1: One hundred thousand for a single steel cable? And in US dollars?

Chapter 1: 100,000 for a Single Steel Cable? In USD?

[All elements of this story are purely fictional. If you find real-world examples, please discard your brain!]

[This story will be serialized to over a million words. Please follow along with confidence and don't hoard chapters!]

[Long live the motherland!!!]

[Sacrifice the gold-digger to the heavens! Boundless magic power!]

Late autumn, Qinchuan City, Longxia Country.

"I'm telling you, Lu Shenwei, Julong Steel Factory is beyond saving. If you dare use the bride price money intended for me to take over that broken factory, we're finished!"

Lu Shenwei said in a low voice: "There's still two million left from my parents' pension. As long as we revitalize the factory, our life after marriage will definitely be better."

"I advise you to give up on that idea as soon as possible. Your parents' pension is my bride price. What right do you have to use it to save that broken factory?" his girlfriend Su Qing screamed.

Lu Shenwei said helplessly: "My parents passed away early. I was raised by Uncle Ma and the others since I was a child. Without them, I wouldn't be alive today. Julong Steel Factory must be saved!"

Julong Steel Factory, a well-known state-owned steel enterprise in Qinchuan City, was known as the Pearl of Qinchuan Industry in its early years.

Unfortunately, after entering the new century and the reform of state-owned enterprises to eliminate excess capacity, Qinchuan Steel Factory was listed as one of the first batch of key reform units.

Seeing that more than two hundred employees in the factory were about to lose their jobs, Lu Shenwei took the initiative to propose taking over the steel plant with his deceased parents' pension, but this move was strongly opposed by his girlfriend Su Qing.

"If you want to save those old fogies, fine. First, give one million to my brother so he can get married and buy a house," Su Qing said overbearingly.

Lu Shenwei's face darkened: "Give it to your good-for-nothing brother? Impossible!"

"Not giving it? Then our marriage is off!" Su Qing retorted.

Lu Shenwei got angry: "Then it's off!"

"You said it, don't regret it!"

Su Qing left a parting shot and slammed the door.

Start a family when you meet a good partner; build a career when you meet a benefactor.

He hadn't met a benefactor yet, but Su Qing was definitely not a good partner.

Lu Shenwei sighed and dialed the phone of the old director of Julong Steel Factory, Ma Quanlin.

"Uncle Ma, talk to the higher-ups. I'm willing to pay two million to take over the steel plant."

"Is this the result of your discussion with Xiao Qing?"

"Sort of. I'll bring the money tomorrow."

"Don't be in such a hurry. If you really want to take over the steel plant, I'll ask the higher-ups for some more policies."

Half a month later, Ma Quanlin approached Lu Shenwei with a written approval.

"The Julong Steel name is preserved. When the higher-ups heard it was a son of the factory taking over, they're selling the plant buildings to us at a discount and giving us the land for free."

"And as for that two million in state-owned enterprise equity transfer funds, we can also defer payment."

Lu Shenwei was stunned; the situation was much better than he had anticipated.

"Is that okay?"

"Don't worry, the higher-ups know our factory's situation and won't push too hard," Ma Quanlin said.

Lu Shenwei asked: "Uncle Ma, now that the factory is ours, what are your thoughts on its future development?"

"Let's not mention that for now. Tomorrow, you and I will handle the change of legal representative first."

The next day, Lu Shenwei held the business license in his hand, feeling a wave of emotions.

Having lived another life, he couldn't save his parents because he was too young, but at least he should save the steel plant they once loved.

Qinchuan was a major steel-producing city. The underreported steel production capacity of the entire region was more than that of some developed countries on Planet Blue.

There was once a joke that Longxia Country's steel production was number one in the world, Qinchuan City's steel production was second, and Qinchuan City's underreported steel production was third.

To revitalize Julong Steel, the steelmaking equipment must be upgraded and backward capacity eliminated.

In the words of the legendary Section Chief Ma, it was to implement a "Fine Steel Strategy."

Lu Shenwei had already thought it through: first, sell the factory's old equipment, add his two million, and then mortgage the factory buildings to get a bank loan.

By purchasing a batch of new equipment, he could surely bring Julong Steel back to life within three years, but the growing pains during this period would be inevitable.

"Uncle Ma, from today on, we'll tighten our belts. I'll be the chairman, and you'll still be the factory director." Lu Shenwei patted Ma Quanlin's shoulder, and the latter nodded silently.

Lu Shenwei added: "Julong Steel cannot die in the hands of us two..."

[Ding! Host is detected to own a steel plant. The Great Power Heavy Industry System has been activated!]

[Initial system activation reward: one Newbie Gift Pack!]

What the heck? It's been twenty-two years; why did you just show up now, System?

Do you know how hard I've had it all these years?

[The host can use funds to exchange for various industrial products, blueprints, and manufacturing equipment in the System Mall.]

System Mall? Oh my goodness!

Artificial Sun technology? Ultra-high load recyclable hydrogen rockets? Long-range wireless charging technology?

These are all jewels in the crown of industry, but even the cheapest one requires one billion longxia currency to unlock. Let's open the gift pack first.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Super Steel Cable Manufacturing Process Blueprint!]

Super Steel Cable? High density, extremely strong ductility? What can this be used for?

As a truck towing cable?

"Uncle Ma, what can a steel cable with high density and decent ductility be used for?"

Ma Quanlin thought for a moment and said: "It could be used for heavy-duty truck towing, but even if we produce it, we won't sell many."

"What do you mean?" Lu Shenwei asked.

"The truck towing cable market is already saturated. There are several steel plants in Qinchuan City alone producing them."

Ma Quanlin's words dragged Lu Shenwei back from his fantasy to reality.

Just this? This is worthy of being called a system gift pack? Are you kidding me?

Whatever, something is better than nothing.

"Uncle Ma, tomorrow you look into a batch of new equipment first. Our factory can't stay idle forever; we need to get everyone moving."

"Have you thought about what to make?"

"I happen to have a manufacturing process blueprint for Super Steel Cables. Let's start with those. We'll look for partners nationwide, and the price can be a bit cheaper than similar towing cables."

Ma Quanlin opened his mouth, but the words of persuasion never came out.

Young people have drive; I, an old man, shouldn't dampen his enthusiasm.

"Alright, I'll make the contacts."

Half a month later, the first batch of Super Steel Cables was successfully trial-produced, but no one was interested.

Lu Shenwei lived and ate in the chairman's office, so worried he couldn't sleep, only hoping for a miracle through sheer effort.

"Tell all the sales staff to go out and find a market. Whoever can close a deal gets a 10% sales commission."

With Lu Shenwei's words, almost all the factory workers ran out of the factory grounds.

Three days later, they actually found a buyer.

"How much? 100,000 longxia currency for one cable?"

"Not longxia currency, it's USD! Eagle Sauce USD!"

USD? Am I dreaming?

Never mind a single cable selling for 100,000 USD, even if it were 100,000 longxia currency, selling just 20 cables would break even.

Not only could they pay the workers' wages, but the entire factory could be revitalized. Such a good deal is hard to find even with a lantern.

"Uncle Ma, are you sure the other party isn't a scammer?"

"Probably not? The other party's procurement documents have been sent over, but it's all in English and I can't understand it."

Lu Shenwei pondered: "A foreign company, 100,000 USD per cable... how about we try? Have the other party pay half the deposit first!"

"This? I'll try." Ma Quanlin scratched his head.

In the past, state-owned production was always work first, settle later, and if there was no money, it would be paid with commercial notes. He had never heard of asking for half the deposit upfront.

Lu Shenwei took the Eagle Sauce company's contract documents and frowned: "Locke Dongde Equipment Manufacturing Florida Company? Have you heard of it?"