Chapter 158: A Year-End Report of Forty-Eight Million US Dollars!

The meeting finally ended in a relaxed and uplifting atmosphere.

A resolution was quickly formed: organize the "Red Star Phenomenon" into a top-level internal reference and submit it directly to the leadership in Zhongnanhai.

The various ministries reached a tacit understanding to provide all-around "escort and protection" for Red Star Technology.

As the meeting adjourned, everyone filed out one after another.

Vice Minister Liu intentionally lagged behind a few steps and grabbed Zhang Zhengguo, who was just about to slip away.

Zhang Zhengguo's hair stood on end as he tightly clutched his briefcase:

"Old Liu, I'm warning you, don't even think about Lin Xi!"

"We've already been very cooperative regarding the machine tools."

"If you dare to poach him again, I'll go sleep on the floor at your First Ministry of Machine Building!"

Vice Minister Liu's face, which was usually serious, was now covered in smiles.

He patted the back of Zhang Zhengguo's hand and said with a beaming smile:

"Old Zhang, look how anxious you are."

"As for work matters, that's the state's arrangement; I won't poach him anymore."

"With Red Star Technology staying in your Seventh Ministry of Machine Building, I can rest easy."

Zhang Zhengguo breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good."

"However..."

Vice Minister Liu changed the subject, his eyes gleaming,

"Let's not talk about work; let's talk about life."

"You know my little granddaughter, right?"

"She just turned twenty this year and is studying at Imperial Capital University. Her looks are beyond reproach."

As soon as Zhang Zhengguo heard this opening, his scalp instantly went numb.

"Look, Lin Xi is twenty-one, and my granddaughter is twenty."

"Isn't that perfect? A talented man and a beautiful woman—a match made in heaven!"

"And if these two kids hit it off, wouldn't our First and Seventh Ministries become in-laws?"

"Working together in the future would be even smoother, wouldn't it?"

The more Vice Minister Liu spoke, the more excited he became, and he wouldn't let go of Zhang Zhengguo's hand:

"Old Zhang, how about you set them up?"

"Even if it's just for the two kids to meet once!"

"For the sake of the country's industrial future, sacrificing a little personal time to date is permissible!"

As if his hand had been burned, Zhang Zhengguo abruptly shook off Vice Minister Liu.

Greasing his soles, he turned and ran.

"Vulgar! Simply too vulgar!"

While rushing toward the stairwell, Zhang Zhengguo looked back and cursed:

"Our place is for scientific research! It's sacred!"

"Lin Xi is so busy right now he doesn't even have time to sleep; how could he have time for romance!"

"You old rascal, don't even think about messing with our people!"

"Hey! Old Zhang! Why are you running!"

"If it really doesn't work, just take the photo back for a look!"

...

Just after New Year's Day in 1982, Aerospace City welcomed its first snow of the year, with a biting chill in the air.

But at this moment, inside the Dongfeng Auditorium, waves of heat were rolling.

The space, large enough to hold a thousand people, was packed to the brim.

A bright red banner hung above the stage, the calligraphy bold and powerful—

"Red Star Technology 1981 Annual Summary, Commendation, and Spring Festival Celebration Conference".

Lin Xi was wearing a set of work clothes.

Without even a script in his hand, he stood casually in front of the microphone.

He gently tapped the microphone.

Two dull "thud-thud" sounds echoed, like two beats against the hearts of everyone present.

The originally noisy venue instantly fell silent.

Over a thousand pairs of eyes focused on the young man on stage.

This year, this young man had led them to do so many inconceivable things.

Now, it was time for the final accounting.

"We are in the industrial sector; we don't play around with empty words."

Lin Xi's voice spread through the speakers across the hall, carrying a sense of relaxation rare for this generation,

"I know what everyone is waiting for."

"Let's be direct and talk about money first."

A wave of suppressed low laughter rippled through the audience.

Followed by countless pairs of eyes bloodshot with excitement.

"First item: Red Star · gentle breeze electric fan."

Lin Xi held up one finger,

"800,000 units shipped domestically, 1,000,000 units shipped overseas."

"Including last year's final payments, the total revenue is 1.6 million RMB..."

He paused, his gaze scanning the audience, his lips curling up:

"And, 19 million US dollars in foreign exchange."

"Boom!"

Even though there had been rumors privately, when this figure came directly from Lin Xi's mouth, the scene still exploded.

In that era, how many large state-owned factories had an annual foreign exchange target of only a few hundred thousand?

What was Red Star Technology?

It was like a money-printing machine that had attained sentience!

"Don't be in a hurry; this is just the appetizer."

Lin Xi pressed his hands down, signaling for silence.

"Second item: Red Star - forest oxygen bar."

At this point, the expression on Lin Xi's face was quite something, as if he wanted to laugh but was holding it back:

"Influenced by certain 'Qigong masters,' this product of ours has sold incredibly well domestically... 3 million units shipped."

"As for overseas, thanks to that best-selling book."

"Foreign leeks—ahem, foreign friends were very enthusiastic, with 800,000 units shipped."

"This item brought in 15 million RMB in revenue and 16 million US dollars in foreign exchange."

In the audience, Wang Yu couldn't help but cover his face, while Erga and Big Cannon were laughing so hard they were slapping their thighs, tears nearly coming out.

Who would have thought that by using the names of 'Spirit Gathering Array' and 'Foundation Establishment'...

...they would actually manage to harvest a crop of foreign leeks with the forest oxygen bar!

"Third item: overseas licensing fees."

Lin Xi continued reporting the numbers,

"Electric shavers and other patent licenses totaled 10 million US dollars in foreign exchange."

"Fourth item, and also the one that makes me the proudest."

Lin Xi's voice suddenly became low and serious.

"M1 CNC retrofit kits."

"And our industrial mother machine—'Red Star - mainstay'."

Hearing these two names, Li Jianguo, sitting in the audience, straightened his back, clutching his enamel mug tightly.

He Zhenhua, Zhao Qiang, Chen Xiaodong, Jiang Jun, and that old German man Klaus all pulled back their smiles.

That was their life, a Great Wall of flesh and blood they had built by toiling day and night.

"The machine tool business sold a total of 720 units."

"The net profit belonging to Red Star Technology is 3.36 million US dollars."

"The number doesn't sound like as much as selling fans, does it?" Lin Xi asked.

The whole venue was pin-drop silent.

"But every cent of this 3.36 million US dollars..."

...was carved out by us from the technical blockade of the Westerners!"

Lin Xi waved his hand sharply, his voice rising,

"This is the backbone money of China's industry!"

"It carries more weight than that forty million US dollars!"

Whoosh—!!!

Applause erupted like thunder, continuing unabated.

Li Jianguo's eyes were red as he clapped desperately, not even feeling the pain as his palms swelled.

Lin Xi took a deep breath and threw out the final summary:

"To sum up, Red Star Technology's total revenue for the year 1981 is—"

"16.6 million RMB and 48.36 million US dollars in foreign exchange!"