Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"Regarding the Nanshan Precision Machinery Research Institute, I will promptly report to the Central Committee. For now, it will be affiliated with the Guangdong Provincial Department of Machinery. I will contact Comrade Ding Zhuo and Comrade Chen regarding the relevant procedures later. I will also have someone from the Tuocheng City Machinery Bureau contact you. At that time, you and the colleagues from the Machinery Bureau will be responsible for drafting the relevant application documents."

"Yes, Minister Zhou!"

"At the same time, I will contact Tsinghua University North Campus to transfer professors from the Mechanical Engineering Department and some engineers from military enterprises. Comrade Chen, I hope you can finalize the overseas recruitment as soon as possible!"

"I will go to America after the New Year. I will have someone look for engineers who are willing to come to China. I will inform you about visa issues and other matters."

"That's no problem. As for salary and benefits..."

"I'll take care of the salary and benefits. The main issue is ensuring their daily living needs, which is something you need to address." Money wasn't the problem for Chen Dong; ensuring these people's livelihood in China was the top priority.

"Don't worry, we will treat them with the same salary as first-level engineers," Zhou Bingguo said, seeing that Chen Dong had taken care of the salary issue.

"Then it's settled. I have other things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." Chen Dong glanced at the Rolex watch on his wrist. It was already past 11 a.m., and before he knew it, the meeting had been going on for more than two hours.

Hearing that Chen Dong was about to leave, Wang Huaimin spoke up, "Comrade Chen, don't be in such a hurry. You should at least have lunch before you go. I have some things to discuss with you privately."

"Alright, let's go to the small room then," Chen Dong nodded, this time without letting his second brother, Chen Zaisheng, come along.

"Then you can continue your discussion. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now," said Zhou Haimin, the municipal party secretary who had been attending the meeting as an observer. He smiled and got up to take his leave. Zhou Bingguo saw him off at the meeting room door and then turned and went into the small room.

Only Chen Dong, Wang Huaimin, and Zhou Bingguo, who entered later, were in the small room. Wang Huaimin asked directly, "Comrade Chen, now that no one else is present, I am here on behalf of the Central Committee to ask you if you could help procure some of the most advanced military weapons and equipment currently available internationally!"

Chen Dong raised an eyebrow, no longer stating that he wasn't involved in the arms trade, but instead asked Wang Huaimin, "Director Wang, you must have a specific type, right?"

"Aircraft engine!"

"Can you get it?"

"How about the F100 turbofan engine in the F-16 fighter jet?"

Wang Huaimin was taken aback. He grabbed Chen Dong's hand and asked in surprise, "You managed to get your hands on America's current F-16 engine?"

"As long as you have the money, Pratt & Whitney can 'scrap' a test prototype engine right away," Chen Dong chuckled slyly. "I can even get your hands on the F110 turbofan engine that General Motors is currently testing under the guise of scrapping it!"

"hiss!"

Zhou Bingguo and Wang Huaimin both took a drag of their cigarettes, the smoke slowly exhaling from their nostrils. Chen Dong joked, "You may not understand the situation in America. For the engineers of those companies in America, the equipment and prototypes belong to the company. Only the money they earn goes into their own pockets."

Chen Dong opened his palm, "For just five million US dollars, I can scrap a prototype immediately. Of course, it will be delivered to you in perfect condition!"

"Also included are the FADEC source code for the F100, a single-crystal turbine blade casting process manual, and a complete set of design drawings for the high-pressure compressor!"

Zhou Bingguo and Wang Huaimin both swallowed hard, trying to calm their nerves and excitement. "Is it really possible to get it?"

"Of course, America is a magical country, even more magical than you can imagine. Everything there has a price; it's just a matter of whether you can afford it!"

In America, anything is possible!

Chen Dong's grandfather, Chen Shengyu, was able to live to be over a hundred years old and even take his son, Xiao Chenhui, to Chinatown to watch fireworks during the Lunar New Year. This wasn't because Chen Shengyu had exceptional health preservation skills, but because America's wealthy medical team was so capable!

Even more hellishly, in America, money really can extend your life; it can give you more opportunities than others, such as wonder transplants!

If Chen Dong's parents hadn't died in a helicopter crash beyond saving, he wouldn't have lost both of them so early. Never underestimate the power of money and healthcare in capitalist countries.

Similarly, America's military-industrial complex is not as secretive as it appears. Consider this: if spies recruited by the Soviet Union can transmit important information to the CIA for years, what secrets can you expect those engineers who are paid to do things and are always on the verge of being killed to keep for you?

Of course, Chen Dong wouldn't risk actually using America's connections in court to find those engineers and have them "scrap" an engine.

Chen Dong could use various methods to legitimately launder the US dollars and transfer them into the overseas accounts of those engineers. However, this would make the agents in Fuboro very willing to investigate this major transnational smuggling case.

Chen Dong didn't want to get himself into trouble. Anyway, it's in the system. If you want it, give me enough money and I can purchase it from the system for you right away. Not to mention one, I can get you a hundred!

"But if you really want it, this one costs five million US dollars, and I need to pay in cash. I don't accept installment payments because I need to use a lot of connections, and once the mess is settled, I must cut off contact with my informants. The money can't be delayed!"

Zhou Bingguo dared not make a decision directly this time. He had to consult with the central leadership and let them decide whether it was necessary before he could reply to Chen Dong. Moreover, Chen Dong insisted that the payment must be settled immediately and that installment payments would not be accepted.

Five million US dollars is a considerable sum of money!

But Zhou Bingguo felt it was worth it. Five million US dollars got him an advanced engine prototype, along with the relevant source code and accompanying blueprints. It was as if China had spent five million US dollars to import the complete set of technical blueprints for this engine from someone else.

It's a great deal, isn't it!

"Comrade Chen, do you need me to make any purchases tomorrow? I can give you an answer tomorrow. Until then, everything must be kept confidential!"

"After we left that door, we never discussed this matter again!"

Chen Dong chuckled to indicate he understood, stood up, and shook hands with Zhou Bing and Wang Huaimin. Both their palms were sweaty. "Then I'll be going now. I have things to do at the company, so I'll skip the meal!"

"Okay, I'll see you downstairs," Wang Huaimin followed Chen Dong out of the small room and escorted Chen Dong and Chen Zaisheng downstairs. He watched the two leave the Tuocheng Yingbin Hotel by car before turning around and walking into the building.

"We must contact the central government immediately!"