Rebirth of the Industrial Tycoon

In Xiangyang Town Electric Furnace Factory, Li Weidong removed a large box from the car, and then took out a box from the box. The box was full of various home appliances.

"Wei Dong, what are you doing? You went to the south and brought us gifts!" Wang Kaiping said with a smile.

"These are all samples, you want to buy them yourself!" Li Weidong pointed to the outside, and then said, "There are still two boxes in the car, hurry up and work!"

After a while, Wang Kaiping and Ma Zhongyi walked in each carrying a box, while Li Weidong had already unpacked all the boxes of the small appliances.

"Hair dryers, electric irons, electric shavers, electric ovens, vacuum cleaners, and microwave ovens. These are rare items and are not easy to buy in China," Wang Kaiping said.

"Wei Dong, what is this?" Ma Zhongyi pointed to a home appliance.

"This is called a shaved ice machine. It is specially used for making shaved ice." Li Weidong pointed to other home appliances, and then introduced: "This is a yogurt machine, this is a bread machine, and this is a coffee machine. These home appliances should be used in China. unseen."

"Why are you selling so much of this stuff? Did you fancy someone's girl and plan to marry a daughter-in-law?" Wang Kaiping asked with a smile.

In the 1990s, when urbanites wanted to marry their wives, the three major home appliances, televisions, refrigerators and washing machines, were standard equipment. Of course, the more small home appliances, the better. Things like hair dryers and irons should be available as much as possible.

Li Weidong pointed to the trademark on the box, and then said: "See clearly, these are products of Xizhi Electric."

"Xizhi Electric? Isn't our egg steamer made for Xizhi Electric!" Wang Kaiping frowned slightly, then asked in a low voice, "It seems that you are planning to produce something else?"

"Brother Wang, you still know me, I was thinking, since we can produce egg steamers for Xizhi Electric, we can also do OEM for other household appliances in Xizhi!

So when I went to the south this time, when I was on Hong Kong Island, I bought all kinds of household appliances from Xizhi Electric, and we took them apart for a while to see what we could do with our ability.

I'm going to be in the near future,

Find an opportunity to go to Japan, contact Xizhi Electric, and let them hand over some simple household appliance orders to us.

Of course, the ones I bought were all small appliances, which are relatively easy to produce, such as televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. We just can't do them if we want to, without that technology. "Li Weidong explained.

Li Weidong's electric furnace factory really can't make major appliances, not only the equipment is not up to standard, but the skills of the workers are also not up to standard. The quality control requirements of major appliances are very strict, and it is precisely because of this that Haier smashed the refrigerator with a sledgehammer.

A few people did what they said, brought a screwdriver, and began to disassemble various small appliances.

"This hair dryer has a very simple structure, just a heating wire and a fan. We should be able to do it." Ma Zhongyi said, pointing to a newly disassembled hair dryer.

Li Weidong walked over and looked at it, and said, "The heating wire and the fan are trivial matters, the key is the motor. Look, Ma, this clicker is made in Japan. It has high kinetic energy and low noise. It's a good thing, so if you want to make a hair dryer, you have to ask Xizhi Electric to provide the motor, and as for other parts, you can send it to China."

"We should also be able to make this electric iron. The core is the heating element, but this Japanese electric iron is really light!" Wang Kaiping said from the side.

Li Weidong took the electric iron and glanced at it, and said: "The soleplate of Japanese electric irons is made of aluminum alloy, which is of course light in weight. Our country's electric irons still use cast iron, not even stainless steel. In addition, this Japanese electric irons already use a thermistor to control the temperature, and this thermistor still has to be provided by Xizhi Electric.”

Li Weidong said with a helpless sigh. This kind of thermistor has become the world of Chinese products in later generations. A thermistor is sold for two or three cents, but in 1990, China could only rely on imports.

"Wei Dong, look at this electric shaver, can we make it?" Ma Zhongyi said, pointing to a double-ended shaver.

"Don't underestimate the razor, it looks simple, but it is difficult to make. If we were to manufacture razors, the motors and cutter heads would be imported. The domestic motors are too noisy and vibrate badly. The knife head is not durable enough. This thing is really just a shell." Li Weidong explained.

"Weidong, should we be able to make this ice shaver machine? The structure is similar to that of a mixer." Wang Kaiping said.

"The key to the ice shaver machine is not the structure, but the knife set, which uses special steel. Even if our country's steelmaking enterprises can process such steel, it is estimated that they will be supplied to military enterprises. So if you want to OEM the ice shaver machine , you have to import the knife set from abroad." Li Weidong said.

After a lot of picking and choosing, everyone found that none of these seemingly simple small appliances could be produced independently by the electric furnace factory.

"It's been a long time, and none of them can be produced by us!" Ma Zhongyi said with some frustration.

Li Weidong smiled indifferently, and then said, "We are OEMs, and we originally earn a processing fee. If we can produce parts ourselves, of course, it will be the icing on the cake. If you can't produce it yourself, you can only spend money bought.

What's more, the product supply chain originally flows with the production place. When we build a large enough production system, the entire supply chain will come over by itself. "

"Wei Dong, when are you going to Japan?" Wang Kaiping asked.

"The sooner the better. I plan to go to the Provincial Foreign Trade Department this week and tell Ma Dexing about this matter. The procedures for going abroad are not easy to handle. If I do it myself, it will take several months. It's much faster. If there is a trade group, it would be the best, I will take a group by the way, and it will save trouble to apply for a visa!" Li Weidong said with a smile.

...

Two days later, Li Weidong came to the Provincial Foreign Trade Department, found Ma Dexing, and told Ma Dexing that he planned to do OEM for Xizhi Electric.

Ma Dexing is very interested in anything that can earn foreign exchange.

I just heard Ma Dexing say: "Although the foreign trade situation this year is much better than last year, the basis is very serious, and the international situation has changed a lot this year, which also adds a lot of variables to our foreign trade work. The labor model, earning foreign exchange, must be supported in the office.”

"Making money is one aspect. I hope to gradually train workers and improve my skills by working as an OEM for Xizhi Electric. If I can get a large order from Xizhi Electric this time, I will have to expand the scale when I go back. A professional foundry." Li Weidong said.

"Xizhi Electric is a big international company, do you have a good grasp of taking their OEM orders?" Ma Dexing asked.

"There is still a certain degree of certainty. If it is Panasonic, Sony or Hitachi, I am afraid I would not dare to say that, but Xizhi is different. In recent years, Xizhi has been transforming into a higher-end industrial chain and continuing to maintain the production of small household appliances, which is no longer in line with Xizhi Electric. I am confident in persuading Xizhi Electric to hand over the production of small electrical appliances to me." Li Weidong said.

Ma Dexing nodded: "Well, in the afternoon, I will ask the secretary to send you some forms, you can fill them out, and prepare a few one-inch bareheaded photos to hand in, and I will apply for a visa for you here."

"So fast?" Li Weidong was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Ma Dexing's efficiency to be so high.

Ma Dexing said, "You are lucky, our province happens to have a foreign trade group going to Japan, and I will grant you a quota."

"What are you really thinking about!" Li Weidong thought to himself, and asked at the same time, "What kind of foreign trade group is it? Professional or comprehensive?"

"Professional." Ma Dexing then replied: "This time, we are helping Huanghai Petrochemical to purchase a batch of equipment, so the personnel are mainly Huanghai Petrochemical. There are five people in our hall, mainly a few older comrades. …”

Ma Dexing showed a "you know" expression.

Li Weidong instantly understood that these five places were actually taking the opportunity to travel.

In this type of trade group, the official is generally responsible for procedural matters, while the enterprise is responsible for paying.

For example, negotiating with the Japanese side, going through visa procedures, etc. For such matters, the foreign trade department will definitely go more smoothly than the enterprise itself. At least, a foreign trade group will be formed in the name of the foreign trade department, so that the visa will not be stuck. .

Enterprises get the convenience of going abroad, so naturally they have to pay, such as giving the hall a few places to go abroad, the round-trip travel expenses for these places, as well as food, clothing, housing and transportation during the period abroad, all of which are paid by the company.

What Ma Dexing said about "going to five people in the hall" is the five quotas given by Huanghai Petrochemical for going abroad.

Li Weidong felt a little embarrassed when he learned that he had occupied a quota for going abroad. He said, "Director Ma, this quota was originally in the hall. If I take it away, will the comrades in the hall have any opinions?"

"If you have any opinions, you have to hold back. You are doing serious things, not touring the mountains and waters!" Ma Dexing said.

Obviously, in Ma Dexing's eyes, Li Weidong went abroad to earn foreign exchange, which is more important than those old guys taking the opportunity to travel.

Ma Dexing is practical as always, as long as he can earn foreign exchange, he is a living Buddha in Ma Dexing's eyes, and he has to offer it carefully.

Li Weidong thought for a while and said, "Director Ma, the money for going abroad this time is from Huanghai Petrochemical, after all, I used Huanghai Petrochemical's money to do things for myself. I'll pay for it myself!"

"I know you, Director Li, have a lot of money, and it's not bad. But if you pay for it yourself, it means that you will add an extra quota. Many matters in the foreign trade group have to be rearranged, which is more troublesome than giving you a quota directly. "Ma Dexing explained.

"I understand." Li Weidong nodded: "Then I owe Huang Hai Petrochemical a favor this time!"

Ma Dexing smiled slightly, and said with a mocking expression: "Huanghai Petrochemical is a tens of billions of projects, and 400,000 tons of large ethylene can create tens of millions of output value for the country in one day. They still need your favor?"

"That's not necessarily!" Li Weidong shook his head and continued: "Don't forget, I can speak Japanese anyway, maybe I can help them during the negotiation! By the way, this time Huanghai Petrochemical purchased What kind of equipment is it? Is it convenient to reveal it?"

"It's okay to tell you, it's plastic processing equipment." Ma Dexing continued; "Huanghai Petrochemical plans to build its own plastic product production base."

"Then this is equivalent to self-production and self-selling!" Li Weidong then asked: "What equipment does Huanghai Petrochemical need to buy? Injection molding machine? Extruder? Or blow molding machine?"

"All of them. Huanghai Petrochemical plans to build several complete plastic processing production lines. You must buy at least a dozen of the equipment you mentioned." Ma Dexing said.

"That's a big deal." Li Weidong then asked; "Which company do you plan to purchase from?"

"This has not been determined yet, but it is initially identified as a machinery manufacturer called Sakura Co., Ltd." Ma Dexing frowned and thought for a while, then said, "No, it's not Sakura, what is it called Sakura?"

Li Weidong thought for a while, then asked in a low voice, "Could it be Sakurada Co., Ltd.?"

"Yes, Sakurada, it's called Sakurada!" Ma Dexing nodded.

Li Weidong smiled slightly: "If it's really Sakurada Co., Ltd., maybe I can really help!"

...

The foreign trade department handled it in person, and the procedures for going abroad went smoothly.

If Li Weidong goes through it himself, the whole set of procedures may take two or three months, and he has to go to the embassy for an interview.

But if it is handled by the foreign trade department, all these processes are saved. In less than a week, Li Weidong waited to come to Japan to get a business visa.

This week, Li Weidong has not been idle. The purpose of his trip is to get OEM orders from Xizhi Electric, so his suitcase is full of materials and samples produced by the electric furnace factory.

As for luggage such as clothes, in addition to a suit, Li Weidong only brought underwear. If necessary, he can go directly to Uniqlo in Japan to buy it, which saves time, worry and effort.

On the day of departure, Li Weidong had to gather with the other four people from the Foreign Trade Office, and then go to the airport to meet up with the people from Huanghai Petrochemical. After the two sides formed a group, they boarded the plane to Japan together.

So Li Weidong came to the foreign trade hall early in the morning to wait.

After a while, two men in their fifties came over with suitcases.

"Oh, Director Li is early!" One of them said in a loud voice from a distance.

Li Weidong took a closer look and saw that the two of them knew each other. One was Tang and the other was Jiang. They were both cadres of the Foreign Trade Department. They belonged to the kind of middle-level leaders who have worked all their lives and are about to retire and have not been promoted.

"Director Tang, Director Jiang, are you two going on a business trip?" Li Weidong immediately greeted them and helped them carry their luggage.

"It seems that Director Li doesn't know yet, this time we are going to Japan, and we are also there!" Director Tang smiled cheerfully, looking harmless to humans and animals.

"I didn't dare to ask more about the arrangement in the hall, so I don't know which leaders will go to Japan this time." Li Weidong replied.

Director Jiang next to him said, "Director Li is humble! Our two old guys went to Japan to meet the world before retiring. It's not like you, Director Li, who went to discuss business in earnest."

"I'm also here to meet the world, and by the way, I'll see if we can negotiate a business deal. It's considered a three-point fight." Li Weidong smiled and then asked: "Two leaders, who are you in this trade group? Captain?"

Director Tang shook his head: "At our level, we are not qualified to be the head of the group. The head of the group is Xie Ting."

"It turned out to be him!" Li Weidong nodded.

The person mentioned by Director Tang is named Xie Hui, a cadre at the deputy department level of the foreign trade department.

"I remember that Xie Ting retired to the second line last year?" Li Weidong asked in a low voice.

Director Tang replied in a low voice: "You remember correctly, I have stepped back to the second line, and now I am the deputy inspector. This time I went to Japan, and their executive deputy director of Huanghai Petrochemical led the team. The director is also the deputy head of the foreign trade group.

After all, Huanghai Petrochemical is a department-level enterprise. In terms of administrative level, their executive deputy director is also a deputy department-level company, so we must at least send a leader of the same level as the head of the group.

Several leaders in the hall were busy, and the head of the foreign trade group was busy, so the hall simply sent Xie Ting out. First, his level was just enough, and second, he also took care of it. Old comrade! "

Li Weidong nodded suddenly: "I understand."

While the two were talking, they saw Xie Hui walking over from a distance, and the driver beside him was helping him with his suitcase.

After all, he is a leader. Although he has taken a back seat, he has not officially retired yet, so he still has the benefits he deserves.

The three of Li Weidong hurried forward to greet him and greeted Xie Hui. Xie Hui had no airs. After all, a leader who had retreated to the second tier might not be willing to deal with him when he put on airs. It might be better to be more approachable, but to gain the respect of others.

"The three leaders, although I haven't been to Japan, but I know some Japanese. When we arrive in Japan, if the three want to go, come to me directly, and I will take you there. Even if you can't find a place, you will definitely not Get lost!" Li Weidong said with a smile.

But Xie Hui waved his hand: "Director Li, you are here to discuss business this time, and we don't dare to waste your time. Although we three old men can't speak Japanese, some people can speak Japanese!"

"Could it be that the three leaders have already found an interpreter?" Li Weidong asked.

"You guessed it, the five people who went this time, in addition to the four of us, also have an interpreter." Xie Hui said, looking into the distance, and then said: "Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao will be there, little one. What's up!"

Li Weidong turned his head to look, a beautiful figure appeared in his sight.

At this moment, Li Weidong seemed to see a young version of the king of the daughter country!