The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 445 How Big Is It?

"Wow, 30 billion?" Liu Hua exclaimed in surprise, "How big of a deal are you doing? I alone have to contribute 30 billion, how much is the government planning to contribute?"

The leader shook his head: "The state doesn't contribute a single share, it doesn't take a single share; it's all yours. Whether you do it well or badly, it all depends on your own abilities."

Liu Hua slapped his forehead: "I see, a large portion of that 30 billion was for land fees, right?"

"That's right, you don't expect to be used for nothing, do you?" the leader said with a smile. "Land transfer fees are a major part of local government revenue these days. If you don't pay, who's going to give you land?"

"I might as well not bother choosing a location at all," Liu Hua said bluntly. "Choosing a location is a matter for me. I'll just entrust it to the department. You can have someone take care of it for me. I'll check it out later, and if there are no problems, I'll pay directly."

"Okay, I'll find someone I know to help you."

Liu Hua asked, puzzled, "Acquaintance? What acquaintance?"

“Your nephew,” the leader said with a smile, “He Yuzhu’s son, He Jianguo. Aren’t you on good terms with He Yuzhu? This kid has been studying this industry. At the beginning of this year, he submitted a report on the development of my country’s steel industry. It was well written. Let him handle it; he’s a perfect fit.”

"The leaders also know He Yuzhu."

The leader nodded: "Thanks to this kid, we've hosted foreign guests at his father's private kitchen. The successor of the Tan family cuisine lives up to his reputation."

That very evening, the young man brought braised chicken wings to their door.

"Uncle, I just made braised chicken wings." He Jianguo said with a smile, "I wonder if you have time? I'd like to have a good chat with you."

Liu Hua invited his wife and children over to eat shark fin soup, then sat down on the sofa and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

"This is today. My supervisor just gave me a task: to help you choose a site for your steel plant." He Jianguo tentatively asked, "I've come to ask if you have any specific requirements?"

Liu Hua waved his hand: "I don't have any specific requirements. Just choose a site according to the requirements of a typical large steel plant, or even a super-large steel plant."

"Does it have to be in the capital?"

"Not necessarily." Liu Hua shook his head: "Let's not choose the capital city. I'll have to pay a land fee, and land prices in the capital city are not cheap these days."

"Would Tangshan work?" He Jianguo asked. "I've done in-depth research before. Tangshan is particularly suitable for developing the steel industry; it's truly blessed."

"can."

Judging from the looks of it, the kid has really done in-depth research. As far as Liu Hua knows, in the previous life, the world's largest producer of steel was our country, followed by Hebei Province, and then Tangshan.

"Uncle, how big of an area do you need?"

“It needs to be at least ten to fifteen square kilometers,” Liu Hua said with a smile. “The government has prepared a loan of 30 billion yuan just for me. Do you think that’s a small scale?”

Liu Hua originally planned to rest for two days before returning to Longxi, but the Ministry of Industry notified him that the heads of those small steel mills wanted to meet with him.

This steel plant was not a completely new construction, but rather an integration of more than a dozen small steel plants, so it faced the problem of resettling technical personnel, managers, and workers.

Liu Hua booked a large conference room at the hotel, where nearly two hundred people, including heads, managers, technicians, and worker representatives from more than a dozen steel mills, gathered. The conference room was packed, and from the expressions of the attendees, it was clear that some were welcoming, while others were reluctant.

Liu Hua can understand if you have emotions, but if you are resistant, you can leave on your own.

Liu Hua first spent half an hour talking to everyone about the future development direction of the steel plant. It was clear that, apart from the technicians and workers, most of the managers were listening absentmindedly.

After discussing the development direction, we need to talk about the resettlement issue.

Liu Hua stated directly, "There are limited management positions available in the future. Currently, there are more than a dozen steel mills with management personnel. Those who are capable can transfer out on their own, and I will approve their applications. Those who want to stay will be selected through a competitive evaluation process."

Perhaps because there was no supervision from higher authorities at today's meeting, some managers from the steel plant became bolder.

Someone slammed their hand on the table: "Boss Liu, we are all managers of state-owned steel plants. Are you saying we are not qualified to be managers in your new plant?"

"Are you sure you're qualified?" Liu Hua retorted. "If you really managed your company well enough, why would you be subject to consolidation and optimization?"

One question left them speechless.

Liu Hua continued, "Even if your management is truly competent, if we transfer you to Shougang now, and you were the factory director in your original factory, do you think you'll be the factory director there? Do you have that kind of experience?"

Continuing to remain silent, these people who are shouting are mostly only good at bullying their own kind and don't have much real ability.

Liu Hua silently remembered the few people who had been shouting the loudest. Others might still need to be assessed, but these few didn't even qualify. Liu Hua wasn't going to let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch.

Compared to the management, the technical engineers were much quieter. They knew that no matter how big the factory was, technical support was essential, and they had no trouble finding work.

Furthermore, as people working in the steel industry, they are all too aware of Liu Hua's importance.

Just those two titles alone are enough to crush them: Academician, which goes without saying—it's the highest title in the national scientific community; and he's also the honorary chief engineer of Baosteel and Shougang projects.

If things go wrong, some of the textbooks I used when I was in school might have been provided by Liu Hua, or related to him.

Liu Hua was much more polite to the technical staff, and said with a smile, "I certainly welcome you technical staff, but if you don't want to come with us, those who have the ability to transfer can be approved by me. Those who don't have the ability to transfer and don't want to work with me will be given severance pay according to regulations."

"Professor Liu, what will happen to those of us who are willing to work for you?"

Liu Hua smiled and said, "For technical personnel, it naturally depends on their technical skills. I will personally assess them, and what position they can hold depends on how much they know."

The remaining worker representatives looked at Liu Hua with hopeful eyes. They desperately needed this job; their livelihood depended entirely on the wages.

"I want to make this clear to the frontline workers beforehand," Liu Hua said apologetically. "Because the new factory covers a large area, we didn't choose to build it in Beijing; the new factory is located in Tangshan."

Many workers lost their sparkle upon hearing this, for working in Tangshan meant leaving their families behind.

“Of course I hope all the workers will work with me,” Liu Hua said sincerely. “Of course, I will also take your difficulties into full consideration.”

(End of this chapter)