; should we combine them into one, or manage them in a unified way while operating separately?"

He also glanced at Bai Changmin while speaking, and then seriously said: "Our factory finally chose unified planning and consideration, considering from the directions of products, safety, geography, production capacity, etc., forming today's situation."

"The general factory and branch factories stand side by side, forming the main production array, while research institutes and technical factories exert the advantages of being small and sharp, existing as auxiliary forces."

Zhu Xiaolin summarized: "We have also taken detours, but your situation is more complex; after all, the number of people is there."

When he said this, he asked Bai Changmin: "Our factory has 4,700 people now, right?"

"Yes."

Bai Changmin nodded: "4,700 people in total."

"This is the gap."

Zhu Xiaolin looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Your Steel Rolling Plant must have more people than us."

"Steel Rolling First and Second Plants were also big factories back then; there is strength in numbers, but there are also many problems."

"That is indeed the case."

Li Xuewu nodded: "Now, not counting the new reception and training personnel, the Steel Rolling Plant's total number has already exceeded 16,000, and it is expected that the total number will exceed 20,000 by the end of this year."

"Look, this is where the problem lies."

Zhu Xiaolin spread his hands to Li Xuewu: "We worry about welfare benefits, personnel placement, and industrial development for 4,700 people at the Chemical Plant, let alone you."

"That is why the Steel Rolling Plant wants to expand the steel industry's upstream and downstream industrial chains."

Li Xuewu said firmly: "The reason why the Chemical Plant can become a trust of chemical enterprises is that it relies on rich chemical products."

"The richer the products, the more competitive they are; the more excellent the products, the more vitality they have."

Li Xuewu spread his hands and signaled: "The Steel Rolling Plant wants to take the advanced management model of being small and refined, small and specialized, re-consolidate the production foundation, and broaden product items, categories, and development directions."

"Using small factories, small investments, and small products to leverage big business and big markets."

Li Xuewu's words were about the Steel Rolling Plant's development intentions, but they also closely followed the Chemical Plant's development advantages.

Expressing determination and attitude, while also praising the Chemical Plant—he could truly be called a master of language.

Zhu Xiaolin was very satisfied with Li Xuewu's rhetoric and attitude; he smiled and signaled to Li Xuewu, saying to the Chemical Plant group: "The Steel Rolling Plant has capable people!"

"Hahahah~"

Led by the Chemical Plant group, bursts of laughter rang out in the reception room again.

Zhu Xiaolin looked at Li Xuewu, his face full of smiles, but his eyes were serious as he said: "The Steel Rolling Plant's 'small products, small investments, small factories'—none of these are small at all!"

"Hahahah~"

Li Xuewu answered with a light laugh: "Small products are indeed small products, but that doesn't mean the profit is small."

As he spoke, he took a nail clipper out of his pocket and placed it on the coffee table between the two, introducing: "This is a product just made by the Steel Rolling Plant's branch factory."

"Nail clippers?"

Zhu Xiaolin narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at it, but didn't pick it up; instead, he looked at Li Xuewu with suspicion again.

"Yes, they are nail clippers, but not ordinary ones."

Li Xuewu said with a smile: "Similar products on the market are of uneven quality; some might become dull after a few uses, but this one won't."

As he spoke, he pointed to the small object and said: "It can cut iron wire and is guaranteed not to become dull; this is what we want to do."

"Of course, we also do big projects."

After Li Xuewu finished speaking, he spread his hands and said: "But big projects are hard to do; they have disadvantages like high investment, high risk, difficult quality control..."

"But being hard to do doesn't mean they can't be done."

Li Xuewu said seriously: "Small projects can fetch big profits, and big projects can also practice and expand more choices for heavy industry factories."

"The important thing is to control risks and reduce the possibility of failure to the minimum."

Li Xuewu looked at Zhu Xiaolin and said: "We have chosen a steady path for practicing big projects, and that is cooperation."

"The Steel Rolling Plant is willing to cooperate with relevant brother units on big projects, using more wisdom and strength to control risks, share creation, and share achievements."

"For example, automobile manufacturing; our factory has engine and transmission manufacturing technology, can research and develop, and can produce."

"Our factory can also build structures, do stamping, and do welding, but we cannot produce other spare parts."

Li Xuewu explained to Zhu Xiaolin: "Even if we could produce them, we wouldn't; the manufacturing cost is too high, so we only handle core technology and final assembly."

Zhu Xiaolin nodded with a slight frown and said: "I understand; you have cut up the overall automobile manufacturing process and only handle a part of it, right?"

"That's exactly it."

Li Xuewu nodded: "Exert our strengths and avoid our weaknesses; otherwise, we would absolutely never be able to make this car."

"That's right, that's right."

Zhu Xiaolin finally understood the Steel Rolling Plant's car-making method, and thus understood why Li Xuewu called it small products and small investments.

Understanding small investments, he also understood why Li Xuewu called them small factories.

Small factories with small investments can piece together a big project.

He had originally been wondering what kind of madness the Steel Rolling Plant was having to launch such a big project.

Building a whole line of auto parts factories would be enough to make the Steel Rolling Plant smash its pots and sell its iron.

But that would be putting the cart before the horse!

Later, they calculated that perhaps they were building the parts factories in cooperation with factories like theirs to reduce the pressure.

Hearing Li Xuewu's explanation now, he suddenly realized that the Steel Rolling Plant was even more aggressive than they had thought.

That is, to cast aside everything that could be outsourced to other factories for production or procurement, only handling the core themselves, and cooperating on key components that couldn't be handled.

The Steel Rolling Plant had a complete industrial production foundation, so of course, there was no problem with engine and chassis manufacturing, and no problem with car body stamping and welding.

But they had problems with car interior components and equipment; after all, they couldn't produce foam, tires, rubber hoses, or lightweight components themselves.

If there's a problem, solve it; pull the Chemical Plant over to cooperate, and simple problems will be handled simply.

The idea of a joint factory is very fresh; these types of components will become the car's value-added functions, which, like core technology, will be a means to enhance competitiveness.

The remaining irrelevant and common components aren't worth producing, and management is troublesome, so throw them all away, and making cars will really become much simpler.

Don't look at the fact that the Steel Rolling Plant is holding all the big parts; the production cost of big parts isn't high.

Instead, it's things like screws and wires—that's where the high cost is; the fewer you produce, the higher the cost.

In other words, the technology is all in the big parts; the higher the technical proportion of the product, the lower the cost.

If the cost of a car was 1,000 yuan, the cost the Steel Rolling Plant is responsible for might be 200, the cooperation cost is less than 100, and the rest is handed out.

Zhu Xiaolin now understood the Steel Rolling Plant's car-making method, and thus understood why Li Xuewu called it small products and small investments.

Li Xuewu signaled to Zhu Xiaolin and said: "In the future, the Steel Rolling Plant's automobile industry will definitely carry out more cooperation with the Chemical Plant."

"Including purchasing chemical supplies, rubber hoses, tires, antifreeze, lubricating oil, etc."

Speaking of this, Li Xuewu added with a smile: "The Steel Rolling Plant is selecting sites all over the country to build offices, and along with them will be car sales points and service points."

"Cooperation with the Chemical Plant can be long-term; these products are all things that will be consumed during the car's use."

Li Xuewu swept his gaze over the Chemical Plant group and said with a confident smile: "If you persist in doing small business for a long time, that will be an extraordinary achievement."

"Hahahah~"

Zhu Xiaolin nodded with a smile and said: "Reasonable, well said; Deputy Secretary Li has insight and planning."

"Seeing the big from the small."

Zhu Xiaolin sighed: "The Chemical Plant was the same back then; from producing small bottles of chemical reagents for school experiments to today's hundreds of millions in output value."

Li Xuewu had just finished bragging and wanted to pick up his teacup to rest, but he didn't expect to be hit by the other party's "humblebrag" (Versailles) so hard.

Damn! Hundreds of millions in output value is amazing!

Our Steel Rolling Plant has 16,000 people!

Being a trust in the chemical industry is amazing!

Our Steel Rolling Plant has 16,000 people!

Four branch factories and many small factories are amazing!

Our Steel Rolling Plant has 16,000 people!!

Even if we fight, it's three of us against one of you; what's there to be arrogant about!

Zhu Xiaolin had the capital to be arrogant, and he couldn't stand others bragging in front of him.

Although the Steel Rolling Plant bragged very well this time, about building cars and ships, he didn't care; their Chemical Plant was still the industry leader.

Besides, bragging doesn't work; you have to produce actual products.

The Beijing Chemical Plant doesn't produce tires, but they have antifreeze, lubricating oil, and other rubber products.

So Li Xuewu's talk of deepening cooperation and long-term operation wasn't bragging.

"All rivers run into the sea; tolerance makes greatness."

Zhu Xiaolin looked at Li Xuewu and the Steel Rolling Plant group with a smile, waved his hand, including the Chemical Plant people, and said:

"It is precisely because of the active efforts of good comrades and good cadres like you who are responsible to the organization, responsible to the people, and responsible to the products that the factory can have great development and great achievements."

Zhu Xiaolin finally looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Your cars are about to be built; when the time comes, you must invite me to take a look."

As he spoke, he tapped the sofa armrest lightly and said: "This is the common dream of us industrial people."

"That is of course."

Li Xuewu said with a smile: "When the time comes, I hope to receive strong support from our factory, purchasing our own small cars—cars that win glory."

After speaking, he looked at Feng Xingke and the others and asked: "We have purchase discounts for cooperation partners, right?"

"Yes."

Sales Director Gou Zirong nodded with a smile: "Joint enterprise and trade project cooperation units are given a 15% discount on all cars."

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Xiaolin glanced at Bai Changmin and Liu Yongtao, and seeing them signal the time, he stood up and signaled to the door: "It's lunchtime; let's taste the food at our Chemical Plant."

Li Xuewu didn't take it to heart that the other party didn't agree immediately; if Zhu Xiaolin had agreed to purchase cars in one breath at this time, he would have felt something was wrong.

Facing the Chemical Plant's politeness, Li Xuewu didn't act reserved; he gestured politely, then went out with the other party and walked downstairs.

Having talked until this point and spent so long in the reception room, wasn't it just waiting for lunch?

This is an old tradition of cooperation between enterprises; it's like visiting a village—when guests come to the house, you must set up a banquet.

It wasn't very extravagant yet, and the phenomenon of "heavy head and light feet" (spending too much on banquets) hadn't appeared; it would be different in another ten years.

Li Xuewu had eaten the Chemical Plant's food at the Second Plant, and could only say it was a bit better than the branch bureau's.

Of course, you can tell how the Second Plant's cook was just by comparing him to whom.

The general factory was obviously different, especially the small kitchen for entertaining guests—how could they lose face?

There were four people from the Steel Rolling Plant, and the Chemical Plant also brought out four; Si Litong followed when they went downstairs.

Eight people at one table, ten dishes, one case of white spirits.

The dishes were good, solid dishes: four meat, four vegetable, and two soups.

The wine was good, strong liquor: 52-degree Xifeng wine.

Soldier against soldier, general against general; you have to set an example when drinking.

Liu Yongtao was the office director; he toasted Li Xuewu for the first cup with a smile, followed by a "wheel battle."

Drinking isn't about drinking well, it's about drinking until you fall.

If you drink well, the cooperation will be good, and the cooperation agreement will be signed well.

Li Xuewu didn't refuse anyone; he drank every cup the Chemical Plant toasted until it was empty, and soon attracted their firepower to himself.

Director Li didn't come, but he couldn't let him fail to experience the Chemical Plant's enthusiasm—Li Xuewu would bring this cup of wine back for him!

The Chemical Plant people were scared to death; Li Xuewu hadn't taken a small sip since the first cup.

The guest drank it all in one gulp, so could they drink half a cup?

You can't refuse a toast, so you have to drink it all in one gulp.

Good heavens, they took turns toasting Li Xuewu, thinking of killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred themselves.

And the Steel Rolling Plant people knew Li Xuewu's drinking capacity, so they also set up a formation to attack one with many.

Zhu Xiaolin was a leader, higher in rank than them, and the host; it was against the rules to pour him.

But it didn't matter for the others at the Chemical Plant; if you don't drink well, it means you look down on the other party.

Li Xuewu was toasted once, he returned one cup, then he proposed one, and the other party's four people each had one.

And the Steel Rolling Plant side focused on beating one person on the other side.

Bai Changmin was the vice director, the second largest at the table, so they focused on him.

Li Xuewu didn't turn red no matter how he drank, and the Chemical Plant side got anxious—don't let Li Xuewu not fall while they couldn't hold on.

Not to mention Vice Director Bai, even Director Zhu was having trouble holding on after drinking with Li Xuewu.

In the end, Liu Yongtao, who came to the rescue, went directly under the table, while Bai Changmin sat there swaying; if it weren't for the chair armrests, he would have slid off.

Zhu Xiaolin saw it wasn't working—he'd met a wine god today; sound the retreat, or he'd die first if he kept drinking.

He didn't suspect Li Xuewu of playing dirty; if he caught him, Li Xuewu wouldn't be able to mix in the circle anymore.

But he really watched, watched with his own eyes as the other party poured cup after cup of wine into his mouth.

It was summer, and there were no long sleeves; what couldn't be seen clearly?

It was true and real; the Steel Rolling Plant's deputy secretary had drunk at least three and a half jin, and only half a bottle was left in the case of white spirits.

Damn, the fist fears the young and strong, but not this strong!

Is this a person, or a wine vat!

The key is that Li Xuewu didn't fall; his face was just a little red, his speech was still clear, and his eyes weren't murky.

Fine, admit defeat; next time... next time don't drink with him.

The wine was drunk well, so the agreement would be easy to sign.

While they were chatting in the morning, the negotiation group members had already communicated the agreement in the large meeting room.

What needed to be supplemented was supplemented, what needed to be set was set; when Li Xuewu and his group returned to the meeting room, the signing stage was already prepared.

A long table covered with red cloth, with flags in the background.

Clearly, the Chemical Plant valued this cooperation very much; there was even a cooperation banner behind them.

Li Xuewu knew what was going on as soon as he saw it—this was for photos.

Although they had prepared themselves, they didn't expect the other party to be prepared too.

Remember, signing photos isn't just for news and souvenirs, but to fix the signing situation at the time, and also for future lawsuits.

I won't go into details; anyway, Li Xuewu knew Zhu Xiaolin had many tricks up his sleeve.

Of course, he wasn't a swindler, so what was there to be afraid of.

In the end, the agreement was signed by him and Zhu Xiaolin.

He had also thought about it—Chemical Plant Vice Director Bai Changmin was also a cunning one; this old guy must have known what kind of character his leader was and just gave up.

No wonder Li Xuewu saw Zhu Xiaolin being so strong but trusting Bai Changmin so much; it turned out this vice director knew how to behave.

Knowing the leader appreciated this project and valued this cooperation, he just pretended to be drunk.

Li Xuewu even suspected he was drunk on purpose, just to avoid fighting for the limelight.

The vice director in charge was drunk, so the agreement couldn't not be signed.

It could only be signed by Zhu Xiaolin, Director Zhu; Liu Yongtao had even thoughtfully prepared photos, and you could tell what was going on at a glance.

Li Xuewu was a master at pretending to be confused while knowing the truth; seeing through it without saying it made them good friends.

"Sorry, Director Zhu."

When shaking hands with Zhu Xiaolin, Li Xuewu said softly: "I was greedy for a cup and almost delayed the big event; I've troubled you to sign."

"It doesn't matter."

Zhu Xiaolin shook hands with Li Xuewu with a smile; he really appreciated Li Xuewu.

Being able to do things, drink, and behave—these words made people feel comfortable to the bone.

"It's the same whoever signs; we each represent our respective units."

He knew Li Xuewu was being polite about the unequal rank of the signers; if he wasn't humble, that would be arrogance.

With this sentence from Li Xuewu, Zhu Xiaolin had both face and substance; how could he not appreciate him?

Handing the contract in his hand to the person beside him, he added: "Once the agreement is signed, we are two brothers; I hope our cooperation is pleasant." ===== CHAPTER 817 =====