Live Stream 1980: Netizens Teach Me How to Make a Rocket by Hand

……

Half an hour later, the crowd dispersed.

The workshop has returned to its usual quiet state.

Lin Xi stood by the window.

Looking at the heavy snow falling outside.

Watching his fellow workers push their carts, running home happily.

"call--"

Lin Xi took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag.

The bluish-white smoke rose in the dim light, blurring the smile on his lips.

He had locked the ledgers on the table in the safe.

Only he himself knew the exact number.

After deducting the labor cost of six or seven hundred yuan.

After deducting the several thousand yuan for material procurement costs.

Then deduct all kinds of social obligations.

This "flash mob operation" netted him a profit in just half a month—

10800 yuan.

Ten thousand yuan.

In 1980, when a penny could buy two candies.

He used a pile of scrap aluminum and resistance wire.

The initial capital accumulation was completed.

This is the gap between technology and cognition.

The workers took what they saw as a "huge sum of money" with tears of gratitude.

The trader took 90% of the remaining value and reaped immense gratitude.

This is reality; this is business.

"It's just the first pot of gold."

Lin Xi stubbed out her cigarette, the spark flashing briefly in the darkness before disappearing.

He turned around and pulled two cardboard boxes out from under his desk.

Inside are two specially made "Red Star Warm Sun Deluxe Edition" units.

These two machines are made with the utmost care.

They even used a polishing machine to apply wax.

The red logo was outlined in gold paint.

The real test is not in the workshop, but tomorrow.

......

The twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Headquarters, third floor.

The guard, Xiao Wu, had clearly already received instructions.

Upon seeing Lin Xi, he immediately saluted and led him inside.

"Professor Qian is in a meeting."

"But I specifically told you to go straight in when you arrive."

Xiao Wu said in a low voice.

Lin Xi nodded, took a deep breath, and adjusted her expression.

Push open the wooden door.

The office was filled with smoke, and a huge map on the wall was faintly visible through the smoke.

Mr. Qian sat in the middle of the rattan chair, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers.

To Lin Xi’s left sat Wang Bin, an “old acquaintance” of Lin Xi and the director of the power room.

To my right sat Vice President Zhang.

He was wearing a faded gray Zhongshan suit, and his hair was gray.

He wore glasses on the bridge of his nose, and his eyes were sharp.

"Kobayashi's here? Come in and have a seat."

Mr. Qian waved his hand, his tone amiable.

Lin Xi quickly put down her things and bowed respectfully:

"Hello, Mr. Qian, Director Wang, and Vice President Zhang."

His attitude was extremely proper, completely lacking the domineering air he displayed at the service center.

There was even a hint of the awkwardness of a "newbie".

Mr. Qian pointed to the old man in gray and introduced him with a smile:

"You know Vice President Zhang, right?"

"He is the executive deputy commander of our base and also the director of the chief design office."

"Zhang Zhengguo, Old Zhang."

In the live broadcast room

[Holy crap! Zhang Zhengguo?! This is a true titan!]

[A true expert whose Baidu Baike (Baidu Encyclopedia) entry would fill three pages!]

I've heard that this old man Zhang has a fiery temper and always criticizes anyone who disagrees with him!

Lin Xi really pulled off this stunt, a three-way interrogation!

"Hello, Vice President Zhang!" Lin Xi bowed again, bending even deeper.

Zhang Zhengguo pushed up his glasses and glanced at Lin Xi twice.

"Is this the kid who almost destroyed the rocket, and then saved it?"

Zhang Zhengguo's voice was loud and clear.

"I heard that recently, something like that..."

"A service center? Making a fortune?"

"I've been making a fool of myself, sir. Please excuse my fuss."

Lin Xi smiled apologetically and placed the cardboard box she had brought on the corner of the table.

"Don't be modest." Old Qian stubbed out his cigarette, picked up his teacup, and...

"Please sit down."

"I've heard that your service center has been making quite a stir lately."

"Old Zhao from the power supply station, Zhou Tiejun from the materials department, and Zhou Tiejun from the security department all sent their reports to me."

Old Qian paused, then looked at Lin Xi with a half-smile:

"I heard you struck it rich?"

The eyes of the three people in the room immediately focused on Lin Xi.

In this day and age, the word "get rich" is often associated with "problems".

Lin Xi sat on only half of the chair, her back ramrod straight, her expression open and honest.

"Reporting to Mr. Qian, it's not about getting rich."

"It was just responding to the national call and doing some self-help through production."

"Specific figures?" Mr. Qian asked succinctly.

Lin Xi recited the number she already knew by heart:

"As of yesterday, Hongxing Labor Service Center has sold a total of 492 'Hongxing·Nuanyang' heaters."

"After deducting raw materials, labor, utilities, maintenance, and other miscellaneous expenses, the net profit is..."

Lin Xi paused for a second, then slowly uttered a few words:

"Ten thousand eight hundred yuan."

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

Wang Bin, who had just been holding a teacup, suddenly trembled.

Zhang Zhengguo was about to light a cigarette when he struck the match but forgot to bring it to the tip of the cigarette.

He only shook it off with a cry of "Ouch!" when the flame burned his finger.

Even the seasoned Mr. Qian's pupils contracted slightly.

Ten thousand yuan!

Half a month!

For these big shots, ten thousand yuan is not a big number.

However, they managed to subdue the troublemakers at the service center within half a month.

And then, without investing a single penny in the base, they still made a net profit of 10,000 yuan?

That's pretty impressive!

Zhang Zhengguo leaned forward and asked, "Cash?"

"Cash." Lin Xi took out the red bankbook from her pocket and handed it over with both hands.

"All funds have been deposited into the service center's collective account."

Zhang Zhengguo took the passbook, opened it, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

He is in charge of both technology and projects.

For a few thousand yuan in experimental funding, he could slam his fist on the table and curse at the head of logistics, and he could even stay at the ministry and refuse to leave.

Now, this kid has made 10,000 in just half a month?

"Good lad..." Zhang Zhengguo handed the bankbook to Old Qian, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Truly... appearances can be deceiving."

"Old Qian, you've struck gold!"

Mr. Qian took the passbook, glanced at it, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

He didn't misjudge him.

This kid is not only a "genius" in technology, but also a "prodigy" in business.

The key is--

Faced with such a huge sum of money, they did not take a single penny, but put it all into the public account.

This character has been established.

"A good start." Old Qian closed the passbook, but deliberately lowered his voice.

"However, it's still far from your pledge of 'one million a year'."

"There's still a long way to go. Don't be arrogant."

"Yes! I will definitely try my best!" Lin Xi answered loudly.

As the atmosphere eased, even the smell of smoke in the room seemed to sweeten a bit.

Just when Lin Xi thought she had passed this hurdle.

Zhang Zhengguo, who hadn't said much, suddenly turned his head.

Looking at Lin Xi with a half-smile, he threw out a potentially disastrous question.

"I heard... it's you who looked down on my chief design office?"