Chapter 187 Red Star·Clean Realm

Zhang Zhengguo's heart skipped a beat; it was just as he had expected.

Just as he was about to offer words of comfort, Lin Xi added another sentence.

"I've been there for nearly two months, and I still haven't been able to achieve mass production of T300 carbon fiber in one go."

"I've failed to live up to your trust, and I've also failed the expectations of Elder Qian."

Zhang Zhengguo waved his hand and smiled kindly,

"Little Lin, don't put too much pressure on yourself."

"carbon fiber is the black pearl on the industrial crown."

"How many laboratories across the country are stuck on that very thing?"

"How long have you even been at it?"

"It's normal not to have progress; there's no need to rush right now..."

"Actually, it's not that there's absolutely no progress."

Lin Xi added with an earnest expression,

"It's mainly due to equipment limitations."

"I just happened to modify those two discarded production lines from Japan's Toray."

"Right now, it can only mass-produce high-modulus glass fiber."

"The performance is only about..."

"...about 30% higher than the best products from those guys."

"Sigh, it's barely usable; it doesn't count as a breakthrough."

Zhang Zhengguo's hand, which was originally reaching for his teacup, froze in mid-air.

His fingertips were only a centimeter away from the lid, but he couldn't bring his hand down.

"How much?"

Zhang Zhengguo's voice rose slightly,

"30% higher? And it's only 'barely usable'?"

"Yes, the feel is a bit stiff, but the toughness is okay."

"I caught an eighty-pound grouper at the dock with it last time."

"But it can only be used to reap leeks in the civilian sector to earn some hard-earned money."

Lin Xi looked heartbroken, as if he had created some kind of industrial waste,

"I estimate it won't be profitable until April."

"As for the T300, I expect it will drag on until the second half of the year before I can produce a sample."

"Slow, it's too slow; I really need to reflect on my efficiency."

In the command room, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhang Zhengguo appeared as steady as a rock on the surface, but inside, he was roaring wildly:

Damn it!

He's been there for a month and already made high-modulus glass fiber?

And the performance is improved by a third?

This is what you call "no progress"?

This is what you call "average progress"?

What would those materials experts in the country who have spent ten years without even touching the threshold think?

And it'll be profitable in just another month!

You call this reaping leeks and earning hard-earned money?

The comments in the live stream were going crazy with laughter.

[A massive Versailles moment! Streamer, look at General Manager Zhang's expression; he's about to shatter!]

[Lin Xi: I'm really not good at materials. Zhang Zhengguo: Please, be a human being!]

[I give this Versailles moment full marks! General Manager Zhang's blood pressure is already up; this kid is really asking for a beating!]

Zhang Zhengguo took a deep breath and shoved the invitation into Lin Xi's arms:

This kid spent some time at Haiwei.

Not only did he pick up bad habits, but even his tone of voice is so annoying.

"You kid..."

"In the future, don't show off this kind of 'slowness' to me."

Zhang Zhengguo pointed at the door through gritted teeth,

"Get out of here and go to the workshop to check on your products; don't embarrass me in Hanover."

Lin Xi chuckled and promptly got up to leave.

Before leaving, he specifically added:

"Next, I have to take He Zhenhua to several places."

"For Haiwei and the base, I'll have to trouble you, General Manager Zhang, to keep an eye on things for me."

"After all, I'm just an Intern in my early twenties; some rules and regulations still need a big shot like you to hold things down."

Zhang Zhengguo waved his hand powerlessly.

After Lin Xi's footsteps faded away, he couldn't help but grumble quietly:

"An Intern?"

"Whose Intern earns tens of millions of dollars a year?"

"Whose Intern discusses manned spaceflight behind closed doors with Elder Qian?"

"You are just a little fox that fell into a can of engine oil!"

...

Half an hour later, in the expanded Fifth Workshop.

Wang Yu was leading a group of people gathered around an ivory-white machine.

That was a "Red Star - qingjing" air purifier.

The body used ABS engineering plastic, which was rare in this era.

The lines were not rigid right angles but had a Bauhaus style with soft curves.

This minimalist aesthetic, which was ahead of its time, felt like it had been transported back from the future.

"Manager, this is the final prototype that has removed all industrial sharp edges according to your requirements."

Wang Yu introduced it while pressing the power switch.

A slight humming sound rang out; it was the centrifugal fan that had undergone precise dynamic balancing.

In less than five minutes, the original heavy smell of cutting oil in the workshop was replaced by a faint, refreshing herbal scent.

This scent, which blended traditional Chinese medicinal herbs like mugwort and arborvitae leaves.

Was carried by the airflow, making people feel refreshed.

In the live stream, the comments were flowing like a waterfall.

[This look! This quality! Are you sure this was made in 1982? This color scheme would be snapped up even if sold for 1999 in the future!]

[The key is that filter cartridge! Look at that thickness; it's full of genuine activated carbon. The Streamer is using a 'Dragon-Slaying Saber to kill a chicken' this time, using aerospace airflow algorithms to purify a living room.]

[And that traditional Chinese medicine filter. How would foreigners understand this? They'll only think it's mysterious Eastern magic.]

Lin Xi reached out to feel the stable laminar flow from the air outlet and asked:

"Have you calculated the cost?"

Wang Yu opened his notebook:

"The cost of materials and labor for the entire machine has been pressed down to 112 RMB."

"Because the filter uses activated carbon and traditional Chinese herbal dregs, the cost is about 12 RMB."

"If we can expand mass production, the cost can be pushed down another 10% or so."

"What about the pricing?" Wang Yu looked at Lin Xi tentatively.

Lin Xi tapped the outer casing and said in a calm tone:

"For the domestic market, we won't make much."

"The retail price is 268 RMB, the filter is 28 RMB, and the wholesale price is 60% of retail."

"Letting those who need it afford it is called improving the working environment."

Everyone nodded; this price was indeed reasonable.

"As for the overseas market..."

Lin Xi paused, a flash of cold light in his eyes,

"The suggested retail price for the whole machine: 298 USD."

"Suggested retail price for the filter: 49 USD each, mandatory replacement every six months."

"The FOB price is calculated at 50% off!"

"How much?!"

Wang Yu almost lost his footing,

"This is practically robbery!"

"Wang Yu, you need to open your perspective."

Lin Xi patted his shoulder,

"Foreigners aren't buying a plastic shell."

"They are buying their fear of cancer."

"They are paying a premium for a healthy life."

"You tell them that this machine contains mineral adsorption technology from the Himalayas."

"And an Eastern secret of longevity passed down for two thousand years."

"If we sell it cheaply, they'll think it has no technical value."

Sun Erga, standing to the side, listened in a daze.

Lin Xi turned his head and instructed him:

"Erga, this first batch of goods."

"First, send one to each of the leaders at the base and the ministry."

"Just say that the leaders work hard for the country and smoke a lot."

"As the younger generation, we're just showing our respect."

This sounded high-sounding.

But Sun Erga instantly understood what Lin Xi meant: this is called high-level endorsement.

As long as the old leaders have this thing in their homes.

When those foreign businessmen or colleagues from the ministry come to handle business and see it—

Oh, even big shots of that level are using it; this Red Star purifier must be something special.

This is the best live advertisement.