The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 483 Sense of Ceremony

"Ten LNG carriers." Liu Hua said with a smile, "As expected of a shipping magnate, you're really generous. What size of carriers are they?"

"Extra large".

Liu Hua smiled and said, "Wow, this is an order worth more than three billion US dollars. No wonder your CEO Chen had to come in person. Such a large amount of money cannot be taken lightly."

"Yes, such a large order. To show how much importance it is placed on it, our CEO Chen personally flew to Europe to talk to the shipping magnate."

Liu Hua smiled and said, "Your General Manager Chen has a very novel perspective. Many state-owned enterprise leaders don't pay attention to these things. They rely on their status and don't care about the market at all."

"In the words of our General Manager Chen, everything that's put on the plate is food."

Liu Hua nodded: "It's a good thing, but we also have to be careful. When doing business with Europeans and Americans, we have to be prepared at any time, because they may turn their backs on us at any moment."

"What do you mean?"

"It's just a breach of contract," Liu Hua said dismissively. "Our businessmen value integrity, but Europe and America don't have that virtue. As long as the profit is enough, they can disregard the contract at any time."

"That can't be," the vice president said, frowning. "Aren't Europeans and Americans supposed to value the spirit of contracts the most?"

“There’s another person who says that treaties are meant to be torn up.” Liu Hua smiled. “He values ​​the spirit of contracts because this contract can bring him the maximum profit. If there is another contract that can bring him even greater profits, then he will focus on the other contract.”

Liu Hua continued, "Especially for your shipyard, your advance payment is only 10% to 30%. Once you have all the materials ready and start construction on the slipway, the capital tied up is enormous. If the other party breaches the contract at this point, it will be a huge blow to your shipyard."

"We really have to be on guard."

“I recommend you read a book,” Liu Hua said with a smile. “There’s an American businessman named Donald Trump. He published a book in the 1980s called ‘The Art of the Deal.’ In the book, he vividly describes the shameless practices in their business world.”

"Just from the name, you can tell he's shameless. I'll read it when I have time." The vice president said with a smile, "It's simply outrageous that someone like this can publish a book. I think I've heard this name before; I think he's a billionaire."

Another director said, "Logically speaking, their society should be described as morally corrupt and chaotic. It's simply outrageous that people like this can become billionaires."

“Not only can he become a billionaire, but I’m also optimistic that he can become the leader of the United States in the future.” Liu Hua said with a smile, “He can make the weakened United States great again.”

"Is this guy really that capable?" the vice president asked doubtfully. "He's not a billionaire; a businessman can run for president."

"Why not? Actors can become president, so why can't businessmen?"

Everyone nodded. Indeed, if an actor can become president, what is impossible? After all, this happened in a free society like the United States, where nothing is surprising anymore.

In less than a month, Liu Hua had already provided the blueprints to the shipyard in batches, while the warship's power plant was undergoing production testing in Di Jun's workshop.

Seven or eight groups of naval personnel came in a month, from all over the country, just wanting to see what the new 10,000-ton ship looked like.

Without a doubt, Dijun Company's design won over everyone. Luckily, these people didn't come together, or they might have started fighting on the spot over ownership of the new ship. What Liu Hua didn't know was that a fight had already broken out at naval headquarters, with people from various fleets going there to vie for it.

"We in the South China Sea are willing to take on this tough job. We are the largest in the South China Sea, and we can test the limits of a ship's performance. We'll do the work, and let the other fleets enjoy the benefits. They can just explain the stable version from now on."

“Go ahead, your South China Sea is big, but our East China Sea is not small either. Our navy was born in this area, so of course we will be the ones to test the new ships.”

The seemingly unassuming man from Beihai suddenly spoke up: "Our Beihai region is neglected and our equipment hasn't been upgraded in a long time. I know it's not our turn yet, but if we don't try, I won't be able to explain to those below us."

The main theme is to complain about being poor, which is an old tradition of ours. During the Spring Festival, we bring out our old equipment to wish people across the country a Happy New Year.

The leader jokingly said at the end, "Why don't you guys go out and have a fight? Whoever wins gets the ship."

This group of warmongers almost took it seriously and nearly grabbed the other person by the collar, intending to have a full-blown brawl on the playground.

Volkswagen in Shanghai invited Liu Hua to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for their powertrain plant, but Liu Hua didn't want to go. For both his past and present lives, he has hated these kinds of ritualistic things, including the idea that life needs a sense of ritual.

Unexpectedly, the Volkswagen side managed to persuade the leaders of the Ministry of Industry to come and lobby Liu Hua.

“You are also a major shareholder and chief engineer of Volkswagen Powertrain Company. It’s not appropriate for you not to be here.”

"There are so many rituals like this throughout the year, it's a bit annoying. Can't we skip some of them and focus on the important things?"

The leader nodded: "That's right, but this kind of groundbreaking ceremony is not entirely useless. If it's going to be held, there must be a reason for it. It also shows that our country's engine is not as useless as people say, that we still have to buy from foreign countries. We can produce it ourselves."

Liu Hua smiled and said, "Do you know? Every bit of strength our country gains makes those Europeans and Americans more wary."

"Do you think I'm afraid of them?"

"We may not be afraid, but we don't have the strength to turn against each other at this stage, so let's keep a low profile."

The leader sighed and shook his head: "What you said makes sense. I know that's how it should be, but you have to pay attention to the morale of the people and the army. If we don't boost morale, I'm afraid the people's spirits will really not be able to be lifted. If their spirits collapse, it will be even more troublesome to develop in the future."

He's a leader after all; his vision is truly far-sighted. No wonder he sometimes does things he knows are impossible.

It is forbidden to do something because it would result in a great blow, but it is done intentionally for the sake of future strength. Only by having a continuous reserve of strength can a country or a nation continue to move forward.

So Liu Hua, dressed in a suit and tie, appeared at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Volkswagen powertrain workshop, grinning like a fool, and scooped up two shovelfuls of dirt with a shovel, then splashed it onto the marble monument.

Then came applause, firecrackers, and the incessant clicking of camera shutters.

(End of this chapter)