68: Wang Zizhong: Mr. Lu, let’s go together!

Chapter 68: Wang Zizhong: Little Director Lu, let's have a drink!

Li Zewu's mouth twitched. Wasn't Julong Steel just a nouveau riche?

"Isn't their chairman some pretty boy named Lu something..."

The assistant reminded him: "Lu Shenwei."

"Yes, yes, that's him." Li Zewu's expression darkened.

In just three short years, Julong Steel went from being on the verge of bankruptcy to one of the top twenty enterprises in Qinchuan. Lu Shenwei was even hailed as the foremost tycoon in Qinchuan.

Li Zewu had long disliked Lu Shenwei. If it weren't for his old man holding him back and telling him to keep a low profile.

How could Lu Shenwei, who only earned a few hundred million a year, be the richest man in Qinchuan?

Bah! He wasn't even fit to carry the shoes of the Lis Group!

"Give Julong Steel a warning. The Qinchuan agricultural machinery market isn't a place for just any stray cat or dog to interfere," Li Zewu said coldly.

The assistant quietly reminded him: "Second Young Master, the Chairman told us not to provoke Julong Steel."

The assistant was not as reckless as Li Zewu. He deeply understood the significance behind gaining the plaque designating them as a friendly cooperative unit of the Navy.

"They are practically urinating and defecating on our heads, and we're supposed to tolerate that? It's just borrowing prestige. Rumors say they have some military background, look how scared you all are."

Li Zewu paid no mind. Over the years, countless outsiders had tried to muscle into the Qinchuan agricultural machinery market, and those who should disappear eventually did.

Did a mere Julong Steel really think it could come and take a piece of the pie? Did it deserve it?

The assistant shrank his head and said no more.

Li Zewu said coldly: "Remind Julong Steel to keep their eyes open."

The assistant only remained silent upon hearing this. Li Zewu was displeased: "What? You won't even listen to me now?"

"Second Young Master is right, they deserve a lesson. I'll arrange it immediately." The assistant hurriedly nodded.

The Lis Group began to secretly target Julong Steel, while Lu Shenwei remained completely unaware.

Julong Steel Factory, staff canteen.

Director Wang frequently raised his glass, and the nearby coworkers couldn't stop him.

"Director Wang, the Chairman is already drunk, stop toasting him."

"What do you mean drunk? Little Director Lu has a great tolerance for alcohol."

Having suppressed his feelings for a long time, Director Wang was already tipsy after just a few cups. He grabbed Lu Shenwei and started chugging drinks.

Ma Quanlin happened to be dispatched out of town to secure business, so no one could persuade him otherwise.

Lu Shenwei initially wanted to refuse, but he couldn't stand Director Wang's constant toasting.

After all, he was the factory's Deputy Director, and as Chairman, he had to show some respect.

In order to promote the longmao agricultural vehicle, Director Wang ate and lived in the countryside, regardless of the harsh winter or scorching summer.

Few people possessed such perseverance.

"Uncle Wang, leave the matter of improving the agricultural vehicle to me. If the technology is insufficient, we'll buy it. If we lack experts, we'll spend a fortune to recruit them. In short, Julong Steel has money."

With the alcohol taking hold, Lu Shenwei was also a bit dizzy.

Director Wang picked up his sharing cup and downed it all. Lu Shenwei followed suit but was stopped by others.

It was a joke; how could the twenty-something Director Lu possibly compete with an old seasoned drinker from Subai?

If Director Lu actually got sick from drinking, what would happen to the nearly two thousand workers at Julong Steel?

Zhou Cun stopped Lu Shenwei: "Chairman, we've had enough for today, let's call it a night."

"Enough? Aren't there still a few bottles left on the table? Drink!" Director Wang shouted.

Zhou Cun signaled the other workers to help carry Director Wang away.

"Zhou Cun, is this okay? That's Director Wang."

"What's okay or not? If something goes wrong, I'll take responsibility. Hurry up and get Director Wang out of here, if he drinks any more, something bad will really happen."

Seven or eight empty liquor bottles were scattered on the dining table. Even Director Wang, who considered himself able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, was confused. Could Director Lu hold up?

"Don't pull me! I'm not drunk!"

"Good kid, I'll remember you, Zhou Cun, right?"

"Little Director Lu, we'll continue drinking next time. Your Uncle Wang has great stamina."

Just before being dragged out of the canteen, Director Wang was still shouting loudly.

Zhou Cun helped Lu Shenwei back to the dormitory: "Chairman, you should rest. I'll be right outside the door; call me if you need anything."

"You should go back to sleep too. I... I'm fine.", Lu Shenwei mumbled drunkenly.

"Are you really fine?"

"Of course I'm fine. Go back to sleep."

Lu Shenwei pushed Zhou Cun out the door and then lay down straight on the bed.

Seeing this, Zhou Cun dared not leave. He pulled up a chair and leaned against the wall to rest, keeping an eye on Lu Shenwei's movements at all times.

His stomach churning violently, Lu Shenwei couldn't sleep even lying on the bed.

He might as well sit up and think about the future development direction for Julong Steel.

A few days ago during the aircraft carrier sea trials, Gu Ming had already revealed that the higher-ups would strengthen the control over Julong Steel Pipe and Longying Drone.

Of course, they would also provide some compensation, so the idea of getting rich by selling 'munitions' was temporarily out of the question.

The Julong Super Steel Cable would not be procured by the Navy again in the short term.

The large commercial unmanned transport aircraft would take at least half a year for initial testing and at least another year to fully develop.

To cover the ten-billion deficit, he could only set his sights on the longmao agricultural vehicle.

Lu Shenwei hadn't been idle during his few days back at the factory. His assistant had already submitted the compiled market research report for agricultural vehicles.

According to the market survey, the sales volume of agricultural vehicles in Dragon Xia increased by 10% year-on-year last year, reaching 1 million units.

Among them, small agricultural vehicles accounted for the largest proportion at 60%, medium-sized vehicles accounted for 30%, and large vehicles accounted for 10%.

The small agricultural vehicle market remained the main driver of sales. The design concept for the longmao agricultural vehicle was not problematic, and its positioning was accurate enough.

As long as the six points of improvement suggested by Director Wang were addressed, the longmao agricultural vehicle would definitely sell well.

Lu Shenwei thought about bringing up the system store and leisurely began searching for suitable black technologies.

"All-wheel drive? This technology is good. Equipping the longmao agricultural vehicle with it will greatly enhance the vehicle's off-road capability and stability."

Lu Shenwei took a liking to the four-wheel drive technology named [Quattro]. Looking closely, the price was only 2,000 yuan.

Lu Shenwei didn't even frown and immediately redeemed the complete set of technical drawings.

"Anti-rust paint is also a priority. We can't sell an agricultural vehicle that rusts in just a couple of days, right?"

The drunken Lu Shenwei continued to swipe the system interface, searching for suitable anti-rust technology.

Meanwhile, the Finance Officer, who was in the dormitory building chatting with her boyfriend, suddenly received a bank notification on her phone.

Julong Steel Factory's general account had an external expenditure of 20 million yuan, the payee was unknown.

"Why aren't you talking anymore?"

Her boyfriend on the other end of the line asked with concern. The Finance Officer explained: "I just told Director Lu during the day that we need to activate the funds and can't keep all the money in the account. Then just now, Director Lu suddenly spent twenty million. I saw the expenditure item listed as 'Technology Upgrade'."

"That's good news! It proves your Chairman knows how to spend money."

"What 'your' Chairman? You'll have to change that to 'our' Chairman when you report for duty in a couple of days. He's a very good person."

"Right, right, our Chairman."

The two were flirting and chatting happily.

Suddenly, the Finance Officer's phone received another payment message: Julong Steel's general account spent 200 million.

"I just praised Director Lu for knowing how to spend money, and now he spent another 200 million. The project is still listed as 'Technology Upgrade'."

The young Finance Officer chuckled, not finding anything suspicious at all.