dognovel Chapter 1623 A Terrible Chess Player
Chapter 1623 A Terrible Chess Player
Chapter 1623 A Terrible Chess Player
"Why are you eating this?"
Sun Ming, with his briefcase tucked under his arm, strode into the Unity Restaurant, glanced at the food on the table, frowned, and snapped, "Change it, change it, change it!"
He gestured with his fingers and shouted, "Isn't this humiliating? Who the hell ordered this food? They don't treat us brothers like human beings at all!"
"Big brother, big brother—" His lackey, seeing him get angry, quickly came over and explained with a fawning smile, "This is fine."
"Yes, yes—" Several men sitting at the same table nodded in agreement. Judging from their clothes and the longing in their eyes that kept drifting towards the food, the dishes on the table were indeed delicious.
If they hadn't remembered why they came here today, and if their remaining rationality hadn't told them to sit here and wait, they would have already started grabbing the food, wishing they could save the time of even picking up chopsticks.
"Get the hell out of here!"
Sun Ming grabbed the bag tucked under his arm and slapped his underling across the face. It was genuine leather, but hitting someone in the face with that bag was a disgrace.
But if you look closely, you'll see that the scoundrel's smile is becoming increasingly awkward, yet his eyes dare not show even a trace of anger, or even resentment.
He's well-fed, well-drinked, and has fun. A few measly gifts a month are enough for him to live a carefree life. How dare you make him angry?
Believe it or not, he'll kill you for Brother Sun's sake!
This is like someone posting on a children's book in later years asking: My husband gives me 6 yuan a month for pocket money, but he's too heavy-handed. How can I get a divorce?
The answer below is: either go buy ibuprofen yourself, or I'll try it. The example isn't perfect, but it reflects the understanding of value and reality.
Now, even if Brother Sun hits him in the face with a bag, or even slaps him, he'll laugh and say, "Good job, that felt good."
However, they were all from the underworld, and they wouldn't hit someone in the face. Sun Ming knew how to act with discretion, and that was precisely why his subordinates were willing to follow him.
They give you money and face; where can you find a boss like that? They might not even be able to catch one falling from the sky.
Those sitting around the table, observing this, felt even more strongly that this Brother Sun, whom they had never met, was a man of principle and loyalty.
"Don't touch these. Bring me four more meat dishes, big ones!"
Sun Ming waved to the waiter, took out 5 yuan from his bag and handed it over, then waved his hand casually and said, "Give me two more packs of cigarettes, the rest is yours, go ahead."
"Oh! No need, really no need—"
A man got up to grab the waiter, but seeing how easily the young man had taken 5 yuan, he felt sorry for Brother Sun!
Four big meat dishes wouldn't even cost two yuan. Even if you added two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes, it wouldn't be worth giving that kid five yuan. He's such a spendthrift!
Sun Ming wasn't bothered at all; this was exactly the style he wanted. He grabbed the other man and asked with a smile, "You must be Old City Iron Egg, right?"
"Brother Sun—" Tie Dan grinned and said, "This is fine for us, there's no need for you to spend any more money."
“Look—” Sun Ming raised an eyebrow, glanced at the men at the table, and said, “You look down on me, don’t you?”
"No, no—" Tie Dan waved his hands repeatedly, even leaning back, afraid of angering Sun Ming, who was known in the martial arts world as Little Mengchang.
"Third brother, get the liquor." Sun Ming patted Tie Dan on the shoulder and shouted to his underling who had just filled a briefcase, "Five-star Moutai. I don't like anything else, I want this."
The third brother, a penniless scoundrel, scurried off to get the liquor. He knew Brother Sun's preferences all too well; it wasn't that he couldn't get used to Moutai or Hua Zi cigarettes—it was all about extravagance.
The few country bumpkins at the table were already dazzled by Sun Ming's extravagance, and they couldn't hide the envy and admiration in their eyes.
As Lu Xun once said, "Money can make the devil turn the millstone, and money can make the millstone turn the devil." The meal was especially enjoyable after the "tip" was given.
Just as Sun Ming finished listening to Tie Dan introduce his brothers, the waiter brought out a plate of braised pork knuckle. The plump knuckle was swaying on the plate, making the men's mouths water.
No wonder they're so disappointing; everyone who sees this dish drools. These days, who has ever had braised pork knuckle more than a few times?
"Come on, don't be shy, anyone who's shy is a little dog!"
Sun Minghao raised his glass with great enthusiasm and said, "All men are brothers under heaven, cheers!"
He learned this phrase from the capital, and it sounds very江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry).
However, the people he invited to the banquet today, though they were江湖客 (jianghu ke, meaning people from the martial arts world), were not cultured people. They couldn't stand his pretentious manner and started fighting over the wine after just one cup.
Sun Ming stared in astonishment at the scene, forgetting to put down his wine glass. "I've never heard of not being given food when you go to the countryside?"
"Ugh—ugh—don't even mention it—"
Tie Dan still remembered his manners, unlike his brothers who were only concerned with grabbing food. With grease on his lips, he explained, "Even mixed noodles are considered a treasure. We've been there for three years and haven't even seen a meat planet."
He glanced at his body and said somewhat awkwardly, "I used to never have enough to eat at home, I always had to rely on the kindness of others. I never thought I'd end up like this..."
He makes it sound nice, but what a load of rubbish about being fed by many families. Only an orphan with no parents would claim to have grown up eating food from many families. He's just taking it without being asked.
However, few people in the underworld have any sense of shame, and those who do wouldn't be in the underworld. That's just what he said, and that's what Sun Ming thought too.
"It's okay, you can eat as much as you want here from now on."
Sun Ming pointed to the dining table and said, "I wouldn't dare say we eat this every day, but having it every three to five days is no problem."
"Really!?" One of Tie Dan's brothers, with meat still stuffed in his mouth, asked in surprise, spitting out bits of meat.
Seeing Sun Ming frown slightly, Tie Dan slapped his brother and cursed, "Eat your food, can't even meat shut your mouth?"
After saying that, he looked at Sun Ming and said with a forced smile, "Brother Sun, don't take it to heart. He's never seen anyone as generous as you."
"Hehe—it's alright—" Sun Ming glanced at the group magnanimously, nodded, and said, "It seems you brothers have suffered."
Upon hearing this, the few heroes of the martial arts world at the table, including Tie Dan, almost burst into tears. If it weren't for the meat in their mouths and the chopsticks in their hands, they would have grabbed Sun Ming's hand and exclaimed: "Finally, we've found our people!"
Sun Ming naturally didn't look down on the men's crudeness; they were just tools for him to make money, and he had performed this kind of scene countless times.
This month alone, he hosted no fewer than 10 banquets, all for the "tools" found by his henchmen, the kind who are willing to risk their lives for money.
He used to wonder why Yu Zhe couldn't handle such a lucrative business, but now he understands: Yu Zhe simply lacked the ability.
To put it bluntly, Yu Zhe used to be a nobody. He got lucky and was chosen by Li Xuewu to be his driver, which was a huge windfall.
However, Yu Zhe is a good-for-nothing who can't be helped. He follows a big shot like Li Xuewu and actually prefers old women.
Li Xuewu would certainly not allow the person serving him to have such a fetish; that would be incredibly shameful.
Therefore, Yu Zhe failed to seize the opportunity and was unable to grasp the arrangements Li Xuewu made for him.
In the month and a half since he took over the business, two ships have sunk and seven or eight people have been lost, resulting in considerable losses.
Don't look at how much he made, look at how much he lost.
Of course, a ship needs to make 5 trips to break even, and the rest is profit. He's betting on that probability.
With staff losses and business expansion underway, he was recruiting new people and wished he could split one person in two.
His personal invitation to the dinner became the only chance for these money-grubbing江湖人 (jianghu people) to meet him, which could be considered an interview.
Only when people eat and drink well will they cherish the life they have, be willing to work hard, and dare to venture into business after seeing someone's success.
So inviting someone to dinner was a scheme within a scheme, and even the scoundrel who arrived first and ordered simple food was part of his plan.
This good-for-nothing has been through countless beatings and scoldings; just look at the way those waiters look at him.
This five-yuan performance made the waiters willing to play their part, going from being indifferent at the beginning to being obsequious at the end.
You tell me, with the waiters calling him "Brother Sun" over and over, how many young people who have just come back from the countryside wouldn't be confused?
Brother Sun is equivalent to a successful person.
-
"How many waves is this?"
Meng Niansheng stood in the private room looking towards the main hall, his arms crossed, appearing confident about everything before him.
The investigation team member stood beside him and reported quietly, "The 16th batch, with a total of about 64 people. I don't know if any have dropped out."
"Ignore him and do a thorough registration and investigation," Meng Niansheng said calmly. "We need to obtain the identity information of all participants."
He glanced back at the people standing in the room and said, "Even those who didn't come back, we have to find out the truth and see what they brought back."
“We’ve already infiltrated this area,” the clerk reported softly. “Including sales channels and distribution methods, and where the distributors have gone.”
"Hmm—" Meng Niansheng looked at the commotion outside the private room, paused for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Is it related to Jinmen Shunfeng Trading?"
"No, it has nothing to do with us."
The officer frowned slightly and reported, "We conducted a special investigation, visiting multiple units and individuals, but found no such situation."
He glanced at Meng Niansheng and said hesitantly, "Something feels off. Logically speaking, this kind of distributor is not very ethical."
"What do you think?" Meng Niansheng turned to look at him, chuckled for no reason, then looked towards the door and said, "No need to check Jinmen Shunfeng anymore."
"This is—" The clerk stared blankly at him and asked, "Didn't the leader say he was going to thoroughly investigate this company? Last time it was..."
"Have you found anything?"
Meng Niansheng said calmly, "Don't waste your energy. Jinmen Shunfeng never associates with individuals or the black market."
Seeing that nothing had changed outside the door, he turned around, walked to the dining table, sat down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "They only interact with their work unit."
Seeing that the officer was still hesitant, Meng Niansheng put down his teacup and explained, "It's not that I don't want you to go, but you should think it over carefully. We already have a shortage of manpower in Steel City, and if we really make a mistake on Sun Ming's end—"
He glanced at the clerk and said, "Losing the watermelon to pick up a sesame seed would be a losing proposition."
"Yes, I understand." The clerk nodded cautiously.
Meng Niansheng had to explain things clearly, but he knew he couldn't fully control the investigation team, as it was organized and led by Deputy Director Su.
Although he was in charge of the investigation in the steel city, Deputy Director Su knew a lot about the investigation team. What does this mean?
To have reached this point in his life, Meng Niansheng is no ordinary person; he has a keen understanding of human relationships and social dynamics.
At this moment, he crossed his right leg, pointed to the opposite side, told the clerk to sit down, and gestured for the others to take their place and stand guard at the door. Only then did he explain, "The previous general manager of Jinmen Shunfeng was named Zhou Xiaobai."
The clerk was a little confused, not understanding what Director Meng meant by that.
"This Zhou Xiaobai is a frequent visitor to Director Li's home, and Director Li's wife is the technical consultant for Jinmen Shunfeng."
Meng Niansheng looked at the clerk and said bluntly, "The other person in charge of Jinmen Shunfeng is Wu Shuping. She is currently the general manager of Dongfeng Sany Construction and also the deputy general manager of United Construction Engineering Corporation."
"This—" The clerk was completely dumbfounded, never expecting the relationships involved to be so complicated.
"Do you think there's a problem with Jinmen Shunfeng?"
Meng Niansheng tilted his head, looked into his eyes and said, "I never doubt any comrade, nor will I hinder my brother's future."
“You are young and have the energy to strive, which is a good thing. I will never stop you from having the opportunity, but I cannot watch you jump into the pit.”
He raised his eyes and said, "You all think this business trip is a good thing, that you're sure to catch a big fish, right?"
Before the clerk could speak, he smirked and said, "If there were a really big fish, they wouldn't have called us to fish for it. Even if we did catch it, we wouldn't be able to lift it up, understand?"
The officer's forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and his panicked eyes revealed his true feelings; this matter seemed to be in serious trouble.
“You should know where the seafood products in the group’s supply chain come from,” Meng Niansheng reminded him calmly. “There are many things involved here. As long as it doesn’t touch on matters of principle, neither of us can lift this lid.”
"And another one, think about it carefully."
He pointed at the other person with his finger, reminding them, "Even if you lift this lid, does that guarantee there's filth and grime hidden inside?"
"When this channel is gone, and the group's supply and sales department loses aquatic products, do you think the employees will congratulate you on your success or scold you for being nosy?"
The officer could no longer answer his question, because this was not a struggle against principles, but a constraint imposed by rules.
From his perspective, all unreasonable ways of operating are wrong, but there are too many rules in this world that operate in unreasonable ways, and we can't hold them accountable. Once we change one part, it will cause the whole situation to collapse.
The fact that Meng Niansheng could say these things to him was enough to prove the leader's benevolence and righteousness, so he couldn't be ignorant of the situation.
In fact, from Meng Niansheng's perspective, this investigation was a case of the devils fighting, and the underlings suffering the consequences.
Is there a problem with furnace number 4?
That's for sure, since a work safety accident has already occurred. The three investigation teams thoroughly investigated everything from the design drawings to the construction.
Why then repeatedly overturn previous investigations and then endlessly conduct the next one?
It's simply that he's dissatisfied with the results of the investigation, or with the people involved; at least that's the extent of his understanding.
However, two deputy directors of the metallurgical plant have already been dismissed and are under investigation, and the related cases have reached the final stage of the process.
The two deputy factory directors truthfully confessed to all the violations involved in the management and operation process, but they had little to do with Furnace No. 4.
Frankly speaking, although Meng Niansheng is not a professional technician, there are experts in architecture and industry in the investigation team.
They all knew very well that the project was rushed, the management team lacked experience, and they failed to conduct a review and audit.
However, the execution layer had no similar experience when it came to the design and construction phases. They completely trusted each other, which resulted in problems.
But if you want to trace it back to its origins, let alone back then, even the current construction process standards were formulated by the Joint Construction Corporation, and they are incomplete versions. Where can you find the standards?
So both sides have their own reasons, and this matter seems troublesome, but it's actually not that troublesome. It's simple in some ways, but quite complex in others.
Now, Meng Niansheng's problem is no longer about Furnace No. 4, but about what Deputy Director Su wants to achieve.
He has to submit a report, which can't be worse than the previous rounds of investigations, but asking him to fully cooperate with Deputy Director Su's opinions is a joke.
Meng Niansheng didn't get to where he is today because of Su Weide. He cherishes his work, but he's far from being utterly depraved.
To be realistic, which Yama (the King of Hell) is someone he can afford to offend?
Officer Zhang was very proactive, constantly working on the front lines of the investigation, but there were some things he couldn't see or understand.
Cha Jinmen Shunfeng must have been Deputy Director Su's idea, because he stabbed Director Li in the back in this very spot last time.
However, Jinmen Shunfeng then suspended its business for rectification. After resuming operations, both the management and executive levels were replaced, and their attitude spoke volumes.
This kind of vulnerability won't appear again and again. Moreover, Meng Niansheng has always worked at the group headquarters, and he knows that Deputy Director Su didn't have an easy time exploiting this vulnerability; it almost cost him his life.
Looking beyond appearances to the essence, as an outsider, he had some guesses, but dared not voice them.
When Deputy Director Su assigned Zhou Zechuan, then head of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Group, to investigate the matter, the outcome was self-evident.
Coincidentally, Zhou Zechuan was in the steel city at that time, and was the deputy director of the metallurgical plant in charge of production. Isn't that absurd enough?
He didn't want to become a second Zhou Zechuan, nor did he want to be Su Weide's pawn; this matter had to be done according to his plan.
Cases can be investigated, but they cannot be endlessly intertwined with each other. We must be realistic and present what we find, not rely on speculation.
Today's message is a warning to Officer Zhang. He believes that the people in this team will understand some things and restrain their thoughts.
If they continue to act recklessly like this, he won't be so lenient.
-
"Tell them in Beijing that the computers have been purchased."
While processing the documents, Li Xuewu told Zhang Enyuan that he had been very busy that morning and hadn't gotten up since he sat down.
Zhang Enyuan was also busy. After refilling Bu Qingfang's teacup with hot tea, he went to make a phone call. He didn't even notice Bu Qingfang coming in.
"Why are you so busy?!"
"Hmm? Hehe, what a rare guest." Li Xuewu looked up and smiled when he heard her voice, and said, "Please sit down, and make your own tea."
"I just came from Comrade Haiyang's place, and I've had my fill of drinks." Bu Qingfang sat down opposite him at his desk and complained with a smile, "He's such a chatterbox."
"Haha, really—" Li Xuewu asked with a laugh, "Looking for someone to discuss life with again?"
"He treats me like a confidante." Bu Qingfang rubbed her forehead helplessly, watching him busy, and asked, "Why are you so busy lately?"
“That’s right—” Li Xuewu glanced at her and explained, “The representatives from Beijing Chemical Industry and Liaodong Industry are all here, you know that, right?”
"Yes, I know." Bu Qingfang nodded and asked, "How did the talks go?"
"I don't know, I didn't inquire further."
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and took a small sip. Even if he knew, he wouldn't tell Bu Qingfang; it was still classified information.
"I'll only provide the venue and tea; food and lodging are not included, hehehe—"
"I heard that they bring their own meal tickets."
Bu Qingfang clapped her hands with a smile and said, "You're really something. Even brothers should keep clear accounts. You've really grasped this principle."
"That's true, I'm at a loss here."
Li Xuewu complained, "When their top leaders came, I was the one who entertained them. Doesn't that cost money?"
"Hehehe—" Bu Qingfang chuckled and raised an eyebrow, looking at him and asking softly, "Tell me, how much can you earn this time?"
"What do you want?" Li Xuewu asked warily. "You need money?"
"Nonsense, which organization isn't short of money these days?" Bu Qingfang curled her lip and said, "The thermal power acquisition project is short of money."
"With so many mineral resources under your control, United Energy's cash flow shouldn't be tight."
Li Xuewu glanced at her and asked, "How much of your budget did you spend on acquisitions in the last quarter?"
"All of it." Bu Qingfang wanted to come up with a reason, but facing Li Xuewu, she could only frankly shrug and say, "I really have no money left."
"You spent the whole year's budget in just three quarters?" Li Xuewu looked at her, amused and exasperated, and asked, "So what are you planning to do in the fourth quarter?"
"Sigh—" Bu Qingfang sighed and said, "I'm confused now too, and I don't know how to explain this to President Jing."
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu grinned and said, "It's okay, you're a woman, you can just go to her office and have a good cry."
"Come on, aren't you ashamed enough? —" Bu Qingfang rolled her eyes at him and said, "Can't you be kind enough to lend me some money?"
"Even just helping me come up with an idea would be helpful. You can't just stand here and watch me make a fool of myself, can you?"
"Then who do you blame? You spent the money, and I have to clean up your mess?" Li Xuewu didn't take the bait and bluntly said, "I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, I don't have a penny to my name either, and I'm also borrowing money to get by."
"I don't believe you for a second—" Bu Qingfang curled her lip and said, "You've always been so frugal, how could you possibly borrow money to make ends meet?"
"If you're really living on borrowed money, then tell me where you borrowed it from, and I'll shamelessly borrow some money from you too."
"Then you really are shameless."
Li Xuewu said with a laugh, "Why should I tell you? Because you dare to be stubborn with me?"
"I just heard you say you bought a computer."
Bu Qingfang was cunning; she only revealed her hand now, raising an eyebrow and saying, "That pile of scrap metal is worth millions; can't you lend it to us to get through this difficult time?"
"I sympathize with your situation, but I also regret your opinion. That's not scrap metal; it's high technology."
Li Xuewu smiled helplessly and said, "Deputy Director Dong is going to Gangcheng, so it's good to have him bring back the equipment for the research institute."
“That’s really extravagant—” Bu Qingfang complained, “The bank already has one, and they still want to buy another one.”
"Director Li said it's very worthwhile because technology changes industry."
Li Xuewu tapped the document lightly with his pencil, looked at her and asked, "I haven't asked you yet, how many has the power plant taken over?"
"Seven of them are currently undergoing rectification and grid connection."
Bu Qingfang said, looking somewhat exhausted, "We could have used Shen Fei's help to make a comeback, but they withdrew halfway through."
"You won't blame me for not considering you, will you?"
Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "I really had no choice. I was forced into this situation and had no other option."
“I know—” Bu Qingfang nodded understandingly, and said with some annoyance, “They’ve lost their minds, they’re all terrible chess players.”
"They probably want to take a gamble, which is normal."
Li Xuewu didn't want to talk about it, so he shrugged and said, "The president of the Santaya Group, Shantal, is in Steel City. You can go and meet her and see if you can get a low-interest loan from international sources. It's worth a try."
"Can't it be done under the guise of additional investment?" Bu Qingfang looked at him and asked, "Getting a loan isn't easy, is it?"
“What do you mean by easy?” Li Xuewu sighed and said, “Don’t even think about adding more investment. You won’t get any projects like this unless you produce results.”
"But your opportunity is just right now." He glanced at Bu Qingfang and asked, "Is the personnel structure streamlined?"
"Well, that's about it." Bu Qingfang's mood became somewhat heavy when this topic was mentioned. Although she won the fight by going down with her opponent, she also lost.
During the investigation that Li Xue participated in, United Energy Corporation purged over a hundred people and disciplined more than three hundred.
The effect was immediate. Bu Qingfang eliminated the remaining influence and arranged a large number of young cadres supported by the group in grassroots management positions.
These young cadres are well-educated, passionate, principled, and disciplined, and they quickly accelerated the development of United Energy to a new level.
However, this approach to handling internal energy issues also revealed Bu Qingfang's impatient personality, resulting in a low score in organizational and management skills.
If it weren't for her achievements in business development, she would have been facing a similar situation soon after this round of personnel adjustments.
The strategy of "open source and cost reduction" has been implemented, but the cost has been reduced, so open source is now necessary.
"How long will it take for the refining plant in Yingcheng to be started and operational?"
Bu Qingfang was very concerned about this and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "Does United Energy have any opportunity to participate in this project?"
“This is an entire project.” Li Xuewu clasped his hands together and said, “Even the Santayar Group is involved.”
"You don't need to worry about this now. The refinery in Yingcheng will definitely connect with you. You should use these two years to prepare for the sales and transportation issues."
Li Xuewu tapped the table with his finger, reminding her, "Road transport is risky, and with the current road coverage, the efficiency won't be very high."
"You need to figure out how to combine railways and highways, at least for now, that should be the case, and gas stations should also be built and prepared."
"We don't have any money," Bu Qingfang said with a wry smile, rubbing her face. "Right now, what we're earning can't keep up with our investments."
"That means you haven't earned enough."
Li Xuewu looked at her and said, "Whether it's coal or other ores, we must exceed the target and increase production capacity."
"If you can't even complete the planned tasks assigned by Liaodong, how can you expect to realize profits from unplanned production capacity?"
He bluntly reminded you, "The group is also watching to see when you can achieve this day; their patience won't last long."
"It seems I have no choice but to ask that Frenchman for help." Bu Qingfang hesitated for a moment and said, "Would it be possible to get a loan through United Energy?"
"Why not?" Li Xuewu said seriously, "You are a joint venture. If you have difficulties, you should ask the shareholders for help. Otherwise, what are they for? Just waiting to receive dividends?"
-
Just after seeing Bu Qingfang off, Zhang Songying arrived at Li Xuewu's office. The two hadn't seen each other for more than half a year, and they were both very emotional when they met.
"Boss, you're busier than ever."
Zhang Songying was wearing a well-fitting woolen overcoat. At this time, a cold wind was blowing in Liaodong, and this coat was really warm.
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded, saying, "It's been almost a year since I last saw you. You've been busier than me."
"You can't criticize me like that."
Zhang Songying smiled and sat down opposite him, in the same spot where Bu Qingfang had just been. She put down her bag and said, "I wanted to see you but didn't have the chance."
“I believe you,” Li Xuewu nodded with disbelief in his eyes, which made Zhang Songying laugh again.
"They must have come to see me about something, right?"
Li Xuewu could figure out why Zhang Songying had taken the initiative to distance herself from him; it was a kind of self-awareness, or perhaps a sign of being content with what she had.
After looking him over carefully again, Zhang Songying seemed genuinely satisfied. She smiled and said, "I do have something to ask of you; it concerns the Jicheng Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparation Factory."
"Okay, go ahead, what's the problem?"
Li Xuewu crossed his arms in front of him and listened attentively to what she was saying.
"Over the past two years, we have worked with several traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and collected cosmeceutical formulas to conduct scientific research and finally achieved some results, but now we are encountering difficulties in translation."
She frowned slightly and explained, "The product plan is right on our desks, but our factory doesn't have the production capacity."
"What about the raw materials? How are they?"
Li Xuewu cut to the chase and asked directly, "Based on production expectations, can the raw materials meet the production needs?"
"The current calculations are acceptable, because these factories are producing some products and there is a surplus of raw materials."
Zhang Songying knew his style of doing things very well, so she took out a few documents from her bag and handed them over.
After reviewing the project proposal and examining its contents in detail, Li Xuewu nodded and said, "We can contact the savings bank for a loan."
He looked up and said, "Ask Catherine, the general manager of Geely Star Shipbuilding. She's currently working on a project to import precision equipment."
He carefully put down the project proposal and pushed it back, nodding slowly as he explained, "Tell her what equipment you need. East Germany has a certain foundation in Western medicine and biochemical preparation processes and equipment, so you don't need to worry about that."
"If you can't get the special equipment, she has connections to help you find it in Western Europe, it definitely won't be difficult."
He tapped on the document that was being pushed to him and said, "You can ask the research institute for help with the production formula calculations, or I can put in a good word for you."
"That's great." Zhang Songying didn't expect the problem to be solved so quickly by him. She smiled and nodded, "We shouldn't trouble ourselves with two people. Could you also help us put in a good word with the United Savings Bank? It will make things easier for us."
"You're all from the same group, and you have such a detailed business plan, how could you not get a loan?"
Li Xuewu glanced at her amusedly, and seeing her pouting and pleading look, he could only shake his head and say, "Their deputy bank manager is here. I'll tell her when I see her."
"Thank you, leader, thank you, leader." Zhang Songying stood up with a smile and said politely, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."
"No trouble at all." Li Xuewu stood up to see her off, and asked, "Did you come to Steel City specifically to handle this matter, or were you just passing through?"
"I need to get to Jicheng, I'm in a hurry."
Zhang Songying explained apologetically, "I still need to confirm with the factory over there, otherwise I'll remain unsure."
"Okay, go ahead, take care of yourself." Li Xuewu smiled and stood at the door looking at her, saying, "You can call me if you need anything."
Zhang Songying was not there to reminisce or reminisce, and Li Xuewu had no intention of keeping her. This tacit understanding stemmed from mutual respect.
For a female worker to have reached this point and take charge of the Honggang Group's pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry is already the limit. Her combined knowledge and hard work have made her realize that further progress would be the destruction of herself and her career.
Therefore, knowing when to stop is also a form of wisdom.
Looking at the proposal she just gave me, Artistry Cosmetics covers most products on the market in Hong Kong, and insists on using the thinking of traditional Chinese medicine to redefine the brand of cosmeceuticals.
People in the steel city still have a lot of trust in traditional Chinese medicine, especially ordinary people, who often choose traditional Chinese medicine clinics when they have difficulty accessing medical care.
Lou Xiao'e is a ruthless character. She is willing to spend money on optimizing the industry and has been subtly promoting the harmfulness of chemical products and the mildness of traditional Chinese medicine throughout the market.
The market for cosmeceuticals is vast; otherwise, Zhang Songying wouldn't have been in such a hurry to raise funds to renovate the processing plant, nor would she have begged him to buy advanced equipment.
So think about today, why was Li Xuewu willing to help Zhang Songying find a solution, but refused Bu Qingfang?
Of course, it's not a personal relationship; it's related to the project itself.
The United Savings Bank is fully capable of covering the cost of upgrading the technology and equipment at Zhang Songying's several processing plants.
Another point is that the cosmeceutical industry has a fast return on investment, low costs, and high profits. If you seize the opportunity, this industry can definitely generate high returns.
But power plants are different; they are the foundation of heavy industry, and any additional investment by the United Savings Bank must be convincing to its shareholders.
The most crucial point is that even if Li Xuewu helps Bu Qingfang get ten million this time, it won't be enough for United Energy.
Given Bu Qingfang's personality, he would love to integrate all the problematic power plants in the entire Northeast region and form a power grid company in one step.
But that's impossible. Honggang Group can't come up with that much money, and even if they drained the cash flow of the shareholders, they still couldn't achieve it.
Even if it were achieved, the current power grid integrity upgrade would be a massive project costing hundreds of millions of yuan, which Honggang Group simply doesn't have the capability for.
The right approach is to proceed step by step, so Li Xuewu told her to borrow money from Shantal. International loans require an assessment of the project itself, and he also wanted her to know what the consequences would be if the project was too aggressive.
The pressure made Bu Qingfang lose her way, and even Li Xuewu's reminders might not be helpful. It was the chanting of sutras by foreign monks that could enlighten her.
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"How much the hell does this cost?"
At the end of October, Gao Yaqin was invited to the steel city to discuss the large aircraft project, and Bai Changmin came over to chat after hearing the news.
Negotiations between Beijing Chemical and Liaodong Industry are still ongoing, but there is a glimmer of hope. Both sides are clearly aware of their mutual needs, so there is a strong sense that neither side will leave until the negotiations are completed.
Li Xuewu was thoroughly fed up with him. He would come to his office all the time, either complaining or babbling on and on, but nothing he said was of any use.
Well, you can't say that. At least they came up with a name for the Beijing Chemical Group after restructuring: Northern Chemical Industry Group.
It sounds a bit more prestigious than Hongxing Steel Group. At least the latter's industries are all in the chemical sector, unlike Hongxing Steel Group, which is so diverse.
"I have no experience in this area, but this thing doesn't look like it'll work, does it?"
Gao Yaqin was also confused. Holding the documents, she asked Li Xuewu, "What can we do with the Il-12? It has a payload of 2.6 tons?"
“But it can fly 3300 kilometers.” Li Xuewu glanced at her while holding his teacup and reminded her, “It flies slowly, but it’s safe enough.”
"Huh?" Gao Yaqin didn't understand what he meant and raised an eyebrow, asking, "What do you mean by 'safe enough'?"
"It means it's used as a passenger plane or a private jet." Bai Changmin smiled and reminded her, "This thing is indeed quite safe, it's just a bit old."
“The Santa Y Group will help with the upgrades,” Li Xuewu explained, putting down his teacup. “The internal instruments will be updated to better suit modern flight.”
“More than three thousand kilometers, from here you can fly to…” Bai Changmin gestured with his hands, unable to imagine it, and then got up and went to the map hanging on the wall to calculate.
Gao Yaqin twitched the corner of her mouth, looked at the documents in her hand, and asked, "How much money do you plan to spend to set up this old-fashioned transportation company?"
"It doesn't matter if it's a black cat or a white cat, a kitten or an old cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat," Li Xuewu said with a smile. "Domestic shipping tasks are quite tight, so this is the perfect time to enter the market."
"Military supplies, Third Front construction materials, medical and disaster relief supplies, aerospace transportation, international aid transportation, mail and high-value small parcel transportation, etc."
He counted on his fingers for Gao Yaqin, then emphasized with a smile, "As long as the transportation company is set up, the first business is ready."
"What?" Gao Yaqin looked at him in surprise and asked, "You even prepared this?"
“It wasn’t me, it was Art.” Li Xuewu smiled and explained, “Art wants to deploy these weapons he bought as quickly as possible.”
"What weapons? Those gas cylinders?"