Chapter 6

"Ah!"

Hu Wenhai clutched his head, and heard Hu Jiefang roar: "Brat, do you talk to your father like that! I think you're just itching for a beating, today I must give you a good lesson!"

"No, no, I was wrong..."

Hu Wenhai, not wanting to suffer a loss, quickly realized he had brought out his old habit of talking to subordinates. He quickly raised his hands in surrender and said: "Dad, I just want to ask you, are you planning to stay at Factory 501, or do you have plans to leave? If you can still be the factory manager at 501, I'll show my true abilities. If you plan to leave, then let's just make this one big profit."

When it came to serious matters, Hu Jiefang's work habits took over, and he straightened up and asked: "Tell me, what are your true abilities, and what is making a big profit?"

"These true abilities mean establishing a long-term product line that can continuously launch various products, ensuring the sustained prosperity of Factory 501. Making a big profit is simple: if the simulation machine project succeeds, it will definitely be a great achievement. Then, you can be promoted and leave the factory."

"Do I even need to ask? Of course, it's to ensure the prosperity of Factory 501!" Hu Jiefang's eyes narrowed, and he said sternly: "When the country needs you, you must give it your all. You, on the other hand, are thinking about haggling and hiding things? Regardless of whether I stay at Factory 501, you must complete this project!"

"Yes, yes, I know that..." Hu Wenhai was not bothered by Hu Jiefang's scolding. In this era, Chinese people were still very aware of the greater good, and compared to the country's interests, most people would put their personal future aside.

However, for Hu Jiefang to have climbed to the position of factory manager, he certainly wasn't someone without any depth. Hu Wenhai paused and then said: "Dad, let me say something unpleasant. If you're no longer the factory manager, can you guarantee that the new manager will still entrust such a big project to me?"

Hu Jiefang was taken aback and suddenly fell silent. Hu Wenhai was only in his second year of high school, and though he started school early, he was still only in his second year. With his grades, he would definitely go to university. If the simulation machine were to develop into a long-term product line, could he ensure that the project would still be in his son's hands?

This wasn't out of selfishness, wanting to secure fame and fortune for Hu Wenhai. It was due to the differences in the successor's vision and perspective. Hu Wenhai was Hu Jiefang's son, and he could trust his abilities, giving him the project without worry. But if he left Factory 501, would his successor dare to make that decision? What if the project failed?

If someone else were to take over the project, would they have the foresight to continue it based on a high school student's ideas?

So, this wasn't about Hu Wenhai having ulterior motives; it was about human nature, and the inevitable fact that once someone leaves, things change.

"Why are you thinking so much? Your father's future will be decided by the higher-ups. First, tell me about this product line."

Hu Wenhai sighed and nodded. He hadn't expected to convince Hu Jiefang to make any decisions right away; just planting a seed would be a victory. Honestly, he hoped Hu Jiefang would stay as the factory manager, and even become the party secretary, or have a position in the Northern Group that would be established later.

By the 21st century, the Northern Group was formed, and Factory 501 was placed under its management. Before Hu Wenhai's rebirth, Factory 501 had a significant position within the Northern Group. If Hu Jiefang could stay in the position of factory manager or party secretary until then, with Hu Wenhai's abilities, he had a good chance of pushing his father into the management of the Northern Group.

Hu Wenhai gathered his spirits and said: "The handling performance of the simulation machine, besides aerodynamics and thrust-to-weight ratio, the density of the aircraft itself is also important in resisting natural wind. Therefore, it's impossible for the simulation machine to completely simulate the handling of a real aircraft. In a few years, when electronic graphics processing technology matures, the advantages of the simulation machine in teaching will not be significant."

The density issue is also why future simulation machines were not included in training. Imagine if a strong wind suddenly blew in the air; a real aircraft might just shake its wings, but a simulation machine with insufficient density could be blown away.

To completely simulate a real aircraft, the simulation machine would only work under ideal weather conditions, excluding other factors such as thrust-to-weight ratio and aerodynamic shape. Otherwise, compared to the handling of a real aircraft, it would just be a consolation.

"Electronic graphics processing?" It was the 1980s, and Hu Jiefang knew nothing about computers.

"It means using a computer to generate images for flight simulation. The Americans are already working on this." Hu Wenhai explained casually and continued: "So, if we plan to do the simulation machine project, it can only last for at most ten years."

Hu Jiefang was quite satisfied with this and nodded: "Ten years is not bad; there's no product that sells forever."

"Of course there is, like Shunyi Xiang's fried chicken..."

Hu Wenhai swallowed his saliva. Shunyi Xiang's fried chicken was a well-known brand in Xiucheng, famous since the late Qing Dynasty. It survived the Anti-Japanese War and the Civil War, and after the public-private partnership, it was contracted out again after the reform and opening up. By 2015, Shunyi Xiang's fried chicken had become a symbol of Xiucheng. It was a genuine old brand, and the recipe for the fried chicken was said to have remained unchanged for a hundred years, a taste that old Xiucheng residents cherished.

However, this was a bit off-topic. Hu Wenhai continued seriously: "Ten years? The simulation machine will only ensure that Factory 501 doesn't starve for ten years. This business is essentially a one-time deal. Think about it, if there are ten thousand pilots in China, and even if each pilot had one simulation machine—which is impossible, one machine for ten pilots would be enough. Let's be generous and say five thousand sets. How long would it take to produce them? The model I made only took a week."

Hu Jiefang did a quick mental calculation. Hu Wenhai, due to his previous mischief, had been forbidden from operating machines in the factory. So, the entire model was made by Hu Hu and Lu Daming, two workers, in their spare time. A full week of work, 24 hours, without considering the efficiency gains from mass production.

Factory 501 had over two thousand front-line workers, and they could produce two thousand sets of models in a week with one day off. Of course, models are different from simulation machines, which have higher production requirements and need control panels. Even so, could five thousand sets keep Factory 501 busy for half a year?

However, Hu Jiefang didn't know that in less than two years, two wealthy Middle Eastern clients would give a lifeline to the struggling Chinese military industry.

Even with the help of these wealthy clients, it was only a temporary reprieve for Chinese military enterprises. After the Iran-Iraq War ended, not only did the good times of selling weapons to both sides end, but the poor performance of Chinese weapons in Iraq also led to a significant decline in sales and a tarnished reputation in the international market.

However, with Hu Wenhai around, such a good opportunity wouldn't be missed. The Middle Eastern tycoons' wallets needed to be squeezed hard, to make the most of his rebirth!

"Alright, tell me about your product line..." Hu Jiefang faced reality with some disappointment; the simulation machine business wouldn't last long.

Hu Wenhai became excited. This was something he had thought about on his way back. Instead of focusing on the simulation machine, there was a much broader market in front of him: "Dad, have you heard of drones?"

"Drones? No, I haven't." Hu Jiefang felt defeated; most of the terms his son used today were unfamiliar to him. Everyone said having a genius son was a blessing, but who knew how hard it was to maintain parental dignity in front of a genius son? At this moment, Hu Jiefang felt tears welling up in his eyes.

Hu Wenhai didn't mind; drones were a new toy even for the U.S. military in the 1980s, so it was normal that his father hadn't heard of them: "Let me explain. Enlarge the model, add a control system and reconnaissance or attack systems, and you have a military drone. The benefits are numerous, the biggest being the avoidance of pilot casualties. Removing the life support systems can also reduce the cost and complexity of the aircraft..."

"You mean, your model can be turned into a drone?" Hu Jiefang, being an old military man, understood immediately after his son's explanation.

"Far from it," Hu Wenhai replied bluntly: "But using the simulation machine project can help Factory 501 develop in the drone field."

"First, we launch the simulation machine. Once we master image transmission and flight control technology on this platform, we can then develop front-line reconnaissance drones. By increasing the range and signal transmission rate of reconnaissance drones, we can develop tactical reconnaissance drones. With infrared thermal imaging, we can easily detect enemy artillery positions from ten thousand meters in the air. When the drone's power system is mature, we can also arm the drones with weapons, like dropping bombs..."

Drone technology was a new toy in the 1980s, but by the time of Hu Wenhai's rebirth, it had already formed a mature combat system. Just describing this system in broad terms made Hu Jiefang's eyes light up. Compared to the one-time deal of the simulation machine, the drone product line was undoubtedly a business that could last a lifetime!