In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

In fact, Wang Xingguo has always thought his wife is very cute because she gets very serious when she wants to do something.

In reality, she's all talk and no action, but she's a complete coward...

However, Wang Xingguo liked this woman.

He never knew what kind of partner he wanted to spend his life with.

Later, he developed feelings for Li Xiuping.

Ahem...

To put it more poetically, he fell in love with Li Xiuping at first sight.

From acquaintance to friendship, and then to marriage.

In reality, both of them had various minor flaws, so their married life was naturally not perfect.

But both Wang Xingguo and Li Xiuping are exceptionally tolerant and patient.

Tolerate each other's little flaws, try to understand each other's thoughts, and support each other's choices.

They supported each other like this for the past twenty years.

So much happened during that time.

When Li Xiuping was giving birth to Wang Jianhua, the pain was so intense that she even considered not having any more children.

But the truth is that they had four children together, and all of them grew up healthy.

Wang Xingguo sometimes felt that he owed Li Xiuping too much and didn't know how to make it up to her.

As it turns out, no one needs his compensation; as long as he provides enough companionship, nothing else matters.

The next day, Wang Xingguo returned to his workplace and convened a meeting.

He held up the document and read aloud: "Comrades, the main purpose of this meeting today is to announce something. The higher authorities have issued a document informing our department that we will reduce our research funding by forty percent."

The meeting room erupted in uproar. Everyone was shocked and began to discuss the situation. For a moment, Wang Xingguo was unable to control the situation.

After a while, Wang Xingguo slammed his hand on the table, and everyone quieted down.

Wang Xingguo looked around before continuing, "Comrades, I know it's hard for you to accept this. But it has already happened and cannot be changed. When I heard the news, I was just as hard to accept as you all..."

Next, Wang Xingguo explained to everyone why the budget was reduced and why joint venture projects should be the focus.

However, someone raised their hand and questioned, "Director Wang, I'm not questioning the organization's decision, but I simply can't understand something. Most of the current joint venture projects are Japanese-funded. I can't emotionally accept letting the Japanese enter the Republic and use their technology to profit from the hard-earned money of ordinary people like us!"

As soon as the man finished speaking, the conference room instantly turned cold. The previous discussions were silenced, and many people frowned, their faces looking extremely grim.

It has to be said that it is not surprising at all that anyone from the new China would have this reaction.

On the contrary, those who spend their days contributing to the Japanese are the ones who should be wary.

Wang Xingguo lightly tapped the table with his hand, calmly looked at everyone present, and after a moment, he slowly spoke: "Old Zhou, I completely understand your thoughts, and I even have a grudge against myself that's making me very uncomfortable! But who among us of this generation doesn't have this kind of knot in their heart? But we can't act based on our personal emotions!"

Wang Xingguo picked up the documents on the table, turned to the attached project description page, and said with a hint of helplessness, "This time, the reduction of our conventional equipment department's research funding and the diversion of funds to support Sino-foreign joint venture projects is not to give all the benefits to foreigners for free. Rather, it's because our industrial foundation is weak, and many technologies are too backward. For example, some precision machining and materials processes have been stuck in bottlenecks that we can't break through."

Our country has gone through too many trials and tribulations. If we want to catch up with the advanced level, it is not feasible to rely on our own closed-door development! It is not that we cannot conduct independent research and development, but to explore a technology from scratch, we not only need to invest a huge amount of money, but also need to spend ten or twenty years, or even longer, to develop it independently.

Comrades, time waits for no one! Throughout the history of industrial development, we have missed every industrial revolution and technological revolution! This time, we are forming joint ventures to exchange market access for technology, production lines, process specifications, quality management systems, and so on. These are exactly the things we urgently need right now.

These Sino-foreign joint ventures—the factory buildings and equipment are ours, the workers are ours, and the technology we learn will ultimately remain in our country, used to improve our overall manufacturing level. Only when our manufacturing industry is strong will we have the confidence and foundation for development, leaving a legacy for future generations so they can focus on economic and technological development with peace of mind!

Someone else spoke up in a low voice: "Director Wang, I understand the reasons, but isn't cutting the funding by 40% too much? Our department's key projects are already under tight budgets. This cut will not only halt the experiments, but the prototypes will also just sit in the workshop gathering dust. This represents several years of work by our researchers, and it's just going to stop like this..."

Wang Xingguo knew what he was talking about. He shook his head and said in a deep voice, "This is also what troubles me the most. It's not that the higher-ups are denying the value of our conventional equipment research, but that our country's financial resources are only so big at this stage!"

The goal is to prioritize projects, addressing the industrial shortcomings that have accumulated over decades. Funds should only be allocated to projects that can rapidly drive industrial upgrading. Although funding has been cut by 40%, this does not mean that all projects have been eliminated.

Besides informing everyone of this news, I'm also calling this meeting to review our existing research topics. Our most important task now is to preserve our core research topics, eliminate unnecessary experiments and projects, and merge redundant research projects!

Some long-term preliminary research projects have to be temporarily halted, and the number of experimental batches for various research projects has to be reduced. Everyone needs to be mentally prepared that our research conditions will become more difficult in the coming period, and many experiments will require careful budgeting. We've entered a period where we have to stretch every penny.

Deputy Director Li, still frowning, said, "Director Wang, I understand the reasoning and unconditionally support the superiors' arrangements. But I'm still a little worried. Although we seem to have acquired the technology through the joint venture project, will it ultimately lead to dependence on foreign technology? What if they try to control us later? Have the higher-ups considered this?"

Wang Xingguo knew what everyone was thinking. In fact, no one had any selfish motives; they were all doing it for the good of the country.

Their objection wasn't to the budget cuts, but rather to the concern that relying on foreign technology might leave them vulnerable to exploitation.

So Wang Xingguo said very seriously, "Old Li, the risk you mentioned has actually been considered by the higher-ups long ago."

Wang Xingguo spoke solemnly and earnestly, "Every joint venture agreement contains strict stipulations, including clauses on technology transfer and personnel training, all clearly and explicitly written down. When we send our technical backbone to the factory to learn, the core process data must be transferred to us."

To put it bluntly, introducing joint venture technology is just a means to an end. Our ultimate goal is to digest and absorb it, and then develop our own domestic alternatives. Introducing technology isn't about short-term gains, but about ensuring our country won't have to rely on others in the future!

Our company specializes in equipment research. What is our goal? It's to protect our country with better weapons and equipment! If our country's overall industrial level doesn't improve, relying solely on a few research institutes working behind closed doors will limit the mass production of equipment and the supply of materials due to external factors. Without mastering core technologies, we will ultimately be at the mercy of others!

Now, reluctantly relinquishing some funds to support industry is, in the long run, paving the way for the entire defense industry. This move isn't about the next two or three years, but about ten or twenty years from now.

Someone sighed and said, "Everyone understands the logic, and everyone knows it's the right thing to do, but suddenly having everyone's projects come to a standstill is hard for everyone to bear. Many young technicians have worked hard for several years, and their research results are waiting for this round of testing. Suddenly it's all stopped. I can't go and announce this news to them..."

Who isn't like that?

Wang Xingguo softened his tone and said with a helpless expression, "Since I learned of this news yesterday, I have been unable to sleep all night, repeatedly considering which projects should be protected and which can be postponed. I know that every one of them represents the hard work of many comrades over the years."

However, as cadres, we cannot focus solely on our own department's limited scope; we must consider the overall development of the nation and weigh our options. I'm making this clear today: while funding may be reduced, standards cannot be lowered! All projects that are ultimately retained must be tackled with full force and concentrated effort!

All research teams should immediately conduct self-examinations and eliminate unnecessary expenses. I understand if anyone is upset, and you can come to my office privately after the meeting to talk things over. However, the instructions from higher authorities have already been issued, so please go back and convey and implement them to stabilize our teams.

The difficulties are right in front of everyone. What we need to do is not complain or back down, but work together to find a way to overcome them! I believe in everyone's abilities; as long as we are united, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome!

The meeting room was silent, a heavy pressure weighing on everyone's hearts.

Feelings of resentment and anxiety are emotions that everyone experiences.

Not to mention them, Wang Xingguo was also a bit unhappy!

Their budget was already low, and other departments either had key projects or projects at the defense level.

However, their conventional equipment division's projects are conventional equipment in themselves, requiring extensive testing to ensure that a weapon can be deployed only after all tests are foolproof.

Unlike other departments, they need to transport new equipment to various regions, especially harsh environments, for testing.

So it's especially expensive, and with limited funds to begin with, plus the fact that you spend money like crazy, you can't help but feel incredibly wronged.

After Wang Xingguo finally took office, he managed to solve the funding problem for a while, but then it disappeared again!

After the meeting, Wang Xingguo returned to his office.

Secretary Qiao Guodong entered carrying a stack of documents. After setting them down, he said quietly, "Boss, everyone's been discussing the budget issue lately, and it's starting to affect morale. Do you think we should stop people from discussing it?"

Wang Xingguo shook his head and sighed, "Guodong, let's not talk about them, I feel really frustrated too! But there's nothing we can do! Everyone says that if you fall behind, you'll be bullied, but some people just don't understand. We are indeed lagging behind now. Don't be fooled by the fact that our predecessors drove away the UN forces; we have to face the reality of our backward industry."

If we don't work hard to catch up, our descendants will face the fate of economic exploitation! We'll have to buy what others can make for ten dollars but sell to us for a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand dollars!

Because we have no other choice! Being backward means being vulnerable to attack, and this doesn't just apply to one aspect, but to all aspects of being backward! How could I not feel aggrieved about having to make way for this joint venture project?

"You know, I'm a soldier who killed Japanese devils too! I'm incredibly frustrated, but there's nothing we can do. The Japanese were at least a defeated nation; they can't just jump up and bite us. If we chose technology from Europe and America, believe me, they'd chew us up and swallow us whole!"

Wang Xingguo was not exaggerating. If someone were to investigate the shareholders and capital backgrounds of various industries in China, they would know just how terrifying the profit-seeking nature of capital can be.

We are not afraid of the Japanese devils because if they ever take advantage of us, we can fight them back.

Unfortunately, the infiltration was too powerful, and there were too many traitors and lackeys, making it impossible to guard against!

Fortunately, everything will recover. Development can never be achieved overnight; it is built up little by little.

Some people attribute the rise of the Republic to its population, which is utter nonsense!

The neighbors next door have a larger population than us, why don't they fly?

Anyone who raises doubts should first compare their views with the person next door before speaking. At least use your brain before you start, instead of being a fool who just spouts nonsense!

Qiao Guodong listened attentively, and after hearing Wang Xingguo's words, he couldn't help but ask, "Boss, does that mean we're just going to do nothing?"

Wang Xingguo shook his head and smiled, "Of course not. We should wait and see how things develop, and also observe the department's reaction. Actually, there's nothing to worry about. There's something else I haven't mentioned yet, but once I do, there won't be any more arguments."

Qiao Guodong asked curiously, "Boss, what's the matter? Is it okay for me to know?"

Wang Xingguo laughed and said, "Haha, of course, it's not a secret. It's actually very simple. Do you remember how much research funding our department had for six months before I joined?"

Qiao Guodong was taken aback for a moment, but quickly understood. He said in surprise, "Boss, you mean the budget was cut, but it's not less than before, right?"

Wang Xingguo nodded and smiled, "That's right. Before I came, the budget was only about 40% of what it is now. After I came, I raised so much money through alms that it's no longer the same as before. Even if we cut it by 40% this time, we still have more money left than they did before."

In our company, we don't call it cutting budgets; we call it remembering the bitter past and appreciating the sweet present! If we were still operating under the old system, the budget would be reduced by at least 20%. Whether I've achieved anything or not, if they just calmly thought about it, they'd know the answer.