Siheyuan: Big City, Small Love

Chapter 400 Red Star Lighter Factory

"You, feed the little girl these every day. No wonder she is always dragging her feet every time she drinks milk. She can't stand it even if she's not hungry, and she won't even drink it!"

Wu Juan said angrily.

"Mom, he's six months old now. Eating some fruit is good for his development. It's okay."

He Lai said with a smile.

"Hey... just pamper her. What kind of fruit is this red thing? Did you bring it from Guangcheng as well?"

Wu Juan looked at the fruit in Wu'er's hand and asked.

"Well, this is called dragon fruit. I have a lot of it. I'll give you five and you can take them back and try them."

He Lai ran into the kitchen, took out five dragon fruits and gave them to Wu Juan.

"Speaking of fruit, I want to laugh. At noon, your Zhuzi's house was filled with the smell of durian, and people in the yard were afraid to enter the middle courtyard."

Wu Juan said with a smile.

"Really? Is it that serious?" He Lai also became curious.

"How can it not be serious? A whole family, young and old, eats there with the door open. The smell is terrible. We can smell it even though we live so far away."

Wu Juan explained.

"Hey, this Zhuzi brother is just stupid. He should have taken the durian outside to peel it and then brought the durian flesh back. Wouldn't that be fine?"

He Lai smiled bitterly.

"Yes, that's why people say my son is smart. Haha..." Wu Juan praised.

"Mom, there is another durian. You can take it back and eat it. I am tired of eating it in Guangcheng."

"Okay, Mom, take it. Don't say that this durian is smelly, but it's really delicious. Is it expensive?"

Wu Juan also ate a piece at noon and it tasted really good.

"It's not expensive, and it's very cheap. But once the durian is opened, you have to eat it, otherwise it will go bad easily."

He Lai explained that durian flesh is difficult to preserve because there is no refrigerator.

"Oh, it's okay, Mom will peel a little and eat it, it will definitely not go bad."

When Wu Juan heard He say that it was easy to go bad, she immediately said.

"Mom, isn't that the same as Brother Zhuzi's home?"

"How can it be the same? Mother will wrap it in cloth and take it outside to peel it. Don't worry, mother is not stupid."

After hearing what He Lai said, Wu Juan had already made plans.

"Okay, I'll get it to you now."

He said this and wanted to go to the kitchen.

"No, no, you can sleep with Wu'er, I can get it myself."

Wu Juan trotted over, grabbed He Lai, and went into the kitchen.

Hey, I, as a mother, have made a good plan. I got the durian and got rid of the burden of Wu'er at the same time. It's really killing two birds with one stone!

Forget it, forget it, He Lai can only sleep with his sister.

……

In this way, He Lai started his lazy life again.

During this period, Erya and Sanya were arranged by Mr. Zhou to work in the First Machinery Factory, one in the Propaganda Department and the other in the Personnel Department.

It was not until Li Huaide returned from Guangcheng that the steel mill became bustling again.

After all, the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill achieved a major victory in this Canton Fair, obtaining a large amount of foreign exchange for the country, and at the same time, a steady stream of orders poured in.

For a time, the city of Sijiu gave top priority to the production of lighters. After all, with foreign exchange, it could buy many things from abroad, especially food.

Because China's currency in the 1950s and 1960s could not be used effectively abroad, it was difficult for China to buy things overseas and could only rely unilaterally on support from our big brother. However, as the relationship further deteriorated, it became increasingly difficult for China.

Following a meeting between several senior leaders of the Ministry of Industry and leaders of various factories in the city, the Lighter Factory was soon renamed the Red Star Lighter Factory, and various workshops were established to facilitate the manufacture of lighters.

At the meeting, Li Huaide was specially appointed to take charge of the Red Star Lighter Factory. Of course, the factory director was still surnamed Gong, and He Lai also served as the technical consultant of the Red Star Lighter Factory.

The grinding machine workshop has also been expanded from three to nine to cope with various orders.

Because some countries in Southeast Asia really need this kind of flour mill, after all, they also grow a lot of corn.

Due to years of war and civil unrest, there are no modern machines in the country and the country basically relies on imported machines. Chinese machines are not only of good quality but also cheaper than those from other countries, so they are naturally sought after.

In Li Huaide's office, He Lai was sitting there drinking tea.

"Uncle Li, what kind of tea is this? It smells so good."

"Hey, kid, you know a lot about tea at such a young age. This is top-quality Longjing tea! I bought some at the Canton Fair."

Li Huaide said with a smile.

"No wonder it tastes so good. Give me some. My dad loves it!"

When He Lai heard it was Longjing tea, he quickly asked for it.

"Okay, I'll give you two pounds."

"Uncle Li, four pounds, I like it too."

"You are a robber, at most three pounds, I don't have much left!"

"alright."

……

"He Lai, you still have to pay more attention to that lighter. Now those Hong Kong businessmen have more and more requirements, and your uncle Li doesn't know what to do."

Li Huaide sighed and said.

"What's wrong? What demands did they make?" He Lai asked puzzledly.

"Some wanted us to make it the way they wanted, some wanted us to print their labels, and some wanted us to engrave it to look like what their company produced. There were so many requests."

Li Huaide complained.

"Uncle Li, I think it should be no problem to print the patterns they want, but we need them to increase the price and the quantity. Otherwise, it's not cost-effective for us to design the patterns they want just for a few lighters, right?

The same goes for labels. You can get what you want by increasing the price or the quantity. In a word, you have to get the money right!"

He Lai analyzed.

"Yes, yes, yes, you are the one who thinks clearly." Li Huaide instantly had an idea.

"As for engraving it as they produced it, that's impossible, there's no need to discuss that! Made in China is our China's bottom line, no matter how much money you pay, it can't be changed. The bottom of the lighter must be engraved with "Made in China" in Chinese and foreign languages. This is a sign and cannot be changed.

If we lose our national bottom line, we will probably be held accountable.”

He Lai emphasized.

"Well. I didn't expect that you, He Lai, are quite patriotic." Li Huaide said with a smile.

"Hey, those foreign businessmen will push their luck and say anything. Why should our products be labeled as theirs? The only way is to give them some defective products, which is fine."

He Lai said with a smile.

"Okay, He Lai, can you help me with those design drawings?"

Li Huaide said.

"Hey, my good Uncle Li, I have already helped you with the basic model, why are you still working on the blueprints?

Shouldn't you find professionals to study the internal components of the lighter? We need to make progress, and all the materials of lighters need to be improved by scientists.

As for the blueprint, why don't you just find a few painting masters to help design it? There are plenty of painters in China!"

He Lai focused on completing the task without getting involved at all.

"Hey, you don't want to help with any of the work, so you asked me to find someone else!"

Li Huaide smiled bitterly.

"Uncle Li, I'm just a 17-year-old boy. Don't always count on me. I don't know anyone. You have to find connections yourself."

"Okay, okay, go ahead. Uncle Li knows what to do." Li Huaide said helplessly.

"Uncle Li, you haven't given me the tea you promised me." He Lai came up to Li Huaide and stretched out his hand to ask for it.

"Here you go, here you go." Li Huaide took out two cans of tea and handed them to He Lai.

"Thank you uncle, Gudebei!"

"Gu, you little brat!"

After all, Li Huaide has been in contact with foreign businessmen for so many days, so he naturally knows what this means. He has to deal with these matters now.