MMB Chapter 1591 Alone
Chapter 1591 Alone
Chapter 1591 Alone
At the group's economic development work conference, Li Xuewu emphasized the need to accelerate economic development and solidify the foundation for the group's industrial economic transformation...
What he said was not empty talk, but core theory and an important direction for the group's future development.
To put it bluntly, from the decision-making level to the execution level, clear instructions generally take about a week to process, and the general manager signs them, while the vice president personally executes them in a maximum of three days.
The tone set at relevant business meetings is usually extended to six months or a year.
In other words, Li Xuewu has gained the approval of the group's management committee, and his speech is merely a guiding principle for the entire group for the next year.
So?
He came and went in a hurry, making two trips to Beijing in half a month. In reality, it seemed that nothing had changed at work, and it was as if the office hadn't opened at all.
At least that's how it appears to ordinary employees; some employees didn't even know he had gone back to Beijing.
This is normal. Not just anyone can walk into an office. Even for the most ordinary application or signature, it must be for important work.
The group established strict office management system as early as the Hongxing Factory period. Trying to get a leader's signature on an application to buy two shovels is just ridiculous.
That's how it usually is in government offices. You might think someone isn't busy, but in reality, their work schedule for the next week is already set. Any change would be a disaster for the secretary and the office.
The timing of meetings with different people, the schedules for studying, processing application documents, and conducting field research are almost set in stone.
Of course, the secretary will leave spare time in the schedule; when there is no work, it is the leader's rest time, and when there is work, they will squeeze it in.
Upon returning from Beijing, Li Xuewu immediately threw himself into a hectic work schedule, even using his lunch break to meet with certain people.
The driver's change was done quietly, which was a pity for viewers who were following the dramatic affair between Zhang Meili and Yu Zhe.
Indeed, the steel city is about to welcome the warm summer at the end of May, and even the wind carries a hint of heat.
Just like in the animal documentary: Spring has arrived, and the animals are here again...
It has to be said that the two of them have really taken "love" to a whole new level by daring to do this so openly and without worrying about damaging their reputation.
One is a driver, the other is an ordinary clerk. There is no conflict of interest, no impact on their work, and no impact on anyone else. This is true love in its purest form. Pure love is disgusting.
Do I need to write a mid-year work summary?
Wang Min put his hands behind his head, looked at Zhou Peilan and asked, "Write one for me too?"
"You're so lazy—" Zhou Peilan rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tell Director Zhang that you're cheating and shirking your duties."
"Fine! Fine—" Wang Min said with a roguish air, shaking his head, "You don't care about classmate affection at all, you don't care about revolutionary friendship at all, do you?"
How dare you say that?!
Zhou Peilan stopped what she was doing, turned to him and asked, "I asked you to keep an eye on Yu Tiecheng's family, did you help?"
"Is there any point in keeping an eye on their family anymore?"
Wang Min said nonchalantly, "Those who should be going to school are going to school, and those who should be going to work are going to work. Life has returned to normal, hasn't it?"
"You haven't gone even once, have you?"
Zhou Peilan glared at him fiercely and said, "The fact that the leader didn't say that we don't need to keep an eye on things anymore means that it's still worth continuing."
"Okay, okay, okay!" Wang Min raised his hands in surrender and said, "I was wrong about this. I'll go after get off work today."
"No need, I'll go myself."
Zhou Peilan said, enunciating each word clearly, "You'd better hope nothing happens to you in the future, and if something does, don't come looking for me."
"What's going on here?" Zhou Linghua walked in carrying documents. "I've heard you arguing since the door opened. What's going on now?"
“Ask him—” Zhou Peilan glanced at Wang Min with dissatisfaction, then turned back to continue writing her report.
Zhou Linghua looked left and right, then helplessly carried the documents back to his seat; he really didn't have much strength in the office.
Zhou Peilan is the only female comrade and has a straightforward personality; Wang Min is humorous and likes to joke; Li Muqin is serious about her work and is taciturn.
As for himself, the fact that he and Zhou Peilan were able to date must mean that their personalities complemented each other.
"Comrades, good news!"
Office Director Zhang Jing walked in, clapped his hands, and looked at them, saying, "The new comrade has arrived. Your hard days are over."
"Director—it's family—"
Wang Min expressed his joy with deep emotion, and he no longer wanted to write the documents in his hand, preparing to hand them over to the new clerk.
“Don’t be too happy yet—” Zhang Jing pointed at him and emphasized, “This time, it’s not experienced fighters who have come, but new recruits.”
"The batch that just graduated?" Zhou Peilan looked up at the director and asked, "Weren't they supposed to graduate in June?"
"That's right, I don't graduate until June."
Zhang Jing looked at her and nodded, saying, "But they have already completed the written test and interview stages, and all that's left is to go through the final organizational procedures."
"The group took into account the staff shortage at the lower levels and made an effort to provide them with special access, so they came."
He shrugged, raised an eyebrow, and said, "What? Not happy? Give me some feedback!"
"Happy, of course I'm happy—"
Wang Min stood up with a smile and clapped, saying, "We've finally made it through! We can finally climb out of this pile of documents."
"What did I just tell you?"
Zhang Jing pointed at him again, raising an eyebrow as he reminded him, "They are new recruits. The school may deem them to meet the standards for employment, but they definitely lack work experience."
"So—" He looked at the four of them and said with a smile, "As I promised you before, who wanted to form their own team?"
He paused here, and seeing the four people's stunned expressions, he said with a smile, "Now is your time to shine."
"Director, what do you mean by this?"
Wang Min didn't quite understand and asked in confusion, "Isn't it their turn to perform? What are we supposed to perform?"
“Leading a team, of course.” Zhang Jing nodded as a matter of course and said, “Each person must have at least three spots, with no limit on the number.”
He pointed towards the door and said, "Whoever brings out the soldiers belongs to them..."
"Don't be impatient, I'll go and check things out first—" Wang Min was the most cunning. Before Zhang Jing could finish speaking, he was the first to run out.
While Zhou Linghua was still standing there in a daze, Li Muqin and Zhou Peilan had already jumped up from their seats, pushed Zhang Jing aside, and ran out.
"Linghua! Come on—" When she realized her boyfriend hadn't followed, Zhou Peilan ran back and shouted in exasperation, "What are you standing there for!"
"you……"
Zhou Linghua stared blankly at his girlfriend, then at Director Zhang who was smiling but saying nothing. He was still hesitating when Zhou Peilan pulled him away.
-
How do you divide this thing?
Li Xuewu was holding a microphone, and on the other end of the line was Xu Sinian from Yingcheng Shipbuilding, who was arguing with him about getting a few more graduates.
"Are you dividing bread like this, giving you an extra bite and giving him half less?"
He said with a laugh, "Don't talk nonsense. All graduates are assigned according to demand, and they come down with their caps on."
“I don’t believe it—” Xu Sinian said shamelessly, “Who knows if there’s one more or one less?”
"Do you think I'm stupid, or do you think everyone else is stupid?" Li Xuewu reminded him irritably, "The allocation list has already been finalized. Are you going to make up for one missing spot?"
"Alright, that's the amount. I'm already being lenient by not taking anything from your ships. You still want to covet the government offices?"
He snorted and said, "Want Zhang Jing to have a word with you about this later?"
“Never mind then,” Xu Sinian said with some regret, “I was thinking that this only happens once a year, so I might as well make a couple more.”
"You need to change your habit of taking more than your share; it's affecting unity—"
Li Xuewu scolded him, "If everyone were like you, would we even be able to do this job?"
"Let's leave it at that."
He emphasized this point, then said, "I have a question for you. Are you still going to submit your report on building more shipyards? It's almost the middle of the year."
"Call, call, I'm even more anxious than you are," Xu Sinian explained helplessly. "United Construction has already sent people to survey the site, and we're just waiting for the data."
"Don't blame me for not reminding you—" Li Xuewu said calmly, "Hurry up, don't waste time and end up eating another pot of cold rice."
"Don't worry, I'll do it as soon as possible."
Xu Sinian initially agreed, then hesitated before asking, "Has Yingcheng approached you about the iron ore screening plant?"
"Yes, Wang Lu called me."
Li Xuewu didn't hide anything from him and told him the truth: "The conditions offered are okay, but the requirements are a bit too many."
"She wants to build an industrial park, right?"
Xu Sinian asked bluntly, "Do we need to expand the existing port area?"
"You already know, so why are you asking me?"
Li Xuewu said calmly, "The group currently has no new investment plans; her ambitions are simply too great."
“If, and I mean if,” Xu Sinian asked, “couldn’t it be achieved through a joint venture model, like United Energy?”
"What do you think?" Li Xuewu countered. "If it's just one or two factories, it doesn't matter. But there are also issues like land use involved."
"Cough-cough-"
He cleared his throat and emphasized, "The group hopes that the next round of investment project approvals will be as easy to manage as possible and that management authority will be clearly defined."
In other words, it's either all-encompassing or none-encompassing.
"So you mean we have to wait?"
Xu Sinian hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Can't we use the port area project for joint construction?"
"Forget about it," Li Xuewu said calmly. "Do you think she can just say she'll invest and then expect it to happen?"
Do you know how much money is needed to invest in an integrated shipbuilding manufacturing industry?
He scoffed, "The Liangmahe Industrial Zone is nearing completion, but the construction of the Gangcheng Industrial Zone is underway, and there's also the Fengcheng Machinery Factory."
"Isn't Fengcheng a renovation project?" Xu Sinian asked skeptically. "Even if we include Tadong Airport, our group shouldn't be involved in that."
"Have you considered what would happen even if you achieved an integrated industrial structure?" Li Xuewu asked. "Your production capacity and costs may increase in a short period of time, but do you have enough orders to support that?"
"Now that there are a lot of orders, if we really go all out, half of the people will be left idle. Besides, your technology is not yet fully mature."
He talked for a long time, then picked up his teacup, took a sip, caught his breath, and continued, "We will invest when it's time to invest, and we will upgrade when it's time to upgrade."
"I'm worried that there won't be enough time," Xu Sinian said with concern. "What if Yingcheng can't wait and finds other companies to come over..."
"What do you want me to say?" Li Xuewu said calmly, "Should I give you a guarantee? Or should I tell you outright that this is a gamble?"
"I don't care what they're thinking. The group's construction capacity is limited. It's impossible to fight on multiple fronts. Think about it yourself."
After saying this, he emphasized, "Submit the report as soon as possible, and this year's production tonnage must also be increased, otherwise you will not be able to deliver."
After saying that, he didn't want to listen to Xu Sinian's nagging anymore, so he reached out and hung up the phone.
Zhang Enyuan tidied up the documents he had read on his desk, preparing to take them to the office for distribution and organization.
"How's the situation at the steel and gas company?"
Li Xuewu remembered something and asked a question without looking up.
Zhang Enyuan knew what he wanted to ask: about the implementation of East German technology and the installation and upgrading of equipment.
"I asked about it the day before yesterday. Some workshops have completed construction and are currently being equipped with equipment. The workers are also undergoing final training."
"Tell them to hurry up; installation is not the goal, the goal is to get production back on track."
Li Xuewu looked up and instructed, "Try to complete the trial production before winter. These Germans are not cheap."
"Okay, I'll make the call now."
Zhang Enyuan nodded, then hesitated before asking about Gangfei's situation, "The Third Ministry of Machinery Industry sent a letter directly to Gangfei, and you haven't decided whether to reply yet."
“Just leave it to the group to handle.” Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, “Report this to Deputy Director Cheng and ask for his opinion.”
"Understood, I'll come down and inform Director Kong."
Seeing that his boss had lowered his head to continue reading the documents, he quietly left the office and went to his own.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Ma Baosen asked curiously, "Why are there so many documents?"
"You've come at the right time." Zhang Enyuan waved his hand, gesturing to the pile of documents on the sofa, and said, "Those are no longer needed; send them to the confidential office."
"Many new people have joined the organization."
Ma Baosen didn't immediately go to move the documents, but quietly reported, "When will the Northeast Company be established?"
"How many people have come this time, and you dare to bring up the Northeast Company?" Zhang Enyuan glanced at him and said, "It's still early."
"There must be at least a dozen people."
Ma Baosen picked up the documents, still reminding himself, "I thought I was finally free."
"What's wrong? Tired?" Zhang Enyuan looked up at his apprentice and asked, "Or are you feeling resentful?"
“No…” Ma Baosen stood there holding the documents, stammering and unable to give a coherent explanation.
"Go deliver the documents first, I'll talk to you when I get back." Zhang Enyuan glanced at him and then got busy with what he was doing.
Ma Baosen was very obedient; he happily went out and headed to the Confidential Affairs Department.
-
Visits, research, investigations, negotiations...
Li Xuewu was so busy until mid-June that he didn't even go back to attend the opening ceremony of the group's guesthouse, let alone the completion ceremony of the Riverside Garden residential complex.
He was indeed busy. Most of the East German projects were to be implemented in the steel city, involving technological changes and equipment upgrades. He wasn't on the front lines overseeing the work, but he was responsible for coordinating the overall coordination.
The renovation project of Tadon International Airport has been fully launched, all operations have been suspended, and all personnel are participating in job training.
The Human Resources Department officially dispatched specialists to the airport to streamline the airport's personnel structure, re-establish personnel files, and adjust the heads of some positions.
In early June, Li Xuewu went to check on the project. The project had already started and the personnel training was going well. He also held an office meeting with the comrades of the temporary command.
Regarding the appointment of the person in charge of the Tadong Airport Management Office, Li Xuewu did not offer any suggestions, and it seems that Lao Li (Old Li) didn't remember to make an appointment, and it has been delayed until now.
Li Xuewu didn't care about that. When he went to Fengcheng, he went to the machinery factory first. He was more interested in the production and research of CNC machine tools.
Honggang Group is carrying out equipment upgrade and renovation projects in both heavy and light industries, including the production line.
CNC machine tools are the focus of this equipment innovation. As required by Li Xuewu, machining should be made as CNC as possible.
In particular, high-precision components produced in batches are industrialized and integrated based on numerical control.
Ordinary machine tool factories are also producing them, but they are gradually reducing their production capacity and shifting more towards CNC machine tools.
Starting this year, with the release of the results of the industrial upgrading of Honggang Group, more and more companies have contacted the group, wanting to purchase CNC equipment.
Gao Yaqin specifically consulted with him and finally decided to open up sales, even providing customized services in conjunction with the Beijing No. 2 Machinery Factory.
He was more concerned about the machinery factory because Tadon Airport was never intended to be managed by him from the beginning, and he went to conduct research in his capacity as secretary-general.
However, the machinery factory was indeed within his purview, and he also bore management responsibilities.
One is a machinery factory, and the other is Yingcheng Shipbuilding. They are located in the south and the north, respectively, and they deserve more attention than the other factories.
In comparison, the steel rolling mill in Gangcheng is a newly built plant with new equipment and technology, and its workers are all top-notch selected employees. Its production capacity is quite stable, so he doesn't have to worry about it.
The ones who need to be concerned are Steelfly, Steel Gas, and Red Star Electronics.
Steel Aircraft has two projects that need to be assembled and produced in the shortest possible time: the Lark III and the Jaguar, in addition to the KH-4.
Li Xuewu had been keeping a close eye on the Lark 3, because compared to older models like the KH-4, both the Lark 3 and the Jaguar were the latest.
To truly achieve export competitiveness, these two aircraft are the ones that matter.
A KH-4 can be exported for $5, while a Lark 3 can sell for $50.
This isn't just a tenfold difference in price; it's a difference where you might want to buy something but can't necessarily get it.
When the Santa Yonex Group provided these two production lines, it emphasized that they would never admit that they were the ones who delivered them, nor would they endorse the export of the aircraft.
Without brand influence, export trade can only be carried out if it does not affect the sales area in France.
This has far more limitations than the KH-4.
The KH-4 can be sold easily because this model is so common that anyone can copy it.
So, can the Lark 3 also be considered a copy?
Yes, because China has purchased them before. In 1964, they bought 30 SA319B aircraft for army aviation training.
This is the first French helicopter purchased by mainland China, and also one of the earliest Western helicopters we purchased. Compared with the Z-5 helicopter in China, this model is among the world's most advanced.
50 sounds impressive, but in reality, this aircraft, from design to production, doesn't involve much technology compared to a three-wheeled vehicle.
From a futuristic perspective, if you can repair a tricycle, you can repair this airplane.
However, its simple structure and robust build do not diminish its essence as a multi-purpose helicopter.
云雀III直升机兵用型号可以安装7.62mm机枪或者20mm机炮，另外还能挂载4枚AS11或2枚AS12有线制导导弹，可以用于攻击坦克和小型舰艇。
The Ark-3 also has a shipborne anti-submarine variant, equipped with torpedoes and magnetic anomaly detectors, and some are also equipped with a rescue winch capable of lifting 175 kg.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 2200kg, a maximum range of 540km, and a maximum flight speed of 220km/h, it is small in size but designed for multi-purpose use.
If Gangfei can start production this year, it will be another money-printing machine for Honggang, and they won't even need to consider exports.
With an overseas price of $50, how much is left after truly reducing production costs?
Li Xuewu ignored the inspection letter from the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry, but the purchasing units introduced by Qingbing came back almost every month to test drive the vehicles.
They have a thorough understanding of the aircraft's performance and are just waiting to see if it can be mass-produced before deciding whether to place an order.
If Gangfei is a money-printing machine, then Hongxing Electronics is a game console.
When Li Xuewu privately mentioned to some leaders of Liaodong Industry that Hongxing Electronics hadn't made much money in recent years, they didn't believe him.
But the facts and data are right in front of us.
China's electronics industry started very late and developed very slowly. When Honggang Group established its electronics industry, there wasn't even a color television production line in China.
However, many years had passed since the invention of color television, which was a limitation and barrier of system technology.
Even if you know how color televisions work and are manufactured, you just can't build one, and even if you could, you couldn't mass-produce it.
The simplest solution is to import the entire production line and spend money to buy time.
The first production line for all electrical appliances at Hongxing Electronics was imported from abroad. Japanese engineers personally taught Honggang engineers and technicians how to operate it.
This process lasted for more than a year, and the costs and consequences incurred meant that the electronics factory was still unable to pay off its debts even after two years of formal production and operation.
Moreover, the imported production line technology and equipment were relatively outdated, and only after offsetting labor costs could a reasonable export price be maintained.
This is the limitation caused by being tied to Sanhe Corporation, which artificially controlled the development speed of Hongxing Electronics.
But from the beginning, Li Xuewu never intended to abide by the contract. In addition to supplying the domestic market, the electronics factory's production capacity was also distributed overseas.
The goal is to disrupt Sanwa Corporation's market and force them to open up their technology channels. Even if they continue to be burdened with debt, they must complete the technology upgrade and transformation as soon as possible.
So far, the results have been good. Some small appliances have begun to be replaced and upgraded, and the technology has basically reached the same level as that in Japan.
However, Sanwa Corporation still maintains a firm grip on more complex technologies in appliances such as televisions and refrigerators.
When Honggang Group returned from East Germany and learned that it had acquired some of the technology, it hurriedly approached them to propose negotiations.
Negotiation is nothing more than testing the bottom line.
They just wanted to see how many advanced technologies Honggang Group had mastered and to find a balance in technology.
Li Xuewu delayed them for half a year, engaging in psychological warfare while giving China time to absorb East German technology, so that they could be more confident in going to the negotiating table.
On June 10, he received a letter from Gu Cang, a representative of Sanhe Co., Ltd., who mentioned that the headquarters would arrange a negotiation team to come to the mainland for consultations in the near future.
Li Xuewu was very anxious. If he could produce the first-generation industrial chip before the other party sat down at the negotiating table, it would make the negotiations much easier.
Unfortunately, the Institute of Optoelectronics could only provide chips produced in the laboratory, which were developed by Peter, and could not be mass-produced quickly.
Therefore, bargaining and probing remain the primary means of negotiation.
Li Xuewu visited the electronics factory multiple times to conduct research, partly to boost his own confidence and partly to boost the confidence of Hongxing Electronics.
He couldn't directly confront Sanhe Co., Ltd. and tell them not to play this game of technological barriers, because these technologies, which they considered crucial, would become obsolete in just a few years.
Home appliance technology has never been at the forefront of science and technology. Singapore's electronics industry has already taken off, and even the dumping by Santa Y Group could not stop it.
It has to be said that it is a miracle that the country that Malaysia dislikes has actually been able to create industrial value on its barren land.
People who haven't been to Singapore simply can't understand their history of independence, let alone how such a small place could have undergone the Industrial Revolution.
To most people, it would be good enough if they could just survive. How could a country that can't even guarantee fresh water possibly develop?
The result was unexpected; the economic and industrial development of that small place dazzled many people, especially the home appliance industry.
If we say we don't make money, then we really don't.
Hongxing Electronics' export brand, Yazhi, is considered by many countries to be the lowest-end product and the cheapest industrial product.
The reason for this is that the policy and purpose of the distribution channels is dumping, which aims to disrupt and destroy the market in the dumping territory in order to achieve technical isolation.
The mainland market is much larger, so why don't we see TV dumping there?
It's very simple. Without foreign exchange reserves, they can't afford to buy, and they dare not buy. They'd rather not watch than let the destruction of the domestic electronics industry base.
However, some small countries do not have this ability to resist and can only passively coordinate and defend.
The worst off was actually South Korea. Although the Han River region had begun to develop, its electronics industry suffered a devastating blow.
Li Wenbiao's "Sea Coachman" scheme was extremely insidious, and the still underdeveloped home appliance industry suffered a direct blow.
Cheap, so cheap! Any family that can afford it will choose the Elegant brand appliances, which are imported from who-knows-where.
Driven by certain individuals with an exceptionally keen sense of capital, this blatant smuggling operation completely succeeded the coachman's plan.
The fact that Wen San'er stayed in Yingcheng after arriving in Liaodong is enough to prove the success of the coachman's plan.
-
"Did you have a son or a daughter?"
Li Xuewu put the handbag in the closet, looked towards the living room, and asked, "When was she born?"
"I heard it was last night, and it's a girl," Yu Li said with a smile as she walked over. "I asked him if he needed me to come and help, and he said no."
"Let's go take a look; there are two kids there."
Li Xuewu changed into slippers and walked into the living room, saying, "Can she manage to take care of herself by herself?"
“That’s what I think too,” Yu Li said helplessly. “I should have sent Fei Shanying back to Beijing or to Gangcheng a long time ago. It would have been better than keeping him here in Yingcheng.”
"With that kind of character, what's the point of keeping him around?"
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "Looks like she's going to be disappointed."
“And you’re still talking about it—” Yu Li looked at him with amusement and said, “I heard Wen San’er was very happy on the phone, saying that he likes daughters very much.”
“What good is his happiness? Fei Shanying is determined to compete with him and insists on having a son.” Li Xuewu chuckled, picked up the hot tea she had prepared earlier, took a sip, and said, “Tomorrow, you can go and see for me tomorrow. I won’t go.”
“I’ll go and try to persuade her, ask her if she wants to go back to the capital,” Yu Li said. “If she goes back to the capital, she’ll have Xiao Yan and Guo Dong to help her. Who can lend a hand here?”
"Okay, go ahead and ask." Li Xuewu nodded, looking out the window as if lost in thought.
Yu Li tidied up the kitchen and started making dinner, chatting about Wen San as she went.
"If someone has no parents and can't even rely on their own sister, can they still be called relatives?"
"You mean Biaozi's mother?"
Li Xuewu recovered his senses, walked to the sofa and sat down. While drinking tea, he said, "Even Biaozi can't rely on the family, so what hope can he have?"
As he spoke, he remembered Li Wenbiao and asked, "Didn't you ask Mai Qinglan if she was going?"
"I asked, and Wen San'er specifically instructed that they not be allowed to go over."
Yu Li said through the window, "But Aunt Hu asked me today if I wanted to come along."
"Yes, they are relatives."
Li Xuewu nodded, glanced at the study, and asked, "Where did Bang Geng go? Let him accompany you tomorrow, so he can look after you on the way."
“It’s not that far.” Yu Li glanced in the direction of Bang Geng’s room and said, “I’ve been back for half a day and haven’t seen him. I don’t know where he’s gone off to.”
Ring~ Ring~ Ring~
Just then, the phone rang. Li Xuewu picked up the receiver and was surprised to hear his brother-in-law's voice.
"Are you in Liaodong?"
"Yeah, just got off work," Li Xuewu replied, then asked, "So sudden? Is something wrong?"
"Are you currently in charge of your group's helicopter production?" Gu An asked directly, because both of them knew that the phone call wasn't confidential.
“Gangfei?” Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, “I’m in charge of the group’s light and heavy industries in Liaodong.”
"Hmm." Gu An paused for a moment, then said, "Are you aware that we've been assigned to receive ten helicopters?"
"I don't know." Li Xuewu frowned and asked, "When did this happen?"
"The order came down this morning." Gu An knew there must be something going on, and reminded him, "We'll be taking the train there. Could you help arrange accommodation?"
"It's a small matter," Li Xuewu said calmly. "Then let's wait until you arrive before discussing it further?"
"Okay," Gu An said. "I'll arrive the day after tomorrow afternoon, that's all."
My brother-in-law and I have no conflicts and get along well, but on the phone we talk, he acts like a stranger, with a purely businesslike demeanor.
The other party's tone was indifferent, and Li Xuewu remained calm. This tacit understanding was not something achieved in a single communication, but rather something cultivated over a long period of time.
Compared to Gu Yan, Gu Haitao favored this son more, so part of his conversation with Li Xuewu was to inform him.
I knew long ago that my brother-in-law was no ordinary person. It wasn't something that could be achieved by just one or two connections, but by working his way up from an ordinary family.
With his father's trust, he had a rather deep conversation with his brother-in-law, and afterwards he admitted that he was inferior to Li Xuewu in some aspects.
To make a simple comparison, Li Xuewu was able to return to the army and secure a key position, something Li Xuewu couldn't achieve.
This is under the condition of not relying on external forces. If Li Xuewu were in the army, he would definitely have done better than him.
Conversely, when he went to work in local areas, at the Hongxing Factory, he really couldn't compare to Li Xuewu; Dong Wenxue's evaluation was the most objective.
How long does it take for a single person to gain a foothold in a large company?
Li Xuewu only took three months, and he was only 19 years old at the time.
Gu An admitted that he would never have reached this position without his family's support.
Therefore, I have a greater sense of respect in my relationship with my brother-in-law, as evidenced by his advance phone call this time.
Suddenly, an order came from above, requiring them to form a helicopter squadron, with the aircraft to be borrowed from Honggang Group. This order was rather strange.
Sure enough, a phone call revealed the problem, one that he couldn't solve and had to leave to his brother-in-law.
How did Li Xuewu handle it?
"Yes, I am Li Xuewu."
He first called Kong Xiaobo, the director of the steel aircraft factory, and asked directly, "How many KH-4s are left in stock?"
"Not enough, produce three more urgently."
Upon hearing that there were only seven machines in stock, he decisively issued a production order. He had all the parts; it was just a bit troublesome to add assembly tasks at the last minute.
Three days is definitely not enough time, but temporary production and ongoing production are two different things.
After hanging up the phone, he carefully considered his words and then called the capital. While waiting, he thought through the problem thoroughly.
Until Lao Li answered the phone.
"Hey?"
"Director Li, I am Li Xuewu."
Without further ado, Li Xuewu asked directly, "Is there a plan to lend out helicopters?"
"A helicopter? When?"
Li Huaide didn't know either, and asked with a hint of doubt in his voice, "Where did you hear this news from?"
"Xijing".
Li Xuewu gave the answer, which completely baffled Li Huaide.
"Xijing? You...over there?"
Li Huaide knew all along that phone calls weren't confidential, so he only communicated using words that the two of them could understand.
“Yes, he’s in charge of receiving them. He’ll arrive in Gangcheng the day after tomorrow afternoon.” Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “If you don’t know about this, and I don’t know, then who does?”
"Wait a minute." Li Huaide thought for a moment before asking, "Did he say which type of aircraft he would borrow?"
“KH-4 helicopter,” Li Xuewu reminded him. “The current inventory is insufficient, and I have already notified Steel Aircraft to increase production.”
"Wait for my call." Li Huaide thought for a moment, gave this instruction, and then hung up the phone.
After putting down the microphone, Li Xuewu tapped his fingers lightly on the sofa armrest, his gaze deep as he pondered the meaning behind the matter.
The phone never rang; I don't know if the call couldn't get through or if the call wasn't being made.
Yu Li walked out of the kitchen, glanced at him, and hesitated before reminding him, "The food is ready."
"Okay, let's eat." Li Xuewu paused, then patted the armrest with his palm, propped himself up, and said, "Nothing is more important than eating."
"Bang Geng hasn't come back yet." Yu Li asked with some concern, "Should I go out and look for him?"
"At fifteen or sixteen, how could she get lost?"
Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about him. He knows when to eat. He won't starve."
"It's so late, this shouldn't be happening."
Yu Li thought for a moment and then said, "How about I call the dock and ask if they're there?"
Because Li Xuewu was waiting for a call, she didn't dare to disturb him; she had just been anxious.
"If he were at the dock, wouldn't he have called you back to tell you?"
Li Xuewu glanced back at her, waved his hand and said, "Go ahead and fight, otherwise you'll keep thinking about it."
He was more easygoing than Yu Li. It wasn't winter, and people wouldn't freeze to death outside. Bang Geng wasn't going to the countryside anyway; at most, he'd just go hungry for one night.
Besides, even if the patrol team catches him, he knows to come home and report for duty.
So he walked to the dining table in a relaxed manner, sat down, picked up his rice bowl, and began to eat.
Yu Li called the dock, then asked the club and the recycling plant, but they all said they weren't there, and hadn't even been there today, which made her even more anxious.
"How about..." She walked to the kitchen doorway, hesitated, and asked, "Should we send someone out to look for it?"
"Do you think this is your village?" Li Xuewu asked her. "Gangcheng isn't big, but even if you send out all these people, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"What should we do?" Yu Li asked anxiously, frowning. "He's never been like this before. What if he's really in danger?"
"Listen to me, sit down and eat."
Li Xuewu pointed with his chopsticks to the seat next to him and said calmly, "There's no use in you being anxious now, there's nothing I can do."
"If we really mobilize our connections to search for him, no one can say for sure where he has gone."
He took a bite of rice, picked up some vegetables, and said, "If we make a big fuss and actually find something, it will be hard to handle the situation."
"But..." Yu Lixin was still worried. Even after sitting down at the table, she didn't eat well and kept glancing towards the door.
Li Xuewu slowed down his eating pace, hoping she would eat more. He knew that if he left the table, Yu Li would definitely stop eating.
"I'm done eating."
Only after she put down her rice bowl did Li Xuewu get up and go to the living room, where he sat by the phone and picked up the newspaper to read.
The phone call lasted until midnight. Yu Li couldn't bear it any longer and fell asleep on the sofa, but she still had a furrowed brow in her dream.
Li Xuewu answered the phone as soon as it rang, while Yu Li's eyelids twitched slightly before she fell asleep again.
“It wasn’t the First Ministry of Machine Building that agreed to it, nor was it the Third Ministry of Machine Building.” Li Huaide’s voice was very serious as he reminded him, “But you shouldn’t stop it. Just keep the receipt materials.”
As Li Xuewu listened, he saw a commotion coming from the courtyard. A moment later, he saw Banggeng sneak into the living room like a mouse.
The moment their eyes met, Bang Geng was startled, and the schoolbag in his arms fell to the ground with a thud.