dognovel Chapter 1470 Iron Wall
Chapter 1470 Iron Wall
Chapter 1470 Iron Wall
Ding Zhichen felt like he had been played.
When I first met Li Xuewu, he said we could talk about Antelope Motors at will, but we couldn't talk about Aries or Hongyun.
Of course he was curious. Hongyun was a minivan, which was not within Shouqi's consideration. Why couldn't Aries talk about it?
He then told himself that Hongxing Steel Group was preparing to operate its own taxi service, and Aries was reserved for the group's taxi company.
Bullshit, do you think he'd believe that?
I've hardly ever seen an Aries car in China. Let alone how many they can produce a month, even if they did, they'd just sit in the warehouse and get moldy.
The results of it?
Director Lü of the steel plant personally took him to visit the workshop. The scale of producing two hundred cars a day was a slap in the face to him, leaving him completely stunned.
It turns out they weren't exaggerating; Aries products do sell very well, not in mainland China, but overseas.
According to Factory Director Lü's unsubstantiated claims, this car was sold out as soon as it arrived at dealerships overseas; it was practically a hot seller.
The reason why it is said to be an unfounded statement is not because he said it, but because Director Lü himself said it.
Hongxing Steel Group began implementing organizational restructuring last year, establishing a separate sales company.
All sales work within the group is handled by the corresponding sales companies. Although the production units still have the right to make business contacts, they only handle large orders.
He no longer handles retail and distribution, so he only has a general understanding of the domestic and international distribution market.
This approximate data is based on the number of vehicles shipped out; he only knows that this car sells very well.
The Gemini car also boasts impressive sales figures, with no inventory left in the warehouse.
Although it's rare to see on the streets of Beijing, it's not unheard of, and some young women like this car.
Of course, think about it, in this day and age, how many people can afford to drive a car, let alone a female driver? That makes them even rarer.
Ding Zhichen looked down on the Gemini, as two-seater models were not suitable for Shouqi. However, the feedback from the two types of cars in overseas markets increasingly attracted his attention.
Li Xuewu didn't treat him very warmly, but instead kept arranging for Director Lü of the Steel Plant to take him out to play.
He has ridden in the Red Star Antelope, Gemini, and Aries, and has also personally tested them on the road.
He even test-drove SteelCar's experimental models, namely the Tundra and the Tundra City Land Cruiser. I have to say, SteelCar is really awesome.
In just three years, the number of car models it has mastered has far exceeded that of the largest automobile factory, Factory No. 17.
This doesn't even include motorcycles, vans, buses, and other special vehicles.
He didn't come blind; he had done his homework beforehand, especially on the red-starred antelope.
Shouqi has conducted a survey on several models of steel cars sold in China, and found that the second generation of the Red Star Antelope is already capable of competing with Beijing Automotive's flagship product, the 212.
Based on this year's procurement data from government agencies and enterprises, urban applications prefer the Red Star Antelope.
If Ding Zhichen were to speak, he believes that Gangqi's greatest success is not in how excellent the cars it produces are, but rather in its superior automotive R&D capabilities, parts industry layout, production capacity, and marketing channels.
This is a systematic project. Nowadays, no one dares to underestimate the power of steel and automobiles, and no one dares to deny the influence of Hongxing Steel Group in the automotive field.
Why did Shouqi choose Hongxing Steel Group as its first choice for the new round of vehicle replacement?
While Shouqi emphasizes the variety of models and service of Hongxing Steel Group, it prioritizes the group's growing influence in automobile manufacturing and sales, as well as in domestic and international markets.
Shouqi can be considered a calling card for Beijing's external services, after all, how many people can afford to use taxis these days?
The factors mentioned above are the first things you see when choosing a car. A deeper consideration is after-sales service, which was first proposed by Hongxing Steel Group.
This kind of service was unprecedented in the domestic car sales market before; people had to repair their own cars when they broke down.
Which organization doesn't have a repair shop? Even if the organization is small and lacks the capacity, it's still affiliated with a larger organization's repair shop.
From the day the Red Star Antelope was launched, people in Beijing saw the term "after-sales service" for the first time in the flagship store of a brand under the Beijing Automobile Sales Company.
Subsequently, throughout the country, wherever there was an office of Hongxing Steel Group, there was a car dealership, and wherever there was a car dealership, there was after-sales service.
After-sales service includes car repair, maintenance and parts replacement, as well as interior decoration repair and modification, etc.
Small businesses no longer need to spend money to find connections and affiliate with large businesses' auto repair shops, and large businesses no longer need to operate their own auto repair shops.
Just think about it, the fact that the 212 could hold out in the urban car market for three years is a testament to its solid foundation.
However, starting last year, Beijing Automotive Group hastily plunged into the infighting within the automotive industry.
Steel & Automobile has already established a parts supply chain to support the assembly system, but Beijing Automotive is still trying to do everything itself.
Beijing Automotive's first move was to experimentally shed its burdens, engage with the supply chain system, and seek parts supply and support services.
After all, they are car companies that shoulder important responsibilities, and cannot be compared with tertiary industries such as steel and automobiles.
But the truth is, if things continue like this, Beijing Automotive's 212 will really have to withdraw from the urban vehicle market.
Do you think the 212 can survive by withdrawing from the urban car rental market?
Having not test-driven the Tundra, Ding Zhichen believes that the Red Star Antelope Engineering Edition and Mountain Edition still have room for improvement, and the 212 is still the most competitive.
But when he drove his Tundra through the mountains and rivers of the steel city, he truly felt the sense of crisis that Beijing Automotive had shown this year.
This isn't a competitor relationship at all; it's clearly a revolutionary and disruptive design for Jeep.
The function of automobiles has been redefined, with diesel engines becoming more adaptable to different environments and more powerful.
The key is modular assembly. The R&D engineer arranged for technicians to quickly equip the car with four different terrain-adaptive features right before his eyes.
This includes tires, camouflage, weapon racks, and vehicle protection devices.
The whole process is not complicated; two soldiers can complete the functional transformation. If there are four soldiers, then the vehicle becomes a mobile firing point.
Tanks have strong armor, but they can't outrun them, nor can they adapt to the terrain they can go.
If you look at it this way, don't you think it's very light and has poor load-bearing capacity?
Completely wrong. Ding Zhichen saw with his own eyes that the vehicle carried all the equipment needed for eight soldiers, and with the corresponding number of people, it traveled smoothly on the mountain road without any hesitation.
No wonder everyone in the car manufacturing industry is crying wolf. Beijing Automotive Group has remained silent, sweating profusely as it increases research and development funding and adjusts its production layout.
Having witnessed the strength of SteelCars, and looking back at Aries, he's not at all curious about how SteelCars managed to make high-end cars affordable for the masses.
Gemini, priced at 3,000 yuan in China; Aries, priced at 8,600 yuan in China.
Before coming to the steel city, the company held a work meeting to study a new round of taxi procurement plans, and some members of the leadership team mentioned the price of steel car products.
Well, at the time, we were researching the Red Star Antelope. Shouqi decided to purchase the city version, which was priced at only 7980 yuan based on the base price, and that was without any discounts.
Even with the full configuration, it's only 9980 yuan, which is far superior to the 212, which costs 35,000 yuan.
The key point is that the interior furnishings of the Antelope are not something that the 212 can achieve, unless you modify it yourself.
Then the price can't be solved by 35,000, so the result of the meeting was one-sided.
Why did Ding Zhichen change his mind again?
He relayed the production status of Aries and the sales data he obtained in the steel city back to Beijing, where Shouqi held another discussion and study.
It's not that you can't find Aries cars in Beijing; there's a SteelCars brand store in Dongcheng District. Just buy one and see for yourself.
The Red Star Antelope City Edition, fully equipped, costs less than 10,000 yuan, the basic version less than 8,000 yuan, while the Aries version costs 8,600 yuan.
The person who sets the prices for steel and automotive products is a genius; they don't give you any room for price comparison.
Although Shouqi does not manufacture cars, they have a good understanding of automobiles and know that sedans are easier to produce.
However, Aries' configuration is better.
Currently, only one version of the Aries produced by SteelCar is available, which includes a radio, heating and cooling system, leather seats, and plastic interior trim, truly demonstrating their sincerity.
Moreover, the Aries is a sedan, which offers better comfort, and its streamlined design is more in line with popular aesthetics.
So Shouqi has nothing to worry about. Since there's no room for comparison in terms of price, then it should compare quality.
A sedan is more suitable than a taxi, so the discussion that Ding Zhichen received resulted in him choosing Aries instead.
But this time, Li Xuewu came up with a new trick and didn't fall for his routine at all. He proposed to make taxis for the people, starting with vehicle costs, operating expenses, and fuel supply, to disrupt the existing urban taxi industry and completely change the status quo of urban car use.
The scale he described was so large that Shouqi was completely unprepared, and Ding Zhichen couldn't figure out whether he was just bragging or really intended to do it.
If Li Xuewu was bluffing him, then Hongxing Steel Group truly had this need and the basic conditions and capabilities to operate taxis.
They need to reassign laid-off workers to work as drivers, they have their own vehicle production capacity, and they have energy supply capabilities. Tell me, does Shouqi dare to take the gamble?
If they really miss this opportunity, given Hongxing Steel Group's past unconventional and daring cross-industry ventures, Shouqi could very well become the next Beijing Automotive Group.
If Shouqi doesn't want to become a background character in the industry or be used as a stepping stone, it needs to carefully consider the threats and opportunities posed by Hongxing Steel Group.
Damn it, we had clearly agreed to cooperate, no wonder Li Huaide sent him to Steel City, it turns out he had set up an ambush and was too embarrassed to talk to him.
What are we going to do now? A steel rolling mill has not only taken away our car manufacturing jobs, but now it's also trying to steal our taxi business. There's hardly any profit in that industry! Is it really necessary?
Shouqi is currently relying on government funding to survive, as taxi profits are simply not enough to cover the company's operating costs.
Can you make money by popularizing the taxi market?
-
"Were those two Deputy General Manager Ding from Shouqi and Deputy Factory Director Gu from Beijing No. 2 Automobile Works?"
Liu Hongmei finally sat down on the sofa opposite Li Xuewu, a very delicate position.
Sofas in executive offices are usually arranged in an L-shape, with the shorter end typically containing a single sofa.
Leaders prefer to sit in this position and talk to colleagues who come from the side, as it makes them feel more comfortable.
This is how the sofa in Li Xuewu's office was arranged when he served as Secretary-General in Beijing.
However, his office in the steel city was much larger. At that time, there were no clear regulations on office size, so the one assigned to him was naturally the best.
With a larger area comes more reception work, including daily conversations and dealing with visitors.
Therefore, the sofas in Li Xuewu's office are arranged in a U-shape. He usually sits on a three-seater sofa, so when there is a single guest, he lets them sit on a single sofa, and when there are two guests, he sits in the middle and lets them sit on two single sofas.
Arranging seats is also an art; you shouldn't sit opposite each other easily, as that would be too confrontational.
Originally, according to Li Xuewu's habits and ideas, since the person who came was a woman, he asked her to sit on the single sofa, while he sat on the long sofa next to her, so that it would be easier to communicate and exchange ideas.
Unexpectedly, this reporter Liu acted unpredictably, taking the chair she had just been sitting in and placing it opposite Li Xuewu, with a coffee table between them.
Because the leather sofa was soft, Li Xuewu leaned back when he sat down, making him shorter than the other person. Even though he was tall, their line of sight became level.
Now Liu Hongmei is sitting on the chair with her legs crossed, giving off a sense of looking down at him.
If outsiders see this, they might think he didn't treat her well and made her feel neglected.
Of course, Liu Hongmei's decision to sit in this armchair instead of the sofa was also a way of venting her frustration at being ignored.
Being a journalist, one is more mindful and assertive in the competition than the average person.
Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to that, he just narrowed his eyes and looked her over.
Liu Hongmei remained unfazed and asked him calmly, "May I ask what specific business those two leaders from Beijing companies came to Steel City to discuss with you?"
"Sorry, this is a trade secret."
Li Xuewu answered very decisively, even though the other party had already heard quite a bit of what he had said in the office.
Zhang Enyuan placed the tea on the coffee table, and the tense atmosphere was palpable. He dared not speak rashly, and even setting out the tea was a gesture of gesturing.
"If it's classified, then I won't ask. Let's talk about the industrial enterprises of Hongxing Steel Group in Liaodong, and also about your work."
dong dong——
She had barely finished speaking when there was a knock at the door.
"Secretary-General, you wanted to see me."
"Director Wang, come here, let me introduce you."
Li Xuewu naturally waved and gestured to Liu Hongmei, the reporter sitting opposite him, and introduced her: "This is Liu Hongmei, reporter from Northern Industry Daily."
After saying that, he introduced her to Liu Hongmei: "This is Comrade Wang Yajuan, the director of our group's Liaodong branch radio station."
Wang Yajuan walked into the office and exchanged a glance with Liu Hongmei, who turned to look at her. Both of them frowned.
"Hello, Reporter Liu, welcome."
"Hello, thank you."
Their conversation was insincere; they were wary of each other but still greeted each other politely.
As the saying goes, "If you don't see eye to eye, there's no point in saying more," the two simply greeted each other and then looked at Li Xuewu.
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and introduced, "Reporter Liu wants to interview me. Since you're not busy, take this opportunity to learn from Reporter Liu."
This is considered a veiled meaning; the implication shouldn't be too obvious.
But Li Xuewu said this to her on purpose, while also reminding Wang Yajuan.
Wang Yajuan cooperated with him naturally and tacitly. She turned to look at Liu Hongmei and nodded slightly, saying, "We are just a unit under the group, and we should indeed learn more from our outstanding colleagues."
Were these two doing this on purpose?
What kind of group is this? The scale and influence of Red Star Literature and Art Publishing House are no bigger than those of Northern Industry Daily. Why are you envious of us?
This is probably sarcasm, a way of mocking oneself!
Liu Hongmei glanced at the two of them, saying insincere polite words, but in her heart she was thinking that they were treating her like a bad guy.
That's fine, at least it saves me from going in circles.
"I was just curious about the operation of your group's industrial enterprises in Liaodong. I didn't expect you to be so vigilant and wary."
She smiled confidently and proudly, slightly raised her chin, and looked at Li Xuewu, saying, "If it's inconvenient for you, then we can cancel this interview."
"I think you misunderstood."
Li Xuewu smiled faintly, looked directly into her eyes and asked frankly, "What do you think it means to have a company with nearly 100,000 employees?"
Before Liu Hongmei, who looked slightly taken aback, could reply, Li Xuewu said, "This means that strict work procedures will be implemented within the group, and everyone will be subject to them, including me."
He raised his eyebrows and emphasized, "Otherwise, how can we lead these nearly 100,000 employees to stay true to their original aspirations and forge ahead on the road to transforming into a modern industrial enterprise?"
Liu Hongmei narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at him without saying a word, because she didn't expect Li Xuewu to be so shameless.
"The group has a rule that any interview with the outside world must be approved by the group's management committee."
He spread his right hand and emphasized, "Your arrival was so sudden that I didn't even have time to report to the group. I had no choice but to ask Station Chief Wang to come and keep me company."
"I hope you don't misunderstand."
There was no misunderstanding. Liu Hongmei turned to look at the calm Wang Yajuan, and she was certain that Li Xuewu had been prepared all along.
Yes, she doesn't deny that Red Star Steel Group might have such strict management regulations, but it depends on who it applies to.
If the secretary-general of the group is responsible for coordinating the industrial enterprises and the management committee, would it still be necessary to ask the management committee for instructions? The management committee of Hongxing Steel Group must be so busy that they have nothing to do all day but attend meetings.
However, she had to accept what Li Xuewu said, because she couldn't be sure whether Hongxing Steel Group actually had this regulation, or whether Li Xuewu had to abide by it.
Whom should we consult?
Stop fooling around. Li Xuewu reacted quickly enough, and she was able to turn the tables on her opponent.
"Oh, I see. I thought that Secretary-General Li would be afraid of a mere woman like me."
She smiled and teased in a highly sarcastic tone, "Shall we begin today's interview?"
Li Xuewu didn't say he agreed to the interview, but she had already finalized the job, and she seemed quite assertive.
"Reporter Liu is no ordinary woman."
Li Xuewu didn't rush to respond to her comment, but instead said with a smile, "Journalists are the uncrowned kings, the frontline workers who carry out media supervision."
He gestured in Wang Yajuan's direction and said, "Especially the reporters from independently operated newspapers, they are much more capable than those from newspapers affiliated with our group."
"I don't think you need me to use flowery words to flatter your work in Liaodong."
Liu Hongmei was getting impatient with his roundabout way of talking and started looking him straight in the eye with a threatening tone.
Li Xuewu raised his head slightly and looked at her, saying, "Hongxing Steel Group has always maintained the same attitude towards publicity work. The pen is in your hand, but the fairness of the law and the rules of the industry are in your and my hearts."
This was the first time Liu Hongmei had encountered a corporate executive who dared to stand up to her since she started working.
"You seem to have a natural wariness of reporters. Are you wary of or afraid of something?"
"How can you say it's vigilance and precaution? You are, after all, my comrade."
Li Xuewu said calmly, "I'm just not good with words and a bit clumsy. You won't laugh at me, will you?"
"You must be joking—"
Liu Hongmei knew she had met her match, so she straightened her posture and said, "You are the wisest and most incisive young cadre I have ever met."
"I like the label you gave me."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "I am just a young cadre of Hongxing Steel Group. If you feel it is necessary to interview me, I am always welcome."
"This definition isn't new, is it?"
Liu Hongmei found the right angle and pressed on, asking, "In your past work and life, has no one ever labeled you as a young cadre?"
"Young people are young, but cadres are cadres."
Li Xuewu looked at her and said, "I think so far, no one has questioned that I am young as a cadre, nor has anyone doubted that I am a cadre despite being young."
He even claims to be bad at speaking and a bit clumsy—what a load of rubbish!
"How do you evaluate Hongxing Steel Group's decision to develop industrial projects in Liaodong?"
Liu Hongmei chose to steer the conversation and broaden the scope, hoping to lower Li Xuewu's guard and expand his thinking.
But Li Xuewu's answer infuriated her once again.
"Hongxing Steel Group's industrial layout in Liaodong does not need anyone's evaluation. Every Hongxing employee is an executor, founder, and participant in this decision."
Li Xuewu said very seriously, "Red Star people only know how to do, not how to talk, much less how to boast."
"..." Liu Hongmei suppressed her emotions and asked in a calm tone, "Then how do you evaluate yourself, considering the time and energy you've devoted to working in the steel city for nearly a year? Can you talk about that?"
"Yes, let's stay true to our original aspirations and forge ahead."
Li Xuewu nodded slightly and said, "To sum it up, I hope my work in Liaodong will bear fruit and bring great success."
Are you satisfied with your posting in Liaodong?
Liu Hongmei chose to ignore his objections and went straight to the point: "I heard that a blast furnace production accident occurred at the Steel City Metallurgical Plant, and the investigation results show that there were problems with the construction."
She raised her chin slightly and asked, "How did you handle this issue? It seems like there was no follow-up?"
"Hongxing Steel Group has a zero-tolerance and no-tolerance attitude towards work safety accidents. This is a principle."
Li Xuewu looked at her and continued, "I don't know where you got your information, nor do I know who told you your so-called investigation results. I can only say that the investigation team is still investigating this matter in Liaodong and has not yet submitted a report to me."
He raised his eyebrows and looked at her, saying, "Perhaps you have special channels that allow you to know about this before I do? Why don't you also pass on this result to me?"
-
"If you don't want to be interviewed by her, just don't see her. Why bother?"
After seeing Liu Hongmei off, Wang Yajuan returned to Li Xuewu's office and, seeing his expression, offered some words of comfort.
Li Xuewu looked up at her and emphasized, "If I could avoid seeing her, why would I need to call you here?"
"Reporter Liu barged in."
Zhang Enyuan silently offered an explanation, which could be considered as giving an explanation to Li Xuewu.
Ultimately, it was he who failed to stop the other party, allowing the arrogant reporter Liu to take advantage of the situation.
The secretary-general was discussing work when he let someone slip in; if this were investigated…
“If she wants to see me, there’s no way to stop her.” Li Xuewu didn’t blame him; he simply said, “She has grievances against the company.”
"I heard that the Northern Industry Daily has some conflicts with our group?" Wang Yajuan asked with a frown. "The version I heard has already been passed around several times. Do you know the specifics?"
"What else could it be—"
Li Xuewu snorted and said, "If you can't get what you want, then love turns to hate."
"Begging? Love? What are they begging for? What are they loving?" Wang Yajuan asked, somewhat confused. "Is there some emotional entanglement involved?"
"Hehe—" Li Xuewu looked up at her with amusement and said, "You're after money, you love money, what are you thinking about, all this emotional entanglement?"
"You're the one who led me astray."
Wang Yajuan then realized what he meant and frowned, saying, "Is it that the Northern Industry Daily wants money, or are their reporters heartless?"
"They wouldn't dare."
Looking at the documents in his hand, Li Xuewu said, "Independently operated newspapers can usually receive some funding from the government, and the rest they have to raise money from various enterprises."
"Our Director Li ignored them, thinking that beggars shouldn't be too arrogant, which angered them."
"This is possible?" Wang Yajuan had never heard of such a thing before, and frowned, saying, "Isn't anyone going to do anything about them?"
"What are you going to manage?" Li Xuewu looked at her and said, "Their superior authorities can't even afford to pay them, so how can they have the confidence to manage them?"
Now, as long as they don't break any taboos, they've found a way to make money and have started begging on their own initiative.
"How should we respond?"
Wang Yajuan frowned and asked, "Won't she write something nonsense when she gets back? It's you again, the taller the tree, the more the wind blows."
"If a tree is big enough, it would have caught the wind long ago. Why would it wait until now?"
Li Xuewu said dismissively, "Just compile today's conversation and publish it in the United Industries Daily. If she dares to write anything wrong, we'll report her to the relevant authorities."
"I'm curious to see what kind of company this Northern Industry Daily is, that they dare to take on any kind of job."
"I'm not sure which direction she'll take; it's so unpleasant to be on the defensive like this."
Wang Yajuan looked at him and asked, "Can we take the initiative and write about them based on what you said?"
"If a dog bites you, are you going to bite the dog back?" Li Xuewu tilted his head and looked at her, saying, "They can use such underhanded tricks because they're rotten to the core. If you use the same tricks against them now, aren't you afraid of getting your hands dirty?"
"Then what can we do? She can write about us, but we can't write about them? That's outrageous!"
It's quite amusing when Wang Yajuan is angry; all her anger is on her face, her cheeks puffing out.
"Alright, I called you over here to prevent her from writing anything reckless. I believe she wouldn't dare to write about me directly."
Li Xuewu raised his chin and instructed, "You should first organize today's conversation and publish it. Even if it doesn't make a big splash, it will still serve as a warning."
"Did she not leave?"
Wang Yajuan was really bold. She looked at Li Xuewu and asked softly, "Should we arrange for someone to..."
"I already said we can't do that."
Li Xuewu spoke in the same gentle tone, but with a firm attitude: "Be careful not to give others a handle to use against you."
"You mean—" Wang Yajuan suddenly widened her eyes and asked, "She was deliberately waiting for us?"
"What if?" Li Xuewu asked, looking at her. "Do you believe that she's just waiting for us to send someone to deal with her? She's waiting for us at the guesthouse right now."
"That's so insidious—"
Wang Yajuan said angrily, "A reporter like her has really gone too far."
"Don't talk about others, you also need to improve your understanding and study harder, and stop having crooked thoughts all the time."
Li Xuewu pointed at her and reminded her, "Think thrice before you act. If you calm down and think about things three times, you'll understand everything."
"I don't believe you're not angry at all."
Wang Yajuan listened to his grand pronouncements and curled her lip, saying, "You must have other methods."
"What kind of person do you take me for?"
Li Xuewu frowned and emphasized, "I have always acted with integrity and uprightness. When have I ever done anything despicable?"
"Is that so?" Wang Yajuan glanced at him, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Li Xuewu frowned and began to think, wondering what leverage Wang Yajuan had over him.
The only person he could think of was Zhou Xiaoling. The two were former colleagues, and Zhou Xiaoling had mentioned her several times when she came to Gangcheng. He had also asked Zhou Xiaoling about her relationship status a few times.
Even a blind or foolish person could see that Zhou Xiaoling, who was close to Li Xue, was interested in him.
Wang Yajuan had been staring at him for a long time, but she didn't see any opportunity for Zhou Xiaoling, who had come to Gangcheng, to have any contact with him, so she didn't pay much attention to it.
However, in the past six months, Zhou Xiaoling has come to Gangcheng a lot more often than even a flight attendant would do.
The steel city has neither delicious food nor beautiful scenery, so what exactly attracted Zhou Xiaoling to stay here?
Although she and Li Xuewu did not take their relationship any further, she still retained her purest memories.
She didn't want Li Xuewu to suffer a setback in the steel city, so she remained vigilant.
When Liu Hongmei came this time, she suspected that this was just another fly trying to swarm Li Xuewu, a man with a crack in his egg.
She was wrong; this person wasn't there to find a man, but to cause trouble.
While letting her guard down, she was also very worried about Li Xuewu. After thinking about it, she finally complained that Li Xuewu was attracting attention and that his success made him a target for trouble.
Li Xuewu also felt wronged. Who said flies only target eggs with cracks? They target eggs without cracks too.
Besides, what does the location where the fly lands have to do with the egg?
-
"I can't wait for you in Steel City anymore."
Gu Litong shook hands with Li Xuewu and said sincerely, "Try to return to Beijing as soon as possible, and we'll talk again then."
"I still recommend that you ask the group's professional team to do a full-process diagnosis for you."
Li Xuewu said earnestly, "Even if I go, it will only be a cursory glance. What will I see?"
You have to believe in science—
He said this because he had invited Gu Litong for drinks last night, and Gu Litong said at the table that any project that Li Xuewu paid attention to or participated in was a success.
Isn't this just treating him like a mascot? They don't believe in scientific diagnosis but they believe in his attention.
"I believe in science."
Gu Litong raised an eyebrow, looked at him, and said softly, "But you're telling me that the end of science is metaphysics. Am I wrong to say that?"
Why don't you remember the good things I said?
Li Xuewu also found it amusing that his casual jokes had been remembered and used as a source of amusement.
Standing on the platform of farewell, Gu Litong was unusually serious, saying, "Now, you're the only one who can save Second Automobile Works."
“Our team has already discussed this, and the current industrial development plan has fatal flaws. The problems may not be apparent in 20 or 30 years, but even if they are apparent in 3 years, it will be too late to make changes.”
"Our leader said that with the increasingly perfect parts supply chain, every year is a new era in the history of science and technology innovation. If we fall behind, it will be difficult to catch up again."
He looked at Li Xuewu firmly and said, "We are not like Beijing Automotive Group. We are like stepchildren, and we have to rely on ourselves for everything. Consider this my request for your help."
"You're putting a lot of pressure on me by saying that."
Li Xuewu shook his head helplessly and said, "I can only say that I will do my best and will definitely raise any issues that need to be raised, but the only one who can save you is yourselves."
Gu Litong was well aware of this, and before getting on the bus, he emphasized, "Even if we are willing to work hard for the Second Automobile Works tomorrow, we have to find the right direction, don't you think?"
After seeing Gu Litong off, Li Xuewu stood on the platform and watched the departing train for a long time.
This era is not lacking in outstanding cadres like Gu Litong, who genuinely care about the company and treat their work as their own career.
Although there were some problems in this era, there were still more people with childlike innocence than in later generations.
It was because of their existence that the glorious era of later generations was achieved.
On the way back to his unit, Zhang Enyuan reported to him on the interview published in the United Industry News and also mentioned the silence of the Northern Industry News.
Yesterday's unpleasant parting did not elicit a sharp attack from reporter Liu; it's unclear what he's thinking.
"Has she not left yet?"
"No, I heard they're still doing field research."
Zhang Enyuan reported: "The people watching her reported that she was visiting factory workers, but they don't know the specifics of what they talked about. As you instructed, we can't get too close to her."
"Forget it, let's bring them back."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and said, "Let her be. There's no smoke without fire, and we can't stop her anyway."
Zhang Enyuan glanced at his tired expression and suggested softly, "Should we inform the group and ask the publicity department to arrange someone to handle this matter?"
"Do you think I'm overwhelmed?"
Li Xuewu opened his eyes, looked at him and said, "It's easy to get rid of her. You can shift the blame or frame her, but you can't do that."
"They may lack conscience, but we cannot break the rules."
He said calmly, "You might earn more if you lose your conscience, but breaking the rules is a death sentence."
Zhang Enyuan still didn't quite understand what he meant. Even though he was much older than Li Xuewu and felt he had experienced more, he just couldn't match Li Xuewu's wisdom.
This was the first time he had ever heard the idea that one could earn more money without a conscience, nor had he ever heard the saying that breaking the rules was fatal. What rules were fatal?
***
Why is Gangcheng Renewable Energy Joint Venture Company able to handle all recycling business in Hongxing Industrial Zone?
After finding a familiar name and confirming which worker it was, Liu Hongmei brought her gifts and went to visit him.
After get off work, everyone was thinking of going home early to tidy up and have dinner, but then a reporter came to interview them.
"How would we know?"
The interviewee gently shook his head and said, "These are all decided by the leaders. I can't answer your question."
He waved his hand, refusing Liu Hongmei's gift, and emphasized, "The group has regulations that all interviews must be reported to and filed with the company, and you can only be interviewed after authorization."
"We're just having a casual chat."
Liu Hongmei smiled kindly and said, "You don't need to be nervous or wary of me."
“I’m not nervous, I’m just stating a fact,” the worker said earnestly. “I don’t need to be on guard against you either. The fact that you can appear in the factory area means that you have the means to enter and exit.”
"Can you tell me about your life now?"
Liu Hongmei tentatively asked, "Have you encountered any inconveniences in your life since coming to work in Gangcheng, or have any of the group's promises not been fulfilled?"
"I was under a lot of pressure before I came, but after I arrived, I think Steel City is pretty good."
The worker explained, "The business and accommodation conditions here are excellent, especially for families who have moved here as a whole, who can enjoy spacious employee housing."
"The group has fulfilled all the promises it made to us. Even if there are still some things it hasn't done, we've seen them all. After all, coordination takes time."
Liu Hongmei's heart skipped a beat; this wasn't the first time she had encountered such a cautious worker.
If it weren't for his living conditions and work situation, she would have thought that he was arranged by Li Xuewu.
At first, she felt like someone was watching her, but the feeling disappeared in less than half a day.
Did the people watching her move away to avoid being discovered? Or did they simply leave?
Is it more reassuring to trust oneself or to trust the workers of Hongxing Steel Group?
If Hongxing Steel Group is truly as good as these workers say, then how should she write this article?
We can't just come all this way only to have her surrender first, can we?
The information asymmetry caused her to encounter setbacks everywhere she went, making her somewhat impatient.
After a day's journey, she took a bus back to the metallurgical plant's guesthouse.
Here she enjoyed a level of service that was almost unheard of. She learned from chatting with the waiters that the service standards here came from the group's unified standardization.
Back in her room, Liu Hongmei pondered for a while before picking up the phone and making a call.
It was especially difficult to make phone calls at night; it took about half an hour to get through to a call to Beijing.
"What did you tell me?"
She frowned as she spoke into the phone, "The management here is riddled with problems and full of loopholes."
"I've been unable to get an answer about the No. 4 furnace for so long. I've certainly witnessed the impenetrable defenses of your group's publicity and worker management!"
(End of this chapter)