Returning to 1949, I decided to hand it over to the state.

Zhou Chunsheng naturally picked up the conversation, providing theoretical support for Jiang Fan:

"At the time, the lecture notes specifically mentioned that a core characteristic that distinguishes modern industry from traditional handicrafts is the detailed division of labor and the superposition of processes. Each superposition of processes is actually an accumulation of value."

"The example you just gave of making clothes from fabric is actually a typical example of value accumulation in primary processing."

Zhou Chunsheng turned to look at the factory leaders and summarized in his habitually rigorous technical tone:

"In other words, if we follow Jiang's line of thinking, Ansteel should not only produce steel in the future, but also process the steel into various kinds of finished parts on-site as much as possible, so that all these added values ​​can be accumulated to the maximum extent within our own factory area."

Jiang Fan felt an overwhelming urge to give Zhou Chunsheng a thumbs up.

Dude, that was a brilliant assist!

Not only did it prevent the atmosphere from becoming dull, it also seamlessly enhanced the level of professionalism!

He immediately gave Zhou Chunsheng a grateful look and replied loudly:

"Yes, that's exactly what Engineer Zhou meant!"

"The reason I'm talking about this added value first is to illustrate a point: it's indeed very difficult for Ansteel to resume production now, but we must not be satisfied with just producing steel. We also need to figure out where this steel will ultimately go and what it will become."

"If we just refine steel, roll it into materials, and then sell it directly as raw materials to other places for processing, then we will only ever earn the lowest level of hard-earned money."

"But if we can turn steel into a product unique to us, the profit margin will be completely different. This is the true path for Ansteel to become strong!"

This time, the officials present finally understood completely.

Many of the older comrades who had been frowning and deep in thought before now relaxed their brows and showed expressions of sudden realization.

"Oh, so you mean we can't just produce steel, we also need to know how to use our steel to make things and sell them?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean!" Jiang Fan nodded vigorously immediately.

But then a slightly skeptical voice immediately emerged from the crowd:

"But isn't what you're saying the same thing as the meetings we have every day in our factory to discuss developing new products? It doesn't sound any different from what you're saying."

As soon as these words were spoken, several cadres immediately nodded in agreement.

Yes, no matter how much they talk, isn't it all just about developing new products?

However, Jiang Fan had anticipated this and was not flustered at all.

He immediately followed up on that, dropping a second bombshell:

"That's right, there's no difference in the general direction, but what I'm about to talk about is where the difference really lies."

He squatted down again, picked up the slate pencil, and drew a large circle on the cement ground, heavily enclosing the words "added value" inside.

"Our Ansteel now has the foundation, with steel, iron, equipment, and manpower, and is fully capable of producing higher value-added products. However, I have another idea that I would like to share with you leaders."

"That's market value!"

As he spoke, he quickly wrote down the four characters next to the large circle.

After finishing writing, he stood up and looked intently at everyone:

"When I was abroad, I learned a very important market concept. There is a saying there: 'The customer is God.'"

"This sounds mysterious, but it actually means very simple: we should focus on the needs of our customers. We should produce what our customers want, rather than producing something and then trying to force it on them."

"I believe this statement also applies to Ansteel's product planning!"

"When we develop new products, it shouldn't be a matter of a few technicians sitting in the office, coming up with something they think is great, and then pushing it on."

"We should first look outwards, see what the market needs, what the people need, and what the logistics on the front lines need. Then, we can use the equipment we have to specifically develop and produce those products!"

"As long as the demand matches, the product will immediately find a market and quickly circulate, generating tangible benefits!"

"This is called market value!"

Jiang Fan blurted out the whole thing in one breath, then took a slight breath, looked up, and stared expectantly at Chief Li and Factory Director He.

He originally thought that after this "market-oriented theory" that was decades ahead of its time was presented, the leaders would at least show some great approval, or discuss with each other in amazement what "the younger generation is truly formidable" and the like.

however……

But the reality was completely different from what he had imagined.

A dozen or so people, including Chief Li and Factory Director He, watched him quietly, falling into a thoughtful silence.

Quiet.

This eerie silence made Jiang Fan feel inexplicably uneasy.

What happened?

My words, whether in terms of theoretical depth or practical logic, should be able to get the atmosphere going!

At least it will let the leaders feel that I, a young man who has returned from studying abroad, have genuine insights and am definitely not talking nonsense.

But this reaction... it seems a bit different from what I expected?

After a full ten seconds of silence, Chief Li finally spoke.

He looked at Jiang Fan and asked two words in an extremely calm tone:

"That's all?"

Jiang Fan: "..."

His mouth opened slightly, then closed again in a daze, momentarily at a loss for how to respond to that sentence.

That's all? What do you mean, that's all?

Seeing his somewhat dazed expression, Chief Li could roughly guess what the young man was thinking.

He suddenly chuckled softly, then his tone turned serious, tearing away the flowery theoretical veneer and asking the most crucial question:

"Comrade Xiao Jiang, the theoretical issues you raised are indeed correct, and they sound very eloquent."

"But what I want to ask you is: how do you plan to solve the problem of putting these two theories into practice?"

"You just said the customer is king and you have to look at their needs. Okay, so how do you know what your customers actually need right now?"

"You just said you wanted to create added value. Okay, but how can you guarantee that what you make will definitely have that high added value and be able to turn into money?"

"If you can't answer these two most practical questions, or can't come up with a concrete and feasible solution that addresses both of these issues simultaneously..."

"Then what you just said, wouldn't that make you just like Zhao Kuo, who only knew how to talk about war on paper?"

The moment those words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze again.

The cadres nearby exchanged glances, and although they didn't say anything, their eyes clearly held the same question.

It's one thing to have a good theory, but the real skill lies in putting it into practice.