OBS Chapter 1315: Back to the Old Way
Chapter 1315: Back to the Old Way
Chapter 1315: Back to the Old Way
It was already dark when Qin Hao returned from the county. He drove his black Crown sedan along the twilight-shrouded country road.
Because it was New Year's Eve, there were almost no pedestrians on the road. Only the two beams of headlights of cars moved alone in the darkness, illuminating the bumpy dirt road ahead.
The car's heater was on full blast, but Lei Dongbao was restless. His rough fingers unconsciously tapped his knees, and his gaze kept glancing at Qin Hao, who was focused on driving.
Finally, he couldn't help but speak up: "Haozi, what you just told County Chief Xu about—taking into account the actual situation in our county, identifying a specific category of light industry, and developing a complete industrial chain concept—is relevant."
Qin Hao glanced at him but didn't reply.
Lei Dongbao swallowed hard, his tone very serious: "Can our Xiaolei family also get involved?"
The wheels rolled over a protruding rock, causing the car to lurch slightly. Qin Hao steadied the steering wheel with one hand while adjusting the heater vent with the other: "What, isn't the cattle farm enough for you to mess around with?"
“It’s not that we don’t have enough.” Lei Dongbao scratched his head, his army-green cotton-padded jacket rustling softly. “I was thinking, with so many people in the Lei family working just the cattle farm and brick factory, quite a few are still idle. Especially those teenagers, we can’t let them farm for the rest of their lives, can we?”
Qin Hao used the dim light from the dashboard to observe Lei Dongbao. This usually carefree and rough man now had a furrowed brow and a rare thoughtful glint in his eyes. He was genuinely considering the long-term development of the Lei family.
“It’s not impossible,” Qin Hao softened his tone. “However, there’s one thing you need to understand: any industrial production requires a large number of skilled workers. 90% of the people in Xiaolei Village are farmers; many can’t even read, let alone read blueprints. With that kind of background, if you try to compete with state-owned factories, you’ll be starting much later than them.”
Lei Dongbao's brows furrowed even more, his rough fingers unconsciously tracing circles on his knees: "I know the Lei family is poor, but with so many people in the village needing to eat and develop, the brick factory, precast concrete plant, and cattle farm simply can't absorb that much labor."
The headlights illuminated a crooked old locust tree ahead, and Qin Hao skillfully turned the steering wheel to swerve around it. After a moment of silence, his voice became serious: "Dongbao, do you know why the state-owned brick factory can't compete with the village-run enterprise run by the Lei family?"
This question hit Lei Dongbao like a bolt from the blue, leaving him completely bewildered. He stared blankly for a long while before saying uncertainly, "I haven't really thought about this carefully. Is it because the people of our Xiaolei family can endure hardship better than them?"
Qin Hao's lips curled slightly upward: "Yes, and no."
He pulled a cigarette case from his pocket with one hand, lit one with his mouth, and continued, mumbling, "Indeed, the people of Xiaolei Village are more hardworking than the workers at the state-owned brick factory, but that's just on the surface."
The lighter's flame flickered in the darkness, illuminating Qin Hao's sharply defined profile. He took a deep drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled: "The truth is, your Xiaolei family brick factory is operating with minimal burdens, while state-owned brick factories not only have to pay the wages of their current workers, but they also have to cover the pensions and medical expenses of retired workers, and even build houses and provide welfare benefits for them."
Lei Dongbao's eyes gradually brightened through the smoke. He suddenly slapped his thigh: "I get it! Just like Old Wang from our village, he worked at the county agricultural machinery factory for thirty years, and after retiring, he still receives a pension of more than thirty yuan a month, and his medical expenses are reimbursed when he gets sick!"
“That’s right.” Qin Hao flicked his cigarette ash. “These hidden costs are something state-owned factories have to bear, but your Xiao Lei family doesn’t have to.”
Lei Dongbao suddenly realized something, then his expression turned complicated: "Haozi, do you mean if I distribute the villagers' pensions and medical insurance to the village-run enterprises in Xiaolei Village, these enterprises will become like state-owned factories?"
Qin Hao nodded to himself. Despite Lei Dongbao's lack of formal education, he was actually an extremely intelligent person, quick to grasp concepts.
"That's roughly the idea." He rolled down the car window, letting the cold air disperse the smoke inside. "Let me give you an example."
The road ahead gradually widened, and the scattered lights of the Shanbei Brigade could be seen in the distance.
Qin Hao slowed down, his voice particularly clear amidst the roar of the engine: "Take General Motors in the US, for example. It's a company with a market value exceeding $100 billion, one of the Big Three automakers in America. Yet now it's being crushed by Japanese automakers."
Lei Dongbao listened intently, unconsciously leaning forward.
"In terms of technology and capital, General Motors is no less than Japanese automakers. Why is this the case?" Qin Hao turned to look at Lei Dongbao. "It's because General Motors carries too much cost pressure outside of manufacturing. On average, the cost for a Japanese automaker to manufacture a car is only $3000, while GM's average cost per car is $5500."
The wheels rolled over a small puddle, splashing water that made a crisp sound as it hit the chassis. Qin Hao's voice sounded particularly strong amidst the splashing: "That's the difference between traveling light and carrying a heavy load."
Lei Dongbao opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed his words back. His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the car door handle, his knuckles turning white from the force. He knew Qin Hao was saying all this for his own good, but he couldn't suppress the stubbornness in his heart.
After a long silence, Lei Dongbao suddenly clutched his chest and said, "Haozi, I know you're definitely right. But I can't abandon my fellow villagers."
His voice trembled slightly: "My uncle appointed me as deputy secretary because he wanted me to lead everyone to prosperity. I must live up to everyone's expectations and be true to my conscience."
Qin Hao glanced at Lei Dongbao in the rearview mirror. This usually carefree man had red eyes and a stubborn expression on his rough face.
Having said all that, Qin Hao gave up trying to persuade him further. This guy was stubborn; once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. However, it had to be admitted that at this moment, Lei Dongbao radiated a unique personal charm, shining brightly.
As the car entered the territory of Shanbei Brigade, the sound of sporadic firecrackers could be heard in the distance. Qin Hao turned off the high beams and slowly parked the car at the fork in the road at the entrance of the village.
Lei Dongbao didn't get out of the car immediately. He exhaled white breath and suddenly asked, "Haozi, if it were you, and you wanted to get Xiaolei Village involved in the county's industrial chain, what approach would you take?"
Qin Hao turned off the engine, leaving only the faint red light of the dashboard in the darkness. He pondered for a moment, then held up three fingers: "Three points: easy to learn, low investment, and development potential."
Lei Dongbao rubbed his hands together and pressed, "Could you explain in more detail?"
"Can't you just let me have some peace and quiet during the New Year?" Qin Hao said irritably, pushing open the car door. "You should go back and have your New Year's Eve dinner. We can talk about it after the New Year."
A cold wind, carrying the smell of gunpowder from firecrackers, blew in. Lei Dongbao stopped and stood outside the car, calling out to Qin Hao, "It's a deal! I'll come to your house after the New Year!"
Qin Hao waved without turning his head and strode towards the Song family's house. From afar, he could see the Song family's house brightly lit, with brand-new paper-cut window decorations on the windows, looking especially warm in the night.
As soon as the courtyard gate was pushed open, a familiar figure rushed out of the main room. Song Yunping was wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, and under the lamplight, she looked like a dancing flame.
"You're back!" Her voice was full of joy. "Are you freezing? Come inside and warm up!"
Qin Hao suddenly opened his arms and hugged Song Yunping tightly, much to her surprise. The girl's soft body, carrying a faint scent of face cream, instantly swept away his fatigue from the journey.
"Seeing you makes me feel warmer," Qin Hao whispered in her ear.
Song Yunping blushed and struggled softly, "No, Mom and Dad are still inside. They'll be coming out soon."
Qin Hao, however, nonchalantly tightened his arms around her: "Anyway, I've already proposed marriage, so I'm not afraid."
Song Yunping's ears turned bright red, almost bleeding. She gently pushed Qin Hao's chest, saying, "Let go! Mom and Dad's food got cold waiting for you."
"Didn't I tell you not to wait for me?" Qin Hao reluctantly let go of her, but still held her hand tightly.
Song Yunping straightened Qin Hao's collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, and said softly, "Mom and Dad said that it's not a family reunion without you."
Her icy fingers traced Qin Hao's cheek: "Come inside quickly, I've made some ginger soup to warm you up."
Qin Hao was touched and led Song Yunping into the warm main room. Inside, Song's father was adding charcoal to the brazier, Song's mother was busy setting the table, and Song Yunhui was squatting on the floor playing with a kitten. Seeing them enter, the whole family smiled.
"You're back just in time!" Mr. Song patted the charcoal ash off his hands. "The dumplings just went into the pot!"
Song's mother came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming plate of braised fish: "Haozi, come and sit down. You must be freezing after the journey!"
Song Yunhui picked up the kitten and winked at Qin Hao: "Brother-in-law, if you hadn't come back soon, my sister would have turned into a statue waiting for her husband."
"Xiao Hui!" Song Yunping stomped her foot in embarrassment and anger, making a move to hit her younger brother.
A burst of cheerful laughter erupted from inside the house. The crackling embers in the brazier illuminated everyone's happy faces. Outside the window, sporadic firecrackers popped and rang out, signaling the approaching New Year.
During the three days of the Lunar New Year, Qin Hao shed all his burdens and, apart from going to Yang Xun's house with Song Yunhui to wish Director Yang a Happy New Year, he basically stayed at the Song family's house the whole time.
Since they've already come to propose marriage, no one else can say anything.
However, early on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Qin Hao was awakened by urgent knocking on the door. Without even opening the door, he knew from the sound of the knocking that it must be Lei Dongbao, that rough man.
"Be gentle, you're going to smash this door down." Qin Hao opened the door and saw Lei Dongbao, and glared at him irritably.
Lei Dongbao carried a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor), a roast chicken, and a bag of braised beef. He entered the house with a smile and then closed the door behind him.
"You got up way too late, the sun's practically high in the sky."
Qin Hao stretched and went to wash up, too lazy to pay any attention to him.
After washing up, Lei Dongbao had already poured all the wine.
"Haozi, what you said on New Year's Eve is enough to make me think for half my life. I know it's difficult, but no matter how difficult it is, I still want to try. Could you tell me those three points in detail?"
Qin Hao picked up a piece of braised beef with his hand, took a sip of wine, and then slowly said, "First, it has to be easy to learn. The technical threshold can't be too high. There are a lot of peasants in Xiaolei now, so they have to be able to really learn and do it. It can't be the kind of thing where you start by drawing blueprints and making precision instruments."
Lei Dongbao nodded repeatedly, then refilled Qin Hao's glass: "And the second point?"
"Second, less investment. The brick factory and cattle farm are already struggling and can't afford to take on another heavy burden. Of course, if you can get a low-interest loan from the bank, this point can be ignored."
After listening to Qin Hao's explanation, Lei Dongbao smiled bitterly: "Haozi, don't be so modest. The 300,000 yuan loan for the cattle farm was thanks to your and County Chief Xu's support. Our Xiaolei family is just a team running a business, and the banks don't even give us a second glance. Where am I supposed to get a low-interest loan?"
At this point, Qin Hao raised his hand to interrupt: "Actually, it's not entirely impossible to get a low-interest loan. The cattle farm has signed a purchase contract with the cannery, right? Wait for the cannery to pay you back, pay off the bank loan first, and then try to get a loan from the bank with next year's purchase contract. The government is currently supporting foreign trade exports, and there should be special funds for this. What if you can get a loan? Even if you don't get a loan, you won't lose out."
Lei Dongbao was overjoyed: "It can be like this? Haozi, you really are knowledgeable. How would I, a roughneck, know about such a policy?"
"Stop flattering me." Qin Hao took a sip of his drink and continued, "Third, and most importantly—it has to have development potential. It can't be a one-off deal; it has to be a viable path, a path that can go far."
Lei Dongbao scratched his head upon hearing this: "I can understand the first two points, but isn't the third point a bit too broad? Could you give me some specific advice?"
Qin Hao pondered for a moment: "For example, plastic products: plastic bags, plastic buckets, and PVE tubes all have good development prospects. And then there are wires and cables; the whole country is currently engaged in infrastructure construction, so the demand for wires and cables is huge. State-owned factories have limited production capacity, and the quality is inconsistent. As long as you can guarantee the quality and price it similar to state-owned factories, you won't have to worry about selling them..."
Lei Dongbao's eyes lit up: "Wires and cables are great! Every household can use them. Last year, several people in our village who were building new houses went to many places to buy wires but couldn't find any. They finally managed to buy them through connections."
"But building a wire factory must cost a lot of money just for the equipment, right?"
Qin Hao sighed inwardly, as expected, Lei Dongbao had chosen the old path of wires and cables. However, considering the reality, Jinling County itself had copper mines, so making wires and cables did have an advantage in terms of production costs.
"I didn't expect you to buy brand new equipment right away. If you want to buy the imported new equipment from the state-owned factory, or the second-hand equipment that has been phased out, I can help you make a connection. Although it's outdated equipment, it can still be used for another five or ten years without any problem."
Lei Dongbao bowed deeply to Qin Hao: "Haozi, on behalf of the Lei family, young and old, thank you!"
"Don't give me that." Qin Hao laughed and scolded as he helped him up. "Have you finished asking? If you're done, hurry up and leave."
"No, we haven't drunk much."
"Go drink with your bunch of cronies, I don't have time to waste with a rough guy like you."
Lei Dongbao: ...