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

The news that Xiaochi Motors had begun road testing immediately caused a national sensation after being reprinted by official media such as the People's Daily. In particular, the streamlined exterior, modern interior, and powerful engine of the two cars excited the Chinese people who saw the news.

The People's Daily and other newspapers did not report in detail on the fact that Xiaochi Automobile was a wholly foreign-owned enterprise. People who were unaware of the situation only knew that Xiaochi Automobile was from Tuocheng in southern Guangdong, and automatically classified it as the Tuocheng State-owned Automobile Factory.

Shanghai State-owned Automobile Factory

Bai Jianbo sat in his office, reading today's newspaper. The news of Tuocheng Xiaochi Company's complete vehicle undergoing line testing was on the front page. The Shanghai newspapers had given a detailed account of Xiaochi Automobile being a wholly foreign-owned enterprise.

The article is full of praise for the two cars, "Dilu" and "Zhaoyebai," and in particular, it repeatedly emphasizes that the technology of the Snapdragon comes from Saab Automobile, and repeatedly praises Saab Automobile as the safest car in the world.

"Inheriting the 'Dilu' and 'Zhaoyebai' models from Saab, I believe it will definitely bring us the safest driving experience," Bai Jianbo read aloud from the newspaper, then couldn't help but curse, "You little bastard, I've never seen you praise our Shanghai-plated 760 sedan like this before!"

Bai Jianbo, increasingly indignant, wanted to pick up the phone and call the Shanghai Morning Post to question the newspaper about its true intentions. He wondered if they had received a bribe from Xiaochi Motors. He accused the newspaper, the mouthpiece of Shanghai, of praising Xiaochi Motors so much that it would make it impossible for Shanghai Automotive to sell its cars in the future!

Before he could even pick up the phone, it rang first. Bai Jianbo answered it resentfully, his tone curt as he asked into the receiver, "Hello! Who is it?"

"Old Bai, are you on fire? Why are you so angry? That's Chen Laisheng for you!"

Upon hearing that the person on the other end of the phone was Chen Laisheng, the Party Secretary of FAW Group, Bai Jianbo's stiff tone softened somewhat. "Old Chen, it's you. What's wrong? Why are you calling me at this hour?"

"Did you read the newspaper today?"

"what?"

Bai Jianbo was taken aback. "Old Chen, you didn't call long distance just to ask me this, did you? Just say what you want to say directly, don't beat around the bush, this is a long distance call!"

"Ahem!"

After being reprimanded by Bai Jianbo, Chen Laisheng coughed twice and said, "Didn't you go to Tuocheng with Lao Ji last time to discuss cooperation with Xiaochi Motors? I saw it in the newspaper today!"

Bai Jianbo understood Chen Laisheng's meaning. Since he and Ji Shuzhi returned to the factory after talking with Chen Dong last time, they had only reported to the Ministry of Industry about relocating some of the supporting factories to Tuocheng. As for the vehicle design drawings that Chen Dong showed them, Bai Jianbo and Ji Shuzhi did not tell Chen Laisheng.

When the newspaper published the pictures, Chen Laisheng couldn't sit still after seeing the exterior and interior of the two cars. In particular, the manual transmission "Zhaoyebai" which only cost 70,000 yuan had a power of 150 horsepower, but the fuel consumption was only 6 liters per 100 kilometers. Chen Laisheng's face turned red.

In his office, he loudly accused Xiaochi Motors of falsifying its performance targets, believing that Xiaochi Motors was engaging in malicious competition by concealing and falsifying data in order to seize the market. However, when he called Huang Bin, Huang Bin poured cold water on his enthusiasm.

"They invested two hundred million US dollars, using only internationally advanced equipment for production. All their engines are optimized versions of existing technology, inherited from Saab Automobile. If you can't do it, don't blame them for being better than you!"

Compared to the "Dilu" sedan in the same class, the FAW Red Plate 770 sedan is completely outclassed. Both have V8 engines, but the Dilu has multi-point fuel injection, 32 valves, and a four-speed electronic transmission, with a theoretical fuel consumption of 11-13 liters per 100 kilometers.

The Red Plate 770 still uses a carburetor four-stroke engine, and its displacement is larger than the other 4.0, reaching 5.56L, but its fuel consumption is also high!

With a fuel consumption of 20 liters per 100 kilometers, are you scared yet?

Their top speed is 240 km/h, while their red-plate speed limit is 160 km/h. This is because the "Dilu" is designed as a luxury sedan. If you put the Leapmotor V8 engine in a low-drag sports car, it could easily reach 300 km/h.

The only highlight of the "Dilu" luxury sedan that is now rolling off the production line and is FAW's red-plate sedan is the gimmick of being handcrafted and certified by the state.

However, the engine is a real weakness. It consumes 20 liters of fuel and, more importantly, has less horsepower than other engines. When these two factors are compared, FAW's reputation is not looking good.

So Chen Laisheng thought it over and decided to inquire through Bai Jianbo to see if he could import the mature Leapmotor Type 1 V8 engine from Xiaochi Motors, debug it, and install it in their Red Plate 770.

"Old Chen, just say what you want to say," Bai Jianbo knew Chen Laisheng must have something to say when he called. "Are you planning to ask Xiaochi for technology?"

"We do have this plan. You know, FAW is the eldest son of the Republic..."

"Stop, stop, stop! Old Chen, if you keep talking to Chen Zaidong like that, you're guaranteed to get the cold shoulder," Bai Jianbo shook his head and pursed his lips into the microphone. "They're a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, not a state-owned automobile factory of our country!"

"I'm not going to argue with you about this," Chen Laisheng knew that Bai Jianbo was right. He had also mentioned it to Huang Bin, the Minister of Industry, but Huang Bin had simply replied that it was fine as long as Xiaochi was willing.

The implication is that if Xiaochi doesn't agree, the Ministry of Industry won't stand up for him.

"So what technology are you planning to ask Xiaochi for? Tell me, and I'll give you some advice," Bai Jianbo said, somewhat curious. Which technology of Xiaochi was Chen Laisheng interested in? If FAW could get it, Shanghai Automotive could also benefit from it.

"I plan to talk to Xiaochi and his team about introducing Leapmotor's Type 1 engine to improve our Red Plate 770 sedan, since it's for the leaders..."

"Old Chen," Bai Jianbo was amused by Chen Laisheng's words, "you want to directly import the engine for Xiaochi Motors' flagship luxury sedan? Do you think they'll agree?"

"We haven't talked about it yet. Whether they'll agree or not, we'll only know after we talk," Chen Laisheng replied. "You went to Tuocheng with Lao Ji and met Chen Zaidong. What do you think of Chen Zaidong? Is he easy to talk to?"

"He's from a business background in America, a Harvard MBA graduate. Do you think he's easy to talk to?"

"Old Ji and I were only able to reach a cooperation agreement with him on the condition that we relocate our supporting factory to Tuocheng. He only agreed to cooperate with us then. You're just going to ask him for engines without any preparation. Old Chen, let me give you a piece of advice: don't make a fool of yourself!"

Chen Laisheng remained silent on the other end of the phone, only the soft hissing of his cigarette could be heard. After a long while, he sighed, "Okay, I understand!"

Chen Laisheng hung up the phone after he finished speaking. Bai Jianbo didn't know if Chen Laisheng's "I understand" meant he knew how difficult the matter was and chose to back down, or if he planned to continue to the Ministry of Industry to persuade Chen Dong.

"Whatever, it's none of my business anyway, I don't care who it is!"