Chapter 50: Helping a Brother Company

Ignoring Lin Shuyao, Chen Geng sincerely said to Song Junwei, "Director Song, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help your factory. Let me explain, and you’ll understand."

Although his expression was not very pleasant, since Chen Geng had said so much, Song Junwei could only nod and say, "Go on."

"The parts needed for the 212 Jeep modification are all produced by us. You should know that our Third Military Equipment Repair Factory has certain mechanical processing capabilities, heat treatment capabilities, and precision processing capabilities. However, as far as I know, apart from the First, Second, and Third Military Equipment Repair Factories directly under the East China Military Region, none of the other military-affiliated repair enterprises have these capabilities. I’m not familiar with your repair factory, but I assume it doesn’t have these processing capabilities either.

"Moreover, the core components for the modification, such as the shock absorbers and tires, are provided by the Volkswagen Santana. Currently, no domestic company can produce shock absorbers and tires of this quality. The reason we Huacheng Industries can get these is because I helped them once, but the quota is limited, only 1,000 sets per year, and even these 1,000 sets are not enough for our own use."

Spreading his hands, Chen Geng looked at Song Junwei with sympathy, "So, Director Song, it’s not that I’m being stingy or not giving you face."

Chen Geng spoke very directly, but the disappointment on Song Junwei’s face vanished instantly. As long as Chen Geng didn’t look down on him, that was fine. He stared at Chen Geng and suddenly said, "Director Chen, if I represent all 283 employees of our repair factory and ask you to take over our factory, what would you say?"

Chen Geng almost doubted his ears: a factory director asking him to take over their factory?

Song Junwei’s interest in Huacheng Industries’ 212 Jeep modification project and his desire to obtain the related technology from Chen Geng was not unexpected. After the large-scale military downsizing and reform, the leaders of military enterprises were trying to keep their factories and employees alive. The Third Military Equipment Repair Factory of the East China Military Region was thriving thanks to the 212 Jeep modification project. The provincial military region’s vehicle repair factory, with its vehicle repair expertise, believed that if they could get this technology, they could also thrive. Chen Geng guessed this was Song Junwei’s initial intention, but he never imagined that Song Junwei would actually ask him to take over their factory.

After a long pause, Chen Geng asked Song Junwei in confusion, "Director Song, why?"

Song Junwei smiled bitterly, "Since Manager Chen asked, I won’t hide it. Our repair factory was also disbanded in this large-scale military downsizing. Nearly 300 people in the factory need to eat. If we rely on the provincial military region’s work, we’ll starve. After much deliberation, we all believe that your Huacheng Industries’ 212 Jeep modification project is something we can do. We are a vehicle repair unit and have the technology for modification. We are all soldiers, and I believe you would give us face. Who would have thought it would turn out like this..."

Chen Geng felt a bit uncomfortable inside.

Life used to be comfortable. When tasks were assigned from above, we worked; when there were no tasks, we just chatted and joked. Now, with one kick, we’ve been pushed out of the military. With such a large repair factory and nearly 300 people, we need to eat. What should we do?

Without Chen Geng’s technology, the best solution was to have Chen Geng take over the repair factory.

Some might say, "Chen Geng, your modification doesn’t seem to have much technical content. Ignoring the shock absorbers and tires, can’t we just find a factory to process the parts based on the dimensions of your modified 212 Jeep and then modify it ourselves? Why do we have to beg you, Chen Geng?"

But things are not that simple!

There’s a common misconception: many people, including so-called experienced car enthusiasts, don’t understand the importance of assembly processes and calibration for an engine or a car. They assume that as long as the parts are good and qualified, you can assemble a qualified product. Whether it’s modifying a vehicle’s chassis or assembling a high-performance engine, they think it’s just a matter of putting the parts together.

But it’s far from that simple.

Take tightening screws, for example. It’s not just a matter of tightening them randomly. There are specific sequences and torque requirements. If you tighten them randomly, the same set of parts can result in vastly different performance. The product you assemble might rattle and break down frequently, while the one assembled by an expert will perform excellently and last for years.

The same applies to the chassis, which may seem simple but is actually the most technically demanding part.

This is like cooking. Even for a simple dish like stir-fried potato strips, a novice and a master chef using the same ingredients will produce different results. Even if you tell the novice the exact temperature, when to add oil, when to add chili, and when to stir, the novice’s dish will still not be as good as the master’s.

This is called craftsmanship!

This is called calibration!

These are intangible but crucial aspects that test one’s expertise and experience.

The Jiangnan Provincial Military Region’s vehicle repair factory might be able to find a factory to produce the modification parts, but do they know the specific processing and heat treatment techniques used for these seemingly ordinary connecting rods? Do they know the performance requirements for these parts? Without this data, the parts they produce could be dangerous when installed in a vehicle.

Without Chen Geng’s technical guidance, even if the Jiangnan Provincial Military Region’s vehicle repair factory went ahead with the modification, the 212 Jeeps they produce would not match the comfort, safety, and reliability of those modified by Huacheng Industries. Moreover, Huacheng Industries has already built a reputation for its modified 212 Jeeps, and people would rather queue up at Huacheng Industries than go to other repair factories.

Understanding this, Song Junwei was determined: since Chen Geng understands these things, it’s better to try to recruit him. If Chen Geng joins, the repair factory will be saved.

As for the tires and shock absorbers, since they are obtained through Chen Geng’s connections with Volkswagen Santana, wherever Chen Geng goes, these connections will follow.

Chen Geng understood this, Song Junwei understood this, and Lin Shuyao also understood this. Although she didn’t know how Song Junwei and Lin Shuyao knew each other, that wasn’t important. What mattered was what Chen Geng would do.

This girl, who usually didn’t get along with Chen Geng, stared at him, waiting for his answer. After a long silence, Lin Shuyao, growing impatient, pouted and said, "Hey, college student, what’s your problem? Uncle Song said that if you’re willing to take over their repair factory, he’ll ensure the workers get their wages, and you’ll get 30% of the annual profits. Uncle Song has calculated that you can earn at least 100,000 yuan a year. Are you still not happy?"

In an era where being a ten-thousand-yuan household was envied, 100,000 yuan was already the limit of people’s imagination. Before coming, Lin Shuyao was confident that Chen Geng would not refuse, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Uncle? Chen Geng’s gaze quickly shifted between Song Junwei and Lin Shuyao: Are Song Junwei and Lin Shuyao’s father comrades-in-arms?

Before Chen Geng could speak, Liu Qianjin’s rough voice came from the door, "If anyone is going to take over, it should be our own factory."

Chen Geng was taken aback and hurriedly greeted him, "Director Liu, why are you here?"

Liu Qianjin smiled, "Why wouldn’t I come? If I didn’t come, our precious gem might have been poached."

Without waiting for Chen Geng to respond, Liu Qianjin punched Song Junwei’s shoulder and scolded, "Old Song, you’re really underhanded, trying to poach from my factory behind my back? If it weren’t for my men recognizing you and reporting it, you might have succeeded today."

Chen Geng suddenly understood. He had been wondering why Liu Qianjin had come so conveniently. It turned out there was a "traitor" among his men.

Chen Geng didn’t know that when Liu Qianjin learned that Song Junwei from the Jiangnan Provincial Military Region’s vehicle repair factory was looking for Chen Geng, he immediately understood Song Junwei’s intentions. He was so scared that he dropped everything and rushed over on his bicycle. Others might not know Chen Geng’s importance to the Third Military Equipment Repair Factory, but Liu Qianjin certainly did.

To put it bluntly, after the military reform, whether the Third Military Equipment Repair Factory thrived or struggled, and even whether it survived, largely depended on Chen Geng. If Song Junwei poached Chen Geng, not only would the factory’s future be in jeopardy, but Liu Qianjin’s reputation would be ruined by the 600 employees.

After finishing his scolding, without waiting for Song Junwei to respond, Liu Qianjin turned to Chen Geng, "Xiao Chen, what do you think about this?"

Chen Geng was taken aback but quickly understood Liu Qianjin’s meaning. He thought for a moment and said, "If possible, it would be best to help, but..."

"I’m not talking about that," Liu Qianjin interrupted Chen Geng, "I’m asking what you think about taking over Huacheng Industries."