Chapter 80

Kinder kept his word. On the morning Chen Geng was about to leave, two spotlessly clean black Shanghai-brand sedans were parked at the entrance of the SAIC Group guesthouse.

Looking at the two sedans gleaming in the sunlight, Zhang Xiangyang almost drooled. Even though he knew Lao San wouldn't be joking with him, he still had his doubts when Chen Geng mentioned they could get two sedans. But now, with two brand new sedans right in front of him, he couldn't help but believe it.

Having worked in China for so many years, Kinder was well aware of the living standards and income levels of the people here. He knew that for the vast majority of the country's citizens, a car was still a luxury they could only dream of. Therefore, he wasn't surprised by Zhang Xiangyang's reaction. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Hey, can you drive?"

"Sure!" Zhang Xiangyang answered without hesitation.

Although he didn't have a driver's license, driving wasn't a problem for him.

Kinder tossed him the keys and said, "Give it a try."

Zhang Xiangyang subconsciously caught the keys, glanced at Chen Geng, and saw him nod encouragingly. He immediately opened the car door and got in, gently turning the key. With a light hum from the starter motor, the inline-six engine started smoothly.

Hearing the engine's smooth and lively sound, Chen Geng immediately knew the car was in excellent condition.

Pointing to the other car, Kinder said to Chen Geng, "The car was just serviced yesterday, and its overall performance is quite good. I also put some engine oil in the trunk for you, all imported from Germany, enough to last you for a while."

"Thank you!"

Words weren't necessary; "thank you" was enough to convey Chen Geng's gratitude.

"Don't be so formal," Kinder waved his hand and whispered, "The ship will be here soon."

Chen Geng nodded, understanding what Kinder meant, and whispered back, "Don't worry."

Kinder breathed a sigh of relief. Over the past few days, he had been busy sending cars and helping out. Was it just because of their friendship? Hardly! Besides, it was one thing for the two cars to sit there unused, but it was another to "lend" them to someone else. Kinder was doing a significant favor, and if not for the benefits Chen Geng had promised, he wouldn't have been so enthusiastic.

"By the way, do me a favor."

"Sure, what is it?" Kinder rolled his eyes, "But I can't guarantee I can help."

"You definitely can," Chen Geng ignored Kinder's little game, holding up two fingers, "Give me five Santana quotas per month. Can you do that?"

Five Santana quotas? Kinder breathed a sigh of relief: he could indeed help with that. But he shook his head vigorously, "No way! Chen, are you kidding me?"

Chen Geng looked at him with a half-smile, "Really won't help?"

"Uh... not that I won't help, but five is too many. I can only give you one!"

"One? Are you trying to send me away? Four! At least four!"

"Four? Why don't you just rob a bank?" Kinder shouted, "Two! Only two, no more!"

"Three! Or I don't want any."

"You win!" Kinder said angrily, "Fine, three it is! But let's be clear, this quota is only valid for the current month. If you don't use it by the end of the month, it automatically expires."

"Deal!"

While Chen Geng and Kinder were bickering over the monthly Santana quotas, a heated debate was taking place in the meeting room of the Hangcheng Rubber Factory.

"I think we shouldn't start the car tire project. No, not just shouldn't, but shouldn't even consider it," the head of the technology department, ***, said resolutely, "Although I am the head of the technology department, I'm not talking about technology today. If this meeting decides to start the car tire project, I'll do everything in my power to make it happen. But I'm talking about the market. Who will buy the tires we produce? There are only two and a half car manufacturers in the country: SAIC, BAIC, and the newly established Yangcheng."

"The Shanghai sedans currently use tires from the Zhengtai Rubber Factory. Although the Santana tires are still imported, the leaders in Shanghai will definitely prioritize local companies, so there's no chance for us to get a share," he spread his hands and asked loudly, "Even if we start the car tire project, who will buy the tires we produce?"

The entire meeting room fell silent.

With the market opening up and the economy developing, the demand for cars and passenger vehicles in the country was growing. The completion of the Santana, Beijing Jeep, and Yangcheng Peugeot joint ventures marked the arrival of a spring for the automotive industry. As one of the largest tire manufacturers in the country, the Hangcheng Rubber Factory saw an opportunity. The topic of today's meeting was whether the factory should start the car tire project to seize a share of this upcoming spring.

If the factory could secure a share of the passenger vehicle market, its future prospects would be bright. However, there were over a dozen well-known tire manufacturers in the country, and the tradition was that local companies must use tires from local or in-province manufacturers.

The most tragic part for the Hangcheng Rubber Factory was that there were no car manufacturers in Hangcheng City or even in the entire Jiangbei Province. Although Hangcheng was not far from Shanghai, Shanghai already had two tire manufacturers, Dazhonghua and Zhengtai. How could they allow the Hangcheng Rubber Factory to come in and take a share?

"So, what's your opinion?" Factory Director Fan Jiajun broke the silence and asked ***.

"I think our factory's future focus should be on bicycle tires, motorcycle tires, and appropriately developing truck tires," *** said, "The country's policy to vigorously develop road transportation is set. Road transportation will inevitably see rapid growth. With the liberation of rural productivity, the sales of farm vehicles are increasing year by year. Therefore, I believe that various truck tires and farm vehicle tires are our future growth points."

Fan Jiajun nodded but didn't speak. After a moment of contemplation, he turned to Shen Jinrong, the head of the tire workshop and party branch secretary, and asked, "Xiao Shen, what do you think about this?"

"Everyone has valid points," Shen Jinrong, who had been writing notes, looked up and said confidently, "Indeed, the difficulties mentioned, such as market access and local protectionism, do exist. However, I believe we still have a chance."

Still have a chance? Director Fan Jiajun felt a sense of relief: this young man didn't disappoint him.

Although Shen Jinrong was only 27, he had worked since 1976, rising from a technician in the technology department to deputy head of the technology department and deputy head of the sales department. He was highly respected within the Hangcheng Rubber Factory and considered one of the potential successors. Fan Jiajun had been grooming him, indirectly confirming this.

"What chance?" *** was immediately agitated, saying heavily, "Comrade Jinrong, you came from the technology department and have worked in sales. You should know that while our factory has the potential to produce car tires, the local protectionism is so severe. Who will buy the tires we produce? If we can't sell them, how will we pay the workers? Are we going to pay them with tires and have them eat tires?"

I just said our factory shouldn't produce car tires because the market competition is too intense, and we can't break in. Now you turn around and slap me in the face? Xiao Shen, Xiao Shen, you came from our technology department, how can you do this? *** was deeply troubled.

Well, this was ***'s inner monologue, which he couldn't say out loud. But for ***, Shen Jinrong had started in the technology department and later became deputy head, seen by many as his protégé. Now, his protégé was openly opposing him in such an important meeting, which was a public humiliation. How could *** not be angry?

Compared to ***'s urgency, Shen Jinrong was incredibly sincere, "Teacher, I know all the points you mentioned. Please let me finish, and then you can judge if what I say makes sense. If it doesn't, you can hit me, okay?"

With Shen Jinrong speaking like this, *** couldn't say anything more and nodded angrily, "Fine! Go ahead."

"First, I completely agree with Director Yang's suggestion that our factory should focus on truck tires, motorcycle tires, and farm vehicle tires. However, I also believe we shouldn't give up on car tires. There are two reasons. Currently, only one company in the country can produce radial car tires, which is the Zhengtai Rubber Factory in Shanghai.

"Indeed, since 1982, Zhengtai has been producing the first car tires in China, and their 'Hui Li' brand tires have always been the 'exclusive' tires for Shanghai sedans and will likely be the 'exclusive' tires for the Santana. With local protectionism, it seems our factory's tires can't find a host manufacturer to cooperate with. But I have to ask: why do we have to find a host manufacturer? Without a host manufacturer, can't we still sell tires?"

Shen Jinrong waved his hand emphatically, "No, we can!"