13: The orders have exploded and we don’t have enough staff!

Steel Factory.

Office.

Li Mubai leaned back in his chair, bored, a hint of worry on his face.

The steel plates were produced in the morning, and the man was melancholic in the afternoon.

Thanks to Zhao Zhenghua's support, the Steel Factory wasn't on the verge of bankruptcy.

It wouldn't collapse in the short term.

But without new orders, this wasn't a long-term solution either.

There were some small orders, but the total quantity of these orders combined didn't exceed three tons.

Moreover.

Because the quality of steel previously produced by the Steel Factory was poor, the price was below market value.

The money earned from three tons of steel.

Was less than the cost of firing up the Steel Factory's furnace to smelt steel.

This kind of order was like a chicken rib, flavorless to eat but a shame to discard, leaving Li Mubai feeling quite helpless.

"Could it be... I have to sacrifice my looks and go door-to-door to sell products?"

He actually knew a potential client.

She was the chairwoman of a company.

And also a woman, forty-one years old, unmarried.

It wasn't that she was unmarried, she had been married once, but her husband died in a car accident.

And so.

She naturally took over her husband's position and became the company's power holder.

Li Mubai had cooperated with her twice.

However, this wasn't her true intention; her fundamental goal was to acquire this small factory.

Li Mubai naturally refused.

So, the two of them didn't continue to cooperate.

But now.

Li Mubai was confident he could make her continue cooperating with the Steel Factory.

The quality of the product had changed; if she had any discerning eye, she would definitely pursue a deeper cooperation.

However...

Thinking of how she repeatedly reached out to caress his face, Li Mubai couldn't help but shiver.

As the saying goes.

Thirty like a wolf, forty like a tiger.

This forty-one-year-old older sister had fair skin and a good figure and appearance.

Precisely because of this.

He was even more certain that this woman was definitely not someone he could handle.

If he were to go door-to-door to sell products, he was afraid he wouldn't leave their office building without leaving behind a few sons and grandsons.

A woman full of emptiness, loneliness, and coldness.

Was not someone a newborn calf like him could control.

So, this idea could only remain a thought.

As for putting it into practice?

Forget it.

A beautiful woman was good, but he was not blessed to enjoy her...

Just as he was in a predicament.

Ding-a-ling...

The old landline on the desk broke the quiet atmosphere.

"Hello, Father. Why did you call?"

"I have something urgent for you. Oh, has the Steel Factory received any new orders recently?"

"This... no. Don't worry, Father. I will definitely get that order in a couple of days."

"No? That's great!"

Laughter came from the other end of the phone.

Li Mubai originally thought Li's Father called to check if the Steel Factory had improved, but who would have thought.

Upon hearing there were no orders, he actually became happy.

This immediately made him feel a bit speechless.

"No, Father. You're so happy even without orders?"

"Of course I'm happy! If you had orders and sold them, there might be trouble then."

Without waiting for Li Mubai to ask, Li's Father's tone continued:

"Alright, alright, let's leave it at that for now. We'll talk about other things when you come home."

Beep, beep, beep...

Li Mubai was just about to say something, but the phone was directly hung up.

This action left him utterly speechless.

"Forget it, that's enough for today."

"Off work, home!"

...

The next day.

The crisp morning air made people feel refreshed and happy.

Li Mubai and Li's Father arrived at the factory early.

Last night.

As soon as Li Mubai returned home, Li's Father pulled him into the bedroom and had a closed-door talk for half an hour.

The whole story, from beginning to end, was revealed.

He finally understood why his father had laughed on the phone.

It turned out that people from the Military Research Institute had come.

"Uncle Zhao, have some tea."

In the reception room.

Li Mubai placed the cup full of tea on the coffee table in front of Zhao Zhenghua.

"Good! Thank you."

Zhao Zhenghua smiled and nodded.

After taking a small sip of tea, he then looked at Li's Father, who was sitting opposite him.

"Old comrade, I didn't expect your talent to be so outstanding! To be able to develop such steel plates even at home."

"Thank you for the compliment, but, I want to say... you're praising the wrong person."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Li's Father cast his gaze towards Li Mubai, who was sitting beside him, his eyes filled with gratification.

"Actually, this new type of steel plate was entirely developed by him alone."

He was also very surprised that Li Mubai could actually develop such a world-shaking material.

At first, he just had a 'let's try it' mentality, letting Li Mubai tinker around.

The most fundamental goal was to let Li Mubai get it out of his system.

From then on, he would work hard.

Then marry and have children, living a peaceful life.

Who would have thought Li Mubai was so capable, actually succeeding in making this thing?

When he learned this news, he was quite shocked.

At the same time, he also felt happy in his heart.

Because this thing was accomplished by his son, Li Mubai, and he was proud of him!

"What? This wasn't developed by you?"

Zhao Zhenghua looked at Li Mubai in surprise, his eyes full of shock.

He couldn't imagine.

A young man who had not long graduated from university could actually develop such a thing!

This was a raw material that even top domestic academicians had not been able to research!

"Like father, like son. Young and promising, young and promising!"

Zhao Zhenghua looked at Li Mubai, his words full of praise.

"Uncle Zhao, you flatter me."

Li Mubai smiled humbly.

Subsequently.

Zhao Zhenghua looked at Li's Father again:

"Then this matter..."

"I have handed over the entire Steel Factory to him; these matters are for him to decide."

After Li's Father finished speaking, he took his leave and went straight out of the reception room.

However.

Before leaving, he couldn't help but remind Li Mubai:

"The country is currently going through a difficult period; you are a fellow countryman, you must think for the country."

In response.

Li Mubai returned a smile.

This was already his heartfelt wish, which was to make the motherland prosperous and strong.

Therefore.

He could supply this new type of steel plate entirely to the country at a price 20% lower than the market price for special-grade steel.

A 20% concession was already a very significant compromise.

Any less, and he wouldn't make a profit.

Even if he wanted to support the country, his family still needed to live, didn't they?

Moreover, if the price was too low, how would he obtain exchange points to exchange for subsequent military technology?

Ultimately.

The two talked for a whole hour.

Li Mubai promised that all products would be supplied directly to the country and not sold externally.

And.

It would be supplied at a price 20% lower than the market price for special-grade steel.

Zhao Zhenghua was also very happy with this outcome.

After all, he had already gained a great advantage, or rather, the country had gained a great advantage.

As Zhao Zhenghua left.

Li Mubai, back in his office, became annoyed again.

Now there was no need to worry about orders; whatever they produced, the country would take.

However.

Currently, there were only two people in the factory.

There simply weren't enough hands.