Chapter Eight: Crisis? Opportunity!

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Listening to Zhou Wenyan’s rambling, Li Dongling picked up the documents and glanced through them. Although going to an external factory to study was a great opportunity, and he didn’t have the same seniority as Lao Huangniu, the production line had arrived. Perhaps Zhou Wenyan would be needed to debug the line and solve any issues. So, Xu Yiqiao had also given Zhou Wenyan a copy of the materials and urged him to study it thoroughly.

“16-inch color TV production line?!” Li Dongling looked at the documents—this was for a 16-inch color TV production line, not imported from abroad but purchased from another television factory that had phased out the line.

Over the past decade, domestic factories had imported over 180 TV production lines from overseas. Adding those developed by local manufacturers, whether fully or semi-automated, the total number of TV production lines in China likely exceeded two hundred.

Major factories like Changhong were producing increasingly larger TV sizes, so the 16-inch lines were becoming obsolete and gradually phased out. Yet, the West City Wireless Factory No. 1 had taken over one.

Seeing this data, Li Dongling’s first thought was suspicion—was there some foul play? Did the factory director, general manager, and procurement department at West City Wireless No. 1 have some secret deal with the company selling the line, pocketing kickbacks? Otherwise, why buy such an obviously outdated production line?

But upon reflection, even if there were shady dealings, it seemed improbable they would be so brazen as to openly engage in wrongdoing, risking imprisonment.

“How much did they pay for this production line?” Li Dongling asked Zhou Wenyan.

“About thirteen million!” Zhou replied.

The price seemed a bit steep but still reasonable. If the entire production line and technology worked smoothly, they could recoup the investment and even profit, provided the TVs sold well.

“But the factory apparently didn’t have enough funds. They borrowed from the bank and raised money from the workers, at interest rates even higher than the bank’s. If I hadn’t sent all my money home, I’d want to lend some to the factory for interest!” Zhou Wenyan said enviously, seeming regretful about not lending money to the factory.

Li Dongling was stunned, surprised at how wildly people were operating nowadays.

Hearing this, he roughly guessed the reason West City Wireless No. 1 bought the 16-inch line was mainly financial constraints.

Purchasing this line was intended as a stopgap measure. They didn’t plan to compete with big-name TV manufacturers but aimed to produce mid-to-low-end TVs to sell to customers in Pingyang and surrounding cities. Once they had more funds, they would buy a new production line.

The plan made sense, but whether it would succeed was uncertain. If the TVs didn’t sell and the factory went bankrupt, Li Dongling dared not imagine the consequences.

Zhou Wenyan kept rambling, even wanting to suggest to the factory leaders to replace the line with an 18-inch one. Li Dongling shook his head—no matter how much Zhou nagged, he couldn’t change the Wireless Factory’s decision.

“Dad, when will I get a formal position in the technical department? I’ve already told that girl I’m a key member of the technical team. The whole West City Wireless Factory depends on me…”

Inside Liu Jiande’s office, a well-dressed man in his twenties, with polished leather shoes and slicked-back hair, had his feet propped on Liu Jiande’s desk.

Looking at his style, he looked more like the general manager’s son than Liu Jiande himself. Liu slammed his teacup down and said sharply, “Put your feet down! How do you expect people to take you seriously like that?”

While others in the factory feared General Manager Liu Jiande, Liu Shirong, his son, was unafraid—after all, he was his only son.

“The factory’s positions are already full, you know that. The last opening was for a graduate from Jiaotong University, and we just filled that. You can enter the technical department easily, but to get a formal post, you still have to wait for your chance,” Liu Jiande said helplessly.

Hearing this, Liu Shirong grew anxious. “But Dad, didn’t you say you’d get that university graduate kicked out in a few days? I’ve already boasted a lot to that girl!”

Liu Shirong was courting a girl working at a publishing house under the Education Bureau. She was a university graduate who loved literature and poetry—things Liu, who had barely gotten through middle school, knew nothing about. So he boasted that he was a key technical staff member, that the whole factory depended on him, and if he was gone, the factory would collapse.

“Joining other departments is the same—sales, procurement, logistics—you’ll be deputy head in a year or two, and maybe one day take over my position!” Liu Jiande said.

“That won’t do. Zhao Wanrong likes cultured, talented people, not some roughneck!” Liu Shirong argued, clearly already taken by the girl.

Liu Jiande, annoyed, said, “That girl’s not as simple as you think. Don’t you realize what kind of person you are? She knows it too.”

Liu Jiande had to sigh—Liu Shirong, who had caused so much upheaval in the Liu family, seemed enchanted and completely under Zhao Wanrong’s control. If she really entered the Liu family, who knew what trouble might arise.

Liu Shirong ignored his father’s words. “I don’t care. Dad, I’m telling you, it’s Zhao Wanrong or nobody!”

Liu Jiande clutched his chest in frustration, drinking several sips of tea to calm down. After a moment, he said, “There is one opportunity.”

“Don’t worry. Soon, you’ll get your formal post and become a key member of the technical department!”

After a pause, Liu Jiande waved Liu Shirong away before he could cause more trouble.

“Dad, can you give me some more money? Wanrong has her eye on a trench coat from Harbor City. She’d look like a big star in a Hong Kong movie wearing it. I’m a bit short on cash!”

Hearing the request, Liu Jiande exploded. “How much have I given you this month? A thousand yuan isn’t enough? Do you think I run a bank? You’ll bankrupt this family sooner or later.”

Though scolded, Liu Shirong still took the money as he left. Liu Jiande clutched his chest again, muttering, “What a curse I’ve made!”

After a short while in his office, Liu Jiande picked up the phone. “Have Xu Yiqiao from the technical department come to my office.”

The next morning, the technical department gathered everyone for a meeting. Besides Xu Yiqiao, Li Dongling noticed several factory leaders, including Liu Jiande, were present.

“Today, we are honored to have Manager Liu and other factory leaders join our technical department meeting. Let us welcome Manager Liu with warm applause.”

Xu Yiqiao led the applause, followed by scattered clapping.

“The reason for this meeting is a great and honorable task assigned to us. We have always been brotherly with other wireless factories in Pingyang. When they face difficulties, our West City Wireless Factory No. 1 supports them fully.

“The wireless components factory in Shangguan Town was originally built with our aid. Now it’s facing troubles. The factory leadership has decided to send technical personnel from our department to assist them. Who is willing to take on this honorable and arduous task?”

After Xu Yiqiao spoke, the room fell silent—no one answered, leaving him awkwardly standing there.

No one was foolish. Times were different now. Who could be sure they’d return after going to support the Shangguan Town factory? Positions were filled, and leaving meant losing your spot. Who would pay the salary during the support period? What if the Shangguan factory went bankrupt? Would the technical staff bear responsibility? These were serious concerns.

Seeing no volunteers, Xu Yiqiao grew annoyed. “This is a decision unanimously made by factory leadership. We must send technical staff to assist. If no one volunteers, I will call names…”

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“Sounds good, but why don’t you, Old Xu, lead by example?” a woman from the technical department fired first.

“Yes, Chief Xu, you’re the head of the department. If anyone should go to bring glory to the department, it should be you!”

“If Old Xu goes, I’ll pack up and go with you without hesitation!”

These veterans knew all the tricks. They saw through the scheme—no one wanted to be cannon fodder, used as a bargaining chip by Xu Yiqiao to curry favor with the factory leaders.

Xu Yiqiao looked embarrassed. Could he go? If he dared say yes, he’d lose his position the next day.

“I... I’m willing to go, but who goes must be decided by the factory leaders,” Xu Yiqiao stammered, then looked pleadingly at Liu Jiande.

“Cough!”

“Everyone, calm down. I understand your concerns, but this must be done. This is the directive from the municipal government and Mayor Luo!”

Seeing Xu Yiqiao falter, Liu Jiande cleared his throat. This was no empty threat—the city government wanted West City Wireless Factory No. 1 to rescue the Shangguan Town wireless components factory.

The Shangguan Town factory was state-owned, with 200 employees but over 700,000 yuan in bank debt. It was barely surviving, needing loans even to pay salaries. The city wanted the West City factory to merge with Shangguan’s components factory or absorb its workers.

West City Wireless Factory was reluctant to take on this hot potato. They were already losing money and overcrowded. Adding hundreds more employees and debts could sink them.

So, the plan was to send technical staff under the guise of support, buying time. If Shangguan’s factory collapsed, the blame could be shifted to the technical staff sent there.

“Rest assured, those sent to support will return to our factory afterward. Their salaries will still be paid by us, plus a daily subsidy of three yuan. Upon return, they will be key candidates for promotion!”

Liu Jiande’s gaze scanned the technical staff, then stopped on Li Dongling with a smile.

“Dongling, if I remember correctly, you’re from Shangguan Town, right? Supporting your hometown—how about you make a statement first?”

Suddenly, all eyes in the technical department turned to Li Dongling.

Various thoughts flashed through Li Dongling’s mind. Fixating his gaze on Liu Jiande, a sudden thought emerged: crises can sometimes be opportunities.

“I’m willing to go for technical support!”

Li Dongling stood and addressed Liu Jiande, who was momentarily stunned before breaking into applause.

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