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

He Xiying turned her gaze away from the pattern on the ground.

He first turned to look at Chief Li, and when Chief Li nodded slightly to signal him to speak, he then looked at Jiang Fan.

"Comrade Xiao Jiang."

"What you just said sounds like it could indeed bring great convenience to people's lives."

"With this, ordinary people will indeed have a lot less trouble with heating in winter and cooking. From this perspective alone, it is indeed a good thing and it does meet the needs you mentioned."

"However, I have a few very practical questions here, and I would appreciate it if you could answer them."

Jiang Fan's expression turned serious, and he immediately nodded: "Please speak."

He Xiying raised one finger:

"First, with our current equipment and technology, can we really safely manufacture this?"

"Secondly, even if we overcome all difficulties and successfully produce it, what will its cost be? Have you considered its selling price? Do ordinary people today really have the spare money to buy this high-pressure steel tank?"

"Third, and most importantly."

"The fighting is still going on at the front lines, and the country's finances are extremely strained. All resource allocation is based on the absolute principle of prioritizing wartime needs."

"The added value theory you just mentioned sounds very interesting and is correct, but how do you connect this theory to this gas cylinder?"

"You have to understand that it's one thing for ordinary people to have a need, but it's another thing for them to have the ability to pay for it."

"We are not doing business in a peaceful era; we are at war, rebuilding production from ruins, and the country still has hundreds of millions of mouths to feed."

"If this product is manufactured but ordinary people can't afford it, and the government doesn't have the money to subsidize it, how can its added value circulate? How can it become the kind of money that Ansteel can snowball into?"

The audience was silent.

Although Director He's tone was calm, every question he posed hit the most critical sore spot.

He neither blindly rejected Jiang Fan's proposal, nor did he impulsively agree to it simply because the concept was novel.

He genuinely stood from the macro perspective of the entire country, breaking down and explaining the national conditions and wartime economic issues to Jiang Fan, one by one.

This was the level of leadership at Anshan Iron and Steel in 1949.

Jiang Fan inwardly gasped, unable to suppress a surge of genuine admiration.

No wonder he's the factory director!

In such a short time, it is possible to see through the core problem that an unfamiliar product concept faces in the current historical context.

When dealing with this kind of person, you can't be pretentious at all.

Fortunately, the added value theory he had painstakingly laid out earlier finally came in handy at this moment.

Meeting Director He's gaze, he not only showed no fear, but instead smiled naturally.

"Director He, the issues you raised are very insightful. To be honest, I've thought about them too."

"And what I want to report to the leaders is precisely this key to breaking the deadlock!"

Jiang Fan raised his hand and pointed to the white gas cylinder pattern on the ground.

"What I just described to you is actually just a civilian version for domestic use. Its fundamental significance is indeed to improve people's livelihood, but it doesn't really make much money at the moment."

"But! If we're talking about the version that truly embodies the high added value I just mentioned and can actually help the country and Ansteel earn real money from abroad..."

"I have one more thing here."

Without wasting any words, Jiang Fan squatted down again and started drawing on the ground with a stone pencil.

He made several crucial modifications to the civilian-grade gas cylinder he had just seen.

First, the originally short and stout tank body was slightly elongated to make the entire cylinder appear more slender.

Next, he quickly drew a cross-shaped tail fin structure on the bottom of the can.

Finally, he added several connecting lines on the side of the can that looked like they were for hanging or fixing.

After finishing the drawing, he clapped his hands in satisfaction, stood up, took a half step back, and displayed the complete upgraded version of the design to everyone.

"Director He, distinguished leaders."

Jiang Fan pointed to the new pattern on the ground and said without batting an eye:

"This is the export version that I designed specifically to make big money."

Everyone swarmed around again, craning their necks to examine it closely.

This time, however, no one expressed any sentiments about how convenient this thing was for people's livelihoods, because the pattern in front of them was simply too strange.

With its elongated metal can and the cross-shaped tail fin structure at the bottom, it doesn't look like something an ordinary person would put next to their stove.

Someone stroked their chin, frowned, and muttered under their breath:

"This thing...it looks kind of familiar?"

A retired cadre who knew a bit about military affairs squinted at the scene for a long time, then suddenly his expression changed, he gasped, and muttered:

"Hiss...this...this looks a bit like that little boy in the newspaper...?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding cadres suddenly realized what was happening, and they all stroked their chins and began to re-examine the pattern.

From top to bottom, from left to right, the more I look at it, the more it seems to make sense.

"You know what, it actually does look a bit like it!"

"Of course, that cruciform tail fin is used on bombs dropped from airplanes, isn't it?"

"But didn't Xiao Jiang just say it was a gas cylinder? How come it's drawn like a bomb?"

"How would I know what he's up to!"

The discussion started again, and even Chief Li couldn't help but bend down and stare at the pattern carefully for a while.

After a long while, he straightened up and turned to look at He Xiying.

He Xiying understood immediately, nodded slightly, and then turned her gaze back to Jiang Fan, her tone carrying a hint of scrutiny:

"Comrade Xiao Jiang, if you're going to draw a product, just draw a product. What's the meaning of drawing a bomb?"

"Our primary task at Ansteel right now is to restore basic industries. We don't have the capacity or quota to produce such large-scale military products at the moment, do we?"

These words confirmed the earlier speculations of the crowd, and the surrounding chatter immediately ceased.

More than a dozen gazes simultaneously fell upon Jiang Fan.

However, Jiang Fan keenly sensed that although Director He's tone was stern, it seemed to be deliberately giving him a way out, allowing him to come back to his senses.

So Jiang Fan immediately straightened his back and said loudly:

"Director He, esteemed leaders, you've misunderstood. This isn't a bomb!"

"This is a real gas cylinder!"

He pointed to the tail fin on the ground and, without batting an eye, made up a story:

"Gas cylinders are like this in other countries; I've seen them with my own eyes abroad."

"This structure at the bottom is supposedly designed to improve the absolute stability of the tank when placed, ensuring it won't tip over during transportation and storage. In foreign technical documents, it's called... a support-type anti-roll base!"

"As for these connecting lines on the side, they are auxiliary pull rings specially designed to facilitate workers' handling and securing on trucks."

Jiang Fan spread his hands, his face completely at ease: "So, it really is just a gas cylinder."