Chapter 53: Millions in Revenue Shatter the Headquarters

Lin Xi extended a finger and pointed sharply in the air.

"Thirteen million RMB!"

"Of that, exactly eight million US dollars!"

Boom!

These numbers were like a clap of thunder, exploding directly in the conference room.

The cigarette butt in Zhang Zhengguo's hand fell onto his pants, burning a hole, yet he was completely oblivious, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"How... how much?"

The lid of the teacup in Wang Bin's hand fell onto the table with a "clatter" and rolled twice.

Ten million?

Eight million US dollars?

In an era where the country's foreign exchange reserves were stretched thin and every few million dollars had to be meticulously calculated.

This wasn't just money.

This was a nuclear weapon!

If all this money were used to import the technology and equipment the country desperately lacked, how much progress would it bring to this nation?!

Lin Xi looked at the dumbfounded big shots and delivered the final, most lethal blow:

"The most crucial thing is, this ten million is only my share."

"The partner factories, like Huashang Factory and Hongfeng Factory, also received their share of the profits and earned foreign exchange."

"I didn't keep it all for myself; everyone made money and got foreign exchange."

This is what you call a win-win.

I win twice, and you win once.

A deathly silence filled the room.

Only the wall clock ticked away, "tick-tock, tick-tock."

Elder Qian took off his glasses, took out a piece of flannel, and wiped them slowly and meticulously.

No one saw that the hand of this titan of the industry, holding the glasses, was trembling slightly.

It was out of excitement.

As the commander-in-chief, he knew all too well how poor the base was.

Research funding had to be wheedled out, subsidies for technicians couldn't be paid, and many pre-research projects remained only on paper for lack of funds.

Now, an Intern had solved all these problems in just half a year.

What market disruption?

What disorderly expansion?

In the face of eight million US dollars in foreign exchange, these accusations weren't worth a damn!

Elder Qian put on his glasses and re-examined the young man before him.

His gaze was no longer one of scrutiny, but filled with the gratification and pride of looking at a brilliant prodigy of his own.

*Slap!*

Elder Qian slammed the table.

This time it wasn't out of anger, but laughter.

His hearty laughter made the very roof tremble.

"Good!"

"What a 'technology tax'!"

"What a ten million!"

Elder Qian stood up, took the letter of complaint, and in front of everyone, casually tore it in half and threw it into the trash.

"I don't care anymore!"

Elder Qian's voice was resolute, carrying an aura of sweeping away thousands of troops,

"If 'disruption' can earn the country enough for an atomic bomb, then I hope for as much of it as possible!"

"Lin Xi!"

"Present!"

"Go ahead and do it! Even if the sky falls, the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building Industry will hold it up for you!"

Elder Qian pointed north, toward the capital.

"As for the First Ministry of Machine Building Industry, I'll go and give them a piece of my mind!"

"I'll just ask them, of all their subordinate factories, who can bring back eight million US dollars for me in half a year?"

"If they can't, then they better shut the hell up!"

Zhang Zhengguo also snapped out of it, looked at the burn hole in his pants, and grinned—a grin that was slightly fierce.

"Damn, this kid... he really is a fucking talent!"

"Lin Xi, about the wind tunnel, there's no rush!"

"With this money, I need to think carefully about how to spend it."

Lin Xi stood at attention, saluted again, a bright smile spreading across his face.

"Mission guaranteed!"

This wasn't just a victory.

This was Lin Xi's declaration of having firmly established himself in this era.

From this day forward, he was no longer an Intern who had to tread carefully around the rules.

He was the aerospace system's super ATM, the chess player wielding the heavy sword of foreign exchange.

Who would dare touch him?

...

In July, the Northwest sun was so fierce it seemed ready to melt the asphalt.

In the backyard of the Red Star Labor Service Agency, however, there was a festive atmosphere.

"Brother Cannon, I heard you want to buy a Xingfu 250 motorcycle?"

Sun Erga sat on a folding stool with his legs crossed.

He held a filtered "a brand of cigarettes" between his fingers.

His Dacron shirt was dazzlingly white, with two buttons undone to reveal a brand-new tank top underneath.

"Buy my ass!"

Wang Dapao was rolling a pair of iron walnuts of unknown origin in his hand, his face flushed with excitement, his voice as loud as if he were belting out a Qinqiang opera,

"That thing needs gas and a license."

"I just want to tear down those three mud-brick rooms at home and build a two-story small building!"

"All red brick, with cement pointing!"

"Look at you lot, so little ambition."

Liu Guihua was using a damp towel to wipe her new leather shoes, the tips so shiny they could serve as mirrors,

"Let me tell you, we're the foundation of a Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household now."

"I plan to get my husband a new watch—a Shanghai brand!"

Sunflower seed shells littered the yard, and the air was thick with the scent of the "nouveau riche."

Ever since the news of the "ten million profit" had spread within their small circle.

This group of "losers" who were once marginalized by the base were now floating so high their heels didn't even touch the ground.

Even the usually most honest assembly workers.

Were discussing whether they should hire a maid so they wouldn't even have to pour their own foot-washing water anymore.

"Our hard days are finally over!"

Old Six, Zhao the Scabby's former lackey and current warehouse manager, spat a mouthful of watermelon juice onto the ground and stretched comfortably,

"From now on, we'll just follow Manager Lin and live off our laurels, eating and drinking the best..."

*Bang!*

A loud bang, like a slap, struck everyone hard across the face.

The yard door was kicked open.

The yard, which had been as noisy as a wet market, instantly fell silent.

Lin Xi stood at the entrance.

His expression was calm—so calm it was unnerving.

His eyes swept over the sunflower seed shells on the ground, the crossed legs, and the greasy, satisfied faces.

The half-burnt cigarette in Sun Erga's hand scorched his finger; he shivered and quickly threw it on the ground, stomping it out.

He stood up straight, like an elementary school student seeing the dean of students.

"Man... Manager Lin, you're back?"

Liu Guihua hurriedly took her feet off the stool and tugged at the hem of her shirt, looking flustered.

Lin Xi didn't say a word, walking straight to the wooden table in the middle of the yard.

He unzipped his bag, pulled out a stack of documents, and slammed them onto the table with a "thud."

"Everyone's here?" Lin Xi's voice betrayed no emotion,

"Living the good life, aren't we? Smoking a brand of cigarettes, eating watermelon, and discussing building small houses?"

"That's... that's all thanks to you..."

Erga offered a forced smile, but his heart was pounding like a drum.

"Thanks to me?"

Lin Xi gave a cold laugh and tapped the documents on the table,

"Since everyone thinks they've made it and are someone important now."

"Then fine. Today we won't talk about production or dividends. First, we'll have a test."

"A... a test?" Sun Erga was bewildered.

"These documents are the shipping bill of lading supplementary agreements just sent by Sears Department Store."

"And the English terms for next quarter's product liability insurance."

Lin Xi leaned forward with both hands on the table, radiating an intense sense of pressure,

"Whoever can read this first page to me and translate it into Chinese, I'll reward them with five hundred yuan in cash on the spot."