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

Huaguo, the capital.

Sanlihe, the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry building.

A high-level closed-door meeting is underway.

This conference was of extremely high caliber. In addition to the host, the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry (aerospace), representatives from the First Ministry of Machinery Industry (machinery industry), the Ministry of Light Industry, and even the Ministry of Foreign Trade were present as observers.

The meeting had only one theme: the Red Star phenomenon.

"Let's look at the data first."

Guo, the vice minister of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry who was presiding over the meeting, tapped the table, his tone filled with undisguised smugness.

The document sent to everyone featured a red trend chart that rose as steeply as a rocket taking off.

"By the end of July, thanks to the reverse boost from the international 'counterfeit goods scandal,' overseas buyers' trust in the 'Red Star' brand had reached its peak."

"The orders that were originally taken away by domestic brands have all come back, and have even doubled."

Vice Minister Guo paused for a moment, scanned the entire room, and then slowly uttered a number:

"Currently, the total number of export orders for fans held by Hongxing Service Center has exceeded..."

One million units.

"Whoosh—"

Although the bigwigs present had already heard rumors.

But when the figure of "one million units" was confirmed, a collective gasp rippled through the conference room.

One million units!

What does this mean?

At the current average price of $30 to $35, this amounts to over thirty million US dollars in foreign exchange!

These days, how much foreign exchange reserves does a country have in a year?

This unconventional "service company" has the foreign exchange earning capacity of several large oil fields!

"More importantly, this money wasn't earned by Red Star alone."

Vice Minister Guo turned the page.

"Following the 'technology licensing + OEM' model proposed by Lin Xi."

"Currently, Hongfeng Machinery Factory, Huasheng Electric Fan Factory, and the four pilot factories that joined later are all reporting good sales figures."

"Hongfeng Factory paid double wages last month and also built a new bathhouse for its employees."

"Huasheng Factory has achieved double growth in revenue and profit. It has not only paid off its loans, but also introduced two German-made spray painting lines."

"Because they have money, these factories are frantically upgrading their equipment."

Vice Minister Guo pointed to a report,

"Data shows that in the past six months, the demand for precision injection molding machines and high-precision mold steel in the Yangtze River Delta region has surged by 300%."

"Standardized operating procedures (SOPs) are spreading throughout the entire machinery system."

"These days, if a factory manager can't spout a few new terms like 'yield rate' and 'tolerance control,' he'd be embarrassed to greet people when he goes out."

"Comrades!"

Vice Minister Guo took off his glasses and wiped them with a sigh.

"This isn't making a fan!"

"This is laying the foundation for our industrial base!"

In the conference room, everyone's gaze became complicated.

Especially Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of Machine Building, who was sitting to the side.

Looking at the report in his hand, he felt a mix of embarrassment and longing.

He was in charge of the machinery industry; originally, fans, machine tools, and civilian manufacturing were his private domain.

The results of it?

They got stolen the spotlight by a bunch of rocket builders!

And the way they snatched it was so impressive, it left everyone speechless.

"Cough cough."

Vice Minister Liu cleared his throat and tapped the lid of his teacup with a clinking sound.

"Old Guo..."

He glanced at Old Qian, who was sitting in the corner, smiling and sipping his tea.

"These figures are indeed impressive; we should all learn from the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry."

"However..."

Minister Liu changed the subject, leaning forward slightly.

"Let me also say something fair."

"This Lin Xi, young comrade, is indeed a talent."

"But it's been sitting in your place all this time..."

"What kind of service agency? Isn't that a bit of a waste of their talent?"

"You guys work in aerospace, which is high-tech and involves the vast universe."

"Making fans, developing light industry, and doing marketing are the strengths of our First Ministry of Machine Building and the Ministry of Light Industry."

"How about this?"

Vice Minister Liu wore an earnest expression that said, "I'm doing this for the country's sake."

"Transfer Lin Xi to our First Ministry of Machine Building."

"I'll give him the position of director of the 'Civilian Product Development Center'!"

"Let him specialize in this military-to-civilian conversion project and promote his Red Star model nationwide!"

"I think it's a good idea!" the representative from the Ministry of Light Industry immediately agreed.

"We'll give you manpower and factories if you want; it's definitely better than being stuck in that northwestern Gobi Desert!"

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

The teacup in his hand slammed heavily onto the table.

Before Qian Lao could speak, Zhang Zhengguo could no longer contain himself; his eyebrows shot up.

"dream!"

Zhang Zhengguo abandoned all pretense of civility and started cursing at Minister Liu, pointing his finger at him.

"Liu Da Nao, don't try that on me!"

"Want to pick the peaches? No way!"

What does it mean to neglect one's proper duties? What does it mean to waste one's talents?

"The aerodynamic layout of those fan blades...that's the NACA4412 airfoil!"

"That's aircraft manufacturing technology! Do you even understand it, Ministry of Machine Building?"

"The precision of that mold was achieved by hand by an eighth-grade fitter!"

"That's missile manufacturing technology! Does your Ministry of Light Industry have that?"

Zhang Zhengguo stood up, his beard trembling with anger.

"Lin Xi is from our Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry!"

"Every penny he earns is going to be used to build wind tunnels and supercomputers!"

"You think you can poach our players? Dream on!"

An awkward silence fell over the meeting room.

No one expected that Zhang Zhengguo would get so angry over a young man.

Minister Liu wasn't angry; instead, he chuckled.

"Old Zhang, don't get agitated. I'm just eager to nurture your talent."

Minister Liu pursed his lips.

"But you have to admit, it's really unfair to put a young guy like him in the position of 'Deputy Manager of the Service Center'."

"It's really inappropriate to deal with foreigners on business deals worth millions or tens of millions of dollars."

"If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper."

Zhang Zhengguo slowly sat back down in his chair, his anger dissipating.

Mr. Qian was thinking, "Yes."

Lin Xi's growth rate is too fast.

It's almost to the point where the existing system can't contain him anymore.

The deputy manager of the service center, to put it bluntly, is just a position that is essentially a substitute for a cadre position; he doesn't even qualify as a proper section chief.

That used to be a small-scale operation, and nobody paid attention to it.

Now we have tens of millions of foreign exchange reserves and can mobilize so many industrial resources.

Holding onto this title makes it easy for people to criticize, and it also makes it easy for old foxes like Liu Da Nao to take advantage of the situation.

"This kid..."

Old Qian cursed inwardly, "In just six months, they've given me such a huge problem."

But he knew in his heart that this problem had to be solved.

Not only must it be solved, but it must be solved beautifully, so that everyone is silenced.

Mr. Qian raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the assembled dignitaries, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"You're right, if the name isn't correct, the words won't be proper."

Mr. Qian spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but firm and resounding.

"Since the service center is too small a place..."

"Then we'll build him a big platform."