dognovel Chapter 1676 Daughter of an Old Friend
Chapter 1676 Daughter of an Old Friend
Chapter 1676 Daughter of an Old Friend
On his way back to his room, Lao Li couldn't help but write a short essay titled "Me Thirty Years Later," a reflection on his inner thoughts.
He firmly believed that he would achieve great success and be recognized by the organization as a respected veteran comrade at that time.
Seeing that he stopped talking as he walked, with a mysterious smile on his face, Gao Yaqin couldn't help but exchange a glance with Li Xuewu.
She was really something else; she saw through Lao Li's thoughts, but after Li Xuewu saw through her thoughts, she just rolled her eyes.
"I can't take it anymore. Let's postpone the meeting and get some sleep first."
Regardless of Li Xuewu's condition, the three of them walked to the room door, and she waved her hand and begged for mercy, saying, "If you still have the energy, you can go and attend the meeting."
"The comrades are all waiting."
Li Xuewu raised his wrist to check the time and reminded her, "If it gets any later, we'll be staying up all night."
“I’d rather stay up all night,” Gao Yaqin said, pointing to her eyes. “Look at me, can I even open my eyes?”
"Then you can go." Old Li nodded somewhat helplessly and instructed, "Anyway, you'll be mainly responsible for the preliminary work."
He gestured to Gao Yaqin and himself, saying, "Let's conserve our energy first so we can keep going later."
"If this is how it's arranged every day, I'd better quit as soon as possible."
Seeing Li Xuewu nod with amusement, he no longer bothered to pretend to be energetic and went into his room to prepare for bed.
From 8:30 in the morning until 6 pm, most of the members of the visiting team were over 40 years old. This was like keeping old men and women up all night!
Think about it, this is the first time that a domestic organization has organized a visit to Japan for industrial and trade enterprises. Which leader of any unit can wait at home?
Think about it again. At this point, decisions are made unilaterally. If they don't go, what can the deputy decide even if they do?
With these two cards, the average age of the entire group is at least 40.
It should be noted that some deputy positions in companies are also held by relatively young people, such as Gu Litong, who is 37 years old.
Some people ask, is 37 years old still considered young?
Of course, it depends on the standard used for comparison. Among the companies participating in the group, 37 years old is considered young for a deputy factory manager position.
There are few people like Li Xuewu who are both literate and skilled in martial arts; the young people who are forcibly selected from the enterprise management committees are all useless.
In this era, the emphasis is on a combination of old, middle-aged, and young people, meaning that the factory-level management committee must have very young members.
This applies from top to bottom, and its significance is easy to understand. In order to cultivate successors, we can hear the voices of representatives from different age groups.
If these young people are truly outstanding, like Li Xuewu, then it is a stroke of luck for a company.
However, in most companies, young team members who rise from the grassroots level are either incompetent or arrogant and conceited.
Why is it that when the young Li Xuewu walks among these people, not a single old man dares to act superior in front of him?
Considering Li Xuewu's background, status, qualifications, academic achievements, and work achievements, these old men should be ashamed to death.
And he's still acting like he's old and condescending?
We can't give him the chance to show off and then be proven wrong. That's not just taking advantage of his seniority; that's making a fool of himself and embarrassing himself.
Especially those who witnessed Li Xuewu's rampage in East Germany, or those who spread his story after his return, were very polite to others.
Even worse, Li Huaide and his gang were so open about forming their own factions that they started creating cliques within the regiment.
Do you really think Old Li is here for tourism?
The heads of several well-known companies in Beijing, such as Beijing No. 2 Automobile Factory, Beijing Chemical Industry Factory, and Beijing Television Factory, all gathered with Lao Li.
The three of them had a clear division of labor, worked together seamlessly, and each knew what they were supposed to do.
Li Xuewu was in charge of the preliminary investigation and organization. Although the three of them came together, Li Huaide gave him full authority to decide which technologies and equipment to purchase.
Gao Yaqin was responsible for information communication, intelligence gathering, and conducting statistics and research on the technologies and equipment that Li Xuewu decided to purchase, in order to prepare for negotiations.
Li Huaide was in charge of overall operations, communicating and coordinating with other companies, providing logistical support, and handling business signings on formal occasions.
The negotiations were definitely handled by Li Xuewu and Gao Yaqin together. Old Li was only responsible for signing the contract and putting on airs. He had prepared a lot of articles to deal with news interviews.
To paraphrase Lu Xun: "Going abroad without showing off is like wearing fine clothes in the dark; that's not Lao Li's style."
Old Li also had another task: to assist Li Xuewu in cooperating with other companies during the selection and negotiation process, and to put them on the same side.
Well, although they all came from the same group, there was still competition and comparison within the group.
Good things are easily discovered, and bidding wars are possible.
If these companies join forces at this point, the influence they generate will be far greater than anything that can be achieved by going it alone.
Honggang Group has the widest business coverage, the strongest overseas financial capabilities, and the most comprehensive overseas market expansion, so of course Lao Li should be the leader.
Since the division of labor is clear, there's no need for the two of them to attend tonight's meeting; they'd only be there to hear the final summary.
"Secretary-General, General Manager Li and the others..."
Huang Zongfang, the deputy general manager of the international business department, came over and walked in when he saw that his room door was open.
"It's alright, Mr. Li and Mr. Gao won't be attending tonight's meeting."
Li Xuewu took a bath, feeling much better. He changed his clothes and came out of the room to explain to her.
Huang Zongfang nodded knowingly and asked with a smile, "Are you tired?"
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu chuckled softly, picked up the warm water he had prepared before taking a bath, took a sip, and then asked, "Are you tired?"
"How could I not be tired? It would be a joke to say I'm not tired." Huang Zongfang shook his head with a wry smile.
She had to persevere, even though she was tired. After all, she wasn't a leader in the group, and even group leaders like Secretary-General Li Xuewu were persevering.
"There's nothing I can do, I didn't expect the first day's activities to be so intense."
Li Xuewu didn't wear a tie; after all, it was an internal meeting of his own unit, and there was no need to put on airs.
He wore a white shirt with the collar unbuttoned, a dark blue fitted suit jacket over it, a leather belt with a gold buckle, and black trousers and leather shoes. As he walked down the corridor, even the Japanese waiters frequently turned their heads to look at him.
He's used to being the center of attention in China, not just for his clothes, but also for the fierce look on his face.
If the woman following him wasn't Huang Zongfang, or even if Huang Zongfang was very beautiful or had a ruthless streak, the hotel security guards would be on guard, thinking that the Yakuza had arrived.
"Because of work discipline, it's inconvenient for me to live there."
Li Xuewu got on the elevator and said to Huang Zongfang, who was accompanying him, "Although we are going abroad for work, we should not mistreat our comrades."
"Whether they come from the mainland or from Hong Kong, they should be treated equally and given more care in their daily lives."
“I understand, Secretary-General.” Huang Zongfang smiled and nodded in thanks. “I told them during the meeting that the leaders care about everyone.”
“Some of the new team members haven’t met you yet. If they hear these words, they will be greatly encouraged.”
"We need both spiritual encouragement and material rewards," Li Xuewu said with a smile as he watched the elevator reach the first floor. "We need to do both, and we need to make sure both are strong."
"You mean—" Huang Zongfang smiled and followed him out of the elevator, reporting softly, "I didn't say the amount of the bonus. Should you mention it at the meeting, or wait until Director Li and the others arrive?"
"Fine, you can announce it then."
Li Xuewu said casually, "This is a real bonus. It doesn't matter who says it, they should trust you more, right?"
"How could that be?" Huang Zongfang knew that this unusual secretary-general was no ordinary person; he had set a trap in just three sentences.
Not daring to take it lightly, he replied with a smile, "Comrades have more faith in the group and in its leaders, that's for sure."
"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu just chuckled, but didn't say anything more about the topic.
Just tap her a little, that's all. If you tap too much, it'll become a reading pen.
There were also Japanese and Chinese security personnel and staff in the lobby. When they came down, an clerk came over to inquire about the situation.
Li Xuewu gave a brief explanation and then registered the information on the documents provided by the other party.
Honggang Group attaches great importance to this visit and has prepared a special working group, which is known to the leaders above.
As a leader of the group, Li Xuewu inevitably has to go out to communicate and hold meetings with his team.
Of course, not every business leader can enjoy this kind of treatment; it means that the leader in charge trusts him not to go out and mess around.
If it were anyone else saying they wanted to go out for a stroll at night, just for fun, who would believe them? Who would dare let them out?
A Mercedes-Benz 600 pulled up in front of the hotel. Qi Yan got out of the passenger seat and opened the door for Li Xuewu.
This can be considered a form of abuse of power for personal gain. He hadn't even thought about bringing Qi Yan along at first. It was only after seeing Director Han Song leading the team that he told him about it.
It was not difficult to investigate Qi Yan's background. With Li Xuewu as his guarantor, it was easy to arrange for him to join the security team.
Another point is that Li Xuewu didn't bring a secretary, so he still needed an clerk.
Qi Yan's educational level is average, but he still has basic writing skills. When traveling, a clerk's writing ability is not important; Li Xuewu values Qi Yan's ability to handle unnecessary troubles by his side.
He didn't want a dangerous situation like the one that happened in East Germany to happen again.
With Qi Yan as a buffer, he had ample time to adjust.
Good evening, Secretary-General.
"Hmm, have you eaten dinner?"
When Li Xuewu walked to the car door, he took the initiative to greet him, and Li Xuewu replied with a greeting.
Qi Yan saw him to his car, replying, "I've already eaten; I ate at the hotel."
boom--
The car door closed, shutting out the attention drifting from the hotel lobby.
Li Xuewu glanced through the privacy glass window and snorted coldly. Was the trade and industry delegation really worth such a grand show of force?
He is very sensitive to surveillance; it's a kind of pathological neurological reaction. He can sense if anyone stares at him for too long in a crowd.
These are all intuitions honed while exploring the forests of the South. Without them, I would have been buried far from home long ago.
Furthermore, with the enhancement of his physical abilities, this sensitivity is even greater than before.
"It could be a reporter from a newspaper."
Huang Zongfang, who boarded the bus from the other side, saw him looking in the direction of the hotel and explained softly, "I saw them gathered here when I arrived."
“It could be a real reporter,” Li Xuewu said calmly, “or it could be a fake reporter.”
The driver was recruited locally by Huang Zongfang, who didn't trust him much. Qi Yan was keeping a close eye on him and would act decisively if anything seemed amiss.
Japan uses right-hand drive, which is different from China. Moreover, Qi Yan doesn't have the right to drive on the road here; he can only sit in the passenger seat and watch.
Speaking of right-hand drive and left-hand drive, there were actually some imported right-hand drive cars in China during this era. When the car market was not yet large-scale, all types of cars could appear.
"Should I arrange for someone to handle this?"
Although Huang Zongfang is a lesbian, she is just as ruthless as any man. If she says she will deal with something, she will definitely use any means necessary.
"It's really overseas," Li Xuewu thought, feeling somewhat stagnant because his thinking had been stuck in the mainland for so long.
In contrast, Huang Zongfang has worked in the port city for a long time, and his work mindset is very direct.
If you dare to spy on me, I'll have someone take care of you. That's fair and reasonable.
You wouldn't dare do that in China, because anyone who dares to monitor you is someone who could definitely kill you.
"Forget it, they're just flies. You can't get rid of them all."
The car started, and after leaving the hotel staff behind, Li Xuewu turned around.
This car is luxurious enough; it really makes you look good.
At least some of the attention at the hotel was drawn by this car.
The fact that a country with a highly developed automotive industry like Japan has a luxury car like Mercedes-Benz is enough to prove the car's excellence and sophistication.
Air suspension, a full hydraulic system (controlling seats, windows, doors, and sunroof), all-wheel disc brakes, independent front and rear air conditioning, and leather and wood interior trim – these features are not much inferior to those of fifty years later.
Honggang Group's research institute secretly acquired a 600, but that motorcycle was cheap, costing less than one-tenth of the price through official channels.
Of course, the research institute didn't develop this car for practical use; it was for disassembly and research.
These features and components are for future upgrades and replacements of new models.
How much does it cost to rent this car for a week?
The car was rented, of course; it couldn't have been bought. They weren't planning to stay here permanently, so why would they buy such an expensive car?
Even though the international business division is about to establish an office in Japan, not a single group leader will come for three years. Where will they use this car?
If Huang Zongfang were the only one using it, and dared to claim reimbursement for the rental receipts for this car, Jing Yunong would dare to reimburse her.
The purpose of renting this car is to prepare for the upcoming negotiations. In a period of rapid economic development, people tend to focus on cars.
In other words, how you got there is very important in this era. Whether you were in a Mercedes or a Mazda that's always stuck in traffic, it makes a difference.
-
"Sit down, everyone sit down."
Li Xuewu walked into the conference room, glanced at everyone one by one, then slowly nodded and asked with a smile, "Have you all eaten?"
"Hehehe—" A burst of laughter rang out from the audience.
Even though many people come from the mainland to work in Hong Kong, they are used to a more free and relaxed working atmosphere.
His joke was appropriate for the occasion, so everyone laughed knowingly.
"Why didn't I ask everyone if they were tired?" Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Because there's no need to ask. I'm tired, so how could you not be?"
After he finished speaking, the smiles on the faces of everyone in the conference room gradually turned into surprise as they were moved by his sincerity.
It's not surprising that people who have met him or know his work style are not surprised, but after the group has been developing for several years, those older people who really know him are scattered all over the country.
Now, many people in the conference room have only heard his legends and don't really know much about him.
But one thing is certain: this secretary-general is different from other leaders; at least he didn't start off with bureaucratic jargon.
"There's nothing I can do even if I'm tired; I still have to keep going."
Li Xuewu smiled helplessly and said, "I also want to eat as soon as I get back, and then go to sleep after dinner."
"But when I think about how everyone else has worked just as hard all day, or even more tired than me, yet they still insist on sitting here."
He looked intently at everyone in the room and said, "I knew I had to come today and hear your opinions."
"Because we are a team, I have an obligation to listen to everyone's opinions, so please don't hold back and speak freely today."
Li Xuewu then gestured to Huang Zongfang, who was sitting next to him, and said, "On the way here, I told your General Manager Huang that we must take good care of you in your daily lives."
He glanced at Huang Zongfang, then addressed the group, "I forgot to ask earlier, is everyone's accommodation alright? Is the food alright?"
"Hehehe—" The atmosphere in the venue relaxed again.
He effortlessly shifted the focus from seriousness to ease, using only a few words to draw everyone's attention back to him. Huang Zongfang witnessed this firsthand and was truly impressed.
To be honest, she was more than ten years older than Li Xuewu, but she could still feel the pressure in front of him.
This isn't just a myth; she also takes things seriously when facing other leaders in the group, sometimes to the point of nervousness.
But only in front of Li Xuewu did she feel nervous not only about his attitude, but also about his professionalism.
When she went to the Plaza Hotel to pick up Li Xuewu, she had already informed them in advance, emphasizing that the leaders coming tonight were highly professional.
The point of this is that everyone should refrain from talking nonsense at tonight's meeting. If the Secretary-General actually says something wrong, then they'll be the laughingstock of the party.
Therefore, as soon as Li Xuewu entered the room, he noticed that everyone in the meeting room was looking at him with caution and seriousness, which made the meeting room somewhat solemn.
After the atmosphere eased, he nodded slowly and said, "Since this is an office meeting, let's get down to business and not play games."
"We've been exploring all day, and I'm sure you've all noticed that Japan's industrial miracle is concentrated in five major sectors: steel, automobiles, electronics, precision machinery, and chemical materials."
When everyone saw him start speaking, they all picked up their pens and began taking notes, even those who didn't want to take notes would at least do so.
The main purpose is to listen to him speak, to set the tone and direction for tonight's meeting.
There are more than forty people sitting here tonight. Not all of them went to the research site; some provided technical and information support.
Moreover, the team members who went to the site also took turns visiting each company. After Li Xuewu and his team finished visiting each company, two or three team members would have further communication and understanding with that company.
At the next location, members of another group followed.
Li Xuewu and his team visited twelve companies, which corresponded to six groups, with each group responsible for two companies.
Just before the meeting began, each group summarized the information they had collected that day and then offered their opinions and suggestions.
Of course, this is all rather superficial and needs to be compared and summarized with the information they collected in the first half of the month.
The expert team arrived more than half a month earlier than Li Xuewu and his team, in order to provide preparation and support for Li Xuewu's decision-making.
Now, whatever information Li Xuewu needs, they can provide suggestions, which is why they can quickly advance the meeting agenda.
“It’s a coincidence, as everyone knows, our Honggang Group is involved in all five areas I just mentioned.”
He nodded slowly and said, "We have metallurgical plants, steel rolling mills, steel and gas companies, steel and electricity companies, Fengcheng machinery, and a chemical industrial park that we have invested in."
“Unlike other companies that focus on one area, we are not here to cast a wide net, but to be more professional than the professionals.”
Li Xuewu's voice gradually rose, and he pointed at the conference table, emphasizing: "I'm saying this now: this time, Honggang must obtain the best technology and the best equipment under the best conditions, because we are the best company."
The atmosphere had been built up, and everyone's spirits were high, so of course they would do whatever he said.
“The Secretary-General’s idea is that we must make a big profit this time,” Huang Zongfang added, then explained to Li Xuewu, “In order to carry out our work in a targeted manner, I have divided the team into several groups.”
"The five business groups correspond to the five areas you just mentioned."
“Good, very good.” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “Each group specializes in one direction, that will be very powerful.”
"I want to emphasize that we're talking about scooping up gold, not sand."
He raised an eyebrow and said, "If you grab a handful of sand, you might as well pinch a grain of gold."
The corners of everyone's mouths curled up slightly; they had already understood what their leader meant.
Take the automotive industry as an example. Japanese automakers include Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, while parts suppliers include Denso and Nippon Seiko.
Honggang Group's visit this time is certainly aimed at learning from the existing automotive industry, but it's impossible to learn from every company.
According to the leader, since time is short and the task is heavy, it is impossible to conduct extensive research and negotiations, so we should choose one that can be successful.
It's better to have one deal than nothing at all.
It's the same as dating. If you can't find someone better or prettier, then don't go empty-handed, right?
Take the automotive industry as an example. Japan's three major automakers are Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.
Toyota ranks first in Japan and third globally in overall strength. Its main models this year are the Corolla, Crown, and Land Cruiser, with an annual production of over 200 million vehicles. Its largest exports are to North America and Southeast Asia.
Nissan is a representative of Japan's technology-driven approach, with its main models being the Bluebird, Skyline, and Datsun pickup truck, and it is known for its engine technology and durability.
Honda is known for its strength in both motorcycles and cars. This year, they launched the predecessor to the Civic, the S600 sports car. Their motorcycles hold the number one market share globally.
Domestically, Honggang Group can boast that it produces hundreds of thousands of cars a year and exports tens or hundreds of thousands.
However, compared to Toyota and Honda, steel is still a kindergarten kid. Whether it is annual production capacity or export volume, it is far inferior to the three major Japanese companies.
Even Honda, which is currently ranked third in overall strength, cannot compare to it.
At least you can tell from the sales figures that Honggang's motorcycles don't sell as well as Honda's.
If it weren't for its affordable price and robust build quality, which allowed it to establish a foothold in Southeast Asia and Africa, it wouldn't have achieved such impressive sales figures.
Domestically, this sales volume is considered the ceiling, but abroad, especially in front of Honda, Li Xuewu spoke with a lot of pent-up energy.
Everyone's faces were serious. Honggang's steel car had encountered the world's strongest opponent as soon as it appeared.
You're making a kindergarten kid compete in math with a college student? That's just bullying!
If you don't have the ability, you have to learn. Even if you're feeling resentful, you have to emphasize that you should be humble, cautious, optimistic, and eager to learn.
He couldn't just crush everyone's confidence, but he also couldn't make them bow down and completely succumb to this technological superiority.
Every technology will eventually become obsolete, and every technology will eventually be overtaken.
Li Xuewu was certainly confident, because he knew that one day, China's automobile industry would take ten years to astound the world.
It could even force the Japanese auto industry to retreat repeatedly, and even voluntarily abandon the domestic market and the international market where it could compete.
Later generations often say that Japanese cars sell very well in the United States, which proves that their quality is excellent.
What he didn't know was that by restricting the entry of domestic electric vehicles into the US market, he was giving his godson the opportunity to retain market share.
Looking at Europe from a different perspective, those established car companies that were utterly defeated by electric vehicles are starting to switch ownership one by one.
You're stealing my market share, I'll go to your hometown!
Their main tactic is to join forces when they can't win; they've practically turned German industry into something like Taicang Industry.
With this confidence, all Li Xuewu needs to do is to push the timeline forward as far as possible.
"Boss, to be honest, I'm actually a little envious of them."
The meeting went on until after 10 p.m., and everyone's enthusiasm for speaking remained high. Huang Bingsheng, an engineer from the Mechanical Research Institute of the Research Institute, said excitedly, "I went to Yamazaki Mazak last week and saw their machine tools."
"I'm not talking about CNC machine tools, I'm talking about ordinary machine tools."
He remarked with some emotion, "They developed an adaptive control lathe this year, which is already considered a top-of-the-line product among CNC lathes."
"Although we also have CNC lathes, there is still a certain gap in terms of both machining accuracy and technology."
"Mazak, right?" Li Xuewu made notes in his notebook, asking as he wrote, "What areas do you think we can import from them, whether it's technology or equipment?"
"Their main products are CNC lathes, machining centers, and precision machine tools; ordinary machine tools have been completely phased out."
Huang Bingsheng explained, "You may not know this, but they believe that ordinary machine tools have lost their competitiveness and there is no need to continue production."
"But you have to understand that even the best domestically made machine tools can't compare to their outdated products, and that's what I regret."
"The gap is huge, right? I can understand."
Li Xuewu stopped writing with his pen, looked at him, nodded, and said, "I had the same feeling when I went to East Germany."
"It should be noted that East Germany had already achieved the use of nuclear energy, for example, in power generation, which is a future trend in electricity production."
He flipped his palm and said, "Germany's precision machinery is also very impressive, including in automation. When the leaders of our No. 2 Factory in Beijing took a look, their faces turned pale instantly, and beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads all the way to their heels."
Hehehe—
His witty and humorous introduction elicited bursts of laughter throughout the venue.
Li Xuewu smiled and continued, "A year and a half has passed, and guess what?"
"The project that Beijing No. 2 is cooperating with us has revolutionized the production technology of the automobile assembly line. That's what the leaders of Beijing No. 2 said."
He said with a smile, "I don't have a mechanical engineering background, so I don't know how long an era he's talking about is, but he said it's enough for us to catch up for ten years."
"It is precisely because we learned and mastered these techniques from East Germany that the technology mastered by the Second Machine Tool Plant and Fengcheng Machinery Plant has been greatly improved."
Seeing the thoughtful expressions on everyone's faces, he paused before speaking: "I think, perhaps this is why we are here and fighting for it."
"We will bring back the advanced technologies and experiences that we lack and do not have, and apply them to catch up and improve."
Li Xuewu was afraid that everyone would lose confidence, so he earnestly emphasized: "No matter how far away the mountain is from us, as long as we keep moving forward and find the right direction, we will eventually get over that mountain."
-
"Secretary-General, thank you for your hard work."
After seeing Li Xuewu downstairs to his car, Huang Zongfang couldn't help but say, "Your visit tonight is more useful than us pondering for ten or fifteen days."
"Stop singing celebratory songs to me. If I were that capable, would I be so anxious?"
Li Xuewu couldn't help but make a self-deprecating remark, then looked up at the moon tonight, which wasn't any rounder than the one back home.
"Hey, you're not allowed to tell my comrades about my anxieties!"
As if remembering something, he pointed at Huang Zongfang and said, "I can be anxious, but you can't be anxious. You must charge forward!"
"Since we're already here and have the money ready, we'll take whatever we can get back. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Is there a honeymoon period with Japan?
The answer is yes, but no honeymoon at any time can compare to the impact of this one, because Japan is aiming for the normalization of diplomatic relations.
Only by showing generosity in exchanges can the mainland feel their sincerity and gradually open its market to them.
As mentioned earlier, Japan is seeking a balance, as no market is more advantageous when competing with America Industries.
With such close proximity, both production and transportation costs will result in profits several times higher than in the North American market.
The key issue is that the domestic market is practically nonexistent for them, and none of the domestic industries are competitive.
They certainly coveted this blue ocean, so all things considered, their intentions were subtly revealed as early as when the invitation was sent out.
Even if those companies are unwilling, they must actively cooperate at the request of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to contribute to the overall foreign affairs work.
Of course, Li Xuewu didn't believe these companies would be willing to sell their core industrial technologies.
Even the Ministry of International Trade and Industry would not agree to let them hand over their core technologies.
This mindset is not contradictory; how much real substance one can obtain depends entirely on the efforts of the delegation members themselves.
In fact, there are even cases of inferior goods being passed off as superior ones in trade between the two parties. If you don't notice it, it just means that your factory's capabilities are limited.
This situation cannot be ruled out, so Li Xuewu took precautions and conducted reviews from the very beginning.
Any technical procurement intention must be based on the combined opinions of several technical personnel.
He's not a professional; he knows a little about every field, but he can't just spout nonsense to a panel of experts.
Li Xuewu should listen to the opinions of experts, not just one expert's opinion.
He even arranged for Huang Zongfang to hire experts from abroad to participate in the team, including those from Europe, and the Santayana Group also provided support.
In fact, the Santayar Group was unwilling for the Honggang Group to cooperate excessively with Japanese companies.
There is a company called Sanhe Co., Ltd. that has already had an impact on Honggang.
For some key projects, the Santa Y Group is definitely the first one that can participate in.
But in Shantal's view, there were some things she didn't want to share with the little devil.
Want to get to the poker table without absolute skill?
The Australian iron ore project was unavoidable; there was no other company in Japan as ruthless as Sanwa Corporation, which was willing to demolish even its own premises. So, they had no choice but to cooperate with them.
As it turns out, Kenichi Nishida, as the head of Sanwa Corporation, was truly a money-grubbing bastard who would do anything for money.
Kenichi Nishida deserves immense credit for the Australian Iron and Steel Group, led by Oriental Times Bank, which was able to gain an advantage and even achieve results in its competition with Japan's top metallurgical conglomerates.
This is why, despite the huge commotion he caused, Li Xuewu still chose to remain silent.
The other party is also using this ability to test and assess Sanhe's importance to Honggang.
On his way back, Li Xuewu was still thinking about what to say when he met Nishida Kenichi the next night, or whether he should just go up and give him a good talking to.
They haven't seen each other since their last parting; they're practically enemies now.
No one says that enemies can't cooperate, but conflicts are inevitable when they meet.
Even though Kenichi Nishida asked that old man to intervene, Li Xuewu was still wary of him.
He didn't think Kenichi Nishida was capable of regret or repentance. The matter was simply suppressed and not put aside, at least not in his opinion.
Perhaps Kenichi Nishida realized this as well, which is why he arranged the meeting.
The Mercedes-Benz stopped in front of the hotel lobby, and Qi Yan got out to open the car door for him.
In a foreign land, this young man was extremely cautious, even on edge.
He attended a meeting with the security team before leaving and knew what the hidden dangers were.
So when Li Xuewu walked toward the hotel, he didn't get into the car, but instead wanted to take his superior back to his room.
Just as he expected, as soon as the two entered the lobby, someone started watching them.
Qi Yan glanced at the other person, marked him, and then ignored him. His mission was not to eliminate danger, but to protect his leader.
Therefore, he will not attack unless the other party makes any further dangerous moves.
He only breathed a slight sigh of relief after getting into the elevator and seeing that the other party hadn't made any further moves.
"Don't be so nervous, he's just a nobody." Li Xuewu patted his arm before stepping out of the elevator and whispered, "You need to relax, otherwise you'll be exhausted before you even get back to China."
"Understood, boss." Qi Yan remained unmoved, simply replying, his gaze then fixed on the waiter who was looking over.
Li Xuewu shook his head helplessly and walked towards his room.
"Hello sir, is there anything I can do for you?"
The young waitress was very warm and polite. Seeing that he was coming back so late, she took the initiative to come out from behind the service desk and bowed slightly to greet him.
Li Xuewu glanced at her, nodded politely, and said, "No need, thank you."
"Let me open the door for you."
The waitress, wearing high heels, walked briskly forward and guided them, seemingly a little inexperienced, frequently turning her head back.
Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly, reached out and stopped Qi Yan, who was about to make a move, signaling him to calm down.
Until he reached his room door, the female attendant did not make any further dangerous moves, so Li Xuewu did not take the initiative to retaliate.
"Thank you, that's fine then."
Seeing that the other party was able to open his door, Li Xuewu nodded and said, "My secretary will take care of me from now on. You can go back now."
"It's alright, I'll turn on the light for you." The waitress was still warm and proactive, and went into the room to turn on the wall lamp for them.
Anyone who remembers the interior design style in China in the 1980s and 90s will know what glass wall lamps look like; that style was inspired by Japan.
This thing is suitable for use before going to bed. The light is gentle, not glaring, and won't affect your sleep.
Qi Yan glanced at him, unsure if his leader wanted to continue. He was already prepared to make a move if the other party continued to pester him.
"I haven't asked your name yet."
Li Xuewu seemed to take an interest in the waiter, took off his suit jacket and tossed it onto the sofa, then picked up a teacup to pour water.
The waiter came over, took the cup from his hand, turned around to pour hot water, and then carried it back.
"Hello, my name is Yoshiko Oshima."
The waitress handed him the cup with both hands, and Li Xuewu could even see the water inside sloshing around.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, not rushing to take the water glass, but instead carefully examining the girl in front of him, as if he cared about her a lot.
“You look a lot like an old friend of mine. He was also Japanese, also surnamed Oshima, and also had a daughter about your age.”
呲——
The water glass suddenly slipped from the waitress's hand, as if she had no strength to hold it, but before it fell onto the carpet, Li Xuewu bent down and caught it, holding it firmly in his hand.