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

He squatted down, picked up a piece of broken brick, and scribbled it a couple of times on the cement floor.

Where do plastic particles come from? Mostly from the coast.

"How much does it cost to ship one ton to the Northwest?"

"For a 3,000-kilometer railway, we still have to beg and plead to get the train cars."

"Once the fan is built, what will its final size be?"

How many cars can fit in one train car?

"Then it will be transported from the Northwest back to Guangzhou Port for export."

"All the dollars we earned on the round trip were spent on the road."

Sun Erga was stunned.

He only saw the money, not the path.

"Then...what should we do?"

Sun Erga got anxious.

"If we accept an order but don't produce it, isn't that fraud? That's a crime punishable by imprisonment!"

"Who says we won't produce them?"

Lin Xi stood up, threw away the brick, and turned her gaze to the distant northeast.

"We just don't give birth at home. It's called 'borrowing a hen to lay eggs' (meaning using someone else's resources to achieve the same result)."

"Erga, your mission now is to return to base immediately."

Lin Xi's tone became serious.

"Take this message back with you."

"Go find my master and tell him to find Director Wang and Old Qian."

"No matter who you hire, you must get this steel mold made for me within 10 days."

"Aluminum molds can only withstand 1,000 uses. If we want to mass-produce 100,000 units, we must use steel molds."

"This kind of high-precision work requires experienced workers from our aerospace city."

"And what about you?" Sun Erga asked.

"I'm going to Shanghai." Lin Xi dusted off her clothes.

"There are the best injection molding machines and the most readily available production lines in all of China."

"I'm going there to find a partner for our 'Red Star'."

Sun Erga nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

But he remembered one thing: the manager was about to make a big move again.

……

Two days later, in Shanghai.

It is the largest coastal city in China and the country's economic and industrial center.

Lin Xi was accompanied by a young man named Wang Weidong, who was a junior staff member at the Shanghai office of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry.

Lin Xi caused quite a stir at the Canton Fair this time.

To ensure smooth delivery, the department specifically assigned Xiao Wang to assist Lin Xi.

"Manager Lin, are we really going to Huasheng Factory?"

Wang Weidong looked at the slip of paper with the address written on it in his hand, feeling a little apprehensive.

Huasheng Electric Fan Factory

Founded in 1916, it was created to revitalize domestic products.

He is the absolute leader of China's electric fan industry!

Buying a Huasheng electric fan not only requires money, but also a fan coupon.

In the eyes of ordinary people, having a Huasheng table fan at home is equivalent to having a Mercedes-Benz parked in the house today!

Wang Weidong continued:

"We're from the military, they're from the civilian sector, so they might not be willing to listen to us."

"Whether someone buys into a relationship or not depends on their interests, not their social standing," Lin Xi said calmly.

......

Huasheng Electric Fan Factory.

Because of Director Wang Bin's letter of introduction, plus the reputation of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry.

They met Xue Jianhua, the deputy director of Huasheng Factory in charge of production.

The office was large, with red lacquered wooden floors and a banner on the wall that read "Grasp Revolution and Promote Production".

Xue Jianhua, in his fifties, had his hair neatly combed and was blowing on the tea leaves from an enamel mug.

After the secretary poured the water.

Lin Xi explained her purpose—

They hope to commission Huasheng Factory to manufacture 24000 plastic fans.

"OEM?" Xue Jianhua put down his teacup, making a crisp "clang" sound.

He picked up the ABS plastic fan blade that Lin Xi had brought with two fingers, looked at it in the light, and a disdainful smile appeared on his lips.

"Young comrade, you're from the Northwest, so you might not be very familiar with the situation."

Xue Jianhua said slowly and deliberately,

"Wah Sang Factory has been established for over sixty years, and we've never made this kind of... toy before."

"This is high-strength engineering plastic."

Lin Xi corrected, "It's also a future trend."

What trend?

"A trend of cutting corners?"

Xue Jianhua scoffed.

"A fan needs to be heavy and stable!"

"A fully cast iron base and a full steel mesh cover—that's what you call an industrial product!"

"This flimsy thing of yours will be blown away by a gust of wind. Who would buy it?"

"Sell it to the people of the United States."

Lin Xi said calmly, "Sears, first order of 10,000 units."

"At this Canton Fair, a total of 24000 units were ordered."

Upon hearing the words "people of the beacon of light," Xue Jianhua's eyelids twitched.

In this era, earning foreign exchange through exports is a tremendous political achievement.

He finally looked at Lin Xi properly and tapped his fingers on the table a few times.

"Since we have foreign trade orders, we should support them in principle."

Xue Jianhua's tone softened somewhat, but then he abruptly changed the subject.

"However, Watson's production line is very busy."

"Stopping our all-steel production line for your plastic toy would be a huge loss."

Lin Xi remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"How about this?"

Xue Jianhua opened the drawer and took out a document.

"Out of respect for the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry and Wang Bin, Hua Sheng can take over this project."

"But I'd rather not do it as a contract manufacturer; it doesn't sound good if word gets out."

"We'll directly purchase your design proposals."

"We'll take these blueprints."

"Subsequent production and exports will be carried out under the Huasheng brand."

"As for you..."

Xue Jianhua held up one finger:

"I'll give you a design fee of one thousand dollars."

Consider this a token of appreciation for your base's hard work.

Wang Weidong, standing to the side, turned bright red, his fists clenched tightly.

A thousand dollars?

This is clearly a huge order with a deposit of 90,000 and a total value of several hundred thousand!

This isn't an acquisition, it's outright robbery!

This is like expecting you to swallow the Red Star whole, skin and bones, and then still have to say thank you!

"Does Director Xue think we're beggars?"

Lin Xi showed no anger whatsoever; in fact, she even had a slight smile on her face.

"Young comrade, don't put it so harshly."

Xue Jianhua picked up his teacup again, his gaze looking down at him.

"The organization is helping you."

"Your small labor service center has neither production lines nor skilled workers."

"Holding such a large foreign exchange order is like a child carrying gold through a bustling market—it's suicidal."

"Entrusting it to our Watson is the only way to be responsible to the country."

"Without our Watson, you wouldn't be able to buy even a standard screw in this area."

This is already a blatant threat.

As an industry leader, Huasheng certainly has the ability to shut down a small workshop.

Wang Weidong was so anxious that he kicked Lin Xi's shoes under the table.

He was being told to back down quickly, even if it meant getting a little more money, and not to push things to the brink.

Lin Xi gently pushed Wang Weidong's foot away.

He stood up, gracefully retrieved the fan blades from the table, and put them in his pocket.

"Director Xue, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Xue Jianhua snorted.

"You look just like those Manchu bannermen in the late Qing Dynasty who were carrying broadswords and spears and mocking foreign guns and cannons for not being able to handle them."

Lin Xi's voice wasn't loud, but it even echoed in the empty office.

"you!"

Xue Jianhua suddenly stood up. "How dare you!"