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

Chapter 70 If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it grass.

The next day, at the Oriental Bank.

"President Zhang, you have to give us this foreign exchange, whether you want to or not! We're selling airplanes for the country, we're earning foreign exchange for the country!"

“Old Zhao, don’t be so loud! Keep your voice down! We know you’re selling planes for the country, but we have our own difficulties too. The foreign exchange is with us, but we’re only responsible for holding it. You have to get approval from the relevant departments. Aren’t you and Old Ma good friends? Go ask him for help…”

"I went to him, and he told me to go to you. I went to you, and you told me to go to him. Aren't you just passing the buck? My man is leaving tomorrow, and he only has five dollars in his pocket!" Director Zhao said. "President Zhang, you have to understand that we are earning foreign exchange for the country. If you continue like this, then we won't hand over the foreign exchange we earn to you in the future!"

“Old Zhao, one thing at a time. The foreign exchange you earn must be handed over.”

"Hmph, is this your true colors? I'm going to complain to the old leader!"

"Old Zhao, Old Zhao, wait a minute! Let's think of another way... Hey, hey, don't go!"

This kind of thing can be done in private, but if the old boss finds out... they'll all be in trouble!
Bank Manager Zhang quickly picked up the phone: "Old Ma, Old Ma, Old Zhao has lost his temper! He's going to complain to the higher-ups..."

An office in the capital.

"Secretary Wang, this is the situation. Our people are about to go abroad, but we don't have any foreign exchange! We're going to earn over 100 million US dollars in foreign exchange for the country, but the relevant departments are using all sorts of bureaucratic tactics to obstruct us!"

After listening to his words, Secretary Wang frowned and said, "Old Zhao, don't worry, I'll make a call and coordinate something for you. A thousand dollars isn't a lot; they can always scrape together some..."

“Secretary Wang, they gave it to us this time, but what about next time? I, Old Zhao, will make this clear: the establishment of CATIC within our aviation industry system, allowing them to operate independently, has provoked some people. They still want to monopolize import and export and can't stand to see us doing well!” Leader Zhao said, “Who knows what other trouble they might cause in the future? So, we have to change!”

"How to change?"

"Our sale of military aircraft has earned valuable foreign exchange for the country. At the same time, we will need to travel abroad many more times in the future. After all, the operation and maintenance of the fighter jets require our coordination. CATIC requests that an overseas account be created to directly deduct the operating expenses from our overseas account!"

According to previous rules, all foreign exchange earned had to be handed over and converted into domestic currency. The relevant departments certainly welcomed this, but once the foreign exchange was in their hands, it was difficult to get it out again!

This time, when Leader Zhao came to see Secretary Wang, he completely offended those people. They will find other ways to trip us up in the future, so we must avoid them!

We don't want it all, but it's perfectly reasonable to keep a portion of the foreign exchange we earn for future operating expenses!
"Old Zhao, your suggestion is good, but... there's no precedent for it!"

"Secretary Wang, is there any precedent for the establishment of CATIC? Our aviation industry system is taking a path that no one has ever walked before! We need certain policy support, otherwise we will have to go to the relevant departments for approval every time. It's not a big deal if we suffer some grievances, but it's a big deal if our business is delayed! Take this time for example, if we don't have the money to go abroad, then the contract cannot be signed, and this business of more than 100 million US dollars may fall through!"

Secretary Wang nodded: "Okay, Lao Zhao, you can go back now. I'll coordinate the funding for you, around the thousand dollars. As for your request to keep a portion of the funds for your own use, I need to report that to the old leader..."

"Thank you so much for your support, Secretary Wang!" When Leader Zhao returned to CATIC, General Manager Liu greeted him with a beaming smile: "Leader Zhao, just now, the bank proactively sent us a thousand US dollars in foreign exchange. They also said that whenever we need foreign exchange for our trips abroad, we can simply give them an IOU, and all the procedures will be simplified..."

"Hmph, these guys are just bullies who prey on the weak. They'll always try to control us unless we make a big scene!" Leader Zhao's expression remained serious. "Now that things have escalated, there has to be a result. At the next meeting, we will insist on retaining a portion of the funds!"

Having foreign exchange on hand is convenient; it's not all of it, just a small fraction! How can you expect a horse to run without feeding it?

"By the way, where's Qin Liang?"

"He went to the plexiglass factory in the capital, saying he wanted to make a few models to take with him, so it would be easier to fool the Egyptians..."

Leader Zhao nodded: "Yes, with Qin Liang along, you're sure to return with a full haul this time!"

At the airport, the top leader of the aviation industry system, Lü, personally came to see him off. He spoke earnestly to Tu Lao: "Old Tu, regarding the price, if they still want to lower the price, then we can reduce it a bit. The old leader's instruction is that as long as we don't lose money, it's fine. However, we insist on cash. We urgently need foreign exchange to develop the aviation industry, even one US dollar is good."

"Yes, Leader Lü, don't worry, no matter how many difficulties we encounter, we will bring back foreign exchange!"

With the roar of the engines, the plane took off, and after a long flight, it landed once again in the oasis of the desert.

Egypt, I'm back again! But I wonder if I'll run into that girl again at the bookstore? I still owe her the money I owed her for the books!
However, in the vast sea of ​​people, to run into them again by chance would definitely not be a chance encounter, but rather a deliberate arrangement. Qin Liang pulled himself out of his thoughts and focused on his work. The Egyptians had already decided to make the purchase; the only remaining issue was the price…

The Egyptian capital, Air Force Command.

"Mr. Mubarak, you're here too? It's a pleasure to see you!" General Manager Liu, who was leading the team, was overjoyed to see the person presiding over the meeting.

This person is very friendly to the East, studied flying in the Soviet Union in his early years, and later became a Tu-16 bomber pilot. He also served as the head of the Egyptian Air Force. Now that he is attending this meeting, it seems that there won't be any major changes in the signing of this contract!

“Yes, I’ve heard Shafik’s report and I’m very interested,” Mubarak said. “I didn’t expect that the East had such advanced aircraft.”

"Yes, we have never given up our pursuit of advanced aviation technology over the years. Although our J-7 is an early model of the MiG-21, after our upgrades, it is now the most suitable fighter jet for the Asia-Africa-Latin America region..."

Tu Lao spoke eloquently, reintroducing the aircraft. Mubarak and the others were very interested. After the introduction was finished, Shafik spoke.

“We are pleased with the aircraft, but the price is still a bit high. After all, it is only your domestically produced version and does not use imported technology. We think it would be more appropriate to reduce the price to $1.5 million per aircraft.”

(End of this chapter)