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

……

On the outskirts of Mo City, there is a hidden black market trading point.

The wind whipped snowflakes against my face.

A mid-level logistics officer in a military overcoat stood beside the truck, glancing first at the intersection and then at the distant woods.

Only after confirming that there were no military police did he bend down and unload two barrels of military diesel fuel from the carriage.

Then, they pulled out a box of Jeep spark plugs.

The scalper across the street inspected the goods and then dragged out a cardboard box from behind him.

The box has a cartoon figure with a clenched fist printed on it.

Next to it is a line of eye-catching Chinese characters: "Little Tyrant, endless fun".

The officer's fingers were trembling as he took the cardboard box.

He had seen the machine in a smuggled-in American magazine.

By plugging it into a TV, children can practice typing and arithmetic in front of the screen, and even touch a real keyboard.

His son, Andrei, is nine years old this year.

In the so-called computer class at school, the teacher could only draw a keyboard on the blackboard.

The children sat below, practicing their finger exercises in front of the chalk squares.

After one class, my fingers were already quite familiar with the movements.

But a real computer has never even been seen.

"I've got this..."

The officer hugged the cardboard box even tighter.

"Andrei will definitely get into Moscow University!"

Two barrels of diesel fuel for the child's future.

This deal was absolutely worth it!

......

Three days later, at the Mo City International Hotel.

Director Qi from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation strode into Lin Xi's room, his excitement barely concealed.

"Xiao Lin, your Red Star Electric Appliances really makes us proud!"

"It's all over Mo City now; Red Star Electric has become a hard currency, and even the higher-ups are alarmed!"

Director Qi lowered his voice, picked up his teacup, and took a big gulp.

"The letter of intent just submitted by the Soviet Union proposes an additional 20 million rubles in orders for light industrial products and home appliances!"

"Twenty million rubles!"

Lin Xi slumped back in her chair, unsurprised by the number.

Viewers in the live stream room have already started chatting:

[As expected. The Soviet Union's heavy industry could easily outclass the United States, but its light industry was shockingly distorted.]

We can manufacture 10,000 nuclear warheads, but ordinary people have to wait in line for half a day to buy a good pair of leather shoes. This market is a huge, untapped goldmine for us.

[Red Star Appliances: You think I'm here to sell TVs? No, I'm here to exchange resources.]

Don't rush, in a few more years... never mind, I won't say anymore.

Lin Xi sat up straight and looked calmly at Director Qi:

"Director Qi, we can accept the order, but we advise against accepting the rubles."

Director Qi was taken aback:

Why?

"The Soviet Union's dual exchange rate system was a complete rip-off."

Lin Xi patiently explained,

"The official exchange rate is 0.6 rubles to one US dollar, while the black market rate is 1 to 4."

"We settled at the official exchange rate, which means we lost six times the value of every dollar we bought."

"Even if we bring it back to China, we can't spend the rubles on the international market and can't buy advanced Western equipment."

"This money is just worthless paper."

Director Qi frowned deeply:

"That's a problem. Shall we just cancel the deal?"

"Do."

"No US dollars, no rubles."

Lin Xi opened the notebook she carried with her, a smile playing on her lips.

"We engage in barter trade, exchanging goods for other goods."

Lin Xi pointed to the densely packed entries in the notebook:

"High-quality timber from Siberia, urea fertilizer produced in the tens of millions of tons, special steel from metallurgical plants, and high-purity aerospace aluminum ingots."

"They have plenty of these basic commodities."

"We need it, and it can be directly monetized internationally."

Seeing the light gradually appear in Director Qi's eyes, Lin Xi continued, raising his voice even deeper:

"Large items are also negotiable."

"Our domestic infrastructure is in full swing, so we can trade home appliances for KamAZ heavy trucks."

"There is a lack of hoisting and transportation in the southwestern mountainous areas, so we will switch to Mi-8 heavy helicopters."

"The civil aviation industry is short of large passenger aircraft, and the Tu-154 is not out of the question."

"As long as you provide enough color TVs, canned goods, and washing machines, you can get them back."

Director Qi gasped, his hand holding the teacup freezing in mid-air.

He had assumed that the additional orders would simply mean buying a few more train cars.

As a result, Lin Xi's few words directly elevated ordinary light industrial exports to the level of replacing Soviet heavy industrial equipment.

"Lin Xi, you really dare to dream!"

Director Qi's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"Trade a washing machine and a television for someone else's big airplane?"

Lin Xi maintained a humble smile befitting a junior.

But inwardly I couldn't help but think: This is nothing.

In a few years, when the Big Brother is about to collapse, hundreds of train cars of light industrial products plus Erguotou liquor can be negotiated, and even decommissioned cruisers can be sold.

The live stream chat is scrolling:

[President Lin has a grand vision; he's leveraging the price scissors between light and heavy industries to ruthlessly exploit the big brother!]

This isn't about export earnings; it's about using light industry to leverage heavy industry.

[Big Brother: I want a color TV. General Manager Lin: Sure, but you can trade it for steel and an airplane.]

[The real thrill would be trading tens of thousands of down jackets for a few Su-27s just before the collapse of the Soviet Union.]

"Director Qi."

Lin Xi spoke earnestly.

"Our country's light industry capacity is about to explode."

"But their heavy industry has overcapacity, which is an opportunity given to us by history."

Director Qi stared at Lin Xi for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled and nodded solemnly:

"OK!"

"I'll go and talk to them."

"I'll set up the basic framework for barter; I absolutely will not accept rubles, only goods for goods!"

He got up and walked out, but when he reached the door, Lin Xi suddenly called out to him.

"Uncle Qi, there's one more thing."

Lin Xi pointed to a handover form next to her.

"Among the products we brought this time, there are ten Great Wall GW-1 microcomputers from Red Star Technology."

"This is a gift presented to the Soviet Union's Science Committee and Ministry of Heavy Industry on behalf of our foreign trade delegation."

Lin Xi stepped forward and whispered his instructions:

"You must personally hand over these ten machines."

"Make sure it's delivered to the relevant person in charge."

Director Qi didn't think much of it, assuming it was Red Star laying the groundwork for future expansion into the computer market, and readily agreed.

"rest assured."

"This is a testament to the friendship between China and the Soviet Union, and I will personally present it to them at the foreign affairs exchange meeting tomorrow."

Director Qi pushed open the door and left.

The room fell silent.

Lin Xi leaned back in her chair and tapped the handover form twice with her fingertips.

Outside the window, heavy snow blanketed the streets of Mo City.

His gaze, however, remained fixed on the handover form.

Those ten microcomputers were equipped with a "special version" of industrial CAD.

If all goes well, they will be able to drive openly into the heart of the Soviet Union's top-secret military design bureau.