N-M Chapter 1674 Poison in the Bread
Chapter 1674 Poison in the Bread
Chapter 1674 Poison in the Bread
"Are you just going to sit here like this?"
When Gu Li returned from the restroom, he passed by Li Xuewu's seat and jokingly teased him, "Hey, when do you usually get a chance like this?"
He deliberately pointed at Li Xuewu and reminded him, "Learn more from our Deputy Factory Director Wang; your professional skills are just average."
Li Xuewu glanced at him sideways, secretly reminding him not to talk nonsense, or he would have to bear the consequences.
Gu Litong, however, was not afraid of him. He raised an eyebrow and emphasized, "As the two major players in Beijing's automotive industry, you must have a lot to say."
After saying this, he smiled and nodded to Wang Youhan, not daring to look Li Xuewu in the eye again, and then turned and ran away.
He's so mean. He was afraid the three of them wouldn't feel comfortable sitting there, so he had to break the ice and say it so loudly.
Without even standing up to look, Li Xuewu could already sense the observations and snickers from those around him.
Honggang Group first learned from Beijing Automotive Group, and later achieved a reversal and surpassed it. This story has been repeatedly mentioned in the domestic automotive industry system.
People no longer enjoy stories of powerful young masters dominating the world; they prefer the surprise of ordinary people achieving success against all odds.
Therefore, even though Honggang Group's automotive industry has become a leader in the field, and even within the industrial system, it still cannot hide its grassroots history.
This is a fact that cannot be shaken off in a short time, because the development history of Hongxing Automobile is too short, so short that Beijing's automobile industry didn't even have time to react before they achieved a leapfrog development.
"Would you like to change seats?"
Gao Yaqin smiled, glanced at the two of them, and asked, "Shall I make room for you?"
"No need, no need—"
Wang Youhan clearly didn't want to have much contact or communication with Li Xuewu. If his seat wasn't assigned, he would have changed seats long ago.
Perhaps feeling he had rejected her too quickly, he forced himself to explain, "I like sitting on the side."
“Actually, what Deputy Factory Director Gu said is right,” Gao Yaqin said with a different tone. “We are all in Beijing, so it is only right that we communicate more.”
She glanced at Wang Youhan before asking Li Xuewu, "You agree, right, Secretary-General?"
"Yes, you're right," Li Xuewu said calmly. "A thousand cups of wine are not enough when drinking with a bosom friend."
He's really good at speaking; he says half a sentence and leaves the rest unsaid, leaving the rest to be understood intuitively.
Wang Youhan's expression changed slightly after being retorted, but he didn't dare to show it while everyone was secretly observing.
"I'm not against communication."
He was no pushover either, and he wouldn't back down twice in a row. This time, he chose to take the initiative.
Li Xuewu looked at him through Gao Yaqin and asked, "How about we talk about the automotive industry? It takes four hours to fly to Tokyo, which will be a good way to kill time on the way."
Wang Youhan didn't expect him to actually take advantage of the situation and pester her like a leech; who would want to talk to him?
Once words are spoken, a challenge is sent out; it's not so easy to take them back. So, he could only bite the bullet and say, "Sure, I'm fine with anything."
"Then let's talk about the Beijing Automotive 212?"
Li Xuewu is such a jerk, reopening someone's wounds in front of them and then pissing on them.
It's like a panda ordering takeout—the bamboo shoots have arrived right to its door!
"I forgot to check how the sales of 212 were at the end of last year."
He looked at Wang Youhan very seriously and asked, "How many percentage points did it increase year-on-year?"
Terms like "year-on-year" and "month-on-month" were first used at Honggang Group, and Li Xuewu was particularly creative in improving the statistical tables.
It's an open secret in Beijing's industrial circles that Li Xuewu was responsible for half of Honggang Group's success.
Of course, no one talks about this, but the fact is the fact. It wasn't obvious before because Li Xuewu's rank wasn't high enough.
Things are different now. He has earned the right to sit at the table, and his past achievements have become incredibly effective in aligning with his new rank.
The members of the Honggang Group leadership were thinking about how to squeeze out others, but no one was thinking about how to get rid of Li Xuewu.
Li Xuewu can't be removed, because if he were removed, Honggang's structure would collapse by at least a third, and the loss of public support and prestige would be even greater.
Therefore, the only way to deal with him is to suppress him or prepare for a decisive blow; otherwise, everyone will avoid him.
Wang Youhan understood this as well, so when Li Xuewu got serious, his nerves instantly tightened.
This is hardly casual conversation. On this plane, not to mention the leaders sitting at the very front, just the heads of these companies...
So many eyes are watching. If he loses in his conversation with Li Xuewu, it will be a complete defeat for him.
Of course, it was also a complete defeat for Beijing Automotive against Honggang Group.
Although the leaders also understand that Beijing Automotive and Honggang Group are two completely different types of companies and should not be compared horizontally.
Beijing Automotive focuses on the development of the automotive industry, and is deeply involved in and innovates in all aspects of automotive research and development and manufacturing.
They have their own parts manufacturing and supporting enterprises, as well as their own vehicle manufacturing enterprises, making them a large-scale car company capable of completely independent production.
Wang Youhan does not deny that Honggang Group has grown into a large-scale comprehensive group enterprise.
However, this definition also establishes a difference in philosophy between Honggang Group and Beijing Automotive in the field of automobile manufacturing.
Honggang Group's business is not limited to the automotive industry; in fact, it can be said that the automotive industry is merely a branch of its entire industrial system.
Hongxing Auto operates through cooperative management and joint production. Except for some core components which are produced independently, all other parts are procured through orders.
At the research and development level, Honggang Group has the largest and most well-equipped research institution among all enterprises in China.
Like Honggang Group, this research institution is not only involved in automotive engineering, but also in other industrial projects.
Honggang Group's research institute may not necessarily rely entirely on its own resources for automobile research and development; it may invite experts from across the country to assist.
It is more likely that senior engineers will be recruited from abroad to participate in the project.
People in Beijing's industrial circles are already saying that a group of very talented foreign experts have come to the research institute of Honggang Group.
Moreover, the number of such experts is quietly increasing, and Honggang Group has even designated an area specifically for foreign experts to live in.
Beijing Automotive certainly has its own research and development capabilities, and they also have the support of the national team.
However, the division of systems delayed the launch of their new models. Even when Hongxing Auto announced new models and generational changes one after another, they could only quietly buy Hongxing cars to take apart and study them.
Since the year before last, their mood has become increasingly heavy as they dismantle cars, because Red Star Auto is moving from catching up to surpassing, and has even achieved complete surpassing.
As a senior executive at Beijing Automotive, Wang Youhan firmly believes that the 212 is the best car in the country and the best car of this era.
However, faced with the relentless pressure from Honggang Group, they had to make changes and undergo comprehensive reforms.
Honggang Group possesses the most advanced management model and production technology in the country, while Beijing Automotive learns and introduces even more advanced management and technology from abroad.
Honggang Group has the best production equipment and skilled workers in the country, while Beijing Automotive purchases equipment from abroad and commissions employees to receive training.
Honggang Group has the most extensive sales network and after-sales service in the country. Beijing Automotive has decided to cooperate with the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives to develop automobile sales and after-sales service outlets in major cities across the country.
It's fair to say that without the meteoric rise of Honggang Group, Beijing Automotive wouldn't have made such a change even in twenty years.
Previously, the head of Beijing Automotive was quite confident when facing the heads of automobile manufacturing companies across the country.
However, starting last year, the flagship product 212 suffered a major setback, facing market encirclement by Hongxing Auto and other automakers, and that confidence vanished.
Why does Wang Youhan have a problem with Li Xuewu?
It was very simple and very direct; he knew that Li Xuewu had orchestrated this encirclement and suppression of 212.
He had reported this to his superiors, but they didn't believe him and accused him of spreading alarmist rumors and creating conflict.
Wang Youhan only emphasized the facts: it was Hongxing Motors that first produced the Antelope Jeep, which was clearly an outdated product, but they changed its shell and tried to compete with them.
At the time, they naturally looked down on it, but who could blame them when Honggang Group had its own metallurgical and steel rolling industries and could afford to manufacture cars?
It would have been one thing to compare them, but this comparison lasted for three years. During those three years, the Red Star Antelope gradually appeared in the field of vision of vehicle users across the country by climbing and stepping on the 212.
With its unethical price wars and chaotic marketing tactics, Antelope Motors actually succeeded.
If the success of the Antelope Jeep owes half its credit to the 212 Jeep, then if Li Xuewu had any conscience at all, he wouldn't have done anything more, right?
No, Li Xuewu has no conscience at all!
The Automotive Engineering Research Institute of Honggang Group has completely cracked the production parameters of the Beijing Automotive 212 and sold them to automobile manufacturers across the country.
In this era without patent protection, Beijing Automotive cannot demand that all automakers in the country refrain from imitating them.
However, they used to have some production and technological barriers that gave them an absolute advantage, so they didn't care about those imitation cars.
Moreover, the country lacked cars at that time, and the encouragement for provinces to imitate this kind of car was tacitly accepted, and they even provided spare parts.
Right after Honggang Group broke this tacit agreement, companies across the country capable of producing 212 cars sprang up like mushrooms after rain.
Even some bicycle manufacturers in county towns have started buying parts to assemble 212 cars, because the technology and processes have been completely opened up.
He went to the leaders on behalf of Beijing Automotive to reason with them, but the leaders believed that in the context of national industrial development, they should be more magnanimous.
What do you mean?
The problem is that the automotive industry is underdeveloped, and more seeds need to sprout and take root. Anyway, they can't sell all their cars.
Is it true?
The data tells us:
The Beijing Automotive 212 was born in 66, with 322 units produced that year.
In 67, Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) continued production while making adjustments, with an output of 534 units.
In 68 and 69, the 212 automobile was officially finalized and put into full production. Despite the lack of expertise in parts manufacturing processes, the output was 711 and 1262 units respectively.
In 71, which was last year, their production capacity exploded, producing a total of 8200 cars throughout the year, making them a leader in the national automobile industry.
According to internal estimates, Beijing Automotive expects its production capacity to increase to between 11000 and 12000 units this year.
One leap forward each year, one step up each year.
Just as they were envisioning the future, Hongxing Motors came crashing down on them, completely stunning them.
First, the Red Star Antelope was replaced. The third-generation Antelope surpassed the 212 in the civilian market in terms of both technology and configuration.
In the military market, Hongxing Automobile launched the Tundra modular lightweight gasoline/diesel jeep last year. Its performance and professionalism completely overwhelm the 212, and it can no longer be compared horizontally.
When Tundra first made its mark in the northern region, its leaders were so anxious they were practically sweating.
After acquiring the two vehicles through various means, experts were deployed to disassemble and analyze them.
Upon receiving the analysis report, all the factory leaders fell silent. They hadn't believed the boy who cried wolf, but now a tiger had appeared.
A leader pointed out a fatal flaw of the Tundra modular jeep: it is unsuitable for daily administrative and military use.
Although they knew in their hearts that this shortcoming was insignificant in the face of the domineering power of the Tundra, because it was not something that a Tundra, born for the battlefield, should have considered.
The results of it?
Less than six months later, the Tundra was launched, along with its sister version, the Cruiser Jeep, which served the Commander.
In addition to performance improvements, comfort has been greatly enhanced, and even mounting racks for electronic and weapon equipment have been provided.
More importantly, Honggang Group, in collaboration with Qingbing Institute, developed a bulletproof and explosion-proof system, with bulletproof body and explosion-proof chassis.
This is incomparable to 212. They didn't even consider this kind of need; it was all for the sake of comprehensive consideration.
Back then, the country needed a car with strong overall performance, which is why the 212 was created, excelling in all aspects.
Hongxing Auto, however, takes an unconventional approach, specializing in single-product or targeted vehicles, which makes it superior to the 212.
One more point to mention is that Hongxing Automobile has achieved widespread success in all areas, with the development of motorcycles and cars completely squeezing out the market that should have belonged to Jeeps.
Given this environment, it would be strange if 212 didn't have excess inventory.
All around them were targeted competitors set up by Li Xuewu; how were they supposed to break out of this predicament?
Sticking to old ways won't solve the problem; sooner or later, we'll be driven to our demise by Hongxing Motors.
Furthermore, Honggang Group established an automotive parts supply chain, which forced them to proactively reduce car manufacturing costs and lower sales prices.
Li Xuewu asked him how many cars Beijing Automotive sold last year. How should he answer? He couldn't just say 8200, could he?
"We do not engage with the retail market."
Wang Youhan felt awkward, but he still emphasized, "We only have production capacity in hand, and at most we know some allocation and distribution quantities."
Aside from metallurgy and steel rolling, all other industries of Honggang Group are tertiary industries, so you need to look at sales data.
However, this was not the case with Beijing Automotive. During the planned economy era, there was no market retail, so production was equal to the amount allocated and distributed, which was also equivalent to the actual quantity put into use.
In other words, if a city applies for a vehicle in the first year, it may not be allocated and used until the third year, as needed.
They first submit their application, pay the fees, then wait for Beijing Automotive to produce the cars, and then the cars are allocated. That's roughly the process.
There will certainly be more complex processes in between, but in general, it can be understood that planning comes first, and then production can begin.
Hongxing Auto is different. Except for the first year of the listing of Lingyang Auto, when Honggang Group held a pre-sale, all subsequent sales have been of vehicles already in stock.
No need to submit applications or reports, and no need to wait for allocation. Just go to the sales company in your province or city to inquire. If they have it, just send money to buy it. If they don't, you don't need to send money in advance.
After achieving exports to East Germany, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, Hongxing Automobile's production capacity was fully released, with a total annual production capacity exceeding 35 units.
This includes motorcycles, cars, jeeps, buses, special vehicles, etc., and there are two channels: export and domestic sales.
Domestic sales maintained steady growth, while exports surged.
These affordable and practical cars are popular in developing countries because of their unique design and comprehensive features, and they are also popular among young people in some developed countries.
For example, the Gemini model was distributed in the North American market by Sanwa Corporation, which sold 1 units last year.
It's important to understand that in this day and age, it's incredibly difficult for a car produced in mainland China to be sold in North America, and for 1 units to be sold.
The Gemini is fuel-efficient, easy to park, and has a compact appearance, making it affordable for high school students from families with the means.
Office workers and young women also love it, driving this car with a stylish flair.
The production volume of Beijing Automotive can no longer fully represent the actual amount put into operation, but the production volume of Hongxing Automotive can represent the sales volume.
The sales branch of Honggang Group in China only has enough stock of vehicles to sustain sales for about half a month.
In other words, inventory is mainly affected by transportation conditions, while sales remain at a high level.
For exports, it goes without saying that once the money arrives, the goods leave the port. These are all handled by agents and distributors, so there is no risk of inventory backlog.
The Southeast Asian market represented by the Santay Group is almost always in short supply.
The existence of affordable and high-quality vehicles like Red Star Motors has impacted the automotive industry in many countries.
White Elephant has already imposed targeted restrictions on the import of Red Star Motors, but the Santa Y Group, with its powerful backing, is still coordinating and delaying.
Wang Youhan lacked the confidence to compare Hongxing Auto with Jingqi, and he was even angered by Li Xuewu's question.
You know perfectly well why you ask that, humph—
Yes, why ask? Li Xuewu killed the conversation with just one question and also offended Wang Youhan.
Of course, it also made those peers who were watching the spectacle shrink back and silently examine their own factories to see how much sales they had last year.
According to data obtained by Li Xuewu, 80% of the 212 models sold nationwide in 70 were produced by Beijing Automobile Works.
Last year, this percentage dropped to 59%.
This data was only maintained thanks to the massive increase in production capacity of Beijing Automotive Group. If it were them, would they have been able to withstand the attack from Hongxing Automotive Group?
If they can't even compare to Beijing Automotive, then what right do they have to laugh at Beijing Automotive, and even less right to look at Li Xuewu with a mocking gaze?
-
Around 2:30 p.m., the plane slowly descended, and before 3 p.m., it officially landed at Tokyo Haneda Airport.
Readers who have visited Tokyo in later generations may know that international flights usually depart from Narita Airport. However, at this time, Narita Airport had only just begun land acquisition and construction, and it was not yet completed or operational. It would not officially open to air traffic until 1978.
At this time, both domestic and international flights are taking off and landing at Haneda Airport.
To welcome the trade and industry delegation, the organizers and the inviting parties set up a very eye-catching and enthusiastic welcome ceremony at the airport.
Li Xuewu felt sorry for Ma Baosen because right there at the welcoming ceremony, the Japanese side actually displayed a banner that read "Welcome to Japan for the Industrial and Trade Delegation".
ようこそいらっしゃい!
(Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome!)
As Li Xuewu and his team disembarked from the plane, this phrase kept echoing in his ears. He also sighed, realizing that hypocrisy was the same all over the world.
"This is Mr. Kiichi Miyazawa, Minister of International Trade and Industry," the emcee, who was in charge of coordinating the meeting and handshake between the two parties, respectfully introduced. "This is Mr. Xuewu Li, Secretary-General of the Board of Directors of Honggang Group."
The management committee cannot translate here, nor can proper nouns; only equivalent translations are possible.
The management body of Honggang Group is the Management Committee, so the management structure of international group companies should be the Board of Directors.
Li Xuewu waited for the other person to reach out before taking their hand, giving it a light squeeze, and then letting go.
They had already been briefed on his background by his secretaries on the plane; he was the main driving force behind this invitation to the delegation.
Li Xuewu had no impression of Japanese politics; apart from a few prominent figures from the 1980s and 90s, he didn't know anyone else.
If he knew him, he would know that the person in front of him would become prime minister, finance minister, foreign minister, and so on in the future.
But he knew Miyazawa Kiichi's successor—Tanaka Kakuei.
But even if he could remember all those names, it wouldn't matter. In a small place like Japan, changing management is as easy as playing around.
In later generations, there was a guy who resigned but was still elected prime minister; he resigned in the morning and was re-elected in the afternoon.
This situation is not an isolated incident in Japanese politics; it occurs frequently.
The kind where one act ends and another begins.
The other party clearly valued this event highly; otherwise, they wouldn't have stood here shaking hands with all of them.
In normal social interactions, he only needed to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with the leader, without having to pay attention to the accompanying staff.
This shows how formidable the Japanese elite of that era were; they were even unwilling to abandon their entourage.
With proper etiquette observed, their arrival on the plane created a very positive impression on Japan.
Even though they all remember the hatred from 20 years ago, at this moment, they are here on behalf of the industrial and trade sectors to exchange ideas and cooperate.
Honggang Group has a very prestigious reputation, so it must have caught the attention of the other party.
Or perhaps the other party already remembered him when he shook hands with Lao Li and Gao Yaqin earlier, so he said something extra when shaking hands with Li Xuewu.
"Welcome, welcome Honggang Group."
Wang Xiansheng, who was walking behind Li Xuewu, rolled his eyes and muttered to himself that the kid was also playing favorites.
Wang Youhan of Beijing Automotive Group received the same treatment as Li Xuewu, because Beijing Automotive Group was also a key focus of this economic exchange.
Li Xuewu only needed a few words on the plane to uncover Wang Youhan's true nature; Beijing Automotive had indeed come prepared this time.
Because of the large number of people and the tense atmosphere, Li Xuewu only had time to say thank you before continuing to walk forward.
The fact that the Minister of International Trade and Industry personally came to the airport to welcome them is enough to demonstrate the importance Japan attaches to this trade and economic visit.
Because of the weather, it was a bit cloudy at this time, and there was a risk of rain, so after the welcoming ceremony, everyone boarded the buses that were waiting there.
The leaders, of course, traveled in sedans. Led by an escort vehicle, a very large convoy emerged from the airport and headed straight for downtown Tokyo.
Unlike the hospitality procedures in China, there were no curtains on the bus, allowing everyone to observe the tall buildings outside the windows.
Whether intentionally or not, the route arranged by the organizers happened to show almost all of Tokyo's iconic buildings from that era.
Li Xuewu sat with Gao Yaqin this time, and Old Li was in front of them. The three of them, like everyone else, were looking out the window.
The people walking on the street are dressed differently from those in China; miniskirts, jeans, and casual suits are very popular.
Old Li also has a few clothes from the port city, but compared to this place, he's definitely a country bumpkin.
It was fortunate that he was wearing the high-end white and black suit uniform of Honggang Group; otherwise, he would have looked even more out of place here.
The last time they visited East Germany with a delegation, they still had the high-end suits they had ordered, which looked very professional on them.
Compared to the casual suits worn by their peers, their slim-fit suits definitely stood out.
Honggang Group has its own garment manufacturing industry and cooperates with Beijing Textile, which has gradually improved the garment factory.
Making these kinds of clothes isn't difficult, but the challenge lies in selling them.
There is currently no demand for this style of suit in the mainland market, and it is not an absolute fashion item for export.
Therefore, only the cadres and accompanying personnel of Honggang Group dressed with spirit and energy, no wonder they were remembered as soon as they got off the plane.
Furthermore, all three of them wore a unique logo belonging to the Honggang Group on their chests—a round gold badge that exuded sophistication.
Li Xuewu glanced at Gao Yaqin and Old Li. Gao Yaqin often went to the port city, so she was somewhat resistant to this kind of prosperity.
But Old Li couldn't stand it. He stared intently at the handsome men and beautiful women on the street, especially the girls in miniskirts—they were truly a beautiful sight.
The convoy passed through Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro. Thankfully, it didn't head towards Ginza and Akihabara, otherwise it would have been stuck there and unable to get out.
The streets weren't particularly wide, but they were definitely much more spacious than those in China at that time.
There are so many private cars on the road, and it's so congested. It's only because of the advance traffic control that their convoys can't move an inch.
As the convoy passed by, Japanese people on both sides of the street would occasionally stop to look at it. After seeing the slogans on the vehicles and the clothes worn by the people inside, they would whisper in surprise.
At this time, Tokyo was bustling, crowded, and full of energy, but the atmosphere was tense. Li Xuewu noticed that there were a lot of police officers conducting traffic control.
The tour leader had already explained in advance that the security situation in Tokyo was worrying due to issues such as land acquisition for Narita Airport.
Despite these reminders, what people still see is construction sites everywhere, skyscrapers rising from the ground; office workers in suits and ties, trams packed with people; streets with both Western-style cafes and traditional izakayas; and pollution smog occasionally shrouding the sky.
The convoy arrived at the Keio Plaza Hotel, 2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, at 4:30 p.m., where the trade and industry delegation will stay.
According to the staff member from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry who was in charge of the reception on the bus, the Plaza Hotel had just been built and had not yet officially opened for business.
Strictly speaking, the hotel's official opening date is set for June 5th, which is the beginning of next month.
This delegation was quite large, and it served as a service rehearsal and quality test for the Plaza Hotel.
"To be honest, it's much better than your International Hotel."
Gu Litong leaned closer to Li Xuewu and whispered, "You can tell the difference just by looking at their demeanor and the service they provide."
"Yeah, the environment is different."
Li Xuewu nodded, focusing on observing the on-site service and the interior decoration details of the hotel.
It is indeed a modern hotel designed to be in line with the standards of big cities, with little Japanese style, emphasizing modern simplicity and a strong business focus.
In comparison, from equipment and facilities to service quality, the Red Star International Hotel definitely needs to learn and improve.
However, when it comes to hardware, comparing the newly built Plaza Hotel to the International Hotel from 40 years ago is ridiculous.
Compared to the new international hotel that Honggang Group is about to build and operate, the Plaza Hotel may not be much better.
Plaza Hotel is Shinjuku's first supertall building and currently the tallest building in Tokyo, with 47 floors above ground and a height of 179 meters.
Just imagine how advanced the technology must be to build a 179-meter-tall building in a country prone to earthquakes.
The Honggang Group's International Hotel is only a little over 100 yuan. If we're talking about the difference in this aspect, then there is indeed a lot.
The rooms were assigned in advance, and everyone had a checklist of procedures, as well as the contact numbers and companies they needed.
Li Xuewu glanced at it briefly, but Huang Zongfang, the vice president of the international business department, had arrived here half a month in advance to make preparations.
Unlike in East Germany, the Honggang Group team is from the port city, making it more convenient for them to operate in Japan.
They did not move into the Plaza Hotel because they couldn't get in; instead, they rented an office building near the Plaza Hotel.
What Li Xuewu needs to do now is to connect with the team that arrived earlier and officially take over the management work.
"The room isn't small, huh?"
Gao Yaqin only walked around her own room once before going to Li Xuewu's room across the street.
Li Xuewu nodded and replied, "It looks better than our International Hotel, right?"
"That's for sure, people always have to show off."
Gao Yaqin didn't take it seriously, took some coffee from the tea cabinet and brewed it herself, asking, "When should I contact Huang Zongfang?"
"I'll call her right now."
Li Xuewu picked up the phone on his desk and dialed the number according to the pre-arranged plan.
"Moxi, Moxi?"
"It's me, Li Xuewu."
Hearing the response from the other end, Li Xuewu couldn't help but twitch his lips. "Moxi my ass."
However, this is Japan, so we have to do as the locals do.
They came to Japan for business, so naturally we should follow their communication style.
What if the call comes from the Japanese side, with whom a cooperation agreement is about to be reached, and the first thing you hear is Chinese? Wouldn't you be a little surprised?
Unprofessional and poorly prepared.
Don't underestimate this small place; they are extremely strict about the details of doing things, and even live too cautiously.
"Okay, that's settled then."
After finishing his phone call, Li Xuewu looked at Gao Yaqin, who was sitting on the sofa drinking coffee, and said, "They'll be here soon; they should have to go through security."
"We may not be very free."
Gao Yaqin shook her head slightly, glanced back at the scenery outside the window, and looked down from the 30th floor of the building, where the Tokyo cityscape was laid out before her.
Looking further into the distance, you can even see the sea.
"Freedom is relative." Li Xuewu took off his suit jacket, tossed it casually onto the back of the sofa, and went over to make himself a cup of tea.
Ma Baosen didn't come, so he had to take care of everything himself.
Gao Yaqin will not serve him; the two are now on equal footing.
"You have to be careful when you do things here. You saw it when you came here; it's not safe here."
He walked over to the sofa and sat down, continuing, "Japan's economy is developing very well right now, you could say it's growing very rapidly."
"However, the economic boom inevitably comes at the cost of the interests of some ordinary people, and the accumulated contradictions that erupt are very intense."
Li Xuewu took a small sip of the hot tea. The tea leaves here were so-so; he wondered if they had absorbed the local flavors, as they didn't taste very good.
He put down his teacup and continued, "I checked Japan's GDP last year, and guess how much it was?"
Gao Yaqin raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything, though she was clearly very curious.
"Two hundred billion US dollars, two thousand US dollars per person."
Li Xuewu shook his head with a sigh and said, "They now have a population of 100 million, making them the world's second largest economy."
"I didn't actually look into that, I just checked their industrial structure." Gao Yaqin frowned and explained, "Right now they're doing heavy industry plus export processing, which is the same model as ours."
Just as she was speaking, Li Huaide walked in, waved his hand to indicate that they should sit down and not pay attention to him. "You can continue."
"Where's Liu Bin?" Gao Yaqin asked. "Did you still make your own tea?"
"I sent him to take care of it." Li Huaide nodded, and then brewed a cup of tea at the door and brought it over.
"You two continue talking, I'm listening."
He sat down on the sofa, raised his chin, and gestured for the two to continue.
“We are talking about the current situation in Japan.” Gao Yaqin explained first, then looked at Li Xuewu and continued, “Actually, Japan’s export economy is now a competitor to ours.”
"Their mainstays are steel, automobiles, electronics, and shipbuilding."
She spread her hands and said, "Isn't this our current production and business scope?"
She is certainly right, because Li Xuewu mainly referenced Japan when designing the future strategy for Honggang Group.
Actually, you can't blame him. China's economy has always had a tendency to learn from and imitate Japan. As we all know, the problems that happened in the Japanese economy have also appeared in China.
"They're also learning from our methods."
Li Xuewu crossed his right leg and looked at Gao Yaqin, saying, "Now they are implementing three major systems: lifetime employment, seniority-based employment, and enterprise-level trade unions."
"Hehe—" Li Huaide couldn't help but chuckle when he heard this, and asked, "Is there any difference between them and ours?"
"Yes, the difference between them and us is narrowing because we have also started to implement a bonus system, but there is still a big gap between us and most domestic companies."
When Li Xuewu heard him speak, he turned to him and explained, "If you look into it more closely, you'll find that they're secretly learning our strengths."
“There is no absolutely perfect system in this world.” Li Huaide shook his head and said, “The advantages they learn are very likely to be disadvantages.”
When Li Xuewu heard him say this, he exchanged a glance with Gao Yaqin. He never expected that Old Li would dare to speak up after coming to Japan.
Is this something he should say?
"This place is indeed very prosperous," but there are hidden dangers behind this prosperity.
Li Huaide, holding his teacup, said, "Economic development is very domineering; it won't stop and wait for cultural development."
What problems will arise if economic development deviates from proper guidance and management?
"Turbulence." Li Xuewu gave the correct answer, but this was not a question he expected Li Huaide to ask.
If nothing unexpected happens, someone must have spoken to Lao Li, and he's just putting what he's learned into practice here.
Based on his understanding of Lao Li, he knew that Lao Li would never understand Japan so well, let alone the Japanese economy.
It's fair to say that Lao Li doesn't understand economics.
"When I came here, Director Han told me that Japan is currently in a contradictory phase, and there is also trade competition with the United States."
Li Huaide explained, "The surge in exports to the US, mainly of textiles, steel, and color televisions, has prompted pressure and restrictions from the United States."
"Aren't they negotiating?"
Gao Yaqin picked up her coffee and asked, "Are there any results yet?"
"This result is not hard to predict; it's almost a guaranteed loss."
Li Xuewu shook his head with amusement and said, "Their dispute in Okinawa involves 380 million yen, and they will have to bear the subsequent expenses."
"We can't see it now, it must be covered up by them."
"So they need our economy?"
Gao Yaqin asked in surprise, "You were in such a hurry to invite us over, and you even offered such good cooperation terms. Was it all just to maintain a balance?"
"There must have been this in mind."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "You may not know this, but just as we were setting off, people from the south arrived, saying they were America's representatives."
"When?" Gao Yaqin looked at him in surprise, then at Old Li.
Old Li wasn't surprised, which was enough to prove that the news was true.
Is this an attempt to ease tensions?
Gao Yaqin thought for a moment, as if she had grasped the crux of the problem, and continued to ask, "Could it be that we have other plans?"
"We'll have to wait and see how things develop."
Li Xuewu sighed and said, "A great era is about to arrive, and it will be unreasonable. Whoever seizes the opportunity will survive."
"They are also gambling, they are also taking a gamble, betting that we can save them, or rather, balance this trade relationship."
Li Xuewu thought for a moment and continued, "You'll understand once you think about it. There must be a reason why we have such good conditions."
"Yes, so be wary of poison in bread."