Chapter 95

Five million dollars, shocking the central government!

This sounds like a joke, that a mere five million dollars could shock the central government? But this is the reality.

Many people can't imagine how the republic is struggling with foreign exchange, but the republic is indeed in such a difficult situation, or rather, even more difficult than imagined.

Under the pressure of foreign exchange, any action that can increase the foreign exchange reserves of the treasury is politically correct for the central government. No matter what you do, as long as you can bring in foreign exchange, the answer is: green light all the way!

If the East China Military Region can really add five to ten million dollars to the treasury's foreign exchange reserves every year, it will be the greatest achievement of the East China Military Region. From top to bottom, no one would dare to set obstacles for the East China Military Region. The central government would even form a supervision team to ensure the smooth operation of this project. Whoever dares to hinder this project will be dealt with, and the result will be one: take him down!

As for the cost of the Changjiang 750, as long as Chen Geng can really bring in solid foreign exchange for the East China Military Region, it's not a problem! Not to mention that each Changjiang 750 can still make a good profit, even if it doesn't make a profit or even incurs a loss, the central government would be happy to see this project lose money, as long as it can earn foreign exchange!

To earn foreign exchange, Jingdezhen's porcelain, the textile factories of Suzhou and Hangzhou, cloisonné, and all the enterprises in the country that can earn foreign exchange are working hard to produce. There is a very apt saying to describe the country's need and urgency for foreign exchange at that time: to increase foreign exchange, the country would even be willing to sell blood!

Some people say, if there is no foreign exchange, so be it. There are ways to spend money, whether you have a lot or a little. You can't go to great lengths to sell our foundation for a little foreign exchange; that's the behavior of a wastrel, no, not even a wastrel would do that!

For such a sanctimonious and moralistic person, Chen Geng has only two words to say: "Haha..."

He doesn't understand the situation of the country at that time and dares to speak recklessly. Does he know that countless industrial enterprises across the country are waiting for foreign exchange to upgrade their equipment? Does he know that the country's defense situation is extremely severe, and the military industry system urgently needs foreign exchange to enhance its defense capabilities... All these things require foreign exchange. What can the country do?

As for the military doing business, no one cares about this at this time. Should the military do business? Normally, it definitely shouldn't, but with the country's reform and opening up, and the reduction in military spending, the military has to support itself. What else can they do if they don't do business? They would starve to death with that little military budget. Even if it's like drinking poison to quench thirst, they have to do it first.

In the current environment, if the military can make money, that's a skill. If the military can also increase the foreign exchange reserves of the treasury while making money, it will be highly praised... Isn't the navy currently using its advantages to bring crude oil and cars into the country? Even though the customs keeps complaining about not receiving tariffs.

Seeing that Chen Geng understood, Li Xue Shan was a bit worried. He asked seriously, "Chen, tell me the truth, how confident are you? If it succeeds, it goes without saying that this will be the biggest key project in our military region in recent years. If it fails, you have to tell me the truth."

"I can only say I have some confidence. If I have to quantify it, it's about fifty-fifty," Chen Geng thought seriously and said.

"Fifty-fifty confidence?" Li Xue Shan's eyes lit up!

"Yes."

"Come with me." Li Xue Shan said without hesitation, dragging Chen Geng out: 50% confidence is enough to take a risk.

Chen Geng was still a bit confused: "Commander, what are you doing?"

"Come with me to see the Political Commissar."

See the Political Commissar?

If it were any other deputy political commissar, Li Xue Shan would call them "Deputy Political Commissar X." The only person Li Xue Shan calls "Political Commissar" is Comrade Zhang Ligu, the highest administrative official and one of the two major figures in the East China Military Region.

"Is it necessary to see the Political Commissar for such a small matter?"

"Small matter? Haha... Kid, I'll tell you, this is not a small matter. If it works out, it could become the top priority for our East China Military Region!"

...

By the time they left the military region headquarters, it was already evening.

Chen Geng still couldn't believe what he had experienced today: Could this really be done by the military region commander and political commissar? Cough, cough, cough...

Thinking about how these two towering figures in the military, who could make the whole country tremble with a single step, actually bent their backs for these two bags of rice, Chen Geng didn't know what to say: others wouldn't bend their backs for five bags of rice, you could at least hold out for four.

When he got home, his mother was busy in the kitchen, stir-frying the last dish. His father, Chen Hongjun, was sitting at the table, enjoying the news on the TV. To be honest, Chen Geng still wasn't used to the 14-inch black-and-white TV at home.

Seeing Chen Geng come back, Yuan Jia complained, "You two are like dogs, only coming home when you smell the food?" Without waiting for Chen Geng to answer, she asked curiously, "Didn't you say you were going to the military region today? Why are you back so late?"

Recalling the painful experience of being repeatedly questioned by the military region leaders, Chen Geng shook his head and smiled bitterly, "There were a lot of things to do."

Yuan Jia had just asked casually, thinking her son had gone to Ronghua Industry after returning from the military region headquarters. Now, hearing her son's words, she was startled: "You just came back from the military region?"

"Yes," Chen Geng nodded with a bitter smile.

Yuan Jia immediately asked with concern, "What happened? Why did it take so long?"

"In a few days, I have to go on a business trip to the capital. I might stay there for some time," Chen Geng finally didn't have the heart to tell his mother what happened today.

"Go on a business trip to the capital?" Yuan Jia said "oh" and then started asking questions non-stop: "What's the matter? How long will it take? When are you leaving?"

Although Chen Hongjun didn't speak, he also turned his head and looked at his son with concern.

"I can't say. It's a political task. The exact departure time will be notified. As for the duration, it will be about half a month," Li Xue Shan didn't tell Chen Geng the exact departure time, only said to wait for the notification, which is understandable for a political task.

Hearing that it was a political task, Yuan Jia didn't ask further. As the wife of a serving officer, she knew not to ask questions she shouldn't. However, she asked with concern, "This time, you will visit your teacher and classmates, right?"

"Of course," Chen Geng nodded. In the nearly two months since he started working, he had written many letters to his classmates, but the feeling of communicating through letters was different. He definitely needed to contact his classmates when he went to the capital.

"Then you should think about what gifts to bring for your classmates," Chen Hongjun finally spoke up before Yuan Jia.

"I know, Mom," Chen Geng nodded and then turned to Chen Hongjun, "Dad, you might be transferred back to the military region in a while."

"What?" Chen Hongjun didn't expect this to be related to him. Hearing his son's words, he was stunned.

"I can't say much, but you should have the news by the end of the year," Chen Geng said vaguely. Seeing his father about to ask more, he quickly stopped him, "Don't ask. I can't say. Just be prepared. Haven't you always wanted to leave our factory? This time, your wish will come true."

Why? Why else? As long as Chen Geng's method of using the Changjiang 750 to earn foreign exchange for the military region is confirmed to be feasible, Chen Hongjun will definitely be promoted. This is a reward for his contribution. After confirming that Chen Geng's idea was feasible, Li Xue Shan hinted to Chen Geng: as long as it is feasible, he will not be shortchanged.

Chen Hongjun was stunned for a long time before he slowly asked, "I won't ask what it is, but... is it related to this matter?"

"A little," Chen Geng didn't deny it.

"Is it dangerous? If it's dangerous..."

As a father, Chen Hongjun instinctively felt that what his son was going to do might be very dangerous. If he was transferred back to the military region because his son took risks, he would consider it a disgrace. He would rather take off his military uniform than agree to it!

"Dad, what are you thinking?" Chen Geng said with a mix of laughter and tears, "I'm just a student, a student studying cars. What dangerous things could they make me do? You're overthinking it."

But Chen Hongjun wasn't easy to fool. He stared at Chen Geng suspiciously, "Really not dangerous?"

"Dad, really not dangerous, I'm sure. Mom, don't look at me like that... Fine, I'll give you a little hint. The country needs to introduce some things from abroad, and it needs people who understand cars and speak multiple languages to participate. This is related to our national defense construction. This time, I'm going to the capital to do this. It's absolutely not dangerous. Do you understand now?" Chen Geng explained with a mix of laughter and tears.

Yuan Jia finally looked relieved, "I knew it..."

"Mom," Chen Geng sniffed a couple of times and suddenly interrupted Yuan Jia, "The dish is burning."

"Huh?" Yuan Jia was stunned for a moment, sniffing the burnt smell in the room, then rushed into the kitchen like the wind...