Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 119 Are the suppliers below the boss? No, this needs to be changed!
Chengdu is bathed in the warmth of spring, with flowers in full bloom, creating a vibrant and festive scene.

The conference room of Factory 132 was packed with hundreds of people, all beaming with joy and their smiles were brighter than flowers.

We've obtained technology licenses for eighteen projects and over three thousand subsystems, along with complete technical documentation! With our ability to copy, we can easily replicate them once we get our hands on them!
"When it comes to military aviation radios, our Factory 918 is the strongest. Currently, almost all military aircraft in the country are equipped with our radios. Now that we are introducing advanced digital military radios, it is natural that they should be produced by our Factory 918. Ladies and gentlemen, Factory 918 wants these radios. Don't try to take them from us."

"Hmph, Lao Duan, what are you saying? Military radios are just electronic equipment. Any of our electronics factories can produce them. Why should Factory 918 have all the credit? When it comes to producing avionics equipment, Factory 117 is definitely the most authoritative. We were the first avionics factory in China!"

"Old Wang, your Factory 117 has Shenyang backing, you'll have plenty of profits to make, so don't compete with us third-line factories. Our Factory 158 is suffering..."

At this point, the atmosphere slowly began to become tense.

"Old Zhao, these days it's all about market competition. Nobody should complain about being poor or play the victim. We'll all rely on our own abilities!"

"What do you mean by 'each according to their ability'? Back then, when the country issued an order, good people and good horses went to the Third Front. We left the big cities and went to the remote mountain villages. Did we complain about the hardships or the fatigue? Now you're talking about market competition? How can our factories in the mountains compare to your factories in the big cities? The country can't abandon us; it must solve our problems!"

"Those were the past, and now is the present..."

When Old Tu walked in, he saw a chaotic scene and heard various arguments inside. He knew that things were worse than he had imagined.

"Everyone, everyone, please quiet down!" Old Tu looked at the crowd below: "We need to have a meeting!"

One minute later.

"Ladies and gentlemen, first, let me give a brief introduction. This time, we went to the UK and negotiated technology licenses for eighteen projects, covering more than three thousand subsystems, including electronics, optics, mechanics, and so on. After reporting to our superiors, they were very satisfied and hoped that we could replicate these subsystems domestically as soon as possible, but..."

"The higher-ups said they wouldn't allocate a single penny; we, Factory 132, have to raise all the funds ourselves!" Old Tu said. "I complained to the higher-ups, saying that the deposits we received at Factory 132 have already been used to buy materials. We need to deliver the orders and settle the final payment before we have any money left over. Who would have thought that the higher-ups would say, 'We have no money, but you can take our lives!' These negotiated projects haven't been approved by the higher-ups, so they don't care!"

Below, there was complete silence.

Everyone knew this was a piece of meat, but to everyone's surprise, there wasn't even any soup, and not a single penny was allocated to it!
"Sigh, I got a severe scolding from above, and that sent me back," Old Tu said. "Now, facing everyone, I'm so ashamed... I want to disappear!"

"Old Tu, how can we make a copy without money?" Director Duan of Factory 918 was the first to ask.

"Yes, I'm worried about it too! After thinking it over, there's only one way." Old Tu looked at everyone: "Since you've come all this way, you can't leave empty-handed. What projects have you taken a liking to? What technical data do you need? We'll give them to you for free. After you go back, figure out how to produce the products according to the technical data. As long as you can meet our quality requirements, you'll be the designated manufacturer for this subsystem! We have quite a few orders for the J-7 and Super-7, so we'll definitely make money in the future..." "That's impossible!" Director Wang of Factory 117 spoke up: "No R&D funding, and you want us to pay for R&D out of our own pockets? Old Tu, is this some kind of trap you've set?"

"That's right. Over the years, our basic process for doing R&D has always been to allocate funds from higher-ups, ask us to do projects, and then make us raise our own funds? Old Tu, your Factory 132 is too corrupt!" Director Zhao of Factory 158 slammed his fist on the table in anger.

Old Tu's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that Qin Liang's plan was not going to work. Everyone present was a seasoned veteran, and they quickly saw through the trick. Factory 132 was getting orders left and right, how could it not have money? Factory 132 was doing this on purpose, not wanting to spend money, trying to trick other factories into raising funds for research and development!
"Old Tu, you guys have gone too far! Your Factory 132 is getting all the meat, but you won't let the other factories get any soup? Do you even want to stay in the aviation industry system anymore?"

"That's right, Lao Tu, if you provide funding to support our research and development, we'll still be good brothers. Otherwise... don't expect us to provide any supporting services in the future!"

Behind the crowd, Qin Liang sighed helplessly. He had overestimated the moral bottom line of these people! The market economy had only just begun, and few people were willing to change their mindset; they were still clinging to outdated ideas!
Want to do R&D? First, you need to initiate a project, apply for funding, and then a certain organization will conduct the research. If the money runs out, you apply again. After a few years of tinkering, the project still hasn't succeeded? No problem, we've done our best! Anyone who dares to complain, we'll give them a good dressing down!

An airplane has so many parts that a single aircraft factory cannot develop them all; there must be supporting factories. And these supporting factories are the bosses; the aircraft factory has to beg them to do the research and development!
Now that we have a market economy, they still cling to their old ideas and even want to join forces to sideline the aircraft factory!

Facing Tu Lao, Qin Liang held up two fingers, indicating Plan B.
"Sigh, everyone, I know your difficulties. Since you are all unwilling to raise funds for research and development, then forget it. Anyway, the first batch of Super-7s will be sold to Pakistan, so we can order directly from the UK. Let's just use imported goods. It's Pakistan's money anyway. As for the domestic air force's procurement... we'll talk about it later. They don't want to allocate funds, but they still want products. Isn't that just trying to get something for nothing?"

They were dumbfounded.

What do you mean?
If domestic suppliers don't raise their own funds for research and development, then they'll just directly purchase from abroad.

"Old Tu, how can you purchase products from abroad?"

"That's right, isn't this cutting off our brother factories' livelihood?"

"Is it so hard for you to contribute some money? You have so much money, but you've forgotten about us poor brothers?"

"Gentlemen, our Factory 132 is truly out of money! Don't take your anger out on me. You can go to the capital and complain to the higher-ups, asking them to help solve the funding problem. As for the relevant technical data, if you want it, you can still take a copy with you when you leave."

"Sigh, we can't let foreigners make all this money!" Just then, a voice came from below: "Let's give the AD3400 multi-band communication radio and the AA3460 encryption machine to Northwestern Polytechnical University! We don't need Factory 132 to pay for it; we can raise the funds ourselves for research and development!"

(End of this chapter)