“Exactly, this is the fuel-assisted bicycle we discussed earlier, a new structural product to improve civilian travel. However…”
Wang Yu trailed off, drawing out his words.
“However what?” Factory Director Huang He was momentarily stunned, but after seeing the blueprint, he immediately understood.
The blueprint only showed the general design, completely omitting the core aspects related to the fuel engine!
It was obvious Wang Yu had guarded against him!
“Director Wang, what do you mean?” Huang He’s expression turned cold.
Previously, Wang Yu had approached him, proposing a collaboration to develop a new product, the fuel-assisted bicycle, by fitting a fuel engine onto a bicycle to achieve a motorcycle-like effect.
Its performance wouldn't match a motorcycle, but the key was its affordability!
Many ordinary working-class individuals who couldn't afford a motorcycle could still manage to accept it with a bit of saving. Moreover, its usage and maintenance costs would be much lower than a motorcycle.
It was essentially a low-spec, commoner's version of a motorcycle!
Factory Director Huang He had immediately recognized the market potential of this fuel-assisted bicycle. It was tailor-made for his bicycle factory, a flagship product that could revive it from the brink of collapse!
But now, Wang Yu was holding back from him? Without the fuel engine, which was the "heart" of the vehicle, what was the point of him building a reinforced bicycle?
“Heh heh, Director Huang, please don't be angry.” Wang Yu smiled and pushed a teacup towards Huang He.
“After all, your bicycle factory has some deficiencies in engine technology, and our auto factory doesn't have a bicycle production line.
Both of us are facing difficulties right now and don't have the time or energy for extensive new product line development and construction. Collaboration is our best option.”
Factory Director Huang He nodded repeatedly as Wang Yu spoke. While he was not entirely satisfied, the logic was undeniably sound.
“So, Uncle Huang… well, if you don't mind me calling you that.”
Wang Yu addressed Huang He. Seeing the other man nod, he continued,
“Uncle Huang, when can you get this project started at the earliest?”
Listening to Wang Yu, Huang He pondered for a moment.
“The old workers can be recalled anytime, and the factory equipment is all still here; it just needs some maintenance. The only thing needed is a batch of materials and parts… I'll handle that. After all these years, I still have some connections. Borrowing from various places shouldn't be a problem. It'll take at most a week to get started.”
Wang Yu nodded upon hearing Huang He’s words.
“Very well, then let’s start in a week. What do you say?”
“Agreed! Happy collaboration!”
“Happy collaboration!”
After shaking hands, they left the reception room.
As Huang He was about to leave, he turned to look at Wang Yu and noticed him smiling calmly at him, which gave him pause.
While interacting with this young man, he seemed polite and considerate of Huang He’s needs, yet all the initiative was firmly in Wang Yu’s hands.
It was called collaboration, but in reality, his factory would merely be a contract manufacturer, and core technologies would certainly not be leaked. Yet, Wang Yu’s words were perfectly watertight, making it seem as if he was genuinely considering Huang He’s interests.
His own defunct bicycle factory had no other choice!
Looking at Wang Yu, he had a strong intuition.
Jiangyang Auto Factory would surely rise again under this young man's leadership!
And perhaps the bicycle factory would also benefit immensely!
Yes, his positioning was that Wang Yu would eat the meat, and they would have the soup to drink.
“A formidable young man!” He sighed, shaking his head, and slowly departed.
Meanwhile, overhearing his words, Wu Lingling’s expression turned peculiar.
She didn't know what had happened, but judging by Huang He’s demeanor, Wang Yu had likely done something remarkable again.
“Hey, hey, Little Factory Director, do you have time to chat now?”
Having arrived not long ago, she had already, like others, started calling Wang Yu "Little Factory Director." In her heart, however, she was already comparing him to the cunning old foxes in her own family!
“Oh, Miss Wu Lingling, I’m truly sorry. I was busy this morning and didn’t get a chance to accompany you.”
Wang Yu smiled apologetically at Wu Lingling. The collaboration he had just finalized with Huang He had put him in a very good mood.
He had not only dealt with the troublesome Tiger Brother and his gang but also put the fuel-assisted bicycle, which was part of his plan, on the fast track.
In fact, this kind of vehicle, and even electric two-wheelers, would become extremely ubiquitous in the future, filling the streets.
But in this era, limited by engine and battery technology, they were a unique and exclusive offering!
However, this was not an issue for Wang Yu. He had specifically designed a preliminary blueprint for it.
It involved directly adding a micro-fuel engine to the traditional "two-eight big frame" bicycle.
Simple, crude, and basic, but very practical.
Most importantly, it was affordable, within reach of ordinary people.
Of course, he also had specialized optimization designs for the micro-fuel engine. If the people at the bicycle factory decided to betray him and collaborate with someone else, such as Zhao Tao from Jiangyang Agricultural Machinery Factory, then…
Heh heh!
“It’s alright, I took the opportunity to visit your factory, and I found out that you, Little Factory Director, are truly impressive.”
Wu Lingling said with a smile, and this was not mere polite flattery. Besides the skills she had already witnessed, she had also heard from chatting with the workers about Wang Yu’s improvements to the brakes and agricultural vehicles.
All the evidence pointed to this man being far from ordinary!
Just as Wu Lingling was about to speak again, a horn suddenly sounded from outside.
Beep! Beep beep!
“Little Factory Director, good news!”
Old Director Li Ming walked over, his face beaming with joy. “Director Feng and the others are back, and they’ve brought back many orders!”
“Orders?” Wang Yu was overjoyed and quickly followed the old director to the factory gate.
He saw eleven vehicles parked at the entrance, which were the cadres' task forces that had set out earlier.
Leading them was Feng Daochun, the head of the sales department, along with cadres from other departments. They all looked travel-worn, vehicles and all.
“Hahaha, Little Factory Director, we have not failed in our mission!”
Feng Daochun was the first to exclaim with laughter.
“Little Factory Director, you should have seen it. As soon as we parked our vehicles at the entrance of the agricultural machinery market, people started coming up to inquire about prices!
We easily brought back nine orders!
Not only can you create such amazing products, but you also have such brilliant ideas. Old Feng is truly impressed by you!”
As Feng Daochun finished speaking, the other cadres also chimed in.
“That’s right, you should have seen the faces of those scoundrels at the agricultural machinery company. They looked like they had eaten dog droppings.”
“Haha, I can’t compare to Director Feng. I only got three orders. One guy sat in my car and refused to leave, insisting on paying me in cash on the spot and driving the car away. I tried my best to explain about the registration procedures, but he didn’t care.”
“Exactly, it was the same for me. I brought back five orders!”
Everyone spoke at once. Because the first batch of vehicles lacked complete paperwork and license plates, they only had a one-week temporary road permit. Therefore, everyone returned almost simultaneously.
Due to varying distances and travel times, the time spent selling cars varied for each person.
For example, Feng Daochun spent three days selling cars and managed to secure nine orders.
Some, due to longer distances, like Wang Yu, spent most of their time on the road, having only one day to promote and sell cars, thus securing only three or four orders.
However, regardless, everyone achieved something and brought back orders.
When all the orders were added up, including Wang Yu’s, the total reached a staggering forty-seven units!
Forty-seven units!
Although they had prepared themselves mentally, everyone’s jaw dropped in astonishment upon seeing this number.
Their mouths opened wide enough to swallow duck eggs!
Forty-seven vehicle orders!
In this era, it was practically inconceivable!
During the most glorious peak period of the entire Jiangyang County Auto Factory, their annual production only reached a little over eighty units!
And now, they had secured forty-seven orders!
Everyone was overcome with ecstasy. With so many orders, the factory was saved!
They erupted in cheers, seeing hope for the future.
Even Wu Lingling, an outsider, was swept up by their emotions and couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh, forty-seven units. It’s a little less than the fifty units we estimated earlier, but it’s close enough.”
Wang Yu nodded unhurriedly and said to Li Ming,
“Uncle Ming, try your best to arrange production. First, ensure we have enough existing materials to produce without any disruptions. Then, according to the original plan, dismantle some of the slow-moving inventory and reuse the parts for modifications!”
Wang Yu made his arrangements in an orderly fashion. Wu Lingling, watching him, suddenly thought of a phrase.
“A stag runs past on the left, but the eyes do not blink; the face is as calm as a lake, but the heart holds thunder!”
This was perhaps the “general’s bearing” her father often spoke of!