Siheyuan: I am Banggeng's uncle

Chapter 835 Patriotic Businessman!

The Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill has many second-hand equipment purchased from the Arctic Bear. Back when China and the Arctic Bear were in a honeymoon period, the Arctic Bear sent people to the mill to repair the equipment. In addition to arranging food and lodging, the steel rolling mill also had to pay a high repair fee.

Wu Tianlin not only helped them procure industrial machine tools that were banned from sale in the West, but also arranged for someone to come to Beijing to train their operators and maintenance personnel. This was undoubtedly great news for them, prompting Li Huaide to say to Zhang Jian, "Director Zhang! If the people Mr. Wu sent are really willing to help us train maintenance technicians, we will not only be able to save a lot of maintenance costs in the future, but also be able to reverse engineer industrial machine tools by learning maintenance techniques."

Hearing Li Huaide's words, Zhang Jian thought of the transaction method they had discussed with Wu Tianlin. He recalled his experience of leading a team to Hong Kong to purchase equipment and couldn't help but sigh, "Director Li! You don't know this, but because of what has happened in the past ten years or so, Hong Kong businessmen have many misunderstandings about us. This often leads to man-made obstacles when we go to Hong Kong and abroad to purchase equipment. Even if some businessmen are willing to sell us equipment, it is at a very high price, and they also require payment in full before delivery."

"Mr. Wu not only helped us obtain industrial machine tools that were banned from sale in Western countries, but also offered to pay upon delivery for each machine for only 20 million US dollars. He even planned to send people to Beijing to train our control and maintenance personnel. It's practically like giving it away for free."

Hearing Zhang Jian's remark, Li Huaide thought of Jia Dongming, who was in charge of facilitating the deal, and smiled as he reminded Zhang Jian, "Director Zhang! If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Wu agreed to this transaction because of Director Jia's influence."

Upon hearing Li Huaide's reminder, Zhang Jian nodded in agreement and said with a smile to Li Huaide, "Director Li! If it weren't for Comrade Wu Tianlin's introduction, we would never have had the opportunity to meet Mr. Wu, let alone purchase the world's most advanced industrial machine tool at such a favorable price."

At this point, Zhang Jian paused slightly, thinking of the equipment listed on the procurement list, and then instructed Li Huaide, "Director Li! When you see Comrade Jia Dongming later, please be sure to thank him properly for me. Also, please tell Comrade Jia Dongming that after we complete this procurement task, I will invite him to dinner at Taifeng Restaurant."

Upon hearing Zhang Jian's instructions, Li Huaide smiled and promised Zhang Jian, "Director Zhang! Please rest assured, once I see Director Jia, I will definitely pass on your message."

Upon hearing Li Huaide's promise, Zhang Jian raised his wrist, glanced at the time on his watch, and said with a smile to Li Huaide, "Director Li! The leaders in the department are still waiting for me to go back and report on my work, so I'll take my leave now!"

Upon hearing Zhang Jian's words, Li Huaide immediately instructed his secretary, "Xiao Wang! Go back to the office building right away and have Master Zhao bring the car to the main gate."

Around 4 PM, in a good mood, Zhang Jian quickly returned to the Industrial Department in his jeep. Thinking about the price Wu Tianlin had offered and the matter of training their maintenance personnel, Zhang Jian walked briskly to the door of an office, knocked, and respectfully reported to the two middle-aged men sitting inside: "General Manager Lin! Vice General Manager Jiang! I'm back."

The two middle-aged men sitting in the office turned to look at Zhang Jian almost simultaneously upon hearing his report. Vice President Jiang, in particular, eagerly asked, "Zhang! Has everything been settled? How many industrial machine tools does Mr. Wu have in total? What is the price of each machine tool?" Hearing Vice President Jiang's question and recalling the price and transaction method offered by Wu Tianlin, Zhang Jian excitedly reported to the two leaders, "President Lin! Vice President Jiang! This Mr. Wu is definitely a patriotic businessman!"

Upon hearing Zhang Jian's assessment of Wu Tianlin, General Manager Lin smiled warmly and said, "Young Zhang! You describe this mysterious Mr. Wu as a patriotic businessman. If I'm not mistaken, the price he quoted us shouldn't be too high, right?"

"Xiao Zhang! Let me guess the price?" Vice President Jiang smiled faintly when he heard Zhang Jian and President Lin's words. Before Zhang Jian could speak, he immediately said to him with a smile.

Upon hearing Vice President Jiang's suggestion and recalling the price offered by Wu Tianlin, Zhang Jian immediately and respectfully suggested to the two leaders, "President Lin! Vice President Jiang! Why don't you two guess together and see who guesses the most accurately?"

Upon hearing Vice President Jiang's suggestion, General Manager Lin smiled and looked at Vice President Jiang sitting beside him, saying in a friendly manner, "Since you want to guess the price, let's guess together. I'll use a can of tea as a wager. If your guess is closest to the price Mr. Wu paid by car, then this can of tea is yours. On the other hand, if you lose, you have to give me your bottle of 20-year-old Moutai."

Upon hearing President Lin's suggestion, Vice President Jiang immediately agreed, saying, "President Lin! Since you've put it that way, let's make a bet. Based on the prices we usually pay for equipment, and considering the advanced nature of this industrial machine, I think the purchase price should be between one hundred million and two hundred million US dollars."

Upon hearing the price quoted by Vice President Jiang, General Manager Lin smiled and reminded him, "Old Jiang! Based on the advanced nature of this equipment and the prices we usually pay for equipment, it is indeed worth the price. However, you have overlooked one point. Xiao Zhang just described Mr. Wu as a patriotic businessman, so I believe the price of this equipment should be between sixty million and eighty million US dollars."

Upon hearing the prices quoted by General Manager Lin and Vice General Manager Jiang, and recalling the price offered by Wu Tianlin and the lucrative terms of the deal, Zhang Jian smiled and said to the two executives, "General Manager Lin! Vice General Manager Jiang! Your guesses are far too high. Mr. Wu has a total of five industrial machine tools, and for each one, he will only charge us 20 million US dollars. Of course, that's not the most important thing!"

"Xiao Zhang! What did you say? The price of an industrial machine tool is only twenty million US dollars? Is that true?" When President Lin heard the price quoted by Zhang Jian, an incredulous expression appeared on his face. Before Zhang Jian could finish speaking, he immediately interrupted Zhang Jian and asked him to confirm the matter with a shocked look on his face.

Upon hearing President Lin's question and seeing the incredulous expressions on the faces of the two executives, Zhang Jian nodded firmly and replied respectfully, "President Lin! Vice President Jiang! This is absolutely true, otherwise I wouldn't have said that Mr. Wu is a patriotic businessman!"

(End of this chapter)