Chapter 84: Red Star Technology Established, Section Chief Lin Takes Office!

In these times, the country is facing such hardships; who doesn't have a sense of indignation suppressed in their heart?

All aerospace workers possess a patriotic heart. Seeing the country turn the tables brings a sense of satisfaction a hundred times more exciting than making money themselves!

Wang Bin stood below the stage, looking at the excessively young figure on it, feeling his cheeks burn slightly.

A year ago, he had even arrested this kid as a spy.

Who would have thought that what was inside this kid's head wasn't explosives, but a money-printing machine?

"Alright."

Elder Qian, who had been silent all this time, suddenly opened his eyes.

The cane in his hand tapped the ground lightly.

Thump, thump.

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to possess a certain magic; the boiling auditorium instantly became quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Elder Qian slowly stood up, and Lin Xi hurried over to support him.

"Little Lin, the military pledge—you've fulfilled it."

Elder Qian's voice was still raspy, but his eyes, which had seen countless storms, were full of smiles.

"Not only did you complete it, but you did it beautifully—so beautifully that even the foreigners have to look to us for cues!"

"Since you've done it, then the organization cannot be vague about what it promised you."

Elder Qian took a red-headed document from his guard and read it solemnly:

"With the approval of the higher authorities, effective immediately, the base's Micro-motor Factory 702, Dongfeng Plastics Factory No. 3, and Red Star Labor Service Agency are merged."

"Establishing—[Red Star Technology]."

"Administrative level: directly under the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building Industry Northwest Base."

Elder Qian paused and scanned the room. "Comrade Zhang Zhengguo will concurrently serve as General Manager."

"Comrade Lin Xi..."

Everyone's heart was in their throat.

"Is exceptionally promoted to a Full Section-level cadre and appointed as the Executive Deputy General Manager of Red Star Technology, presiding over the company's daily research, development, and operations."

Boom—!

The crowd below instantly erupted.

Although it was only a deputy position and nominally at the section level, who couldn't hear the weight behind those words?

This was "presiding over operations"!

If it weren't for the fact that Lin Xi's face was truly too young, the base would have probably loved to directly grant him a Division-level rank.

This wasn't just a promotion; it was a sign of great importance.

The directors of the Micro-motor Factory and the Plastics Factory looked at each other and shook their heads with wry smiles.

Well, starting today, they'd have to call this young man in his early twenties 'leader'.

Unconvinced?

Non-existent!

After so many "technical exchanges" and "bonus bombardments," who would dare to be unconvinced?

"Additionally."

Elder Qian did not sit down; instead, he dropped one last bombshell.

"Red Star Technology will establish the 'Red Star Laboratory'."

"In addition to the company's own personnel, this laboratory has priority transfer authority."

"It can requisition technical backbone from various departments of the base to participate in..."

Elder Qian looked deeply at Lin Xi and said those words:

"...research on key Military-to-Civilian Conversion projects."

Thump!

Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat.

He knew that this was the greatest reward Elder Qian had given him.

Not a government post, not a title.

It was people!

It was the top, smartest, most hardcore brains of this era!

This meant he could finally, legitimately, assemble the smartest minds of this era to charge toward those even crazier future technologies.

...

The meeting ended in a jubilant atmosphere.

Lin Xi was surrounded so tightly by the crowd that even Sun Erga, who had originally wanted to hand him a cigarette, was squeezed three meters away, grinning foolishly.

After finally "breaking through the encirclement," Lin Xi walked out to the steps of the auditorium to get some fresh air.

The night was deep.

On the Gobi Desert of the Northwest, the cold wind howled.

Above was a brilliant galaxy; below was solid permafrost.

"What? Satisfied already?"

Zhang Zhengguo had walked up behind him at some point and handed him a cigarette.

Lin Xi took the cigarette and tucked it behind his ear without lighting it.

"President Zhang, you call this satisfied?"

Lin Xi looked at the vast starry sky, his lips curling into an ambitious arc. "This is only the beginning."

"18 million sounds like a lot."

"But compared to my goal, it's still far off!"

Zhang Zhengguo was taken aback, then laughed loudly. "I just love this arrogant streak of yours!"

"By the way, President Zhang." Lin Xi changed the subject, his gaze becoming incredibly sharp.

"I've thought of the goal for 1981."

"Northwest alone isn't enough; I need... to leverage Hong Kong!"

...

Japan, Tokyo, Moonstand Works Headquarters.

"Bakayaro!"

Tanaka Kenichi angrily slammed the financial report onto his desk, his chest heaving violently.

The office that originally symbolized "craftsmanship" was now a mess due to its owner's loss of composure.

"Pres... President..."

The secretary bowed, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

China's latest rare earth export order has been officially issued.

They refuse to export any mixed concentrate; all rare metals must be separated through their 'specific process' before they can be purchased.

"And the price?" Tanaka Kenichi asked through gritted teeth.

"Neodymium is $1,000 per kilogram."

The secretary's voice trembled. "It's gone up by... dozens of times compared to before."

Tanaka Kenichi slumped back into his swivel chair, staring at the carvings on the ceiling, his mind racing.

This wasn't a price hike; this was highway robbery! They were trying to suck out their very marrow!

"The contract we signed before... we have to pay Red Star an $8 licensing fee per shaver."

"Because we wanted to get the license ahead of others, we're paying double..."

Tanaka closed his eyes in pain, his fingers gripping the armrests tightly.

"Add to that the damn cost of Neodymium Magnets... before each machine even leaves the factory, we have to send the Chinese $13 first?"

"Yes, President... and their raw material costs are approximately zero."

How is this doing business?

This is blatant blood-sucking!

Half a year ago, they still thought China was a technological desert ready for harvest at any time.

And now?

That young man named Lin Xi had placed the sickle directly against their necks and asked with a smile: Do you want to live? Then cough up your family fortune.

"Sign it."

Tanaka Kenichi seemed to age ten years in an instant, his gaze vacant.

"Other than accepting, we have no other choice."

"If we don't sign, Braun and Philips will immediately devour our market."

"By then, the shaver business will be completely gone."

This deep sense of helplessness was like an invisible noose, slowly tightening.

...

At the same time, Germany, Frankfurt.

Braun Company President Olson stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, the cigar between his fingers having burned to its end.

"President, Philips and Moonstand have both made their moves."

The assistant said in a low voice, "If we hesitate any longer, there won't be a place for Braun on the high-end shelves next year."

Olson remained silent for a long time before crushing the cigar stub into the ashtray.

"Keep an eye on that Red Star Labor Service Agency, keep an eye on that person named Lin Xi."

Olson's voice was as cold as a knife.

"This kind of era-transcending technology couldn't possibly have appeared out of thin air."

"As long as he makes any new move, even if it's just an idea, we must snatch it up immediately!"

"Even if... we have to sign another unequal treaty?" the assistant asked cautiously.

"Our current passivity is because we were one step behind," Olson said, turning around.

"On this commercial battlefield, being slow is the original sin."

...